So God’s rest is there for people to enter.
—Hebrews 4:6, NLT

Let’s explore a biblical principle God set in motion at the close of
creation week—the principle of Sabbath. It’s so important that the
violation of it in Old Testament times meant certain death.

I’m not going to suggest that we change the day of our religious
activities to Saturday. Nor do I propose that we ban all Sunday
activities. I simply want to introduce a concept that is valid, relevant
and necessary in our contemporary society—the Sabbath rest.

Unfortunately, many bogus concepts of Sabbath abound in today’s
society. The most common is that the Sabbath is the only day of the week
in which we are required to serve God. Report to church and you’ve done
your religious duty for another week.

However, that concept is a minor error compared with the glaring
misinterpretation of the Pharisees. In their teachings, false concepts
abound: the washing of one’s hands, the prohibition of carrying certain
articles, various rituals and no healing on the Sabbath.

So what does it really mean for a New Testament Christian to “keep
the Sabbath”? After all, doing so is one of the Ten Commandments (see Ex. 20:9-11).

A Jewish writer once described the Sabbath as “an island in time,
removed from the mainland of one’s work week—thus providing that
peaceful calm that contemporary man aspires to but never quite reaches.”
The principle of Sabbath is one of rest, refreshment and reflection on
God.

God’s idea of Sabbath never involved constraint or restriction. It
was meant to be a help to us! “‘The Sabbath was made to meet the needs
of the people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath'” (Mark 2:27, NLT).

The Sabbath was made for man—for the purpose of refreshing his spirit, soul and body. It is to be a day of complete relaxation.

The Sabbath allows time for spiritual disciplines such as solitude,
silence and meditation—practices the average Christian knows little
about. Is it any wonder so many of us are burning out and falling apart?
We need to return to the principle of Sabbath rest.

The Bible says there is a place of rest for God’s people (see Heb. 4:6). It is found in exercising the principle of Sabbath.

The Sabbath doesn’t have to be observed on a particular day of the
week or become the keeping of some legalistic ritual. But it is a
principle that provides great benefit.

If you don’t currently keep the Sabbath, begin this week—and expect to be transformed!

John Chasteen is the executive director of LifeCoaching Institute at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Oklahoma.

The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them understand wise sayings.
—Prov. 1:2, NLT

Are you looking for “ancient
wisdom” with a modern application? Look no further; the book of Proverbs
contains your answer! Proverbs is a unique collection of short, pithy
sayings designed to impart wisdom, understanding and knowledge.

Proverbs is undoubtedly one of
the most practical books in the entire Bible. Why? Because it deals with
the practical, everyday issues of life. Oddly enough, little if any
mention is made in the book about heaven or the afterlife. Rather, it is
packed with information about living in the here and now.

According to 1 Kings 4:32,
Solomon composed most of the book by writing more than 3,000 proverbs
and 1,005 songs. Scholars believe Solomon started the book about 970
B.C., and Hezekiah completed and compiled it approximately 200 years
later (see Prov. 25:1). Other authors include Lemuel, Agur and other
wise men of the time.

The Scriptures give us glimpses
of Solomon’s influence and wisdom. He was believed to have been a
botanist, zoologist and lover of animals. He was also an architect,
statesman, orator, ambassador, poet, judge and counselor. Finally, he
was a “marriage expert”!

One of his royal visitors
affirmed Solomon this way: “’Everything I heard in my country about your
achievements and wisdom is true! I didn’t believe it until I arrived
here and saw it with my own eyes. Truly I had not heard the half of it!
Your wisdom and prosperity are far greater than what I was told’” (1
Kings 10:6-7, NLT).

The style of the book of
Proverbs places it in the section of the Bible scholars label “Books of
Poetry.” This does not mean poetry as we know it in the Western world,
with rhyme and meter. Rather, it means a simple setting forth of the
truth in parabolic manner. Most ancient cultures in the Middle East had
what is called “wisdom writings.” The book of Proverbs falls into this
category.

Don’t let the idea of a Hebraic
proverb throw you. The style is common to every language. The Hebrew
word for proverb, masal, means “to be like, to compare to, or, is like.”
As we study language or people groups, we find that each one has its
proverbs.

Have you ever heard someone use
statements such as “dumb as a rock” or “stubborn as a mule”? These are
contemporary examples of the use of proverbs. We use them daily.

Much more could be said about
the book of Proverbs, but it’s time to start reading. Are you ready?
Pick up your Bible and dive in!

In the conclusion of his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul wrote: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord. … Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11, NLT). How often do you feel “strong in the Lord”? Many Christians more frequently feel “small and puny” or “frail and afraid.”

The good thing is, Paul wasn’t telling the Ephesian believers (or us) that through self-effort we could just be strong-he wasn’t saying, “Just do it!” as the Nike commercial says. He goes on in verses 13-18 to explain that being strong in the Lord requires getting suited up for battle. Spiritually speaking, he compares it to dressing like the professional soldiers in his day.

First, he says, we are to put on is the “belt of truth.” Both truth and integrity must encircle every part of our lives as Christians. When humanism says that all truth is relative, God says, “I am truth” (John 14:6), and He never changes (see Heb. 13:8).

Second, we are to put on the “breastplate of righteousness.” We need God’s righteousness (being in right relationship with Him) covering and protecting our hearts. It is by Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross that we can accept God’s righteousness.

Third, we are to cover our feet with a readiness to go and preach the gospel. Have you ever tried to walk on gravel in your bare feet? It hurts! You don’t want to move-it’s easier just to stand still. That’s why Paul urges us to cover our feet-so we can be ready to go with the gospel. Are you ready to proclaim the good news anytime, anywhere?

Next, we are to take up the “shield of faith.” Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (NKJV). Paul’s instruction to “take up the shield of faith” (NLT) points us to the Word of God. You must fill your life with His promises.

To protect our minds, we are to put on the “helmet of salvation.” Are your thoughts protected? The Fire Bible: Global Study Edition note for verse 13 says, “Being renewed in our minds (Rom. 12:2) and confident in our relationship with God will protect us in battle.” You can do this by focusing on God’s good things (see Phil. 4:8) and not on the corrupting influences of the world around you.

The next piece of God’s armor is the “sword of the Spirit,” or God’s Word. It’s imperative that we hide God’s Word in our hearts (see Ps. 119:11), for it’s not only a shield of faith but also a weapon for thwarting the enemy when he comes to put doubts in our hearts.

Finally, Paul tells us to “pray in the Spirit” on all occasions. Turning again to the Fire Bible: Global Study Edition, we read, “Prayer is not to be viewed as just another spiritual weapon but as part of the actual conflict itself,” and “Failure to pray diligently with all kinds of prayer in all situations is to surrender to the enemy.”

We must be like warriors who prepare and train for the battle they know they will face. This month, make your battle plan, ready your armor and draw close to God. In Him we are strong.

In Genesis 13, Lot chose selfishly and moved his family to the choicest land-near the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose inhabitants sinned greatly. Abram, Lot’s uncle, generously let him go; and for his generosity, God blessed Abram and allowed him to settle his family in a safe area.

Later, God used Abram to rescue Lot from the evil cities before He destroyed them. Abram learned the blessings of being generous and following God’s plan.

We often think of giving as being limited to money or things. We need to give our time or talents to the Lord as well. The abilities the Lord has given you can be offered as a special gift.

On occasion, the most important thing we can give to help others is our time. Giving with a cheerful heart comes when we give our time, money or talents as if we were giving them directly to the Lord.

Though others may not receive these thankfully, God will add His blessing to our willingness to give.

A missionary learned this when he agreed to minister to the congregation of a poor church. Not expecting a significant offering, he nevertheless was excited to meet and talk with the people on the front porch after the service.

As he was leaving for the night, a woman approached him and handed him two $1 bills. “This is all I have but I want to give it to you so you can tell others about the love of Jesus,” she said. The missionary carries the two bills to this day to remind him of her perfect example of sacrificial giving out of a heart of love.

We never should give with the intention of gaining something in return from the Lord. We should give only as an act of love. The study note for 2 Corinthians 9:11 from the Fire Bible: Global Edition puts it this way:

“In order for us to express true generosity outwardly, our hearts must become rich in true love and compassion for others. We should always pray and ask God to give us this kind of heart for others. Giving of ourselves and our possessions results in (1) supplying the needs of those who are lacking in some way, (2) praise and thanksgiving to God (v. 12) and (3) love from those who receive our help (v. 14).”

This month consider your attitude toward giving. How can you give of your (1) time; (2) talents; (3) money/resources?

Hide the Word in Your Heart memory verse: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

Adapted from Principles 4Life (Life Publishers International), available free of charge at .

The book of Romans would be incomplete without a masterful treatise on the plight of God’s people, the Jews. Paul provides this treatise in chapters 9-11 of the book. The setting for the story is this: The Jews, God’s chosen people, are about to be temporarily displaced from their active role in God’s kingdom. Their continued disobedience finally had run its course, and the result was an awful price to pay:

“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it” (Rom. 11: 11-12, NLT).

Paul begins by stating God’s ability to triumph in spite of the Jews’ glaring failure. At first glance, one might conclude that God had failed with His own people. However, Paul reveals that the disobedience of the Jews opened the door for salvation for the rest of the world.

He reinforces his understanding of God’s sovereignty by using three Old Testament examples to demonstrate his point: the birth announcement of Jacob and Esau, the story of Pharaoh’s wicked rule and the declaration from the prophet Hosea.

From there he continues unveiling God’s sovereign plan for bringing the gentiles into the kingdom. He unashamedly announces that the gentiles were not even headed in God’s general direction (see verses 30-33). They were not pursuing God’s righteousness. According to Paul, the Jews were even further off course, trying to establish their own righteousness.

He sums up by saying that the real issue for both parties was their dealings with the stone of offense—Christ Jesus. One fell on the stone and was broken; the other was crushed by its enormity and influence.

In chapter 10 Paul revisits the reason for the Jews’ diminishing role-their rejection of the Messiah. “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?” (Rom. 10:14, NLT).

Paul continues his theme in chapter 11 by asking another rhetorical question: “Has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel?” He explains that though a deep sleep has settled upon them because of their continued obstinacy, God can easily graft the Jews back into His kingdom. They are still the people He loves because of their ancestral covenant through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

John Chasteen is the assistant dean of Southwestern Christian University Graduate School in Bethany, Oklahoma. He writes a weekly blog at .

Many of God’s people are not schooled in the art of moving on. We spend a lot of our time stuck, not able to move beyond what happened yesterday.

Now the Lord said to Samuel, ‘You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem.’ ”
—1 Samuel 16:1, NLT

This passage from the Bible indicates that Samuel had reached a place in his life from which he needed to move on. Ever been there? Like it or not, we all hit this type of place periodically in our journey of faith.

Unfortunately, many of God’s people are not schooled in the art of moving on. We spend a lot of our time stuck, living in the past, never able to move beyond what happened yesterday. We’re unskilled at navigating new beginnings.

The Bible shows us that life is a succession of closures and new beginnings. God said to Abraham, “‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you’ ” (Gen. 12:1, NLT). We see this pattern demonstrated time and again in the lives of God’s choice are required to let go of the old and step out in faith toward the new.

Closure is one of the great keys to moving forward in life. When we don’t understand its importance, we often get stuck in our yesterdays or simply grow comfortable with the way things are.

It is foolish on our part to believe that nothing in life will ever change. Everything changes! Our characters develop, our personalities blossom, our attitudes change, and unfortunately, our bodies grow older.

The definition of the word “closure” is “to bring something to a close; to bring to an end, to resolve and finalize it in your thinking, to move beyond.” It’s the act of resolving to let something go. Most often, closure is a decision; it’s an act of the human will. Sometimes it is easy, at other times grueling. More often than not, it is purely an act of faith; feelings catch up with you later.

Many who are struggling with a decision to move on in life will battle incessantly with ambivalence. Ambivalence is the emotional turmoil one feels when weighing the pros and cons of life’s decisions. As uncomfortable as it is, ambivalence is actually a part of the process and forces us to fully examine our decisions in light of good judgment. Ambivalence must be endured as we process life.

Is it possible the Lord is saying to you, “You have mourned long enough”? Could it be that you need closure in an area of your life? Undoubtedly, God wants to take you into something new. Are you ready for it?

What’s up with Paul and the struggle with his flesh? Shouldn’t this spiritual giant have been beyond such a struggle? Why would he need to take drastic measures to control his body?

As Christians we are called to discipline our bodies. By “discipline” I mean to take charge of urges motivated by the flesh. Whether we like it or not, the Word is clear that we are to control our fleshly desires.

So why does Paul make such an extreme statement? Mainly because he knows our bodies are not yet redeemed and that they have the potential to impede our spiritual progress.

In verse 27, when referring to the discipline of his own body, Paul uses a strong Greek word to get his point across. The word hupopeadzo conveys the idea of handling roughly or forcing into submission. This was Paul’s attitude toward his flesh.

Romans 8:9-10 tells us that because of sin our bodies are dead. The verses are not referring to physical death but rather to the fact that our bodies are not alive to God, that they do not want to participate in spiritual matters.

For instance, the physical body has no desire to pray or worship. It is dead, so to speak, to the things of God and must be made to cooperate.

As a matter of fact, Paul goes on to explain that our bodies are somewhat unspiritual. Not in the sense that the human body is unprofitable or bad, but rather in the sense that the principle of sin operates through the unredeemed physical body, thus making it not spiritual.

Sin working through the body also can easily sidetrack our spiritual progress. Romans 6:12-13 says: “Do not let sin control the way you live. … Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.”

If left undisciplined, the body will become an instrument through which sin can dominate.

Paul clearly understood the need to discipline his body, and he took drastic measures to ensure that he kept it in check.

If this great man of God needed to discipline his body, we certainly need to bring ours into subjection—especially since failure to do so can lead to disqualification.

John Chasteen is the assistant dean of Southwestern Christian University Graduate School in Bethany, Oklahoma. He writes a weekly blog at .

Need wisdom for daily living? Most of us do!