“Better a little with righteousness than great income (gained) with injustice. 

Proverbs 16:8 AMP

As we come to our verse this morning, I would like to point out an interesting discovery. Our verse opens with the word ‘better.” At first glance we may quickly gloss over it thinking that it is just a modifier of some condition. The Hebrew word here is specifically pointing to the are of moral excellence! The actual meaning is “pertaining to the moral opposite of evil.” It is from the root word meaning “to be in a state of having proper characteristics or performing in an expected manner; to be good having favorable circumstances and lack trouble in life!” What an amazing truth about God’s way in our life. I am reminded of the following verse.

“The [boundary] lines [of the land] have fallen for me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”

Psalms 16:6 AMP

God has given to us His Word so that we may successfully navigate this thing called life! He has taken us from the land of darkness and placed us in the land of light. Remember the description of the coming of Christ?

“The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.”

Isaiah 9:2 AMP

We daily see the results of man being left to himself to try and live this life. God knew that we would not be able on our own to stay the course, so He laid out the path for us. He provided His Word, not to control us but to bless us! The Scripture is full of if – then clauses which we must acknowledge and chose. The book of Deuteronomy reminds us of this fact.

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore, you shall choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,”

Deuteronomy 30: 19 AMP

Have the lines of God’s Word fallen in a pleasant place in your life? As we see the world going further and further into the abyss, we make must make a conscious choice to follow His way. We are reminded,

“By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land, as in a strange land, living in tents [as nomads] with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise. 10For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has foundations, [an eternal, heavenly city] whose architect and builder is God.” 

Hebrews 11:8-10 AMP

Notice that Abraham was living in a tent while he journeyed. A tent was a portable dwelling place that was used when on was on a journey. We now (our spirits) are dwelling in a tent of flesh while looking expectantly to our permanent home! The Apostle Paul worte,

“For we know that if the earthly tent [our physical body] which is our house is torn down [through death], we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our [immortal, eternal] celestial dwelling, 3so that by putting it on we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened [often weighed down, oppressed], not that we want to be unclothed [separated by death from the body], but to be clothed, so that what is mortal [the body] will be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection]. 5Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise].”

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 AMP 

Abraham did not know for sure where he was going but he did not know the One taking him there! Are you living today with an eternal focus of your destiny? The above verse reminds us of the fulfilment of Jesus promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” We have received the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the fulfilment of God’s promise. Christ in us, the open of glory! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken