Bragging On Jesus

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 5:3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,

The Forbidden Woman Fever

R Aylor

Maybe you’re like me and have had a high fever once or twice in your life. Not like you’re sick with the flu and a high temperature… What I’m talking about is that "new car fever"? You may catch it from a friend you carpool with or a next door neighbor. You know you have it when you begin to consistently take that second look at new cars going down the road. Then you'll find yourself looking at pictures on the Internet and then intentionally slowing down and finally stopping at car lots but you still tell yourself you're only looking. Soon the fever swells up inside you and your heart pumps heavily every free moment as your considerations drip with desire.

Before you know it you’re driving away in a brand new car hardly worth the interest you'll be paying on it over the next 5 years of your life and your heart sinks as you think you could wind up trading over 3000 hours of your life's wages plus time away from family and time away from investing in quality relationship all because you had the “new car fever”… and apparently you didn’t have a doctor to go visit early on and didn’t take any antibiotics to knock out the “new car fever” before it was too late…

Our text talks about another fever that has been going around for thousands of years. This particular infection is usually referred to as “The Forbidden Woman Fever”. As we talk about this particular strain of virus keep in mind it is very closely related to the original “Forbidden Fruit” virus or that sin that so easily besets you.

Now this Forbidden Woman strain is much worse than the “new car fever”. It can take more than 3000 working hours from you and me… It can debilitate us for the rest of our life. It can cause us to waist our life.

If you have the Forbidden Woman virus there is a great Physician who can help… Go to Gods word for help. Also there are some great assistance that can help administer the antibiotics. They are called Christian brothers… They are called accountability partners… If you do not have any of those they are called Pastors.

Don't waist your life my friend. Guard the knowledge God has shown you in Christ Jesus. Don’t let the forbidden woman take it away. Delight in him… meditate on his word.

Oh Lord, please illuminate us with insights of your magnificence… show us your glory that we may see you as a treasure better than the forbidden woman or any forbidden fruit that the world offers.

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 5:1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.

 

To Guard Knowledge?

R Aylor


It looks like Solomon is not letting up... As we said before he wants his son’s to hear his words over and above anything the world may be saying.

The phrase “be attentive” remind me of a soldier that is to stand at attention when his superior gives him instructions. And then he says “incline your ear to my understanding” which paints a picture in my mind of someone cupping their hand around one ear and leaning in to hear so they won’t miss a single word.

Solomon has been saying these kinds of things to his Sons but next he tells us another reason why.

“that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge”.

Solomon has introduced us to a few of Wisdom’s sisters so far… Ladies like Prudence, Understanding and Knowledge. And now we meet Discretion.

To be discrete is to contemplate and think over a situation before acting or speaking. Her personality is a bit like prudence who also thinks ahead before acting. Making decisions in life requires discernment which means we need to quit letting the world think for us and begin to study and review and examine what we are thinking about doing… lining it up against a standard… a touchstone… an unchangeable documented code of behavior that one can test everything against.

Here I believe Solomon is talking about guarding the knowledge you have so no one will steal it away and replace it with lies and false promises.

In order to do that we need to lay the worlds words up against Gods word.

Not long ago we read these words about the LORD. Proverbs 3:6 says: In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

We need to be people who think before we say yes to the world.

Can we at least pause our mind and acknowledge the LORD in our heart before we blurt out things that might not be helpful to others. If we love Gods word and study it and meditate on it like Psalm 1 says than we will likely be reminded of a verse that will help us guard truth within our hearts.

Pray

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 4:20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.

 

I Keep Repeating Myself but I'm Not Senile!

R Aylor

Have you noticed that from time to time it kind of sounds like Solomon is repeating himself? Of course you have… No, the wisest man alive is not going senile! But still in chapter after chapter, Solomon has been repeating this basic truth on purpose. The reason I think is because it’s that important! Why do you repeat things to your own children? Exactly! Listen to me son! Your whole life depends on you getting what I say here!


I can almost hear the young man answering Solomon “yes father”, “I know father”, “I won’t forget father”. Then Solomon answering: “Son, I have stressed this to you over and over. You are a man like every other man. You have a bent… crookedness. We all feel that pull towards the ways of the world and the flesh. We have discussed so many important truths that will bring you life and health... or they will lead you to disappointment and a life of ruin. But still, in the Lord they can give you the greatest satisfaction possible and make you a great king ruling justly over Gods people. Remember these are some of the same things my father King David taught me. You’ve given me the right answers son. We’ve talked together about these things and we will talk again. You know the truth. Keep them close to your heart.”

This Proverb may help point us in the right direction in raising our children, but it points us in a greater direction when we consider God as our heavenly Father. The Lord reminds us over and over every day… Listen to my Son and his words.

In Mark 9:7 when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, the Father himself says to listen to his Son.

Mark 9:7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Another time, after many quit following after him, Jesus ask his own disciples if they wanted to leave and not follow him any longer, here is Simon Peters response:

John 6:68 …“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

Pray

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 4:9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

The King's Jester?

Maybe I’ve watched too many movies in my life but right or wrong for example’s sake lets say that some of the Kings of days gone by had a palace jester who was always talking in jokes, rhymes and riddles… and he wore a special cap too that set him apart. However I suppose you would know the King’s jester without their cap on… simply by hearing them speak a few words…

Even so, the Lady Wisdom will place a crown on a wise mans head. It will be an invisible crown but you will be able to tell he is wearing it. Those who are around him… those who hear him will know he is wise by simply listening to him speak.

Have you ever been in the presence of a very wise person? Maybe you know someone like this. They are a rare breed… This person may even be old and wrinkled but their wisdom makes them beautiful. Their body language, their eye contact and the way they carry themselves from the moment they walk in a room… these things tell much about them and compliment all the attributes that attach themselves to godly wisdom…

Even as they first begin to speak only a few words out of their mouth… you can tell something is different about them… the words they say may seem ordinary at first… You or I might say the same words and come across totally different. But this person has aged in wisdom… Their heart is real… their motives are sincere… they are not looking for acceptance or to be the center of attention… They have learned genuine love for others… Their counsel is a gift. Wisdom has placed a graceful garland around their neck…

What the wise person has obtained cannot be learned from listening to a normal Ted Talk speech or reading your basic self help book. Their graceful and collective countenance was not always this way. But they were transformed as they internalized more and more of the sisters of lady Wisdom. A few of Lady Wisdom's sisters include: Charity, Hope, Faith, Joy, Patience, Knowledge, Understanding, Peace, Kindness, Faithfulness and so many more.

Attributes of godly wisdom? Yes, but also attributes of God himself and his glory.

I’ll close with 2nd Corinthians 3:18 where the Apostle Paul tells us how to internalize the sisters of Wisdom.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2nd Corinthians 3:18)

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 4:8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

The Embrace

by R Aylor

This makes me think of a husbands love for his wife. He should definitely prize her highly. He should praise her in public… He should show his love with a servants heart and embrace and cherish her always letting her know she is his delight. He should seek what is best for her in all things.

If you genuinely treat her like a prized jewel she will honor and praise you.

Once again the godly woman Wisdom becomes our great teacher.

"Prize her highly" “embrace her”… Let Wisdom be your great treasure!

In Matthew 13:44 Jesus told this insightful parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.


This man found riches of the great value… gold and sliver so precious he wanted dearly to embrace… I imagine him saying to himself… “This is a treasure better than all the treasures of the world combined”. Then what did he do? What would you do? I would be quite a happy man! In my joy I would sell my house and car and all my guitars to have this treasure worth more than the world itself. That’s what he did… In joy he sold all he had…

 

This is the wisdom of God that Proverbs points to… even God’s only Son Jesus.

Today, it may be that God has awakened you to see Jesus as the treasure that he is… The good news, the pearl of great price… the one worth unclenching your grasp on the worlds treasures so you might embrace him and prize him highly.

If you have faith to embrace him he will reward you with himself. Hebrews 11:6 says: And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

 

Thank you Lord for your grace… It is not of our goodness or works or even our will… but you awaken us to see you as the greatest treasure and through faith we choose you because you have chosen us before the foundation of the world.

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Whatever You Get, Get Insight

by Robin Aylor

I love how Solomon returns to referring to wisdom as "her", polarizing her opposite to the adulterous woman mentioned throughout Proverbs.

And he has told us time and time again to get wisdom… Wisdom is important enough to keep repeating to his Sons that's for sure… but what good is it if you don’t know how to use it. Maybe that’s why Solomon emphasizes “and whatever you get, get insight”.

Insight is that what… almost intuition… or intensive awareness of what’s really going on around you in life. It’s spotting the adulterous woman before she tricks you… It’s reading people and noticing red flags… It’s being discerning in business dealings and relationships. Sure someone may have wisdom and you might change the world with it but if you don’t perceive greed when it wraps is tentacles around you your wisdom may make you a rich movie writer or producer or politician or you might become a famous singer and songwriter… but instead of having insight you only have hind sight and wind up transforming a whole generation in a very bad way… Solomon says: “whatever you get, get insight”.

The beginning of obtaining anything worthwhile is to make it your goal; purpose your heart and fix your gaze on it. Begin the pursuit for the passion and love of your life that you will follow all the way to the end.

Lord, we love you. You are our treasure worth leaving all for. Please give us the prudence and insight and understanding… all the sisters of wisdom that we might persevere for you to the end and be used to change the world for your glory. In Jesus name Amen.

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

 

The Best Time To Plant A Tree

R Aylor

I can hear Solomon saying something like this: My sons, be very intentional about this matter! Begin pursuing wisdom and insight this very second. Don’t wait till you're out of high school or you finish college or don't wait till you get married. Don't say we’re going to wait till you have children. Don’t wait till you work your fingers to the bone and get rich… Look… The truth is that once you put off seeking the things of the Lord you may spend 40 years in the wilderness and might not come to your senses until you’re an old man on your death bed and you realize your life has been a self centered worthless mess. Or worse yet you might miss the promised land all together.

 

You know my son, life is crazy and the world is persuasive; so remember my words and don’t ever forget. At a least suspecting moment satan will tempt you to follow after foolishness and it is a slippery slope. One unrepentant step toward sin has cause many to slide down the hill of misery into eternal wretchedness and death.

 

I think it may be a Chinese proverb but it goes like this. When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago… The 2nd best time is today.

It would have been better to repent 20 years ago but it has come and gone. Today is the day to turn to the Lord and follow after righteousness! We can only do that through Jesus Christ who was righteous. He died and rose that we might have a heart for all that is good.

 

2nd Corinthians 6:2 says: For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 4:3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.

Hold Fast And Live

R Aylor

Here we can see rare insight into Solomon’s own childhood. Of course Solomon’s father was King David, the man after Gods own heart who lived his life in circles of true repentance. David said some of the same things to Solomon that Solomon says to his own sons. These verses go along with the first two in Proverbs 4.

As children of God we are called to speak Gods truths to our own families and to those in our world.

Not long ago my sisters and I had lunch with a very good friend from childhood. It was a great time of catching up. As she told us about her children, something troubling emerged. She said that as a parent she had made a decision to be intentional with her children. She made a point not to tell them what to believe about God. Though she is a professed believer she said she did not want her children to be influenced by her own religious beliefs but for their faith to be their own and not hers. We gently told her our views on this.

You know the world does not abide by those same rules. They never stop telling us what to believe about God and life, money, pleasure and relationships… They brainwash us as children, in school, college and as even as adults… they never let up until it’s too late and we’re pushing up daisies 6 feet under.

If we know the truth about Jesus… if we have learned truths about practically living and the traps of sin that can ruin a life… If we have tasted and savored the joys of the Lord. Why on earth would we not share him with others starting with our own children?

While the world is brainwashing them saying you should treasure this or that, why would we not teach them how Jesus is the greatest treasure in the universe?

The only reason I can think of that makes sense is that we might not believe it ourselves… or else we are blinded by our sin and not walking in his light.

This awesome verse seems to fit here:

Psalm 145:1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

Pray

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Proverbs in 365 Devotions

For more go to braggingonjesus.com

Proverbs 4:1-2 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.

How God Raises Children

R Aylor

And so Solomon encourages his sons to listen to his words in order to gain a deeper comprehension and understanding of what is good and true. His words were to be used for guidance in their thought life and behavior… that they may learn how to deal with every situation they encounter in life.

 

I’m glad our Father in heaven loves us enough to work hard to get our attention. We know this because we hear his reproofs, instructions and encouragement… we feel his disciplines and through it all we know he wants what is truly best for us.

Oftentimes we too remind and exhort our own children… we do it not out of our own selfish annoyances but for their sake because we love them. It’s pretty much a continual thing while they are growing up in our house; if we didn’t they might forsake truth and be swept away by the culture around them. 

 

Interesting is how Solomon doesn't just say to do this and don't do that without explanation; but throughout Proverbs he shows his son's and us the consequences of actions. He doesn't only tell his sons they'll make him happy if they do good; he doesn’t just say they'll get a spanking if they do bad; but he spells out detailed truths of how their relationships and lives will be greatly affected and changed according to their choices.

There are times in our life that we need to respond in obedience to our Heavenly Father without ever understanding anything else except He loves us, we love him and will trust him. And likewise there are times we need our children to trust us blindly…

But there are many times when God shows us how and why things work out in our life the way they do… He does this so we might know his character and that we may grow in him and his attributes… Also he answers our “why” questions so we might minister to others come across our path and are going through similar things.

 

Thank you Father for urging us forward all the way in our walk with you through Jesus.

Proverbs in 365 Devotions

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Proverbs 12:11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

Intentionally Fervent / Brad Chase

As I read this passage, I tend to believe this is one of those multi purpose passages. Takin at face value, this seems to be a call to the sluggards. The lazy. Kinda like those around us who expect their stuff to be paid for but don’t want to work for it. The author is saying here, “ work or go hungry “. That’s the old school oilfield mentality. If you don’t work, you don’t eat. You can chose to take a day off here or there or take a vacation, but you do that on your own dime.

This passage could also work into our marriages. Think about when you met your spouse. You tried hard to win their attention. You worked to impress them. You worked to get to know them so you could please them. Now, the marriage is no different. Just because you said “ I do” does not mean that you get to retire. Your marriage still takes work. And a lot of that work is communication and understanding and patience.

One more avenue for this particular passage. Our spiritual lives. What would a Christian look like if they felt the tug of God and responded at church one day. They went to the front and the preacher said “welcome to the family son!” (Note... LABC does not operate in this way. It’s an example) and the man never opened his bible or sat in church or had any spiritual conversation again. 20 years later, the man would be no more a mature Christian than the day he walked down the aisle at church. We are to work on our spiritual lives. To grow in God. The more we work the spiritual field in our life, the more the harvest will be. We need to spend time reading His word and finding out what exactly he wants from us. We need to be spending time in prayer, fellowshipping with God. We need to find ways to talk about him to others. Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us that whatever our hand finds to do, do with all your might and God has called us to serve him. So serve him with all your might.

This passage can easily fit into a ton of areas in our life. The idea is though, we are not called to be lazy. Life is hard. Life is messy. But we have to buck up and work things out and do it for the glory of God.