Read Pro. 8:13-21
A true test to see if you fear God is if you hate pride, arrogance, the path of the evil, and those who speak perversely. These are the things God hates and we are to hate the things he hates and love the things he loves. He loves his plan and his wisdom. He has all power to rule over the counsel of our kings and presidents and institute justice through our judges. He rules through all in authority. God loves those who choose to love him back and all show seek him will find him. Wealth and honor, value and righteousness is to those who draw near. God's fruit, his reward, is better than any monetary measure we have on earth. He will lead us down paths of righteousness and in the midst of judgment. He does this for those who love him because he wants us to inherit something overflowing with worth.
Sometimes it is hard to realize how much God is in control of this earth. He doesn't stay in our churches; he rules over nations. And one of the hardest things to get is how much he wants to lavish his kindness and pleasure on us, but he does.
Lord, we open up our arms to receive your wisdom and your treasures that are far more valuable than gold.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wed.'s Devo - Need a Roommate?
Read Pro. 8:4-12
How many times does Proverbs tell us that wisdom is shouting to us to listen? Wisdom is no respecter of people; it is for everyone who wants it. It speaks of excellent things which in the Hebrew means "a commander as occupying the front, civil, military or religious". It will teach us how to lead our lives, our children, and our business. When we speak, what we say will prosper and come to pass because it will be God's word. We will speak from a foundation of truth so the morally wrong will be detestable to us. God can only speak righteously because he doesn't twist his truth. We will be able to understand if we choose to hear it. Wisdom is so freely offered to us and is more valuable than any monetary value we could imagine.
Verse 12 says that "I wisdom dwell with prudence." It is like wisdom is a person who lives with Prudence. Prudence in the Hebrew means, "trickery, in a good sense; discretion." To me, that means you can navigate this world of sensual, get-it-now, self-centered attitude that permeates our society with God's wisdom and still be attractive to others. The next part of the verse says, "and find out knowledge of witty inventions." I have always thought that meant that God will help you discover new inventions, which he will, but I don't think that is what this means here. The Hebrew for witty inventions is "a plan, usually evil, sometimes good". It makes me think of how Elijah would tell the king of Israel what the Philistine king was planning in his bedroom. To us that would be like God warning us of something to come that we couldn't have knowledge of any other way.
Lord, we invite Wisdom and Prudence to come and dwell with us and be our roommates.
How many times does Proverbs tell us that wisdom is shouting to us to listen? Wisdom is no respecter of people; it is for everyone who wants it. It speaks of excellent things which in the Hebrew means "a commander as occupying the front, civil, military or religious". It will teach us how to lead our lives, our children, and our business. When we speak, what we say will prosper and come to pass because it will be God's word. We will speak from a foundation of truth so the morally wrong will be detestable to us. God can only speak righteously because he doesn't twist his truth. We will be able to understand if we choose to hear it. Wisdom is so freely offered to us and is more valuable than any monetary value we could imagine.
Verse 12 says that "I wisdom dwell with prudence." It is like wisdom is a person who lives with Prudence. Prudence in the Hebrew means, "trickery, in a good sense; discretion." To me, that means you can navigate this world of sensual, get-it-now, self-centered attitude that permeates our society with God's wisdom and still be attractive to others. The next part of the verse says, "and find out knowledge of witty inventions." I have always thought that meant that God will help you discover new inventions, which he will, but I don't think that is what this means here. The Hebrew for witty inventions is "a plan, usually evil, sometimes good". It makes me think of how Elijah would tell the king of Israel what the Philistine king was planning in his bedroom. To us that would be like God warning us of something to come that we couldn't have knowledge of any other way.
Lord, we invite Wisdom and Prudence to come and dwell with us and be our roommates.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tues.'s Devo - Finding God
Read Pro. 8:1-3
God is always saying something; we just need to get on his frequency and position ourselves to hear him. Wisdom and understanding are shouting from the the top of the high places, by the way, in the places of the paths, at the gates, at the entry of the city and at the coming in at the doors. So let's look at those places. The top of the high places were where they went to worship. So God will give us wisdom in our quiet times with him. By the way and in the places of the paths means along the way... when we least expect it, answers will come. At the gates and at the entry of the city is where the elders would sit and give advice, judgment, teaching to anyone who needed it. They determined who came in and who went out. This is a place of authority and we all need mentors who can give us wisdom. We also have a personal gatekeeper called the Holy Spirit who watches over our city to keep it protected. At the coming in at the doors: we all have openings or doors which are our eyes, ears, noses, etc. If you are looking for wisdom, God will bring a sermon, a word, a note, something that can come through your doors and enlighten you.
On a personal note, this week I was praying about something. I had the impression that I should call my girlfriend and ask her to pray with me. She called me first which was unusual since we haven't talked in a while. I told her my prayer request and she and I prayed about it. When I prayed I found myself saying something I hadn't thought of before. That day another friend called and told me she was sending me a letter with a scripture written down for me. When I got it it was the same thing I had found myself praying the day before. Amazing God! I love how he networks everything together to speak to us.
Lord, may we go to the high places and seek you and find you along our paths, in the words of our authority, and in our senses. You are worth finding.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Mon.'s Devo - The House of the Rising Sun
Read Pro. 7:4-27
The "strange woman" in Proverbs stands for any temptation in your life that acts like a temptress. To most people it is sexual in nature, but not to all. It may be appetite, gambling, anger. In today's reading the person who has chosen God's wisdom is observing a person who is being seduced into sin. His first mistake is that he is walking near the corner where the temptress lives. He chose to walk that way. If we want to get free of a pattern of sin we have to change our pattern. The Bible calls this fleeing. His second mistake is that it is getting dark. We feel better about our sin if we can do it in secret where we feel hidden. We forget that night is day to God and he sees what we do in secret. God loves the light and Satan loves the dark. His third mistake is that he stops to talk to her. She is subtle and lies waiting for him to come. The devil knows how to set a trap for us, he is really good at deceit. She makes her move quickly; she grabs him and kisses him and immediately starts her spiel. She starts by trying to sell her self-righteousness to wear down his morals. She says she has made peace offerings, and payed her vows; sounds like a regular church-goer. She has been looking for him and he shows up (must be divine appointment). Then she moves on to the seduction and talks about how great this is going to be. She has spread tapestries on her bed, with carved works and fine linen from Egypt. He bed is perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. (The devil can make sin look wonderful.) And what's more, they can enjoy it all night because there is no way they will be caught. So he gives in to this perfect deal not knowing that it is really leading to his sorrow, not his pleasure. Her ways lead to death and hell, not life and heaven. And it fades to the tune of "The House of the Rising Sun": "...she's been the ruin of many a poor boy, and God I know I'm one."
Lord, help us change our patterns that lead us to make the same mistakes. Lead us by your truth and let it be our guide.
The "strange woman" in Proverbs stands for any temptation in your life that acts like a temptress. To most people it is sexual in nature, but not to all. It may be appetite, gambling, anger. In today's reading the person who has chosen God's wisdom is observing a person who is being seduced into sin. His first mistake is that he is walking near the corner where the temptress lives. He chose to walk that way. If we want to get free of a pattern of sin we have to change our pattern. The Bible calls this fleeing. His second mistake is that it is getting dark. We feel better about our sin if we can do it in secret where we feel hidden. We forget that night is day to God and he sees what we do in secret. God loves the light and Satan loves the dark. His third mistake is that he stops to talk to her. She is subtle and lies waiting for him to come. The devil knows how to set a trap for us, he is really good at deceit. She makes her move quickly; she grabs him and kisses him and immediately starts her spiel. She starts by trying to sell her self-righteousness to wear down his morals. She says she has made peace offerings, and payed her vows; sounds like a regular church-goer. She has been looking for him and he shows up (must be divine appointment). Then she moves on to the seduction and talks about how great this is going to be. She has spread tapestries on her bed, with carved works and fine linen from Egypt. He bed is perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. (The devil can make sin look wonderful.) And what's more, they can enjoy it all night because there is no way they will be caught. So he gives in to this perfect deal not knowing that it is really leading to his sorrow, not his pleasure. Her ways lead to death and hell, not life and heaven. And it fades to the tune of "The House of the Rising Sun": "...she's been the ruin of many a poor boy, and God I know I'm one."
Lord, help us change our patterns that lead us to make the same mistakes. Lead us by your truth and let it be our guide.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Fri.'s Devo - The Apple of Our Eye
Read Pro. 7:1-4
Everyone wants a fulfilling life that they can enjoy and God promises that to anyone who would keep his laws and hide his commands in their heart can have this life. God's laws are to be the "apple of our eye". I looked this up in the Hebrew and it means the little man of the eye. In other words you see everything through this little man that lives in your eye. He tells you what you see and what to do about what you see. He is the Holy Spirit in you. We are to bind these words about our fingers and write them on the tablet of our heart. Our fingers are what we use to grasp things so if the Word of God is written on our fingers then we will reach for and make our goals the things God's Word tells us to reach for and make our goal. We will reach for God's Word instead of the morning paper as soon as we wake up. We'll reach for kindness and forgiveness instead of gossip and revenge. In the Old Testament the Word was written on stone tablets but we live in the New Testament where we are told to write them on the fleshly tablets of our hearts. Then wisdom will become like a sister, closely related to us, and understanding like our best friend.
Lord, let your Word be the apple of our eye and our closest companion. We choose to write it on our hearts and our hands that we might not sin against you.
Everyone wants a fulfilling life that they can enjoy and God promises that to anyone who would keep his laws and hide his commands in their heart can have this life. God's laws are to be the "apple of our eye". I looked this up in the Hebrew and it means the little man of the eye. In other words you see everything through this little man that lives in your eye. He tells you what you see and what to do about what you see. He is the Holy Spirit in you. We are to bind these words about our fingers and write them on the tablet of our heart. Our fingers are what we use to grasp things so if the Word of God is written on our fingers then we will reach for and make our goals the things God's Word tells us to reach for and make our goal. We will reach for God's Word instead of the morning paper as soon as we wake up. We'll reach for kindness and forgiveness instead of gossip and revenge. In the Old Testament the Word was written on stone tablets but we live in the New Testament where we are told to write them on the fleshly tablets of our hearts. Then wisdom will become like a sister, closely related to us, and understanding like our best friend.
Lord, let your Word be the apple of our eye and our closest companion. We choose to write it on our hearts and our hands that we might not sin against you.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Thur.'s Devo - The Thief and Adulterer
Read Pro. 6:30-35
I think I have read this eight times and still don't quite understand its implication but I'm going to make a stab at it. "Don't despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry." I think it is saying to have compassion on those who steal because they are hungry and just trying to live. It's the next part I don't understand: "But if he be found, he must restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house." It seems to me that if we are truly compassionate we would hope that he didn't get caught because then he would lose everything. Maybe that's the point. I've been to third world countries where stealing was a job description right up there with prostitution and all their worldly possessions wouldn't be enough to buy a meal. Anyway, we are not to judge and they are not to steal.
The next few verses have to do with the adulterer. Where the thief is stealing to satisfy his soul, what the adulterer does destroys his soul. His recompense is dishonor and a spot like leprosy which neither can be wiped away. At least the thief can pay his debt but the adulterer is plagued with his without remedy. The person that is stolen from can forgive because he realizes the person did it just to survive, but the husband who has had his wife stolen can not be repaid nor will be forgive easily.
Lord, give us a heart to live in your kingdom where all our hungers are satisfied in you and we don't have to steal to get satisfied.
I think I have read this eight times and still don't quite understand its implication but I'm going to make a stab at it. "Don't despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry." I think it is saying to have compassion on those who steal because they are hungry and just trying to live. It's the next part I don't understand: "But if he be found, he must restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house." It seems to me that if we are truly compassionate we would hope that he didn't get caught because then he would lose everything. Maybe that's the point. I've been to third world countries where stealing was a job description right up there with prostitution and all their worldly possessions wouldn't be enough to buy a meal. Anyway, we are not to judge and they are not to steal.
The next few verses have to do with the adulterer. Where the thief is stealing to satisfy his soul, what the adulterer does destroys his soul. His recompense is dishonor and a spot like leprosy which neither can be wiped away. At least the thief can pay his debt but the adulterer is plagued with his without remedy. The person that is stolen from can forgive because he realizes the person did it just to survive, but the husband who has had his wife stolen can not be repaid nor will be forgive easily.
Lord, give us a heart to live in your kingdom where all our hungers are satisfied in you and we don't have to steal to get satisfied.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Weds.'s Devo - Heed the Wisdom of Your Parents
Read Pro. 6: 20-29
Have you ever noticed how parents have different rules because of the different families they came from. Ideally they should balance each other out so that they both bring a different part of wisdom to the table. We are admonished to listen and take in their wisdom and make it a law to ourselves. They have actually had to live out their ideas and have learned from their mistakes. They try to pass this on to their children so that we won't make the same mistakes. This godly wisdom is to lead us, protect us when we are asleep and talk to us when we are awake. Their godly wisdom will be like a lamp to us to teach us how to live. Their warnings are to keep us from evil people who want to deceive us with flattery and talk us into sinning. God's Word will keep us from being tricked by the pretty package that sin comes in and its strong pull on us. Sin is like an adulterous woman who is in search of her next victim. If we hold fast to God's Word we won't fall into her trap. There is no way we can flirt with sin and not come away unburned. It is compared to embracing fire and not getting burned. There is no way that will happen; we will get burned. So the warning is to run when we are being tempted.
Lord, help us to listen to the wisdom of our elders and your Word and heed its warnings. We desire to stay forever faithful to you alone.
Have you ever noticed how parents have different rules because of the different families they came from. Ideally they should balance each other out so that they both bring a different part of wisdom to the table. We are admonished to listen and take in their wisdom and make it a law to ourselves. They have actually had to live out their ideas and have learned from their mistakes. They try to pass this on to their children so that we won't make the same mistakes. This godly wisdom is to lead us, protect us when we are asleep and talk to us when we are awake. Their godly wisdom will be like a lamp to us to teach us how to live. Their warnings are to keep us from evil people who want to deceive us with flattery and talk us into sinning. God's Word will keep us from being tricked by the pretty package that sin comes in and its strong pull on us. Sin is like an adulterous woman who is in search of her next victim. If we hold fast to God's Word we won't fall into her trap. There is no way we can flirt with sin and not come away unburned. It is compared to embracing fire and not getting burned. There is no way that will happen; we will get burned. So the warning is to run when we are being tempted.
Lord, help us to listen to the wisdom of our elders and your Word and heed its warnings. We desire to stay forever faithful to you alone.
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