“God’s not finished with me yet!” Many of us use those words as an excuse every time we made a mess of things. While I’m not sure it ever worked for that reason,  it was comforting until reality set in. There are days when God seems to be shaking us by the nape of our necks to get our attention. There are other days when His grace grants one blessing after another. It cannot be denied, however, that we are all a “work in progress” as long as we are alive. The question we must ask ourselves is: What is progress, and how will we know when God is finished with us?

If the “desire of the righteous ends with only good” what happens if we falter, fail or fall? Are we doomed? Is righteousness ever attainable in this life? Or, is it something we are to struggle with and strive for?

In this instance, “desire” is the outcome of those who have righteousness as a goal. It is what His children focus their hearts, minds and ambitions on. It is not something that happens as a byproduct of life. Righteous living is a core value at the center of all that believers do. In fact, unrighteousness must be avoided at all costs!

“But the hope of the wicked end only in wrath.” Now, that should get everyone’s attention. Wrath, God’s wrath, is His overflowing anger against the unrighteous. God’s wrath can be compared to a fire that is slowly growing and at a moment in time will be all consuming.

This verse should remind us that the unrighteous  face God’s impending wrath. Now is the day to repent.

Prayer:  May we understand, Father, that our desires determine our destiny. May righteousness rule our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

“You know, Larry,” he began in a soft voice, “I’m troubled by the fact that all of the horrible things I see on TV or hear over the radio when I travel don’t bother me as much as they once did. What’s happening to me?” he asked.

We all wonder, at one time or another, how a group of people can watch a person being beaten or robbed, or fall ill in a crowded mall or on busy street corner, and no one responds. We see the ravages of war, watch people die on a battlefield, see disabled veterans trying to adjust to life with artificial limbs and seem to accept it as “normal” in today’s culture. It seems as though the pain and suffering of others matter little to anyone except the one enduring the hardships.

The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 94 was troubled by the evil in the world. He looked around and saw people oppressed. He was aware of calloused leaders whose only concern was for themselves. He was troubled by the lack of concern for widows and children and asked, “God, if You created ears for people to hear, and eyes for people to see, why don’t You hear the cries and see the suffering of those whom You created?” Do something God!

So, has God, like us, become insensitive to the needs of people and the condition of the world? Does He not care about what is happening to His creation? Indeed He does.

“He will repay them and destroy them for their wickedness,” says the Psalmist. But until He does, we are responsible to bring His hope and healing to the suffering.

Prayer:  Please, Lord, open our hearts and eyes to see those who are suffering and reach out to them in love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 94:3 How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? Psalm 94:23 He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.

There are close to 60,800 places to live in our nation. Some have interesting names like Acres of Diamond, Florida; Fearnot, Pennsylvania; Happyland, Connecticut.

Some prefer Boring, Maryland; Pitts, Georgia; and Hell, Michigan.

But none are happy in that eternal place of suffering the Bible calls Hell.

One who went there cried, “I am in anguish in these flames.”

And he didn’t want others to go there. He said, “I have five brothers…warn them about this place of torment lest they come here when they die.”

Want to escape it? The Bible says, “Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Prayer: Father, we come to Thee with our worries seeking confidence and courage; with our problems asking for wisdom and light; with our sorrows looking for comfort and strength; and with our sins praying for forgiveness: in Christ. Amen.