The Jesus who taught us so much in the Sermon on the Mount is now showing us what that Think Again sermon looks like in action. In yesterday’s reading of Matthew 8 he was TOUCHING a leper, and healing a SERVANT with his words (and not just any man’s servant, but the servant of a Roman centurion). How’s that for blessing the meek servant and loving your enemy – no Jew liked the occupying Roman centurions!
In Matthew 9 Jesus continues living out the Sermon on the Mount, and it raises a lot of questions from those who thought they knew what God’s people were supposed to do and not do.
Jesus meets a paralytic who is brought to him. This appears to be the same event recorded in Luke 5:18-26 where the friends make a hole in the roof to lower their buddy into the house because of the large curious crowd around Jesus. This account doesn’t tell of the hole in the roof but simply says, “When Jesus saw their faith…”. Faith is a thing to be seen. It is not just words telling what you believe or even why you believe it. The paralytic would have been no better off to merely hear his friends say they believed there was a man who could heal him. It was faith that made them carry their friend to the house. Their faith was shown when they didn’t give up when the way was blocked, but they carried him up to the roof and made a hole large enough to lower him and his bed (or mat) down.
Jesus surprises people with what he does next. The man obviously needs healing – anyone can see that, that is why his friends went to all this trouble. But instead, Jesus gives him forgiveness from his sins! Jesus knows that man’s greatest need isn’t to have a physical body free of sickness and pain and limitations. Our greatest need is to be reconciled toward God – and that is why God sent His Son, to not only tell us, but show us, and offer us forgiveness from God, His Father.
Jesus could tell the scribes were confused and angry. They jumped to the incorrect conclusion that Jesus must be blaspheming and claiming to be God in order to forgive sins. But Jesus proves that he, the Son of Man, has the authority from God to forgive sins by then also healing the paralyzed man.
I love how Matthew sets the record straight. “Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.” (Matthew 9:8) Plain and simple – God gave this power to men, to the Son of Man. Be watching throughout the gospels. Who does Jesus say he is? How does he live out the Sermon on the Mount? Who is confused and accusing Jesus? What does God want us to know about Jesus today?
Reflection Questions
How are you showing your faith – with actions? In what creative ways can you show your faith by working at getting your friends in need to Jesus?
What happens when we just use our words, not our actions? What happens when we give up too easily?
In Matthew 9 how do you see Jesus living out the Sermon on the Mount? Pick a section or verse from the Sermon on the Mount and decide how you will put it into action today.
What is your current understanding of who Jesus is? What was wrong with the scribes thinking? How was Matthew right?
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for the gift of your Son who teaches us with his words and his actions. I pray for Your wisdom as I read Your words. Help me see more and more clearly who Jesus is, what he taught and what You desire from me. May I see the needs around me and work (without giving up) at bringing my friends to Jesus. Thank you for Your forgiveness of my sins. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Today we will do something a little extra. I am feeling extra thankful for all of the writers who have written over the past 9 ½ years. So instead of posting just one devotion, here are three, one for each passage, from 3 different writers, originally posted for SeekGrowLove years ago. Read as much as you like or just pick one, your choice. And if you ever want a devotion from a certain passage, or writer, you can always use the search feature (it works best with quotation marks). God Bless You as You Seek Him in His Word.
JOSEPH: Trouble Comes…For a Time – From Genesis 37
One day Joseph’s brothers were out watching the flocks in the fields (and in the sun), and Joseph was kept at home to relax. Later on, their dad sent Joseph out to check on the brothers. When the brothers saw Joseph coming from a distance, they hated him so much that they talked about killing him. After some discussion, they decided to beat him up and threw him into a large, dried out, underground water storage container. Later, they pulled him back out. Joseph thought his ordeal was over, but instead his brothers sold him to a caravan of traveling merchants. Joseph pleaded with them for mercy, but his brothers just smiled and waved goodbye. You can read about this in Genesis 37 and some of the following chapters also reveal some of the details. Joseph had basically done nothing wrong, but he found himself betrayed by his own brothers and sold into slavery.
Sometimes people think that if they do everything right, then no bad things will ever happen to them. Sometimes people are very cautious in order to avoid problems or troubles. Some people think that if they serve God without making any mistakes, they will then have a nearly perfect life. But life doesn’t work in these ways. Joseph did nothing wrong, but he was sold into slavery. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” The Bible never promises us an easy, trouble free life. In fact, we are promised we will have trouble.
Joseph was taken to Egypt as a slave, but during his time there, he would see God’s plan unfold for his life. A much greater good would occur because of his time as a slave. Perhaps some day you will face tough times when God is trying to bring about long term good. It will be hard to face at the time, but in the long term, you will see God’s hand at work in your life.
-Jason Turner (originally posted October 22, 2018 for SGL)
CHECK YOUR SEED – from Proverbs 19
A person’s own folly (foolishness) leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord. Proverbs 19:3
When I was in college I remember sitting by a young lady who just loved Professional Wrestling. You know the form of athletic performance art with theatrical events and lots of shouting, not the sport of wrestling. She could tell you in great detail about the striking attacks, holds, throws and acrobatic maneuvers that she had witnessed while attending the recent matches. One day while she was telling me about what had happened last night during the wrestling match we received our graded science papers. That is when I saw her completely change. She had received a failing grade and she was furious. She became so angry at the teacher. She said things about him under her breath and in her mind he could do “nothing right” during that semester. Her reaction is still vivid in my mind. She began hating this professor because he had given her a grade that indicated her level of knowledge on the material. She completely removed herself from the equation. She put all the blame on the professor, but did not see that her lack of interest and absence from study was the cause of her grade.
Today we are exploring Proverbs 19. Verse 3 reminds us that oftentimes we are the ones deciding how our lives will go. God has created the world with governing principles and laws that manage the earth. Human beings are given free will so there is cause and effect from our actions. We might think of it as sowing and reaping. As Galatians teaches us, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (6:7) Rewards or negative consequences are the result of our actions. I think this statement says it best: If you don’t like the harvest you are reaping, check the seed you are sowing.
There are repercussions of our actions, but we want God to rescue us from the pain and consequences of our bad decisions. Many times we must experience the real pain to move us to the point where we desire to make lasting change.
Now there are many troubles that we will encounter in this fallen world and many of them we have no control over, but the advice of Proverbs is addressing the areas of our life that we can control. God is on our side and He wants us to make the best decisions. He provides correction through the scripture and if we want to be wise (and avoid a lot of pain and drama) we should follow it. Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise (verse 20).
Devotion by Rebecca Dauksas (SC) – originally posted Aug 23, 2017 for SeekGrowLove – then named Grow16Bible Reading)
WHEN GOD RESPONDS – from Matthew 8
In Matthew 8, Jesus is recorded as miraculously healing several distinct individuals that represent three classification of people who were viewed with lesser status in Jewish eyes. The first is a leper, who is considered unclean for a Jewish man to touch (vv. 1-4). Next is a servant of a Roman centurion, who was a Gentile foreigner and likely part of the oppressive Roman Empire, which Jews considered to be their enemy (vv. 5-13). Lastly, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law (vv. 14-15), which is unique as women were not looked upon with much recognition or significance in Jewish society. In addition, the passage also reveals that Jesus healed numerous other people who were demon-possessed around Capernaum as well (vv. 16-17).
In verses 5-10 when Jesus is approached by the centurion, he concedes to the centurion’s request to come and heal his servant. Jesus’ agreement to come to the centurion’s home is quite a startlingly turn of events in this passage as a Jewish person would be deemed ceremonially unclean if they entered the house of a Gentile (cf. Jn 18:28; Acts 10:28). But nevertheless, Jesus humbly agrees to go and heal the man (vv. 5-7).
But the centurion replies quickly to Jesus expressing his “unworthiness” for Jesus to make the effort to come to his house. Rather, the centurion reveals a keen understanding of Jesus’ authority to speak with the power of God. The centurion explains that he knows what authority means because he speaks, and someone obeys, and the task is accomplished. In the same way, he claims that Jesus only needs to speak the “word,” and according to the authority of his “word,” the centurion’s servant will be healed (v. 8).
This proclamation amazes Jesus because the centurion understood the power and authority of God that Jesus represented. And in response to the centurion’s understanding of this reality, Jesus declares, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith” (v. 10). What an unsuspecting pronouncement—that Jesus would confess such a great faith from this Gentile that superseded any he had seen in all of Israel. The emphasis here is that even a Gentile, who was not considered a member of God’s people, will see the power of God at work when they trust in Jesus, God’s Anointed.
What the passage can teach us is that God’s power flows in response to the exercising of faith (trust) in God as the source of all power and in Jesus as God’s Messiah. If we want to see God’s power at work in our lives, it begins by recognizing that God moves when we believe and trust in him, knowing that he is able to do even what may seem impossible in our eyes. Our trust in God doesn’t make God move; rather, God responds when we trust in him. And we must also trust in his character—that he responds as the good and loving God that we know he is.
-Jerry Wierwille -originally posted on March 11, 2018 for SGL
Reflection Questions
What tough times (which came as a result of something you had no control over) have you faced which have brought about long term good?
When have you received rewards as a result of your actions? When have you experienced negative consequences? What might you have done instead to avoid those negative consequences?
On a scale of 1-10 where would you rate your trust in God and His character? It is hard to trust what we do not know. How can you learn more about God? How can You see Him at work? Are you willing to?
Prayer
Dear God, You are such a wise, all-powerful, all-knowing God who gives good gifts! We thank You for Your loving care and for those You have brought into our lives who speak Your words to us. Help us know You and Your ways more and more that we will trust You and follow in Your way. In Your Son’s name we pray, Amen.
Today, as we read, we see one of the great covenants of the Old Testament where the promises made to Abraham and Isaac are now extended to Jacob. The first time God speaks to Jacob is when he was on the way to Laban’s household and he has a dream at Bethel (or Luz). We see this dream in Genesis 28.
Genesis 28:13-15(NLT) At the top of the stairway stood the LORD, and he said, “I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
Genesis 35:9-15(NLT) Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again at Bethel. God blessed him, 10 saying, “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel. 11 Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! 12 And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.” 13 Then God went up from the place where he had spoken to Jacob. 14 Jacob set up a stone pillar to mark the place where God had spoken to him. Then he poured wine over it as an offering to God and anointed the pillar with olive oil. 15 And Jacob named the place Bethel (which means “house of God”), because God had spoken to him there.
God declares Himself to Jacob as the God who is Almighty, El-Shaddai. It is a multifaceted name and does not have a direct English translation. Read the following from “Prepare For Life Bible Study” https://prepareforlifebiblestudy.com/el-shaddai.
“What Does El Shaddai Mean?
Knowing God as El Shaddai was pivotal in the faith/walk of Abraham. Yet we are not certain of the exact meaning of this name for God although we have clues. We know the El, the Hebrew name that is translated God, means prominent, preeminent, to be in front, strong. The meaning of the Hebrew root for Shaddai is not totally clear. There are at least four concepts wrapped up in these Hebrew characters. Each one brings more meaning to the name El Shaddai.
The root for Shaddai is similar to the root in Hebrew for mountain. Mountains in the Bible connote might, strength and power. They are often the symbol for governments. They literally rule. El Shaddai has the last say, He rules.
Tying in with this concept, the root for Shaddai also has the suggestion that he is mighty and awesome, even terrible and fierce. El Shaddai is not a wimpy god who will back down and cower. He is God Almighty. He will accomplish His purposes.
A third concept brings a different connotation. The Hebrew word shad means breast. The idea is that God is the one who nourishes, comforts and gives strength and sustenance to his people. He meets their needs just as a nursing mother meets the needs of her child. Think of the words bountiful and sufficient when you think of El Shaddai. Think of a nursing baby who comes to his mother worked into a frenzy and then receives from her resources and is content and satisfied and rests securely.
Closely following this concept is the fourth connotation that comes from the Hebrew word shadha meaning to pour out or shed forth. The idea is that El Shaddai pours forth out of his bounty to meet our needs.”
Does this expand our knowledge and understanding about what God says to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by calling himself El-Shaddai?
Our God is the God of all sufficiency who is able to do whatever He decides to do. When He promises mankind His care, we can take that as an absolute promise of performance. This is so different from what we receive from the world and the performance of the promises made by people.
Also let’s examine the record of believing which we read in Matthew 8 where we read the story of the Roman centurion and his servant. He would be the equivalent of a Captain or Major in our Army who would lead a company of 100-250 men. You don’t get this position by being a shrinking violet personality.
Matthew 8:5-11(NLT) When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed.
Our faith comes when the believing of our heart lines up with the promises of God’s Word. When we have faith, we will act in accordance with the instruction that the Word gives us in a certain situation or relationships. We can mentally assent to much of what God says that it is true but not have faith to make it come to pass in our lives. This is an important question we need to ask every day about our hearts and then our actions.
Reflection Questions
What is the most important decision we need to make in any given situation?
What do you imagine when you hear and study the name El-Shaddai? Is there any way your view of God should change?
How have you heard the promises of God? What promises of God do you believe?
What actions should accompany what you believe?
Prayer
Father, I look to You today to give me help in my time of need and effort. Thank you for your mercy and love which brings to pass the promises that You have made to us. I thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ who is my life and guide. I look to you today to give us all that we need from Your bountiful sufficiency. Love your son, Tom (insert your name if this is your prayer, too). In Jesus name we pray.
Matthew 7:7-12(NKJV) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
It is so humbling to read the words of Jesus and see how he so quickly and precisely condenses the issues of life into a perfect understanding for us. Here in Matthew 7 Jesus tells many truths that illustrate God’s true desire for mankind and gives us the hope that is evident in the statements and wisdom he teaches.
Ask, Knock, Seek. All these actions come from a believing heart which hears the Word and desires to have the wisdom that God gives to us when we seek Him. The life of Jesus is the way that we can see the true heart of God in Jesus’ actions and speech. Marcia Railton recently taught us in the lessons on Matthew 5 that it is not by following the rules we are made wise and righteous, but by changing our hearts to be like our Father God who loves us. Our minds and hearts need to become changed from our human nature and sin and grow into the attitude and actions of being Christ-like. We must earnestly desire and pursue the truth of God’s Word for our lives in order for them to be changed into what God would have us be.
Jesus appeals to our human understanding by asking us a question: Which of you that is a father to children would not be true to their desire for food. Jesus asks, “when the son asks for bread would you give him a stone?” Their bread was baked in a sort of furnace that had great flat stones for the bread loaves to set on and bake. After an extended period of use the stones in their ovens would look exactly like the loaves of bread being baked on them. Jesus is challenging us to be honest and true in how we deal with people by not giving wisdom or judgement to them which is false or counterfeit.
The next question is “what father when asked for fish would give his son a snake?” There were fish that came from the sea of Galilee and other waters that looked like a snake, long and slender. But they were good to eat and nutritious. The counterfeit action here would be to give the child a snake which could be dangerous and certainly not what should be given to them. Luke expands this teaching with “when asked for an egg would give the child a scorpion?” Here again the counterfeit is the scorpion which when drawn tight together looks like a hen’s egg cooked and ready to eat. But the counterfeit egg is dangerous and even deadly.
Then Jesus asks the question if we have at least this honesty and integrity with our own children to bless them how much more our God and Father in heaven desires to bless us and give us His care and love? I think this a fitting example of a rhetorical question as it causes us to examine the motives and desires of our hearts. We can live good lives by the rules, I haven’t stolen today, I haven’t murdered today, I haven’t committed adultery today. But the day is early as I write this so how can I be sure I will follow every rule making myself righteous in God’s sight? What great reward does He have for me today for being good and doing all the rules?
Then we are convicted by just doing what our human nature would probably consider good, giving the real fish, bread, and egg to those that ask. But how much more does God require of us to become like Jesus with his heart of compassion and true love for those we meet and interact with.
Look at Proverbs 17:3 for more wisdom on these questions.
Proverbs 17:3(NKJV) The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.
Yahweh God our Father is most concerned with our hearts and the test is what is really there. True wisdom comes from above and the words and life of Jesus give us such convicting records of how we are t0 believe and live.
Reflection Questions
What good gifts have you received from God?
Truthfully consider, what does God see in your heart today? What is He pleased to see? What doo you wish He did not see?
What do you want others to do to you? How can you do, or give, that to others?
PRAYER:
Father God today we pray that You change our hearts from the hearts of stone we have to hearts filled with Your love and compassion. We seek you today and ask for Your help in all of life. We knock on the door of understanding and ask for You to give it to us. Father refine our hearts and motives so that we become like Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray this today.
For the last couple of years January often has me writing something on the Sermon on the Mount. I admit, at first it can seem like a chore to do. But, I have been thankful for the opportunity to take a deeper look into these passages, often seeing ways I need to “Think Again” to change my opinions, thoughts and ultimately my actions to become more like Jesus. It is a great way to start the year. But, how would I be different, inside and out, if I read, thought about, lived out the Sermon on the Mount every day?
So today, I will start with a few of the thoughts I have previously shared on Matthew 7 (with a few revisions, that’s part of the beauty of reading the Sermon on the Mount again and again and thinking again). You can read them – or just read Matthew 7 again. And then, in our longer than normal reflection section let’s talk about how we can be more intentional about keeping this spectacular sermon in our minds, mouths, heart and hands everyday.
Unfortunately, the world has heard just the first three words, “Do Not Judge” and has twisted Jesus’ words into permission to sin and accept sin. But that is not the case! Jesus tells us over and over again (and even multiple times in this same chapter) to look carefully and judge whether people and actions and ideas are good or bad, righteous or wicked, wise or foolish, innocent or dangerous, taking us closer to God or further from Him. He warns you and I about the wolf in sheep’s clothing who wants to deceive you and figurative dogs and pigs that will tear you to pieces. And if you have already decided that it is not your place to judge if they are good or evil or to discern if they want what is good and godly for you or what will destroy you, then I fear you are already sitting in a very dangerous spot.
So, what did Jesus mean when he started out with the words, “Do not Judge…or you too will be judged” and then gave the excellent illustration of the speck and the plank? Make sure you read it for yourself from Matthew 7. I think he was saying judge yourself first in order to be helpful in then spotting sin in others. Specks are hard to see clearly when we have a plank lodged in our eye socket. And our restored sight is crucial in then being able to delicately help our neighbor remove the irritating speck in their eye. When we judge rightly we can start out by putting every single one of us in the same sorry sinking boat of sinners in need of a Savior – just make sure you jump into that boat first. Stop bad talking and blaming the neighbors and church members and family and see yourself for what you are and what you do. Don’t sugar-coat the truth trying to make yourself look better than the rest.
Sin causes vision problems – those dangerous specks and planks in the eye are not conducive to seeing the world or yourself clearly. It can be all too easy to completely overlook seeing our own sins and instead attack others for not measuring up to Jesus’ standard. I have been quick to blame my husband and my kids and my friends, when the fault was also with me. I have mistreated people, sometimes to their face, sometimes behind their back. And I have tried to ‘fix’ things my way rather than patiently trusting God for what He said He would do in His time. I can be very selfish and prideful and rude. And the list goes on. And if I don’t accept and work to correct these problems and sins in myself FIRST then I will be hypocritical and ineffective when I, with that plank still stuck in my eye, turn to help my neighbor who has a speck in her eye.
Jesus was not saying specks and planks in the eye are okay and we should leave them be. Sin is not okay. He was telling us the order in which to correct things – self first SO THAT you can actually be useful in helping others recognize and remove the sins that are affecting their sight and health and well-being. Sin surgery for yourself first. Recognize it for what it is and get it out! Then look with compassion not contempt on the neighbors of the world, some of whom do not even know God’s law and have no idea they are stuck in sin because they only heard “Do Not Judge” and never heard the rest.
Jesus too, warns of storms with such driving rains and rising waters which have the power to totally destroy and wipe out homes if we don’t take the proper actions beforehand. Storms are coming – and in some cases they have already begun. Jesus tells us, some houses will stand, some will not. It depends on their foundation. Is the house built on rock - or on sand – which is determined by how wise – or how foolish – the builder is. Both builders listen to the words of Jesus – good first step. The wise builder proceeds to “put it into practice” – and his house endures the storm. The foolish builder with his house built on sand has heard the words of Jesus but does not put them into practice. And when the storm comes, his house is destroyed.
Hear the words of Jesus. And then, put it into practice. It is not enough to sit at his feet listening every week or even every morning – if you don’t then spend your days DOING what he says. We have just spent the last several days reading and looking at Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Now, what will we do with it? What will it look like to put it into practice today and tomorrow and every day of 2024 (and now 2026) and the rest of our lives – however long or short that may be? Both houses will experience the winds and the rain. Will your house stand?
Reflection Questions
Judge yourself first – what sins are on the plank in your eye? How has sin (the plank in your eye) affected your vision? Do you want it gone? What are the benefits to having it removed? What is needed to remove it?
Looking through Matthew 7, what thought or call to action strikes you as one God wants to see you really working on this month?
It is not enough to be considering these words of Jesus just every January when our Bible reading plan has us reading through the book of Matthew. We need to be tending to our foundation regularly to ensure our homes will withstand the storms. How can we get these words into our hearts so we make them a part of our daily thought/judging/discerning process and then put it into practice so we don’t find ourselves (and our loved ones) surprised at the end of the wide path that leads to destruction? Every day this year I want to read something from the Sermon on the Mount. How about even multiple times a day? I printed a simple Matthew 5-7 document to hang throughout my house – one page in the laundry room, one page on the inside of the medicine cabinet, another in the front of my Bible, etc…. Through the year I can rotate them around if one is more neglected. Feel free to make yours pretty and colorful and/or underlined and marked up. I am excited about learning this familiar sermon better. But not just learning it – living it, more and more. Will you join me? Here’s one to print for you:
Dear God Almighty, we praise You because you are perfect in all Your ways. Thank you for the gift of Your Son who not only tells us but also shows us how to live different from the world, and also different from the “religious leaders” of his day, on the narrow path, a light for the world, with a heart devoted to pleasing You, with our foundation on the rock, putting into action every day the words and wisdom in this spectacular Sermon on the Mount. Lord, I confess the plank in my eye. Help me see it. I don’t want it to stay. I want to see clearly and I know this requires sin surgery in my own life, thoughts, attitudes and actions. Help me remove it, realizing it might be a painful process – but with such marvelous benefits in this life and the one to come. Thank you for Your forgiveness, Your wisdom shared through Your Son, Your guidance and proddings through Your Holy Spirit. Help me to listen well this whole year to this Sermon on the Mount, that I might become more and more like Your Son Jesus who preached and lived and died these words for me, and is coming again to live eternally with those who choose to hear and DO your words. In his precious name I pray, Amen.
Jacob had run for his life to get away from his brother, Esau, whom he had cheated. In Genesis 29, Jacob arrived in Padan Aram, his mother’s ancestral home, and went to a well. Jacob was there not only to get away from his brother but also to look for a wife. This was his lucky day. He found his first cousin, Rachel, at the well.
After Rachel told her dad, Laban, he invited Jacob to live with them and work for him. After spending a month working for Laban, Jacob’s uncle, Laban asked what wages Jacob would like as he continued to work. In Genesis 29:18, we’re told, “Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your daughter Rachel.’” (Remember, he had only known her for one month when he said this!) Jacob must have been head over heels in love, because in Genesis 29:20, we read, “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.”
At the end of the seven years, Laban held a big wedding celebration. When Jacob woke up the next morning, Rachel’s older sister, Leah, was lying beside him. Laban had tricked Jacob into marrying the wrong sister! After complaining to Laban, Jacob agreed to work another 7 years for the wife he really wanted, and married her a week later.
Jacob had tricked his father and had cheated his brother. Now, Jacob was tricked by his father-in-law, who would continue to cheat Jacob repeatedly for 20 years.
This is an example of a principle that we see demonstrated throughout scripture, and we see in our lives today. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
In his early life, Jacob was opportunistic and deceitful – only looking out for himself. After working for Laban for 20 years of hardships, Jacob grew to recognize he didn’t have to cheat to get ahead, but understood that God was looking out for him (See Genesis 31:38–42).
This isn’t just a story about a historical character and his family. These principles still hold true for us today. Even though God will forgive us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9), we will still suffer from the natural consequences of our actions.
There is an easier way. We can save ourselves a lot of pain and trouble by just following God from the start. But we each have to make that choice for ourselves. What’s your choice?
Reflection Questions
You might not have tricked your father or cheated your brother or son-in-law in such grandiose ways as Jacob and Laban did, but carefully consider your ways. Are there times you have been at least slightly deceptive or not totally truthful in trying to make yourself look better, others look worse, or get what you want?
Have you seen the “reap what you sow” principle in someone else’s life? Did it help them or hurt them? Why? How about in your life? What have you been reaping and why? What are you currently sowing?
In what ways do you think you are currently following God? Are there any ways in which you are still just doing your own thing, looking out for yourself?
Prayer
Dear God – I praise You for You are truth and righteousness. You are never deceived. You see me and know me and You still love me and desire what is best for me – You! I confess the times I selfishly lie, cheat, deceive, or misrepresent myself, others or the truth. May I put my full confidence in You. Help me follow You better today than I did yesterday. In Your Son’s name I pray.
“You do you!” This phrase is ubiquitous… I’ve seen it on social media, heard it on commercials, and tween shows my daughter enjoys watching. I’ve even heard actual people say it directly to actual people.
On the face of it, it’s a pretty positive and encouraging phrase. Don’t let others define you. Do what you enjoy. Do what makes you happy! And that’s all great and wonderful…to a point. That point is the Holy Bible. You can totally do You if the You that you do is aligned with God’s word. The problem comes when your You goes with whatever you FEEL is right, rather than what you KNOW is scriptural.
Here in Proverbs 14 (especially in verse 12) we are reminded that so many of the things, thoughts, and actions we think are right, actually lead to destruction.
Proverbs 14:1 really hit me hard in this area. Unlike the wise woman building her house, I was letting my struggle with anger threaten mine. For a season, my anger was quick, hot, and in my mind, justified. I was right to be angry. I was being taken for granted, no one understood what I was going through, why was everything up to me??? I often felt the anger from my stomach up to my jaw. Proverbs 14 repeatedly warns of the folly of anger (16, 17, 29) but I was choosing to follow my feelings over wisdom.
I thought I was right…but only because of the grace of God and a forgiving family, my “rightness” did not lead to destruction.
Everyone should evaluate their You. If doing You involves sin (Galatians 5:19-21), you must let that go. Christ goes even further to say that if we are to be his disciples, we must DENY ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him (Matthew 16:24).
When looking to Godly wisdom, such as found in Proverbs 14, You will start to look less like you and more like Christ. That is true wisdom.
So this song came out when I was 14 (1986). Having it tucked in my head has often helped me make choices to please God.
So many choices come from those who think they know
There’s a way that seems right to a man
But it only brings him death
I want to go the way that leads to life
Till I draw my dying breath
Don’t want to be a man pleaser – I want to be a God pleaser
I just want to have the wisdom to discern the two apart
Don’t want to be a man pleaser – I want to be a God pleaser
I just want to do the things that please the Father’s heart
Some make a sacrifice and never let it show
Some make a point of letting everybody know
Some will live their lives as unto men
And they have their reward
I just want to do everything I do
With all my heart unto the Lord
I just want my life to glorify His Son
To make my Father proud that I’m His child before I’m done
No need to pat me on the back or stop to shake my hand
I just want to hear my Father say “Well done, well done”
I just want to hear my Father say “Well done”
devotion by Maria Knowlton (IN) – originally posted for SeekGrowLove on Oct 14, 2019
Reflection Questions
Proverbs 14:12 is a classic “Think Again” verse. Who are some examples from the Bible of men and women who were on the way they thought was right but it was actually leading to destruction/death? Who discovered their mistake, thought again and corrected their path before destruction/death? Who did not?
When have you found you were on the wrong way, even though at one time it appeared right. Did you correct your way before you hit a bit of destruction? In what other ways can a closer evaluation of “You”/your way save you from more destruction/death?
Do you spend the most time and effort trying to please yourself, others or God? How can you focus more on pleasing God first?
Prayer
Dear Father, You are the One with all wisdom. Thank you for sharing it with us through Your Words. We pray for Your Spirit to guide us in discernment so we will see clearly the way we are on and know where to Think Again and alter our course. Help us build our house with Your wisdom that we might look more and more like Your pleasing Son. In his name we pray, Amen
The Sermon on the Mount continues in Matthew 6 with so much wisdom. At the end of the devotion yesterday, the last question suggested we look for anything useful in this chapter for Thinking Again – a challenge to consider how we can rethink our opinions and thoughts to be more inline with God’s. I found a few…
I should “think again” about my motives in giving, praying and fasting. (Do these – for all the right reasons.)
I should “think again” about the importance of forgiving others. (Do it, or my Heavenly Father will not forgive me of my sins!)
I should “think again” about what I truly value and prioritize. (My worldly stuff – ALL I own or wish I owned – is worthless. How can I focus instead on building up what really matters to God and has eternal value?)
I should “think again” about who or what I am actually serving. (Does my love, loyalty and life – both thoughts and actions- prove that I have made God the Master of my life?)
That thought leads perfectly into the next big “Think Again” – I should “think again” and see that I do not need to waste my life in worry. I love this passage! I need this passage, and just maybe you do, too – at least from time to time.
“Look at the birds of the sky” and “Consider the lilies of the field…” This is such wise advice from Jesus, for anytime, but especially when we are stuck in our worry. Stop looking at yourself and your little world of trouble. Look up. Look out. Watch nature. There are interesting studies on the benefits of being in nature (or even seeing a tree through the window) to lower cortisol (a stress regulating hormone) and depression. Yes, psychologists and scientists are right, nature is good and helpful. But, even better, is knowing and trusting the God who created it. He not only created it, but He continues to care for His creation – including creating and caring for you. That is what God’s Son is telling us in Matthew 6:25-34. Look up. Look out. See God.
What do you see when you see God?
If my God is wimpy, I will have a lot to worry about.
If my God is cold or heartless, I will have a lot to worry about.
If my God is clueless, I will have a lot to worry about.
But that is NOT my God!
My Father knows what I need. My Father cares for me. He values me. He sees me. He is able. He alone can take care of everything I truly need and so much more.
How do you see God? Are you allowing your worry to replace your faith in God?
See Him for who He really is! Seek Him first and replace all those worried thoughts. Think Again – do not worry!
Reflection Questions
If you are battling with worry take a little time and write out Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:25-34. For each sentence also try putting the same thought into your own words. What is Jesus saying to you?
What thoughts does God want you to be thinking? Is your worry replacing your trust in God. What does God want you to replace your worry with? (See Philippians 4:4-9) How can you help yourself more consistently think again?
Tell me about your God. Is He wimpy, cold or clueless? Is He your Master, really and truly? What do you know about Him? Do you trust Him? How will I know what you think about God by watching what you do and think and say?
What will it look like this week for you to “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33)
PRAYER
Dear God, I praise You for You are God alone. You are the Creator and Sustainer. You are indeed strong and mighty, all-knowing and all-powerful. Yet, You still see and care for me. I thank you for your love and our history together, the way you have cared for me, and my loved ones, and those who came before me over and over – throughout time. Help me to see You clearly, Father, so I do not waste time worrying. May my focus be on You, Your Kingdom, and Your Righteousness. Help me live these words of wisdom from Your Son. In his name I pray to You. Amen.
Yesterday we discussed the wisdom found in the idea of “Think Again” – to be willing to question your opinions, thoughts and even feelings in order to bring them more and more inline with God’s way of thinking. We are wise to realize we are not always right and neither are our opinions, thoughts and feelings always right. When our thinking is not lined up with God, our feelings, attitudes and actions will also swerve away from what is pleasing to God.
Sometimes we can adjust our thinking on our own. Sometimes it might take a little help from outside ourselves. Sometimes, we don’t take too kindly to those helpers. Too often, we take offense at hearing we might be wrong. We prefer staying in our comfortable me-ness rather than do the work of honestly and humbly evaluating incoming feedback and doing the work of courageously thinking again. Today in our Proverbs reading there are a couple excellent verses about correction. Proverbs 12:1 starts right out with a powerful punch:
“One who loves discipline loves knowledge, But one who hates rebuke is stupid.”
When our kids were growing up we did not allow them to use the word ‘stupid’ because it’s just not nice. But, I won’t tell God He can’t use the word. These Proverbs can be hard. Loving discipline is hard. Not hating rebuke is hard.
But they are a tad easier when I remember and accept that I am not right all the time, nor do I do right all the time. And it’s really not a secret or surprise to anyone that I am an imperfect human being. I know that. God knows that. My husband knows that. My kids know that. My church family knows that. My neighbors know that. Even my little daycare friends know that. Marcia messes up. So, do I prefer to stay in my messiness, or do I accept a little help, a little discipline, a little rebuke, knowing I can be better and cleaner for it.
While we are at it, Proverbs 12:15 is another great one.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a person who listens to advice is wise.
It makes me think of an adorable little one with a very messy face, though they often don’t know it, or care. When I take the warm wet washcloth to the lunch left on their face there can be some loud protest and struggle. They would much prefer I just leave them alone and they would happily smear that goo all over me and my clothes and the couch and on one another. Our messiness never stays on ourself, which is another good reason to attack it, and not the hand with the washcloth.
These verses from Proverbs are great ones to keep in mind and memory and heart, even before someone comes to us with a warm wet washcloth. Correction, advice, rebuke, discipline isn’t to be avoided. It is for our good, even when it rubs a little. It doesn’t have to feel good in order for it to be good. It is to help clean us up. It is to jump-start our Think Again process. No reason to be a stupid fool (God’s words not mine) – just let them help you wash your face. 🙂
Reflection Questions
Sometimes we neglect looking in the mirror to see our messiness and what needs to be cleaned up. Take some time to humbly and honestly prayerfully consider what a look in the mirror will reveal. What do you see in yourself that is worthy of a washcloth?
When have you grown from an experience when you accepted correction well and adjusted accordingly? Can you also think of a time you protested and struggled against the wet warm washcloth?
There are probably times when you will see the opportunity to help someone else with some words of correction or advice. Knowing that there can be some resistance , especially when done harshly, what are some things to keep in mind as the warm wet washcloth holder?
Today is the first of 3 days reading Matthew 6. What do you find in this chapter that could be useful for thinking again?
PRAYER
Dear Father, Thank you for your wisdom passed on to us through the words of Proverbs. Help me listen well and put them into practice in my life. I do not want to be a stupid fool who is blind to my own messiness and fights against correction. I want to let go of pride so that I can humbly learn from the wisdom and helpful insight of others, even when it hurts a bit, so I can think again, clean up, and grow closer and closer to You and what You want to see in me. In your Son’s name I pray. Amen.
I always ask my family for gift list ideas because I have learned I don’t always do a very good job of reading their minds and choosing that gift that is indeed just what they wanted. Our son came up with a nice gift list this year, including several books he was interested in reading. One particular title really caught my attention: Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant. I have not read the book so I am not recommending it as much as the idea that there is value in “learning to question your opinions”. Sometimes our ideas, thoughts, opinions, and I would add feelings are indeed not based on God’s full truth (which is not mentioned in the book synopsis). We would be wise to be willing to do the hard work of relearning (which in my opinion, not necessarily Mr Grant’s) involves bringing our every opinion, thought, conviction, and feeling more and more into alignment with God’s. This can certainly be a difficult thing to do! I know I often fail at reading the minds of my own human offspring, how much more will I miss the mark in trying to know and imitate the perfect mind and heart of the Almighty Creator and Sustainer?
Knowing that I do miss the mark is perhaps half of the battle. Then I am more willing to humbly accept that I can benefit from looking at it again to see what I missed, what I can learn, what opinion needs to be changed, what feeling softened, what feeling strengthened, what thoughts, opinions and feelings completely thrown out. As it says in our Proverb of the day: “When pride comes, then comes dishonor; But with the humble there is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2 NASB)
Last year about this time I wrote a devotion titled Family Isn’t Everything on the testing of Abraham from Genesis 22. If I were rewriting it today it would be a little different. I think I did not stress enough the trust that Abraham had in God that made all the difference in his willingness to do the unthinkable that God told him to do. I think Abraham was learning and demonstrating that what he personally thought wasn’t always right but he humbly acted on his trust in God and his belief that he was listening to and obeying the All-knowing, completely wise and loving God of miracles who could show His power and plan in any way He desired. And that, along with his wise desire to put God first, even before his precious, long awaited and much loved son, gave him the ability to rise early in the morning and take the three day journey and travel up the mountain for a sacrifice to God with fire, a knife, wood and no animal, only his son. Don’t you love how re-reading God’s Word leads to seeing new layers and thinking again to grow in our knowledge and understanding of our Great Big God and what pleases Him.
This time around in reading Genesis 20-22 I was also struck by the interchange between God and Abraham when Sarah wants to send away Hagar and Ishmael after Isaac is weaned (one chapter before the almost sacrifice of Isaac). Depending on the version, Abraham is distressed, displeased, upset, worried, troubled, full of sorrow, or grieved at the thought of sending his first son Ishmael away. And most of us would probably say, that makes sense, I would be distressed, too. But I love the part that comes next. God says, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight…” (Genesis 21:12 NKJV). It is almost like God is telling Abraham – Think Again – I have got this. Don’t worry. Don’t be troubled. You concentrate on what I want you to concentrate on (following Me). You do the most important thing and I will take care of the rest. “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight.” Isn’t that freeing that we get to decide – with God’s wisdom and guidance – what is or isn’t going to be displeasing in our sight. It does indeed take a lot of Thinking Again to adjust not only our opinions but also our attitudes and feelings. When we find ourselves distressed, displeased, upset, worried, troubled, full of sorrow, or grieved perhaps it would be wise of us to ask God if this is a feeling we should hang on to, or if it is best to let go of it.
Speaking of Think Again, I think that is what Jesus was saying over and over again in Matthew 5 in the Sermon on the Mount when he said, “You have heard it said…but I tell you” (5:21, 27, 30, 33, 38, 43). Think Again. You might not know quite as much as you thought you did. Think Again. You do not yet see the whole picture, the full truth, God’s entire plan. Think Again. Your opinion, thoughts and feelings can line up more closely with God’s. Think Again. There is a better way of thinking and doing and feeling than you have done before. Think Again. With humility not pride. Think Again.
Reflection Questions
What percentage of the time do you think you are right? What percentage of the time do you think you are actually right? 🙂 Can you think of a time you “thought again” and became wiser for it?
When do you need to most remember that you do not have the mind of God? How can you remember to be humble?
Why was Jesus saying to not continue doing life/righteousness the old way? Why was it time to think again?
What might God want you to unlearn and relearn? What old thoughts, opinions and even feelings are you holding onto that are not currently helpful and leading you closer and closer to God’s wisdom and heart?
Prayer
Dear God Almighty, We praise you for knowing all things. Help me remember there is so much I do not know, sometimes including what is pleasing to You. May I humble myself, continually seek You and Your way and be willing to do the work of Thinking Again so I come closer and closer to what You want me to be. Direct me in what feelings, what worries, what opinions are good for me to let go of, knowing that You can take care of what I can not, so that I may be focused on doing Your will. Thank you for working with me, one step at a time, and helping me grow.
Seek Grow Love 