<\/p>\n
Proverbs 20:1-22:16<\/strong><\/span> Proverbs 20 verse 1 today reminds me of the need for and success of modern day <\/span>Alcoholics Anonymous<\/span> \u2013 \u201cWine produces mockers; liquor leads to brawls. Whoever is led astray by drink cannot be wise.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I don\u2019t have personal experience with AA, but have heard very good things about it from several friends.\u00a0 I do love the AA Serenity Prayer \u2013 I think this prayer is a great prayer for all of us \u2013 \u201cGod grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference.\u201d\u00a0 Amen.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n While I\u2019m on the subject of alcohol, since the Bible brought it up and all :), mind if I go on a bit of a tangent on this subject?\u00a0 Thanks.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 I would be very interested to hear others views \/ experiences with alcohol in their lives in the Comments below.\u00a0 (I know that some of our denominations have very different views on alcohol.)\u00a0 I\u2019ll share with you here that I struggled with alcohol abuse big time in my teens and early 20\u2019s. Certainly this Proverb was true in my case \u2013 wine produced a mocker out of me.\u00a0 Liquor led to brawls \u2013 oftentimes more psychological brawls than physical.\u00a0 And certainly I don\u2019t think I had the ability to be wise back in the days when I was led astray by excessive drink.\u00a0 Very frankly, I nearly drank myself to death the night before I graduated college.\u00a0 Alcohol poisoning \/ a black out got a hold of me that night.\u00a0 I\u2019ll spare you all the details, other than to say that after my near-death experience with alcohol, I knew I had a decision to make.\u00a0 Keep going the way I was going and I would die.\u00a0 Or go another direction.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t quite know what that other direction was or would look like, but I knew I had to go in the other direction away from alcohol \/ the party life.\u00a0 And thankfully God led me to Him.\u00a0 It took me 6 years of searching from the night I almost drank myself to death to the night when I accepted Jesus as my Savior, but it was the most important journey to undertake in my life.\u00a0 (The journey to Jesus is the most important journey in all of our lives\u2026)\u00a0 So, yes, alcohol can be a dangerous thing, to say the least.\u00a0 I do know many Christians who do not \/ never have really struggled with it.\u00a0 I don\u2019t fault anyone for drinking in moderation.\u00a0 (These days I don\u2019t drink anymore \u2013 gave it up when I became a father.)\u00a0 I just know that many people reading this blog likely struggle with or know someone who struggles with alcohol.\u00a0 All I know is that if alcohol is something that you are \u201callergic\u201d to, stay away from it.\u00a0 Don\u2019t touch it.\u00a0 <\/span>Get into AA if tomorrow if you need to<\/span>.\u00a0 (please\u2026 do it if you need to\u2026)\u00a0 Let each of us never forget this Proverb 20:1 \u2013 \u201cWine produces mockers; liquor leads to brawls. Whoever is led astray by drink cannot be wise.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Proverbs chapter 20 verse 3 is such great wisdom: \u201cAvoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I once was a fool who insisted on quarreling with Tony back in about 3rd grade \ud83d\ude42 after either I beat him or he beat me in the 50 yard dash at Field Day.\u00a0 Tony kept trying to avoid the fight with me.\u00a0 But I kept on pressing it.\u00a0 And I got whupped!\u00a0 It was really a great learning experience for me.\u00a0 I have avoided fights ever since!\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think we are called to be submissive and let people walk all over us.\u00a0 I think we can confidently and strongly hold our ground on important issues \u2013 without fighting or quarrelling.\u00a0 How about you?\u00a0 Do you avoid fights?\u00a0 Do you realize this is a mark of honor?\u00a0 Or do you insist on quarrelling?\u00a0 Think this is a good idea\u2026?<\/span> Proverbs 20 verse 6 definitely gives me something to think about: \u201cMany will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This is a challenging Proverb for me because I feel like I have many good friends.\u00a0 Many who are loyal.\u00a0 And some who even seem faithful.\u00a0 But\u2026 yet\u2026. there are still times on occasion when these friends do let me down.\u00a0 Or I know for a fact I let them down on occasion.\u00a0 It\u2019s our human nature.\u00a0 Fortunately for us, long after this Proverb was written, we were given the most faithful friend we could ever dream up or imagine in Jesus.\u00a0 Jesus really should be our best friend.\u00a0 I had a friend kind of shock me with this thought by continually referring to Jesus as his best friend at a lunch we had a few years ago.\u00a0 For some reason I was very comfortable with Jesus being my savior.\u00a0 But my friend?\u00a0 My best friend?\u00a0 Well, it was a new concept to me.\u00a0 And maybe this is a new concept to you.\u00a0 I do honestly believe Jesus wants to be our best friend.\u00a0 And he will undoubtedly be the one true and loyal and faithful friend we all can have \u2013 now and forever.\u00a0 So, is Jesus your best friend?<\/span> Proverbs 20 verse 7 today is a wonderful reminder that the way we live our lives today sets an example for children: \u201cThe godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children after them.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>What type of example are you setting for children in your life?\u00a0 Are you walking with integrity?\u00a0 Do you believe children will be blessed after you because you walked with integrity?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings in Proverbs remind me of the song \u201cThen Christ Came\u201d by MercyMe:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n