God Works for Your Good
Lord Radstock was staying in a hotel in Norway in the mid-nineteenth century. He heard a little child playing the piano downstairs in the hallway. She was making a terrible noise: 'Plink... plonk... plink...'. It was driving him mad! A man came and sat beside her and began playing alongside her, filling in the gaps. The result was the most beautiful music. He later discovered that the man playing alongside was the girl's father, Alexander Borodin, composer of the opera Prince Igor.
God calls you into a relationship that involves cooperation with him. The Christian faith is primarily about what has been done for you by God in Christ. However, we are not mere spectators. You are called to respond. God involves you in his plans. God comes and sits alongside you and ‘in all things... works for the good’ (Romans 8:28). He takes our 'plink… plonk... plink...' and makes something beautiful out of our lives.
Proverbs 4:20-27
Walk wisely
You have a part to play in responding to God's call, staying on his paths, living wisely and thereby making something beautiful out of your life. In this passage we see four areas in particular that you need to watch if you want to enjoy victory over temptation:
1. What you think about
You can choose what you think about. The life you lead will flow from your heart. 'Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life' (v.23). You are to fill your heart with good things – especially the words of God (vv.20–21). They bring 'life' and 'health' (v.22). Think about 'things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy' (Philippians 4:8).
2. What you say
Your words are powerful. Use them carefully. 'Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips' (Proverbs 4:24). It is said that the words of the tongue should have three gatekeepers: 'Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?'
3. What you look at
Guard your eyes. Be careful what you look at (especially in this age of TV and internet). 'Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you' (v.25). Jesus warned that if you look at the wrong things, your ‘whole body will be full of darkness'. But he also said, 'If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light' (Matthew 6:22–23).
4. Where you go
You will avoid a lot of temptation if you are careful about where you go. 'Make level paths for your feet… keep your foot from evil' (Proverbs 4:26–27). The writer of Hebrews quotes from this verse. He urges us to ‘run with perseverance the race marked out’ for you with your eyes fixed ‘on Jesus... "Make level paths for your feet" (Hebrews 12:1–2,12).
Lord, put a watch over my tongue and a guard over my heart. Help me to walk wisely today.
Marsha A.Lyles
Taken from The Bible in One Year 2021 by Nicky Gumbel
God calls you into a relationship that involves cooperation with him. The Christian faith is primarily about what has been done for you by God in Christ. However, we are not mere spectators. You are called to respond. God involves you in his plans. God comes and sits alongside you and ‘in all things... works for the good’ (Romans 8:28). He takes our 'plink… plonk... plink...' and makes something beautiful out of our lives.
Proverbs 4:20-27
Walk wisely
You have a part to play in responding to God's call, staying on his paths, living wisely and thereby making something beautiful out of your life. In this passage we see four areas in particular that you need to watch if you want to enjoy victory over temptation:
1. What you think about
You can choose what you think about. The life you lead will flow from your heart. 'Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life' (v.23). You are to fill your heart with good things – especially the words of God (vv.20–21). They bring 'life' and 'health' (v.22). Think about 'things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy' (Philippians 4:8).
2. What you say
Your words are powerful. Use them carefully. 'Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips' (Proverbs 4:24). It is said that the words of the tongue should have three gatekeepers: 'Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?'
3. What you look at
Guard your eyes. Be careful what you look at (especially in this age of TV and internet). 'Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you' (v.25). Jesus warned that if you look at the wrong things, your ‘whole body will be full of darkness'. But he also said, 'If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light' (Matthew 6:22–23).
4. Where you go
You will avoid a lot of temptation if you are careful about where you go. 'Make level paths for your feet… keep your foot from evil' (Proverbs 4:26–27). The writer of Hebrews quotes from this verse. He urges us to ‘run with perseverance the race marked out’ for you with your eyes fixed ‘on Jesus... "Make level paths for your feet" (Hebrews 12:1–2,12).
Lord, put a watch over my tongue and a guard over my heart. Help me to walk wisely today.
Marsha A.Lyles
Taken from The Bible in One Year 2021 by Nicky Gumbel