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¹⁶ Long life is in her (Wisdom’s) RIGHT HAND;
    in her LEFT HAND are riches and honour. Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3 outlines the many blessings of Wisdom and speaks of Wisdom as a female person. The blessings of Wisdom are not limited, blessing in both hands for those who seek and find her.

¹³ Blessed are those who FIND WISDOM,
    those who GAIN UNDERSTANDING,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 3

Christ has become Wisdom for Believers today (1 Corinthians 1:30) and we have a better Covenant through Him. There are many blessings still to be uncovered for Believers in this present time when we’re willing to seek the Lord for them. Christ’s Body is still growing and developing to this day and God always has  more for us.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
    listen closely to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body. Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4 also calls us to ‘Pay attention’ to God’s Words and ‘Hold fast to them’. Again there are great blessings for living and walking God’s way. The chapter ends with a caution to keep on a straight path and not to allow ourselves to be distracted or diverted from God’s way for our lives.

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ DO NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT;
    keep your foot from evil.

A final scripture from the Wisdom Writings is given in the Book of Ecclesiastes,

10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.
² THE HEART OF THE WISE INCLINES TO THE RIGHT,
    but the heart of the FOOL TO THE LEFT. Ecclesiastes 10

God’s Word is a safeguard for us but our own hearts can deceive us and take us along dangerous paths. If we feel our desire for God and the things of God ‘Cooling within us’, that may be a warning for us to be careful about the course our lives are taking. As we saw on Monday in Isaiah, God’s Spirit speaks into our lives to Guide us and help us.

²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ Isaiah 30

May we be sensitive to His leading and walk as He directs.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

³ But when you give to the needy, DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING, ⁴ SO THAT YOUR GIVING MAY BE IN SECRET. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6

Matthew’s Gospel mentions this phrase of, ‘Left and Right’. On the first occasion it’s regarding our Giving, which shouldn’t be done for public acclaim. We can widen the term ‘Giving’, to mean more than just money, to anything we do for the Lord and His Kingdom. God rewards those who don’t ‘Self-Publicise’, which I suspect is way more common than we think. The Self or Ego always wants to take the Glory, but the Lord says ‘Don’t’, let the Father reward us in His Time and His Way.

²³ Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to SIT AT MY RIGHT OR LEFT is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

²⁴ When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Matthew 20

The mother of James and John wanted the best for her boys and she tried to get the Lord to make a promise to them, but He told her that only the Father had that right. The most important seats in any gathering are always closest to the Head or King , however, Jesus told His disciples to take the lower seats and wait to be invited higher. Again showing that the Kingdom is totally opposite to this world and the ego/carnal nature.

³¹ ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the SHEEP on his RIGHT and the GOATS on his LEFT. Matthew 25

There’s a day and a time of final separation coming to the nations, or the people of this earth. Some will rejoice with their Lord and the others will not. Two groups will be gathered, one on each side of Christ; the Lord will stand between them and tell people their destiny. The final separation with the Lord in the midst.

³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, ONE ON HIS RIGHT AND ONE ON HIS LEFT. Matthew 27

Jesus spent His last hours on earth between two sinners. The two thieves were closest to Him at His crucifixion and even there a separation occurred. He granted one of them to be with Him forever, ‘today you shall be with Me in Paradise’. At the last moment of life, a former thief chose life and sided with the Lord. Truly, while there’s life, there is hope for people on this earth.

May God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

⁸ So Abram said to Lot, … ⁹ Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’ Genesis 13

We saw in Isaiah 30 yesterday, one use of the phrase, ‘Left or Right’, concerning Guidance for God’s children. We also said that this phrase is used from Genesis right through to Revelation.

Abram was the senior man and God’s anointed, but he still gave his nephew, Lot, first choice over which land he wanted for himself. This was a significant moment when the two relatives separated and God made a further promise to Abram after their parting.

¹⁴ The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, ‘Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. ¹⁵ All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring for ever. 

Abram humbled himself and gave Lot first choice in the interest of peace and harmony. Only when they’d parted was the fullness of God’s promise to Abram revealed. Whenever we humble ourselves it allows God to step in and give us what He has for us.

Further along in Genesis we read the account of Jacob’s blessing on the children of Joseph, then ruler of Egypt.

¹⁶ the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
    —may he bless these boys.
MAY THEY BE CALLED BY MY NAME
    AND THE NAMES OF MY FATHERS ABRAHAM AND ISAAC,

Joseph’s sons were adopted into the house of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so that they would be included within God’s Covenant. Though both were included in the Covenantal blessing, Jacob then did an interesting thing when he blessed the two boys;

¹⁴ But Israel reached out HIS RIGHT HAND and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put HIS LEFT HAND on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. Genesis 48

Firstly there are NO ACCIDENTS in the Kingdom of God, we are all CHOSEN BY GOD AS OUR FATHER. We also have special callings and destinies for our lives and in this case Ephraim, the younger son received the right hand, more powerful blessing. Jacob, by the anointing of the Spirit crossed his arms and positioned Ephraim ahead of his older brother. God is Sovereign and His Choice overrides human traditions. He knows the unique destiny He has planned for each of us and WE SHOULD BE OPEN TO ALL HE HAS FOR US, though it may appear out of reach.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

²¹ Whether you turn TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ Isaiah 30

This phrase, ‘to the RIGHT or to the LEFT’, runs right through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation and I want to look at some of the things to which it refers.

Isaiah promises God’s goodness to the people of Zion who live in Jerusalem, a change is coming, God’s blessings are coming.

²⁰ Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, YOUR TEACHERS WILL BE HIDDEN NO MORE; with your own eyes you will see them. ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘THIS IS THE WAY; WALK IN IT.’ Isaiah 30

Isaiah speaks about guidance and direction coming in a fuller measure and with greater clarity than ever. But there’s a condition for receiving God’s direction which is stated in the next verse;

²² Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, ‘Away with you!’ Isaiah 30

I heard a prophet on Elijahstreams saying recently that the Lord had declared, ‘idolatry is death’! Idols made by men look ugly so they have to be coated (disguised) with silver or gold to make them look precious. Idols can be hard to give up/smash because they seem so precious to us. But in this scripture God says throw them away and then you’ll receive true guidance and direction from heaven.

20 And God spoke all these words:

¹⁹ “Today I have given you the CHOICE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH, BETWEEN BLESSINGS AND CURSES. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. OH, THAT YOU WOULD CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your descendants might live! Deuteronomy 30, NLT

The God who made us wants us to have Life in His Son and He also wants to bless people, not curse them. I believe it was Graham Cooke who said, that, ‘what we believe about God is the most important thing we think’. Religion wants to keep people in line by the threat of punishment, but that’s not what God wants for people at all.

³¹ Rid yourselves of all the offences you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? ³² FOR I TAKE NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF ANYONE, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD. REPENT AND LIVE! Ezekiel 18

We must realise that we serve a Living God who wants His Life shown to others with whom we’re in contact day by day. This is the year of the ‘Open Door’, in Hebrew script. What does God want to release through us in the year ahead? He is the greatest Creator in this universe and is looking to impart new and unique things through His people.

Lord may Your Life and Blessings be released on a new scale at this time and may we Your people walk in great Favour.

²⁷ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

Now CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, LISTEN TO HIS VOICE AND HOLD FAST TO HIM. FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE, Deuteronomy 30

We saw yesterday that the Lord spoke through Moses and commanded His people to CHOOSE HIM, for He was their LIFE and that message was repeated through Paul, He is also our LIFE.

²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ Acts 17

After Moses had instructed Israel to Love God and hold fast to Him, he presented Joshua as the leader whom God would use to bring them into Canaan, their Promised Land. Joshua and the Israelites fought and defeated many foreign kings to claim their inheritance. They had to put their lives on the line, but when they did God defeated more powerful enemies for them every time. As long as they walked with God they never lost a battle! I believe God is looking for such people today, whom He can use to bring in His Kingdom on this earth.

¹⁴ “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. … ¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, … But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

¹⁶ Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! Joshua 24

When we stand on the battlefield, facing our enemies and God’s enemies we cannot afford to be double-minded, our resolve to stand with God must be firm. Joshua like Moses, told the people to make their Choice and told them, ‘where he and his household stood – with the Lord’.

³¹ Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel. Joshua 24

The Joshua generation served the Lord faithfully because of all they had experienced in their own lives, they remained loyal to the God of Israel. Sometimes the struggles in this life are the things which cause us to stand with God through our battles with the enemy. Life experience can be costly, but teaches us many valuable lessons. We cannot be ambivalent in our walk, we must Choose to Go With God, whatever the cost. He gives us victory, no matter the opposition.

²⁴ “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, LISTEN TO HIS VOICE AND HOLD FAST TO HIM. FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30

Everyone has to make their own CHOICE, God won’t force anyone to accept Him, we all have free will before Him. After Jesus was baptised in the Jordan river He was led by the Spirit into the desert where He was tempted three times by Satan. Each time He had to make a choice and each time He answered the devil by quoting from the Book of Deuteronomy. (I am reminded as I write this of Britain’s first lady Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. She was asked by a senior interviewer what she thought was the crux of Christianity. He hoped she would say Love to catch her in some difficult questions, but she answered, ‘CHOICE’.)

The next instruction is, ‘to LOVE THE LORD OUR GOD’. God wants relationship with us, now and for all eternity and He knows our hearts can be drawn away by other things. Religion is more about obedience, outward rituals and conformity, but God wants our love. He’s a Love God.

Next we are to, ‘LISTEN TO HIS VOICE’. This world is constantly bombarding us with a very different message. Satan always seeks to control the narrative and that is why so many people walk to, ‘a false beat’. They are completely absorbed by the things of this world but Scripture says EVERYTHING WE SEE NOW IS TEMPORARY. The Lord Himself told us,

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

²⁸ And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10

The final call in these verses is to, ‘HOLD FAST TO HIM. FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE’. Could anything be more important than that statement, ‘The Lord is our Life’. But we have to endure and hold onto our Belief in Him. In this life, the Flesh/old rebel nature, this world system and the devil will try and get us to turn away from the Lord. We must REMEMBER, that He is our very LIFE. He doesn’t abandon us here, we always have His Spirit and mighty angels to help us walk through our personal journeys.

May God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

One definition of Generosity (Cambridge dictionary)

a willingness to give help or support, especially more than is usual or expected

The enlightened person gives and receives more, another law of the Kingdom of God which is completely at odds with this world system.

³⁷ ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ Luke 6

Luke’s Gospel has much to say about Giving and in the verses above it links judging, condemning and forgiving to the act of Giving. It would seem that those who are willing to extend forgiveness instead of judging and condemning will receive in like way. Generosity isn’t just about finances, it’s a mark of God’s character in our lives. Giving and Forgiving allows God to return a greater measure of blessing to us.

⁶ Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9

When we Give we’re imitating our Father in Heaven and opening the door for far greater blessings into our lives in the future. As we said it’s not just about Giving money, whatever we Give to others will result in blessing.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹¹ The Lord said to him, ‘WHO GAVE MAN HIS MOUTH? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² NOW GO; I WILL HELP YOU SPEAK AND WILL TEACH YOU WHAT TO SAY.’ Exodus 4

Would we be willing to speak for the Lord or would fear of man prevent us?

Moses was having a personal interview with God after being a shepherd for forty years with his father-in-law Jethro’s sheep in the backside (King James Bible English) of the desert. He’d already lived eighty years and God spoke with him in the burning bush and told him to go and deliver His people from their slavery in Egypt. (A very similar situation to what’s happening the Church today!)

God had given Moses some miraculous signs to show the people of Israel that he had a genuine calling to deliver them. Moses had the power of God in evidence and he needed it. Moses must have been very unwilling to speak because in the end Almighty God appointed his brother Aaron to speak on his behalf.

5 Afterwards Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.”’

² Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.’ Exodus 5

Moses and Aaron spoke to a world ruler and were rejected, as God had said, Exodus 4:21. Most of us will never be called to speak to such people, but there will be times when we can bring God and His Truth into a situation and that may require us to gather our courage.

²⁵ Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. Proverbs 29

So I want to say something now which may be unpopular with others, even believers. I was saddened recently to read a report that the Irish ladies basketball team had snubbed Israel’s ladies at a qualifying match for the Eurobasket 2025. Ireland would have withdrawn altogether, but their own chief executive, John Feehan, warned they would face heavy fines and expulsion. A further example of this hostility towards Israel in the same news is the threat to ban them from the next Eurovision Song Contest.

The overwhelming message in this world is anti Israel and that’s serious in God’s eyes! GOD HIMSELF makes two significant statements in the same part of Exodus where He spoke with Moses.

²² Then say to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord says: ISRAEL IS MY FIRSTBORN SON, ²³ and I told you, ‘Let my son go, so that he may worship me.’ But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.”’ Exodus 4

² God also said to Moses, ‘I am the Lord. ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, … ⁴ I ALSO ESTABLISHED MY COVENANT WITH THEM to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. ⁵ Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I HAVE REMEMBERED MY COVENANT. Exodus 6

Almighty God is in Covenant with Israel, He’s given His sacred word to them and will keep it, no matter what the people of this world say.

I have prayed for God’s mercy for Ireland concerning His people Israel. There is a strong anti Israel stance abroad in the land at this time and I pray that those who know God will ask for mercy and not judgement.

May God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

⁸ But you are TO HOLD FAST TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, as you have until now. Joshua 23

¹¹ So be VERY CAREFUL TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD.

Some of the last words of Joshua to the leaders and the people of Israel. Good words for us to hang onto today.

We saw yesterday that even though the Eastern tribes had accumulated great wealth in the land of Canaan, yet they were determined to secure their relationship within the people of God. They valued that relationship for themselves and their children.

³⁴ And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us – that the Lord is God. Joshua 22

Joshua knew he’d almost run his race and he wanted to encourage the people before he left them. There was more land that still remained to be taken.

⁴ Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain – the nations I conquered – between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west. ⁵ THE LORD YOUR GOD HIMSELF WILL HIMSELF DRIVE THEM OUT OF YOUR WAY. HE WILL PUSH THEM OUT BEFORE YOU, AND YOU WILL TAKE POSSESSION OF THEIR LAND, as the Lord your God promised you. Joshua 23

The Church today has taken some or even much of our available inheritance, but there is much that still remains to be taken and the coming generations will take this land for the Lord.

It’s interesting that Joshua’s encouragement is closely related to the words he received at the outset of his time of leadership.

⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.   Joshua 1

⁷ ‘Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua 1

We need the same attitude and boldness that Israel had, but the battles to be fought and won today are different. I listened to a prophet this week live on the Internet with two friends on zoom telling them that an advert for his ministry was not him, but an AI image. They knew him well but hadn’t realised it was an image. I also heard a well known speaker on Elijahstreams, saying the Lord had told him, ‘NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE TECHNOLOGY’.

⁶ ‘Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Joshua 23:6

Same attitude for the times ahead, but very different battles. The great thing is that the same LORD WHO DEFEATED THE CANAANITES AND THE EGYPTIANS WILL DEFEAT THE WICKED WE FACE.

God bless and keep you. Immanuel, God is with us.