Saturday, June 02, 2018

Who Has Anguish? Who Has Sorrow? Who Is Always Fighting? Who Is Always Complaining? Who Has Unnecessary Bruises? Who Has Bloodshot Eyes?


Who Has Anguish? Who Has Sorrow?
Who Is Always Fighting? Who Is Always Complaining?
Who Has Unnecessary Bruises? Who Has Bloodshot Eyes?
Scripture
Proverbs 23
29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?
    Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?
    Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,
    trying out new drinks.

31 Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,
    how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.

32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;
    it stings like a viper.

33 You will see hallucinations,
    and you will say crazy things.

34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,
    clinging to a swaying mast.

35 And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it.
    I didn’t even know it when they beat me up.
When will I wake up
    so I can look for another drink?”
Observation
The world we live in glamorizes drinking doesn't it? The Bible does not glamorize it at all.
I can still remember when I thought it was something that I needed to do. It was what all my high school friends were doing. Yes, I can remember how stupid I acted when I drank too much. I can still remember how I embarrassed those around me.
We all laugh about the stupid things a drunk person does, but we no longer laugh when they have killed someone, when they have destroyed their marriage and their family, when it has cost someone his or her job, or when they have destroyed their own lives, compromised their own health with alcohol.
Here is what I think about drinking alcoholic drinks – bottom line … I think that there are way more good reasons not to drink alcoholic drinks than there are to drink them.
If you are reading this and you realize that drinking has become a destructive force in your life and you would love to stop but can't, then let me recommend a place where you can get help … “Celebrate Recovery”!
CR is a 12 step Christ-centered program where I know you can get help.
CR at our church meets at 5 pm every Sunday. 
If you don't live in Tampa you can “google” Celebrate Recovery and find a group that meets in your area.
1 Corinthians 10:31
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Ephesians 5:18
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
Applications
I will do all I can to help someone who has become addicted and dependent on alcohol or drugs. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ who have allowed themselves to be controlled by alcohol and drugs. Give them the strength and courage to get help. Don't let them destroy themselves and those around them with these addictions. Set them free. I know that I could be just where they are at. I know that I am a sinner. I know that it is only by Your grace and Your mercy that I am not controlled by alcohol today.
Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 22,23,24; Romans 14



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