A Moment of Hope

by David Chadwick "Who can say, 'I have made my heart pure; I am clean from sin'?" Proverbs 20:9 A pure heart. Clean hands. A renewed and righteous spirit. These were the cries of King David's heart in Psalm 51:10. Solomon had a similar anguish in Proverbs 20:9 when he said, "Who can say, 'I have made my heart pure; I am clean from sin'?" He knew the value and importance of holiness. But he also knew that apart from God's grace we are inherently filthy. Remember, this is written in the Old Testament. The Messiah had not yet arrived. Solomon and his people were living with an awareness of a holy God but great anticipation for salvation that had not yet come. So they had a deep awareness that the atonement for their sins could only come through the shedding of blood through animal sacrifice. Solomon knew the answer to his own question. No one! No one can say, "I have made my heart pure. No one can say, "I am clean from sin." This proverb paves the way for a Gospel proclamation. This is the simple Gospel. Let's remind ourselves of it today. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." All means all! Or as the psalmist in Psalm 14:1 said, no one is righteous, not even one. The wages of sin is death. We cannot, by our human efforts, be forgiven. There is no way out apart from the free gift of salvation through Jesus (Romans 6:23). These are all clear statements in God's Word. Our hearts can only become pure, and we can only become clean through the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus was beaten, bloodied, and tortured. He was persecuted and killed as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. He took all of our unrighteousness upon himself. The One who was perfectly righteous in every possible way and knew no sin became sin so that in him we might become righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). THIS is the great exchange. Jesus took our sin. We receive his righteousness. We are now forgiven and made pure and clean by the grace and mercy of Jesus. Salvation is a gift from God by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). What a deal! Who wouldn't receive this? For this forgiveness is what gives us the entrance into heaven and a reason to live on this side of eternity. But first we must realize that we are sinners, like Solomon, and need a Savior.

by David Chadwick "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." Proverbs 19:17 Generosity is a mark of a follower of Christ. It shows a surrendered life and a yielded heart. A generous life is the fruit of someone who fully knows how much he or she has been given by Jesus and, in turn, greatly desires to give his or her life away. Proverbs 19:17 says, "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord; and he will repay him for his deed." I love this proverb! God wants his people to be generous to the poor. To "lend" to them like a bank lends to us for different things that we either want or need. This is a profound truth. Too often, we separate caring for the poor from the Gospel of Jesus. This separation is what has led to social justice movements where people care for the poor without preaching the Gospel. But according to God's Word, these two demonstrations are inextricably connected. Effective ministries to the poor must be Gospel-centered and Christ-exalting. Lending to the poor, which is lending to the Lord, brings about a repayment from the Lord. He always brings back a large return to whatever we give away. God is a God of abundance. He has more than enough to meet our every need. He can do exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Too often, we put God in a box. Our finite minds try to compute his infinite existence, and, in turn, we can force our carnal, human minds into an understanding of the Lord that is incorrect. His ways and his thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Now, think again about the bank illustration. When the bank lends to us, it expects a return on investment. Interest rates allow the bank to get more and more money to be able to lend out more and more. When you give and lend to the poor, you should expect God to return a blessing to you. Expect a return on your investment! It's what today's proverb says. God will repay you for your deed when you give to the poor! And your lending will yield a return that is better than any bank in the world. God already owns everything. Everything is his! You're the steward. You manage his assets. And he loves it when his people are generous to the poor.

by David Chadwick "Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger." Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness. Defined as the "state or habit of being lazy, indolent, or inactive." According to the Bible, this behavior casts people into a deep sleep and leaves them hungry. Did you know that within Christian theology, the historical church actually came up with what is called the "seven deadly sins?" While all sin is horrific in the sight of a holy God, these are historically the worst of the worst sins that can cause the most harm to us and others. Here is the list of the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and… are you ready for #7? Sloth! Laziness. A bent toward apathy and a refusal to work. A lazy person is always too tired to work. Too exhausted to lift a finger. Or has excuses as to why they can't work. As laziness and slothfulness become more and more severe, poverty becomes inevitable. God created us to work. His intent was for work to be good and enjoyable. His original design was to invite us to participate with him in creating something, look at it, and say, "Well done!" There's no better feeling than to have accomplished a hard task. Hard work leads you to feel pride at an accomplishment. God knows that! Paul even said to the Thessalonian Christians, who were sitting around and not working at all, waiting every day for Jesus to return, that if they didn't work, they wouldn't eat (1 Thessalonians 3:10). Hunger is a great antidote to laziness! If someone gets hungry enough, he or she will work! My prayer is that those who profess Christ will learn the value of developing a strong work ethic. That we will have a high value for excellence and working hard! We must overcome laziness. Discipline your body to work hard and train yourself to see accomplishments. Make sure to teach your children, if you have them, the value of hard work. Try giving them an allowance and teaching them about generosity as well. In all you do, work for God's glory. Work with all your heart for the Lord, not for man (Colossians 3:23). God is the ultimate boss. Give him your very best.

by David Chadwick "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there's a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 Today, we are going to look at Proverbs 18:24, which says, "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there's a friend who sticks closer than a brother." There is a significant difference between acquaintances and a true friend. Most everyone has many acquaintances: neighbors, co-workers, people you bump into at your children's schools or sporting events, and so forth. You interact with these people. You talk. You may even say hello. But there is little depth. In fact, people may have many acquaintances, or companions, but are severely lacking when it comes to experiencing the kinds of blessings that only true friends can bring. A true friend is someone who sticks even closer than a brother or sister in your immediate family. These are the kinds of people who are there in your toughest times. When life stinks. When others have deserted you. These are the ones who remain. They are present with you immediately in a time of need. They are always just a text or phone call away. Unlike Job's three friends who came to him in his distress and pontificated about God's "why" he was going through all his tragedy and pain, even suggesting it was because of some sin he had committed, a true friend is a master of what many refer to as "the ministry of presence." Seldom saying a word. With a hand on your shoulder. Holding your hand. Rejoicing with you in joys and weeping with you in sorrows (Romans 12:15). Do you have this kind of friend? If so, at some time today, call, text, email, or write a letter to that person and simply thank him or her for being a friend who sticks closer than a brother or sister. These people are what some call "forever friends." They are more valuable than all of the money in the world.

by David Chadwick "The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him." Proverbs 18:17 Have you ever heard the phrase, "There are two sides to every story?" Or what about this one, "There are three sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth." Today's proverb says something similar: "The one who states his case first seems right; until the other comes and examines him" Proverbs 18:17. If you have lived life for any amount of time, you have most likely found yourself in perplexing situations where the truth has been hard to discern. One side says one thing and the other side says something different. More than ever, we are living in times where this seems to be common. We should all be able to easily see how true today's proverb is! You hear one person's perspective on an issue and it seems accurate. This person tells you what he or she has seen and it seems right. In fact, his or her account sounds like the truth in every possible way. You might even nod in approval as you listen to his or her perspective. But then you hear the other side of the story from another person. Until this other perspective is given to you, you would have never thought it existed. Suddenly you realize that there is another side. All of the sudden, things don't feel quite so clear. This proverb's truth often plays out in a court of law. One lawyer asks a witness to give his perspective, and it seems right until the other lawyer has a chance to respond and cross-examine that witness. Many situations require tremendous wisdom in order to accurately come to a wise conclusion. So what does this mean for us today? Always make sure you hear both sides of a case before drawing a conclusion. People often examine an issue from their own perspective and even personal pain. Or, if directly involved in the dispute, people often listen with a bias and may be looking to build their own case. More often than not, there is another side to hear. Make sure you hear both, asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and discernment for where the actual truth lies (1 Corinthians 12:10).

by David Chadwick "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body." Proverbs 18:8 A whisperer is defined as "anyone who speaks softly or in hushed tones." Sometimes a whisper brings peace, clarity, and a softness; much like the still soft voice of the Lord that guides us, leads us, and protects us (Isaiah 30:21). But when used incorrectly, whispering can be full of gossip and rumormongering. Proverbs 18:8 speaks specifically about this type of whisperer. It teaches that words of gossip go down deep into our inner body. It even implies that listening to these words can have a negative impact on our physical health. This sinister whisperer spreads things that seem enticing but transfer deep toxins into the soul of the listener. This person whispers to hide, to cover up, and to deceive. It's a whisper that hurts rather than heals. Think about gossip for a moment. Words that are full of toxins. Unfortunately, many people love to speak these words. And even more love to hear them. For some, listening to gossip is both entertaining and exciting. It is somewhat of an addiction that gives individuals something more exciting to focus on outside of their everyday lives. It serves as a toxic distraction. How terrible! But why do people love such a horrible thing? Because the flesh has a powerful appetite! Gossip tears someone else down while trying to lift yourself up. Not only does gossip puff you up with a false sense of pride but it destroys the person you are talking about, who is also created in the image of God. Gossip truly is a double-edge sword and is deadly for both the speaker and hearer, which is one of many reasons why it is so important to stop these words before they ever enter. Don't listen to gossip. It's bad for everyone involved. It hurts the person about whom you are gossiping. And, according to wise Solomon, it appears to be bad for your own physical health as well, deeply touching the inner parts of your physical body. A strong warning from a God who made us!

by Marilynn Chadwick "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." Proverbs 17:17 NIV We've talked about how God's wisdom, including his creation of the Sabbath, improves our work/rest rhythm. It also strengthens our relationships. Over the years, our "Day Off" became a source of relational bonding for our family. All three of our now grown children especially looked forward to "Family Home Night." These were weekly times of shared togetherness at the close of our Sabbath and included special movies, family prayers, Bible stories, and make-your-own-pizzas. Sometimes, those family movies prompted spontaneous talking, laughing, and stories. But they also created space for the occasional troubling fear. The kids seemed to take this time to heart. They grew to eagerly anticipate the much-needed space set aside for rest and time with just our family. They felt renewed by the safe haven of home. Relationships tend to grow deeper when we take a day to rest. Perhaps that's why Sabbath and stories seem to naturally go together. This was especially evident during our missions travel to other cultures, where life often moved at a slower pace. The connection was even more profound in places where war or suffering had occurred. I remember my friend Ange, a young Rwandan mother and survivor of the horrific genocide years earlier. After we experienced a Sabbath worship service together, Ange opened up and shared her story of pain and ultimately healing. I was amazed by her courage and strength. We kept in touch for years, but it was a time of rest that opened the door for the sharing of stories and friendship. The Bible refers to the Sabbath day as "holy," which means "different or set apart." "Day Off" is unlike any other day of the week (Exodus 20:8-11). God must have realized when he created the Sabbath that it would enrich every area of our human life. Sabbath keeping goes against the grain of a world that is too busy to care. It is life in slower motion. For this reason, Sabbath encourages the sharing of our stories, dreams, fears, and even testimonies. That's why we were not created to experience Sabbath in isolation. I wonder if biblical Sabbath keeping could become a powerful, counter cultural strategy in a world which thirsts for freedom from overwork and isolation. In a world in desperate need of God and godly relationships. In a world that yearns for shalom.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." Proverbs 3:9,10 NIV It's been said that Americans are the only people who worship our work, work at our play, and play at our worship. But according to the Bible, honoring God with the tithe of our finances, our "first fruits," comes with the promise of material provision. Similarly, taking a day off each week honors God with the "first fruits" of our time. We trust him to multiply our work, even as we rest. The word Sabbath, or sabat in Hebrew, means "to cease, desist, rest." Put another way, Sabbath simply means to stop working. The very first use of sabat in the Bible is in the Creation narrative: "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done" (Genesis 2:2,3 NIV). Sabbath can be described as taking one day each week to rest from our work. Work six days and rest one, a rhythm which follows God's pattern as Creator. Work and rest are holy. Both are an example of what it means to be created in the image of God. Perhaps we can learn a few tips on Sabbath-keeping from observant Jews. Worship, rest, family time, taking a walk, and reading are among the activities considered good Sabbath practices for the faithful Jew. What is not good on the Sabbath can be summed up in three words: work, commerce [shopping and spending], and worry. When God gave Moses the law, he reminded him of how he brought the Israelites out of slavery. As if to say, "slaves cannot take a day off; only free people can" (Exodus 20:2). Sabbath rest is a weekly testimony against the perpetual grind of a slave's work. It gives us a picture of who God is and what it means to be created to be in his image. God's fourth commandment, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" reminds us of Creation. More words are used to explain this one command than any of the other nine (Exodus 20: 8-11). Sabbath makes space for nurturing our families, our church, and our communities. Sabbath-keeping helps us care for our souls in an age when many are desperately thirsty for peace. Rest from our work is also a theological theme woven throughout the Bible. It describes the liberating life of grace for the believer who has found true rest in Christ's salvation. Perhaps St. Augustine could have been hinting at our need for Sabbath rest when he made this famous statement in his Confessions: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

by Marilynn Chadwick "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10 NIV The "fear of the Lord" brings wisdom that far exceeds our understanding. After all, God knows humans better than anyone. From the very beginning, he ordained a Sabbath. So, it would make sense that living according to God's wisdom and taking one day off every week would strengthen every area of life—our work, our rest, and our relationships. I'm reminded of the time David and I were invited to teach a marriage seminar to a gathering of young couples. We each made a separate list of our "Top Ten Marriage Tips." However, we decided not to reveal the results of our lists to one another until the moment we actually presented the message. It was fun to compare the different habits and insights we each felt had strengthened our marriage. When it came time for "the reveal," turns out David and I had chosen exactly the same "Number One Marriage Tip." It was simply this: Take one day off together every week. In other words, "Keep your Sabbath." Ironically, this was the very same advice our first ministry-couple mentors had shared with us way back when we were newlyweds. We took their advice to heart and many years later, we still take our day off together each week. If you factor it over our 48 years of marriage and ministry, together, that's well over 2000 Sabbaths! We have landed on some practices which make this day special, fun, even holy. We look forward to our weekly ritual of enjoying our favorite coffee in a quiet setting surrounded by nature. Often, we journal our specific prayer needs and give thanks for answers to prayer. Sometimes we enjoy a great movie and special treats. But it's more about the regularity of our Sabbath than any specific ritual. God seems so very present on those sacred, sanctified, set apart days. Our weekly Day Off has become more than simply time away from work— it is a "want to," not a "have to." A gift of grace. God knew what he was doing when he created Sabbath rest. Over the years, as we have followed his wisdom and not our own, these weekly Sabbaths provided life-giving boundaries and created space for our marriage and children to flourish. What are some practical ways you can begin to practice God's "rhythm of rest?" For more inspiration and insight on how to cultivate a flourishing marriage click here to download a free copy of 8 Great Ways to Honor your Wife by David Chadwick and 8 Great Ways to Honor your Husband by Marilynn Chadwick.

by David Chadwick "House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord." Proverbs 19:14 Today's proverb makes it very clear that prudence is a characteristic of a godly wife. The word "prudent" means "to act with or show care, wisdom, and thought for the future, particularly in managing practical affairs or avoiding risks." The verse starts off acknowledging that a home and financial wealth can come through family inheritance. While fathers, especially, most often work incredibly hard to create a generational blessing and legacy for their children and grandchildren, it is the Lord who gives a prudent wife. A prudent wife is a gift from the Lord. She is wise, careful, self-restrained, and diligent. A woman like this is a "grace gift" from God. Whereas fathers may leave house and wealth, this verse implies the Lord gives a man a prudent wife to know how to increase the family's assets because of her prudence. While not fearful or anxious, a prudent wife calculates decision-making with purpose and precision. She brings wisdom to home management, investments, and financial oversight. She offers good perspectives on decision-making. She is able to process alongside her husband in regard to how to make the best decisions for their family and their future. In our home, my Marilynn has overseen a lot of family management, which has been a special blessing to me. Her wise and prudent oversight has not only brought about family and financial favor, but her prudence in this area has freed me to do the ministry God has called me to do. Without her, I'd be nothing. For you men, while a home and wealth are wonderful gifts to leave to your children and your children's children, the best gift you can leave to the world is a prudent wife, someone who pours into and blesses your home in intangible ways.

by David Chadwick "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones." Proverbs 12:4 Excellent is defined as "something possessing outstanding quality, superior merit, or being remarkably good." Shame, on the other hand, is "a painful emotion driven by the belief that you are fundamentally flawed or unworthy." In this verse, God lays out two options of the kind of wife someone can find. Almost like a fork in the road, this verse clearly shows what happens if you go one direction versus another. One direction leads to honor. The other leads to death. If he chooses poorly, a shameful wife brings rot to a man's bones. This woman is not just shameful with her words, but also her actions. She does not think before she speaks or acts. She lives solely for herself and makes decisions for her own benefit. A shameful wife makes decisions through the lens of selfishness and sin. On the other hand, however, think about what a crown represents. Royalty. Glory. Honor. Prestige. Influence. So a man who marries an excellent wife will be marked by her excellence. A wife of good character will make her husband feel like a king. She will not only lift him up and make him feel important both to her and the home, but she also has good character herself, which means she will represent him and the family well in the public eye. All of this brings tremendous honor to his name. An excellent wife doesn't bring shame to her husband in any way, especially with her words. She also knows how her words can bring him down and deeply hurt their relationship and therefore uses words of affirmation to build up her husband. The same principle holds true for a husband's words to his wife! Words themselves either encourage excellence or shame. This is what the Bible calls an "excellent wife." She is beyond reproach. The kind of wife a husband is so proud to be married to. I have such a wife and am indeed a very blessed man.

by Marilynn Chadwick "Who can find a woman of valor..." Proverbs 31:10 OJB "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor." Judges 6:12 ESV In this series, we caught a glimpse into the heart of the Queen Mother (Proverbs 31:1-9) as she fervently prayed for her son who would one day be king. We saw this same heart displayed by Queen Margaret of Scotland as she prayed for and trained her own children, some who also became kings during the 11th century. But here's a startling truth: If we believe in Jesus, we are sons and daughters who are a royal priesthood. Royalty is no longer reserved for priests and kings or those born into royal lineage. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are part of God's royal family. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). Yes, we are God's royal priesthood. Citizens of a kingdom not of this world—a kingdom that dwells in our heart. As we live in that newness of life, our good works bring glory to God. "Dear friends, I urge you… Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God..." (1 Peter 2:11,12). God sees within each of us the courage and strength he put there. Let's look at how the Bible portrays a man named Gideon. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said to him, "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor" (Judges 6:12 ESV). God called Gideon to save all of Israel during one of the darkest times in their history. And yet, Gideon felt afraid and utterly without strength. His own family was a mess. "How can I save Israel?" he cried out to God. "My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." God replied, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (Judges 6:14,15 NIV). Maybe you struggle with inadequacy and fear like Gideon did. Perhaps God is whispering to you right at this moment as he whispered to Gideon: "The Lord is with you mighty warrior, man or woman of valor. And because I am with you, you will have strength to prevail!" God's words to us are the same words he spoke to Gideon. "Because I am with you, you will defeat your enemies." Let's dare to learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs courageous men and women of valor who are willing to boldly carry God's love into a broken world. There is a place—a household and a community somewhere—that desperately needs your love. There is a cause that has your name on it. Our greatest mission is to reach the world for Christ. Let us become men and women of valor who dare to do something courageous for God. Perhaps we'll discover unexpected courage as we step out in faith to give life to others. Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here to order your copy today!

by Marilynn Chadwick In Proverbs 31, we catch a glimpse into the heart of the Queen Mother who had prayed for her son and devoted him to the Lord. Clearly the Queen Mother saw the potential dangers of royalty even more clearly than her son. She also knew she was raising a world changer. Let's continue our look into the teachings that were foremost in her mind as she trained the son who would be king: "The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him. 'It is not for kings, Lemuel—it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights'." Proverbs 31:4,5 NIV A long time ago there lived a real princess who actually did change the world. Her name was Margaret. She married a Scottish King and thus became Queen Margaret, one of the most beloved nobles in the history of Scotland. I became captivated by her story years ago when traveling with our family through the Scottish Highlands. It was easy to be mesmerized by the land of castles, kings, kilts, and battlefields. Years later, while writing the Woman of Valor, memories of Queen Margaret came flooding back to my mind. Perhaps you'll agree with me that Margaret embodies much of what we have seen in the Proverbs 31 Woman of Valor. Her story takes us back to the Middle Ages. Margaret of Wessex was an English princess born in Hungary to Princess Agatha of Hungary and English Prince Edward the Exile around 1045. Her parents fled as exiles to Hungary after the Danes took over England. When Margaret was ten years old, she and her family returned to England, where her father suddenly died before he could assume the throne. Several years later, Margaret and her mother, along with her two siblings, were forced to flee, once again, for their lives when William the Conqueror stormed his way through England. While sailing north, Margaret and her family were caught in a storm and shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland. They were aided by King Malcolm and put under his protection. Before long, Malcolm fell deeply in love with the beautiful and kind princess. Margaret and Malcolm married in 1070 at the castle in Edinburgh. We've been learning about the strong influence a Woman of Valor can have on her own family. We see such an example in Margaret, a deeply committed Christian whose faith influenced the rather uncouth Malcolm. He turned his heart to God, largely because of his wife. The couple had six sons and two daughters and raised all to become strong followers of Christ who transformed 11th Century Scotland. To be continued tomorrow… Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here to order your copy today!