"I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah was to be a prophet to the nations. What's your deal? What does God want you to do?

Not only did God know you before time began; not only does He love you beyond understanding; not only did He make you unique from everyone else, but God has a specific and special purpose just

"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. Jeremiah 1:6-8 NIV

This is what is going to happen.

And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. Luke 11:37 - 38 NKJV

The Pharisee probably had an ulterior motive for inviting Jesus to his house. Pharisees always do. Pharisees, even modern day Pharisees, are

Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Luke 11:39 NKJV

Yesterday we began a look at Jesus' mealtime with the Pharisees. They were trying to trick Him and, I suspect, Jesus was trying to test their hearts. I forgot to tell you something.

Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. Luke 11:40 - 41 NKJV

The Pharisees thought they could make themselves clean. It was a system they had learned over years of practice. Under the law system, sins were "paid for"

"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Luke 11:42 NKJV

Those who say the tithe does not exist in the New Testament have missed this verse. Jesus didn't do away with the tithe. He just strengthened it.

Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them." Luke 11:43 - 44 NKJV

Do you have a high opinion of yourself? My experience tells me that the

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 NIV

Today we begin a series of devotionals on some of my favorite Proverbs.

Call me a fool, because there are many times (probably most times) when I do not like discipline. I'm okay with wisdom, but I don't like the stringent process to

How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! Proverbs 1:17 NIV

Birds are too smart for that, are you?

If you are going to catch birds with a net, you don't won't them to see you laying out the net. If they do...you won't catch many birds.

In the Biblical days of Solomon, bird hunters would spread a net on the ground,

How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? Proverbs 1:22 NIV

Sin is simple. Doing things my way is simple. Being selfish comes easily. Trusting is hard work. Walking in obedience is costly. Doing the right thing is not always as "fun" as doing what I may want to do.

But, the question remains as Solomon asked it, "How long will you

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

"Trust in the Lord with all

You can lie down without fear and enjoy pleasant dreams. You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 3:24-26 NLT

The Book of Proverbs was given to us as a source of wisdom. These proverbs are not necessarily promises

Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Proverbs 4:23 NLT

If the heart is so important in issues of relationships and life, and it is, then you and I must do whatever it takes to protect the heart. Today's verse is quickly becoming one of my favorites and certainly one of the most applied in my life and in my

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12 NIV

Have you ever looked back on a situation and wish you had handled it differently? I asked a basketball coach friend of mine if he ever wished he could replay a game. He said, "Everyone of them; even the ones we win." I have often wished I could have a

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27 NIV

I met with a young man recently who is heading to Iraq for his first tour. He's barely 18 and ready to serve his country in battle. He admitted to me, however, that he is deeply afraid. I can only imagine that kind of fear.

As understandable

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 NIV

I have tried over the last few years to surround myself with people wiser about a subject than me. If it's a business decision, I want the brightest business minds around. If I'm making a relational decision, I want relationship experts on my side. If it's

Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

This verse is not a license to do whatever you want and say "God, I'm doing this for you" in hopes that He will bless your plans and give you success. You weren't thinking thatwere you?

I've heard so many people misuse this verse. This verse needs to be understood in

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NIV

Are you at a time in your life when you just don't know what to do?

I hear from readers all the time trying to figure out what God has for them to do. Mostly they are sincere, well-meaning believers and are sincerely searching for God's will. Recently

Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say. Proverbs 16:33 MSG

Another version says it like this, "Roll the dice, but God determines their numbers."

If you and I could ever understand that God has the final word, I suspect it might take some of the pressure off of life and actually help us make better decisions.

I have

The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of man; it searches out his inmost being. Proverbs 20:27 NIV

My radio partner calls it a snake light. God looks deep into the soul of a man to see what he is made of. That's one of the reasons, I believe, that God is quick to test our hearts, so that He and we can discover what is in our core being.