Tiny Devotional for RED Friday, 08-11-2023

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, today is RED Friday, so wear something red, and Remember Everyone Deployed!


The righteous is delivered from trouble,
But the wicked takes his place.
Proverbs 11:8, NASB

I can’t tell you how many times I have shivered in cold reality, trying to warm my heart on verses like this one.

This morning, I’ve got a mental picture of Trouble as a great machine, churning away. The wicked go in the input hopper, and from the output door, the righteous emerge. 

Sort of like the Sneetch machine.

The difference is this: the Sneetch machines only made cosmetic changes; the Trouble Machine can change the heart. It’s one of those ‘simple-but-not-easy’ processes, and it’s described in Romans 5:3b-5a:

tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint 

Simple, but not easy: if you want to be delivered, you start by simply holding on. It’s HARD, but you don’t have to be a warrior saint to hold on; you just have to make up your mind to do it.

Hold on long enough, and the change begins. People say admiringly, ‘Wow, he sure can take a beating!’ You realize you aren’t a quitter, and that MEANS something. 

And then, you discover you aren’t a loser, either. You realize you’re no longer just reacting to disasters; and you find the peace Jesus promised.

You find you have exited the Trouble Machine, and you seek Him, instead of seeking escape.

It’s tempting to stop and celebrate, but you really MUST keep moving. The wicked are lining up to take your place, you see, and we need the room. 

Peace be on your household.

Comments

  1. On Christ the Solid Rock I StandAugust 15, 2023 at 5:29 AM

    Wonderful verse to keep us all remind that tribulation brings perseverance and hope does not disappoint. Praise God my Brother Pat!

    ReplyDelete

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