Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 22:17-24:34

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6

I continue with my study of Proverbs, and today I to week 8 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 22:17-24:34.  After an initial reading of Proverbs 22:17-29 yesterday, this morning I read Proverbs 23 and I dug into the first two questions for this week - one which looks at how wisdom deepens trust in the Lord (Proverbs 22:19), and the other looks at how we can discern Godly friendship. For the latter, my study refers me to Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 19:4,6; 22:11,24-25; 27:6,9,17. Proverbs 27:6 pricks my heart this morning as it took several readings and commentary to more fully understand. Friendly wounds sharpen me - God puts such people in my life to mold me into more of His image.  We should not only seek out such people, but we should keep them close so that they can sharpen us (and hopefully we can sharpen them) in our journey.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I am grateful for how You sanctify and mold me into Your image - it is often painful but I am grateful for this molding process.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You love me in such a way.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

Proverbs 22:17-24

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. Proverbs 22:17-18

I continue with my study of Proverbs, and today I to week 8 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 22:17-24.  This morning my focus is on 22:17-21 where there are explicit expectations regarding our knowledge of the Word and God's wisdom (which has been the main focus of Proverbs - see Proverbs 1:7). We are not only to pursue God's wisdom, but we are also to apply this wisdom so that they are ready on our lips, and so that we "know what is right and true, that we may give a true answer to those who sent [us]" (Proverbs 22:21).  This is a recipe for us to demonstrate "fruits of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23) and for us to be a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). 

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - Jesus - You are an awesome God and You provide for all of my needs, physical, emotional, and spiritual.  Thank You Jesus for everything...thank You for Your Word and Your Wisdom.  It feeds, it sustains, it sanctifies, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began[.]

2 Timothy 1

[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began[.] 2 Timothy 1:9

I pause on both my studies of Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which today focuses on six blessings that are imparted to believers as they are "in Christ." John Piper lays out these six blessings and describes them as a stupendous reality to be united to Jesus Christ:

1. In Christ Jesus, we were given grace before the world was created - 2 Timothy 1:9
2. In Christ Jesus, you were chosen by God before creation - Ephesians 1:4
   
3. In Christ Jesus, you are loved by God with an inseparable love - Romans 8:38-39
   
4. In Christ Jesus, you were redeemed and forgiven for all of your sins - Ephesians 1:7
   
5. In Christ Jesus, you are justified before God and the righteousness of God in Christ is imputed to you - 2 Corinthians 5:21
   
6. In Christ Jesus, you have become an new creation and a son of God - 2 Corinthians 5:17    

In particular, this morning, I am drawn to Romans 8:38-39, and how being united in Jesus Christ gives me His love and that I am loved by Him with an inseparable love:

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I am immensely grateful for how I am in Christ, bound to You, and united to You - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of any of these blessings described this morning - that are all true!  My sin is great - doubt, fear, etc. - and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

Psalm 25

For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Psalm 25:11

I pause on both my studies of Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which today focuses on how Jesus allows us to pray David's prayer from Psalm 25:11 with new confidence. John Piper starts the devotion by describing God's "righteousness...[and]...the infinite zeal and joy and pleasure that he has in what is supremely valuable, namely, his own perfection and worth. And if he were ever to act contrary to this eternal passion for his own perfections, he would be unrighteous — he would be an idolater." He then asks what all of us as believers should frequently ponder: "How shall such a righteous God ever set his affection on sinners like us who have scorned his perfections? But the wonder of the gospel is that in his divine righteousness lies also the very foundation of our salvation. The infinite regard that the Father has for the Son makes it possible for me, a wicked sinner, to be loved and accepted in the Son, because in his death he vindicated the worth and glory of his Father."  Piper then wraps the devotion by summarizing: "God is righteous. He does not sweep sin under the rug. If a sinner goes free, someone dies to vindicate the infinite worth of God’s glory that the sinner defamed. That is what Christ did."  Amen...of course!

In between the lines, for us to more fully appreciate what God did for us, we must also acknowledge that we all sin, and we all need a Savior - Jesus Christ is that Savior.  From time to time, it is important that we reflect on this and God's amazing grace for us.  It is also important for us to be confident and assured that God forgives:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace, compassion, and love me.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I know that I am undeserving - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

1 Corinthians 15

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 1 Corinthians 15:24-25

I pause on both my studies of Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which today focuses on the extent to which God reigns, including a discussion of boundaries or limits, and a discussion of timing.  This devotion of course draws on John Piper's extensive thinking and writing on God's reign, particularly his book Providence. The reason Piper addresses these questions is to provide encouragement for believers in the daily battle against temptation and sin - Piper writes: "[t]here is no disease, no addiction, no demon, no bad habit, no fault, no vice, no weakness, no temper, no moodiness, no pride, no self-pity, no strife, no jealousy, no perversion, no greed, no laziness that Christ will not overcome as the enemy of his honor. And the encouragement in that promise is that when you set yourself to do battle with the enemies of your faith and your holiness, you will not fight alone."  Bottom line: God's reign of course does not start at the end - it is has been, is, and will be forever and ever.  Piper writes: "Jesus Christ is now, in this age, putting all his enemies under his feet."  Believers should be encouraged not just that God reigns, but also because we are never alone.  We have the Holy Spirit, God's Word, the church, our brothers and sisters in Christ, etc. 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Ephesians 6:10-18

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are more powerful than any force of darkness that exists - thank You for giving me the strength of Your might to defeat sin and darkness and my life.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and I often fall down in my faith.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Proverbs 17-22:16

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. Proverbs 17:3

I continue with my study of Proverbs, and today I wrap my review of 17-22:16, week 7 from my study workbook, and as indicated yesterday, my focus for today is judgement. The study emphasizes that "God alone knows the heart of individuals, pointing to Jeremiah 17:10. Proverbs 17:3 portrays the "refiner's fire" and how God tests us and molds, and by removing impurities - often using trials and adversity as part of the process. It is through this sanctification process where God is molding us into more of His image - of course for His glory. My study states that "[w]hen God's people undergo such testing, it should be understood as God's fatherly discipline: trials work to purify the hearts of believers, conforming them to the image Christ." For additional references and to support this theme, we are pointed to Malachi 3:2 and Hebrews 12:7-11.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I see how Your hand in my life works, including through the refiners fire with trials and challenges.  While it may be painful - it is for my good and Your glory.  I also know that You never leave or forsake me and You never stop loving me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Proverbs 17-22:16

House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. Proverbs 19:14

As I continue with my study of Proverbs, remaining in chapters 17-22:16, I continue with a review of these chapters (week 7) from my study workbook by focus on the themes as depicted in my workbook, moving on to the themes of marriage, the poor, judgement, and wrath (God's vs those of an earthly king).  For today, my focus will be marriage, and tomorrow it will be judgement. On marriage, without a doubt I recognize that my wife Lisa is a gift from God and how God predestined our marital relationship. My study points out how a Christian marriage is to serve "as a reflection of the covenant relationship between God and His people....Israel [in the OT] is frequently depicted as God's 'bride' (see Isaiah 62:4, Jeremiah 2:2, and Hosea 2:16-20)...[as does the NT with one example from John 3:29)] which identifies Jesus as Israel's long-awaited King and Messiah."  The study also points to Ephesians 5:22-23 as "the fullest picture of human marriage as a picture of the union of Christ and believers." I am grateful for how Lisa faithful devotion of a loving wife, even during those times when I have not been a Godly husband.  She has sharpened me, been patient with me, and undoubtedly a gift in the sense that I am not deserving but nonetheless grateful.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You provide Jesus as my wife and I am grateful for this gift!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues - I should be more patient and more of a reflection of Jesus to Lisa.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Proverbs 17-22:16

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? Proverbs 20:6

As I continue with my study of Proverbs, remaining in chapters 17-22:16, I begin a review of these chapters (week 7) from my study workbook by focus on the themes as depicted in my workbook, starting with refuge, faithfulness, joy, and abomination.  In particular, as I reflect on Zach's first day back in school, I seek to pass on encouragement from scripture that might help him lean into Christ for support.  The temptations in the world are real and lead only to destruction and damnation if they get in the way of belief and faith in God.   One of these temptations can be found in trust in others above God as we are tempted to think that social acceptance from others is key to our identity.  This is certainly plaguing our young people and I suspect Zach as well. We should recognize this and my study workbook points out that "[p]eople's pretenses of virtue are often false, and even when virtue is proven, it falls fall short of God's standard, which is perfection....Only Christ satisfies our quest for someone to trust utterly (Hebrews 3:6)."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are faithful perfectly and I can count on You!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your faithfulness.  My sin is is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[W]hen he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

2 Thessalonians 1

[W]hen he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:10

I pause on both my studies of Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which today focuses on how we can reconcile how followers of Christ are commanded to seek humility (and glory of Christ), yet Christ Himself seeks glory for Himself.  This at first glance seems to be a contradictory pursuit by God - He commands others to pursue humility (not to exalt self) while He seeks to exalt Himself.  In the devotion, John Piper uses 1 Corinthians 13:5 as text where others might see this as a contradictory pursuit.  Piper refutes that this is a contradictory pursuit by God by first stating that "[b]ecause God is unique as an all-glorious, totally self-sufficient Being, he must be for himself if he is to be for us. The rules of humility that belong to a creature cannot apply in the same way to its Creator."  He then goes on to state that "[i]f God should turn away from himself as the Source of infinite joy, he would cease to be God. He would deny the infinite worth of his own glory. He would imply that there is something more valuable outside himself. He would commit idolatry....This would be no gain for us." We should of course seek humility, as this is one of the most prominent themes and commands in the Bible, and recognize that we exist to glorify God...and not stumble on how God seeks glory for Himself.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is full of love, compassion, grace, etc. for me and You are worthy of my efforts to glorify You.  You are my all in all - thank You Jesus for all that You are and for all that You have done and will continue to do for me to save me and to never leave or forsake me!  I am not deserving of these blessings nor any of the blessings You pour for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

Proverbs 19

Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. Proverbs 19:2

As I continue my study of Proverbs, I move on to week 7 of my study workbook, which looks at Proverbs 17-22:16.  For today, my focus is how God directs our steps and guides us in our daily lives.  Through planning, prayer, a close relationship with the Lord, we can avoid impulsive actions and decisions that take us away from Him and also cause us and others harm.  My study encourages me to meditate on Psalm 73:25, Proverbs 8:11, 10:24, 18:1, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Philippians 1:23, 1 Timothy 6:9, James 1:14-15, 4:1-4, and 1 John 2:16-17.  Thank You Jesus for guiding me and keeping me on Your path!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is a lamp for my feet, You guide me, help me stay on the path and You pick me up when I stumble – thank You Jesus.  I am undeserving of the love and blessings You pour out for me. My sin continues and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

As I continue my study of Proverbs, I move on to week 7 of my study workbook, which looks at Proverbs 17-22:16.  For today, my focus is how God desires for us to befriend and trust in Him above other people.  The study today reminds me via Jeremiah 17:5, John 15:14-15, and James 2:22-23, how we are to be a friend of God by believing in Him, having faith, and by doing what He asks.  In Him, we have a friend that will never leave or forsake us, and He is faithful unlike any other.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who will never leave or forsake me and You are faithful unlike no other – thank You Jesus.  I am undeserving of the love and blessings You pour out for me. My sin continues and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 17

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.  Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. Proverbs 17:27-28

As I continue my study of Proverbs, I move on to week 7 of my study workbook, which looks at Proverbs 17-22:16.  For today, my focus is restrained speech – of course an act of humility.  My struggles with arrogance and pride have led me to speak without listening, and as a means to bring glory to myself.  My speech of course should bring glory to God by offering encouragement and love in my relationships – including in both my personal and work life – and by leveraging my God given gifts (spiritual gifts) at work (again to bring glory to God).  God, please help me with restrained speech!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has blessed me by helping me with my speech – thank You Jesus.  Yet I know I am not done in this department as my sin with speech continues – please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 10-16

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

As I continue with my study of Proverbs, I wrap an examination of chapters 10-16, reviewing the key themes of week 6 from my study workbook:

• Desire fulfilled: Proverbs 10:24 - for those who search for righteousness and wisdom, they will find its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, and there is no comparison with other pursuits that falsely claim such fulfilment
• Atonement: Proverbs 16:6 - God demonstrating two core attributes of Himself through Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross provides atonement for our sins - an expression of God's steadfast love and faithfulness towards believers
• Deliverance: Proverbs 11:8 - the faithful do not escape trouble and difficulties in this life, but we do in Heaven and in this life we have a God - Jesus Christ - that never leaves or forsakes and through Him we can depend on Him to help us persevere and endure
• Childbearing: Proverbs 10:13, 17:10, 22:15, 23:13-24, 29:15 - believing parents are mandated to raise up children in the ways of the Lord
• Watching our tongues: Proverbs 20:31 - believers are to watch what they say as this reflects what is in our heart
• Pride: Proverbs 15:25a - we are to exalt God vs ourselves
• Omniscience: Proverbs 15:3, 5:21, 22:12 - God sees all of what we do and at Judgement Day we are repaid for what we have done; God also watches over us as a form of love and protection
• Divine providence: Proverbs 16:1, 9 - God is in control of all details in our lives, including the extent to which our plans come to fruition or not; we of course are not absolved of responsibility - yet an understanding of our responsibility vs God's providence remains a mystery
• Kingship: Proverbs 16:12 - God places authority over us (i.e. Kings, managers, elected officials, etc.) but these elected officials are to work at God's direction; Christ is the ultimate King and believers are His ambassadors 
  

For week 6, our memory verse is Proverbs 15:1, which focuses on the folly of harsh words and how it stirs up anger.  For me this strikes a chord as I often must manage my tongue to avoid harsh words.

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are a great God who watches over me and protects me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[We] take every thought captive to obey Christ[.]

Proverbs 10-16

[We] take every thought captive to obey Christ[.] 2 Corinthians 10:5b

As I continue with my study of Proverbs, remaining in chapters 10-16, the next five questions for this week (week 6) from my study workbook focus on God's providence over poverty (injustice, sloth, punishment, mystery - see also Proverbs 13:23, 6:9-11, 28:19, 10:2-3, 13:25, and 22:2), how God works in our mind with sanctification (see also Proverbs 14:15-16, Romans 12:2, and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Hebrews 4:12), how we should be slow to anger (see also Proverbs 14:17, 29, 15:18, 16:32, and 19:11), how God's providential rule should be seen as comforting (vs frustrating) (see also Proverbs 16:1, 3, and 33), and how the New Testament more fully describes wisdom vs what we see in Proverbs (see also Proverbs 10:11, 13:14, 14:27, 16:22, and John 4:1-14, 7:37-39).  I worry quite a bit about Zach and Dustin so the examination today how God's providential rule should be seen as comforting DOES give me comfort - thank You Jesus!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who reigns over all details of my life - I see the good in Your reign.  Thank You Jesus for how You reign and for the sanctification process and renewing of my mind that allows me to see You at work.  I am not deserving of this or any other blessing You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Proverbs 10-16

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4

Today, I return to my study of Proverbs - moving to chapters 10-16.  Here, the first four questions for this week (week 6) from my study workbook focus on the relationship between wisdom and wealth (see Proverbs 10:1-5 and 11:28), lying and hatred (see Proverbs 10:18 and 26:28), the pitfalls of the pursuit of individual or corporate autonomy (from the Lord) (see Proverbs 12:15), and how our diligence in work (using our God-given skills/gifts) supports the work of the gospel (see Proverbs 13:4). In particular, I am working hard to ensure my 19-year old son Zach understands this last one...

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the gifts You give me, including my ability to work - what a blessing.  It is my prayer and hope that I use these to forward the gospel by supporting my church and global/local ministries that take the Word into the world as You command it in the Great Commission.  I know I can do better by being a better worker and a better steward of what You give me to use for Your glory.  Thank You for the blessings but I am not deserving - my sin continues.  Please forgive me for my daily sin and for missing out on those opportunities to be who You intend for me.  Help me turn from my sin and overcome and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice....Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

 Psalm 51

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice....Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:8, 12

As this is the last day of my vacation, a pause of my studies of both Isaiah and Proverbs ends today as after today I will resume one or the other - for today, I listened to DesiringGod.com's daily devotion, which focuses on sexual sin and how David sought not to address the symptoms of this sin (in his case adultery) but the root of this sin.  John Piper describes David's heart condition as a lack of "fullness of joy and gladness in Christ...God does not have the supreme place in [his] feelings and thoughts that he should." The antidote for this is closeness to God - in terms of spiritual disciplines of study of God's Word, prayer, worship, etc. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who never leaves or forsakes me - thank You Jesus.  You are my all in all!  I am not deserving of such a God...my sin is daily and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.]

 2 Samuel 12

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.]  1 Peter 3:18a

As my vacation continues for another two days, I pause from my study of both Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's daily devotion, which focuses on the gifts of the gospel, primarily unity with God as sin separates us from Him but Christ's death on the cross reconciles us to Him. In this devotion, John Piper outlines not just this gift but other gifts of the gospel that are made possible via this reconciliation:

• We are forgiven so that our guilt does not keep us away from God.
• We are justified so that our condemnation does not keep us away from God.
• God is propitiated so that his wrath doesn’t stand between us and God as our Father.
• We are given eternal life now, with new bodies in the resurrection, so that we have the capacities for being with God forever and enjoying God to the fullest.

God Himself and our ability to be with Him anytime and forever are the greatest gifts of all time - full stop. Thank You Jesus!

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My Prayer: Jesus, thank You for willingly laying down Your life so that I could be forgiven, justified, reconciled to You, and in so doing, given fullness of life now and forever!  Amazing!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving!  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

 2 Samuel 12

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” 2 Samuel 12:13-14

As my vacation continues for another few days, I pause from my study of both Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's daily devotion, which focuses on how God took David's sins away (adultery, lying, murder, etc. - see 2 Samuel 11-12) and later God gave up His Son Jesus Christ as propitiation for the sins not just of David but for all of humanity.  The devotion outlines the struggle many have with forgiveness for grave sins like David.  Yet this is the point of course that we all sin and need a Savior and Jesus went to the cross to take the wrath of God upon Himself so that we - as believers - are forgiven and given eternal life.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died on the cross so that I would be forgiven and have life - to the full now and for eternity.  This is the greatest gift of all time - thank You Jesus!  I am of course not deserving.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Proverbs 9

Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. Proverbs 9:17

On the back half of my vacation in Maine, I continue my study of Proverbs 9.  Here, my study unpacks how wisdom contrasts with folly. Attributes of someone seeking wisdom include humility and a desire for feedback and instruction (v9-10) versus someone seeking folly who does not fear the Lord nor does he seek reproval or feedback (v7-8).  This is an important litmus test as we journey in our faith.  We are tempted to seek folly as the benefits may seem "sweet" or "pleasant" but we should validate the extent to which our journey is one of humility.  Others should look for fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16-24).  We should also surround ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ (Proverbs 27:17) who can help us detect when we fall prey to the temptations that seek to distract us from pursuit of wisdom (vs folly).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your path is straight and You light my way and You keep my feet steady - thank You Jesus for helping me stay on the path of wisdom.  I am not deserving of how You lead me and protect me.  My sin is great and I often wander off Your path.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.