what's right with righteousness

The Word of God is powerful. Maybe you have experienced that reality as many people I have talked to when the Bible became a big part of their lives. It has also become a big part of my life and my family. There is transformation and change that happens when we read the Bible and even more when we apply what it says.

About 18 years ago that I was sitting in a conference room in north Georgia listening to a pastor I greatly respect talk about how God changed His life. One of the big things that impacted him was daily reading the Bible and especially reading Proverbs. I listened and applied that to my life. You most likely have heard or read me talk about the importance of reading Scripture. You have most likely been encouraged by me to read Proverbs. 18 years later I continue daily reading the book of wisdom from the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon who wrote Proverbs.

Yesterday was one of those days. It was chapter 11 because yesterday was the 11th day of the month. The thoughts that rolled through my mind much of the day led me to read it again in the evening. It was then that I took a look at the contrast of the wicked and the righteous. God will bless the righteous. Notice what God says in Proverbs 11 about what happens to us when we claim and live righteous lives:

Verse 2 --- with humility comes wisdom

--- pride leads to disgrace

Verse 3 --- honesty guides

--- dishonesty destroys

Verse 13 --- gossips tell lies

--- trustworthy keep confidence

Verse 17 --- kindness rewards you

--- cruelty destroys you

Verse 19 --- godly people find life

--- evil people find death

Verse 20 --- God delights in integrity

--- God detests crooked hearts

Verse 23 --- godly look for reward

--- wicked expect judgment

Verse 24 --- give freely and become wealthy

--- be stingy and lose everything

Verse 25 --- the generous will prosper and will be refreshed

Verse 30 --- seeds of good deeds become tree of life

May God teach us to long for His righteousness. May our lives demonstrate His righteousness. May we desire to be right not so we can be better than others or to gloat. But may our lives be the example others need when life stinks because we have found and experienced the grace of God that leads to righteousness!

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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