Proverbs 24:19-20
Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

This proverb seems pretty straightforward and easy to understand, but I think that it is a concept that we also easily dismiss. 

We think, “I wouldn’t be jealous of an evil person,” but in reality there are times that we are.  The easiest place to see this is the celebrity world.  Most of us would love to have either the power or looks or money or fame of people we see on TV.  We tend to dismiss the actions and lifestyle of these people that we follow around through magazines, TV and Internet.  However, this Proverb gives us a bit of perspective to help us deal with this jealousy (AKA idolatry) in our lives.

The past year has brought quite a few celebrity deaths from Michael Jackson to Steve Jobs to Whitney Houston.  One thing all of these people have in common is that they stood in front of the LORD and were seen as either a vile sinner or perfectly righteous.  No matter someone’s influence, money, power or looks, all that matters ultimately is their relationship with God through His Son Jesus.  Guess what?  Even us poor, pitiful normal people will have the same exact situation when we die.

Instead of looking up to those we view as “awesome,” we need to see everyone in light of what God says about them.  All of us are evil men without a future as this Proverb says, but Jesus changes who we are and through him we are declared to be righteous before God.  We are given a future.  We should not be envious of those who walk in their evilness, we should be deeply sorrowful for them and pray for them and tell them about Jesus.  That includes the person on TMZ, as well as, the person sitting next to us at work or in line with us at the store. 

- Brandon Hutchinson

Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

As I read this verse I was immediately reminded of when King Saul lost his favor with the Lord. The full story is found in 1 Samuel 15 but I will give you a short synopsis.

Saul was charged by God to strike down Amalek and to devote to destruction everything that they had. Essentially, everything was to be set apart as an offering to the Lord. The Lord commanded this because when the Israelites were escaping from Egypt the Amalekites laid in wait and attacked them while they were most vulnerable. They were plunders who warred against the people of God. So Saul gathered his army, attacked the Amalekites and defeat them. However, he didn't obey what the Lord had told him to do. "But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction." - 1 Sam. 15:9-10

When Saul is confronted about his lack of obedience He begins to make excuses. He says that the people saved the best of the spoils so that they could sacrifice them to the Lord. Here is how Samuel the prophet of the Lord responded, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams." - 1 Sam. 15:22

After this Saul is rejected by the Lord for his lack of obedience and David is anointed King.

I share this story with you because we often desire to do "things" for the Lord. The problem is, we refuse to do that which he commands us to do. We do not always obey. We do not desire true righteousness but instead seek our own glory and that which will benefit us the most. 

The Lord desires a heart of obedience not sacrifice. We all have areas in which we fail to obey. We often try to cover those areas up by doing more for the Lord. But all he wants is your obedience. To obey him is to love him and to love him is to trust and obey in him.

Grow closer to the Lord today by seeking to be obedient, even in the small things, to what he's commanded you to do.

1 John 2:2-5
He [Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 

- Jacob Bassing

Proverbs 19:2
Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

The book of Proverbs is all about practical knowledge. As you read the truths found in its pages, it is not hard to see how they may apply to one's life. When we desire something deeply but don't have the knowledge to actually pursue it we tend to miss the mark.

Take happiness for instance. People want to be happy and they are taught that to find happiness they must depend on themselves. If they have a dream and want it bad enough, they will achieve it. They pursue power, pleasure, money and religion to name a few. The problem is they run after this illusive thing called happiness without the knowledge of where true happiness comes from. 

True happiness and fulfillment come from pursuing that which we were created to pursue. We were created to be image bearers of God who magnify His glory. If you don't understand that you will seek "happiness" and never truly be satisfied with what you have.

If you seek to glorify God but don't know how to do that then you will probably miss the mark there as well, even though your desire is for something good. Wrong perceptions create wrong responses. As believers it is important that we understand what we have been called to do and how those things are accomplished. We cannot simply slap "In Jesus Name" at the end of something and call it worship. As you read and study the Bible you will begin to get a glimpse of the person and character of God. This knowledge coupled with desire will help you do and achieve that which you were made for which is to magnify God by being his image bearer.

Don't simply rush through life thinking you have it all figured out. Grow in your knowledge and understanding of the Lord and as you come to see things as they really are you will be able to respond correctly.

Even Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Follow him and do the same.

- Jacob Bassing

Proverbs 18:1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

God created us for community. Therefore, it is essential as Christians that our lives are immersed and engaged in community.   Biblical community finds it essence within the Triune God himself who created man in his own image, and is intentionally relational within the Godhead (Genesis 1:26).  Additionally, in Genesis 2:18, God himself says, "It is not good for man to be alone", becuase we were created for community.  

Solomon, in Proverbs 18:1 warns those who fail to embrace biblical community will reap the seeds of isolation. Solomon says, whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.  While living in community demonstrates the intention and purposes of God.  In contrast, isolation fosters an environment of self-gratification, pride, and love solely in ourselves.  According to Solomon,  an embrace of isolation is in actuality an embrace of our own self worship and righteousness. Isolation is foreign to our intended purpose which is to reflect the glory of God as an image bearer (Ex. 34:6-7; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:12-17).  Those who choose isolation actually rage or break against this concept (Prov.18:1). 

The death and resurrection of Jesus has provided restoration of our sinful hearts, and gives us eternal peace with God (Rom. 5:1; 1 Peter 3:18). In other words the essence of our salvation necessitates and allows genuine community with the God of heaven and earth (Rom. 8:29-30, 35-39). Are you currently neglecting the blessing of community? Do you find yourself embracing the temptation of habitual isolation?  Are you neglecting biblical community for the sake of community with yourself? I want to challenge you to embrace your identity as a living reflection of the image of God (Matt. 5:13-16; Gal. 2:20), and immerse yourself in community. 

-Senior Pastor Matt Brooks

Proverbs 16:6
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Let’s talk about something you already know, but probably do not think about often enough.

The only way we can have our sin (iniquity) forgiven (atoned for) is through the Love of God.  We have done, can do, and will never do anything remotely close to deserving forgiveness.  To me the amazing part of this is that Jesus loves us enough that He came and died for us before we knew that we needed forgiveness.  That is steadfast love and faithfulness.

While we can do nothing to atone for our sin, we can choose to turn from evil, but only after we have learned to Fear the Lord.  Our Love for God is what motivates us to serve Him.  Since we can never pay Him back and can never earn any sort of favor, the only reason to turn from evil is because of our love for our Savior

Like I said, you already know this stuff, the bigger question is: do we live like we know it?