Ever notice how the cheap shot artist always seems to never be found when all quiets down? Ever wonder how it is that no one ever seems to hold them accountable to their actions because no one can find them.

“¹The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” – Proverbs 28:1 (ESV)

I was reading this morning and was brought to this verse as I study the word “bold”. I was drawn to the idea of the pseudo bully that comes in, gives a quick pop or snarky comment and then simply disappears. Later they can be found boasting of their “strong” actions and how they are such the “cool” one for doing so and that all should be following their lead. These are the ones that can be found lounging around waiting for things to calm down so that they can come out of hiding and continue to be the “cool” one around town. Meanwhile the one that was on the receiving end of the comments or actions stood there to take it and be ridiculed by the onlookers that approved of them at the time.

Who is the one to be revered? Society seems to think that the one popping in as they were the bold one to “take action”. Accordingly we find ourselves in the position of allowing the bully to get away with whatever they want. The real truth is that the one to be revered should be the one to stand boldly and take it. Those that hear the comments and experience the actions and stand their ground to face the situation head on.

The thing is that society sees the inaction and the fact that retaliation in the face of cowardice as a weakness. Those on the receiving end did not fight back and therefore they must be weak and feeble. The reality is that there is a great boldness in the standing still. By not attacking back, the one running away is running scared as they are not willing to face the situation. By standing bold, the strength of confidence is manifest for all to see. As time continues, the bold will not be attacked for much longer. The bully stops coming around when they realize there is nothing to be gained by someone simply ignoring their feeble attempts to antagonize.

It is my job as a follower of Christ to stand bold as the lion and know that at some point, the wicked will come to antagonize. Just as quickly will they back down when they realize that I/we will not be drawn into the conflict. We will not back down either. We will stand for Christ and know that He wins in the end.

When you find yourself in a difficulty situation, what are the actions you take? Are the one getting in the pop shot and then running to hide? What if you stand boldly in the name of Christ and know that He wins in the end?

I have to remember that just because I know what is right and under the law, that does not give the freedom to speak of it and then do that which is contrary. I am the one that should be even more conscious of my actions and that I am seen and known as one that is living according to the law and should be the positive example for those around me.

“¹⁵They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ¹⁶on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” – Romans 2:15-16 (ESV)

Now as I add the above verse, I have to remember that Paul is referring to the Gentiles that do not know the law, they are only living by it as they do what is right in the eyes of God and are rewarded by God for doing so. As a follower of Christ, since I know the law of God, it is up to me to not only outwardly profess, but also to live according to His law for all to see.

“¹⁷But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God ¹⁸and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; ¹⁹and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?” – Romans 2:17-21 (ESV)

I have to be careful not to fall into the trap as noted by Paul above. I have to be fully true to God and His law as I am out in the world as His example to the world. Just the last question in the verses above is very telling. Am I talking about integrity and holding others to a standard and then turning right around and taking something from the office that is really not mine (pens, paper, equipment, time, etc…). I have to be true to the law of God in not just my words but in my actions.

To bear witness is to be true. I do not have to consciously know all that there is to know, I only have to be true to what I know, and do not know, from and in the eyes of God. I am His witness and should be talking and acting according to His law.

When you are out there, what is your understanding of the law of God? Are you even fully aware of His law? What if we just worked to do right by the law of God and allowed that to guide all of our words and actions as a witness for Him?

I am important to the spreading of the gospel. I am here in this world for a purpose. I have to remember that. I also have to remember that I am but here for a little while. My time here is temporary and therefore so is my witness.

“³⁵He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” – John 5:35 (ESV)

Jesus is speaking here and declaring that John the Baptist was a lamp in the darkness and as such was a witness for all to see. He provided the immediate shining for to refer to and follow.

“⁸He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.” – John 1:8 (ESV)

John may have shown to refer to in the moment, he was not Jesus. He was only to bring Jesus to the forefront and lit Him up. As John, we are here as a lamp, or temporary shining to bring attention to all that is Jesus as Savior. I have been placed where I am as an important part of the spreading of the gospel. I am to bring Jesus to those that I come in contact and ensure that His light outshines mine in the process. I have the task of simply leading others to His light and then I will go and bring more.

What do you think about your shining as a witness for Christ? Are you disappointed when your lamp is overshadowed by the light of Christ? What if we understood that whereas our shining is important to the spreading of the gospel, but it is also temporary?

My witness seems to not always be working and I find myself in essence “banging my head against a wall”. I have found myself giving and giving and giving, serving and serving and serving, doing what appears to be more than what my role requires of me and yet, I am seeing very little if anything in return.

I have to remember that Jesus does not promise riches in this world. He provides for our reward in heaven. It is up to me to continue my witness here in this world without the concern for the return. I have to give all of myself for God.

“²¹Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’” – Matthew 19:21 (ESV)

I have to be willing to and take the action of giving everything away and work with content and serve and do whatever it takes to be the witness for God that I am to be. It is up to me to follow Him with all I am and all I have and all I will be. I have to give my heart and not just my head. I have to be there at all times, knowing that the world does not owe me anything. I have to do and know that God provides for my needs and this world is of no consequence save for the land where I have been tasked with carrying out God’s work. For my to be the witness I am to be, I have to do from my heart.

What is your take on being a witness for God? Are you finding yourself wondering where your reward is coming from? What if we simply gave and served with everything and all of ourselves as a witness for God?

I am sure that most of us know those that are not exactly trustworthy. They may talk a good game, but when it comes down to it, they are only speaking and there is a lack of action or the actions are contrary to their words. I encounter these people each and every day.

“²⁵A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.” – Proverbs 14:25 (ESV)

This verse seems to be too simple and frankly a bit obvious. But, when you really consider all that is really there, it is something that makes a lot of sense and is definitely something that all of us should heed. When I encounter those that talk a good game, I encounter those that are not in it for anyone but themselves. Their actions are not the actions of someone that will work to save anyone other than themselves. I would not count on them to come to my rescue in a dire situation. When things go sideways, they are the first, in my mind, to run for the hills and save themselves.

The opposite is true about the truthful witness. Those that do as they say are those that I would not have to look for in a time of crisis. Those will be there putting their lives in jeopardy for the good of others. They will be there rescuing those in need. They are there to help.

To be one of those, I have to remember to say what I mean and do what I say. There is no room for deceit. There is no time to think of myself. I must be a servant. I must be one who is always there to help.

I find it so exhilarating when I am asked by others for help, even when I have to seen or interacted with them in some time. In those times, I get the sense that the reason I am being asked is that I have demonstrated the willingness to help and have come through at some point for them. I have been truthful and there for am trusted to be so again. I have been asked to rescue someone in need.

When you are out there, what person are you? Are you the one that others look to for help or the one that talks a good game but when things get heated, are no where to be found? What if we just acted with truth and to rescue others without thought of ourselves?

“¹⁶You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” – Exodus 20:16 (ESV)

I have to admit that I am not “friends” with my neighbors. I am not chummy with them. In fact, I don’t even know them well at all. All of that being true, there is still no reason for me to speak untruths about them.

The ninth commandment above speaks directly to the speaking of truths about others. Whereas, yes, there is some degree where we are not to lie in court, God is more speaking to the lying about others in general. We should be speaking the truth at all times. We should not be treating others in a way that is contrary to the way God will be treating. We should not be lying in the presence of God, period.

Too often I think it is easy to speak of what we are not fully informed of in the interest of getting along with or being accepted by some group of individual. We find ourselves in the situations where those around us are spinning tales of others that may not be based in fact, and we are all to willing to go along with it in the interest of, well, our own interest. I know that I have been in groups where there have been untruths spoken and I have gone along with the conversation just so I would be accepted.

And then there were times where I stood up for what what unknown so as to be sure the story was straight and there were no “lies” being told. I may not have known all of the facts, or whether or not what was being said was true, and that was the basis for me to stand up. There was no reason for anyone to speak ill of someone without the facts. I will say that in those instances of standing up for or simply letting others know that we are to not judge based on that which we do not know, I felt good about the stance I took and know that God was smiling at my witness.

Too often it is easy to just go along with things. Whereas it may seem harmless, it is indeed not following along with the commandments of God. We are to be truthful in our witness and that witness may be simply to get the story straight that we do not know what we do not know and therefore are obligated to not speak ill of those that we do not know all of the information.

When you are out in the world, are you speaking ill of or witnessing the ill speak of others to remain part of the group? Are you willing to take a stand for those being spoken of? What if we were to speak the truth as our witness and allow the facts to be heard to glorify God?

“¹⁴The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.” – Proverbs 15:14 (ESV)

This passage in Proverbs is more about the wise and foolish as opposed to seeking it seems at first read. God always has a reason for His direction in our lives and this morning is no exception. The passage may not be directly related to seeking at first glance, but as you read and study, that is what I get. I really did not notice until I reached the above verse. It is here that I realized that in order to act on and embrace wisdom and knowledge I had to first have understanding.

How can that be, don’t you want knowledge to understand? Well, yes generally, but in this context I see that I need internal heartfelt understanding of what I am seeking before I am able to earnestly look for and find. I have to know in my heart of what I am seeking. I have to feel it to find it.

In my career I bring attention to the idea of seeking first to understand and being understood. I see now how that applies here. I have to be willing to and driving to understanding prior to and while I am seeking knowledge. It is important to remember that I am seeking and that seeking is earnest looking and without understanding the earnestness is not manifested in the looking. My heart will not be in it so to speak. I have to get my heart into the search for the search to continue until I find or am found.

God wants our heart. I want to be found and give Him my heart. It is up to me to understand this and drive myself to seek Him. I have to understand in my heart to keep me focused on the search for know of Him.

As you are in the world, what understandings do your have? Are you seeking to understand or understanding so you can seek? What if we seek first to understand and then to know and learn?

“⁶And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

I continue to study the word “seek” and was brought to this passage in Hebrews titled By Faith. I have been in this passage before and see my notes here. Seeking as I have been reminded in my study is the earnest looking without ceasing. When I look at the concept of seeking here in Hebrews, I have to add faith to that earnest looking.

“¹Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

I have verse 1 above underlined and with it I have the following written: “confident anticipation of something that will assuredly occur in the future, as certain as tomorrow’s sunrise”. I do not recall specifically where I received that bit of definition, but it does help me to link the two words, seek and faith, together. When seeking I am earnestly looking and with faith, I am confident I will find.

This brings me to the realization that without faith, seeking is difficult to achieve. I must anticipate the finding of what I am earnestly looking. In the case of my ultimate seeking of God, it is faith that leads me to the earnest looking for Him. As noted in the passage of Hebrews 11, there are many examples of faith and seeking where thanks to both, God was found and He found those that were seeking.

I have a desire to continuously find God. In order for me to succeed, I have to seek with faith that I will find Him. When I do, not only will I find Him, He will find me.

What is your approach to seeking? Are you faithful that you will ultimately find? What if we were to link faith with seeking, how much more would we find success in finding?

So, I have decided to follow Christ. I am saved and will have my reward in heaven. Why then am I still seeking things of this world?

“¹If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” – Colossians 3:1 (ESV)

Paul is writing to the church in Colossae. They are new Christians and are in need of some encouragement and direction. In chapter 3:1-17 we find him writing about the new self, that self coming after and from salvation. Paul writes to give the direction to seek things that are not of this world we live in today. We should be seeking our reward in heaven.

I know that even today I sit here wondering when I will get some acknowledgment, recognition, and appreciation in job. I find that I am currently having to provide my own as those above me seem to be too concerned with being the one with the answers as opposed to providing answers and support for those that need it. And whereas I know that it is my reward in heaven that is the most important, I am still human and want to be treated with some sort of appreciation, and more importantly be acknowledged for the work I am doing.

I have to put all of this world behind me and continue to strive to please and glorify God and seek my reward that comes from Him. I answer ultimately to Him and should be leaning on Him for direction, acknowledgment, recognition, and appreciation. I have to remember that I may not see those instantly and frankly may not see them at all, but I have already experienced the saving grace of God and now I must seek to honor my commitment to Him.

I have to live in this world, but I don’t have to be of this world. My world is in heaven and therefor I have to remember to seek out things of heaven and not the things of this world.

Where are you looking for your acknowledgment, recognition, and appreciation? Are you getting it here in this world and satisfied with that? What if you were to seek the things from above with God and lived accordingly?

I want more than what I have and where I am. I want to be great and be revered and not have to be concerned with anything. This is a common thought and theme I am sure in the world today. It is natural to have these feelings of want and desire. The issue with it is that it will get in the way of what is most important, our relationship with God.

This morning I am reading and studying in 1 Corinthians where Paul is writing about being unmarried and/or widowed. He is referring to the pressure that comes with each of the statuses and how that pressure impacts us and our relationship with God.

“²⁷Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.” – 1 Corinthians 7:27 (ESV)

There is of course a lot more to the passage and I do not want to confuse anyone in thinking that I am cherry picking a verse to point out what I wish to say. What I see in this verse and the whole passage (vv.25-40) is that I am to be content in where I am in my relationships. I am not to be worried with where I am going or where I am from. I am to be in the moment with Christ and Christ alone. I should not be seeking something that will only cause me to be concerned with anything other than the LORD.

Now, as Paul mentions in the passage, there is nothing wrong with marriage, and if that is where your heart is, then it should be. What he is cautioning is the seeking out of marriage to establish some lifestyle or satisfy some want or need. There should be a sense of obligation to God first and all else lower down the priority list. Our contentment with our relationships outside of that with God should be paramount. We should seek God and not the satisfaction of our worldly desires.

Where are you in your relationships here in this world? Are you more concerned with those than with your relationship with God? What if we were simply to seek contentment in our worldly position and devote to God?