November 26, 2020 · 7:15 am

MATTHEW 5:7

The Beatitudes – Mercy

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from November 26th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Gary Wiram

WELCOME

Hello! My name is Ruth and I would like to welcome you to today’s Good News, Ladies Edition.

INTRODUCTION

Our Scripture verse today is Matthew 5:7

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

The definition of Biblical mercy is God’s pity, compassion and kindness toward people who do not deserve it.

We’ve all heard the story of the prophet Jonah. 

And this reminds me of a story.

A young girl and her teacher were arguing about whether humans can be swallowed by whales. Her teacher said that it’s impossible. The little girl said, “How can this be? Jonah got swallowed by a whale; and when I get to heaven, I’ll ask him.” The teacher said, “What if Jonah didn’t go to heaven?” The girl said, “Then you ask him.”

GOD’S MERCY

Jonah was the earliest of the prophets in the Old Testament. God sent Jonah to preach repentance to the Ninevites.   

We can learn a great deal about God’s mercy from this story.  One thing that really stands out about the story of Jonah is the fact that he heard what God wanted him to do and he did the opposite. Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.

We may ask ourselves why would Jonah do such a thing? Then we realize that we’ve probably done the same thing at some time in our own lives, maybe even now.  Reflecting on the choices we’ve made when we have wanted to do things our own way can create anxiety and sleepless nights. There also may be times where we’ve tried to numb our pain with people or things that are not of God. Afterwards we felt even more empty than we did before.  What Jonah should have done and what we should do is repent, humble ourselves and surrender to God’s will.

It’s not always easy to show people mercy.  But what we should remember is that whenever we don’t show other people mercy, we are forgetting that we have already been shown such great mercy by God. Jonah should have shown the people of Nineveh mercy because he had already been shown the exact same kind of mercy from God when the whale spewed him out.  We all deserve to stay dead in our sins and separated from God forever, but in His mercy, God gives us new life in Christ.  God has forgiven us such a great debt and shown us such mercy. How can we not show mercy to others?

How did God react to the Ninevites’ repentance?  “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on the destruction He had threatened.  God’s righteous anger against Nineveh simply subsided. He observed the change in the people and saw that the punishment He had intended to bring on them would no longer be fitting.  Some people may see God as cold, rigid and harsh. But His true character shows that He is indeed reasonable, adaptable and merciful.

When we show mercy, we receive mercy. Jesus also says that “if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will Your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”  Mercy triumphs over judgment.  If Jonah had the opportunity to reflect on these verses, he may  have been able with God’s help to show mercy on the Ninevites.  Only the merciful will receive mercy in the Kingdom of God. And the ones who show mercy will reap mercy.

One of the most important lessons from Jonah on God’s mercy has to do with God’s character. When we practice mercy, we display God’s character for everyone around us to see.   Jonah calls God “a gracious and merciful God.”  Paul says that God’s nature is “rich in mercy.” As Christians, we know that God is making us into the image of His Son and that we are the light of the world.  Mercy isn’t something we do simply because we are commanded to do it. Mercy is something we do to reflect God’s character in a worshipful way. God shows us mercy and grace. We should also reflect the same in our lives.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians, “Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes!  He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.”

And that ladies, is today’s good news!

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November 20, 2020 · 7:15 am

PROVERBS 30:5-6

Proverbs Greatest Hits

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from November 20th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Gary Wiram

WELCOME

Good morning! My name is Gary Wiram and it’s my pleasure to welcome you to Today’s Good News.

INTRODUCTION

As we continue the Today’s Good News series on The Greatest Hits From Proverbs, we’re getting pretty close to the end. Today, we will be in Proverbs Chapter 30 which is, in fact, the next-to-last chapter in the book. Proverbs has been referred to as a workshop in wisdom. So, not surprisingly, Chapter 30 continues with wisdom as its theme. What really draws it apart from the rest of the book, though, is that it is not presented as human wisdom, gained through life experience but as prophecy, given by the Holy Spirit.

As we prepare to dive into this very interesting Scripture, let me share a non-Scriptural story with you that may aid us in keeping open minds about what is and what isn’t true wisdom.

A young woman brings her fiancé home to meet her parents. After dinner, the father invites the fiancé to his study for a chat. “So what are your plans?” the father asks. “I am a bible scholar.” replies the fiancé. “Hmmm,” the father says. “But what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in?” “I will study and God will provide for us”, the young man replies. “And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring?” asks the father. “I will concentrate on my studies,” the young man replies. “God will provide for us.” “And children?” asks the father. “How will you support children?” “Don’t worry, sir, God will provide,” replies the fiancé. With each of the father’s questions, the young man continues to insist that God will provide. Afterwards, the mother asks, “How did it go, honey?” The father answers, “The bad news is, he has no job and no plans. The good news is he thinks I’m God.”

HUMILITY

Agur, the author of Proverbs 30, starts out with humility when he says, “Surely I am more stupid than any man, And do not have the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom Nor have knowledge of the Holy One.”

Then he points out the need for humility by asking, “Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?”

ADMONITIONS

Then, he goes on to provide a series of admonitions.

The ability to address Agur’s opening statement of humility, to answer his follow-up question revealing our need for humility and to comply with his admonitions are all wrapped up in verses 5 and 6. Please turn with me now in your Bibles to Proverbs Chapter 30, Verses 5 and 6 and we will read them together.

“Every word of God is pure;

He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Do not add to His words,

Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”

GOD’S WORD IS PURE

“Every word of God is pure;” – When we read God’s word, we can take comfort in the fact that we don’t have to pick and choose what’s good and what’s not. The Bible is not a book filled with mostly true information mixed with some false information, leaving it up to us to distinguish which is which. The Bible isn’t that way because God isn’t that way! He is 100% pure. We can fully depend on getting the perfect and complete truth from Him and His Word.

GOD IS A SHIELD

“He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” – This statement is a reminder that God will always be there to stand in the way of dangers that come to His followers. This doesn’t mean we should take this for granted but it should give us confidence where God wants us to have confidence. Though overconfidence is dangerous, under-confidence can be destructive.

DO NOT ADD TO GOD’S WORD

“Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” – Every Word of God is pure but man’s word is not. Thus the importance of not adding to or taking away from it. Mark Twain famously said, “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it’s the parts that I do understand.” Can you identify with that? Have you encountered Scripture that you wished you could change because it convicted you of your own shortcomings? I certainly have. But, Agur tells us that those who choose to do so are liars. To say we trust God and then try to change His Word is lying, proving that we don’t actually trust Him. Unfortunately, much of the religious world seems to think that changing God’s Word is not only “OK” but necessary in order to accommodate changing social standards. But that’s not the way the Bible is to be read or followed. It is timeless. It is a perfect and complete book that is only spoiled when man chooses to change or add to or take away from its instruction. We should spend our time following God’s Word, not looking for opportunities to change it!

GOD’S WORD IS REWARDING

Here, at Calvary Chapel Rosarito, we point our church to the Word of God, studying it verse-by-verse. In Proverbs 30, Verses 5 & 6, we’re given three foundational reasons for our doing that:

  1. God’s Words are true.
  2. God protects His people through His Word.
  3. He gives us the ability to not be deceived because we can identify when His Word is being misquoted or misused out of context.

And that is TODAY’S GOOD NEWS!

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November 12, 2020 · 7:15 am

MATTHEW 5:3

The Beatitudes – Poor In Spirit

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from November 12th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Ruth Wiram

WELCOME

Hello!  My name is Ruth and I would like to share with you today The Good News… Ladies Edition!

INTRODUCTION

Let’s read Matthew, chapter 5 verse 3 together.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

This reminds me of a funny story about heaven.

A woman dies and goes to heaven.  Of course, St. Peter meets her at the pearly gates.  St. Peter says, “Here’s how this works.  You need 100 points to make it into heaven.  You tell me all the good things you’ve done, and I give you a certain number of points for each one, depending on how good it was.  When you reach 100 points, you get in.”

“Okay,” the woman says, “I was married to the same man for 50 years and never cheated on him.”

“That wonderful,” says St. Peter, “that’s worth 3 points!”

“Three points?” she says.  “Well I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service.”

“Terrific!” says St. Peter, “ that’s certainly worth a point.”

“One point?  Golly.  How about this.  I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for battered women.”

Fantastic, that’s good for two more points,” he says.

“Two points!” the woman cries, “At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!”

“Come on in!”

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

What truth there is in that humorous story?

The main focus of this verse in Matthew is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

Let’s get into a little background of this verse.  This is a fantastic portion of Scripture called the Sermon on the Mount.

The first thing we notice about the Sermon on the Mount is that it is not for everyone.   

In Matthew 5, Jesus gets aways from the crowds and teaches His disciples.  And even though this message was preached 2000 years ago, it is for our ears and hearts today, Ladies.

Matthew 5:1-12 is known as the Beatitudes or pronounced blessings.  The word literally means, “O, how happy!”

Our verse today says that the poor in spirit are blessed.  How can that be? 

We don’t usually think of the poor in spirit as being happy people.

Jesus is not talking about financially poor.  He is talking about being spiritually bankrupt.

It is the opposite of being proud.  And it is the glorious consequence of our coming into a real personal recognition of who God is.  And immediately when we compare ourselves to the Holy Perfect Savior of our souls, we must admit our true position.  We say with the Apostle Paul, “O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from this body of death?”

TREASURE IN HEAVEN

And because we have had a true encounter with God, and have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the kingdom of heaven belongs to us.

We no longer live in just this physical material world.  We are transported into the kingdom as a child of God and a citizen of the eternal kingdom. 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the following story about someone who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else.  Two women went to the temple to pray.  One was a famous Bible teacher, a world wide celebrity, and the other one was a mere mother and housewife.  The famous teacher stood by herself and prayed this prayer, “I thank You, God, that I am not like other people – cheaters, sinners, adulterers.  I’m certainly not like this meager housewife.  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my sizable income.”

But the housewife stood at a distance and dared not even lift her eyes to heaven as she prayed.  Instead, she lowered her head in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me for I am such a sinner.”

Jesus tells us that this sinner, not the famous teacher would return home justified before God.  

Because those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Those who humble themselves and realize that only God can fill them and bring lasting fulfillment are truly blessed. 

Ladies, which one of these 2 women are you?

We see our ultimate reward in trusting and obeying God in humbleness of mind and actions in 1 Corinthians 2:9.

 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor has entered into the heart of woman the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

And that, Ladies, is today’s Good News.

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October 16, 2020 · 7:15 am

PROVERBS 11:1

Proverbs Greatest Hits

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from October 16th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Gary Wiram

WELCOME

Good morning! My name is Gary Wiram and it’s my pleasure to welcome you to Today’s Good News.

INTRODUCTION

Presently, Today’s Good News is doing a series on The Greatest Hits From Proverbs. In this series, each of us is given a Chapter in Proverbs and our assignment is to select what we see as the single most meaningful verse in that chapter and to teach on that verse. For today, I have Proverbs Chapter 11 and I’ve chosen verse 1, that says, “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight.”

To set the stage for this lesson, I want to share an amusing story that Pastor Chuck Smith included in his commentary on this verse in The Word For Today Bible:

There was a farmer who was taken to court by a baker. The baker accused the farmer of cutting the amount of butter he was selling him, giving him less than a pound of butter for the price of a full pound. The baker said that the farmer used to always weigh out a full pound but, gradually, he had been giving him less until now the “pound” of butter weighed only about 12 ounces. When the farmer got on the stand, he said, “Your Honor, the only scales I have are balanced scales and I’ve always balanced out his butter with a pound loaf of bread he sold me.” The case was dismissed, 

THE FOLLY OF WICKEDNESS

The focus of the first nine chapters of Proverbs contrasts wisdom and foolishness. Chapters 10 through 24 offer themes on ways in which these contrasts can be seen. The theme of Chapter 11 is The Folly of Wickedness. In addition to the folly of using dishonest scales, Chapter 11 also speaks of other forms of folly, such as: pride, hypocrisy, cruelty, deceit, perversity and selfishness. In each case, we’re told how God punishes these behaviors and rewards the opposite behaviors. This is because God is fair and right. He expects us to be fair and right. He is perfect. He expects us to be perfect. As emphasized in Verse 1, He counts cheating or compromise to be an abomination. This word means a combination of disgust and hatred; abhorrence, detestation, loathing. When God considers things to be an abomination, He brings His wrath upon those who practice such things.  But, He loves honesty and integrity. He will ruin us personally and professionally, if we cheat. But, He will bless us, if we are just and fair.

BE GENEROUS

The example that Pastor Chuck gave us of the Farmer and the Baker alluded to a time before the age of computers when all merchandising was done with balanced scales. But it still makes it clear how we should conduct ourselves in business dealings today and in fact, how we should apply the wisdom of Proverbs 11:1 to all aspects of our lives. Be careful in all your dealings with others, making sure your motives are just and pure and look out especially for those in need. Be generously other-oriented, not selfishly stingy.

GOD’S STANDARDS

One pitfall that we need to consciously avoid in this is in wanting to be weighed according to the world’s standards. Doesn’t it seem natural to look at others and to want to be weighed according to what is right in their eyes? Typically, though, the world’s standards don’t measure up to God’s standards. Another common and somewhat similar pitfall is found in being OK with the way we conduct ourselves because our behavior doesn’t seem so bad when compared to the behavior of others. Have you ever done that? I know I have. But, of course, this doesn’t measure up to God’s standards either. 

Godly men and women strive to be perfectly honest, never taking advantage of others. They’re willing to go beyond what’s required, paying more than their share, if necessary. They keep every term of an agreement. They tip generously. They pay debts on time. They show up on time. They’re never out sick when they are well. They fully disclose all problems with things they sell.

The Lord delights in seeing the pure honesty and generosity of the Lord Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. What a blessing to have Him delighting in our integrity! As noted earlier, while God punishes the folly of dishonesty, He rewards the opposite behaviors. The scope of His rewards are described well in Luke 6:38, that says, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

And that is TODAY’S GOOD NEWS!

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October 8, 2020 · 7:15 am

SPIRITUAL FRUIT – JOY

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from October 8th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Ruth Wiram

WELCOME

Hello, my name is Ruth.  And I want to welcome you to TODAY’S GOOD NEWS- Ladies edition.

INTRODUCTION

Today we are going to be looking at the Fruit of the  Spirit…Joy.

Do you want more joy in your life?  Do you want the kind of joy that runs deep?  Do you want the kind of joy that lasts even when trials and struggles come your way?  Do you want the kind of joy children sing about in Sunday School?

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.

And I’m so happy,
So very happy;
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.
And I’m so happy,
So very happy,
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

I have 3 suggestions for you, ladies.  And I guarantee you that if you put these three in their proper order, you will have more joy.

JESUS

Jesus.  We were made for relationship and fellowship with God.  We were created in His image to enjoy intimacy and closeness with Him.  All of our joy, all of our peace, and all of our being finds fullness and satisfaction in relationship with God.

Put God first in your life.  Start and end your days with  praise and worship.  Spend time in prayer and the Word.

You will find that Jesus is all you ever need.  There is no replacement for the beauty and contentment found in the Lord…not even the excitement that comes our way when He blesses us.

We must deliberately determine to put Jesus first in all things.  It is a decision of the mind and heart.  We must begin to see the Lord Jesus the way He really is “the way, the truth and the life” who is the only way to God in heaven.

Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

OTHERS

Others.  After we have come to recognize the significance of putting Jesus first, we must reach out to others.  We must serve others in Jesus’ name.  These people are our families, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ.  They are also the clerks at the grocery store or at the gas station.  They are the person who cuts in front of us in line or honks at us when we drive slow.  They are that homeless person. They are widows and children who barely have enough to get by.  

Remember the story of the Good Samaritan.  It is about a traveller who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road.  First a Jewish priest and then a Levite comes by, both avoid the man.  Finally, a Samaritan who was hated by the Jews happens upon the traveller and helps the injured man.    So, the moral of this story is that everyone, even those normally considered our enemies, are in fact our neighbors.

YOURSELF

Yourself.  Yes, ladies, we come last, after the Lord and our families and our neighbors.   This is not to say that we should be doormats or run ourselves ragged to serve.  We must take care of ourselves.  We must eat healthy, drink plenty of water, exercise, get enough sleep and do fun stuff!  We are no good to others if we are  emotionally or physically exhausted or sick.

In Matthew 22, verses 37 through 40, Jesus answers the question, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the greatest commandment.

The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

And that, ladies is today’s Good News.

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September 17, 2020 · 7:15 am

PROVERBS 1:29

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from September 17th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Gary Wiram

WELCOME

Good morning. I am Gary Wiram and it’s my pleasure to welcome you to Today’s Good News!

INTRODUCTION

Currently, we’re teaching through the first chapter of Proverbs. As a reminder, this section of Proverbs is aimed at providing a basic summary contrasting wisdom and foolishness. Today, we will be looking at Proverbs 1:29. Before we do that, let me tell you a non-Scriptural story that may help set the stage for today’s topic.

An 86 year-old man was out in his fishing boat when he heard a voice say, “Pick me up!” The old man looked in the water and there, floating on a lily pad was a frog. The man said, “Are you talking to me?” The frog replied, “Yes, I’m talking to you. Pick me up. Then, kiss me and I’ll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I’ll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because you will have me as your bride.” The man looked at the frog for a minute then he reached over, picked up the frog carefully, and placed it in his front pocket. The frog screamed, “What, are you nuts? Didn’t you hear what I said?? I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride!” The old man opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said, “No thanks! At my age I’d rather have a talking frog.”

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Whether or not you see the humor in that story, it’s pretty easy to understand. Proverbs 1:29 says, “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,” That’s a message I found much more challenging to understand. And once I understood it, I realized, it’s not so humorous.

In order to understand the cryptic message of Proverbs 1:29, I think you have to go back to the key verse for the entire book. That’s Proverbs 1:7 that tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

WISDOM

This section of Chapter 1 has been subtitled “The Call of Wisdom”. It is God calling us to be wise. In the verses leading up to 1:29, it’s obvious that His call is made openly and it’s loud and clear. But, in our sin, we foolishly choose to not listen and even when rebuked by God, we continue to do so. That leaves God no alternative but to allow us to continue down the path we’ve foolishly chosen, a path that leads to a destination of calamity, terror, destruction and anguish. Finally, then, we may call out to God but when that comes too late, He may no longer answer, He may no longer  be there. Proverbs 1:29 tells us that’s due to our choosing not to fear Him and instead, hating His knowledge.

True wisdom is always grounded in a healthy, respectful, reverent “fear” of God. When we choose not to fear the Lord, when we choose not to place Him in His proper place in our lives, we despise knowledge, and refuse to act wisely. Verse 29 emphasizes how this results in catastrophe.

FOOLISHNESS

In my eyes, there is no greater catastrophe than what’s currently going on in the U.S.A. Presently, the ever-deepening division in its population makes it seem to be on the verge of civil war. To explain this, many look to aspects of American life that are nearly the polar-opposite of the way they were in the nation where I grew up. The common thread running through all these aspects is that the vast majority of the population no longer gives priority to things they recognize as being greater than themselves. Weekly attendance at a house of worship once was nearly universal and Judeo-Christian values were the foundational qualities of most individual lives, families, neighborhoods and communities. In other words, today’s American catastrophe has resulted from ignoring true wisdom grounded in a healthy respectful reverent “fear” of God, through not choosing to place Him in His proper place in their lives, through despising knowledge and refusing to act wisely.

HUMBLE PRAYER

So, in the face of this tragic sadness, what are we to do? Well, God Himself has given us the answer in His Holy Word. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, he tells us, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” One aspect of this that can still seem intimidating is where God says, “If my people”. It may be natural to think, “What can I do to get an entire people to turn back to God?” Well it’s kind of like answering the question “How do you eat an elephant? That is “One bite at a time.”  So the answer to “What can I do to get an entire people to turn back to God?” is “By setting an example, one person at a time … beginning with you and me.”

And THAT, is Today’s Good News.

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September 3, 2020 · 7:15 am

PROVERBS 1:19

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from September 3rd, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Gary Wiram

WELCOME

Good morning! My name is Gary Wiram and it’s my pleasure to, again, welcome you to Today’s Good News.

INTRODUCTION

Today, as we continue to teach through the first chapter of Proverbs, my assignment is Proverbs 1:19. To set the right tone for what this Scripture has to teach us, let me remind you that this section of Proverbs provides a basic summary contrasting wisdom and foolishness. Actually, the key verse is Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Here’s a non-Scriptural story that may help us in relating to this topic:

A man comes across an old bottle. He pulls out its cork and out pops a genie! The genie says, “In return for freeing me, I will grant you three wishes.” The man says “Great! First, I want one billion dollars in a Swiss bank account.” Poof!” A paper with Swiss bank account numbers appears in his hand! “Next, I want a brand new red Ferrari.” Poof!” A brand new red Ferrari appears right next to him! “Finally, I want to be irresistible to women.” Poof!” He turns into a box of chocolates.

GREED

Proverbs 1:19 tells us, “So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;

It takes away the life of its owners.” Of course, we all understand that greed won’t actually turn you into a box of chocolates but it can “take away life” in many ways.

When this verse says, “So are the ways…”, it’s referring to ways mentioned in the immediately preceding verses. These are:

  • Their feet run to evil
  • They lie in wait and make haste to shed blood
  • They lurk secretly for the innocent

Those are some pretty dramatic ways, aren’t they? And, I think it’s obvious they’re ways we should avoid. But greed can blind us to the obvious and just as often, they can be pretty subtle. In a way, as a guy who spent the majority of his professional life in Sales, it reminds me of what I  learned early-on about the key motive for buying and for selling. That is, “What’s in it for me?” Actually, that is a legitimate function when the buyer is looking for a solution to a need in his business and the seller has a product or service that meets that need. However, when either party is solely focused on their own greedy gain, that takes away from the legitimacy.

This is well illustrated by a familiar cross reference for Proverbs 1:19. It’s 1 Timothy 6:9-10, that says, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

I think this, also, illustrates an aspect of the sort of greediness we have to deal with today. It’s not so much the greediness of others that we have to be on guard for. It’s our own greediness and in many ways, often due to peer pressure, it’s so subtle that we don’t recognize it in ourselves. A good example of this, that you’ve probably heard said, is that the American dream has become  striving to buy more things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like. By itself, that seems sort of amusing. But when you consider its cost, it’s actually pretty sad.

NO EARTHLY SATISFACTION

I recently read an article in MoneyWatch, entitled “The dark reasons so many rich people are miserable human beings”. It put the wisdom of Proverbs 1:19 into focus in today’s terms. A few highlights from that article are:

  • Once a certain household income is reached, more income is actually associated with reduced life satisfaction and a lower level of well-being.
  • The wealthier we get, the less we value social connectedness — and that eats into our overall sense of well-being.
  • Children who come from affluent families are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and substance abuse than those who come from less affluent families.

When you scrutinize this, considering wisdom versus foolishness, I think it’s pretty easy to put this in the category of foolishness.

ETERNAL SATISFACTION

So, what is the best way to contrast this foolishness and replace it with wisdom? Of course, all you have to do to answer that question is to look to the Scriptures. I recommend Matthew 6:19-21, that says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

And Scripture, also, tells us where to find the wisdom needed in order to do this. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

And THAT, is Today’s Good News!

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September 1, 2020 · 7:15 am

Proverbs 31:22

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from September 1st, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Ruth Wiram

WELCOME

Good Morning, my name is Ruth.  I am part of the women’s ministry here at CCR, and I want to welcome you to TODAY’S GOOD NEWS”- Ladies edition.

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever slept on an unforgettable bed?

This reminds me of the story of the princess and the pea.

An old queen was searching for a suitable wife for her son.  She was not making any progress when a young lady showed up at the castle claiming to be a princess. The old queen was not convinced. She decided to test the princess. The queen went into the bed-room, took all the bedding off the bed, and laid a pea on the bottom; then she took twenty mattresses and laid them on the pea, and then twenty down comforters on top of the mattresses.

The next morning, the queen asked how the princess slept. The girl complained that she hardly slept at all. The princess explained, “I scarcely closed my eyes all night. Heaven only knows what was in the bed, but I was lying on something hard, so that I am black and blue all over my body.”

I know that for me, I really enjoy getting a good night’s sleep.  And at my age,  a comfortable bed has become a necessity!

COMFORT

Today’s verse is Proverbs 31:22.  So let’s read it together.

“She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.”

In another Bible translation, our Proverbs 31 woman is said to make coverings for her bed.

Ladies, it is such a blessing to our families to create a comfortable atmosphere in our homes.  It is nice to

have familiar surroundings that create a welcoming environment for them and those who visit.

PEACE

But more importantly, it is necessary to create in our homes a sense of peace, spiritual, physical and emotional peace.

To begin with, we must remember that the most important requirement of peacemaking is to understand who we are in Jesus Christ. Before the apostle Paul told the Colossians  what they should do, he reminded them of who they are: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”

It is the realization of who we are in Christ that enables us to do the unnatural work of dying to self, confessing sin, confronting in love, laying down our rights, and forgiving deep hurts. Therefore, as we teach our children to be peacemakers, continually remind them to rejoice in who they are in Christ forgiven and redeemed!

“A home filled with strife and division destroys itself.”

Ladies, we need to protect the atmosphere in our homes

We are exhorted in the Scriptures not to be conformed to this world and its ways. Media choices like television shows, movies and music that promote fear, worry, infidelity, divorce, anger and sexual immorality oppose the Word of God and weaken the protection around us, our homes and our  families.

When we take refuge in God, we remove ourselves from the influence of those things that are not of God—the voice of the world.  Let’s ask God to turn our eyes from worthless things and to help us purge our home atmosphere of all that is not of Him.

Ladies, we need to Pray and Speak the Word

The Word of God is a weapon, a two-edged sword, so when we pray the Word, we pray right on target.

How can we pray for protection?  We can pray Psalm 91 over our homes and families.  The Word of God is a powerful force and the devil is no match for it! God’s Word always produces fruit and accomplishes everything it says. Trust in God and rest in the protection and blessing only He can provide!

The second part of this verse in Proverbs says that she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

What this says to me is that she has been clothed in garments of royalty.  Even though she is industrious in making clothes for herself and her family, someone else has given her these garments.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who has given us these garments of royalty.

Isaiah 61, verse 10 says to us today, 

“We delight greatly in the Lord; our souls rejoice in our God.  For He has clothed us with garments of salvation and arrayed us in robes of His righteousness.”

And that ladies, is Today’s Good News!

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August 14, 2020 · 7:15 am

PROVERBS 1:10

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from August 11th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Gary Wiram

WELCOME

Good morning! My name is Gary Wiram. It’s my pleasure to welcome you to TODAY’S GOOD NEWS!

TEMPTATION

Presently, we’re teaching through the book of Proverbs. When you consider that Proverbs was written by the wisest man ever, Solomon, that can make our teaching from it seem a bit daunting. My assignment today is Proverbs 1:10. Its main focus is on not giving in to temptation. To help put this topic into perspective, let me remind you of a story you may have heard about a girl and a snake. 

A young girl was walking along a mountain path when she heard a rustle at her feet. It was a snake. Before she could react, the snake said, “It’s too cold for me up here. I am about to die. Please put me under your coat and take me with you.” The girl said, “I know your kind. If I pick you up, you will bite me and your bite is poisonous.” “No, no,” the snake said. “If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently.” The young girl thought, “All living things deserve to be treated with kindness” and he was the most beautiful snake she had ever seen. So, she said, “I believe you. I will save you.” Then she put the snake gently under her coat. Within a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her side. The snake had bitten her! “How could you do this to me?” she cried. “You promised that you would not bite me, and I trusted you!” “You knew what I was when you picked me up,” he hissed as he slithered away.

NOT GIVING IN

Proverbs 1:10 tells us, “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.” That’s a pretty good summation of the lesson to be learned from the story of the girl and the snake. But, it may be too obvious for us to take the topic seriously. Another story that we should find easier to relate to is the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife, as detailed in Genesis 39:7-10: 

“And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

Actually, the short-term result of Joseph’s not giving in to Potiphar’s Wife didn’t seem so worthwhile. She, falsely, accused him of rape and Potiphar had him thrown into prison. But, in the long term, his righteousness fit right into God’s plan for saving Israel.

SHARING WISDOM

In considering how to apply the lesson of Proverbs 1:10 to our lives today, I found it helpful to observe who is teaching the lesson and how well it was applied. Though Solomon is broadly acknowledged as the wisest man ever, he infamously didn’t heed his own wisdom in this regard. In preparing this lesson, I used Google to see how many Scripture verses dealt with temptation. Actually, I didn’t get a definite answer but I was surprised to learn that in a list of the top 100, there were only three from Proverbs. Maybe Solomon’s lack of attention to the topic helps explain why, in Kings 11:3, we’re told, “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.”

The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife took place long before Solomon was King. One aspect of the story that is reflected in Proverbs 1:10, is where the lesson came from to not consent to the enticement of sinners. The Proverb starts off by saying, “My son”. That makes it clear, this is a lesson from Parent to Son. When Joseph didn’t give in to Potiphar’s Wife, he didn’t justify his resistance based on the effect his giving in would have on Potiphar. He said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Apparently Joseph’s learning to not consent to the enticement of sinners also came from a Parent to Son lesson.

GAINING WISDOM

I think that is the key to our being able to comply with this Proverb … remembering that by not complying, we’re not just risking falling into sin with the one enticing us. As children of God, we are risking sinning against our Father in Heaven. Additionally, it’s very helpful to remember that, simply by complying, as children of God, our Father has the greatest of rewards in store for us. As we’re told in James 1:12:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

And that is TODAY’S GOOD NEWS!

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August 11, 2020 · 7:15 am

PROVERBS 31:7

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from August 11th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Ruth Wiram

WELCOME

Good Morning, my name is Ruth.  I am part of the women’s ministry here at Calvary Chapel Rosarito, and I want to welcome you to TODAY’S GOOD NEWS”- Ladies edition.

INTRODUCTION

When I read this verse in Proverbs that I will share about today, it makes me sad.  You see on October 8th, 2011, my brother David died. He was my beloved baby brother.  I practically raised him and I still miss him everyday.  He had struggled for many years with alcoholism. I think he drank to try and forget our abusive and neglected childhood.  He was 49 years old when he suffered and died from an alcoholic heart attack.  Honestly!  That was the cause of death on his death certificate, an “alcoholic heart attack”.  His drinking literally broke his heart.

Today’s verse is Proverbs 31:7.  So let’s read it together.

“Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”

WARNING

This is advice from the future king’s mother.  She is warning the future King of Israel about the snare of drinking wine and beer.  She is saying here that alcohol is for the poor and miserable.  Alcohol is for the brokenhearted.  How true is that today, the advice of a mother to her son or in our case, a daughter to refuse alcohol.  Is drinking alcohol a sin?  That is between us  individually and the Lord.  We need to search the Scriptures, pray and let the Lord speak to us on this issue.  However, being drunk and controlled by anything other than the Holy Spirit is a sin.  And let’s not forget the example we may be setting in our freedom to casually have a drink.  Let’s consider our actions beforehand no matter what freedom we feel we may have in Christ that we don’t stumble a weaker person, whether they are a believer or not.  And no matter their age.

In my brother’s case, he chose to drink and was in control until he wasn’t.  Let me repeat that.  He was in control until he wasn’t in control.  He chose alcohol to forget his misery.  He always thought he was in control of his drinking.  Then the alcohol took over his life.  He lost his job, his home and his family. And the ultimate result was that it literally broke his heart unto death.  It also broke the hearts of his wife, his children, his father, his other brother and sisters and his friends.

THE WAY YTO GO

But, It didn’t have to turn out that way.  And although he was born again, and I am sure in my heart that I will see him again in heaven, he had a choice.  He could have found forgiveness in Jesus.  He could have found hope in Jesus.  He could have found strength in Jesus.  He could have found purpose in Jesus.

This same forgiveness, hope, strength, and purpose is available for us today.  This is for us no matter what we struggle with.  And let’s be honest with ourselves.  If our choices are leading us away from and not closer to our Lord, Savior and Redeemer, our choices are sinful.

The book of Psalms is filled with glorious promises from the Lord.

The Lord knows our struggles and He is always near to hear our cries.  He always has compassion on us no matter what we are battling.  He even has compassion on us when we sin.  And if we are believers, He will restore us if we are willing and repentant. 

Our gracious God is the healer of our hearts.  He will completely heal our wounds.

When we hope in the Lord, He will strengthen us and restore our joy. 

God is our mighty rock, our fortress, our protector, the rock where we are safe. He is our shield and our powerful weapon, and our place of shelter.

In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord says to us, “For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”  

If you are struggling with a sin today that is hindering your walk with the Lord or you realize that you need to repent and turn your life over to the care of the One who can truly forgive you, help you, heal you, and give you a future filled with hope, please get in touch with someone at Calvary Chapel Rosarito or your local Bible Teaching Church. 

So in closing, let’s determine to have and maintain healthy hearts by finding forgiveness, hope, strength and purpose in our Lord Jesus Christ!

And Ladies, that’s TODAY’S GOOD NEWS!

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