Proverbs 5:14 I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation
My friend had worked hard for years and years, he had built up a successful business and added more successful businesses to it. His organisation had just received a very prestigious and national award for excellence. It looked so good to everyone watching on. Money was flowing, businesses were busy, success seemed to follow success.
Unbeknown to most, one of the businesses was in trouble, and the challenge was so big that everything was on the line.
He was driving to the city one day for a meeting, around a hundred-mile trip. His car caught fire and he had to pull over to the side of the road and arrange for help.
While he sat there that day, he broke down and started to cry. He cried for his family, for his future and for all the people that were relying on him for their employment now. He cried for himself and the overwhelming challenges he was facing and for how lost he felt.
In the middle of his sense of ruin and loss, he had an epiphany moment and started to cry out to God. That night once he was back home he went over to talk to a Pastor that he had heard about from different friends.
He gave his heart to Jesus there and then, and was rescued from the edge of ruin. It was not an overnight change in his business, but there was a gradual and incremental turnaround. The challenges were met and overcome, good decisions were made and progress was seen.
He had been on the brink of a very public and spectacular utter ruin. God is in the restoration business though.
KNOWLEDGE
You are in a place where you should be safe, blessed, prospering, enjoying the fullest blessings of life, in health, family, business and community. You stand in the gathered congregation. Instead of the harvest that comes with obedience and a relationship with Yahweh, you have chosen your own path. You decided that you would go your own way long ago, and this moment was always waiting in the wings, but now is centre stage, under the main spotlight, about to play the leading role. It’s not when you thought it would be, it’s not how you thought it would be, and it’s not what you thought it would be.
In the subtext, we hear a groaning, sighing, and maybe even a murmuring. There seems no way ahead, the sea is in front of us and our past is behind us, closing in fast. The edge of the cliff is at our feet and the pursuit behind us is hot. One more decision is all it will take and we will plunge headlong into oblivion, into total and everlasting ruin.
But wait, we are only one decision away from salvation as well.
Every decision we or our friends and family make each day takes us either towards or away from our destiny. Today is a great day to decide to ask Jesus for his help, his instructions, his insights and wisdom to guide us forwards.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word for “assembled” in Hebrew is pronounced “qahal” and this word appears 123 ties in the Old testament. In the ESV it is translated into the English words, company; assembly; crowd; congregation; host; and, crew. In verse thirteen it carries an aspect of a community assembling to worship God.
WISDOM – where are your decisions taking you today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Belief places great value on good boundaries consistently. Justice and dialogue are important to you helping you establish what you stand for, much more than what you stand against. Others gain inspiration and purpose as they watch your life.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [I am diminishing in adversity and affliction in the middle of my community and in full view of all.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to reach out to others in their pain regardless of the reasons or situations. Thank you!
I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to bless me?
Hi ps Allan; thx u today for God ; my life haven’t been easy but I can see always God helping me trough; give to me hope and love
So these three things continue; faith; hope ; and love .And the greatest of these is Love
1 Corinthians 13:13
Thx u
God bless
Thank you Pastor Allan.
I believe that when we seek God, acknowledge him in everything and ask for His wisdom, guidance and his will before making any decisions, then our decisions are directed by Him. It is a matter of trusting His ways and answers.
I love the question – where is your decision taking you today?. Is it towards your destiny or away from?
Thank you ps. Allan. This story reminds me of my personal story. I was on the brink of ruin and devastation two years ago.
To relate to your sentece: how God would like us to live?
Whatever the situation and desperation, God would like us to still trust Him. Nothing can separate us from the love of Chris. His promise is yes and amen. He is miracle worker, promise keeper, delivered, our everlasting and true God who will be with us here in earth and in heaven. He will not leave us nor forsake us.
In the desperate and devastation situation, just cling onto Him. Let His hand hold us tight and until He deliver His promise in restoring our life and He is truly our only hope in this world. In Jesus mighty name.
Amen…..
My prayer everyday is to ask God for his help,and direction for my life.
During trials ,the enemy can be persistent and try to direct your path
I pray for Gods strength to keep me in His path,
It’s a blessing to walk in the shadow of the Almighty. Our refuge is certainly in Him. Thanks for words of encourage Pastor Allan.
Yea and amen Allan to this word of truth
Praise God! Wow what a story about your friend and the amazing decision he made to except Jesus as his Lord and savior.
This is so true that every decision make each day takes us either towards or away from our destiny.
Thanks Ps Allan for this great reminder.
“We are only one decision away from salvation. God is in the restoration business”. It is so comforting to know that there is a Saviour who, no matter what we’ve done, or wrong decisions we’ve made,, will hold our hand and guide us back to Him gently and lovingly.
If only we cry out to Him for forgiveness.
Thank you, Pastor Allan, for this reassuring message.
Thanks Pastor Allan for sharing this experience & thankfully your friend turned to Jesus through it all.
This obviously is a description of someone who doesn’t like what he has to harvest because of the bad choices he has made. He has no peace of mind & is filled with regret. Some mistakes can be corrected but a wasted life is permanent. God has promised to forgive us for our sins when we confess & forsake them. However you get only one chance to live your life & if you waste it there is no re-do button. This does not mean as Christians we judge others & ignore their pain but rather it gives us opportunity to support & reach out with a hand of compassion mercy & encouragement.
Love hearing your friend’s salvation story.
Great wisdom question about our decisions.
Thanks Ps Allan.
Thank you Pastor Allan for a powerful word! The LORD bless you .
Every decision we, our friends and family make each day takes us either towards or away from our destiny.
When we make good decisions in life we progress in every area of our lives. Wow
Good reminder: God is still in the restoration business even now