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.
When we start Exodus 3, the Israelites have been demoted from a position of honor to a position of slavery (Ex 1). Moses was born into these turbulent times and through a series of miracles survived and was promoted to a position of authority, and then fled when he was near 40 and remained in exile for 40 more years (Exodus 2, Acts 7: 23-30). This puts Moses at the spry young age of about 80 years old when the story of the burning bush kicks off in Exodus 3. This is one of the most important stories and chapters in the entirety of scripture for a couple different reasons: firstly, for the first time the concept of “shaliah” is indisputably revealed to us in scripture, and secondly God reveals himself to a human (Moses) by name for the first time in recorded history. There are a few chapters in Genesis where the concept of Shaliah can be strongly inferred, but this is the first time I’m aware of that it’s plainly revealed.
If you are not familiar with this concept, understand it is absolutely critical to understanding scripture. You are apt to get a number of scriptures wrong if you don’t view them from the perspective of it’s original authors, that is to say, the ancient Jewish people. This is what wikipedia states about the Law of Shaliah (it is a legal term):
( Quoting Wikipedia) “In Jewish law, a shaliaḥ (in Hebrew : שָלִיחַ or pl.שְלִיחִים , sheliḥim (pl) or sheliah, literally “emissary” or “messenger”) is a legal agent. In practice, “the shaliaḥ for a person is as this person himself.” Accordingly, a shaliaḥ performs an act of legal significance for the benefit of the sender, as opposed to him or herself. “
This concept is shown to us clearly in scripture by comparing and contrasting Ex 3:2 to Ex 3:4. “And the angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a blazing fire…And Yahweh saw that he turned aside to look, so God called to him from the midst of the bush…” (LSB translation). In essence, the messenger that God sends (be it angel, donkey, or human) speaks with the full authority of God, as if they are God. So when “the word of The LORD” comes to the prophets and they speak, they are speaking with the full authority of the Most High God. When God placed His name in the angel leading the Israelites in Ex 23:20-21, He explained to them that this angel spoke with His authority. When the donkey spoke to Balaam, through the “angel of Yahweh”, it states clearly that “Yahweh spoke” (Number 22:22-28). The one speaking was not the donkey, not the angel, but The LORD (YHVH) Himself (through His agent). This is why it’s so critical to understand Shaliah, because the one who is sent by God speaks with the full authority of God. This does not make the messenger mysteriously transform into God, but God lets us know that this messenger is speaking with the full authority of God so we’d better listen up.
This concept is repeated constantly throughout scripture but a lack of understanding of this concept, along with the introduction of a number of popular Greek philosophies later on, have caused numerous misinterpretations of scripture and much confusion amongst believers. That concept carries over into the New Testament as well. Jesus states in the book of John about 42 times that God sent him: he is not only the Messiah prophesied, but the man chosen to be the Shaliah of God. The title “Christ” in Greek means “The Anointed One”, and we see from the OT that you are anointed by God from among men, so every time you see “Jesus Christ” in scripture, it is an affirmation that Jesus of Nazareth was the prophesied messiah, the anointed one, the man chosen by God to be his Shaliah. Christ is a title, not a name, and it affirms Jesus’ humanity every time it is spoken while at the same time affirming that he speaks with the authority of God.
Exodus 3 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible. In it, God clearly reveals himself through his agent (Shaliah, we just talked about that) by name to a human being, for the first time recorded in history. This is both awesome and humbling: that the creator of all things would reach back out to we who bear His image in another attempt to draw us closer to Him speaks to the never ending mercy and lovingkindness of our heavenly Father. While there is some debate as to the proper pronunciation of the most sacred name (YHVH: is it Jehovah, or Yahovah, or Yaweh….?), the fact remains that He chose to reveal his identity to us, and that is wonderfully beautiful. Some people say that every breath that we breathe, in and then out, whispers the name of God. Try it, and visualize the name. That is also wonderfully beautiful, and seems to me like an amazing “made by” stamp like you might see on the bottom of a fine piece of pottery, but in our very breath. Praise God!
Personally “The LORD” really bothers me. Most of your Bibles will say something in the preface notes to the gist of “…and honoring tradition, all references to YHVH (the actual transliterated name of God) have been translated as “The LORD””. This is a horrible mistranslation, as has led to a whole lot of terrible confusion and mistaken identity later. Let me be very clear: GOD HAS A NAME. He reveals it to us, and gives us a command, in Ex 3:15: “And God furthermore said to Moses, Thus shall you say to the sons of Israel, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and this is My memorial-name from generation to generation.” (LSB translation). Did you know that in the Old Testament, the actual name of God is used almost 7,000 times? Why have we stopped using it when we pray or worship? Think about it.
Reflection Questions:
If you had seen the burning bush, would you have turned aside to go investigate or would you be too busy with work/school/life?
How many times in a week do you think that God is trying to get your attention to tell you something important? Of those times, how many times do you stop and listen?
Do you call on God by name when you pray or worship? Why, or why not?
When you breathe in and out, and listen closely, do you hear the name of God?
Prayer
Blessed be the Lord God Yahovah, creator of the the heavens and the earth, who has made all things and us with them, who causes the sun to go down and the sun to rise, and all things to be made anew every day. Lord God, renew me today, help me to listen when you are trying to get my attention. Open my eyes so I can see you, and my ears so I can hear you. I thank you in your son Jesus’ name, Amen.
Side Note: A brief mention of 1 of the 2 verses in the Old Testament that baffled me a bit: Ex 4:24 has always confused me. If God had wanted to kill something, it would die, period. In my Bible currently, I have a handwritten note by Ex 4:24 that says “possible confusion among the host?”. I think this is one of 2 verses in the Old Testament that tend to point out that in some very rare instances, and in some minor matters, there may be some level of miscommunication amongst the Shelihim (legal agents of God; the story of Balaam is the other). This is absolutely inconceivable if it were the most high God performing the actions directly, but becomes understandable if beings lower than God are acting on their own perceptions but with God’s authority, particularly if there are multiple agents in play simultaneously. Just a theory.
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
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?
On whom is God calling you to have compassion?
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.
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
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?
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?
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.
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
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.
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?
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).
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:
If Joseph were to write an autobiography what might he title it? What might Joseph want us to learn from his experience?
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?
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?
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.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
After commissioning the twelve apostles, Jesus proceeds to teach them about what this commissioning entails. First, they will be persecuted (vv. 16-25), but they don’t need to be afraid because God will be with them and cares for them (vv. 26-31). Then comes a section that deals with the seriousness of the need to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, which can be a controversial subject (vv. 32-39). Jesus says that he did not come to bring peace but a sword (v. 34). This proclamation is not Jesus’ war cry as though his intention is to bring violence, but rather, it reveals that Jesus recognizes and discloses that he will be a point of contention and disagreement for many people. In other words, the truth that Jesus came to bring (and which he represents) will inevitably cause disunity and conflict.
It is on the heels of this declaration by Jesus that we read of the even more severe nature of this conflict—it may happen even within one’s own family. Jesus assumes the natural love of one’s family as a premise and then moves to identify that as a lesser priority in life than love for him. When he says that a person who loves him less than their family is “not worthy” of me (v. 37), he is making a value claim upon himself as more important than them. To be “worthy of me” means to “be fit to be a disciple.” It is important to clarify that Jesus is not advocating that his disciples not love their families. Instead, he is simply stipulating that the value attachment of a person to their family must not exceed their value attachment to him. To be Jesus’ disciple is to prize him above even one’s own flesh and blood.
The implications of this statement are far reaching. Who would say that loving a brother, sister, child, or parent should be subservient to the love of another? But this is precisely the demand that Jesus is making of his disciples. It is a declaration of discipleship that calls for absolute devotion. This extreme requirement is extended as Jesus also says that those who would follow him must “take [up] their cross” (v. 38). This is an expression referring to being willing to self-identify and endure the shame and suffering of one who is crucified.
Jesus elaborates by uttering one of the most interesting paradoxes: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (v. 39). In essence, Jesus is saying that the life that matters is the life that is lived for the sake of Christ. To take the road of self-denial and live for something other than one’s self is to “find life.”
From these three criteria of discipleship, where do we find ourselves? Are we willing to follow Jesus no matter what? Does our love for him exceed our love for anything else? Are we willing to take up our cross? Are we willing to die to self in order to find that which may truly be called “life”? Such a price is the price of being a disciple. Are we willing to pay that price? What might be stopping us from wholehearted devotion and service to the Master?
-Jerry Wierwille (originally posted for SeekGrowLove on March 13, 2018)
Reflection Questions
In what ways have you died to self, taken up your cross, and put Jesus before yourself and others? What was the result (so far)? What do you expect the final result to be?
Slowly read again the last paragraph, replacing the ‘are we’ with ‘am I’ and the ‘us’ and ‘our’ with ‘me’ and ‘mine’. Take time to answer each question for yourself.
Do you want to be a more devoted disciple of Jesus Christ? What specific changes are you willing to make? What will it cost you? Why is following Jesus worth it?
Prayer
Dear God Almighty, thank you for your amazing plan of salvation and the gift of your Son. I want to be a wholehearted, devoted disciple of Your Son Jesus Christ who died for me and my sins and is coming again to set up Your perfect Kingdom on earth. May I see clearly what You want me to do to follow better. You know my struggle in sometimes prioritizing other things, such as… (fill in the blank). Help me love Jesus more than these. In his precious name I pray, Amen.
Have you ever been stuck in a difficult place? Feeling forgotten? Waiting for justice that doesn’t come?
That’s where Joseph was – again. The favored, pampered son of Jacob had been thrown into a pit by his brothers. Then sold by same said brothers. He becomes a slave in Egypt, far from home. Then falsely accused and thrown into prison. He had received a glimmer of hope of being remembered and saved, but two years later he was still a prisoner. Stuck. Forgotten. Unfair.
And then comes the call. Pharaoh is calling for the prisoner! Quick. Clean-up. Shave. Change clothes. Enter – Joseph.
I wonder if Joseph had played a similar scene in his mind many times over as he was waiting. Did he have dreams of being remembered? Was he still remembering his childhood dreams of his family bowing down to him, and wondering? Was this now finally his long awaited chance to shine? Would he be angry and resentful over the way he had been mistreated again and again? Would he lash out at the world?
Pharaoh explains to Joseph why he was called up out of prison. Can Joseph interpret the dream that no one else can? I love his reply: “So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.'” (Genesis 41:16 NKJV) I don’t hear even a hint of anger, self-righteousness, resentment or giving up. Just humble truth. Not me, but God. Still relying on God. Not me, but God.
God was with him in his father’s house. God was with him in the pit. God was with him in his master’s home. God was with him in the prison. God was with him in the Pharaoh’s palace. God was with Joseph. Joseph was not forgotten. And Joseph did not forget God.
When you are stuck and feeling forgotten. Don’t forget God. It might take some time. Your circumstances might not change how or when you want or expect. You might face the pit or prison or both, and it won’t be fair. But you won’t be alone. It is recorded that just before Joseph was thrown into the pit he was 17 years old. When he stood before Pharaoh he was 30 years old. Those weren’t lost times in between. God was with Joseph. And Joseph did not forget God.
Reflection Questions
What characteristics do you see in Joseph that you would like to see in yourself?
In what difficult times have you experienced God with you?
When and how can you respond, “Not me, but God will…”?
Prayer
Dear Almighty, I thank you for not forgetting me. Thank you for being with me – on what looks like great days and what looks like difficult days. Help me to see You and Your loving care through each and every day. Thank you for using people to do things they could never do without you. Show me what you want me to say and do with Your knowledge, wisdom and words. Give me a faithful, patient, humble, true heart that gives all honor and credit and praise to You.
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.
Seek Grow Love 