GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HIS CREATION

Posted on June 4, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 16 God isProverbs – Life Skills
 
The opening sentence in The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, says it all. “It’s not about you.” If we take life seriously, like this Proverb of wise words says, and wrap our minds around who is really in charge only then can we begin to understand our created purpose.
 
“The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far grater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born BY his purpose and FOR his purpose.” (Warren)
 
Proverbs 16 God in chargeWe search for good. God IS good. We search for wisdom. God IS wisdom. We want a plan. God IS the plan. We want to know our purpose, that gives meaning to life. God IS the purpose that means everything and IS life.
 
Are we beginning to catch up to what God is saying to us? God is the one and only “I AM” who is in charge. God created all, and is in all. He created a plan with purpose for each one of us. God also has a plan for right living, to be at His best for His glory. When we fail in living right, God also created a plan, from the beginning of creation, for us to be forgiven, set right and be reconciled to Him when we sin. That plan has a name. His name is Jesus.
 
That’s why it’s not about you or me. Life begins with God. Life IS God.
 
Proverb 16, The Message
Everything with a Place and a Purpose
Proverbs 16 2
Mortals make elaborate plans,
but God has the last word.
 
2 Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
God probes for what is good.
 
3 Put God in charge of your work,
then what you’ve planned will take place.
 
4 God made everything with a place and purpose;
even the wicked are included—but for judgment.
 
Proverbs 16 75 God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense;
believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place.
 
6 Guilt is banished through love and truth;
Fear-of-God deflects evil.
 
7 When God approves of your life,
even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.
 
8 Far better to be right and poor
than to be wrong and rich.
 
9 We plan the way we want to live,
but only God makes us able to live it.
 
Proverbs 16 take life seriouslyIt Pays to Take Life Seriously
 
10 A good leader motivates,
doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit.
 
11 God cares about honesty in the workplace;
your business is his business.
 
12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds;
sound leadership has a moral foundation.
 
13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech;
they love advisors who tell them the truth.
 
Proverbs 16 honest14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives;
you’re smart to stay clear of someone like that.
 
15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives;
they’re like spring rain and sunshine.
 
16 Get wisdom—it’s worth more than money;
choose insight over income every time.
 
17 The road of right living bypasses evil;
watch your step and save your life.
 
Proverbs 16 1818 First pride, then the crash—
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
 
19 It’s better to live humbly among the poor
than to live it up among the rich and famous.
 
20 It pays to take life seriously;
things work out when you trust in God.
 
21 A wise person gets known for insight;
gracious words add to one’s reputation.
 
22 True intelligence is a spring of fresh water,
while fools sweat it out the hard way.
 
Proverbs 16 2423 They make a lot of sense, these wise folks;
whenever they speak, their reputation increases.
 
24 Gracious speech is like clover honey—
good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.
 
25 There’s a way that looks harmless enough;
look again—it leads straight to hell.
 
26 Appetite is an incentive to work;
hunger makes you work all the harder.
 
27 Mean people spread mean gossip;
their words smart and burn.
 
28 Troublemakers start fights;
gossips break up friendships.
 
29 Calloused climbers betray their very own friends;
they’d stab their own grandmothers in the back.
 
Proverbs 16 owl30 A shifty eye betrays an evil intention;
a clenched jaw signals trouble ahead.
 
31 Gray hair is a mark of distinction,
the award for a God-loyal life.
 
32 Moderation is better than muscle,
self-control better than political power.
 
33 Make your motions and cast your votes,
but God has the final say.
 
WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT LEADING OTHERS?
 
Proverbs 16 trustGod’s leaders develop His characteristics:
–They motivate, don’t manipulate.
–Explain instead of exploit or exaggerate.
–Honest, sincere, transparent.
–Seekers of honest advice.
–Walk the moral high ground
–Inspire and invigorate lives
–Seek wisdom over wealth
–Ego is left behind.
–Gracious, kind, loving words of wisdom are their mantra.
–They give life to those around them.
 
God’s Leaders know Who has the final say. They are completely comfortable and confident knowing that He is in control and rely on this truth each day. This is faith and trust in the One who loves us most.
 
Proverbs 16 stepsDear Heavenly Father,
As we seek your wisdom, you are there to show us the way, your way. Thank you for teaching us through your word today with clearly stated characteristics that you are consistently developing in those who believe and want to grow and mature. Thank you for Your Presence. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your guidance. Correction means you care enough about us to lead us to your intended purpose for our lives. Thank you for caring. Thank you for saving my soul.
Life IS all about you. You are God and i am not.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
INVITATION: A group of ladies, wanting to grow in Christ, meet electronically each Tuesday evening at 7PM via Zoom to encourage each other. We are reading a Proverb a day as well as reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. YOU ARE INVITED to join us! Message me at susan.callaway@thepointechurch.net and you will be given the code to come in. You will enjoy our lively discussions!
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SCHOOLED IN SKILLED LIVING

Posted on June 3, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 15 schoolProverbs – Life Skills
Each verse is a lesson in the school of skilled living. If we seriously meditate on the wise teaching of each verse, we find that to live in this way, we cannot lose in pleasing God who wants the best living for us. We also find our purpose for living among the wise words written as nuggets of His Truth.
Proverbs 15 apt reply
We might have to read it twice. The first time, we might be thinking of others and how they should heed this advice and live “right”. But the second time we prayerfully read, IF we are honest with God, we begin to see the dark places within ourselves that need cleansed with the Light of God’s Love.
TODAY…Be schooled.
“Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—
first you learn humility, then you experience glory.”
Proverbs 15 relationshipsProverb 15, The Message
God Doesn’t Miss a Thing
A gentle response defuses anger,
but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
2 Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise;
fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.
3 God doesn’t miss a thing—
he’s alert to good and evil alike.
4 Kind words heal and help;
cutting words wound and maim.
5 Moral dropouts won’t listen to their elders;
welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.
Proverbs 15 cheer6 The lives of God-loyal people flourish;
a misspent life is soon bankrupt.
7 Perceptive words spread knowledge;
fools are hollow—there’s nothing to them.
8 God can’t stand pious poses,
but he delights in genuine prayers.
9 A life frittered away disgusts God;
he loves those who run straight for the finish line.
10 It’s a school of hard knocks for those who leave God’s path,
a dead-end street for those who hate God’s rules.
11 Even hell holds no secrets from God—
do you think he can’t read human hearts?
Life Ascends to the Heights
12 Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do;
they avoid the company of wise men and women.
13 A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face;
a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.
14 An intelligent person is always eager to take in more truth;
fools feed on fast-food fads and fancies.
15 A miserable heart means a miserable life;
a cheerful heart fills the day with song.
Proverbs 15 anger16 A simple life in the Fear-of-God
is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
17 Better a bread crust shared in love
than a slab of prime rib served in hate.
18 Hot tempers start fights;
a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.
19 The path of lazy people is overgrown with briers;
the diligent walk down a smooth road.
20 Intelligent children make their parents proud;
lazy students embarrass their parents.
21 The empty-headed treat life as a plaything;
the perceptive grasp its meaning and make a go of it.
Proverbs 15 plans22 Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed.
23 Congenial conversation—what a pleasure!
The right word at the right time—beautiful!
24 Life ascends to the heights for the thoughtful—
it’s a clean about-face from descent into hell.
25 God smashes the pretensions of the arrogant;
he stands with those who have no standing.
26 God can’t stand evil scheming,
but he puts words of grace and beauty on display.
27 A greedy and grasping person destroys community;
those who refuse to exploit live and let live.
Proverbs 15 2328 Prayerful answers come from God-loyal people;
the wicked are sewers of abuse.
29 God keeps his distance from the wicked;
he closely attends to the prayers of God-loyal people.
30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle.
Proverbs 15 serve31 Listen to good advice if you want to live well,
an honored guest among wise men and women.
32 An undisciplined, self-willed life is puny;
an obedient, God-willed life is spacious.
33 Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—
first you learn humility, then you experience glory.
Proverbs 15 school in skill
Choose wisely. Live wisely. A “God-willed life is spacious.”
Dear Lord,
Forgive us when we go our own ways thinking that is the only way to go. Evil loves it when we separate ourselves from the herd of your people, your love, grace and mercy and even you. But you see the “one” and bring us back to the fold. You school us in your wisdom for you ARE wisdom. Help us to live skillfully, following in your ways, running after you as you lead us to what is best for us. May we listen, look up and live the expectant life to the full. Help us to see your glory even today.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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OPEN MINDS ASSUME NOTHING

Posted on June 2, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverb 14 of the day
Proverbs – Life Skills
 
God led me to this study of Proverbs. He is using His Word, (He does that!), a Proverb a day, to help me navigate what is going on in our world right now and specifically in our community. God is leading me to listen more to what HE wants and how HE wants me to behave. God is opening my mind and helping me to assume nothing.
 
God is love, not hate. He hates the behavior of those who live hate. Why? Because He knows that when we hate, we suffer. He knows that hate has no place in His Kingdom, therefore those who hate will not reside there.
 
Proverbs 14 hateHate cannot coexist with His created purpose for us. He wants His best for us and for all the other believers around us. But, alas, we seem to be driven to all that is not His best. Fools hate. Fools say there is no God. Fools assume the worst in others. Fools only love themselves. Fools do not listen to anyone but themselves and other fools. Evil drives fools to eternal destruction. It is a quick, easy trip.
 
Proverb 14 patientGod is wisdom. Jesus displayed God’s wisdom. Jesus is wisdom. Wisdom shows us the path to understanding all that God is and all that God wants to give His children who believe Him. Wisdom gives insight that trumps our human assumptions of what we think is really going on around us.
 
Evil is using our current circumstances, corruption, seeds of hate already planted in men and women, and our deeply rooted impatience that quickly leads to anger, to more hate and violence for Satan’s glory and our destruction. Satan, the fallen angel, wants to be the god in our lives. He wants to play with our closed minds and hard hearts until we die and are of no use to him any longer. He is not love. He is not life. He is only death. He is limited in power.
 
Proverb 14 22 loveGod is using all the above circumstances to turn hearts to Him. He is declaring that He is God and we are not. God delights in all the details of our lives because He loves us. He created us. He wants to give us His best. Every one of us!  God is using these same life situations to bring our attention to our own sins that we have passed off as trivial or “that’s just how life works”. God is causing us to repent, love from the inside out and rise up against all that is not God.
 
Hate, pride, foolishness, prejudice, selfishness is not God.
 
Proverb 14, The Message
A Way That Leads to Hell
 
Proverb 14 liesLady Wisdom builds a lovely home;
Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
 
2 An honest life shows respect for God;
a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
 
3 Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
 
4 No cattle, no crops;
a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
 
5 A true witness never lies;
a false witness makes a business of it.
 
Proverbs 14 reduce misunderstanding6 Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
 
7 Escape quickly from the company of fools;
they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
 
8 The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;
the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
 
9 The stupid ridicule right and wrong,
but a moral life is a favored life.
 
10 The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends
will be an outsider at their celebrations.
 
11 Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks;
holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
 
12-13 There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough;
look again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.
 
Sift and Weigh Every Word
Proverb 14 2214 A mean person gets paid back in meanness,
a gracious person in grace.
 
15 The gullible believe anything they’re told;
the prudent sift and weigh every word.
 
16 The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
fools are headstrong and reckless.
 
17 The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret;
the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
 
18 Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
 
Proverb 14 3119 Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;
the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
 
20 An unlucky loser is shunned by all,
but everyone loves a winner.
 
21 It’s criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,
but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!
 
Proverb 14 accountable
22 Isn’t it obvious that conspirators lose out,
while the thoughtful win love and trust?
 
23 Hard work always pays off;
mere talk puts no bread on the table.
 
24 The wise accumulate wisdom;
fools get stupider by the day.
 
Proverb 14 fear of the Lord25 Souls are saved by truthful witness
and betrayed by the spread of lies.
 
26 The Fear-of-God builds up confidence,
and makes a world safe for your children.
 
27 The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water
so you won’t go off drinking from poisoned wells.
 
28 The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
leadership is nothing without a following.
 
29 Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
 
30 A sound mind makes for a robust body,
but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
 
31 You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.
 
32 The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
 
33 Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
fools never even get to say hello.
 
34 God-devotion makes a country strong;
God-avoidance leaves people weak.
 
35 Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.
Proverb 14 protect
ANOTHER THOUGHT…
The more we pause to realize the incredible, unconditional, relentless love God has for us, only then will we begin to love like He loves.
 
We have learned in our wisdom study that the fear (respect and awe) of the Lord brings understanding. May our fear of God bring on the knowledge of His deep, passionate love for all of us.
 
May we then love like His loves us. Love God. Love each other. The two greatest commandments of God says Jesus when asked. Jesus clarified our love for each other; “love like I have loved you.” Jesus willingly laid down His life for us. Love like that. (See Phil 2) We love like that when we lay down what we want and run after what God wants. We love like that when others interests and situations lead us be there for them without thinking of our own lives. We love like that when we see others like God sees them. We love like that when we seek to understand and avoid mindless advice to “fix it”.
 
“Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
fools never even get to say hello.”
 
Love leads to Life, the Life God intended for His created to live from the beginning of Creation. Seek wisdom that comes from God’s heart of love.
 
Psalm 119 meditating on TruthHOLY PAUSE
 
Reread this proverb and list all the ways we honor God with our hearts, minds and souls and ultimately our behavior.
 
Do you discover that life is not about you but about God? And others?
 
How open minded are we? Right now? Seriously.
 
“Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!”
 
Dear Lord and Savior,
When I look to you first each morning, all my assumptions about life and others melt away. When I seek wisdom and ask for your insight, you give it. Help me to think more like you think so I will walk in your ways and teaching. You are God and I am not. I need your help every hour of every day.
 
Thank you for Your Presence that calms my earthly fears and settles my soul. Thank you, dear Jesus, for saving our souls. Thank you for being the way to an intimate, loving relationship with you. Help us to listen to You, hearing Your voice above all others. Then give us boldness and courage to obey quickly.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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OUR WALK

Posted on June 1, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 13 our walkProverbs – Life Skills
 
The world says to walk with those who are powerful. Don’t follow failures. Run with those who everything they touch seems to turn to gold. Attach yourselves to them in order to be like them. Watch how they do it and imitate them in all they do. Learn to think like them, behave and even walk like them. Then you will be rich and powerful, too. The world also says to seek justice (what is fair in their eyes) at all costs.
 

Proverbs 13 MicahGod says, “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8, NIV) Jesus, being God in human form, was the example of what pleases God in our walk, so by walking and talking like Jesus, with a sincere heart to please God, God is pleased.

 
1 Peter 2:21, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”
Proverbs 13 in His steps
What does it mean to walk humbly with God?
What does our proverb of the day mean to “walk with the wise”? Who are the wise?
 
Proverbs 13 teachable
We need to know God (synonymous with wisdom) and know that God’s justice will always triumph because of Jesus, our Deliverer. True justice and peace will prevail when Messiah reigns. The relationship between social ethics and spiritual integrity is underscored by Micah. He summarizes what God wants to find in his people. God wants His people to love Him and follow Him. True justice and equity tempered with mercy and compassion is the result of a humble and obedient relationship with Him.
 
No one can act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly and fail to please God. Before these conditions can be met, every person must seek peace with, and forgiveness from, God.
 
John Wesley’s comment on what God’s prophet says, “God has already told you in his word with what you ought to come before him. To be equal to all and oppress none in body, goods, or name. To be kind, merciful, and compassionate to all, not using severity towards any. Keep up a constant fellowship with God by humble, holy faith”.
 
Proverb 13 shows us what “holy, humble faith walking” looks like and teaches us that learning wisdom brings its own rewards, including honor and life itself. The mocker or arrogant person who refuses instruction solicits poverty and death. Words have power. The wise use them judiciously and gain by them. Misuse brings violence and ruin.
 
Proverb 13, The Message
Walk with the Wise
 
Proverbs 13 friendsIntelligent children listen to their parents;
foolish children do their own thing.
 
2 The good acquire a taste for helpful conversation;
bullies push and shove their way through life.
 
3 Careful words make for a careful life;
careless talk may ruin everything.
 
4 Indolence wants it all and gets nothing;
the energetic have something to show for their lives.
 
5 A good person hates false talk;
a bad person wallows in gibberish.
 
6 A God-loyal life keeps you on track;
sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.
 
Proverbs 13 wise7 A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
a plain and simple life is a full life.
 
8 The rich can be sued for everything they have,
but the poor are free of such threats.
 
9 The lives of good people are brightly lit streets;
the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.
 
10 Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord,
but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel.
 
11 Easy come, easy go,
but steady diligence pays off.
 
12 Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around.
 
13 Ignore the Word and suffer;
honor God’s commands and grow rich.
 
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!
 
Proverbs 13 light15 Sound thinking makes for gracious living,
but liars walk a rough road.
 
16 A commonsense person lives good sense;
fools litter the country with silliness.
 
17 Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,
but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.
 
18 Refuse discipline and end up homeless;
embrace correction and live an honored life.
 
19 Souls who follow their hearts thrive;
fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.
 
Proverbs 13 pleasing to God20 Become wise by walking with the wise;
hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.
 
21 Disaster entraps sinners,
but God-loyal people get a good life.
 
22 A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren;
ill-gotten wealth ends up with good people.
 
23 Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor,
or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.
 
24 A refusal to correct is a refusal to love;
love your children by disciplining them.
 
25 An appetite for good brings much satisfaction,
but the belly of the wicked always wants more.
 
Proverbs 13 walk with wiseHOLY PAUSE
Whether in the OT or NT, true religion before the Lord means a right relationship with the Lord and each other. Justice is the basis of all moral law and life. Mercy is God’s goodness to the redeemed, which must be shown to all his creatures. Humility is the “low, sweet root from which all heavenly virtues shoot,” and it must be the characteristic of every true believer in walking before God.
 
To walk with God is to seek Him first with a desire imitate His character of unconditional love, peace, eternal joy in all circumstances, long-suffering patience, gentleness, kindness…all the fruits of His Holy Spirit! (Galatians 5) We must attach ourselves to God, in the Name of Jesus, to acquire the developing gifts of His Holy Spirit that leads to a more humbled, holy walk with God.
 
Proverbs 13 wordSo how’s our walk? It depends on our relationship with God.
 
Who are we listening to for advice these days?
 
Who are we imitating?
 
Proverbs 13 humbleOur walk matters to God.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Jesus came to earth and did everything according to what He heard from You. You are God and we are not. Help us to hear your voice above all others. Help us to walk humbly with You in the lead and in control of every detail of our lives. Help us to know when we don’t know and ask for your wisdom for you are wisdom. Help us to follow you in all that is just with minds of mercy and grace and behave accordingly. Oh Lord, we need you every hour. The waters are stirred and getting deeper. We rely on your promise to lift our heads above the troubled waters. Thank you for being with us.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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LEARNERS OR LOONIES?

Posted on May 31, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 12 1Proverbs – Life Skills
 
Our passage today points out the extreme opposite characteristics of learners versus fools or “loonies”. We also learn the outcomes of both. What is a loonie or fool? The definition of a loonie is “someone deranged and possibly dangerous. crazy, nutcase, weirdo.
 
A learner is one who knows they never knows it all. As soon as a learner gets a grasp on some piece of knowledge they admit they have only begun to learn. A learner never ceases to learn for if they stop they know they have ceased to be a learner. A strong, true leader is a learner. A learner prays for wisdom, insight and understanding.
 
HOLY PAUSE
Which one do we follow and admire and want to imitate?
 
Which one are we?
 
What do we fall for in our quest to live skillfully? What do we need to avoid?
 
Proverbs 12 wiseProverbs 12, The Message
 
If You Love Learning
 
If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—how shortsighted to refuse correction!
 
2 A good person basks in the delight of God,
and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
 
3 You can’t find firm footing in a swamp,
but life rooted in God stands firm.
 
4 A hearty wife invigorates her husband,
but a frigid woman is cancer in the bones.
 
5 The thinking of principled people makes for justice;
the plots of degenerates corrupt.
 
6 The words of the wicked kill;
the speech of the upright saves.
 
7 Wicked people fall to pieces—there’s nothing to them;
the homes of good people hold together.
 
8 A person who talks sense is honored;
airheads are held in contempt.
 
9 Better to be ordinary and work for a living
than act important and starve in the process.
 
10 Good people are good to their animals;
the “good-hearted” bad people kick and abuse them.
 
11 The one who stays on the job has food on the table;
the witless chase whims and fancies.
 
12 What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin,
while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life.
 
Proverbs 12 15
Wise People Take Advice
13 The gossip of bad people gets them in trouble;
the conversation of good people keeps them out of it.
 
14 Well-spoken words bring satisfaction;
well-done work has its own reward.
 
15 Fools are headstrong and do what they like;
wise people take advice.
 
16 Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly;
the prudent quietly shrug off insults.
 
Proverbs 12 1817 Truthful witness by a good person clears the air,
but liars lay down a smoke screen of deceit.
 
18 Rash language cuts and maims,
but there is healing in the words of the wise.
 
19 Truth lasts;
lies are here today, gone tomorrow.
 
20 Evil scheming distorts the schemer;
peace-planning brings joy to the planner.
 
Proverbs 12 20
21 No evil can overwhelm a good person,
but the wicked have their hands full of it.
 
22 God can’t stomach liars;
he loves the company of those who keep their word.
 
23 Prudent people don’t flaunt their knowledge;
talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
 
Proverbs 12 2524 The diligent find freedom in their work;
the lazy are oppressed by work.
 
25 Worry weighs us down;
a cheerful word picks us up.
 
26 A good person survives misfortune,
but a wicked life invites disaster.
 
27 A lazy life is an empty life,
but “early to rise” gets the job done.
 
28 Good men and women travel right into life;
sin’s detours take you straight to hell.
 
Proverbs 8 Jesus is wisdomWHAT WE LEARN…
Like Paul writes, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”Philippians 3:12-14, NIV
 
Proverbs 12 learnersPaul was a learner. He became a true learner when he met Christ on the road to Damacus. Jesus told him what he didn’t know and led him to salvation. It was only then did the know-it-all religious leader become the humble learner who began a loving relationship with Jesus. It was then that Paul began to learn all that Jesus wanted to teach him. Paul passed on this knowledge of Christ to others who were taught to learn as well as to pass this learning on to others. (See also 2 Timothy 2:2)
 
We are thankful for Paul the Learner who taught others to be learners.
 
Proverbs 11 today
HOLY PAUSE
Again, we ask ourselves, are we a learner?
 
Do we think we know so much about God’s Word that we can stop reading and rely on our fading memories of what we think He said to us?
 
A learning stays in the Word, meditates over the Word, prays for wisdom from the Word, because the Word is God and God wants to speak to us through His Word. Daily.
 
Learner or Loonie?
One who ceases to learn is no longer a learner. The word disciple, translated from the original Greek, means “one who learns.”
 
Learning is wisdom. Wisdom is Jesus. Never stop learning.
 
Oh Lord,
We dance with the devil when we cease to learn more about what You want for our lives. We fall for anything evil dishes out by not chewing and meditating on your word that is food for our very souls. I have not attained all the knowledge and wisdom you have to give me. So I press on as I learn more about you. Thank you for consistently teaching me in your ways. Thank you for correcting me and pulling me back to you when I stray. Help me to stay focused on you and keep learning and growing in your ways.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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GOD’S VOICE

Posted on May 30, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 11 desigedProverbs – Life Skills
 
When I was led to read a proverb a day, I didn’t imagine how much these words would apply to today’s world situation. I had a clue from previously doing this exercise for learning God’s ways and what He thinks our behavior should be, but the depth and breadth of these words are clearly as relevant today, right now, the day after violence, the months after isolation from a virus, as it was in Solomon’s day as he spoke to his son.
 
The following is what God wants and what makes Him smile. Do we want to look up and see Him smiling as He looks into our hearts, minds and souls? Then here are some life skills that will do just that along with advice on pitfalls of thinking and behaving to avoid…like the plague.
 
Proverbs 11 powerProverbs 11, The Message
Without Good Direction, People Lose Their Way
 
God hates cheating in the marketplace;
he loves it when business is aboveboard.
 
2 The stuck-up fall flat on their faces,
but down-to-earth people stand firm.
 
3 The integrity of the honest keeps them on track;
the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
 
Proverbs 11 144 A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart,
but a principled life can stand up to the worst.
 
5 Moral character makes for smooth traveling;
an evil life is a hard life.
 
6 Good character is the best insurance;
crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.
 
7 When the wicked die, that’s it—
the story’s over, end of hope.
 
8 A good person is saved from much trouble;
a bad person runs straight into it.
 
9 The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction;
the common sense of the godly preserves them.
 
Proverbs 11 wisdom10 When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers;
when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.
 
11 When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes;
evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.
 
12 Mean-spirited slander is heartless;
quiet discretion accompanies good sense.
 
Proverbs 11 2713 A gadabout gossip can’t be trusted with a secret,
but someone of integrity won’t violate a confidence.
 
14 Without good direction, people lose their way;
the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.
 
15 Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned;
if you keep a cool head, you’ll avoid rash bargains.
 
16 A woman of gentle grace gets respect,
but men of rough violence grab for loot.
 
A God-Shaped Life
Proverbs 11 kind17 When you’re kind to others, you help yourself;
when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.
 
18 Bad work gets paid with a bad check;
good work gets solid pay.
 
19 Take your stand with God’s loyal community and live,
or chase after phantoms of evil and die.
 
Proverbs 11 treat people well20 God can’t stand deceivers,
but oh how he relishes integrity.
 
21 Count on this: The wicked won’t get off scot-free,
and God’s loyal people will triumph.
 
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful face on an empty head.
 
23 The desires of good people lead straight to the best,
but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.
 
Proverbs 11 2224 The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
 
25 The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
those who help others are helped.
 
26 Curses on those who drive a hard bargain!
Blessings on all who play fair and square!
 
27 The one who seeks good finds delight;
the student of evil becomes evil.
 
Proverbs 11 Gods voice28 A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump;
a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
 
29 Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air;
common sense tells you it’s a stupid way to live.
 
30 A good life is a fruit-bearing tree;
a violent life destroys souls.
 
31 If good people barely make it,
what’s in store for the bad!
 
Proverbs 11 check listHOLY PAUSE
 
What characteristics of God do we see in this proverb?
 
What characteristics would you like for God to develop in you?
 
What does God hate?
 
What does God want?
 
Proverbs 11 differencesWhat happens when we follow God’s voice? What happens when we don’t?
 
We need God in all the details of this life. He is not just a compartment of our lives we visit. He IS life! We seek a relationship with God that is intimate, knowing and growing more in love with Him each day. When we know God we know how to live.
 
Proverbs 11 talk to God
The more we love Him, the more we want to talk with Him. Begin today to speak to God through conversations throughout the day just as you would to your best friend. Prayer is simply conversation with God. It’s not flowery, prepared speeches.
 
Proverbs 11 take timeMeditate on God’s Word. Read it, chew on it, ask God what His words mean for you. Meditation lets God speak to us!
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are God and we are not. We do not want to be You. We only want to hone and develop your character so we can obey your ways wisely. Help us to know You more. Help us to know your ways. We cannot do life without you. Help us to hear your voice above all others. Give us wisdom. Help us to obey quickly in ways that bring you glory and honor…and make you smile…even in the details of this life. Thank you for saving my soul. Help us to love like you love. Heal us. Heal our land.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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SMART OR STUPID?

Posted on May 29, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs – Life Skills
 
Proverbs 10 17
Our proverb of the day, once again, presents mankind with two choices. One choice leads to wisdom, living life skillfully, with great outcomes. The other choice leads to a harder life, greater consequences to navigate, along with hurting those around us who love us and can’t bear to watch us aggressively march to death. One choice is honesty which leads to life. The other choice is immorality which leads to continual pain and hurt, fear and guilt. Yes, one choice is smart and one choice is, well…stupid.
 
Proverbs 10, The Message
An Honest Life Is Immortal
 
Proverbs 10 lies lead to deathWise son, glad father;
stupid son, sad mother.
 
2 Ill-gotten gain gets you nowhere;
an honest life is immortal.
 
3 God won’t starve an honest soul,
but he frustrates the appetites of the wicked.
 
Proverbs 10 Jesus quote
4 Sloth makes you poor;
diligence brings wealth.
 
5 Make hay while the sun shines—that’s smart;
go fishing during harvest—that’s stupid.
 
6 Blessings accrue on a good and honest life,
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
 
Proverbs 10 free7 A good and honest life is a blessed memorial;
a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.
 
8 A wise heart takes orders;
an empty head will come unglued.
 
9 Honesty lives confident and carefree,
but Shifty is sure to be exposed.
 
10 An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead,
but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.
 
Proverbs 10 beat11 The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well,
but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.
 
12 Hatred starts fights,
but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.
 
13 You’ll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight,
but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.
 
14 The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure;
know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.
 
Proverbs 10 sometimesThe Road to Life Is a Disciplined Life
15 The wealth of the rich is their bastion;
the poverty of the indigent is their ruin.
 
16 The wage of a good person is exuberant life;
an evil person ends up with nothing but sin.
 
17 The road to life is a disciplined life;
ignore correction and you’re lost for good.
 
18 Liars secretly hoard hatred;
fools openly spread slander.
 
Proverbs 10 1919 The more talk, the less truth;
the wise measure their words.
 
20 The speech of a good person is worth waiting for;
the blabber of the wicked is worthless.
 
21 The talk of a good person is rich fare for many,
but chatterboxes die of an empty heart.
 
Proverbs 10 22Fear-of-God Expands Your Life
22 God’s blessing makes life rich;
nothing we do can improve on God.
 
23 An empty-head thinks mischief is fun,
but a mindful person relishes wisdom.
 
24 The nightmares of the wicked come true;
what the good people desire, they get.
 
Proverbs 10 stand firm
25 When the storm is over, there’s nothing left of the wicked;
good people, firm on their rock foundation, aren’t even fazed.
 
26 A lazy employee will give you nothing but trouble;
it’s vinegar in the mouth, smoke in the eyes.
 
Proverbs 10 King quote
27 The Fear-of-God expands your life;
a wicked life is a puny life.
 
28 The aspirations of good people end in celebration;
the ambitions of bad people crash.
 
Proverbs 10 Gump29 God is solid backing to a well-lived life,
but he calls into question a shabby performance.
 
30 Good people last—they can’t be moved;
the wicked are here today, gone tomorrow.
 
31 A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom;
a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp.
 
32 The speech of a good person clears the air;
the words of the wicked pollute it.
 
HOLY PAUSE
Proverbs 10 a good lifeWith all the outcomes of both choices presented clearly, which choice are we following. We need to daily evaluate where we are and who we are following.
 
Who is leading you?
 
What are the outcomes of your current choices?
 
Accepting who Jesus is, believing that He saved us from our own sin, knowing that He rose again to defeat death, do we live like we say we believe?
 
If our choice is Jesus, do we really believe that what we believe is really real?
 
Right now, is my life reflecting what I say I believe?
 
Am I living smart or being stupid?
 
Proverbs 10 SmartGET SMART!
 
Remember the old comedy spy series, “GET SMART”? It was good enough to remake this series I enjoyed as a young adult into a movie later for the next generation. The follies of Maxwell Smart portrayed a series of slapstick humor to make Smart look stupid. Proverbs 10 new SmartBut in the end, Smart got the girl and solved the case, putting the enemy where he belonged…in jail forever.
 
Let’s ask ourselves again…Even if the world thinks we are stupid and foolish, are we living smart by God’s standards by relying on His Holy Spirit to guide us, or living as the world does? Do we stupidly rely on our own selfish desires lead us with others…to death?
 
Proverbs 10 the roadChoose wisely. Live skillfully. The result, according to Jesus is life and more life. This is what is called “abundant, expectant living”! This is love unending, joy unspeakable and full of God’s glory with the precious gift of peace that only Jesus can give. Smart or stupid?
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for caring enough to confront us daily with the wisdom of our choices and pursuits. Thank you Jesus for being our WAY out of troubles, the Truth of saving grace, so that we could have LIFE to the full. Thank you for your holy Presence in our lives, always leading us to what is better than what we think or imagine. Continue to discipline my life with your wise teaching. Then help me to obey quickly by your power and strength.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
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REAL LIFE AND DEATH

Posted on May 28, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs – Life Skills
 
Proverbs 8 Jesus is wisdomWhen we have Jesus on our minds, in our hearts, with His Holy Spirit filling our souls we realize that the entire inspired work of God’s Word is about Jesus. For the beginning to the end, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega! John clearly reveals Jesus to us when he writes with God-driven inspiration as a personal eye witness;
 
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5, NIV
 
Proverbs 9 blessingWe must read every word of our Bibles, God’s word to us as a love letter, knowing that it is about the God “who so loves”, Who sent Jesus, His Son to save us, and Who wants a relationship that gives us real life forever.
 
But God wants our love only if we decide to receive His gift of life. We get to choose. These are the two choices expressed in this proverb. Read and then choose. Choose wisely.
Proverbs 9, The Message
Lady Wisdom Gives a Dinner Party
Proverbs 9 11
1-6 Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home;
it’s supported by seven hewn timbers.
The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted,
wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
Having dismissed her serving maids,
Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place,
and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
Proverbs 9 fork in the road
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread,
roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confusion and live!
Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”
 
Proverbs 8, wrong7-12 If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you’ll get slapped in the face;
confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
So don’t waste your time on a scoffer;
all you’ll get for your pains is abuse.
But if you correct those who care about life,
that’s different—they’ll love you for it!
Save your breath for the wise—they’ll be wiser for it;
tell good people what you know—they’ll profit from it.
Proverbs 9 8
Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,
insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
Proverbs 9 foolishIt’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens,
and the years of your life ripen.
Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life;
mock life and life will mock you.
 
Proverbs 9 sharksMadame Whore Calls Out, Too
13-18 Then there’s this other woman, Madame Whore—
brazen, empty-headed, frivolous.
She sits on the front porch
of her house on Main Street,
And as people walk by minding
their own business, calls out,
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Steal off with me, I’ll show you a good time!
No one will ever know—I’ll give you the time of your life.”
But they don’t know about all the skeletons in her closet,
that all her guests end up in hell.
 
Proverbs 9 choose wellLife forever or Hell? Who do we choose to spend eternity? Who do we give our hearts, minds and souls to now?
 
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10, NIV
 
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6, NLT
 
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8, NIV
 
Proverbs 9 life abundant“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3, NIV
 
David knew God. The father of Solomon taught his son well about the choices before him. We see this teaching about God in this famous, well read psalm;
 
Proverbs 9 TruthPsalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
 
Proverbs 8 fear of the LordYou prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
 
Two choices. It seems obvious, but choices are muddled in the daily bombardment of this world’s conflicting messages. Pray that God’s voice will be heard each day above all other voices.
 
Choose this day whom you will serve. Choose Life.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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THE WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE IS WISDOM FOUND

Posted on May 27, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 8 listenProverbs – Life Skills
 
Jesus was with God at the beginning. This prophetic proverb that describes wisdom and insight is really talking about Jesus. God is wisdom. Jesus is part of God. Jesus is wisdom. Jesus not only saved us by paying our debt of sin, but he taught mankind how to live skillfully and well (wisdom) for the three years he ministered to mankind on earth.
 
This proverb of Solomon’s was written centuries before Jesus came to earth to “seek and to save” the lost. Keep that in mind as we read the attributes of wisdom, the very nature and character of God.
 
Proverbs 8, The Message
Lady Wisdom Calls Out
 
Proverbs 8 81-11 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling?
Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?
She’s taken her stand at First and Main,
at the busiest intersection.
Right in the city square
where the traffic is thickest, she shouts,
“You—I’m talking to all of you,
everyone out here on the streets!
Listen, you idiots—learn good sense!
You blockheads—shape up!
Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well,
Proverbs 8 ChristI’m telling you how to live at your best.
My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth—
I can’t stand the taste of evil!
You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth;
not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.
You’ll recognize this as true—you with open minds;
truth-ready minds will see it at once.
Proverbs 8 pricelessPrefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money,
and God-knowledge over a lucrative career.
For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
Proverbs 8 truth
12-21 “I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity;
Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street.
The Fear-of-God means hating Evil,
whose ways I hate with a passion—
pride and arrogance and crooked talk.
Proverbs 8 heartGood counsel and common sense are my characteristics;
I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out.
With my help, leaders rule,
and lawmakers legislate fairly;
With my help, governors govern,
along with all in legitimate authority.
I love those who love me;
those who look for me find me.
Wealth and Glory accompany me—
also substantial Honor and a Good Name.
My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary;
the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus.
You can find me on Righteous Road—that’s where I walk—
at the intersection of Justice Avenue,
Handing out life to those who love me,
filling their arms with life—armloads of life!
 
Proverbs 8 wisdom22-31 “God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—
before he did anything else.
I was brought into being a long time ago,
well before Earth got its start.
I arrived on the scene before Ocean,
yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes.
Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape,
I was already there, newborn;
Long before God stretched out Earth’s Horizons,
and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather,
And set Sky firmly in place,
I was there.
When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean,
built the vast vault of Heaven,
and installed the fountains that fed Ocean,
When he drew a boundary for Sea,
posted a sign that said no trespassing,
And then staked out Earth’s Foundations,
Proverbs 8 rejoiceI was right there with him, making sure everything fit.
Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause,
always enjoying his company,
Delighted with the world of things and creatures,
happily celebrating the human family.
 
Proverbs 8 2732-36 “So, my dear friends, listen carefully;
those who embrace these my ways are most blessed.
Mark a life of discipline and live wisely;
don’t squander your precious life.
Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me,
awake and ready for me each morning,
alert and responsive as I start my day’s work.
When you find me, you find life, real life,
to say nothing of God’s good pleasure.
But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul;
when you reject me, you’re flirting with death.”
 
Proverbs 8 Jesus is wisdomSOUNDS LIKE JESUS? See if you can find scriptures that correlate to the following quotes from today’s passage. I gave you some help.
 
“Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well,
I’m telling you how to live at your best.”
 
Proverbs 8 love
“I love those who love me;
those who look for me find me.”
 
(Seek and you will find me…)
 
“You can find me on Righteous Road—that’s where I walk—
at the intersection of Justice Avenue,
Handing out life to those who love me,
filling their arms with life—armloads of life!”
 
(I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life.–Jesus)
 
“those who embrace these my ways are most blessed.”
 
(See the Beatitudes…Blessed are…)
“When you find me, you find life, real life,
to say nothing of God’s good pleasure.”
 
Proverbs 8 wayWhen we find and follow Jesus, we find wisdom, we find life!
 
Dear Lord,
Thank you for life to the full just in believing and knowing you. Thank you for your wisdom that guides us to more life with gracious living. Thank you for peace because of you living in us. Thank you for dying to save us and living to justify us for life. You are God. You are wisdom. We are not…without You. Continue to teach us and warn us of evil as we draw closer each day in an intimate, mutual loving relationship with you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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SO JAKE, WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

Posted on May 26, 2020 by randscallawayffm
Proverbs 7 Jake
Proverbs – Life Skills
 
We all know the famous line from the commercial well, “So Jake from State Farm, what are you wearing?” This attack from a jealous wife at 3am is unwarranted as her husband is trying to make a deal with the insurance company. But one wonders, like the wife, why at 3am? At least, that was my first thought. So what was innocent looked entirely like something else. As women we all feel that the wife was right to guard what was sacred and to investigate what might be an attack on her marriage.
 
Proverbs 7 consumesMarriages come under attack daily, almost hourly! It is up to us to guard our hearts, minds and souls as we protect the sanctity of our vows made in front of God to each other. It is so easy to be swept away into the temptations of this world. Remember, the enemy (the Temptress) as presented in this proverb is always “dressed to kill” with a goal to destroy all relationships that are good in the eyes of God. God is the enemy of The Temptress. He wants all that God deems pure and holy destroyed.
 
Single people are greatly tempted with no one to hold them in check unless they have Christian friends to hold them accountable. (Highly recommended.)
 
Proverbs 7 Lady Wisdom
HOLY PAUSE
Evil stands at the corner of life and death. Which way will you go? Who is attracting you most at this moment in life? Who do you talk about most? Who do you love above all?
 
Finally, what are we wearing? Do we seduce others to evil or are we clothed in a manner that leads others to Jesus?
 
“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:13-14, NIV
 
“And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes,” Galatians 3:27.
 
Proverbs 7 dressed to seduceProverbs 7, The Message
Dressed to Seduce
1-5 Dear friend, do what I tell you;
treasure my careful instructions.
Do what I say and you’ll live well.
My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it!
Write it out on the back of your hands;
etch it on the chambers of your heart.
Talk to Wisdom as to a sister.
Treat Insight as your companion.
They’ll be with you to fend off the Temptress—
that smooth-talking, honey-tongued Seductress.
Proverbs 7 aimless
6-12 As I stood at the window of my house
looking out through the shutters,
Watching the mindless crowd stroll by,
I spotted a young man without any sense
Arriving at the corner of the street where she lived,
then turning up the path to her house.
It was dusk, the evening coming on,
the darkness thickening into night.
Just then, a woman met him—
she’d been lying in wait for him, dressed to seduce him.
Brazen and brash she was,
restless and roaming, never at home,
Walking the streets, loitering in the mall,
hanging out at every corner in town.
 
Proverbs 7 temptress13-20 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
boldly took his arm and said,
“I’ve got all the makings for a feast—
today I made my offerings, my vows are all paid,
So now I’ve come to find you,
hoping to catch sight of your face—and here you are!
I’ve spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed,
colorful imported linens.
My bed is aromatic with spices
and exotic fragrances.
Come, let’s make love all night,
spend the night in ecstatic lovemaking!
My husband’s not home; he’s away on business,
and he won’t be back for a month.”
 
Proverbs 7 women
21-23 Soon she has him eating out of her hand,
bewitched by her honeyed speech.
Before you know it, he’s trotting behind her,
like a calf led to the butcher shop,
Like a stag lured into ambush
and then shot with an arrow,
Like a bird flying into a net
not knowing that its flying life is over.
 
Proverbs 7 sister24-27 So, friends, listen to me,
take these words of mine most seriously.
Don’t fool around with a woman like that;
don’t even stroll through her neighborhood.
Countless victims come under her spell;
she’s the death of many a poor man.
She runs a halfway house to hell,
fits you out with a shroud and a coffin.
 
EPILOGUE
 
Proverbs 7 romansDon’t be fooled by others who wear masks of hypocrisy and try to lure you into sin with them. Don’t be the one who lures others into sins you enjoy just so you have validation. Here is a final story that helps us to understand what it means to “put on”Jesus as Paul tells along with “clothe” ourselves with Christ.
 
Fredrick Beuchner helps us gain some insight from a story he tells called “The Happy Hypocrite.” It’s a story about a man who was born with an awful facial deformity.
 
He grew up alone and lonely. When reaching adulthood, he decided to move from his town to begin a new life. On his way he discovered a beautiful mask that fit, making him look handsome. At first the mask was uncomfortable and he was afraid that people would find out who he really was, but he continued to wear the mask everyday.
 
In his new hometown, he made many friends and fell in love. But one day a wicked woman from his old home came to his town and discovered this man’s true identity. In front of his friends and fiancé, she forced him to remove his mask. When he removed the mask, it revealed a handsome face. His face had conformed to the mask.
 
Proverbs 7 wordBecoming like Christ is analogous to this. Go ahead and put on Christ. At first it may feel unnatural or uncomfortable, and maybe you may think, “Who am I trying to fool?” But everyday just keep putting on Christ and everyday you will grow to look more like him.
 
Every day we are to “put on” Christ, and when we do, the Holy Spirit works at transforming us to be more and more like Jesus:
 
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him,” Colossians 3:10.
 
Have you clothed yourself with Christ?
 
Proverbs 7 two choicesSo Paul, what are you wearing? He tells us in God’s Word…even at 3am!
 
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
 
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:14-17, NLT
 
Dear Lord and Savior,
Help us by the power of your Holy Spirit in us to clothe ourselves, from the inside out, with all of you in us. Guide our every thought that precedes actions of behavior. Make us holy. Help us to live holy lives for your glory. May we be real authentic representatives of you, dear Jesus. Help us to avoid The Tempter at all costs. Deliver us from evil. Thank you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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