Bragging On Jesus

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 10:10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Pride's Babbling Brook

R Aylor

Here's one of those strange phrases that causes me to pause. I have been told that whenever a scripture seems out of step so that it causes you to scratch your head, pray about it and give it some time. There is likely a hidden treasure buried somewhere close.

Well, here's the problem; In this sentence there are two clauses side by side… If they were each a proverb in themselves there would not be a problem… Except for the fact that there is a conjunction… the word "but" that separates them. In my mind this usually implies that what follows the “but” should be something opposite in nature to what has just been stated. But instead, it what follows is just another wicked behavior:

Sa first Solomon says how one who winks their eye causes trouble… Here I would think he is referring to a deceiver or liar…. In the Hebrew it is related to pinching or squeezing off… even biting the lip. That sounds like someone up to no good to me.. I suppose it could even be referring to someone who winks to a friend saying don’t believe what I am saying… just go along with me on this and we’ll make out good. That too would be a troublemaker who deceives others.

So after that Solomon says the word “but”… and he compares the winker with a babbling fool as though their nature’s might be vastly different.

The more I have thought about it, I think Solomon is trying to show just how bad it really is to be a babbling fool.

It is the babbling man full of selfish pride that never admits he's wrong and says he has all the answers. He is at the brink of utter destruction and all the while proclaims himself as unsinkable.

Yes, Solomon compares his babbling with another evil but a deceiver almost looks presentable along side of the sin of pride. 

John 7:38 Jesus said this: Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

 

Father God please keep my heart from self absorbed egotistical pride that bursts forth as foolish babbling. Instead may I walk in humble and confident faith in you today Lord. Thank you for your living water that comes from Jesus and may I overflow the good news of him to others in love today.

Hello everybody… Today we’re talking about treasure and a treasure map…

You may have heard of star maps before, which show the addresses of Celebrities. You can drive by all the their fancy houses in a big city and see where they live.

Well, today I want to talk about a different kind of a star… a star which is actually map itself… It’s a treasure map to the greatest Star in the Cosmos… He's a person… the most glorious person in the Universe. He came to the world and should have been recognized as the greatest celebrity in the world but… instead... was despised and rejected, beaten, and crucified and killed by the ones he came to reveal himself to for their pleasure and his glory.

But, this story is not just about death but also about great joy…

In Luke 2:10 the angel said this to the shepherds:

Luke 2:10 ...Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

This night the shepherds received the greatest good news ever ever heard by man in the history of the World… It was joy not for the sake of joy but it was for the treasure they were told of. You might say the angel gave the shepherds a treasure map you might say… or directions to the greatest treasure in the Universe! The bible says the shepherds were in the same region as Bethlehem so maybe a few miles out of town; and the angel told them to go to go there…

How did the shepherds respond to this news? Did they believe the angel? Picking up in verse 16.

...16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

And so the greatest treasure in the Universe had arrived. They responded with belief and delight and obedience... they went with haste to find this treasure.

They also responded in other ways…

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ...20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Later, wise men came from the East. Though they came from much farther away than the shepherds, somehow God had also given them a map to find the greatest treasure in the Universe… a star map if you will... And so they followed the star which he told them to...

Matthew 2:9 ...And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

So like the shepherds… the wise men also rejoiced with great joy. And when we are given eyes to see Jesus as the greatest treasure in the world… then we’re going to choose Jesus over the promises of the world… and he’s going to give us great joy.

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Not treasuring the world they received the greatest treasure in the Universe… and that was Jesus.

Now we fast forward in time around 30 years… In Mark 10 a rich young ruler came to this same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem… Did he come, like the shepherds and wise men… looking for the greatest treasure in the Universe? We will see… He ask Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. I’m not sure the young man truly knew what eternal life was.

What is eternal life? Eternal life is being connected to God, having fellowship with him and being accepted by him forever… That’s true life… We can only do that through Jesus Christ. He was born in Bethlehem and lived a perfect life as the prophets said… And so we can be accepted by God he gives his goodness to all who delight in him as the greatest treasure… greater than anything else the world might offer… That means success, friends, popularity, power, lust, pornography, wealth, lots of stuff… long life, even health...

Proverbs In 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 10:9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

The Integrity

Of Jesus

R Aylor

What is integrity? It is living honestly, being ethical in our dealings and adhering to right morals; it is being trustworthy and fair without prejudice. It is living this lifestyle in a steadfast and consistent manner. According to our text integrity is a secure and trustworthy path.

God wants us to walk in integrity practically in every day life. We, of course are all sinners so we will not be perfect in this area. And even when we do the right thing, if our heart is not motivated out of love it is a fail. We are a work in progress as our integrity is practically becoming more like Christ.

However; before we can grow practically we have to be accepted as positionally righteous by God through Jesus who lived a perfect life for us. When we believe he puts his righteousness in our account and God sees us as 100% full of integrity. Jesus even went as far as being paid the wages of our sins by dying our death on the cross… Then he even went further. Three days later he rose from the dead and gives us who believe that same power to live lives of integrity practically in our every day life… And one day he will raise us up incorruptible to be with him forever.

The last part of todays verse says: “he who makes his ways crooked will be found out”.

The word crooked Has to do with being dishonest, evil, cunning, twisted and illegal.


I'm reminded of Moses speaking to the people of Gad and Reuben in Numbers 32:23 …be sure your sin will find you out.


So the problem is that we’re all sinners… we’re all twisted and selfish… We have no real self righteousness in our account… We all lack integrity and our ways are crooked.

The good news of great joy is that if we look to Jesus with delight… From Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve sinned this is the one promised to save those who believe from sin and satan… The Messiah would be born of the offspring of the woman in the city of Bethlehem. He would straighten our crookedness with his own righteousness making us secure in him and then sanctify us practically in our every day life trusting him for that security in all our ways.

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Pray

He Humbled Himself DC / Philippians 2 A Mini Christmas Sermon

Micah 5:2 How God Is Glorified In The Small (Christmas) / RA

A Halmark Christmas Blake Farley

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 10:8 The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

But The Wise Says

R Aylor

Being wise does not mean that person has all the answers. Fact is, the wise will say things like "I don't know" and "give me your opinion" and "I'm having trouble with this, can you offer any help". A wise person will present themselves in this humble posture much more often than the fool. The babbling fool is that person who always has to be the teacher… always having the last word… always needing to leave the conversation exalted above the others… If he cant top others with his knowledge he may use his tongue as a sword and cut them down… if that won’t seem to work in a particular situation he will tell a joke to shift any focus from his ignorance and hope everyone will think him clever.

When a foolish person ignores words from a wise person… that can be devastating… but foundationally at the core… the worst scenario is to ignore Gods word… that man surly is foolish.



In Matthew 7:24 Jesus said: Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.



It is the wise man then who will receive the words and commands of Jesus. But what of the babbling fool?



Matthew 7 goes on to confirm our text concerning a foolish man: 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."



Father please give us the wisdom and humility to admit that we fall very short of your glory and that we might quietly seek you today and heed the words of Jesus instead of spotlighting our own ignorance as glorified enlightenment.

Jezebel

Written by Gerri Aylor

(From 1st and 2nd Kings)

She was Samaria’s queen, and her god was Baal

She lived in luxury so listen to her tale

Everybody knew that she painted on her face

And even in death you see, they barely found a trace

King Ahab soon would covet, a vineyard not his own

For the heir from God was Naboth so the King began to moan

Said Jezebel, “I’ll fix it!””, and this is what she did

She sent two wicked fellows, who accused… Naboth as she bid

So stones, were thrown at him, and they took away his life

But Jezebel didnt plan on Elijah the Tish-bite

The dogs will lick your blood he said, and your children all will die

So everything from GOD came true, God’s Word it cannot lie

So never cheat an heir my friend, and do not live a lie

Al-ways make all things right, be-fore your time to die.

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Our Greatest Delight

C@robin aylor 2013

Our greatest delight,

From morning to night,

When things seem wrong,

When all feels right,

Amid dreary storms,

Ore long weary flights,

We keep singing your song,

Like a high flying kite,

We delight with delight

When hurricanes blow,

Mid the plight of our kite,

Through a whirled tornado,

In thunder and lightning,

In blizzards of snow,

Though our tail spins to fall,

We rise up and flow,

If you love him more than

This world's À la carte,

You rejoice in his words,

From your inmost parts,

If He is you treasure

For whom all you impart

Take delight as he gives you,

The desires of your heart.

Him


R Aylor

I think about him quite a lot. Usually when I first get up in the mornings. I like to spend some time with him while I drink my morning coffee.

Sometimes, as I drive to work my mind wanders to him. I think about the things he has done, and about the things he may and will do in the future.

At work, I focus on my responsibilities. However; I just cant help keeping him in my thoughts throughout the day. When I am talking to my coworkers, I bring him up. I don't pre-plan to; its just that he is so much a part of my life that I automatically talk about him. I build him up and seek to put the spotlight on him.

At home, I want his desires to be fulfilled by everyone in my family. My hope is that each family member comes to realize that his ways are always best and right and that they should make his wants and desires their own. As daylight ends and I lay down my head, I meditate on his works and plans of tomorrow. 

Who am I? Honestly, most of the time that "Him" is me. I put myself before everyone and everything.

Lord please may I find my joy... my thoughts... my focus... my delights... my treasure in you... I know satan himself wanted glory equal to you... and this is the same temptation he presented Eve... to be like God... Lord may I not worship myself... but you and you alone. You alone deserve my worship and you alone satisfy... You desire mercy and not sacrifice and so I come humbly to you as my all in all... Thank You Lord that I find my rest in You.