The Path of Wisdom

"Doth not wisdom cry?...by the way in the places of the paths"  (Proverbs 8:1,2)(ASV)

We all need wisdom. Wisdom to know right from wrong, and to choose what we know is right over that which we know is wrong. The following devotional, by Rev. Roger J. Andrus, touches on how wisdom calls us, rewards us and blesses us when we heed its instructions.

The Path of Wisdom

The places of  the paths is where paths meet, i.e., crossroads. This is a figure for decision. When we are standing at the crossroads, decision is not only possible; it is necessary. More than one path is available. We can go this way or that. Without this choice we would be impersonal automatons. If we cannot disobey, we cannot obey. If we cannot intelligently and knowingly reject the wrong path, we cannot intelligently and knowingly elect the right one.

So, Wisdom calls (Proverbs 8:1-10) at the places of the paths. At the time when we must make a decision, Wisdom calls to us from the right path and to that right path. She cries:

"Understand wisdom"

"Be of an understanding heart"

"Hear"

"Receive my instruction...and knowledge"

And, Wisdom rewards (Proverbs 8:11-21) those who choose the right path:

"For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."

"Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness."

"My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver."

"That may I cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures."

Also, Wisdom blesses (Proverbs 8:32-36), i.e., makes fully happy, those who reap her riches.

"Blessed are they that keep my ways."

"Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates."

"For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD,"

Dear God, help all who read this to choose Christ. Amen!

Singing His Praises,

Joey Culpepper

Deborah

Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to the Lord, I will lift up my song to the Lord, the God of Israel. (Judges 5:3)(NLT)


We are going to take a look at Deborah, the worshiper today, and see what insights we can learn from her life. The following worship profile is from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House Publishers. It is a very good study Bible, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about worship.


Deborah


Deborah was not a person to sit quietly and wait for someone else to get things done. As a judge of God's people, she knew how to listen to the Lord's instructions and was quick to follow them. When it was necessary to go to battle, she obeyed the Lord by appointing Barak as the military commander. When he hesitated to carry out her instructions, she herself went with him to battle. Deborah was determined to follow the Lord at any cost and inspired others to do the same. Her encouragement and example spurred Barak on to victory, and it is possible that she was also a model for Jael, the brave woman who killed the commander of the enemy forces. But the accomplishments of Deborah's military leadership were equally matched by the impact of her spiritual leadership. When the battle against King Jabin had been won, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise to the God of Israel because they knew the he alone deserved the glory for their victory.


Deborah the Worshiper


Deborah knew how to listen to the Lord. In order to make righteous decisions, she had to know what God wanted for his people and was responsible to act justly. 


When the Lord gave victory through Deborah, she directed attention and praise back to him.


Learning from Deborah


Our relationship to God affects those around us. If we exhibit trust in God's ability to help and promptly obey whatever he requires, others will be encouraged to follow our model.


Truly successful leaders recognize that worship and praise to God is the right response to their accomplishments. The more we see God's hand in our endeavors, the more we will want to fall before him in wonder and praise for his incomparable works and mercy.


Following the Example


There is no shortcut to knowing God and being able to hear his voice. Knowing him requires that we spend time speaking and listening to him. One way we can listen to him today is by reading Scripture. Try systematically reading the Bible from beginning to end. In this way you will not be tempted to concentrate only on your favorite passages but will receive a more complete picture of God's character and of the ways he has related to his people throughout the ages. Also, thank God openly and quickly for every good thing he give his people. This may include victory over temptation, a meaningful relationship, abundant provision for your needs, or simply the joy of another day of life. Your thankfulness will be contagious to those around you.


Singing His Praises,
Joey Culpepper

The Model Servant

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)


I just returned from praise band rehearsal where we sang the praise chorus "Make Me a Servant" by Kelly Willard. You may remember the lyrics:


Make me a servant, humble and meek. 
Lord help me lift up those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be:
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant today.


When I got home I realized to my surprise that my devotional for today was also about service. It served as a simple reminder to me that my Lord Himself was the perfect example of a servant. He served His disciples by washing their feet, served food to the hungry masses by miraculously multiplying the bread and fish, healed the sick and diseased, brought the dead back to life, and served all mankind by becoming the ultimate sacrifice for all sin thereby purchasing your salvation and mine. 


This devotional by Dr. N. A. Woychuk, focuses on another servant, the unnamed servant of Abraham. Let's see what lessons we can learn from him.


"And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way" (ASV)(Genesis 24:48)


The Model Servant


Abraham clings to the revelation of God concerning his seed, and determines to follow closely the Divine will. He placed his "eldest servant" under oath to secure a bride for Isaac from among his own people.


Abraham's unnamed servant illustrates beautifully the desirable qualities in true service and witnessing:


The servant is intelligent in his obedience. He wished to know what should be done under certain conditions that might develop (Gen. 24:5-9). God always welcomes inquiries as to His will (John 16:19).


The servant is looking to the Lord for directed opportunities and for grace to use them (Gen. 24:12-14). He recognizes the high significance of his errand, and earnestly seeks the face of God for success, not for himself, but "shew kindness unto my master Abraham." Later, he was not unmindful to recognize God's leading (Gen. 24:27), and to express his devotion and thanks (Gen. 24:26).


The servant is truly self-effacing, but loud in the praises of his master (24:34-49). "I am Abraham's servant"; don't be taken up with me! How needful that the witnesses today "exalt the Lord" and not attract attention to themselves!


The servant is minutely careful to advance the interests of his master (24:15-33). He is most courteous (24:17). He is cautious and patient (24:21) in ascertaining the Lord's leading. He is intensely in earnest about his mission: "I will not eat, until I have told mine errand" (24:33). O, that God's servants were always that fervent and diligent in "serving the Lord" (Rom. 12:6-16).


The servant gently presses for an immediate decision: "Hinder me not, seeing the Lord..."(24:56). And he rejoices in mission accomplished as he hears the bride say, "I will go." 


Is not all this an inspired picture of the calling out of the bride, the Church, for God's Son, our Savior? (Eph. 5:25-33).


Singing His Praises,
Joey Culpepper

God's Good Gifts

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:1-4a)(NLT)


I pray that this new year will bring you many blessings. And as you are blessed, be sure to give thanks to the One who is responsible for every good gift, God, the Father of lights. Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. (James 1:17)(NASB)


Here is a devotional from Genesis 1 by Dr. N. A. Woychuk which reminds us of God's good gifts to us.


God's Good Gifts


Everything that God makes and provides is good.


It is interesting to note how God Himself was satisfied with His creation. Seven times the meaningful observation is recorded, "And God saw that it was good." Can it be that all of creation, prior to sin's damage, evidenced itself in a joyous adoration of God? The Lord specializes only in "good things."


The heavens are a point from the pen of His perfection;
The world is a rosebud from the bower of His beauty;
The sun is a spark from the light of His wisdom.
--Sir William Jones


"Creation was Adam's library; God bade him read the interesting volumes of His works, which were designed to make known the Divine character" (L. Richmond)


All too little do we read and study "the interesting volumes of His works," which are filled with His thoughtful care. Think of the air that we breathe today. How seldom do we utter praise for it. Yet, without the atmosphere there would be no rain, no sound, no music, no plant life, no flight of bird, no human life. The world would be one vast grave.


Think of the essential beauty of a flower, which so impressively proclaims the excellencies of God. "There is not the least flower but seems to hold up its head, and to look pleasantly, in the secret sense of the goodness of its heavenly Maker."


The Lord delights to give good gifts to His children. "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights..."(James 1:17).


May this beneficence of our heavenly Father stir in our hearts a sincere desire to own and accept His greatest gift, even the Savior Jesus Christ.


"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23)


Singing His Praises,
Joey Culpepper

Joshua

But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve....As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. (NLT)(Joshua 24:15)


As we start this new year, we can learn from the example of Joshua in our effort to serve the Lord. Joshua shows us that obedience, commitment and faithfulness is what God wants from us. The following worship profile is taken from the Praise and Worship Study Bible from Tyndale House Publishers. It is a very good study Bible with many helpful features, and I recommend it to all who want to study more about worship.


Joshua


The final chapter of Joshua marks a turning point in the Israelites' life and worship. By this time Joshua was an old man and had witnessed a long chain of amazing events. His years of service under Moses had given him personal acquaintance with God's wondrous works, and after Moses' death, Joshua's forces won battle after battle in Canaan. Joshua's absolute confidence in God's promises and power enabled him to take risks, and this inspired those around him. The aged Joshua was now near death, however, and so he made a final speech, reminding the people that their purity in worship would determine their future.


Joshua the Worshiper


Joshua was wise and discerning leader. He knew the Israelites were inclined to worship foreign gods, and so he worked to prevent that tragedy.


In order to exhort the Israelites for the future, Joshua reminded the people of what God had accomplished for them in the past. His speech unfolds like a great sermon, highlighting God's acts of salvation and concluding with a call to obedience.


Joshua commemorated the people's decision to follow the Lord by setting up a large stone near the Tabernacle. This physical symbol reminded later generations of their covenant with God.


Learning from Joshua


We can learn about worship through the help of pastors, teachers, and elders. Often these leaders can help us recognize problems or hindrances to proper worship.


We should observe all our vows and confessions--especially those we establish publicly. Joshua warned the people that they would be held accountable for their public declaration to follow the Lord.


God often honors the memory of those who serve him faithfully. When Joshua died and was buried, he was called "the servant of the Lord."


Following the Example


Reflect on the history of God's work in your life. Meditate on his acts of mercy and kindness toward you and offer praise for the times when his love was especially evident to you. Consider the pledges and commitments you have made to God and others. Consider concrete ways to commemorate and carry out the vows you have made, and ask God to help you fulfill your promises. Resolve to stand firm in your decision to follow Jesus Christ. Ask God to help you remain faithful and obey his commands, and the Lord will honor your request.


Singing His Praises,
Joey Culpepper

Amazing Love

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (NIV)(1 John 3:1-2)

When I read these verses my mind immediately thinks of the praise song "You Are My King" which some people call "Amazing Love". If you recall the song, it reads:

I'm forgiven because You were forsaken

I'm accepted, You were condemned

I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me

because You died and rose again

Amazing Love, how can it be

that You, my King would die for me

Amazing Love, I know it's true

It's my joy to honor You

In all I do I honor You

Here's another devotional from Dr. Robert M. McMillan from the book of 1 John that expounds on this amazing love that brings us into the family of God and makes us God's children.

Amazing Love

John exclaims "See what love the Father has given to us in order that we should be called the born ones of God." Te scriptures find a healthy area of comparison between the procedures leading to natural birth and those leading to spiritual birth. The production of children bears a direct relationship to love. Our new birth in Christ is the product of God's love exclusively. To become the born ones of God implies the impartation of part of God's own self into our being. The apostle Paul declared that the impartation of natural birth is part of Adam himself and that thus, by natural generation, I am bent toward sin. However, the apostle further declares that to be a child of God I must lose this Adamic impartation and receive a direct seed from God Himself. This is accomplished for me by the miracle of Christ's death and resurrection. Thus we read, "If any man be IN CHRIST he is a new creation..."

John goes on to declare that since Jesus, in the flesh, was rejected as the Son of God so we too, who are born of God, will be rejected in the minds of unbelievers. The rejection is not as to our person or our work but to our claim that we are of God. Too often this idea of rejection has been equated with being unpopular in society because we are Christians. Nothing is further from the truth. Jesus was wanted for His work but He was rejected for His claim to be God. It is doubtless true that Jesus, If He had dropped this statement, would have had no earthly difficulty. So it is with believers. We are acceptable for what we are but the world rejects our claim that what we are is because we are the children of God by the miracle of regeneration.

We do not know what we shall be but because of our relationship to God in Christ and by this Divine impartation to our nature we shall be similar to Christ. This is a purifying thought.

Singing His Praises,

Joey Culpepper

He Is Born Child Divine

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. (HCSB)(Romans 8:28)

Last Sunday night we had our Christmas musical and drama, "He is Born, Child Divine", here at Ridge Ave. Baptist Church. We had a good attendance, and I thought the performance went well. I want to say a special word of thanks to the Worship Ensemble for all their hard work including some long rehearsals in preparation for the musical. You did good, and I'm proud of you!

I also want to thank our set design and construction crew who did an awesome job, our audio/visual/light crew who kept us on cue, and our drama team and narrator who put the story together for us. I'm thankful and proud of our youth that stepped up and made this drama happen. We couldn't have done it without them and their dedication. We even had a real baby for Baby Jesus, little Easton. He was well behaved and so cute!

As we saw in the drama, sometimes our dreams and plans don't turn out the way we imagine. But God can take all of our hopes and make them into something far more beautiful and rewarding if we just trust in Him and follow Him with our lives.

Merry Christmas!

Joey Culpepper

The Advocate

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (KJV)(1 John 2:1)

Here's another devotional by Dr. Robert M. McMillan about our friend, defender and advocate, Jesus:

The Advocate

John continues in this chapter to deal with the believer and his sin. This is John's counterpart to Paul's declaration in Romans 6:1 which reads, "What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" Again, we state that the provision for the sin of the believer is no excuse for the believer sinning. John continues, "If any one should sin we have a Paraclete with the Father." This word Paraclete is a transliteration of the Greek word for which our Authorized Version translates "Advocate." The word means "One called alongside to help." This office of Paraclete is exclusively in relationship to believers. It carries the suggestion of the family attorney who is permanently retained in order to plead our cause in any circumstance that may arise. This same word is used of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel bearing John's name. (Jn. 14:16)

What a blessed thought that Jesus not only has saved us from the guilt of sin but is perpetually active on our behalf to break the power of sin. How often we believers slip and fall but how blessed the thought that immediately Jesus is alongside to help. Jesus knew full well the content of His own statement, "...no man shall pluck them out of my hand." And this means that we cannot even pluck ourselves out of His hand for we come under the category of the words, "no man."

Singing His Praises,

Joey Culpepper

Light And Darkness

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all...(1 John 1:5)

At this time of year, when we see the pretty Christmas lights, we think of the star that led the wise men to worship the King. Let's also remember that Jesus is the Light of the World as Isaiah prophesied--"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of darkness, a light has dawned." (Isa. 9:2)(HCSB) The following devotional, by Dr. Robert M. McMillan, speaks of how we can also reflect that light to those still in the dark around us.

Light and Darkness

We have noted that the major heresy being refuted by the apostle John is Gnosticism, which was an eclectic religion. By this we mean that it claimed that all religions were good, and took the best of them all and sought to mold them together into one higher religion. As with all, even in this day, who become involved in this philosophy, confusion is the result. Compromise also is necessary with this type of thinking. Perhaps these heretics had acquired the Parsee concept of the god of light and god of darkness. Certainly this concept would give them a compromise on the Deity of Jesus Christ, for the Parsees also recognized that there was a middle being between the god of  light and the god of darkness who was able to work on behalf of men. The Gnostics granted that Jesus was more than human but contended that He was less than divine.

Having identified Jesus with God, John now declares that God is absolute light with not even the remotest possibility of darkness in His person. Light, of course, represents purity, and darkness, evil.

Jesus claims for Himself that He is the light of the world. He also imparts this light to believers so that they, in turn, are the light of the world but only in a reflective sense as the moon is reflective of the glory of the sun. John, in the next two verses, indicates that believers only have this reflective ability as they walk with the Lord.   Moreover, we only have the fellowship with Jesus as we thus walk. It is, however, possible for a believer to take himself out of fellowship by walking in the darkness of carnality.

Jesus is absolutely holy and if we are to walk with Him it must be in the pathway of holiness.

Singing His Praises,

Joey Culpepper

Moses

There has never been another prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. (Deut. 34:10)(HCSB)

The following worship profile is taken from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House Publishers. It is a fantastic resource for those who want to study more about worship. I highly recommend this study bible! Let's see what we can learn from how Moses worshiped God.

Moses

Imagine for a moment what it must have been like to have been Moses. By any standard, he led a very interesting and unusual life. He was raised in the household of Pharoah and received all the privileges that came with such an upbringing. He was commissioned to lead the Israelites out of Egypt after God miraculously liberated Israel from slavery. Moses had regular face-to-face meetings with the Lord on the top of Mount Sinai. In addition to all this, Moses seems to have held a great deal of influence regarding the Lord's decisions. With influence like that, what would you do? What would you ask for?

Moses the Worshiper

Consider how Moses did respond when given such power and influence. In Exodus 33, Moses had a very candid conversation with the Lord. Here we see the deep longings of Moses' heart, not for ease or comfort or affluence, but for a deeper experience with God. We see a man with a long history of miraculous experiences and encounters with God, and yet he seems spiritually unsatisfied. Relentlessly--perhaps even desperately--Moses approached the Lord with requests, both overt and implied: "Show me your intentions...If you don't go with us personally, don't let us move a step from this place. If you don't go with us, how will anyone ever know that your people and I have found favor with you?...Please let me see your glorious presence" (Ex. 33:13,15-16,18).

Learning From Moses

God is pleased with our desire to know him better and responds favorably to us. God granted Moses' request for a glimpse of his presence, and he revealed his character to him as well. Moses responded to this encounter with his Creator in the only way he could: He worshiped him (Ex. 34:8).

True contentment is found in wholehearted pursuit of God. In our "been-there-done-that" world, it is easy (and all too common) for believers to grow numb to experiences with God. We complacently talk about God, but seldom do we actually pray to him. When we do pray, often we mumble safe petitions that keep God at a comfortable distance. In the end, we settle for an anemic assent to some basic truths about Christianity. Is it any wonder that our worship often seems empty or incomplete? Instead, like Moses, we must wholeheartedly pursue God and his character in order to find true fulfillment.

Following the Example

If we desire to experience meaningful worship, we must first desire to know God. If we hunger and thirst for him, the Bible promises that he will provide for us and satisfy our needs. Would you like your worship to be completely transformed? Confess any sins that might be hindering your fellowship with God. Then ask the Lord to stir your heart, to instill within you an unquenchable hunger to know him. Meditate upon how God has revealed himself to us in the Bible, and ask him to reveal himself again. When you do see God in a new way, worship will be your only fitting response.

Singing His Praises,

Joey Culpepper