Boldly go forth

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

BOLDY GO FORTH

Prov 28:1

The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

NIV

We are faced with another comparison between the wicked and the righteous. The idea about the wicked fleeing even when no one is chasing him gives us the idea the wicked are caught in the void between both the realm of this world and the realm of God. They have no true course of direction for their lives, afraid of this world and of God. Their fleeing may be from the truth of God. Their fleeing may be from their own drab lives or understanding of the purpose of their lives. This fleeing is caused by some kind of fear, a fear that is within themselves, as no one is pursuing them, chasing them. Their fear is based on the fact they do not know the saving grace of God. But now we have the righteous who are as bold as a lion. These are the people who know God, who have their trust in him, who enjoy the truth of his grace. Of course the use of the word wicked only means those who are not saved and the righteous are those who are. A person defined as wicked may be a normal person, fairly good in most respects, even doing good deeds for others, but not knowing God in the sense of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and being born again a new creature in Christ, they are defined as wicked. On the other hand a person defined as righteous does not mean they are always good people, always doing the right thing, always doing good deeds for others, always being without sin. The righteous are define as such because of their faith and confession in Christ Jesus. Nevertheless being among those considered righteous because God has declared us so, we live with no such fear. We can live boldly with confidence because we are in Christ, we have a life purpose and we have eternal life. We know our destination in life. It might seem the one thing we should fear is Satan, but even him we can boldly stand under any of his attacks because God has provided us with his armor. We can stand our ground, we can take our stand against any foe for we are the confident children of the Most High God.  We flee from no one, nor from anything for we can stand firm because God fights for us. We can boldly go where no man as every gone before. We can roam this earth because we trust in God, we can be sure of our footing because he orders our footsteps. We do not have to aimlessly travel through life chasing some illusive dream, or fearful of not being good enough, or smart enough or having made our mark in this world. We are the children of God. We do not have to fear judgement as the wicked might. We can boldly live life. We can boldly go forth. 

Perpetual and Eternal

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

PERPETUAL AND ETERNAL

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; 24 for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. 25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, 26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. 27 You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.

NIV

We would have to think this has meaning to only those of ancient times who tended sheep as a profession. It appears it speaks about trusting in all other resources is mere foolishness because the flock of sheep and goats will provide all that is needed and continue to grow in number and provisions. But we are not shepherds nor do we have any flocks, but still there is something to be said about not putting our trust in riches or a crown, which might well refer to a position in life. As for the new growth of grass and the field, we cannot be sure because again, it seems it only has meaning to those who tend the flocks. What is, if any, the meaning for our lives? Because great care is given in these instructions about making sure of the condition of the flocks, we might see a truth. The fact is no matter what are calling in life is, we should know the condition of it. That is we should know first our calling, the state of its affairs. If we are called to be a business person that careful attention to that business, but this might be seen as making sure it is profitable and that would be obtaining riches which do not endure. Maybe this only speaks to those who pastor a church, and they make sure they know the spiritual condition of their congregation, the flock to which they have been called to tend. It could also be directed to all who are the head of their household, looking after the members of their family. Then again it might also be directed to all of us, as we all have been called by God to some ministry, or task to benefit his kingdom. To this we should know the condition of our calling. Are we distracted by the riches or the crown in this life, which are only temporary, they will not endure. But the condition of our calling, first to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, spirit and strength and secondly to serve God without a divided heart looking after the things of the world. We need to see the eternal provisions in the lamb, as it has paid the price for the field, our salvation and it continues to provide us with milk, or sustenance, that which is eternal not temporal. The lamb provides this for those who serve, it would be implied, the Lord, the master of the house. So let us be diligent in our calling, whatever that may be. Let us focus our attention on that which is eternal, which is our perpetual and eternal provision. 

Change

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

CHANGE

Prov 27:22

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.

NIV

Our historians tell us that in the history of making pure metals it was customary to grind in very large mortars the ore dug from the ground. By grinding the ore it would make separating the dros from the iron in the furnace. Grain was also taken to the mill, as it still is today, to be ground in the mill stone in order to be able to be turned into flour for baking. Before the mills of later years, hand grinding produced the same results. The picture is that both metal and grain were transformed by the mortar and pestle, but no matter how much instruction a fool is given, no such change will occur. Can we apply this to our lives? Certainly we would not consider ourselves a fool for we know the truth of the gospel and when we were first presented with it, we accepted the call of God to come unto him and he would give us rest. That is we could enter into his rest, we were saved. A true fool has refused to hear that call, or refuses to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. A fool might even think good works will get him to heaven, believing in God, but not willing to understand faith. But could we be a fool in some sense? If we are not willing to accept instruction, not willing to change, to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, maybe we could be a fool, maybe we do have some folly within us. What about the various beliefs within denominations and how each of us has chosen one to believe and never the twain shall meet. Do we refuse instruction that is contrary to what we now believe as the truth? Are we so entrenched in our way of thinking we will not consider the evidence presented regarding another way of seeing certain truths, or beliefs as to what the scripture says? It is true that we should not be blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine that comes blowing by. But to refuse honest discussion and studying the scriptures to evaluate the value of another view, we might be that fool who cannot be removed from his folly. Although it is true many have come and will continue to come who are false prophets with their twisted interpretations of the scripture and we are certainly not supposed to chase after them, constantly changing our thinking by each one that sounds better than the last. Yet, again to consider the thoughtful and studied minds of respectable men of God, is another story. We certainly use the commentaries of men from generations before us, to help give us insight into the scriptures. They all hail from different denominational views and still they are helpful in our research for the truth. So it might be with men of our generation who have spent their lives dedicated to the research for the truth. These men who have what might be considered having great minds or better yet, a great experience with the Spirit, still have varying views. But we should not reject views without our through examination of scriptures ourselves, to determine the validity of their views or interpretations of the scriptures. We should not allow our dogmatism to interfere with learning both from Godly men and the Spirit. That would be being a fool not being able to be separated from our folly. This should not be. Let us listen to the voice of the Spirit, and use his discernment to bring whatever change in our lives he needs to bring. 

Humility

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

HUMILITY

Prov 27:21

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.

NIV

A crucible is a firing pot or ceramic container which is used to create intense heat to melt silver down so to create something new. This is the same with the furnace for gold. Both test the quality of the metal, finding any faults, or substances that are not pure silver or gold and it comes to the surface as slag and is skimmed off leaving nothing but the purest form of silver or gold. This is the picture we are given of how a man is tested by praise. Applause or praise is usually given freely when we do something considered well done. We applaud performances well done, whether they be a play, a musical, a magician or even a comedian. What is somewhat surprising is we applaud a church choir after singing a wonderful concert, even if they are singing unto the Lord. What is also surprising is we do not applaud the preacher after delivering a powerful message. Why do we applaud the singers but not the speaker? But the point is we give praise very freely, maybe not with words, but with applause. There are times when praise is given through words. We hear it at times in the form of acknowledgement of something we have done well. This usually happens on our job, or perhaps in a task we were assigned to do, even in church. Acknowledgement or recognition are what many of us seek out. Sometimes they are the reason we do what we do, or at least make sure others see what we do. Even the keeper of tithes knows the big givers, and sometimes in some churches they are given top spots, like being on the board, or being an elder or deacon, because the pastor and even some of the congregation knows about the size of their tithe. The problem, the point of this proverb is in the response to applause or acknowledgement, recognition, praise. If we do not feel the praise that is we do not feel as if we deserve any praise then in fact we do. But if we are pulled up by it, if we get puffed up because of praise, then we are worthless. The reason for worthlessness is because the reason we do something is for the praise and in all the reality of humankind, God is the only one worthy of praise. But we praise men with our applause and our words and many want just that.

John 12:42-43

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

NIV

 Do we desire the praise from men or from God? When we are praised by men, what is our response? It has often been seen that many times God uses us in areas that we have absolutely no expertise in. We might spend a lifetime gaining knowledge and skills in one area, then God calls us into a completely different direction. How can we receive praise then? All we do, all we are, all we say or write is due to the Spirit at work in our lives. We cannot accept any of the credit for it is all God. So then when praised we should rebuke it, and admit it is all God, and not of us. This should be the mindset of every believer and that should also set the tone for giving and or accepting praise. Now it is even possible to get puffed up about God using us in an area we are not humanly qualified for. We should also remember that it is required to live humbly before our Lord.

Mic 6:8

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

NIV

If we are to walk humbly with our God, that would also mean we walk humbly with him before men. This would mean a lot of our words should have less of “I” and more of “We” in them. Maybe even the “We” can be praise seeking, so maybe we need more of God instead of either the “I “or the “We”. But then we do things, we do give, we do actions. How do we balance that? What is our response to praise? Let us remember our humility instead of our prideful attitude. 

Fully Satisfied

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

FULLY SATISFIED

Prov 27:20

20 Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.

NIV

In the Hebrew it is Sheol and Abaddon or Hades and perishing are never all full. The idea is there are always going to be people who are filing into Hades or the place of perishing, the place of abandonment, a place of lost souls. A song writer penned the words, “There is room at the cross for you”, and it would seem there is more room in Hades than at the cross. Death and destruction are never satisfied, they want more and more souls for their pleasure. This is the picture of this proverb about the eyes of man. Our eyes are never satisfied, we are always looking for more to see, to lust after, to desire to have. This is totally contrary to the idea of being content in the sense that God shows us through the words Paul was inspired to pen.

Phil 4:11-13

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

NIV

This contentment is a secret, a secret which is really no secret, it is being in Christ. This is what he says, when he makes it clear he can do everything through him, Christ, who gives him strength. This is how we too can have that contentment, instead of our eyes never being satisfied. God gives us even greater insight in another letter he inspired Paul to write to Timothy.

1 Tim 6:6-10

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

NIV

We cannot help but notice those two words, ruin and destruction. These are very similar to the words of this proverb, death and destruction. They carry the same meaning. Those whose eyes are never satisfied, and in this letter to Timothy it carries the direct meaning of greed, wanting more and more money, never having enough, never being satisfied with what we have. This comes right back to not being about to serve two masters, God and money. This discontentment with the amount of material wealth we have will be our ruin, our destruction. There are other things our eyes seem to never have enough of as well, but this is pointed directly toward materialism, the constant need for more. We have to learn the secret of being content in Christ. Our physical situations will constantly change, but our position in Christ will always remain constant. It comes down to those words another song writer penned. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace”. Then we do not have to worry about the direction of our eyes, for they will be on Jesus and they will be fully satisfied. 

I see you

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

I SEE YOU

Prov 27:19

19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

NIV

At this time of this writing we know men did not have the mirrors we use today as the glass mirror was not invented until the mid-1800’s in Germany. However evidence show us at the time of this writing polished copper or other metallic objects were used. These could not reflect as clearly as looking into a pool of perfectly still water. This is the reason the writer makes reference to water reflecting the face. Each man or woman could see exactly what they looked like, for the good or the bad. It would seem we have always wanted to know how we looked to others. Our image has been important for thousands of years as the first type polished objects used as mirrors has been dated some six thousand years old. It would seem our image has been very important. That is the point of the heart. Our heart reflects who we truly are. The scripture says that as a man thinks so is he.

Prov 23:7

7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.

NASU

The heart reflects the real self. We might build a great façade around it to cover up the true nature of our heart, but it is what we truly are. This holds true for all mankind. The idea that we can see the face of another and know their image well. We can be far from them and still remember their appearance. We can also see in the heart of another by the general tenor of their words and actions. As we have known throughout our days men and women who are simply evil because of the bold faced lies they continue to speak publicly. We know we cannot trust them. We know others who we also cannot trust as they have been known as gossips. Still others have the tenor of being judgmental and we would not want them to know any of our faults, so we too build that façade in hopes no one can see into our heart. Yet God see us as not who we are, but who he has made us. He looks into the heart of man, knows our thoughts. But he does not count any sin against us as he has already made us holy and blameless in his sight. Yet man does not see us as God does, and we look at the words and actions of others as a reflection of their heart. We see each other for the self-centered or God –centered person we are. We see each other for the kind and forgiving or the record keeper of wrongs. We may try to cover up our real self, which the heart is, but ultimately as the water reflects our face just as it is, so our heart will reflect the real us. One of the greatest lines in the movie Avatar is, “I see you”. It is meant that when it is said that the person actually sees the real person inside the shell, they see the heart not the image containing it. This is the truth of this proverb. We should live so that others see us, the real us, not the container we live in. I see you, should mean I see your heart. Do we see people as God does? Do we see them as flawed people or as holy and blameless, the condition which God as made them? That puts a whole different spin on those words, “I see you”. 

Honored

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

HONORED

Prov 27:18

18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.

NIV

Once again there is s duelist meaning that can be taken from this saying. Let us consider first the most obvious one. Whoever tends the fig tree gets to eat the fruit of his labor. We would have to include the instructions that were given to Timothy through the Apostle Paul. There are other things he said but this portion bears on this saying.

2 Tim 2:6-7

6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

NIV

This would seem in opposition to the idea that the first fruits belong to the Lord. However it does not say the farmer should have the first share, but that he should be the first to share in the fruit of his labor as opposed to others taking his crops for their needs first. He may well have given his first fruits to the Lord and then he should be first to enjoy his own results of his labor. This is the idea in this person who tends the fig tree. Of course we do not tend fig trees much in this county and so this could apply to any work endeavor the Lord has directed our path to. Whatever profession or trade or employment we are involved in we should be able to enjoy the results of our labor. We are not to work so that others might take our paycheck and spend it on their needs. That just seems very obvious. The other meaning requires some reconstruction of the original language, this we may not be in favor of but some of our scholars are suggesting this. It would mean that in order to enjoy the fruit of the tree, the person must first labor. Or first the farmer must labor to receive a share of the crops. That would agree with the idea that if you want to eat, you much work. There has always been some who would disagree with this principle. Those who would want to give food to others in order to control them. Yes, there are some people who are truly in need of assistance and we believers should be there with a helping hand. Yet it would seem that there are those who are in government that would what to actually create a whole society of dependent people in order to keep them voting to keep the politician in office and in power. Yet the idea here is that if a person wants to enjoy a share of the crop, he must first work for it. At least that is the way our scholars see it within the original language. But the idea is this saying is using that principle of the tender of the tree enjoying the fruit with the same idea of a servant and his master. If we look after the Lord we will be rewarded. Now the question is as to how we would look after God. The idea is a servant does the work for the master. He is directed by the master and a servant does that which he is instructed to do. So then we would have to know what the work of the Lord is. What is the work of God? It appears it is twofold. First Jesus tells us directy what the work of the Lord is.

John 6:29

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."  

NIV

Then if we simply believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, that he came to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin, and that he rose from the dead into a new glorified life, so that we too died with him on the cross, that is our old man, and we too were raised from the dead a new creature, we will receive the reward of eternal life. So the work of God is to believe in Jesus. Nothing else, it is not Jesus plus good works, Jesus plus whatever, it is simply Jesus. He also said something else about the work of God in regards to the man who was born blind.

John 9:3-4

3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

NIV

The work of God is also being displayed in our lives. It is not that we display it, but the Lord displays his work within us and through us. It is not the servant actually doing the work of God, but God doing the work within and through the servant. The servant only does what the master commands him to do, it is the work of the master, the servant is but a vessel used by the master to accomplish his work. It is not the work of the servant, but of the master. So as we look after the things of God, as we believe in Jesus, God accomplishes his work in our lives. He saves us, he redeems us, and he makes us holy and blameless in his sight. He uses us to show himself to the world, not by our works, because apart from him we can do nothing, but he demonstrates himself to the world by our faith and trust in him. He manifests himself in and through us. God displays himself in our life. That is truly a reward of honor.

Sharpen

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

SHARPEN

Prov 27:17

17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

NIV

There is a sharp truth here for us in this saying. The fact many people are extremely set in their beliefs or opinions and very seldom will accept something new. We are not any exception to that rule. We are pretty much stuck in our own opinion of what is true and what is not, especially when it comes to the truths of God. But that is not the only thing we are what some would say are closed minded to. Some say that the things one should not discuss in public are religion, politics and financial matters. Those are the main issues we are of the strongest opinion. Now we could see this saying in the sense that one man helps another to see new truths, or sway his opinion.  But let us just consider the blade of the sword does not change, but merely becomes sharper. It is not that someone is going to persuade us to change our mind, but honest debate simply sharpens our beliefs, gives them a clearer and sharper edge. If we never encounter someone to sharpen us, we might become dull in our thinking, in our beliefs or opinions. When we engage in a discussion of those matters, especially spiritual ones, it helps us, it sharpens us in our thinking and considering the word of God. Discussion forces us to think about scripture, to seek out verses which show our beliefs are right. Now, of course, there is differing opinions or interpretations of scripture. Then it becomes a debate rather than a discussion. Even alone we can have this debate with some of the words written by various commentators because of their particular theological and more importantly, their denominational background. Many always yield to the traditional thoughts they were trained in according to the position the denomination they were raised in. But the scripture is the final authority, not the denomination. So we are sharpened even by those who think differently than us. But we are the same blade, we have not changed, just our edge is sharper. It is not that we cannot see their point of view. We may be able see their reasons for their beliefs, but it does not mean we have to accept ever wind of doctrine that comes along. That would be being tossed about like an infant.

Eph 4:14-16

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

NIV

Now this also shows us as we read the preceding verses that we are to build each other up until we reach the unity in the faith. That would mean there is not room for various opinions in the interpretation of the scriptures, as differing views forbid unity in the faith. So how do we deal with that? As long as you agree with me, we don’t have a problem. Hmmm, that sounds a little bold or closed-minded. But how do we sharpen each other if we cannot discuss our differing views? Let us be open first to discussion and even possibly the consideration of the others views, searching out the truth together as brothers or sisters in Christ, in love. Let us always be sharp, as sharp as the two edge sword of the Lord. In addition let us be so sharp that we use the edge of our sword against the enemy of our soul. 

Keeps on

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

KEEPS ON

Prov 27:15-16

15 A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; 16 restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.

NIV

Is there anything worse than a leaking roof in a rainstorm? It is not just the rain coming in, but it soaks everything in the house, things that are not supposed to get wet. We might try to put a bucket under the leaking, but the rain keeps coming and we run out of buckets or we just cannot keep up with all the leaks. It is so frustrating and maddening to see everything being ruined. It is going to take a lot of work to clean everything up and maybe a lot of money to replace all the ruined items. But the point is the rain keeps coming and so it is with a quarrelsome wife. She keeps on and on being quarrelsome and never quits. Yet there is nothing that can be done about her, just as with the leaking roof. No one can change her, for that matter we cannot change anyone except ourselves. It seems we are always wanting others to change for our benefit and in all reality we are the only ones we can change. So it is with this dripping roof in the rainstorm, we cannot do anything about while it is raining, but we try to contain the leak, but we will fail eventually, because it keeps pouring in. All we can do is resign ourselves to what happens next. This wife will not be changed by our trying to contain her either. We see the comparisons the writer makes. It is like trying to grasp the wind, or getting a handful of oil. It cannot be done. So we need to understand that quarrelsome wife will create much damage and chaos as the leaking roof does. We might run around trying to keep the damage to a minimum, but in all reality she will just keep on keeping on creating more damage and chaos. Nothing can be done about the roof until the rain stops, and so it is with the quarrelsome wife. The problem is the rain is not stopping, the writer does not give us a time frame on the storm. So we may not know when the quarrelsome wife will hold back her tongue. So we just have to wait her out as we do the rainstorm, hoping and praying she will stop. 

Loud Praise

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

LOUD PRAISE

Prov 27:14

14 If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.

NIV

The key to the truth in this saying is the part about early in the morning. But first we should note it may be alright to applaud someone for a job well done. But this loudly blessing of someone is not simply giving a little polite applause. This is giving praise with much extravagance. This is magnifying the merits of someone above measure and with hyperboles. It smacks of hypocrisy and may be on purpose in hopes of getting something from the one so loudly praised. The time of early on the morning for praises should be reserved for God. This is the time of day when we rise that we should be giving praise to God for first another day, but foremost for life itself and life in Christ. If we rose from our bed to loudly give praise to men, we are forgetting our Lord and his provisions for our life. If we give loud praise to a friend in hopes he will give us something then we have taken our eyes off God and have looked to man for our daily bread. Now perhaps we do not actually give all this obnoxious praise to a friend, but we can still be caught up in the trap of praising the things of man, rather than the things of God. That is to say we look to the world for our needs, we praise our work, our abilities, our education or knowledge as the source of our daily bread. That would indeed be a curse for cursed is the man who trusts in flesh.

Jer 17:5-6

5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

NIV

Giving praise to either a friend making him feel his abilities, his skills, his knowledge or education is special indeed might well influence him to put his trust in himself more than God which would put a curse on him. This would also apply to those who might praise us, or even if we think of rising early in the morning thinking we are filled with the abilities and knowledge to head off and make our way in the world to provide our daily bread. No, early in the morning we rise to praise our God, and praise him we will continue throughout the day for he is our portion, he is our provider, he is our healer, he is our salvation, he is our rock, he is our strong tower, he is our refuge in time of trouble, he is our banner, he is our righteousness, he is our shepherd, he is our peace, he is our sanctifier, He is the Lord God Almighty who forgives us, who gives us life, life eternal.  He is our daily bread. We will rise early in the morning and loudly praise his name. 

Strangers and Waywards

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

STRANGERS AND WAYWARDS

Prov 27:13

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.

NIV

Once again we have a repetitive saying, as this is exactly like 20:16. We could just copy and paste, but perhaps there is something else we could see here. Although we did consider the idea of being wise as to who we fall into league with in regards to lending money. The idea is that an honest man might become a beggar, but for a person to make himself a beggar is far worse. To be so foolish to squander all on wayward woman and then have to ask someone for a loan in order to pay creditors is one of the points made here. But what believer would ever even consider spending any amount of money on wayward women? What value does this saying have for us believers? Why would we put up security for a stranger? A stranger implies someone who we do not know, therefore none of the house of faith. Why would we fall into league, become unequally yoked with a non-believer? Yet is not investing in companies which we have no idea of their worldly holdings a form of putting up security for a stranger. We take the advice of someone that it is a good investment, our return will be worth it. Do we know if these companies we invest in have holdings in businesses that promote ideologies we as believers oppose? They would be our strangers. Should someone come and take our garment. The idea is that putting up security is a risk in which all could be lost and then a beggar we would be. That would be making ourselves a beggar. Currently it would seem this could never happen. The market is booming big time and all who have put up security in it are seeing an increase in their wealth, at least on paper. Their dividends are greater now than ever before. Yet we also have the soothsayers, the supposed financial wizards who are predicting a great doomsday crash, like in the late 20”s. They call it a market correction, and all will fall back to as it were before the great increase and some will loss more than they put in. If we invested when it was at twenty thousand and it crashed to fifteen thousand, all would be gone. So let us know the world is on one hand, and we believers are on another and never the twain shall meet. We can have nothing to do with putting up security for a stranger, as companies which support wayward women. We are supposed to walk a different life than that of the world. We are not to partnership in any way with their ideologies or business practices. We are not supposed to support anyone who has dealings with women who live a wayward life. This would be companies who invest in anything that women do that would be considered unpleasing to God. Let’s just leave it at that, without enumerating all the things these women involve themselves in. No we should be living to the beat of a different drummer. We should be living according to the principles laid out before us in the scriptures, all of them, not just cherry picking the ones we like and leaving out the ones we don’t. Let us keep ourselves separate from strangers. We are told to come out from the world. True we come a certain distance, but do we still have one foot in the world? How can we compartmentalize our lives, making our Christian part spiritual, but our physical part worldly? Oh, we could go on and on but we know where we stand and we will surely not be a part of this stranger or those wayward women. 

No Fear

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

NO FEAR

Prov 27:12

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

NIV

This is exactly the same as we have seen before in Proverbs 22 3. We do not know why this is repeated. Examining the Hebrew text reveals the use of the same words as well, so it is a duplication. The question we need to ask is whether we should just paste and copy that which we saw in the first time we read this or consider something else. However because God saw fit to repeat what he said before, it would seem we should also. Yet there is something new every morning. But the main point remains the same. God is our only refuge in time of trouble.

Ps 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

NIV

The most used phrase in the whole bible is: Do not be afraid or some variation of those words, such as fear not. Do not be afraid is used sixty-nine times. Do not fear is used eighteen times. Be not afraid is used four times. God has assured us that we should walk with him and in doing so there is no reason for us to fear anything because we are walking with him. It is likened to walking down the street of the worst place in town, but walking with the biggest meanest guy in the neighborhood. No one is going to mess with us because we are with him. Well, maybe they will mess with us, but we can always hide behind him. There is going to be times in our life when trouble comes to us, but we have a choice. We can try to face the trouble head on in our human strength, but that is what the simple do and they suffer for it. If we are prudent, or sensible we will hide in the strength of God, the biggest toughest one in the whole world. God will fight our battles, and if he wants us to fight alone side of him, he has provided us with his armor. Because we know God, because he calls us friend, because he has given us the right to be called his children, we can be assured that he will indeed fight for us and that we can just take refuge in him. There is nothing we should ever be afraid of. We should never be living in fear of anything, even death. There is a freedom in a life of no fear. We do not need to be afraid of sin, which is when we do sin, because we have already been forgiven, he is our refuge. Now should we just sin so we can be forgiven, no certainly not. But the point is we need not be afraid of God when we do sin. He is not going to zap us, or condemn us because we made a mistake. We do not have to fear him, yes, revere him, but we need not be afraid of him for he is our refuge in those times of trouble. That trouble can be from external sources or from internal ones. Someone might cause a troublesome time in our life. When we fail God, when we fall into one of the traps Satan has set for us, we are in trouble, but God is our refuge, he is our strong tower, we can run into him and he will save us. Yet we face trouble from those internal sources, our own heart and mind. Yes, is might be a trap from Satan, but we also know our own heart is wicked, our old nature is hard at work trying to come back from the dead. Yet, if we are prudent, if we know the truth and are aware of the old nature being dead, as we died in Christ and were born again a new creature in Christ than we know we need not even fear that old self that is dead.  So then being prudent, being sensible, let us live with no fear.

Joy to his heart

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

JOY TO HIS HEART

Prov 27:11

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

NIV

At first this would appear to be about how a father rears his son. Having been harsh and strict in his parenting skills, holding his son to a very high standard, to be wise. This admonishment to be wise might well be aimed at obtaining worldly wisdom, or Godly wisdom. We are told not which, but it would seem along with the idea of being the strictest of parents, who are being attacked by people for his harshness toward his son, we might well think it is about being wise in Godly matters. What believer would bring judgement against their fellow believer for wanting his son to gain Godly wisdom? What believer would have contempt for a father asking his son to seek wisdom from God, to study his word, to search the truths out for his life and follow Christ? However, the people of the world see wisdom in an altogether differnetly. Yet we know the wisdom of their world is foolishness to God. Yet people might well have contempt for the father because he refutes their wisdom for his son, and seeks God’s wisdom for him. How foolish of you friend to want your son to pursue biblical studies, he cannot make a good living from that. It might well be better for him to go to our schools so to gain knowledge how to make a lot of money. That is contempt for God, and the things of God in the truest form. We are told we cannot serve two masters, we cannot serve God and money, we will love the one, be devoted to it, and hate the other.

Matt 6:24

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

NIV

So the father who desires his son to gain God’s wisdom and thus serve him, is despised by the world who has contempt for his refusal to accept their ways. Is this not the same as the Father, God, who desires us to seek his wisdom? We know the world holds him in contempt. We might even, being his children, experience a certain amount of this contempt because we do not agree with the world’s wisdom of serving money. True we work and obtain a paycheck to pay for the basic needs of life and even some of the nicer things. But we know God is the source of our employment, as we should be exactly where he has led us to work. But when we espouse the standard God has established about not being yoked unequally and apply that to the idea of investments in ungodly markets, some have contempt toward us. This investment in the worldly companies, world markets is, in effect, giving Satan our money so he can increase it for us. That is in some sense trying to serve both God and money. This kind of Godly wisdom brings contempt from many. But let us unswervingly uphold to the wisdom of God no matter what men may say, for by serving him, seeking his wisdom we bring joy to the heart of God. 

The friend

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

THE FRIEND

Prov 27:10

10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you — better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

NIV

Friendship is a dear relationship which should not be taken lightly. It is especially true of those who would be considered a friend to the family. It seems that is a lost art in our modern day. Perhaps some of those friends of the family still exist, but it is our experience to not know of any. This would be a person who was a close friend of our father and after his passing made sure we would looked after, made sure we were doing alright and asked if they could do anything to enrich our lives. This would be the person who this proverb suggest we would go to in any time of trouble rather than a relative who have kept themselves at a distant from us, not in the physical sense, although that also might be true, but in the emotional sense. It does seem some family members are not as close, even estranged, then some true friends. But then the shoe also fits our feet. That is to say to wonder are we a close friend or a friend to the family of someone or two? That would also apply to our family. Have we withdrawn from our family in anyway? Are we a brother far away? Are we the person someone can rely upon in their time of trouble? Do we always look at the cost of helping someone, rather than simply seeing a friend in need? When we consider that we should be known, if we are not, as a Christian and that means we reflect, or are a reflection of the reputation of God. If we are self-serving rather than being that friend, what does that do to the reputation of God? This would apply to all aspects of our life. That means with our family, with our neighbor, with our friends and their family, with our place of employment, and certainly with our church family. Can we be counted on? Do we have someone in our lives who we can count on? Instead of that relative who considers themselves afar off, we should be aware of who is the friend of the family. Do we fit that bill? Do we have someone near us who fits that bill? The bond of friendship seems to mean more in this proverb than the bond of family, although family can also be friends. So who is a friend? 

Fine Aroma

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

FINE AROMA

Prov 27:10

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.

NIV

A sweet fragrance has more meaning in the Eastern world as it was customary to anoint a head with oil and even on a man’s beard. Yet even in our country many use perfumes to enhance their personage with fine aromas, sometimes. This fine smelling stuff has become a major business in many countries. But the idea is that when we smell good we feel good, it is supposed to lift our spirits, our hearts. This is the same concept of having the finest friend available on the counter of fragrances. Only this finest friend will give us earnest counsel. There are people, who we might call a friend who tell us what we want to hear. They give us praise, telling us how good we are, how much we do and what a nice person we are. There is a difference between encouraging a friend and giving praise. The word encourage carries the meaning of provoking someone to do something good. We encourage each other to serve the Lord.  A true friend not only encourages us, but gives us insight into our lives and our faults so that we might see the truth. This counsel, this advice, this insight should be as pleasant to us, just as that fine aroma of perfume and incense. 

Safety

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

SAFETY

Prov 27:8

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.

NIV

Both the Cuckoo bird and the Brown-headed cow bird will steal another bird’s nest. They actually do not take it, but slip in when the nesting female has laid her eggs and is off finding food. They slip in and lay their eggs, even mimicking the type of egg that is already in the nest so the returning bird will incubate the foreign eggs along with her own. So then there is a danger in straying from her nest. There is also another danger of straying from the nest, which is being in danger of the larger predator birds. The thought also might mean she will not be able to find her way back if she strays too far. When man wanders in the world straying from his home, there too is a danger. When we think of Israel when it wandered for forty years in the wilderness, although it was far from any home it knew, or was used to, the Lord provided it with his home, the tabernacle. They stayed in one place as long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle. They traveled only when the pillar of smoke lead them by day and the pillar of fire by night. Should they have strayed from the place without his leading, danger would have been the result. Surely this is the meaning of this proverb. The idea that a man moving from one place to another happens every day in our society, especially in those places which house military installations. Military personal are being transferred continually throughout their careers. Many others move because of new employment opportunities. Others still simply because of trying to improve their position in life, increasing their net worth by moving upward in their residences. Others might move due to restlessness, tiring  of their current surroundings. All might well be within the realm of doing the right thing. But for the believer, for the person who processes the Lord is the Master of their lives, wandering without his leading is surely a dangerous path to walk. This has been clearly shown to us with the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. Any move, any wandering from home without seeing his guiding light brings us into a dangerous place. This might apply to our physical homes or our spiritual homes, which would be our church home. Changing locations, changing churches, changing anything without the distinct direction of God will end in disaster in some way or another. We have been told, especially when we face the enemy of our soul, to stand firm, to take our stand, when we have done everything to stand our ground. We have been told to stand firm in our faith, to trust God with all our heart. Then why would we change, why would we move to another home, another job, another church unless we have been directly told by God to do so? To stray from the course of our life, to wander from the path he has set before us only leads us down the wrong way. We have been told that we might make our plans, but God orders our footsteps. We might think we have a plan for our lives, but that plan should only be to follow the steps he has ordered. He is the light unto our feet, he shines that light into the darkness just far enough for us to take the next step. We might not be sure where that next step will take us, but for one thing we can be sure, it is where he wants us. When we hear people of the world advise us to have a five year plan, a ten year plan, we can only think how lost their wanderings are. They look to self to determine their path. It is as dangerous as the bird leaving her nest. But we stand firm in the way God has led us and will continue to lead us, as only then can we find the rest for our soul. Only when we stand or move under the direction of the Lord will we be truly content and live in safety.

Hungry

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

HUNGRY

Prov 27:7

7 He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

NIV

It might be true that as we are well fed, we refuse certain foods based on the fact we are not liking their taste or smell or even their texture. However, it may also be true that for those poor souls living on the streets and in need of both shelter and sustenance, any food would be tasty to their mouth.  It might be the meaning of their proverb, however there is another application that we can make as well. Let us consider the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness. They were hungry and they murmured against Moses, so he asked God and God supplied manna from heaven. Each and every morning they would be able to go out and collect enough for their daily bread, hmmmm that sounds familiar. At first they were excited and pleased to receive this daily bread, but then after a while it was not enough and they grumbled again. This may well be applied to spiritual matters. Have we ever considered ourselves at a point of not needing to learn more about the scriptures, about God and how he deals with us? When we first were saved and so excited about God, about the scriptures and everything was new and fresh and we could not get enough of the Spirit. But then as the years past, we grew less and less excited and more or less fell into a routine of just collecting our daily bread, so to speak. They say the difference between a routine or a rut and a grave is simply the length. Where is the enthusiasm for God? Where is the excitement for his working in our lives? Have we lost that fever? No, we have more now than ever before for there is something new every morning. The Spirit opens new insights each and every day. He continues to lead us, to inspire us, to move us into areas of our lives we would never go in our own. But there is a danger of even getting into a routine. We always need to be needy, to be hungry for his word, for his working within us, working through us and seeing the results of his love, his armor, his fruit, and his gifts as they are indwelling within us. Never should we loath his working in our lives because we have so much of him. We should always remain hungry for him.

Called friend

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

CALLED FRIEND

Prov 27:6

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

NIV

It seems strange that we should relish the wounds of a friend. Yet the Psalmist writes just the same sentiment.

Ps 141:5

5 Let a righteous man strike me — it is a kindness; let him rebuke me — it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.

NIV

This mimics the idea of the last proverb about an open rebuke being better than a hidden love. A true friend can be trusted to tell us the truth of our affairs, especially if they are offending God in some way. Now on the other hand the enemy may lavish us with kisses, false love in other words, yet those kisses are filled with deceit. We only have to think of Judas, as he kissed Jesus to see a deceitful kiss. Some might tell us they are our friend only to gain access to our most inner thoughts. Then like the snakes they are, they sliver off to tell everyone of our mistakes or some sin. They might even use their deceitfulness to tell us some lie about their sin or sins in order to get us to confess to them, to open up to them. Their kiss is murderess. There are not many true friends in this world, and it is for sure the ones we find have to be within the body of Christ. Although it is true some believers are not to be trusted either. None of us are perfect people and some have the sin of gossip so firmly entrenched within their being their kiss too would be deceitful. Now, this applies to us as well. Are we a true friend who can strike someone in pure love, keeping the strike as private as private can be? There is no room for phony kisses. True friendship carries honesty to the highest degree, whether that is in the form of corrective criticism or downright rebuking, or real encouragement. We should not refuse those type of words from our friend and we should be ready to speak those same to them, if needed. There are too many false friendships to be had, and we should be careful, asking the Spirit for the discernment, as to who it is we should foster that kind of relationship with. We should also be asking the Spirit to lead us into all truth, as is his plan. This would open our eyes to those who would kiss and tell. Let us seek out true friendships that are real and beneficial to us both. It has been said we might only find a few in a lifetime who meet the criteria to be called friend. God calls us friend.  

Secret love

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

SECRET LOVE

Prov 27:5

5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

NIV

What good is a friend who tell us they love us, but will never bring any of our faults to our attention? Then again on the other hand what good is it for us to tell our friends we love them, but never bring any of their faults to their attention? Granted, when we take God’s definition of love as he inspired Paul to explain it in his letter to the Corinthians, it would be difficult to have a secret love. If we lived by that definition our love for one another would be so evident it could not be considered secret love.

1 Cor 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

NIV

The part about rejoices with the truth bears much on this proverb. If we love someone then we would be truthful about their faults. So we might think overlooking them is being patient, kind and not rude or not keeping a record of their wrongs, but that would be wrong thinking. Because of the love for someone, open exposed love, those faults would be brought forward, but only in confidence between the two friends as love always protects and always trusts and hopes. This is not open rebuke in front of all listeners, this is open discussion from one loving friend to another. Consider how much God loves us. If he kept his love hidden from us or his rebuke we would not even know he loves us. All the words in the bible are God-breathed and are profitable for us.

2 Tim 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

NIV

There it is. Because God loves us he rebukes us and because he rebukes us, just between the two of us, we know he loves us, his love is not hidden. So let us not either hide our love from our friends or for that matter our somewhat friends, our acquaintances. Because we are told to love our neighbor as ourselves then would it not be right to show that love, not hide it? According to this proverb it would be better for us to rebuke them. What kind of rebuke, for what kind of fault? The greatest fault anyone could ever have is disbelief in Jesus. So then do we keep our love a secret or do we rebuke them openly? 

Standing firm

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

STANDING FIRM

Prov 27:4

4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

NIV

It would be good for us to remember a story told to us by the historians about the jews having a story which has turned into a fable, it goes like this:

There were two persons, one covetous and the other envious, to whom a certain person promised to grant whatever they should ask; but double to him who should ask last. The covetous man would not ask first, because he wished to get the double portion; and the envious man would not make the first request because he could not bear the thoughts of thus benefiting his neighbor. However, at last he requested that one of his eyes should be taken out, in order that his neighbor might lose both. 

The idea of anger and fury is they are out in the open for everyone to see. When anger rears its ugly head there is usually some sort of loud, even screaming sounds which accompany it. It is unusual for anger to remain in silence, although it is possible, but fury or wrath cannot be silent. Both are overwhelming, like a torrent or a deluge. Anger comes pouring forth from the mouth, driven fiercely by the darkened heart, it hurts whom it is flooded upon. It causes pain and suffering likened to drowning in a deluge. Fury or wrath is nothing more than poisonous words intended to do harm. Yet the greatest harm from both anger and fury are done to the one engaged in using them. Yet, nothing is more harmful to the user than jealousy. When we think of how hateful and full of anger Saul was against David to actually throw a spear at him in an attempt to kill him, his anger, his wrath was not enough, David was able to escape it. But the jealousy of Saul was indeed his undoing in the end. We might fall prey to anger in a moment, or even spew forth a little fury from time to time, but we do not allow it to consume our daily life. They could be simply outbursts of emotions caught up in some self-serving agenda. But they are not a part of our inner being. However it is possible we could carry along in our daily walk a tad bit of jealousy or envy. There is always going to be someone who has more than us, or something better than we have. It is exasperated by their constant bragging. In our modern age of social media it is continually seen as they post all their greatest adventures and stuff they have, making sure everyone knows how much they do and have, at least that is how is seems. Perhaps they have no intent of being boastful, but it is not them who are in danger of jealousy or envy, but it is us. We cannot allow that type of feeling to creep into our heart and mind. We are a child of God, he has declared he gave us the authority to be called Children of God. What or who could we ever be envious of? Envy or jealousy is one of the many tools or arrows in the arsenal of the devil. God has equipped us with his armor in order that we can take our stand against them, in fact throughout the list of his armor he tells us four times in different ways to take our stand. 

Eph 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

NIV

We need to take our stand against envy and jealously of any kind. We cannot afford to yield to this horrible inner destroyer. Anger and fury are visible and do their destructive work in the open, but jealously is the silent and stealthy killer. Who can stand up against it, we can because God has given us his armor. We can stand firm.

Love conquers all

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

LOVE CONQUERS ALL

Prov 27:3

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

NIV

There is two different ways in which we could see a truth in this saying. The basis for being able to see these two is in the way one word is translated. This version along with some others use provocation, others use vexation and still others use wrath while one uses resentment. All of which are used as meanings of the original word. If we go with provocation then we would be the subject of this saying. That is to say the if we allow a fool to provoke us to anger or resentment or we allow him to vex us or become angry then we have lost a great deal and all those emotions will weigh heavy upon us. The other way of seeing this is the fool is the subject. He is the one who easily gets provoked or becomes vexed or carries resentment or allows anger to run wild within him. He carries a heavy burden because of all the turmoil that boils within him. This is most likely the better meaning because the fool does not enjoy the peace of Jesus in his being. Jesus has told us the he gives us peace.

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

NIV

If we, and we do, have the peace of Christ in our hearts and minds then we would never be provoked by the fool. We would never be vexed or get angry because of something the fool did or said to us. Because we have the peace of Christ we would not carry any resentment toward anyone. We are assured we are in Christ and that He is the rock of our salvation, he is our mighty fortress, or tower in times of trouble, our strength in our weakness, our shepherd who watches over his sheep. There is nothing that can take us from or shake us loose from the hand of God. Because of our inner peace which Jesus gives us we will not be the subject of any fools game. The fool, on the other hand does not know the peace of Christ and therefore he is always being provoked, he is always in a state of vexation, which is the state of being annoyed, frustrated or worried. He experiences being in grief about his life, and is angry about everything which comes his way, getting upset over the slightest little announce in his life. Let us always remember we are no fool for we have the peace of Christ within us and therefore we can walk boldly into the world with no worries, no frustrations, no vexations, no anger, for with the peace of Christ also comes love and love conquers all. 

Past, Present and Future

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Prov 27:1-2

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

NIV

Surely these two proverbs go hand in glove. In the first we are told that we should not boast as what we are going to do tomorrow as we first of all do not know we will be alive tomorrow. Our historians tell us the Hebrews called events the sons of time. Time is in some sense our enemy as it keep marching on with or without us. What happens tomorrow happens tomorrow and how could anyone know just what tomorrow brings. We are told not to be anxious about tomorrow, but we are also warned not to boast about what we are going to do tomorrow.

James 4:13-17

13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

NIV

It is not that we cannot think about the next day or that what our plan is for it. In most cases we have our work schedule planned out several weeks in advance. We know our social calendar also for several weeks and when certain bills have to be paid and we plan on when the paycheck is available to afford certain entertainments. All this is not what this is speaking of. It is about going around telling everyone what important thing we are going to do tomorrow. “Oh, did you hear, I am going to (fill in the blank) and I am going to be (fill in the blank), it is such an important work” . Not only is that boasting about what tomorrow is going to be in our life, it is also going right into the second proverb, boasting about ourselves with our own lips. Just how important do we think we are? What would ever possess us to boast about ourselves and how much we do and are going to do? First off, all we are, all we do and all we will ever do is because of God. Having said that, however, we should not be boasting about how much God uses us and how he has called us to serve in such an important post or position. Again that is all about us and not about God. It is one thing to relate our experiences in the past as an illustration of how God worked in our lives. That is a witness of the work of God, not of ourselves. Although even in that we have to be careful not to boast about how much God worked in our lives, making us seem as if we are so spiritual and special above others. The fact is God will work through anyone who allows him to, who yields to his leading. There are times when we yield and times when we resist. Do we boast or give witness to those times of resisting? So then let us be careful not to consider too much about tomorrow as to how much we are going to do for God, and let us not boast about any of our “Good deeds” so to speak. Let us live humbly before our God and before others. Let us build each other up until we reach the unity in the faith. Let us not live boastfully about anything, past, present or future. 

No lie

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

NO LIE

Prov 26:28

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

NIV

Is not Satan the father of all lies? Does not he hate all those he hurts? One thing we can be sure of is that Satan does not love us, he hates us, and he wants us to suffer the loss of eternal life. Now although he hates us he does not show it openly, no he flatters us with smooth words that if we fall prey to them it will work ruin in our lives. He even uses the scriptures, he misuses the word of God to ensnare us into his plan to ultimately ruin our lives. Just as he cast that shadow of doubt with Eve, he tries to cast the same doubt in the minds of believers. He says, “Surely God did not say that if you trust in your own abilities, you will die”. He says, "Certainly God did not intend that you should not have things or money stored up for your future. "Surely he knows that is how he is going to take care of you". He lies and lies until his lies sound like the truth. Advertising people know this truth, that if they lie enough the same lie, people will believe it. Politicians know this truth about lying over and over again until people believe it is the truth. If we say the same thing all the time no matter if it is a lie, not only will people believe it, we will even start to believe it. But lying does nothing but hurt people and that is why it is said whoever lies hates those the lies hurts. If we love people we would not lie to them, for we would not want to hurt them in any way. At the same time those false words of flattery work ruin in a person’s life. If we tell someone how great they are, when they are not, it would make sense they stop trying to be great. If we tell people how smart they are, it would make sense they would stop trying to gain more knowledge. If we tell people being a good person, or that good people get to go to heaven, then why would they want to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior? That is the lie Satan uses a often. “You’re a good person, God will reward you for all your good deeds”. He will tell people anything so they do not become born again. “Surely God does not expect you to die, in order to be born again” “God will allow you to be who you are, he will take you anyway”. He keeps lying and lying. He hates us. He wants to ruin our lives. Liar, liar, pants on fire! That is the truth in a nutshell. The prince of lies will indeed have his pants on fire and if we want to escape that fire, no lies, nothing but the truth. 

No pits or stones

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

NO PITS OR STONES

Prov 26:27

27 If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

NIV

We have just seen the truth of the silver tongued charmer and now we see that all his deceptive work to benefit himself will result in his own demise. The idea that someone who digs a pit, sets a trap, even with their smooth talk, will fall prey to their own evil plots.

Ps 7:15-16

15 He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. 16 The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head.

NIV

The idea of the stone, according to our historians, was to roll a stone up to a high place in a battle and have it roll downhill on the enemy. Here as he rolls the stone up to cause harm to others, it rolls back on him harming him instead. The implications here might will give us the insight of how those who intend to harm us in anyway, will receive their reward on the last day as we all stand before God. No bad deed will go unpunished. The guilty will face condemnation of the worse kind. All their evil deeds will be judged as just that and any  pit they dig, they will indeed fall into. They will fall or rather be cast, that is thrown into the pit of burning sulfur. It might also be said that a millstone might well be tied around their neck as they are cast into the lake of fire. There is no chance of swimming to safety.

Luke 17:1-3

17:1 Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 So watch yourselves.

NIV

These are the traps, the pit or the stone intended for someone. The one who causes another to sin is the digger of pits or the roller of stones in this truth. Let us be careful not to even consider digging a pit or rolling a stone. This means we should be aware at all times how we interact with others as to not cause them to harbor ill feeling toward us, which would be sins caused by us. Harsh words, but even if we did not intend to cause them to sin, we did and this should not be. We should never be digging any pit. Certainly if or when we do cause someone to have ill feelings, or hurt their feelings either by the sin of commission or omission, when we are made aware we need to seek their forgiveness, before the sun goes down. That is not let anything stand between two people any longer than one day. We cannot harbor any ill feelings past sunset, so to speak. We should be careful to make every effort to live in peace with all people.   

Rom 14:19

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

NIV

No pits and no stones are allowed in the body of Christ or out in the world, even if we think we have an enemy. Jesus told us not to dig a pit for them, but to love them.