The foolish

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘ There  is no God.’ They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.”
Psalms 14:1 NKJV

Denying the existence of God is foolish.

Yet, there’s so much more than a statement here.

When dealing with the heart one can easily see it’s a far more complex idea.

If the fool says in his heart there is no God, he is choosing to limit the Almighty to his own understanding.

But before we pass by this with a self satisfied, “that’s not me”, “I believe in God”, let’s turn the tables a bit.

To be foolish is to doubt God, it’s the opposite of faith.

Thus no one is immune to folly.

All it requires to be foolish is to allow doubt to enter our hearts.

Who else besides Eve has heard the enemy’s cunning: “Has God indeed said…?”

And doubt is always wrapped in veneer of something else, thus we need to be careful.

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

The enemy of our souls has used the message of doubt and fear most effectively throughout history.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV — Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

On top of this our own sinful nature is constantly warring against the truth of God.

Galatians 5:17 NKJV — For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

But all have hope through Christ Jesus for good, for salvation, for wisdom.

John 10:10 NKJV — “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Therefore Jesus, Himself, saves us from folly.

When we put or faith in Him we are saved.

“But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.  I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
John 17:13‭-‬14 NKJV

Fight the foolishness of doubt with faith in Christ.

It’s not a “once and done” choice, but a diligent daily effort.

“O Lord , how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this.”
Psalms 92:5‭-‬6 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your faithfulness. Thank You for saving us from folly through Your Word. Please help each one of us to be on guard for the tricks and snares of the enemy. Please show us where we have allowed doubt to cloud our belief. Lord Jesus teach us, that our hearts might be steadfast and our choices good. Please do not allow us to be double-minded, unstable in all our ways. For Your way is right, Your Word is true, and in You we find all that we need. Thank You. Amen.

Legacy

Five generations

When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
II Timothy 1:5‭-‬6 NKJV

Timothy’s mother and grandmother gave him a legacy of genuine faith.

Definitely, a treasure worth passing on.

This genuine faith wasn’t a happenstance, but a choice by both women to follow God and in their devotion to the Lord they planted seeds of this same faith into Timothy.

We must be purposeful if we want to leave a legacy like this.

Our faith must be genuine as well.

Romans 3:25 NKJV — whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

For those who have believed and received salvation it should be evident in lives surrendered to Jesus.

Our choices, our time, our character all plant seeds for the future.

And God’s Word makes it apparent, our lives today leave a legacy for tomorrow.

God’s Word also clearly commands we live out our faith daily, especially before our children.

Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV — “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,

Both Lois and Eunice followed this verse.

And it’s truth is as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago.

For the Bible clearly teaches us we leave a legacy of one kind or of the other.

Proverbs 3:35 NKJV — The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Proverbs 11:29 NKJV — He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

All the truths of leaving behind a godly legacy can be true of leaving behind a poor one.

Galatians 6:7 NKJV — Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

It is not difficult to leave a legacy of ungodliness.

History is full of those recorded for all to remember their folly or their evil.

And for each one whose life made enough ripple to be written down how many more are there who simply chose to live unto themselves rather than in service to others.

But there is hope.

It’s never too late to begin leaving a legacy of genuine faith.

It’s never too late to speak words of humility, apology, encouragement, truth, or wisdom.

It’s never too late to seek God personally so your life can be used by Jesus to plant seeds in the future.

What kind of legacy are you planting today?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for truth. Lord, please make me like Lois and Eunice, please continue to build and grow genuine faith in my life and use my life to plant seeds into our children and grandchildren. Lord Jesus, help me to see opportunities You give to encourage, love, support, and bring Your Word to. Please keep me from causing harm in anyway, but instead please use me to touch others. Lord Jesus, on my own I can do nothing, it is only in You working through me that I find ability. Thank You. Thank You for all You have done and are doing and will do. Amen.