Bragging On Jesus

Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.

In chapter 15 Solomon has been giving us some great insight into the connection between our mouth and our heart. It’s true, the mouth bone is connected to the heart bone. And we talked about how God is the heart changer… not us. A wicked person will not change his wicked heart. His wickedness prevents him from doing so. But when God opens our eyes to see Jesus as the greatest treasure worth leaving all for… we realize there is something better than all the options the world has shown us all our life and we when turn from sin and delight in Jesus with faith, he gives us a new heart… and since our mouth bone is still connected to our heart bone the words we speak begin to change as God does a work in us practically.

Now Solomon is diving deeper into the root issues of the heart. Look, positionally we are given Jesus righteousness when God gives us a new heart… but practically we are a work in progress as God does a life long work in our heart. ...

Todays passage begins by saying: The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

I suppose if God was finished working on our heart and we were practically perfect we would not need to ponder much before answering others. But as long as we are in this broken world and in these broken bodies, we still have brokenness tugging at our heart… wanting to mold it back to the old form.

So when we are tempted to gossip... we ponder. When there is a pull to seek our own glory or exalt ourselves… we ponder.

And to ponder means to give thought to something before committing to it. It means running something by a set of foundational truths that you know are unmovable. We all need trustworthy checks and balances to discern between all the lies being shared in the world. If something sounds good from only one angle or way of looking at it… thats not criteria worth committing to as truth. If something feels good or right it holds no real evidence for a unmovable truth. What is our go to for truth? It is Gods word. It is the Holy Spirit at work in us connecting the dots in his word and opening our eyes to truth in amazing and undeniable ways.

So even though you may be a righteous person, Solomon says to ponder before you answer. And so even though the mouth bone is connected to the heart bone… the heart bone is connected is also connected to the brain.

Solomon goes on to say how the mouth of the wicked pour out evil things and the Lord is far from them. Then todays passage finishes with some good news.

Solomon says: he hears the prayer of the righteous.

So God is not far from the righteous… I suppose we might say he is working in our lives practically because he actually lives in us… But God hears our prayers… I hope I don’t ever take that for granted… It is amazing that the Creator of the Universe hears my individual and specific prayers to him… all of them! And so prayer is another gift God has given us that is actually included in our pondering. I am sure there have been plenty of times I should have prayed to the Lord before giving an answer to others.

Verse 30 says: The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.

For the heart that has been changed… the heart that is walking in the Holy Spirit… the heart that ponders its thoughts and runs them by the word of God… I believe the Lord quickens all our bones for joy and his mission. Our mission is no longer to let everyone else see how great we think we are… but we want to see more of the glory of God and share him. So the light of the glory of God living in us as we walk with Christ will be seen in our eyes and heard in the good news which we bring to others.

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 15:24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. 25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure. 27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.

Todays passage begins with a promise of life for the prudent... that is, one who is thoughtful about the future and follows the path of wisdom. Solomon then points out some attributes of the person on the other path that leads to death. It is pretty clear that these three fit that category; the proud, the wicked and the one who is greedy for unjust gain. Clearly we all die, right? But for these who do not turn away from this path… a death awaits at which point there will be no turning back… no rescue… no resurrection to a spiritual incorruptible body as did Jesus and all who find their hope in his righteousness.

We can see from the text that wickedness cannot change the outcome of that end no matter how hard they try or how much they spend… Actually a wicked heart is what insures that kind of death. And only God is the heart changer.

And God rules in life and in death… He is the Judge. He tears down the house of the proud but protects the widow’s boundaries. One day the widow who has a heart that loves the Lord… she will have a mansion with a full inheritance in Heaven. God will protect her boundaries. But the mansion of the proud will be turned to rubble. For the prideful and greedy… Instead of blessings he brings trouble on their household… we see this clearly in this live. Solomon says even their thoughts are an abomination to the Lord. On the other hand those who hate bribes will live… That brings us full circle to the path of life todays passage began with which God promises for the prudent.

This is a path that is accompanied with words that glorify God… And as we looked at in the last devotion these words are synced to a heart that has been changed by God.

Look, all these wicked things todays passage mentions is all about making this world our home… But there is a better path that leads to a better home with a full inheritance and life.

All the promises of satan and the world are all broken promises… they are broken and cracked and they are not all their cracked up to be… They do not bring the satisfaction, peace or confidence which they promise… no real power, no real glory. It’s all a scam and it ends in a spiritual death from which there is no going back.

There’s an old spiritual song that says this world is not my home, I’m only passing through, my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue.

Do you think of this world as your home with all the brokenness… things like arthritis and covid-19 and think “Ahh its great to be home!”? Do you watch the news where the world is full of hypocrisy, greed, hate and riots and say “Ah, I love this place… It’s my heaven?” Do you come home after a hard day at work and turn on the tv and watch shows that glorify sin and you say “Yes, this is what I have been looking for?” Does a relaxing evening watching porn on your desktop or phone make your house a home? Does gossip feed your soul like food? Do you walk a path filled with wickedness, greed and pride along with impure words like today's text indicates? I hope this is not the ideal home you have pictured in your mind. It has stayed like this for many since Adam and Eve and Noah and the flood and so on. Its been home sweet home to so many throughout all generations.

Or have you been given an earnest down payment of the Holy Spirit and await the inheritance God has waiting for you?

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 15:23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

You know, that's something I truly long for. To have a fitting response and be a better communicator… a better relationship type person. Sometimes I say the right thing but it is in the wrong season. Do you know what I mean? Like, “I feel sorry for you in this difficulty you’re going through… and here’s what you need to do”. Or if I try to cheer someone up in too chipper of a way when they really need to morn… maybe after the loss of a loved one.

Or how about Proverbs 27:14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.

My mother used to wake us kids up in the morning with singing or something like “hurry kids and get up… it’s snowing outside” or “hurry or you’ll miss it… there’s a jackalope in the back yard”.

Oh, for me, I would have preferred to be awakened from sleep in a more apt manner… I had to fight against begrudging her words even though they were intended for good and I knew it.

But yes, I want this ability to say the right and best thing at the right time.

Solomon seems to really think this thing about words and speaking is a big deal and I agree.

In Proverbs 25:11 he says: A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Saying the right thing at the right time is like an amazing painting that mesmerizes you and settles you… something that is beautiful and all you can say is “Yes, Yes” “Thanks for that”.

In Proverbs 24:26 Solomon says this: Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

We desperately need honesty in our world today… and I think with covid-19 and social distancing these days honesty with love when given aptly in season is better than a kiss any day of the week.

James chapter 3 gives us some troubling words about the tongue. Heres a part of that:

James 3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James says how all kinds of animals have been tamed… sure it may be difficult for some and take many years… It is a scary thought to try and tame some wild animals… bears or lions… Even the more gentle animals are difficult to train. Have you ever tried to housebreak a pig or wild raccoon… but he says the tongue is untamable by man. It makes messes everywhere it goes… and they are very difficult to clean up!

So although it is impossible for man to tame the tongue there is good news… God can do it… and we can actually speak these apt and timely good words Solomon tells us about. You see, the tongue is synced up with the heart and the Lord is the heart changer. He gives those who look to him in faith the righteousness of his only Son Jesus and and he gives them a heart for God… the tongue simply follows suit.

Again Luke 6:45 is apt and timely for todays text.

Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Pray

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him who pursues righteousness. 10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!

Acceptable Sacrifice

R Aylor

Today Solomon names some things that the Lord detests and some things the Lord loves. He just told us in verse 5 how we should heed our fathers instructions and now Solomon tells us what awaits those who hate reproof. Today's passage concludes by saying how the abode of the dead as well as Hell itself cannot hide itself from the Lord… therefore why should any man think they might hide the intentions or the true desires of their heart from him?

So what is it that is an abomination the the Lord? Verse 8 says it is the sacrifice of the wicked. So, that was Cain in Genesis 4 who brought an offering to the Lord that was not accepted by him right?

This was the Cain who would kill his brother and responded to God “Am I my brothers keeper?”.

Hebrews 11:4 tells us “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous,”.

In the Old Testament it was those who brought sacrifices from a heart that trusted and delighted in God who would be accepted. These pointed to the coming Messiah… the perfect sacrifice for their and our sin. Whenever the wicked brought sacrifices it was a horrible taste to the Lord… It was rottenness… a detestable abomination to him.

Today many still bring gifts to God by giving to organizations or churches in hopes that God will accept them. They may do good works or try not to do bad works so the good might possibly weigh out heavier than their sins and they might be accepted. The problem with that is that same wicked heart that has not been changed by God. It poisons all the works they do because none of the works are motivated or quickened by the Holy Spirit but by their own broken efforts.

Only the works of Jesus are pure… We need his righteousness applied to us in order to be accepted by God. Our text says the Lord loves him who pursues righteousness… it takes a heart for that very thing… and it begins with pursuing not our own self righteousness but the righteousness of Jesus. The Lord will hear the prayer of this person and he will impute his righteousness to him and begin a work of righteousness in him practically.

Our text says how death awaits the wicked and that was all of us… the good news is that Jesus died for us… and he gives his righteousness to all who turn away from delighting in sin and delight in him and his death or his sacrifice for us and his resurrection.

Pray

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 15:5 A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

So Solomon cares about his own sons… much of Proverbs is addressed to them. He seems to be telling them “Don’t despise my words… Don’t be a fool! Be discerning with the things you hear in the world… where you go, who you hang out with… what you are drawn to… He shows them the outcome of the two paths they have to discern between… One results in much treasure and the other speaks of income as well but with much trouble.

Then finally verse 7… let me read that one again.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

Did you notice that Solomon speaks of the wise spreading knowledge with their lips but when talking about the fools he emphasizes not the lips but says not so the hearts of fools… This seems to equate lips and the heart as being interchangeable or at the very least they are linked somehow. I believe not only our mouth but actually all of our body are synced and linked to our heart… Its just that the words that we speak are many times the first and quickest view to the true estate of our heart.

In Matthew 12 Jesus addressed this very thing. In verse 34 he said: …For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.


Thats the way it works… we can try to hide our heart but it always finds a way to surface through our lips… Many times our heart is clearly implicated even in the inflection or emphasis of our words.

Solomon says how it is the wise who spreads knowledge and not the fool… Look we are all spreaders of some sort. It may be gossip or it may be good news… The Pharisees of Jesus day were spreaders of burdens to the people… calling them to legalism to keep the letter of the law not motivated out of a heart for the ways of God; but we are called to spread the freedom from that burden and the ability to keep the law of God with great joy.

The treasures of the Pharisees were found in the praise of men… like our text indicates, it was accompanied by trouble… a strict, burdened, bitter, prideful, ungrateful heart not happy in the Lord. But those who love their fathers instruction… and for us our Father in heavens word… a house laid up with much good Spiritual treasure in Christ which we spread and share with others as we go.

Pray

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

The Truth About Truth

R Aylor

Today Solomon is talking about the way we speak to one another and how God knows about every good and bad thing we say.

He mentions a soft answer and a gentle tongue…This comes out from a person of wisdom. Solomon says the tongue of the wise commends knowledge. To commend is to praise something or recommend something for approval. So truth is to be held up high in our own life and to others.

You know… truth cannot be toyed with or manipulated to our own liking… it cannot be juggled about to give us a false sense of justifucation on a particular day. Somehow… somewhere truth is set, unmovable forever. Truth is resolute and uncompromising and we should encourage others to walk its path with us…

Why is truth so commendable? Well, let me tell you the truth about truth… Here it is: Truth brings freedom from true bondage. and truth brings true life. That likely sounds pretty vague right? Let’s look at it.

In John 8:32 Jesus said this: …you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

So first off, how can the realization of truth bring freedom?… And freedom from what?

Well, all our life we seek out things that might make us happy. Thats what we do. These are things which claim that they will bring us some measure of happiness or satisfaction to our soul. They commend themselves as being truth.

The problem is… In all our seeking, these things of the physical world are all we have to choose from and so we try many things as we search out for the greatest treasure the world has to offer. And another thing… there is a long line of historical documented case studies that indicate no amount of wealth or lands or popularity has ever brought a person true contentment or lasting fulfillment.

But at that time when God reveals the truth of his only Son to you…. When you see him as the greatest treasure in the Universe… When he gives us eyes to see him for who he is… as beautiful… the good news of great joy… only hope for sinful man… promised one to set things right even from when our ancient parents Adam and Eve first sinned… When we see he is the true satisfier… the true way maker… the true sin bearer and sin slayer… When we see the truth of his resurrection over sins long time leverage through death and how God gives us his resurrection power over sin in life and will raise us up incorruptible… When we see the truth of Jesus as this great treasure.. All of a sudden, we are no longer bound to the options of the world for truth and our will is set free… we choose him. The truth sets us free!

And the thing is… He is the truth.

In John 14:6 Jesus said it like this: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We live in a world where so many believe that truth is relative and everyone can have their own... We see it in the news and in our lives every day. In todays passage Solomon talks about these as people who speak with tongues of anger and their mouths poor out folly. They go about spreading perverseness and not truth.

Are knowledge and truth things you promote and encourage? If so they should naturally point others to the knowledge and truth that brings freedom from sin and true life… That is the promised offspring of the woman… the Son Of Man.. Jesus Christ.

Pray

Don't Be A Dolt

Blake Farley

This is part one of a 5 part series on Proverbs chapter 17. For a full transcript go to braggingonjesus.com. Click on PROVERBS and you will see it there.

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. 35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Solomon gives us three situations to examine. Let’s take a look at them briefly and then consider their similarities and application.

In the first Solomon says Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding… that makes sense right? But the question that comes to my mind is how did it get there in the first place? At some point this person was not a man of understanding... So then... wisdom must have been somewhere close enough for him to have found her. Wisdom has a way of getting her point across even in the midst of fools. I think we see over and over when we act foolishly and don’t listen to her words… and our foolish choices causes much misery to us and those around us.

You may remember back in Proverbs chapter 1...

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

In fact, that was each one of us... when we were entangled in our own sin Wisdom was close by calling out to us. We heard and responded in repentance with faith. That's how we come to be people of understanding.

Next Solomon says: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

So righteousness is wisdom in the previous verse right? And sin is for the foolish.

So as we considered... the wise person at one time was foolish... he had to humble himself and admit his folly in order to respond to wisdom's call and turn to righteousness.

Solomon says how righteousness exalts a nation, and so we can see how humbling ones self to wisdom exalts a person as well as a nation.

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 29:23 One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Finally in verse 35 Solomon says:

35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

As the wisest of kings Solomon was likely speaking from experience. He favored those in his kingdom who dealt wisely and those who dealt with others with evil intent received his wrath.

All of these observations that Solomon made as he looked into the world and received wisdom… He did not exclude looking into his own heart and ways… and observing. That seems to be what is going on in this verse. And as all of his other observations in life… so it is with this one… This pointed to the one who is the truth. Jesus… the way, truth and life.

All these verses in fact point to Jesus. As wisdom called out to the foolish, so Jesus calls to us. If we humble ourselves and turn to him he gives us understanding and righteousness like verses 33 and 34 in todays passage speak of… and he gives us the power to live righteous lives in this broken world as we walk with him. And then in verse 34 we see how he gives us his favor instead of his wrath which we all deserve.

Father God, thank you for sending your only Son Jesus, who lived a perfect life, died a sinners death and gives his righteousness to all who delight in him. Thank you for raising him from the dead and giving us that same power to live righteous lives practically as we walk in your Holy Spirit. Thank You for raising us up one day no longer subject to sin with all its lusts of the flesh… no more plagued by disease and death. Thank you for this great gift for all who joyfully turn away from sin and find their only hope in the promised Messiah Jesus Christ. In his name amen.

Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. 32 The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

What if you crafted a unique magnificat guitar. You spent a lot of thought into it before you ever began making it. And then you crafted it with great precision and supreme workmanship and there was never ever another quite like this guitar. Being a one of a kind and different than all the others, it was stolen. Over a period of time it was sold to many and given away to others… Because it was different than other guitars people began making fun of it… they strummed it harshly… they never put it back into its case… Once it spent a summer in a traveling carnival act where a clown juggled it along with 3 balls and strummed the guitar every time he caught it. It made its way to others… it was the guitar one took with them on the canoe ride down the river and another in their backpack to the mountains while keeping their favorite guitars under the perfect temperature and humidity safe at home. It was used and taken advantage of time and time again.

And something else… although no one ever knew, the creator had placed a small pinhole camera and tracking device in the headstock and so online he followed its journey. Do you think the master craftsman was insulted by what was done to his masterpiece that he created for good?

Solomon tells us: Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Look, God made the rich and poor alike… He made the red, yellow, black and white and they are precious in his sight. We are each one unique creations of God made to be fruitful and fill the world with his image in which mankind was created. Although that image was corrupted by sin, that gives us no right to engage in wickedness and oppress others whom God created. In so doing we insult God himself.

God has a different plan. Verse 32 in todays passage says: The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

You see, God made a way for man to be righteous… a way for the image of God to be restored… a way for man to have fellowship with God as we were created to do.

2nd Corinthians 4:6 says: For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

This new creation comes to us when our eyes are opened to see Jesus as the greatest treasure in the Universe… worth leaving all for.

Jesus takes our sin gives us a heart infused with His righteousness… one that no longer wants to oppress the poor, no longer using people that our culture or standing gives us influence over for our own advantage. As God works in our life that positional righteousness becomes a practical righteousness throughout our life. And because of Jesus righteousness upon our life as todays text says: “but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

Father thank you for the righteousness of Jesus upon all who delight in him. For him living a perfect life, dying a sinners death and raising from the grave giving us that same power to love others, be generous to the poor and share with the world the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. 28 In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

Good Fear Brings Confidence

R Aylor

What is the context that surrounds this kind of fear we should have toward the Lord?

Should we fear him like people fear a ruthless dictator? No. God is not like that. Like an abused child fears their father? No.

What about the child who has a good loving father? Do they fear their father in any way? Sure they do. As a child grows and their character changes there is potential for them to mature and take on attributes of their good loving father. Throughout that journey they are going to have times of disobedience, right? But when they are thinking about doing wrong, the fear a spanking from their father sometimes motivates them to choose obedience instead. Solomon says that the children of a man who fears the LORD will have a refuge. I think that fear is building a safe perimeter in the middle of a dangerous jungle. This good kind of fear towards their father is drawing a map that highlights the traps and danger areas in this broken world.

So what is the difference in fearing a evil dictator and a good loving father? It may be that a child who knows their father loves them so much helps awaken them to the fact that his discipline is to turn them away from the pitfalls of troubled world. The LORD loves us much more than any earthly father ever could. And being all knowing, he knows exactly what is best for us more than any person has the ability to know. When he speaks, it is in love and for our good.

So I think that Gods commands in being for our good and given out of love… That is one of the big differences in fearing the LORD over fearing a ruthless dictator or a father who abuses his child.

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Solomon says in the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence. Confidence comes from God’s word backing us up. So that does not include us turning back to walk in disobedience… We have no confidence in our old default mission in life… seeking our own glory… looking for freedom and happiness by rebelling against God like a child that has contempt toward their earthly father. Our new mission is seeing and sharing the glory of our Father in heaven. That gives us joy… Solomon says fearing God in the right way is a fountain of life and thats where our confidence soars.

2nd Timothy 1:7 talks about this confidence and our new mission: for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Verse 8: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord,…

Then he goes on to talk about this good news we are to share.

Finally, verse 28 says: In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.

Look, every ruthless dictator that rules out of a heart of disobedience towards God does not have a multitude of people who truly support him from the heart. He does not love them and they do not love their leader.

Pray

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,