Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

June 8
Sunday


AIR WARS

READ:
Prov. 17:14-19, 27-28
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A man of
understanding
is of a calm spirit.
__Proverbs 17:27
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A spectacular air battle raged outside our window. Skilled, speedy flyers swarmed through the air, diving down from above, zooming in from left and right, climbing from underneath to knock the others out of the fight. The air was alive with sound as they attacked, eluded, hovered, and struck out at one another.

"Scrappy little things, aren't they?" my wife, Shirley, observed. six hummingbirds filled the air with darting motion, hovering and whirring as they fought for the three positions on our red hummingbird feeder. "Why can't they just be patient?" she wondered.

Like so many disputes and quarrels that plague the church, these battles were totally unnecessary. The feeder held plenty of nectared water. We refilled it every day. Yet, for hours at a time, no hummers came near it--untill they all wanted it. They seemed to prefer a good scrap. Quarrels among believers in Jesus Christ bring dishonor to Him. They create wounds in our brothers and sisters, leaving scars. "It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel," says Proverbs 20:3. And "He who has knowledge spares his words" (17:27).

How much better it is when we speak gentle words of peace, not angry words of strife! __Dave Egner
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`````````````````Like bullets flying through the air,````````````````
```````````````````Our words can shatter peace;`````````````````
````````````````The Spirit helps control the tongue,````````````````
````````````````And then the quarrels cease. __Egner``````````````
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Two cannot quarrel when one will not.

*********Today's Bible Reading __ Proverbs 17:14-19, 27-28*********

14 The beginning of strife
is like releasing water;
therefore stop contention
before a quarrel starts.

15 He who justifies the
wicked, and he who
condemns the just, both of
them alike are an
abomination the LORD.

16 Why is there in the hand
of a fool the purchase price
of wisdom, since he has no
heart for it?

17 A friend loves at all
times, and a brother is born
for adversity.

18 A man devoid of
understanding shakes hands
in a pledge, and becomes
surety for his friend.

19 He who loves
transgression loves strife,
and he who exalts his gate
seeks destruction....

27 He who has knowledge
spares his words, and a man
of understanding is of a
calm spirit.

28 Even a fool is counted
wise when he holds his
peace; when he shuts his
lips, he is considered
perceptive.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Though much of the book of Proverbs focuses on the characteristics
of true godly wisdom, this text looks at the issue from the other
perspective--the condition of the heart that lacks wisdom. It
excuses wrongdoing (v.15), ignores wisdom (v.16), foolishly commits
itself (v.18), seeks destruction (v.19), and speaks when it should be
silent (v.28). The wisdom of God pulls men and women into a better
path__a path that honors God. __Bill Crowder