God’s Order

Proverbs 24: 27

“Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house.”

In God’s creation there is an order and balance to all things.  There is an order to all nature that governs the stars, the planets, the moon, the wind, the sun and the rain.  There is an order to life, from the most simple to the most complex life forms.  

Just as God ordered the universe, our lives are to reflect God’s order in our material and spiritual lives.  

A life of spiritual order for a Christian means that we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all things;  that love, mercy, kindness and forgiveness imbue everything we do; and that love is our primary motivation.

For Christians, the hope is that the work we do outside will be a reflection of the work of the Holy Spirit on the inside.  

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Coming Home

Proverbs 23: 31-32

“31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.  32 At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.”

There are many shiny things in this world that compete for our attention and cause us to wander.  Many people who were raised in the church have heard the call of the world and have no more interest in spiritual things, for a while at least.

I have spoken to people who have left the church and then returned after years away.  They say it is like coming home, with the familiar smell of the candles, the creak of the pews, the hymns, the stillness of the sanctuary and the welcoming smiles of the people.

And they are astounded to learn that God still loves them, that God has forgiven them, that God never deserted them…

and that God welcomes them home with open arms.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”  (Luke 15:20)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Truth

Proverbs 27: 6

“Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts,  but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

Has someone ever said to you, “Be honest with me, what do you think?”, and then gotten angry when you told them the truth?  Or maybe we got angry when one of our friends told us a truth about ourselves that we did not want to hear.

We like to say nice things about others and we also like to hear nice things about ourselves.  When we have to be honest with a friend it is uncomfortable, and when we have to hear bad things about ourselves it is hard to hear.

But, in the Christian life, it is good to have at least one friend that will always tell you the truth, no matter how it may hurt.

False praise and flattery are not what we need if we are to grow in relationship with Christ.

We need the truth.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Envy

Proverbs 23:17

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the Lord.”

There is this very large house in the town in which I grew up.  You might even call it a mansion.  While it was being built, the owner of the home put a large sign up in the front yard, very near the road, that read, “Watch and see what God will do for me.”

People began to drive by as each phase of the mansion was completed.  After it was completed, the sign was changed to “See what God has done for me.”  

There was only one problem.  The owner was arrested and put in jail for dealing in drugs before he could move in.  The mansion sat empty for years, and the sign remained in front of the house near the road until it fell down in a windstorm.

The outward appearance of glamor and opulence was a cover for the owner's inner poverty.

We should not waste our energy envying others.  

Our time is better spent with the Lord.

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”            

 (1 Peter 2:1)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

God Knows the Heart

Proverbs 21:2

“All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart.”

Throughout Jesus’ ministry he spoke of the heart.  If a person gave but did not give with a glad heart, then they just as well had never given.  If a person did not sin outwardly but sinned in their heart, then, in God’s eyes, they had sinned.  If a person professed faith, but faith was not in their heart, then they did not have faith.

We can say the “right” things.  We can do the “right” things.  But if our hearts are not right nothing is right.

People see the outward appearance.

God knows the heart.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Néed for Forgiveness

Proverbs 20:9

“Who can say , “I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin?”

We are quick to see the sins of others, and just as quick to condemn them.  We have a false sense of our own goodness, but we, in reality, we are no better than other people.  We have the same thoughts, the same desires, the same wishes. 

Although we are people of faith and we have the assurance of our salvation, we still have the need to fall on our knees before God and ask for forgiveness.

We still sin.   And in this, we are all the same. 

God’s forgiveness makes us clean.

Nothing else.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

The Rightful Path

Proverbs 16:25

“Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right, but in the end it is the way to death.”

During the era of slavery in the United States, there were people who justified slavery using scripture from the Bible.  In their minds, slavery was God ordained, it was right and just.   In Nazi Germany, there were many Nazis who believed they were doing the work and will of God.

Looking back, we wonder how people could serve evil and think they were serving God.  But is this mistaken way of thinking limited only to the past?

It is easy to confuse our thoughts, our self interest, our desires, our prejudices for the voice and will of God.  We are so sure of the direction that we think God is leading that we never ask any questions, we never doubt. 

And so, it is easy for us to walk a path that we think is the right path when, in reality, it is the wrong path.

The following questions are helpful to ask yourself before making decisions or walking a new path:

1. Have I prayed about these things?

2. Do these things strengthen my relationship with God?

3. Are they consistent with the teachings of Christ?

4. Are these things motivated by love?  

5. Will they harm others?

6. Will these things cause others to stumble in their faith?

7. Will they result in unity and peace?

   
   

“…the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness

 and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)