DEVOTIONS

God’s Designs Are Best
February 28, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 5:14-16
I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly. Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        What is a cistern? It’s a place where water can be collected and controlled. What is a well? It’s a specific location from which water can be drawn. What about a fountain? Fountains spray water for everyone to see but keep it within themselves. And how about a river? A river directs water from one place to another while keeping it within its banks.

      At the time of writing this passage of scripture, water was very scarce and valuable. Solomon is using these word pictures to help us understand the value of an intimate relationship. In the previous verses, he had just finished warning us about sinful sexual relations. Someone might read this and wonder if a physical relationship is always sinful. Therefore, he takes the time to tell us that, in the right context, it definitely is not.

       In this passage, the wife is referred to as a cistern and a well. This highlights her great value, as she possesses the ability to bring immense joy to her husband like no one else can. Water serves as a metaphor for that passionate, loving relationship, emphasizing its immense worth in a marriage. Some believe that when today’s verses mention “water in the streets,” it’s referring to the children born from this intimate monogamous relationship and how they can bring honor to the community.

      Think about what happens when a fountain cracks and starts to leak, or when a river overflows its banks. These are serious problems that can lead to destruction and loss of lives. Similarly, untamed love can have devastating consequences.

      Love is precious and designed to be profoundly special and personal. Solomon wants his son to understand that marital relationships should not lack the joys of the passionate love that God created. However, this love should always remain within the boundaries of the marriage relationship.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     An intimate relationship between a husband and wife is one of the closest bonds a couple can experience. God knew this when He designed it. Enjoying life together with our spouse was God’s desire and design. God’s designs are always the best.

How can we help to keep God’s design for marriage
in front of the world today?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: FEBRUARY 28, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Numbers 22 – Numbers 25
   Proverbs 5:14 – 16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Numbers 3-4
   Mark 6:30-56

What’s Really COOL?
February 27, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 5:10-13
Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Do you remember the day you graduated from high school? I remember most of my classmates saying things like, “I’m free… I’m finally free,” and, “No more people telling me what to do!” However, reality sets in not too long after graduation is done. There might be no more school for some, but there will always be someone telling you what needs to be done.

      Yet, with graduation, there is a sense of becoming your own person, an independence that feels liberating. Sadly, some of my classmates had already made significant mistakes in their lives by the time they graduated. Some had impregnated their girlfriends and were now responsible for supporting a family or paying child support. Ironically, many of these were the individuals who thought they were the big shots on campus—the Mr. and Miss “I’m too cool for most of you.” You know the type. However, their obsession with maintaining a “cool” image led them to try to be something they shouldn’t have been. Instead of enjoying their teenage years, they were trying too hard to be adults. Consequently, they found themselves becoming parents before school was even over, and it appeared as if they had lost a lot of the “coolness” that was so important to them. People would say things like, “Man, you have messed up your life,” or “What a waste; they had so much potential.”

 

       That is exactly what today’s scripture says. If you play with sin, you lose honor, opportunities slip away, and often you end up paying court fees, child support, or doctor bills. Some develop serious health issues, and others even lose their lives. Looking back, they probably wonder why they did not just wait. The brief moment of indulging in sin was not worth it. Not so “cool” after all.

        

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

 

     Is it worth it? Is sin really worth the shame and ridicule? Is it worth the disappointment you’ll feel later? Is it worth dishonoring God? Is it worth your entire life? The best answer to all these questions is a resounding NO.

 

What will you do to remain “COOL” with God?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: FEBRUARY 27, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Numbers 18 – Numbers 21
   Proverbs 5:10 – 13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Numbers 1-2
   Mark 6:1-29

 

Stay Clear Of The Scary House
February 26, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 5:6-9
Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Over the years, I have heard many people talk about a house in their neighborhood that seemed spooky. For some, it was an old, abandoned house, and the story goes that people lost their lives there, and the house was now filled with ghosts. For others, it was a house where an elderly couple lived. Somehow, they seemed angry and upset most of the time. (Could it possibly have been because of all the annoying neighborhood kids?) Nevertheless, stories started to circulate about how they were mean old people who would harm you if you went near the house. For whatever reason, there always seemed to be, in every neighborhood, a house kids did not want to go near. Although the stories about these places were most likely made up and highly exaggerated, the fear of these houses was very real. No one had to beg children to stay away from there; they just did not go there. The fear of what might happen was all it took to keep them away.

      Solomon once again urges his son not to turn away from his sayings. Unlike the stories of haunted houses and mean older people, these sayings are not made up. These are life’s tried and true words of wisdom. Solomon wanted his son and all who read these words to have that same kind of childlike fear when it came to the ways of sin. Stay away from it. Let the fear of what might happen keep you from it. Because, behind every door of sin, there lies disappointment, dishonor, disease, despair, and even doom. You’ll not go inside the place of sin if you never go near sin’s door.        

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Knock knock. Who’s there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad you didn’t fall for sin’s tricks. Okay, so it’s a bad joke. However, it’s a joy to be right. Right with man, and right with God. RIGHT?

Was there a Scary Place you remember from Childhood?
Is Sin a Scary Place for you to be near today?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: FEBRUARY 26, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Numbers 15 – Numbers 17
   Proverbs 5:6 – 9

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Leviticus 26-27
   Mark 5

WEEKEND REVIEW
February 24 & 25, 2024

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart
with all diligence;
for out of it
are
the issues of life.

Work Week Devotions
Through The Book Of Proverbs

     As previously mentioned, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we will only be publishing Devotional Thoughts Monday – Friday.

     On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying this 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 2024

WEEK 7 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 4-5

WEEK 7 – 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
OLD & NEW TESTAMENT
TODAY AND TOMORROW

February 24,
Leviticus 25
Mark 4:21 – 41

February 25,
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1
Bible In a Year
with Proverbs Study 

February 26
Numbers 15 – Numbers 17
Proverbs 5:6 – 9
February 27
Numbers 18 – Numbers 21
Proverbs 5:10 – 13
February 28
Numbers 22 – Numbers 25
Proverbs 5:14 – 16
February 29
Numbers 26 – Numbers 29
Proverbs 5:17 – 20
March 1
Numbers 30 – Numbers 32
Proverbs 5:21 – 23
March 2
Proverbs 5 – 6
March 3
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2
Old & New Testament

February 26
Leviticus 26-27
Mark 5
February 27
Numbers 1-2
Mark 6:1-29
February 28
Numbers 3-4
Mark 6:30-56
February 29
Numbers 5-6
Mark 7
March 1
Numbers 7-8
Mark 8:1-21
March 2
Numbers 9-11
Mark 8:22-38
March 3
No Passages Assigned

Like Taking Candy From A Baby
February 23, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 5:1-5
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Many of you will remember the old saying, “It’s as easy as taking candy from a baby.” I believe we all know what that means, but just to clarify, it’s supposed to refer to something that’s very simple to do, like taking candy away from a baby, which is physically very simple. However, doing it without being noticed or caught, well, that may be quite another thing.

      If you do not believe me, try this experiment sometime (but only with the child’s parents’ consent, don’t just experiment with random babies). Take a large piece of candy that you know a baby cannot swallow and let the baby lick on it for just a few minutes. Now reach in and take the candy from the baby. Physically, taking the candy back should prove to be relatively easy. However, more than likely, you are going to have one loud, squalling baby on your hands. Furthermore, everyone around will be looking at you questioningly, standing there holding a gooey piece of candy which you just took from that innocent baby. If they do not call you a selfish pig, they will certainly be thinking it.

      Taking the candy is easy, but getting away with it is almost impossible. This analogy applies to real life when it comes to immoral behavior. You might be able to get away with it for a while, but eventually, it will catch up with you. You’ll be caught, and as a result, people are going to look at you like some sort of pervert.

    Sexual sin may seem harmless at first. However, when those thoughts are acted upon, it can lead to the destruction of the physical body with an untold number of diseases today. Even if that doesn’t happen, it will always wreak havoc on the conscience. It’s incredibly difficult to drive those thoughts from your mind once they’ve taken root. That’s why it’s always best not to let them in! Remember, Proverbs 5:3-5 says; For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   So how do we prevent those thoughts from driving us crazy? Don’t let them into your mind in the first place. To put it another way, don’t give candy to a baby if you might want to take it back.

 

Are you protecting your mind and your heart?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: FEBRUARY 23, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   Numbers 12 – Numbers 14
  Proverbs 5:1 – 5

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Leviticus 23- 24
  Mark 4:1 – 20