Month: May 2021

The Plans of the Heart

Posted on by Michael Wine

The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. Proverbs 16:1

The core meaning of this verse is that our plans are subject to the will and word of God. Our hearts make plans, but God’s word is the authority over those plans. God determines if we will be allowed to carry out our plans.

This simple truth has powerful applications to our lives today. What is the Self-Help industry but a vast collection of human thought surrounding the question of how to bring our plans to reality?

We hear about the great power of “positive thinking” as if it the correct positive mindset can almost magically bring about our plans.

Another idea is not so much being positive, but being focused. The more focused you are, the more likely you are to achieve what you want.

I could go on. What is interesting is that these do seem to work. Being positive, optimistic, and focused does seem to help. However, what about all the people who are all of these and yet do not achieve their desired end?

The wisdom of Proverbs provides the answer. God decides, ultimately, if our plans will come about – not us.

Our part is to make plans. So, if you are lazy, apathetic and undisciplined, the game ends before it begins. You have not yet made a plan. You are not trying to get somewhere. You have no goal.

But, once you do set your aim on something, and are working hard to get there, remember that the success or failure of the project is already decided in heaven be the decree of the sovereign God.

Flat Earth Bible Verses?

Posted on by Michael Wine

This is a helpful video for anyone wanting to learn how to articulate a response to claims that the Bible supports the idea that the earth is flat instead of a globe.

It was helpful to me for a few reasons:

  1. It was not about flat earth. Instead it only tries to show that the verses used to support flat earth, do not actually do that. It’s about what the Bible says, not about the Earth’s cosmology.
  2. It shows how to use context, both of the verses and of the whole Bible, to identify the meaning of words and phrases.
  3. It is very thorough and covers a large number of so called proof texts for flat earth.

Do Good and Don’t Give Up

Posted on by Michael Wine

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

It would be easy to use this verse wrongly to motivate ourselves to seek earthly success. The full scope of the good we are not to grow weary of is outlined in the paragraph that this verse is contained in:

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:6-10

The good we are to do, and not give up in doing, is meant to plant spiritual seeds in order to reap spiritual fruit. That spiritual fruit is labeled in this passage – eternal life.

Many use this principle of sowing and reaping to advocate sowing and reaping to and from the things of the world. Sow hard work and shrewd business dealings and reap houses, wealth, possessions, and fame. But is this not sowing to your own flesh?

Is it wrong to reap earthly benefits then? Not at all. But those earthly rewards are not to be confused with spiritual rewards. Eternal life is not of this world but comes into the world from God. The good work we do toward others then (“and especially to those who are of the household of faith“) is meant to yield a reward in eternity, not just here on earth now.

Do not give up, then, in doing good for others, even if you never see the results of your work here during you life on earth. In due time the results will come, even if they only come when you have left this world and stand before Christ as He shows you the fruit of your labor.

Then, God willing, we will see that we were not really doing the work at all. It was God who was doing the work through us. How many mindless acts of kindness did Christ do through us that we never noticed? How many souls were pointed to Him through His witness of Himself in us? The ultimate reward will be in the wonder of seeing just how many amazing things God did through poor weak sinners such as we are. And God will be glorified through us.

Generosity and Wealth

Posted on by Michael Wine

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

True prosperity never exists in isolation. Those who hoard possessions and care not for others only isolate themselves. Thus, those who desire wealth the most, are the ones who do not prosper because they are not generous with others.

Be Different

Posted on by Michael Wine

If your life was streamed to the world sitcom style, would it look like a sitcom? Would you be different enough from the world, that people would notice?

Or would you accepted as another clone of culture, praised for your congruity with the values of our time?

When the Christian Church was founded, and gentiles were getting saved, a letter was sent from the leaders of the Church to the new believers to tell them how to conduct themselves. Here is what it said in part:

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” Acts 15:28-29

The bottom line is that these new Christians were to be different from the world of their day. Each item in the list communicates that in some way.

If the leaders wrote a letter to you, what would it say? No doubt it would still prohibit sexual immorality. Perhaps it would warn against the worldliness of materialism and riches. Perhaps it would instruct us not to live our lives in vain pursuits and passing pleasures, but with purpose and resolve to honor Christ.

It would tell us to be different.

Early morning with children

Posted on by Michael Wine

Instead of sleeping in too late, rushing to start each day, I got up early, read some and got to sit for a while with my kids on the couch in relative calm.

Tip for making kids calm: give them something to eat. Then, you can sit with them quietly for a limited time.

Recommended: Confessions of Saint Augustine

Posted on by Michael Wine

If you are looking for a book to mull over for years to come, look no further than Confessions by Saint Augustine. It is a deep and thorough examination of one man’s heart and all of its self-deceptions. More than that, it is a wonderful example of a humble, broken man, praising God in spite or (or because of) his own weakness and sin.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book (so far since I’m not finished).

If physical objects please you, praise God for them, but turn back your love to their creator, lest, in those things which please you, you displease him. If souls please you, let them be loved in God; for in themselves they are mutable, but in him firmly established — without him they would simply cease to exist. In Him, then, let them be loved; and bring along to him with yourself as many souls as you can, and say to them: “Let us love him, for he himself created all these, and he is not far away from them. For he did not create them, and then go away. They are of him and in him. See, there he is, wherever truth is known. He is within the inmost heart, yet the heart has wandered away from him. Return to your heart, you transgressors, and hold fast to him who made you. Stand with him and you shall stand fast. Rest in him and you shall be at rest. Where do you go along these rugged paths? Where are you going? The good that you love is from him, and insofar as it is also for him, it is both good and pleasant. But it will rightly be turned to bitterness if whatever comes from him is not rightly loved and if he is deserted for the love of the creature. Why then will you wander farther and farther in these difficult and toilsome ways? There is no rest where you seek it. Seek what you seek; but remember that it is not where you seek it. You seek for a blessed life in the land of death. It is not there. For how can there be a blessed life where life itself is not?

(Augustine, The Confessions, paragraph 4.12.18)

Trusting God’s Promises in Times of Trouble

Posted on by Michael Wine

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! Psalm 119:25

This verse reveals the correct response to trials and hard times that come in life.

The phrase “My soul clings to the dust” seems to indicate that the writer’s life is in peril. It could mean that he is sick and near death, or that he is weighed down with the cares and worry of earthly life.

In our lives when we are in similar circumstances, what is our normal response? Do we seek comfort from our possessions, family, or friends? Do we binge Netflix shows, eat unhealthy food, or go to the doctor (in the case of sickness)?

What does the writer do? He turns to God’s word. Specifically, he considers the promises of God and asks God to fulfill those promises. Notice that he says “according to your word” when he asks for life. This indicates that he has in mind the promises of God to give life to those in Israel who are obedient to the Law.

In times of trouble, may we imitate the psalmist and call upon God to meet His promises to us as we have faith in Jesus Christ, who promised to never leave or forsake us. Then, as we trust God, let us make wise choices. But the faith should come first.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

God counsels man through His Word.

Posted on by Michael Wine

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. Psalm 119:24

Christian, you have access to the wisest of all counselors in the Word of God.

God Himself has spoken. He has given principles, commands, laws that communicate the truth about Himself, us, the world, and how we are to live in it.

Have you ever asked a trusted friend or family member for advice regarding a difficult situation in your life? Did you also consult the Bible?

If you did not, you are missing out on the source of real wisdom. Read the commandments and learn about how God wants His people to live in the world. Draw principles from this and apply it to your own life. In this way, God Himself will be your trusted advisor. He who sits in heaven will stoop to serve lowly man and whisper wisdom in your ear.

Death and Restoration

Posted on by Michael Wine

And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Ezra 3:11

Everyone loves a comeback story. That is what this scene depicts. It shows the people of Israel making their comeback after long years in exile in Babylon.

And so they rejoice and give thanks to God. Can you put yourself in their shoes for a moment? They had lost everything: their homes, history, culture. God abandoned them in a sense to their captors and sent them to live in exile.

Their temple was destroyed, the very symbol of who Israel was. The whole nation had lost their identity. They were adrift, lost, hopeless.

And then God made a way for some to return. He gave them a chance to go home, and to lay again the foundation for a new temple. To them, it must have felt like a new chance at fulfilling God’s plan for Israel.

Yet, there were some there that day who still remembered the way things were. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy… Ezra 3:12

Even though there was hope for the future, these older priests knew that it could never be the same as it was. Can’t we all relate to that feeling? There is so much brokenness in the world and in our lives. Yes there is hope and we can do much to make things better. But, there is also the tragedy of our sin that has broken things that can’t be repaired or replaced.

We must live in a balance of giving thanks to God for what He has given, rejoicing in hope, while also allowing ourselves and others to mourn the losses caused by sin and death.

And as Christians, the glorious reality is that in the end, God will restore what was broken. Because Jesus died and rose again, we do have an eternal hope that what our sin has destroyed and killed, God will raise back to life again better than ever.