Proverbs - Authority

Tomorrow there will be an interrupt in the devotional and will resume on Wednesday.

Proverbs 20:8

A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment
scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

Authority is quite a responsibility.  When we appropriately exercise judgment in situations that God has given us authority over, we scatter away all evil with our eyes.  When our children are doing things contrary to what God declares to be good and we look at these things measuring them against God’s good law, we can declare judgment.  We can tell our children what we see and help them learn how to evaluate their lives in the light of the beautiful standards God has for them.  It may not mean punishment time and definitely not cramming God’s truths down their throats all of the time, but in quietness and love bringing those under our authority the truths of whether certain words or attitudes are right or wrong according to their Maker’s judgments.  When we are faithful to do this, our children will be protected against deception and evil will not continue unchecked.  Many of the things we say to our children may not be heeded to early on, but even when they are old, evil will scatter away from them due to our eyes judging things and giving them God’s counsel as they grew up under our authority.  Sisters, don’t be afraid of judgment when God has put you in a place to do so.  A righteous judge is a blessing to all those who are involved.  A righteous judge can say ‘not guilty’ and a righteous judge helps wickedness stop.  Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  Give your children truth in the sweet syrup of grace and evil will be scattered away.

Knowing God - God Does Good Things

Gen 1:4

 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

After God made the light, he looked at it.  Then He took in the fact that the light was good.  Our Creator took the time to enjoy and behold what He had made.  Our God is not just about checking off completed tasks, but taking in the beauty and wisdom of all He does.  Do we stop and behold the things that He has created?  How about light?  Have you ever stopped and just noticed that everything around you is lit up by this fireball in the sky?  No one is paying the electric bill on this and the light is just perfect for our lives.  Our God makes good things and stops to enjoy their goodness.  Let’s take some time today and see things that He has made and enjoy their goodness as well.  This will make us more like Him!

Proverbs - Integrity and Our Children

Proverbs 20:7

                                     

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Our integrity is directly linked to our children being blessed.  Integrity is the quality of character that involves truth and humility.  Integrity is connected to our conscience and the fear of the Lord.  When we are women of integrity, our choices are evaluated by the Lord’s standard of right and wrong as well as wise and foolish.  We won’t be women who apathetically respond and react according to any given moment or catalyst.  Rather, our reactions and choices are brought before the Lord seeking to reflect and obey all that He considers right and worthy.  Our financial habits, words spoken and work ethic are to be regarded as arenas where we can’t be rightfully challenged for a lack of integrity.  We don’t hide things from our husbands, we don’t lie on our time cards and we don’t make promises to our children knowing we are unable to keep them.  Other scriptures that can help us understand what it means to walk in our integrity are as follow:

·        Ps 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. – Having integrity will involve waiting on the Lord for His leading and not being an impulsive, stubborn woman.

·        Ps 26:1 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. – Integrity should be involved with every step we take.  It is trusting the Lord to be right and not trying to fix everything with our own means.  Integrity keeps us stable and not backslidden.

·        Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. - Job’s wife equated letting go of integrity with cursing God.  To be women of integrity and bless our children they should never hear us blaming God or concluding that He has been unfaithful.

Sisters, when we make those righteous choices when no one is looking, we are blessing our children and providing a safe environment for them.  Remember that what is seen in secret will be rewarded openly.

Knowing God - He Forms, He Creates, He Makes

Isa 45:7

 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

The Lord is speaking to His people through the prophet Isaiah.  He is reminding them of who He is that they might take His commands and boundaries a bit more seriously.  We do not have the option to ignore God’s Words and expect to experience life in the manner in which He designed it.  The Lord formed light.  The Lord creates darkness.  The Lord makes peace.  The Lord creates situations that we don’t like.  The Lord does these things.  He is Lord.  He is Creator.  He is wisdom.  He is judge.  He is Savior.  He is the One we answer to.  In a day and age where personal opinion is touted as the ultimate guide to our lives, we had best take note of who our God is and the position He deserves as final authority in all matters.  Who is like our God?  He deserves our appropriate submission, honor and respect.  Perhaps it would do us well to sit in His presence for a few minutes and take in what He is saying here.  Perhaps if we started our day with a bit more awe, we might choose our paths more carefully.

Proverbs - Be Faithful NOT Phony

Proverbs 20:6

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

This truth is great to know about ourselves and those who surround us.  Proclaiming means to speak forth and let others know.  We will often let people know how good we are and what we are capable of.  There might even be an element of truth in what we are proclaiming, but here the Lord tells us that we should rather focus on being faithful rather than how we represent ourselves verbally to others.  Faithfulness involves a few things.

·        Prov 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. – a faithful person keeps a confidence and doesn’t let others know about situations revealed to them that are meant to be protected

·        Prov 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. – A faithful person will be reliable in their duties.  They will be on time for responsibilities and do what they say they will do.

·        Prov 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.- A faithful person will not slant the truth, exaggerate the truth or deceive.  They say they will do something and they will do it.  If they make a mistake they will admit it.

·        Prov 25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. – A faithful person is a good employee and is a blessing to anyone who is over them in authority.  They make the load lighter and refresh their leaders.  They follow through with integrity.

Do you remember the parable that the Lord used about the one man who said he would go and do what his master said and then didn’t’ do it?  Do you remember the other man refused to do it but ended up doing it anyway?  Jesus asked the group, “Whether of them twain did the will of his father?” (Matt 21:31).  We would, as the listeners said, agree that the one who actually did the father’s will rather than the one who said they would.  This is an excellent example of this proverb.  Let us be slow to speak our own praises and focus on demonstrating our faithfulness.  When seeking someone out for a responsibility let us not focus on the verbal discussion but on the observation of their character and duties.  Lord, help us be faithful women that glorify You.

Knowing God - He Strengthens Me!

Phil 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

When a believer reads this verse, they usually focus on the part of being able to do all things.  Here we will focus on what we learn about Jesus Christ in this verse.  We are told, by Paul, that Jesus gives him strength when he faces things he needs to do.  This shows that Jesus was not just a prophet or eloquent orator who died to be a good example.  This verse proves the resurrection of Christ and His ability to be with every believer imputing to them strength that they need.  Christ strengthens the individual.  He is not just concerned with His church as a whole, but comes individually to each member of the body ready to give them strength that He has to give.  Jesus is real.  Jesus is alive.  Jesus has strength to give.  Jesus is God!

Proverbs - Drawing Out Hearts

Proverbs 20:5

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;

 but a man of understanding will draw it out.

To be a good friend we should consider the heart of the one we love.  Here, the Lord is telling us that within the heart of man, He puts His counsel deep within it.  The heart is likened unto a well and if we are women of understanding we should consider drawing counsel out as if we were at a well drawing water.  To draw water requires an empty container being lowered to the depth of the water level.  We must not come at our friends with advice before we probe with an open heart and mind to a depth beyond which they are operating.  The lowering involves humility and teach-ability.  Asking people open-ended questions inviting them to listen to the counsel of the Lord is one of the best ways to help them grow in their ability to hear the Lord and follow Him.  If Christ dwells in their hearts by faith, then He is there as their Wonderful Counselor and is speaking to them.  Sometimes people just have too much muck sitting on top of the water of their hearts and we need to help them go deeper to the voice they can trust.  Being a good friend is helping another person tune in to the Lord, hear Him and obey Him.  The next time someone comes to us for advice, picture yourself with an open bucket lowering it deep in their hearts seeking to draw out the counsel that the Lord is putting there.