Weekend Review

March 07 & 08, 2020

Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise:
  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
 Provideth her meat in the summer,
and gathereth her food
in the harvest.

Work Week Devotions
Through the Book of Proverbs

      As you know by now, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we only publish our Devotional Thoughts on Monday – Friday. On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying this past week, and if we will be going into the following chapter the next week, we encourage you to read that chapter as well.       

There are never Devotions on Sunday. 

Thank you for joining us as we
journey together
Through Proverbs in 2020.

WEEK 9 – Day 6

     On Saturday, we suggest you re-read the Proverb we have written from this past week and the week to come.

Proverbs 6

WEEK 9 – Day 7

     Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastor’s heart. Whatever Scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS

March 9, 2020     Deuteronomy 15 – 19             Proverbs 6:20 – 22
March 10, 2020   Deuteronomy 20 – 24             Proverbs 6:23 – 24
March 11, 2020   Deuteronomy 25 – 28             Proverbs 6:25 – 28
March 12, 2020   Deuteronomy 29 – 32             Proverbs 6:29 – 31
March 13, 2020   Deuteronomy 33 – Joshua 3 Proverbs 6:32 – 35
March 14, 2020   Proverbs 6 – 7                      
March 15, 2020   No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

March 9, 2020     Numbers 26-27                            Mark 12:28-44
March 10, 2020   Numbers 28-29                            Mark 13
March 11, 2020   Numbers 30-31                            Mark 14:1-16
March 12, 2020   Numbers 32-33                            Mark 14:17-42
March 13, 2020   Numbers 34-35                            Mark 14:43-72
March 14, 2020   Numbers 36-Deuteronomy 1  Mark 15:1-23
March 15, 2020   No Passages Assigned

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    MARCH 07, 2020        Numbers 23-25       Mark 12:1-27
    MARCH 08, 2020        No Passages Assigned

Some Things Turn God’s Stomach

March 06, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     As Christians, we all retain the old sin nature. It’s possible for anyone to be tempted by sin, and to give in. Living in known sin with no remorse, cannot be a saved person’s lifestyle. A Christian will desire to be more like their Saviour, Jesus Christ.

     1 John 1:9 was placed in scripture for the redeemed who have given in to sin’s temptations. It tells us how to get back where we should be, in fellowship with God. However, what truly sickens God is the disobedience of pre-meditated sin. Planning on sinning, thinking God has to forgive you some day. God will always forgive you of your sin, but does not always take away the penalty of that sin.

     There are those who cannot wait to sin. Their feet are swift to run to mischief. These people not only plan, and meditate on sin, but also can’t wait to get to it. If only Christians were so eager to serve, as some sinners are eager to sin.

     Of the first six things the Lord hates, we find lying to be part of two of them. God hates lying. Even more, falsely accusing, or lying against another person. Not only have you sinned, but you have also defamed the character of another. These lies damage something which God hold’s dear, the testimony of their life. We should guard our testimony as if it were gold. God truly hates it when someone tries to falsely tear that down.

     The last on the list is also called an abomination unto God. Abomination carries the meaning of something that stinks, and will turn your stomach. What ultimately turns God’s Stomach? People gossiping, slandering, exaggerating, lying, and dividing the body of Christ. It’s verbally attacking the people whom God loves, and we should love too. It makes God sick.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     God is a God of reconciliation. Reconciling people to himself, and also to one another. He has never been the God of division. If we are to be more like Christ, shouldn’t we too be more about healing, than dividing?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 06, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 11 – 14      /     Proverbs 6:16-19

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 21-22      /     Mark 11

What? I Was Just Having Fun

March 05, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:12-15 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     I have been known from time to time, to play a little trick on someone. More often than not, it’s a harmless little something, that when we are finished, we can both laugh at. It will often bring a surprise, or scare, which is only for a moment, and then it’s done.

     However, what if this went on, and on, and on, for what seemed to be an eternity. Well, that’s the way it is in the life of what today’s passage is calling, “a naughty person.” In a quest to find more pleasure, and bigger laughs in their practical jokes they play on people, they do more, and more terrible things. These things may eventually physically hurt others, and often themselves. They become thrill seekers at others expense.

     It becomes an addiction with them, just like any other addiction. Such as the person addicted to alcohol will need more, and more alcohol to satisfy their cravings. An addiction to tobacco, pornography, drugs, or anything is the same. The more you have, the more you want. This is the same for the naughty person. If they have pulled something really big to embarrass, harass, hurt, or degrade you, or someone else, watch out, the next stunt will be bigger, and worse yet.

     The problem is, they are so involved in what they are doing, they never realize how they’re ruining their own lives. No one wants to be around them. No one ever trusts them. All their time is spent on mischief, and deceit, and their mind is consumed with it continually. Their destruction is sure, and seemingly swift. Then, it always end the same way with them saying; “Hey what happened? I was just having some fun.”

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Watch out for the tricksters in this life. The final trick they play is always on themselves. It appears almost like magic. POOF, and suddenly they realize, they have nothing to show for life. Does that sound like a good trick to you?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 05, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 7-10      /      Proverbs 6:12-15

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 19-20      /     Mark 10:32-52

WORK Is A Four-letter Word

March 04, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:9-11 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

       Let me sleep just a little while longer, please! Every parent has heard this. Sometimes it’s not only heard from the children, but also from the one who takes care of the children. Just a few more minutes, please!

     Society today in general, are people on the run. We go, go, and go some more. Nevertheless, we are also a nation that needs it’s rest, but how much rest is enough? The answer to this question seems to depend on the person doing the study.

     Different studies have produced different results. Some say that eight hours a night is enough. While others say you really only need four to six hours of good sleep per night. Most busy people try to get by on as little sleep as possible. However, there are those who are on the other end of the spectrum, and they seemingly sleep their life away.

     Those endless sleepers are who Solomon is referring in today’s passage. This is in contrast with the little working ant in the previous verses. Here we find someone who wants a little sleep, gets up, relaxes just a bit before they turn around to do nothing, and becomes tired from their laziness to the point of going back to bed again.

     He warns of this lifestyle of do nothingness. Like a traveler who step by step through life, doing nothing along the way, comes to a sudden, terrible end. At the end of this expedition is brokenness, both physically, and literally? He also likens it to a life that ends as though an armed man suddenly robs you, and you’re left with nothing. So will this life of doing nothing leave you the same way. Time runs out, and your left empty handed.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Yes, WORK is a four-letter word. Nevertheless, it’s a word that we need in our life. The Bible declares if a man won’t work, that he in turn, should not eat. It doesn’t say that work should be our life, but it should be a part of it. God will supply our needs; however, He often does it through a job.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 04, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 4-6      /      Proverbs 6:9-11

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 16-18      /     Mark 10:1-31

Lessons From The Ants

March 03, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 6:4-8 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     BUGS, INSECTS!!! Even the words makes some people’s skin crawl. Most often, we think of pests when thinking of them. When something is wrong in our computer programs, it’s called, “a Bug” in the program. If someone is bothering you, you might say, “Quit bugging me,” or, “stop being such a pest.”

     However, Solomon points out a very valuable lesson that can be obtained from observing the ANT. Ants evidently have no real leader. There’s no commando ant barking out orders, telling all the other ants what to do, and where to go. Yet all the ants fall into place, and pull their weight. In fact, it has been said, an ant can carry many times its own weight when gathering things. Another interesting fact about ants is, they get prepared in advance. They put up things in preparation for winter, and harsh weather.

     So what are we to learn from these little industrious creatures? First, we learn saving is not a sin. Some will tell you the Bible never speaks of putting anything away for the future. They say you’re just to rely on God, day by day for everything. Not true. God gives us wisdom to see a future need, and we should be wise, and save for it. God has still supplied for the need. Next, we see we should not have to be told to do something in order for it to be done. Simply get busy, and get it done. In addition, teamwork sure does help.

     One great thing about the church I’m privileged to pastor is that they do work as a team if there is a true need in our midst. Teamwork is getting it done together. We should not be sluggards, or lazy. God provides the materials, however we must still use them to the best of our ability, for His glory.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

Next time you see ants, watch how busy they are. God has given them all they need to survive; all they have to do is use it. He’s done the same for us. Now what will you do with it?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  March 03, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Deuteronomy 1 – 3      /     Proverbs 6:4-8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Numbers 15      /     Mark 9:30-50