PROVERBS 25
Introduction verse 1
These are also proverbs of Solomon
which the men of Hezekiah King of Judah copied out
Responsibility of Kings verse 2- 7
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing
BUT the honor of kings is to search out a matter
the heaven for height – AND the earth for depth
AND the heart of kings is unsearchable
Take away the dross from the silver
AND there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner
take away the WICKED from before the king
AND his throne shall be established
in righteousness
Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king
AND stand not in the place of great men
For better it is that it be said to you
Come up hither
THAN that you should be put lower in the
presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen
Relationship with others verse 8- 13
Go not forth hastily to strive
LEST you know not what to do in the end thereof
when your neighbor has put you to shame
Debate your cause with your neighbor himself
AND discover not a secret to another
LEST he that hears it put you to shame
AND your infamy turn not away
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver
as an earring of gold – AND an ornament of fine gold
so is a WISE reprover upon an obedient ear
as the cold of snow in the time of harvest
so is a faithful messenger to them that send him
for he refreshes the soul of his masters
Honesty regarding personal relationships verse 14- 22
Whoso boasts himself of a false gift is
like clouds and wind without rain
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded
AND a soft tongue breaks the bone
Have you found honey? – eat so much as is sufficient for you
lest you be filled therewith – and vomit it
Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house
LEST he be weary of you – and so hate you
A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul
AND a sword – AND a sharp arrow
Confidence in an UNFAITHFUL man in a time of trouble is
like a broken tooth – AND a foot out of joint
As he that takes away a garment in cold weather
AND as vinegar upon niter
so is he that sings songs to an heavy heart
If your enemy be hungry – give him bread to eat
AND if he be thirsty – give him water to drink
FOR you shall heap coals of fire upon his head
AND the LORD shall reward you
Proper use of tongue verse 23- 26
The north wind drives away rain
SO does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
THAN with a brawling woman AND in a wide house
As cold waters to a thirsty soul
SO is good news from a far country
A RIGHTEOUS man falling down before the WICKED is as
a troubled fountain – AND a corrupt spring
Proper relationship to food verse 27- 28
It is not good to eat much honey
SO for men to search their own glory is not glory
He that hath no rule over his own spirit IS LIKE a city
that is broken down AND without walls
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
:7 “For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
Devotion: It is wrong for a person to try to promote himself to a king, claiming to be great when he is not. It is far better for the king to promote him than for the king to humiliate him in front of a nobleman whose position the status seeker is desiring. [The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 960.]
Humility is important and at times difficult to attain and keep. It is a good attribute to have confidence but confidence that goes beyond and becomes arrogance is self-defeating! Christ illustrated this in a parable (Luke 14:7–10). It is better to be confident and allow the authorities to acknowledge you than for you to be embarrassed and reduced in stature and prestige. If you are qualified your abilities will be recognized.
Application: Work hard to become good at your trade and God will reward you in His time! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9,10 Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another: lest he that hears it put you to shame, and your infamy turn not away. (7379 “debate” [riyb] means plead, argue, dispute, contention, strife, lawsuit, quarreling, or chiding.)
DEVOTION: Here we find Solomon warning his son about giving away too much information. We all have a lot of knowledge about a lot of people. We are not to share all we know about someone that has entrusted us with such knowledge. We have to be individuals who can be trusted with private information. Christians should be the ones who can hold their tongue the most. This is not always true.
Solomon deals with an occasion when there is a dispute with a neighbor. During the heat of the moment we could be tempted to inform this neighbor of what other neighbors have said about him or the occasion. Some of those who talked with you told you not to bring up their name. This is a trust. We break the trust if we do bring up the name and ask the neighbor not to mention it later. That is a sin.
Once we become someone that others can’t trust, they will spread the word about how we can’t be trusted with information. This will put us to shame. It will ruin our testimony for the LORD. Remember Christians need to be individuals that can be trusted with information.
Our reputation is at stake. The reputation of the Christian faith is at stake. Our family is at stake. Our church is at stake. Once we open our mouth and give private information out we have causes our reputation to change. Sometimes we can regain a good reputation with time but sometimes not. We are to state our case without revealing secrets entrusted to us.
The church needs to have a good reputation with those who attend. The pastor has to have a good reputation with those who come to his office for counsel. If we are in leadership, we need to watch our mouth.
This chapter deals more with the mouth than any other chapter so far in the book of proverbs. Control of our mouth is a habit we need to conquer. This is something all individuals need to conquer: men, women and children.
CHALLENGE: Guard what you know of others with the help of the Holy Spirit. Our ministry is one of encouragement, not one of spreading gossip whether good or bad about others.
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: 18 A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. (4650 “maul” [mephiyts] means scatterer, disperser, mace, club, a stick, usually with a larger and heavier end, and fashioned for use as a blunt weapon, or war-club.)
DEVOTION: Those who are willing to lie to get their way are just as bad as if someone was hitting someone with a war club. It is hard to imagine something hurting more than someone telling a lie about you.
The LORD doesn’t like those who lie about someone else and HE will judge them but while an individual is going through this time period it is hard to take because if you defend yourself than others think there is something to the lie.
The LORD knows the truth and those who are believers need to trust HIM to straight it out. HE is the ultimate judge and HE will deal with those who lie about us. It is still hard to wait on the LORD to correct a situation.
Our responsibility is to not be one who lies about someone else. We need to be encouragers of others especially those who are not able to defend themselves. We have to give others the benefit of the doubt and ask the LORD for wisdom in our dealings with others.
Finally, we have to make sure that we are not a false witness against someone especially if we don’t know all the facts we should make sure we give the individual the benefit of doubt until we know the truth.
CHALLENGE: Our comments about others need to be gracious at all times. If we can’t say something nice we should not say anything at all until we have all the facts.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. (4090 “brawling” [medan] means discord, quarrelsome, nagging, strife, contention, or source of contention.)
DEVOTION: The book of Proverbs has three verses other verses that say about the same thing regarding a wife. We have met individuals who have tried to have their husband know the LORD by their nagging. It has not worked.
The New Testament tells wives to win their husbands by a meek and quiet spirit. The difference in the household would be great. Very little is accomplished by causing discord in the house. Very little is accomplished by having a quarrelsome attitude.
Those who are followers of Christ must realize that the LORD wants us to win individuals to the LORD by a meek and quiet spirit. We have the truth. Marriage is supposed to be a loving relationship. Some marriages are not. What should we do? Divorce is something that God hates. Can God cause a marriage that is filled with discord and strife to change into a loving relationship? YES, but the two must become one and work together.
Marriage is each one giving 100%, even it the other doesn’t. Is that fair? NO. Is it Biblical? YES. Every couple has to turn their marriage and their lives over to the LORD and HE can work a miracle.
Two can live together in harmony. Marriage is W.O.R.K. – Worship: going to church together and each having a personal relationship with the LORD; Organization: Each one in the marriage has their own personal responsibilities around the house, Routine: marriage can get boring at times and that has to be remembered and planned for; and Keepsakes: these are memories built around vacations, special trips or dinner out together, pictures need to be taken and souvenir need to be purchased to remember these special times. Even those who have married those who don’t know the LORD can practice these things without causing problems regarding them becoming a follower of Christ.
I have used this message at my children’s wedding and the weddings of others. If we are true worshipers of the LORD, we will forgive our spouse and move on to a better marriage. Let us all W.O.R.K. at our marriage in a Biblical manner and see what can happen! Remember to read the Bible and pray together daily if both are believers!!!
CHALLENGE: Daily personal time with the LORD will encourage longsuffering for those who have married someone who doesn’t know the LORD. If you and your spouse are believers, the LORD can help you overcome any problem or situation in your marriage. NO NAGGING is the rule.)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Proverbs of Solomon verse 1
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 2
Glory of God verse 2
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 22
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
King verse 1- 3, 5, 6
Establish throne in righteousness
Great men verse 6
Prince verse 7, 15
Neighbor verse 8, 9, 17, 18
withdraw your foot from his house
Wise reprover verse 12
Faithful messenger verse 13
refreshes the soul of his masters
Unfaithful man verse 19
Enemy verse 21
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Fool verse 2
Wicked verse 5, 26
Hasty strive verse 8
Discover not a secret to another verse 9, 10
Boaster verse 14
False witness verse 18
Unfaithful man verse 19
Angry countenance verse 23
Backbiting tongue verse 23
Brawling woman verse 24
No rule over your own spirit verse 28
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Take away the dross verse 4
Righteousness verse 5
Words fitly spoken verse 11
Wise reprover verse 12
Obedient ear verse 12
Faithful messenger verse 13
Soft tongue verse 15
Treatment of enemy verse 21, 22
hungry – give him food
thirsty – give him drink
heap coals of fire upon his head
LORD will reward believer
Reward verse 22
Good news verse 25
Righteous man verse 26
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Solomon (Proverbs of) verse 1- 28
Wise reprover on an obedient ear
Not good to eat much honey
Hezekiah – king of Judah verse 1
Kings search out a matter verse 2, 3
Heart of kings is unsearchable
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
28 Without self-control a person is vulnerable. The point of the comparison to a broken-down city is that one who lacks self-control has no defenses. (Ross, A. P. (1991). Proverbs. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 1086). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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25:28. Without walls a city was vulnerable to enemy attacks. And an undisciplined person, who lacks self-control (cf. 14:17, 29; 16:32; 29:11), is also vulnerable to trouble. (Walvoord, J. F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 961). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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This lies at the very heart of the matter: the Christian who practices self-control will not be destroyed by anger, nor will he or she destroy others. This verse ought to be compared with 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” For people to rule their own spirit, the “inner kingdom,” is better than to rule the world. Alexander the Great was able to conquer the known world, yet he could not conquer himself. Of course, the only way for us to have this self-control is through the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. We “reign in life” through Christ (Rom. 5:17). Self-control (temperance) is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23); the flesh cannot produce self-control, for the flesh is at war with God.
It is self-control that gives us the patience we need, as outlined at the beginning of this study. If we exercise self-control at the very start of a problem, it will save us all kinds of trouble later on. Proverbs 17:14 compares the beginning of strife to a small leak from a dam; if you are not careful, the break will enlarge and you will have a flood on your hands. It is easier to stop the small leak at the start than to try to control a raging flood. Proverbs 30:33 presents a different picture: the churning of butter and the wringing of the nose. The lesson is clear: to force wrath and encourage trouble only produces more trouble. Self-control, produced by the Spirit, will enable a believer to handle these matters patiently and wisely.
The ability to be angry about the right matters in the right way helps to build character. Certainly we ought to be aroused about injustice and sin. But when anger flares up in temper, it becomes destructive. Godly anger is like the steam power in the boiler: if it is directed to the right matters it accomplishes much good. Unrighteous anger—losing one’s temper—is more like a forest fire that gets out of control and destroys much good. Psalm 19:14 (nkjv) is a good prayer for us to use: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Pr 25:28). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” In other words, such a person is highly vulnerable. A man who gets drunk, loses his temper on the slightest provocation, or cannot control his lusts is like a city with broken walls. His enemies soon get to know his weak spot and exploit it.
In modern times Austria was handed over to Hitler partly because Dr. Kurt von Schuschnigg, the Austrian chancellor, was addicted to tobacco! Throughout 1937, after the Nazis had already won far-reaching concessions from the Austrian government, the Austrian Nazis, financed and inspired by Berlin, kept up a campaign of terror. They had plans to assassinate Schuschnigg and create a climate for armed German intervention in Austria. Mussolini and Hitler had forged the Rome-Berlin axis. Britain and France were seeking appeasement. Then Hitler summoned Schuschnigg to a meeting in the palace at Berchtesgaden on February 12, 1938.
The wily Franz von Papen, Hitler’s special ambassador to Vienna, met Schuschnigg and his party at the frontier and dropped a hint. He told him on the way to the conference that the führer had three generals with him: Keitel, the chief of the German army; Reichenau, who commanded German forces on the Austrian frontier; and Sperrle, who commanded the German air force in the area. Schuschnigg, a Jesuit-trained intellectual, became alarmed when he heard that Hitler had his military advisers with him, for Austria was in no condition to argue with generals, but Von Papen assured the Austrian that Hitler was in a good mood.
Wearing the uniform of a storm trooper, Hitler greeted the polite Austrian chancellor, who soon found himself alone with the dictator in the second-floor study, which commanded a breathtaking view of the snow-clad Alps and Austria. When Schuschnigg made a general remark about the view and the weather, Hitler rudely cut him short and broke into a tirade that continued for two hours.
Schuschnigg never had a chance. The pedantic Austrian reminded Hitler of the school professors he had detested in his boyhood and he took delight in hectoring, threatening, bullying, and shouting at him. The führer kept using the chancellor’s personal name instead of his title and watched for the first sign of weakness, the first hint of fear. Full of rage and venom, Hitler reminded his nervous visitor of Austria’s isolation and helplessness, called for General Keitel, and issued his ultimatum.
The führer allowed the Austrian no time to compose his thoughts and during the crucial morning session he refused the wretched man permission to smoke. Schuschnigg was a chain smoker, so he was not only assailed psychologically; he was also tortured by a desperate craving for tobacco. Thus tortured, before the day was done he was willing to sign anything. In the end Schuschnigg signed a new agreement with Hitler and, along with it, the death warrant of Austria. Truly, “he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Proverbs 19–31: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 2, Pr 25:28). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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Ver. 28. He that hath no rule over his own spirit, &c.] His affections and passions, puts no restraint unto them, as the word signifies; no guard against them, no fence about them, to curb his curiosity, to check his pride and vanity, to restrain his wrath and anger and revenge, and keep within due bounds his ambition and itch of vain-glory. Is like a city that is broken down and without walls. into which the enemy may go with pleasure, and which is exposed to the rapine and violence of every one; and so a man that has no command of himself and passions, but gives the reins to them, is exposed to the enemy of souls, Satan; and is liable to every sin, snare, and temptation. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 504). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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So much of the teaching today is about horizontal behavioral adjustments, but there is very little on the vertical focus of you and God. (James MacDonald, Downpour)
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What Began at Philippi ______________________________________________________ THE SAVIOR ____________________________________________________________ |
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AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS ISSUES WARNING AGAINST SPANKING CHILDREN (Friday Church News Notes, November 23, 2018, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) -The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a strong policy statement claiming that the use of corporal punishment in the home is harmful. The group, which represents about 67,000 doctors, defines spanking as “noninjurious, openhanded hitting with the intention of modifying child behavior.” The group’s previous policy encouraged parents not to spank, but stopped short of calling it harmful. According to polls, the use of spanking in the U.S. has declined over the past two decades, but 70% of adults still have enough sense to agree that a “good, hard spanking is sometimes necessary to discipline a child” (2014 General Social Survey, cited from “Spanking Is Ineffective and Harmful, Pediatricians’ Group Says,” New York Times, Nov. 5, 2018). There are still 19 states in the U.S. that either allow spanking in schools or do not have specific rules prohibiting it. God’s Word is unequivocal on the issue. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Proverbs 13:24). “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15). Note that the Bible is enjoining the rod of loving correction, not the rod of hateful abuse.
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Hebrews 1
Because Christ is the Son of God, He is superior to angels in every way.
INSIGHT
Angels do not seem real to us. They are found in fairy tales, and we tell children about them; but we tend not to take them seriously. They are very real, however, and play an important role in ministering to us as believers. Throughout the Bible we only get glimpses of the work of angels in our lives, but one of those glimpses is found in today’s chapter. We read here that they are sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation. Perhaps this is the passage from which the idea of a guardian angel has come. Apparently, angels can appear in human form, for some have “entertained angels” without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). They are also very active in world affairs. At present, they are much greater than men, but one day redeemed men will “judge angels” (1 Corinthians 6:3). (Quiet Walk)
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Thanksgiving Day after Day
by Barbara Rainey
He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me. PSALM 50:23
Has it ever seemed surprising to you that God made the Israelites wander in the wilderness for 40 years just for grumbling and complaining? My kids may have spent 30 minutes in their rooms for griping, but 40 years? That’s some severe discipline!
One thing is crystal clear from this biblical account: God is obviously not pleased with grumbling, ungrateful hearts. And we should not tolerate grumbling either—in ourselves or in our children.
Being grateful is a choice that we readily and ritually express on Thanksgiving Day. But what do we do on other days of the year when the mood is less festive or the atmosphere is more ordinary?
I like the contented way the Pilgrims approached life. They did not allow their feelings or circumstances to determine whether or not they would exercise gratitude and thanksgiving. They believed that God was in control—”providence,” they called it. Following this belief to its logical conclusion, they responded to challenges with a perspective that said, “God has allowed this for our good.” They chose to believe—rightly so—that their dependence on a holy, faithful God was well placed and that even though much was against them, there was always much more for which to be grateful.
Developing a heart of gratitude is essential to growing a stronger faith. As John Piper stated in his book A Godward Life, “If we do not believe that we are deeply dependent on God for all we have or hope to have, the very spring of gratitude and faith runs dry.”
Make the choice today to take your eyes off yourself and your circumstances, gratefully acknowledging who God is and what He is doing. Deny yourself the right to complain, embracing instead the deep-seated joy of thanksgiving . . . in all things.
A grateful heart pleases God.
DISCUSS
How would a more thankful spirit alter your approach to the situations you’re facing as a family? Make a list together of some things you need to be grateful for right now. (Moments with You by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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God miraculously parts the Jordan River for the people of Israel to cross over.
INSIGHT
There are two times in history when God parts water for the Israelites-once at the Red Sea as they flee from the Egyptian army and again at the Jordan River as they enter the Promised Land.
The Red Sea experience receives more acclaim, but the Jordan River experience is just as miraculous. The water parts for a distance of almost 20 miles as the nation passes over on dry ground during the flood stage.
God is faithful to accomplish His good purposes for His people. (Quiet Walk)
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ACCEPTING AND SUBMITTING
The common people heard him gladly. Mark 12:37
If it were a matter of understanding and abstract reasoning, then this Gospel of the New Testament and salvation would just be for a handful of people in this world. You would have to be an expert philosopher; you would have to go to colleges and universities to be trained in philosophy. So there would be no gospel for the common, ordinary man. But thank God, here is a Gospel that tells us that “the common people heard him gladly.”
Philosophers cannot preach to the poor; the poor could not follow them, and all the Greek philosophers have nothing to say to such people. But the Gospel is preached to the poor. Here, then, is a proof of the whole thing. It is not understanding that is essential—it is accepting and submitting; it is giving yourself to Jesus Christ.
So we see that the message of the Gospel is that if you are in trouble and in difficulty about Him, don’t stop with arguing and going around in circles. I say this with feeling because I have known myself what that means. I did it for years, arguing and reasoning, and you come back exactly to where you began. I do not hesitate to say that if you persist in trying to understand the essence of this Gospel, you will die in the same position as you are now—you will never understand. Do what John the Baptist did—go to Christ as you see Him in the Gospels.
That is why, by the grace of God, the Gospels have been written. We cannot go see Christ in the flesh, but we can go to the Gospels and have a look at Him. And this is what we see: We are struck by the way He expounds the Scriptures in a way no one ever did before.
A Thought to Ponder
It is not understanding that is essential—it is accepting and submitting; it is giving yourself to Jesus Christ.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 20-21 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Action Verbs
“Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-20)
This passage is similar to others (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:6-9) throughout Moses’ writings and concerns the preserving and propagating of the news of God’s miraculous protection of the people of Israel and the marvelous legal code He had revealed to them. We can understand better the care by which this preservation was to take place by noting the action verbs used in this passage.
First, the people were to “lay up” or impress the information in their hearts and souls. Every fiber of their being was to be aware of and in submission to the law. This personal commitment was to be aided by physical reminders “bound” on each person’s hands and clothing, in plain sight, so that it could not be ignored or forgotten
Next, the personal saturation was to move from the family leaders into the family, particularly the children. Parents were to “teach” the law, “speaking” of it at every opportunity, whether sitting, walking, lying down, or rising up. In this way, the personal would become corporate.
Finally, it was to become public, for each was instructed to “write” portions of the law where all could see and know of the personal commitment within.
Before God will give us a public ministry, there must be an inner submission to and love for the things of God. This should be obvious to everyone around us. Then God can use us at home and elsewhere to His glory. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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