Jennifer A

Friends, you and I, as believers, should be living a life that seeks to expand the Kingdom of God. No matter what season we find ourselves in, the Holy Spirit wants to lovingly move through each one of us so that Jesus’s love can be seen, heard, and felt by others. We are commissioned as the Church to love others and to spread Jesus’s message of eternal love all of the time no matter where we are, how we are feeling, or what we are doing. In today’s passage we see how the Gentiles were being welcomed into the Church and how no matter the circumstances that Barnabas, Saul (Paul), or any of the other Apostles or believers found themselves in were going to stop them from sharing the message of Jesus’s eternal love in an effort to grow God’s Kingdom. This is exactly how we need to continue to be as the Church.

In our passage today, the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem heard that more and more Gentiles were coming to faith. So, they sent Barnabas to Antioch, and Barnabas traveled to Tarsus to get Saul who had been in Tarsus for the last seven to ten years. If you recall, prior to Saul’s conversion to Christianity, on the road to Damascus where he encountered the Lord, Saul had persecuted Christians. It has been many years since Saul’s transformation and since Barnabas vouched for him with the Apostles, who had sent him home to Tarsus to grow in his relationship with the Lord. This is the season where Saul’s work among the Gentiles truly begins. From this point on, the Book of Acts turns to Saul, and within chapter 13 we see the Greek variation of his name, Paul, being used and his evangelic work explodes for the Kingdom of God. Only Jesus could transform Paul’s heart and in return Paul is going to tell the world about this transforming love, and that is what we need to be doing.

The Lord gave Paul and Barnabas this command, “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.” (Acts 13:47). You and I have the same command to bring the message of salvation to everyone we encounter. We need to hold firm to Paul’s example and to his teaching that “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” This Truth needs to be our daily motivator to share the love of Christ with others. (Galatians 2:20)

Acts 11:19-26 NLT
The Church in Antioch of Syria

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for transforming our hearts which has completely changed each one of our lives. Holy Spirit, please continue to do what only You can do in and through each one of us to help share the message of Christ’s love to as many hearts as possible. Use us in ways that we did not even know were possible to help grow the Kingdom of God. We want to lovingly share You and Your Word with the world. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Lately, I have found myself needing to press deeply into my relationship with the Lord, trusting Him to not only hold my heart, but to bring spiritual revelation so His Truth can overshadow great pain. I know that God is my Shepherd, and even though I have tremendous grief, I am confident that He wants to spiritually transform me and to use even these places of unexplained hurt for good.

In Friday’s devotion, Pastor Mary reminded us that King David did not rely on his feelings for guidance, rather he relied on and trusted in God to lead, direct, and guide his life, so that he would never be lost. Like David, I have needed to cry out to the Lord for His goodness and unfailing love to be my guiding light in a dark valley (Psalm 23).

Today we continue with King David, and we will meditate in prayer and allow our hearts to sing Psalm 100. David wrote this psalm of thanksgiving because he knew that no matter our circumstances, the Lord is our Shepherd, and that His goodness and unfailing love will never stop pursuing us, because God wants each one of us to reside in His House for all eternity.

I know that the enemy wants me to get stuck in my feelings and hand over my joy of the Lord to him, but that is a choice that I will never make. We must remember, Jesus is our Shepherd, Who became our joy when each one of us chose salvation in Him. Even though the enemy is always around, he has NO power to take our joy, unless we give it to him; because Jesus, Who is divine and holy, lives in you and me, and He is our joy even in our dark valleys.

May Psalm 100 encourage your heart today.

Psalm 100 (NLT)

A psalm of thanksgiving.

1 Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being our Good Shepherd. Holy Spirit help us to hold firmly onto our joy. Bring healing to our places of pain as You reveal more of Your wisdom and Truth to us. We do not want to hand anything that is of You over to the enemy. Thank You for being Guide. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Yesterday was Transfiguration Sunday, the day when Jesus revealed His divinity to His disciples. We can read about this event in the Synoptic Gospels: Matt. 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36, as well as see it being referenced in 2 Peter 1:16-21. God orchestrated this unimaginably divine event that took place on Mount Tabor in Israel not just for Peter, James, and John as they were praying with Jesus; and not just so Moses and Elijah could appear in presence, but also so believers of every generation could have a divine encounter and experience Jesus’ in His holy brilliance through these passages of Truth.

On Friday, Pastor Mary’s devotion was about another divine encounter that began with Cornelius and an angel of the Lord. Today we continue with that story of transformation, and we see a continuation of divine encounters, all in an effort to grow individuals in their faith and trust in the Lord. If you recall, we left Friday’s devotion with Cornelius sending his messengers to go get Simon Peter, as requested by an angel of the Lord. This was so Jesus could work His grace, love, and salvation through Simon Peter for Cornelius, and I image many others who were firsthand witnesses of these divine encounters.

Today we pick up as Cornelius’ messengers were nearing Simon, the tanner’s home, and Simon Peter was up on the roof praying. During this time, Peter had a divine encounter, or vision, from the Lord. In the vision, the Lord commands Peter to eat all animals, some of which were considered unclean or forbidden creatures for Jewish people to eat. Peter initially tells the Lord that he will never eat anything that is impure or unclean. Then the Lord spoke to Peter three times saying, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (v. 15) The point the Lord was making with His vision to Peter is that only God determines what is clean (holy) and what is unclean (sinful), and this cleanliness would apply to the Gentiles messengers Peter was about to meet whom he would need to extend Jesus’ love and grace.

As the messengers arrived, the Holy Spirit instructed Peter what he had to do, and he followed the divine message with obedience, even though he was not sure what God had planned. Keep in mind, Joppa was a mixed town of Gentile and Jewish workers, and even if Simon the tanner had some less concerns with strict Jewish rules, he most likely would still have had concerns of impure table fellowship, and lodging of Gentiles overnight which would not have been acceptable. Yet, Peter invited the messengers to stay the night, and they would return to see Cornelius the next day.

Acts 10:9-23 (NLT)

Peter Visits Cornelius

9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”

14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”

15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your transforming work in and through our lives. Holy Spirit, please stir within our hearts today and bring us revelation of your divine presence. We want You to guide us to share Your love, grace, and the saving work of Your salvation with someone, today! Be with us as we prepare our hearts to enter into Your Lenten season this week. Allow us to be fully transparent with You as we reflect on what needs change and more of You, help us to be quick to repent, and please restore us anew, Jesus. Thank You for all You have done for us, we ask this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 38 is one of several penitential or confessional psalms. Within this Psalm, David allows us to feel the very painful and dark places of his sinful guilt. We experience his physical, emotional, and spiritual pain which he openly expresses to God.

A few years ago, when I initially studied Psalm 38, I asked myself if my relationship with God was as intimate, as David’s was with God, to the point where was I actually grieving when I sinned against Him and others, and was I as honest with God when I sought for His forgiveness?

Friends, David most likely penned this psalm in response to his adultery with Bathsheba and his involvement in her husband, Uriah, being killed at battle so that David could marry her. I think we all can agree that David’s decisions were sinful and most certainly not guided by the Holy Spirit. I also think we can all experience his appeal for God’s forgiveness, and his understanding that he stepped into sinful places that resulted in excruciating pain. David’s plea for God’s forgiveness revealed his trust, faith, and hope that God would not forsake him, and that by remaining obedient to God, He would come and answer David.

The relationship that you and I have with Jesus should surpass all of our earthly relationships. Jesus should come before our biological family, before our spiritual family, and before our friends. Why? Well, when our hearts are in oneness with Jesus, we stand firmly by faith with Him, and thus our decisions are guided by the Holy Spirit and are not moved towards sin, rather our choices reveal the heart of Jesus. This intimate relationship with Jesus, then allows all of our other relationships to be guided by the His pure and holy love.

NOTE: please do not get misled by earthly “thoughts” of the word intimate. I encourage you to look up some synonyms and the Biblical definition. As Christ’s Family, we most certainly want a closeness, togetherness, affinity, rapport, attachment, familiarity, confidentiality, friendliness, comradeship, companionship, amity, affection, warmth, understanding, close relationship, close attachment, etc. with our Lord of Lords, our Kind of Kings, our Healer, and the One Who is forgave us of our sins and is coming back for you and me, JESUS!

Psalm 38

A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.

1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage!
2 Your arrows have struck deep,
and your blows are crushing me.
3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;
my health is broken because of my sins.
4 My guilt overwhelms me—
it is a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and stink
because of my foolish sins.
6 I am bent over and racked with pain.
All day long I walk around filled with grief.
7 A raging fever burns within me,
and my health is broken.
8 I am exhausted and completely crushed.
My groans come from an anguished heart.

9 You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh.
10 My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,
and I am going blind.
11 My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.
Even my own family stands at a distance.
12 Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.
Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.
All day long they plan their treachery.

13 But I am deaf to all their threats.
I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.
14 I choose to hear nothing,
and I make no reply.
15 For I am waiting for you, O Lord.
You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
16 I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me
or rejoice at my downfall.”

17 I am on the verge of collapse,
facing constant pain.
18 But I confess my sins;
I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
19 I have many aggressive enemies;
they hate me without reason.
20 They repay me evil for good
and oppose me for pursuing good.
21 Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my savior.

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for Your forgiveness. Help us to remain intimately close with You so that we are disgusted by sin. Holy Spirit, guide us to quickly recognize sin before it takes place and to rebuke it in the Name of Jesus. Quicken us, Lord, to seek Your forgiveness and to extend Your forgiveness to others. Thank You for never abandoning us, and for always being available. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

I have mentioned before that Psalms 120 – 134 are known as the Psalms of Ascent. These psalms were most likely sung by the Israelites as they traveled (or ascended) Mount Zion to enter Jerusalem’s Temple for worship at three appointed feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

Today we are looking at Psalm 120. In verse 5 the psalmist mentions Meshech and Kedar. Meshech, is believed to be present day Turkey, and was far north of Israel, while Kedar was a powerful tribe of Arab nomads in the desert east of Israel. The psalmists’ metaphorical use of these two geographical locations would have put the psalmist as living in a barbaric foreign land that was at war, and where the psalmist did not belong.

Right away, within the first two prayerful verses, we see the psalmists’ trust and love for the Lord with a cry for His help. The help the psalmist is seeking is from evil: evil words, liars, deceitful people, and deceptive tongues. In verses 3 – 4 the psalmist shifts from prayer to warning. This warning is for those who stand in rebellion against God, His Word, and His people. God’s people are protected as long as they do as Paul instructs in Ephesians 6:10-20 and constantly wear The Whole Armor of God. The final pieces of the Armor align with verses 3 – 4, “In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” We see in verses 6 – 7 that the psalmist is tired of evil and longs for rest in the Lord’s shalom, the peaceful wholeness of God where there is no evil.

Friends, we can endure the present world, even with the evil around us, because by our faith and salvation in Christ Jesus our eternal future is certain. So, we must trust, love, and rest in God and His divine plan, as we continue to grow even closer to Him today through His Word.

Psalm 120 (NLT)

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
2 Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people.
3 O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
How will he increase your punishment?
4 You will be pierced with sharp arrows
and burned with glowing coals.

5 How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
6 I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
7 I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being our shalom, the only True place of rest while evil surrounds us. Holy Spirit, please continue to stir within each of us to hate that which is evil and to cling to the One Who is Truth and Love, Jesus. Help us to remain clothed with every piece of Your armor, today. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, if you joined us yesterday, you may recall during Pastor Mary’s sermon on “Genuinely Loving Others” she referenced Luke 4:25-26, when Jesus recounted the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow at Zarephath in Sidon, as originally told in 1 Kings 17:8-24. There were approximately 900 years between the events that took place in 1 Kings 17 with Elijah, the widow, and her family and Luke 4 with Jesus’ ministry when He recounts those events that took place within the Old Testament. Jesus used the example of the widow of Zarephath, just as Pastor Mary pointed out yesterday, to reveal that God’s love is not limited to Israel or to any one group of people, His love is made available to all of His creation, as long as His creation will grab a hold of Him and welcome His love into their hearts to bring on going change.

Today’s passage from the lectionary is 1 Kings 17:8-16, but I highly suggest that you continue to the end of verse 24 as this love story has 8 verses beyond our devotion and they are absolutely miraculous. Within this story we see that God’s love ministers to the broken and breaks the barriers of those who are seemingly “outsiders or enemies” due to geographical, cultural, and/or religious differences. God spoke to both Elijah and the widow, two of His children who would have never crossed paths within their own strength. Yet, they both listened to God’s instructions, they obeyed despite having human doubt, and as a result God’s provision and love was revealed beyond what either of them could have ever thought possible.

You and I are called to love our enemies, to reach out to the unlikely, and to be Jesus’s hands, feet, and heart in this dark world, as we share His love. Allow the Holy Spirit to move through you today as you extend the love of Christ.

1 Kings 17:8-16 (NLT)

The Widow at Zarephath

8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”

10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the perfect example of love. Please forgive our unloving ways and allow us to see others through Your lens as You touch our hearts to experience Your love for Your creation. Holy Spirit, quiet our thoughts about others, speak to our spirit so that we know Your love for them, and help us to represent Your love. In Your Name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Sinful and worldly foolishness is the opposite of Godly and divine wisdom.
Sinful and worldly laziness is the opposite of Godly and divine strength.
Sinful and worldly wickedness is the opposite of Godly and divine righteousness.

Proverbs 26 draws our attention to not be a fool who is lazy and wicked, as those are sinful choices that are attached to this world. We are daughters and sons who contain the Holy Spirit, and we call on the Spirit to guide us with wisdom and strength so that we are living righteously in the Name of Jesus Christ.

We have spent 26 days together in the Book of Proverbs asking the Holy Spirit for more Godly and divine wisdom, to provide us with His strength so that we can walk with more righteousness as we grow closer in relationship with Jesus.

Every second of the past 26 days, so for the last 2.2 million seconds, we have either chosen to honor and obey God, or we have chosen to dishonor and disobey God. We must remember, while God wants to move in our spirit to shine His light on the Truth that each of these Proverbs offers our eternal existence; simultaneously, the enemy wants us to feel like these Proverbs are too repetitive, maybe boring, or even not applicable to our lives, which could not be further away from the Truth.

God designed the Book of Proverbs, and the repetition is intentional. This teaching tool makes certain that you and I fully understand the importance of Godly wisdom. This is not an attempt to make things boring, rather the repetition and presentation of wisdom in different ways is meant to help us remember and internalize Godly wisdom so that the Holy Spirit can apply it to our lives and through our lives.

Proverbs 26 (NLT)

1 Honor is no more associated with fools
than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle,
and a fool with a rod to his back!

4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.

5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or they will become wise in their own estimation.

6 Trusting a fool to convey a message
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

8 Honoring a fool
is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander
is like an archer who shoots at random.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his foolishness.

12 There is more hope for fools
than for people who think they are wise.

13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road!
Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns over in bed.

15 Lazy people take food in their hand
but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter
than seven wise counselors.

17 Interfering in someone else’s argument
is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

18 Just as damaging
as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is someone who lies to a friend
and then says, “I was only joking.”

20 Fire goes out without wood,
and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22 Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.

23 Smooth words may hide a wicked heart,
just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 If you set a trap for others,
you will get caught in it yourself.
If you roll a boulder down on others,
it will crush you instead.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and flattering words cause ruin.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for emphasizing wisdom throughout the Book of Proverbs. You have been made wisdom, and we want to continue to grow closer to You which means that we need to grow in Your divine wisdom. Holy Spirit, please continue to strengthen and grow each one of us, fill us with more of Your wisdom, and guide us to live in oneness and righteousness with You. Steer us away from foolishness, keep us from laziness, and guard us from being wicked or entertaining wickedness. We ask all of this in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Pastor Mary mentioned in yesterday’s devotion that Solomon reiterates many things that he shared within the pervious chapters; and in Proverbs 20 we see much of the same pieces of wisdom being shared. You will notice that within each Proverb, Solomon rephrases the nuggets of Godly wisdom that he is sharing with not only his son, but with all believers, including you and me. This is not an exercise of annoyance, rather an exercise of continuously pointing believers towards having an obedient heart for Truth; a heart that is not only in relationship with Jesus, but one that longs to grow more faithful and righteous.

Today, is the inauguration of President Donald Trump back into office as the 47th President of the United States, it is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. During Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. there were approximately 250,000 people who marched on Washington for jobs and freedom at the largest civil rights gathering. During that speech, Dr. King quoted the Word of God 4 times. On the 8th time that he said “I have a dream” he went on to quote Isaiah 40:4-5, as he said, “I have a dream that one day ‘every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together’.” As many of you know, Dr. King was a minister and theologian who loved Jesus, and here we are almost 57 years after he was assassinated, honoring not only his life and what he did for civil rights, but how he loved Jesus and stood as a vessel for God’s Truth before the world to witness God’s love, justice, righteousness, and peace. We need to pray for this same wisdom that Dr. King embodied for our 47th President of the United States, President Donald Trump. Just as Solomon speaks of the wise counsel of the kings of his time, we want that same Godly wise counsel for our President so that it will translate God’s love, justice, righteousness, and peace to impact all of America and the world.

Proverbs 20 (NLT)

1 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.
Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;
to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
only fools insist on quarreling.

4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season
will have no food at the harvest.

5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
a person with understanding will draw it out.

6 Many will say they are loyal friends,
but who can find one who is truly reliable?

7 The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children who follow them.

8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
distinguishing the bad from the good.

9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
I am pure and free from sin”?

10 False weights and unequal measures—
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.

11 Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
both are gifts from the Lord.

13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,”
then brags about getting a bargain!

15 Wise words are more valuable
than much gold and many rubies.

16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

18 Plans succeed through good counsel;
don’t go to war without wise advice.

19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
so don’t hang around with chatterers.

20 If you insult your father or mother,
your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

21 An inheritance obtained too early in life
is not a blessing in the end.

22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

23 The Lord detests double standards;
he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

24 The Lord directs our steps,
so why try to understand everything along the way?

25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God
and only later counting the cost.

26 A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
then runs his threshing wheel over them.

27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,
exposing every hidden motive.

28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;
his throne is made secure through love.

29 The glory of the young is their strength;
the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;
such discipline purifies the heart.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the example of wisdom for our lives. Holy Spirit, please impart Your wisdom to each of us today. Be with President Trump today and each day that he serves as our 47th President. Impart Your Godly wisdom to him so that he can make sound decisions for our country. We ask for You to guide his heart, words, actions, inactions, and steps each day that we are all within his care. May You be glorified, Jesus, in America and throughout the world. We ask this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Friends, within the first section of Proverbs 12, Solomon continues to use short impactful comparison statements to convey the difference between living under the guidance of Godly wisdom versus a lifestyle guided by foolishness and sin. He highlights how the love of discipline is deeply rooted in Christ Jesus and cannot be understood by those who are self-motivated as their wicked minds are narrow and directly connected to their hardened hearts.

In verse 10, Solomon speaks about the godly caring for their animals, while the wicked are always cruel. God’s Family should always have a heart for His entire creation, just as King David reminds us “The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all of His creation.” (Psalm 145:9) With the Lord as our example, we too must shower compassion on all of His creation.

Within the second portion of Proverbs 12 Solomon defines the “fool”, states the importance of our words, and points to how we must not be lazy. The fools always have to be right, are overly confident, and lie to advance their agenda. While the humble, those who are obedient to God, listen to others, remain calm with insult, and always tell the truth. The wise must pray like King David and ask God to “Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips. Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness.” (Psalm 141:3-4) Solomon tells us many times throughout his writings that we are to work in excellence in all that we do, and Paul reminded the Church of Colosse, which still applies to us as the Church today that we are to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23)

Proverbs 12

1 To learn, you must love discipline;
it is stupid to hate correction.

2 The Lord approves of those who are good,
but he condemns those who plan wickedness.

3 Wickedness never brings stability,
but the godly have deep roots.

4 A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.

5 The plans of the godly are just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

6 The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
but the words of the godly save lives.

7 The wicked die and disappear,
but the family of the godly stands firm.

8 A sensible person wins admiration,
but a warped mind is despised.

9 Better to be an ordinary person with a servant
than to be self-important but have no food.

10 The godly care for their animals,
but the wicked are always cruel.

11 A hard worker has plenty of food,
but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.

12 Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,
but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.

13 The wicked are trapped by their own words,
but the godly escape such trouble.

14 Wise words bring many benefits,
and hard work brings rewards.

15 Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to others.

16 A fool is quick-tempered,
but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

17 An honest witness tells the truth;
a false witness tells lies.

18 Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.

19 Truthful words stand the test of time,
but lies are soon exposed.

20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

21 No harm comes to the godly,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

22 The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in those who tell the truth.

23 The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge,
but fools broadcast their foolishness.

24 Work hard and become a leader;
be lazy and become a slave.

25 Worry weighs a person down;
an encouraging word cheers a person up.

26 The godly give good advice to their friends;
the wicked lead them astray.

27 Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,
but the diligent make use of everything they find.

28 The way of the godly leads to life;
that path does not lead to death. Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word that guides and directs our steps. Holy Spirit, please continue to impart Your wisdom to each of us. Be with us today and quicken our spiritual hearts to know when we are not in alignment with You. Allow our spiritual ears to listen to Your guidance, put a watch over our mouths, so that we may speak only what You have for us to speak. We want our words to be one with Your Word that breathes life and love into this world and hearts. We ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.