We are not Know-it-All's - God is!

S - Scripture     

Proverbs 3 v. 19-20  The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew.

 

O - Observation

The source. God is the source of all. His wisdom created the earth. His understanding the Heavens. Genesis 1 v. 9-10; " And God said, 'Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together in one place, and let dry land appear.' And it was so. God called the dry land earth... And God saw that it was good." Think of the amount of time scientist have studied God's creation. Think of all the knowledge. We’re just scratching the surface of God's wisdom. Think about this. God spent 6 days making all that we know and he spent 30+ years on earth with his actual ministry being 3 years. Wow!! Want to study and learn and have some great insight and knowledge? Read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.)

 

A - Application  

Do want a God that knows more than me? Can I live with the unexplained?

 

P - Prayer      

Jesus, Help me to go to the source for wisdom. Love Will.  

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Accept God's Discipline

S - Scripture     

Proverbs 3 v. 11-12  My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him who he loves.

 

O - Observation

Discipline. Ouch!!! Its such a hard word. By nature we don't like it when we are getting disciplined. Its not fun!!! It hurts.

But discipline given in love is a huge blessing. It is used to guide us, point us, lead us in a safe direction. Later on in Proverbs there are two proverbs that relate to this. Proverbs 27 v. 17; "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." and Proverbs 27 v.21; "The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for Gold." The key thing to know is a loving God will discipline us. But much as my Dad disciplined me, to which I'm now thankful for. Arrrggg!!! I hate it when my Dad is right!!! (Foolish Pride) So it is with God after the period of discipline, we can see and appreciate its purpose.

 

 

A - Application  

Am I resisting God's discipline on me, or am I looking to see what he has for me?    

 

P - Prayer      

Jesus, Thanks for disciplining me. Bless me so that I can see your ways. Love Will.  

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Give it your all!!!

S - Scripture     

Proverbs 3 v. 9-10  Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all you produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

 

O - Observation

Give it your all. We need to honor, love, respect with our substance. Jesus clarifies what substance is in Matthew 22 v. 37; "And he said to him, 'You shall Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'"  Who you are, what your about, should reflect God in our lives. The first fruits definitely refers to tithing. But it also refers to your day. What you do at work or school should be done as if your doing it for God. If we do these things then God will reward us. Don't be confused he's no special Genie that will give us our 3 wishes. No. He will give us contentment. Philippians 4 v. 11; "I have learned in whatever state I'm in to be content." God's peace is contentment in God. It's a great place to be.

 

A - Application  

Am I giving it all for God?    

 

P - Prayer      

Jesus, Help me to honor you with all I got!! Love Will.  

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Go to God for your decisions

S - Scripture     

Proverbs 3 v. 5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

 

O - Observation

Source of Knowledge. It's God!!! It has to be. What happens when we start trusting in our own insight? A couple of things. 1. We inflate our own ego. Our own self  pride starts to increase. The need for God decreases. Pride is a killer. 2. Since we are sinners, we will generate imperfect decisions. They will be fallen just like we are. Sure they may look good for a season. But, seasons come and go. God's word is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It is living and true. Going to God and following what he tells us will make our paths straight. Just knowing the source is not enough, we need to trust it with all your heart. Trust is developed. Trust is a relationship. The best way to develop this relationship is to be in God's word on a daily basis.

 

A - Application  

Do I go to God for all my decisions? Big or Small? Am I developing a relationship with God?   

 

P - Prayer      

Jesus, Thanks for your infinite wisdom. Encourage me to rely on you and not me. Love Will.  

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Lukewarm

 Luke Warm

Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

S - SCRIPTURE: 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

O - OBSERVATION: Wow! Is this a tough verse or what? Jesus is not mincing words about how He feels about His followers. Do we follow Him with fervor and enthusiasm, or do we take an  apathetic approach to being a follower of Jesus. Do we have only head knowledge of scripture or, are our hearts on fire for Jesus? It’s really difficult to keep this short, there is so much here, He says it would be better if the church at Laodicea was either hot or cold, but lukewarm warm is the worst. Jesus desires His followers to be all in when we follow Him! Holding back doesn’t cut it!

A - APPLICATION: These are words we all need to take to heart, remember what Jesus says in John 4:23,24 But the hour is coming and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth for the Father is seeking such people to worship. 24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in truth. What does that kind of worship look like? We worship Him in the context of the infallible truths of Scripture, and with all our heart and soul! We hold nothing back because we are told  “To love the Lord thy God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul and ALL your strength! Luke 10:27. That kind of worship and life is on “fire” for Jesus! No lukewarmness here! That should be our goal!

P - PRAYER: Gracious Father grant us a full measure of YOUR Spirit that

we may never be found to be lukewarm. In Jesus Name, Amen

God's Wisdom guards us from attacks! Boys pay attention!! (Girls you to!!!)

S - Scripture     

Proverbs 2 v. 16-17  You will be saved from the loose woman, from the adventuress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.     

 

O - Observation

Corruption. Yesterday, we talked about how wisdom will guard you against the obvious ways of evil. Today's verse talks about how wisdom will guard us from the subtle ways of evil, but just as damming. There a song out now, and it's chorus goes like this, "Its a slow fade, when black and white turn to gray." That's the essence here. Adventuresses, smooth, loose, wow, what manly man could resist that? That's why we need to be Godly men. Men who keep our eye on the Real prize. He will reward us. On the other hand, ladies, are these words I'd want to be known as? We need to be Godly woman as well.

 

A - Application  

Am I aware when I am slowly fading away from God?  

 

P - Prayer      

Jesus, Help me to be a Godly man, NOT a manly man. Love Will.  

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God's Wisdom Guards us - Makes us Strong

S - Scripture     

Proverbs 2 v. 12-13  delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of up righteousness, to walk in the ways of darkness.    

 

O - Observation

Criticalness of Wisdom. Sure we know its valuable to have Godly wisdom. Yesterday we talked about how it will watch and guard you. But from what? Ourselves? Sure. But, it's the attacks against us that wisdom guards us from. Ephesians 6 v. 10-12 spells it out rather clearly. "Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against  principalities, against powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." That verse helps shed a light on the ways of darkness.

 

A - Application  

Am I strong in the Lord? Am I seeking his wisdom? Am I ready to stand for the truth? 

 

P - Prayer      

Jesus, Encourage me, motivate me, inspire me to be strong in you. Love Will.  

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