Category: wisdom

Who is Agur?

Exodus 9-10 

Proverbs 30     

Matthew 14

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Agur son of Jakeh is not normally a familiar character in our English Bibles.  Here we are reading right along with the chapters of Proverbs, mining every nugget of gold and truth from these verses and wondering how Solomon is so wise.  And now along comes Agur who writes a whole chapter in the book and is a complete unknown to us. 

His name “Agur” can be translated to mean “gatherer” and his father’s name Jakeh means “pious”.  So from the name we gain some clues about who this man may have been.  He could have been a scholar or writer of their time who wrote down or compiled wise sayings, maybe even from Solomon himself.  It is a mystery for us, but we can see from his writing God’s familiar wisdom pattern.  He compares the physical with the eternal, the earthly with the heavenly, and the corrupt with the pure. 

Agur starts with some statements which are deeply humble in God’s sight and remind me of the later chapters of Job where the majesty of God is compared to our puny, small efforts of this earth.

Proverbs 30:1-4(NLT) The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.
I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.
2 I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.
3 I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One.
4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
Tell me if you know!

Right when it seems that I have the wisdom of God for a situation figured out and internalized in my life then failure rears its ugly head.  I am confronted with the reality that there is nothing I can do for God that would indebt Him to me for my goodness.  Nor can I accomplish any great work that God could not do by lifting his little finger.  When we begin to approach God by understanding that with Him we are everything, and without Him we are a complete nothing, then we start to gain wisdom.  The only thing we can do for God is to love Him and believe His Word.  This is Agur’s message in chapter 30 to us.

Proverbs 30:5-9(NLT) Every word of God proves true.
He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
7 O God, I beg two favors from you;
let me have them before I die.
8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Jesus prays in the Lord’s Prayer:  “give us today the bread of our need”.  Our prayers and our desires need to be grounded in what we truly need, and what God is so willing to give us.  Our words and actions need to be true to His Word, and we need to stop telling lies to ourselves or to others to shade statements to give ourselves the credit. 

I was a truck salesman for more than 40 years during my career. Shades of truth in statements about what was good for the customers are sources of scorn and humor about how salesman deal with people.  My products and services weren’t always the best but those were the ones I had to sell to our customers.  I always took the view that I would not lie about anything but also promise that my efforts, and that of our dealership, would support their purchases.  Greed for riches would turn my lips to lies, acknowledging God’s sufficiency for myself and family made telling the truth an easy path.

What are the easy lies that come to your lips?

How do we guard against this?

Look at some more of these pure gold statements that are recorded for us to read by our teacher Agur..

Proverbs 30:18-19(NLT) There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
19 how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.

Just like our explaining to God how He should form, make and create the world and everything in it, we cannot explain from human knowledge exactly how these things work.  We think we know and understand but true to humility towards God will show us the shallow nature of our understanding and knowledge.  Only God’s wisdom is eternal and everlasting.

Reflection Questions

  1. See 2 questions above in bold.
  2. What can bring us to true humility?
  3. How can we turn these lights of understanding towards our hearts and lives?

Prayer

Abba Father, give us today the bread of our need and lead us in paths of righteousness following Your Son and our Savior.  God, we have no words or explanations for Your greatness and Your love for us.  Help us today to turn our hearts to hear, give us ears to hear Your voice.  In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ we pray.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Walk in Wisdom

Exodus 5-6

Proverbs 28

Matthew 13

Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

As we read this morning, I am convicted so many times by the pure and simple understanding that the true Word of God brings to the situations of life.  As I read and hear the news of the world around us, the complexity of the situations and actions sometimes is very puzzling.  I cannot immediately discern by my own understanding and knowledge what is the best path or the correct statements.  But when I read verses like these from Proverbs 28 I am convicted so quickly in my heart about what are the right things to think and to do.  These verses cut right to the chase or where our hearts need to be.

Proverbs 28:19-28(ESV) Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good,
but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A stingy man hastens after wealth
and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than he who flatters with his tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother
and says, “That is no transgression,”
is a companion to a man who destroys.
25 A greedy man stirs up strife,
but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
26 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.

We also see in the New Testament in Timothy where God identifies for us where our hearts should be when we walk with Him and His Son Jesus Christ.  God’s wisdom is pure and simple.

1 Timothy 6:9-10(NKJV) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

God shows us that prosperity is good, but when we desire to be rich, we are sinful and separate ourselves from God’s fellowship.  Money is not the root of ALL EVIL as some teach, but if we read carefully the verse says it is A root of evil.  Only when we desire to have it to enrich and pleasure ourselves does it become an evil purpose for us.  As we read the verses from Proverbs 28 we find so many pure thoughts and clear statements of how we are to handle our work, money, lives and relationships.  When we trust in God we become like that tree planted by the waters which is never without the water, help and love of Our Father. 

Psalms 1(NKJV)  Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Reflection Questions:

What are the priorities of your financial decisions?

How can we get the God perspective on our finances and relationships?

What can we do today to advance the message of the Gospel to others?

PRAYER:

Father God help us to turn our hearts to You.  Give us the wisdom that You promise here in Your Word to guide us in our lives.  We ask You for the prosperity that is needed to take care of our families and people, and the surplus that we need to support those who are in need.  Truly give us today the bread of our need and then help us to forgive those who trespass against us, keeping our lives pure and unblemished before You.  We pray these things in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

Five Women

*Exodus 1-2

Proverbs 26

Matthew 12

Devotion by Marcia Railton (IN)

In today’s reading of Exodus 1 & 2 we get to meet 5 women (one of them a young lady) who each displayed wisdom, courage and compassion.

First off, we have Shiphrah and Puah, two Hebrew midwives at a time in Egypt when Pharaoh was scared of the growing Hebrew population. Pharaoh had already tried breaking the Hebrew people by enslaving them into forced labor building his cities. But even when he made the work harder and harder, the Hebrews were still multiplying and growing in strength. Fearing an uprising, Pharaoh hatched an evil plan and gave an order to the midwives. They were to kill every Hebrew baby boy that they were called in to help deliver. Imagine for a moment that your job was to help laboring mothers bring new (9 month old) life into this world. What a sacred and holy job of joy, except for the sorrow that came with those rare instances when complications leave grief and loss instead of sweet new breath. But now Pharaoh was commanding them. With their own hands they were to be responsible for the killing of all of the baby boys that emerged – because these babies were Hebrew – and because these babies were males.

I have felt like I have been in some tough situations – but nothing anything like this! What would Shiphrah and Puah do? I am guessing they didn’t send a loud “NO” as soon as they heard the command – or else they likely wouldn’t have lived long themselves. They also didn’t run away or put in for early retirement. The Scriptures tell us they feared God and did not do as the king had commanded them. They went to work, just like before, and helped Hebrew moms deliver their babies, both boys and girls, just like before. Fearing God can take a lot of courage! And they certainly needed that courage when questioned by Pharaoh as to why the baby boys weren’t dying. They said the Hebrew women gave birth before the midwives came. “And God dealt well with the midwives…And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that he provided households for them” (Exodus 1:20-21). Well done, Shiphrah and Puah! You feared God and were rewarded.

Perhaps one or both of these courageous women came to help Jochebed (the “daughter of Levi” in Exodus 2, who is named in Exodus 6) when the time came for her to deliver her baby. Pharaoh had now changed the rules. Since the two midwives had not done his dastardly deed, now it was up to everyone to follow his new order – all Hebrew boys were to be thrown into the river! Can you imagine the scene when a Hebrew boy was born now? The emotions of the room when it was announced that this little bundle of new breath and life was a beautiful boy? The prayers said? The fears? The tears?

I find it interesting we don’t know anything about what the father (also named in Exodus 6:20 – as Amram) did. But we learn Jochebed keeps her boy hidden for 3 months, and then when that becomes impossible – she sets to work preparing a waterproof basket. She will follow the king’s order and put her child in the river – inside of a basket. She has done all she can, she leaves her child in the hands of God. She is our third wise, courageous, and compassionate woman in these passages. She sends her daughter Miriam, our fourth wise, courageous and compassionate woman, to watch over the precious bundle in the basket. I wonder if in all the scenarios (drowning, wild animals, Egyptians) that must have run through their heads if this mother and daughter had envisioned that perhaps it would be Pharaoh’s daughter who would find the basket? And if she were to find the basket – what would her reaction be?

Enter the daughter of Pharaoh. While likely not a believer of the One True God, we can learn a valuable lesson from her as well. Her extremely powerful father had made the decree that ALL HIS PEOPLE (which certainly would include his own flesh and blood offspring) would be responsible to cast Hebrew baby boys into the river. What would she do when she found the crying Hebrew baby boy in the basket in the river? She had compassion on him! She saved him from the river instead of casting him into the river. And thanks to Miriam’s quick-thinking (wisdom from God) and courage she approaches the princess and offers to get a Hebrew nurse to feed the baby. Re-enter Jochebed who not only gets to nurse, cuddle, love on, care for her baby boy (likely for a couple/few years) but is paid to do so by Pharaoh’s own daughter! Wouldn’t you love to have heard the conversations between Pharaoh and his daughter as she explains to him that she has saved a Hebrew baby from the river and she will raise him in the palace! Perhaps this is the first recorded “Daddy’s Girl” in the Bible, able to melt even her dad’s hard heart of stone.

There are so many times in this account when it would have been easy for God’s people (and even the daughter of Pharaoh) to give up. Evil was so real and oppressive. There seemed no safe way out. But, for those courageous people who feared God (rather than fearing men) – who trusted God in all circumstances, and wisely proceeded with a strong and active compassion for life, God had a reward. God saw their needs and provided exactly what they needed when they needed it. And the princess named the boy Moses, and God would use him in mighty ways to free His people.

Reflection Questions

  1. Give some more examples of people who have feared God. What did they do? What did they not do? Do you fear God? If so, how can you show that you fear God? In your case, fearing God well means not being afraid of what?
  2. On whom is God calling you to have compassion?
  3. In what ways was God preparing Moses, and Moses family, for what was coming? Can you think of something in your past that has prepared you for something you have done for God? How might something you are going through now be preparing you for something God wants you to do in your future?

Prayer

Dear God Almighty and Heavenly Father – thank You for both Your power and Your love! Thank you for providing everything we need and so much more. Help us see You at work even when we are in scary situations or evil looms large. Give us the wisdom to fear YOU. Show us what You want us to do and say. I pray for a heart of compassion, even when it requires great courage as well. As these women, and your precious Son demonstrated, help me stand strong with a heart of love and compassion and forever devoted to You. In his name we pray, Amen.

SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

A Constant Dripping?

Genesis 49 & 50

*Proverbs 25

Matthew 11

Proverbs is such a fun book -chock full of wisdom about so many subjects and issues, including laziness, generosity, enemies, friends, instruction/counsel/rebuke, rich and poor, pride and humility, anger, self-control, words (that’s a big one that comes up over and over again), and quarrelsome, contentious women!

Wait, what are you talking about Solomon?

I love the feel of the Proverbs. Solomon could have just written it like an instruction book:

Women – Don’t be quarrelsome, people don’t like that.

Men – Don’t marry a quarrelsome women, it would become annoying.

But instead, he gives us some delightful analogies in these Proverbs to remember and learn from. If you’ve been reading along in Proverbs, you might remember coming across some of these, including one in today’s Proverbs 25:


Proverbs 19:13 …And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

    Proverbs 21:9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

      Proverbs 21:19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.

      Proverbs 25:24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. (Because sometimes saying it once isn’t enough.)

      Proverbs 27:15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike;

        I know it can be pretty easy to slip into the constant dripping category. We women have opinions and sometimes we are pretty sure our way is the right way. “I wouldn’t have taken this way to the store.” “That kitchen gadget doesn’t go there when you empty the clean dishwasher.” “Eating that isn’t good for you.” Before we know it, our helpful advice is actually not so helpful.

        I want instead to be the excellent, prudent, virtuous, gift from the Lord wife!


        Proverbs 12:4         An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

        Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.

        Proverbs 19:14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

        Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

        Whether you are married or not, man or woman, it is of great value to pay close attention to the words coming out of your own mouth. Instead of being critical, be supportive. Instead of condemnation, try appreciation. Instead of needing to be right (most often about something that does not matter at all), be kind. Instead of sharing your opinion all the time, be quiet and listen.

        Solomon had some wise advice for us all regarding our words, too. Here’s just two of my favorites.

        Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

        Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

          Reflection Questions

          1. Do a quick look up of the word “word” in Proverbs. What do you find that would be helpful to remember? Where will you put it to remember it? What other word(s) would you like to look up in Proverbs to see Solomon’s advice?
          2. Our other readings today have some more helpful examples, both positive and negative, for the use of our words. What do you see in Genesis 50:19-21 and in Matthew 11:18-19? How can we keep from having a critical spirit (and mouth) that finds fault with others? How can we offer true forgiveness even when we have been wronged?
          3. What have you said recently that would have been best left unsaid, or said a different way? When in that situation again, what do you want to do?

          Prayer

          Dear God, I thank you for the wisdom You gave Solomon that has been saved and preserved and is still so valuable for me today. Help me to seek Your wisdom and apply it daily in my life and in my words and in my attitudes and relationships with others, including those who are closest to me. I confess that some days I might sound like the constant dripping. Help me honestly see and hear myself and make corrections, so my words are pleasant and bring life.

          SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

          By Wisdom a House is Built

          Genesis 47-48

          *Proverbs 24

          Matthew 11

          My husband and I both grew up in families that were involved in the building industry. His family had a building/remodeling company in Minnesota and my family provided materials for the industry in Michigan. We were both raised with a knowledge and understanding for the industry so when it came time to build our own home, we were super excited to take on the task.

          We didn’t just wake up one day and say let’s go build a house! It was a process with very specific steps; first, you needed a blueprint to know what you are doing. There are building codes you need to adhere to. You also don’t want to use cheap materials or cut corners. Wisdom is needed in the construction process.

          Today’s proverb uses building as an analogy, in 24:3-4 it says “by wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” The term house in the Bible also can mean home, family or even legacy. Here Solomon is telling us that we need wisdom (an understanding of knowledge and the fear of God) to establish our home and family. Establishing a family is also a process where you want to make good choices, plan ahead and measure risks. Most importantly is the foundation of your family; you need it to be “established” on a firm basis of Godly wisdom so it will withstand the storms of life. The result will be that your rooms (or life) will be filled with rare and beautiful treasures (children, relationships, community).

          Jesus reinforces this principle in the New Testament with the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. In Matthew 7, he illustrates that if you build your life on obedience to God and the teachings of Jesus, then your house will be built on the rock.  When the storms of life come at us, the house will stand firm. Whereas if you build your house like the foolish man on the sand, you will ultimately fall (cue Sunday School song here).

          If we want our families, marriages, parent/children relationships, etc. to succeed in the way in which God would desire our relationships to be , then we MUST operate in the wisdom of God. We cannot depend on our human wisdom. James 1:5 says if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

          Establish your life and family on the firm foundation of God and his wisdom, and you will have a structure that withstands the storms of this life!

          Erin Bormes

          (Originally posted for SeekGrowLove on October 24, 2019. I loved this devotion years ago, and the writer. But even more so now! A few months ago, her oldest married my youngest which makes me super thankful for the wisdom with which she and her husband built their family.)

          Reflection Questions

          1. Erin described wisdom as “an understanding of knowledge and the fear of God”. How would you define the fear of God? What is an understanding of knowledge without the fear of God? What is the fear of God without an understanding of knowledge? Give some examples of how an understanding of knowledge combines with the fear of God to create wisdom.
          2. Looking back on your own life thus far, can you see some wise house building? What was involved in this process? Can you also see some foolish building without a firm foundation? What did that look like and what was the result?
          3. What plans and action steps would you like to set in place now to be working towards the wise construction of your house/home/life/family/legacy?

          Prayer

          Dear God, I praise You for being The Architect of all wisdom, and for generously sharing Your perfect wisdom with us. Forgive me for the times I have made foolish decisions, sometimes based on fear of others instead of fear of You, and sometimes just plain selfish or lazy. Thank you for the Bible and the community of believers that teach and encourage wise building practices. Help me, and my family, and my church family, listen well and apply them to our lives. I pray specifically for your wisdom as I make plans and proceed with… (choose one or two areas of your life).

          SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

          Not Them, But God

          *Genesis 45-46

          Proverbs 23

          Matthew 10

          Devotion by Marcia Railton (IN)

          Two days ago we posted a devotion titled “Not Me, But God” as we were discussing Joseph’s humble and truthful reply to Pharaoh who was seeking someone to interpret his dreams (Genesis 41:16). God did indeed give the answer through Joseph – the dreams meant there would be 7 years of abundant crops followed by 7 years of famine. After giving the interpretation, Joseph – the man who had spent the last 13 years of his life as a servant or a prisoner in a foreign land – stood before Pharaoh suggesting he choose a discerning and wise man to help lead the country through the next 14 years. Pharaoh wisely chose the one man who had been able to interpret his dreams, because in Joseph he saw the Spirit of God, and that is what to look for in a leader. How’s that for being at the right place, at the right time, for the right purpose, with the right spirit. It wasn’t coincidence. It was God. God had sent the dreams, the servant/prisoner from Canaan, the memory of the cupbearer, and the interpretation, at just the right time – and Joseph was saved from prison and also, Egypt would be prepared for the coming famine.

          Today’s reading in Genesis 45 takes place about 9 years later, after 7 years of abundant crops in Egypt during which time Joseph had collected lots and lots of grain, and then, came the famine. It hit hard and not just in Egypt. But Egypt was prepared because of God’s guidance and providence and Joseph’s leadership. Meanwhile, back in Canaan Joseph’s father Jacob (also called Israel) had sent his sons to Egypt to get grain. Remember these are the jealous, hateful, conniving brothers of Joseph who had nearly killed him but instead threw him in the pit and sold him as a slave all those years ago, and had deceived their father into thinking that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.

          It is in chapter 45 that Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers after they have come twice to Egypt to get grain. It would be so easy to harbor anger and resentment toward the brothers who did such evil against you. And now Joseph was in a position to really get back at them and make them pay. He had the power and authority to have them killed, imprisoned for life, or whatever he wanted. So what did Joseph want?

           Joseph said to his brothers: “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a [a]posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 45:5-8 NKJV)

          He wasn’t looking for revenge. He wanted reconciliation.

          He didn’t even want them to feel guilty! He wanted them to see God!

          What an example Joseph sets for us. We all find ourselves in positions we don’t want to be in. It is easy to become bitter and hard hearted. We see injustice and we are wronged, sometimes in petty ways, sometimes in major ways. It is all too easy to blame and to hold grudges. We want to see them pay.

          But Joseph shows us a better way. A way that Jesus will teach us about – loving your enemy, even when they are your brother as well. A way that Paul will write about in 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

          8 Love never fails.

          But Joseph wasn’t JUST loving – he was also seeing God at work. He saw how God was putting the pieces in place.

          He was giving all glory and honor to God – not taking credit for the good that was done. Not me, but God.

          He didn’t see evil done against him by man. He saw a saving God arranging pieces of deliverance and salvation. Not them, but God.

          He didn’t see wasted years. He saw growth in hard places. He saw God preparing a man with His Spirit. As a brother in a pit he was learning to rely on God not on people. As a servant he was learning how to run a household. As a prisoner he was learning how to run a government entity. He was learning to see God at work. He saw he was never alone. God was with him and God was at work. God was at work saving not only a person who had been mistreated, not just a dysfunctional family, but God was saving nations and creating a people for Himself.

          And when people looked at Joseph – they saw the Spirit of God.

          Reflection Questions:

          1. If Joseph were to write an autobiography what might he title it? What might Joseph want us to learn from his experience?
          2. In what hard places have you found yourself? Have you allowed yourself to become bitter or better through the experiences? How might God have been (or is currently) preparing you for what comes next?
          3. Are you currently holding grudges or wanting revenge for anything man has done against you? What would be a better way? How would you go about this change?
          4. Do you see God at work? How can you be God’s instrument in His business of saving people?

          Prayer

          Dear Heavenly Father, I am in awe of You. You are the Creator of life and of saving plans and of turning what man meant for evil into something good. You do not abandon Your people in hard places, but You work with them, filling them with Your Spirit and preparing them for the saving job You have for them to do. Forgive me of the times I wanted revenge or felt ill will towards those who have hurt me. Help me instead to focus on loving others and seeing You at work. Help me, Lord God, to be faithful and effective to do whatever saving jobs you have prepared me to do today and every day to come. I want to be Yours. I want Your Spirit in me.

          SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

          “You Do You” – or Maybe Not

          Genesis 27-28

          *Proverbs 14

          Matthew 6

          “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.

          GodPleaser by Petra

          (Songwriters: Bob Hartman Godpleaser lyrics © Dawn Treader Music)

          So many voices telling me which way to go

          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

          1. 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?
          2. 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?
          3. 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

          SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

          Think Again – This Time with Some Help

          Genesis 23-24, * Proverbs 12, Matthew 6

          –Marcia Railton (IN)

          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

          1. 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?
          2. 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?
          3. 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?
          4. 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.

          SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

          Two Lists

          Genesis 17-19, Proverbs 10, Matthew 5

          Devotion by Steve Mattison (IN) – originally posted for SeekGrowLove on July 18, 2022

          In Proverbs 10, we see several contrasts between a person with Godly wisdom who lives a Godly life versus someone who doesn’t.  I thought it might be nice to summarize those contrasts here.

          A person with Godly wisdom and who lives a Godly life:

          • Brings joy to their father (v1)
          • God doesn’t let this person go hungry (v3)
          • Hard-working (v4, 5)
          • The memory of this person will be a blessing (v7)
          • Accepts commands (v8)
          • Their mouth is a fountain of life (v11)
          • Love covers wrongs (v12)
          • Wise and discerning (v13)
          • Receives life (v16)
          • Holds their tongue (v19)
          • Delights in wisdom (v23)
          • Desires will be granted (v24)
          • Stand firm forever (v25)
          • Adds length of life (v27)
          • Has joy (v28)
          • Will not be uprooted (v30)
          • Mouth brings forth wisdom (v31)
          • Knows what is fitting (v32)

          A person who doesn’t:

          • Brings grief to their mother (v1)
          • God thwarts this person’s cravings (v3)
          • Lazy (v4, 5)
          • Violent (v6, 11)
          • Name will be cursed (v7)
          • Fool comes to ruin (v8)
          • Hatred stirs up dissension (v12)
          • Punished (v13, 16)
          • Conceals hatred (v18)
          • Spreads slander (v18)
          • Their heart is of little value (v20)
          • Finds pleasure in evil conduct (v23)
          • What they dread will overtake them (v24)
          • Swept away (v25)
          • Their life is cut short (v27)
          • Hopes come to nothing (v28)
          • Will not remain in the land (v30)
          • Only knows what is perverse (v32)

          Which list would you like to describe you? If you see some attributes in the second list that may be used to describe you, you can change.

          Hebrews 3:8 says, “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts”.  If something here got your attention, take action.  Don’t let this moment pass.

          2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”  Now is the time to act.

          James 4:4-10 says, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.  … That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’

          Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you. … purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

          You can be a friend of the world, and fall into the second list, or be a friend of God and fall into the first list.  But in order to be a friend of God, you first must submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to God.  You must humble yourself before God, only then He will lift you up.  Only then will the first list fully describe you.

          Application Questions

          1. What 2-3 points do you find most appealing from the first list for the Godly life?
          2. What 2-3 points do you find most distasteful or disturbing from the second list?
          3. Both lists include some actions/attitudes as well as consequences. How do your choices now determine your future? How often do you remember this?
          4. If you choose to humble yourself before God and submit to Him, what will that look like for you today? How will you work to remove something from the second list and then also replace it with something from the first?

          Prayer

          Dear God, We praise you for your wisdom and thank you for the book of Proverbs. I confess the times that I have not applied your wisdom to my life but have chosen instead the foolish friendship with the world path. Help me be fully committed to You and living the life You want for me in all the little daily decisions I make as well as the big ones. Help me see these two lists clearly in the decisions that I make today and every day and give me the discernment and discipline to choose what is wise and right. Lord, I want to humble myself, resist the devil and submit to You more and more, over and over again. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

          SGL.2026.CalendarDownload

          In Simple Terms

          1 Corinthians 1-4

          Devotion by Emilee (Ross) Christian

          When Marcia initially asked me to write the devotions for this week, I briefly glanced at what the daily passages would be. When I saw some Corinthians, I remember thinking, Cool, I like Corinthians – it’s got some good stuff like the love chapter and resurrection chapter. Oh golly, did I underestimate the book of 1 Corinthians. I mean, I know Paul wrote some “hard to understand” things (2 Peter 3:16 NLT). I just didn’t realize, until today, I would have to write a response to some of these things. 

          Teaching, wisdom, and humility are some overarching themes in today’s text from 1 Corinthians chapters 1-4. Upon my first read through, I was stumped, and really wishing someone smarter than me had these chapters. I longed to search through my old notes from Bible college to see what my professor had to say. I have all my old notes – and Bob Jones, if you’re reading this, I have my handouts organized by theme in TWO collapsible file portfolios. 🙂 Unfortunately, everything is labeled somewhere in a box that has yet to be unearthed since my getting married and moving from Nebraska to Missouri. It then occurred to me I could spend hours diving deeper into the complexity of these four chapters with the aid of the internet. Seeing as it was 2pm Wednesday afternoon, Marcia needs my devotion tonight, and I’ve got a Thanksgiving Bible Study dinner at 5:30, I decided that wasn’t the way to go. So, I got out my interlinear Greek New Testament and started reading again, this time briefly summarizing the main ideas as I went. What I came up with was the Emilee Christian Simplified Version of 1 Corinthians 1-4. Doing this helped me better understand what Paul meant. I will share with you what I came up with, in hopes it does the same for you. This may be more informal than what you are used to reading – bear with me, please!

          1:1-3: Paul and Sosthenes are writing a letter to the Corinthian church.

          1:4-9: Speaking as Paul: I thank God for you. God loves you. God wants to use your church. 

          1:10-17: I hear you’ve been fighting – knock it off!

          1:18-20: Earthly wisdom has no power against the cross. 

          1:21-31: God likes to use the weak and unexpected things of this world to further show His power. Side note – I particularly like this section and immediately thought of these four seemingly unexpected things God has used: a manger, shepherds, fishermen, and women as first witnesses to the resurrection. 

          2:1-5: When I came to you, I spoke in plain simple terms so you would understand that Gospel message. 

          2:6-11: I use more complex language while speaking to spiritually mature believers. This is different from worldly wisdom. Perhaps people were accusing Paul of using worldly ideas to explain the Gospel and this is his defense. 

          2:12-15: I’m talking about spiritual matters that do not make sense to those attempting to understand with worldly wisdom. 

          3: 1-3: Remember when I came to you I simplified things. I am still having to simplify things because your arguing and disagreeing is preventing you from understanding more complex spiritual thought. 

          3: 4-9: Summarizes what they’ve been arguing about. Explains that it doesn’t matter who brought you to the faith in Christ, what’s important is that you now have faith in Christ. 

          3:10-15: Christ is the foundation of our faith. Anyone may build upon this foundation by spreading the Good News. God’s judgment will reveal if one has done a good or bad job at expanding the foundation. We mere humans don’t need to burden ourselves with making those judgments. 

          3:16-17: The Church is God’s holy temple so behave and be holy – get your act together Corinthians! 

          3:18: Sounds like Paul saying he hopes the proud get knocked down a few pegs so they will in turn learn true wisdom. 

          3:19-20: Again there is a difference between God’s wisdom and the world’s understanding. 

          3:21-22: Don’t be boastful, don’t be prideful – all things belong to Christ who belongs to God. 

          4:1-5: It’s God’s place to judge. 

          4:6-7: So quit arguing about who is better – it’s not your job, it’s God’s. 

          4:8-13: Seriously, quit bickering over us Apostles! It’s rough enough out here spreading the Gospel we don’t need to deal with your infighting, too. 

          4:14: I’m not trying to shame you in saying these things, but you need to be disciplined because you are acting like children. 

          4:15-16: I feel responsible for your faith because I was the one who first told you about Christ – so I’ve got a right to call you out when you’re acting like children. Shape up. Do better. 

          4:17: I’m sending Timothy to help you. 

          4:18-21: I hear you want me to come visit, but is that what you really want? Because if I came to visit you now I would be mad and disappointed. Get your act together so that when I do come, we can have a good visit. 

          Food for Thought: I have to wonder if writing in lengthy complex statements was sort of Paul’s point. In trying to put spiritual things into the context and words of men, it seemed to me to make less sense. Is that a part of Paul’s argument? Perhaps Paul is demonstrating that to have complete understanding of God is foolish and what we should seek is to have faith. 

          Reflection Questions

          1. What are some examples of what the world says is wise that God says is foolishness? When have you found yourself switching over from worldly wisdom to Godly wisdom?
          2. If Paul came to your church, or wrote a letter to you, what might he say?
          3. What arguments have you allowed to come between you and your brothers and sisters at church? What can you do to fix the problem?
          SGL.2025.NovemberFullPageDownload