I have taken a bit of a journey over the last 10 or so months, of going straight through books of the Bible and posting a paragraph or so at a time on Facebook. It was election time, and my news feed was full of negative posts, comments, videos, and memes, and it was getting to a point of not wanting to even go on there. Then, I felt the Lord speak into my heart and tell me to post His Word. I started in Romans and finished the New Testament. I made only two or three comments throughout. It wasn't to be about me and my thoughts, but just His Word speaking. Many people like the posts or make comments, but even more tell me in person "thank you" for posting Scripture each day. So I continue to do that. Right now it's about halfway through John. Did you know that each of the books of the Gospel were written to different audiences? Well, John was written to those who were not part of the Jewish faith, ones who knew little or anything of the One True God. That's why I chose that Gospel to share first, because many of my Facebook friends are not believers. All this to say, that I have badly neglected blogging during this time. I knew that I would, because I felt then and now, that that needed to be my focus. Yet, I have come to a place where I need to be refreshed and even though I read and post Scripture daily, I need some dig into time. I need some wisdom, so I thought that I would do my devotions right here through the book of Proverbs. I hope that whoever reads these devotions gains the wisdom that you search for too.
"To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth-Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." Proverbs 1:2-6
How many nights have I laid awake worrying over a decision or regretting a choice? I can't even begin to count! In those moments, of tossing and turning, I feel like the least wise person who has ever lived. I can't get passed the worry of making the wrong decision or the worry of the results of making poor decisions. The cats hate me because I'm disturbing their sleep with my kicking the covers off and pulling them back on; my turning from one side to the others; and my sighs and groans. Usually they go right back to sleep while I lay there wide awake. I am sure that I am not the only one.
At some point during my worrying gymnastics routine, a name pops into my head. Jesus. It's like a light bulb goes off, again, that His name can calm me and help me to listen to Wisdom. My mind starts to rest, although there is usually a kick start or two of over thinking before I truly let His name flow over my worry and regret. In those moments, I often think, "I need more time with You. I need more time in Your Word." I don't think those because I'll have no decisions that may cause me to worry. Rather, I think it because I know that when I do I'll remember more quickly that He is with me, even when I make a bad choice.
The introduction to the book of Proverbs sums it all up. 31 chapters were written to help the reader understand words of insight; to receive instructions, to hear and increase in learning; to obtain guidance; and to understand the words of the wise. There doesn't feel like there are a lot of Solomons anymore, but we don't need them. They are nice to have around, someone to ask advice from or just to listen to like the crowds listened to Jesus. We don't need them because when we accepted Christ, we got the direct connect to Wisdom, the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He speaks directly into our hearts and minds and other times He uses Scripture to penetrate into us. Sometimes He uses the few Solomons to speak to us the Truth of Wisdom. Pastors and preachers and priests are great, but they aren't all Solomons. If that was true than Solomon wouldn't have been needed at all, as the Jews had plenty of priests. Seek out those who speak Wisdom and if you find no person, no worry, because the Holy Spirit was sent to bring us comfort and wisdom.
I look forward to journeying through the book of Proverbs and hope to become wiser as I do so.
Showing posts with label Proverbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proverbs. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Monday, July 31, 2017
Everything Bitter is Sweet
"One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet." Proverbs 27:7
This verse has been rolling around in my mind for the last few days. Well, the second part has. The verse is about food, but that's not where my thoughts have been taking it. I'm not sure this post should even be a devotional, but here it goes.
The World is hungry! It seeks satisfaction for that hunger, so it will try everything. Money or at least pursuing money seems sweet, but ultimately it doesn't satisfy that hunger Recognition feels good for it's "fifteen minutes of fame" but it;s fleeting, so it doesn't satisfy. Some fame lasts longer, but with that fame comes a loss of privacy, of just being yourself. How can it be sweet to have your every bad hair day spread across the Internet. That certainly isn't sweet. Sex with anyone may seem like freedom, but since it is constantly seeking more sounds more like bondage than freedom. How about good things like friends. Friends are good right? In this social media society where Internet friend counts are so important, one has to wonder how many friends will it take to make it sweet enough? Friends can be great, don't misunderstand, but the lust for more friends, even people you barely know is unfulfilling. Then there are real life friends, as opposed to just Facebook friends. Do these people bring out the best in you or corrupt you? If they bring out the best, that is sweet, but if they don't it usually leads to trouble.The World is always seeking.
We, Christians, use the words "The World" a lot. Put as I was mulling over this verse I realized that I tend to forget the obvious fact that "The World" is people, individuals. People all around us are seeking to fill their hunger. As I sit at red lights, I often look at the others around me. I've caught cars full of people, who aren't saying a word to each other, and looking sullen. I've seen people wipe tears fro their eyes. I've seen the weary and the worried. I often will send up a quick prayer for them. I'm amazed at the fact that I know only a brief moment in their lives, but God knows them intimately. He knows if they are just having a bad day, or if their heart is eating bitter things in the hope that it will sweeten their lives. The World is full of people who know that the things they use to fill their hunger are really bitter, but it's better than nothing. The World is also full of people who seek and seek and seek but are never satisfied. Both these groups need to be filled. They need to know what truly is sweet, or rather Who is.
As Christians we do not need to stand on street corners declaring the Lord, but sometimes He will ask us to. Billy Sunday, one of the influential Christians of the early 20th century was converted by listening to the gospel being preached on a street corner. If the Lord, wishes you to speak on a street corner, then do it. You don't know how many Billy Sundays will hear and find the only One that satisfies that hunger. Living our daily lives brings people to Christ as well. It might only feel like seeds being sown, with someone else harvesting, but these seeds are needed to help fill the hunger. Show people what it means to be filled with something truly sweet. Stop complaining, stop gossiping, and stop publicly worrying about everything. (Yes, ask for prayer from others, but watch how much worry you show to those who are seeking.) Don't seek the things you know don't bring the filling. Seek Him and others will see that, wonder, and hopefully seek out you to find out how you are being made full.
The World is hunger. People are starving for true satisfaction for their hunger. Listen to how God wants you to show them the One who satisfies that longing. Then follow Him into the way that He wants you to show them Him. Whether it's preaching to the masses or preaching their your everyday words and actions, lets point them to the One who is truly satisfies.
This verse has been rolling around in my mind for the last few days. Well, the second part has. The verse is about food, but that's not where my thoughts have been taking it. I'm not sure this post should even be a devotional, but here it goes.
The World is hungry! It seeks satisfaction for that hunger, so it will try everything. Money or at least pursuing money seems sweet, but ultimately it doesn't satisfy that hunger Recognition feels good for it's "fifteen minutes of fame" but it;s fleeting, so it doesn't satisfy. Some fame lasts longer, but with that fame comes a loss of privacy, of just being yourself. How can it be sweet to have your every bad hair day spread across the Internet. That certainly isn't sweet. Sex with anyone may seem like freedom, but since it is constantly seeking more sounds more like bondage than freedom. How about good things like friends. Friends are good right? In this social media society where Internet friend counts are so important, one has to wonder how many friends will it take to make it sweet enough? Friends can be great, don't misunderstand, but the lust for more friends, even people you barely know is unfulfilling. Then there are real life friends, as opposed to just Facebook friends. Do these people bring out the best in you or corrupt you? If they bring out the best, that is sweet, but if they don't it usually leads to trouble.The World is always seeking.
We, Christians, use the words "The World" a lot. Put as I was mulling over this verse I realized that I tend to forget the obvious fact that "The World" is people, individuals. People all around us are seeking to fill their hunger. As I sit at red lights, I often look at the others around me. I've caught cars full of people, who aren't saying a word to each other, and looking sullen. I've seen people wipe tears fro their eyes. I've seen the weary and the worried. I often will send up a quick prayer for them. I'm amazed at the fact that I know only a brief moment in their lives, but God knows them intimately. He knows if they are just having a bad day, or if their heart is eating bitter things in the hope that it will sweeten their lives. The World is full of people who know that the things they use to fill their hunger are really bitter, but it's better than nothing. The World is also full of people who seek and seek and seek but are never satisfied. Both these groups need to be filled. They need to know what truly is sweet, or rather Who is.
As Christians we do not need to stand on street corners declaring the Lord, but sometimes He will ask us to. Billy Sunday, one of the influential Christians of the early 20th century was converted by listening to the gospel being preached on a street corner. If the Lord, wishes you to speak on a street corner, then do it. You don't know how many Billy Sundays will hear and find the only One that satisfies that hunger. Living our daily lives brings people to Christ as well. It might only feel like seeds being sown, with someone else harvesting, but these seeds are needed to help fill the hunger. Show people what it means to be filled with something truly sweet. Stop complaining, stop gossiping, and stop publicly worrying about everything. (Yes, ask for prayer from others, but watch how much worry you show to those who are seeking.) Don't seek the things you know don't bring the filling. Seek Him and others will see that, wonder, and hopefully seek out you to find out how you are being made full.
The World is hunger. People are starving for true satisfaction for their hunger. Listen to how God wants you to show them the One who satisfies that longing. Then follow Him into the way that He wants you to show them Him. Whether it's preaching to the masses or preaching their your everyday words and actions, lets point them to the One who is truly satisfies.
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