A Broken Tooth HURTS!

October 20, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 25:18-20 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     “Worthless!” Have you ever thought of how many ways someone might be told that he or she was worthless? You might say, “Good for nothing bum,” but how colorful is that.

     Solomon has a way with words. He says that a man who lies about his friends is like a weapon or sharp tool because his lies will wound a person deeply. He goes on to say that putting trust in such a person is like trying to eat with a broken tooth. OWWW! I don’t care how tough you are, that hurts just thinking about it. Not only is their pain, but misplaced trust is a worthless and agonizing effort. When you have broken tooth and the nerve is exposed, the last thing you want is something to eat. What about the pain of trying to walk on an ankle that is out of joint? OUCH! Have you ever twisted or worse yet, broken your ankle? Once while playing softball, I began to run from home plate to first. On my way, “POP…” I pulled a muscle in my ankle and down I went. I was in instant pain and remained that way for days. I was worthless to the team for the rest of the game.

    Worthless, also is a person who would take a garment from someone freezing in the cold. What kind of person would do something like that? He would be the same person who pours vinegar on nitre. Nitre was a kind of soda used for washing. It became neutralized and worthless once mixed with vinegar.

    Worthless is the person who sings for joy when others are miserable. I believe that Solomon gets the job done explaining about an unfaithful and untrustworthy man. Solomon paints a picture of someone who is worthless as a friend.  

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

  Solomon is describing an unsaved, uncaring person who is of no help to his young son’s life and would be worthless as a friend. However, there is no one who is worthless in the sight of God. He sent His Son Jesus to die for all humanity. This person may not be a good friend, yet every person has worth to God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 20, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 10 – 11    / Proverbs 25:18-20

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 63-66           /   2 Thess. 1-2

Living In His Word Ministries

Too Much, Is Too Much

October 19, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 25:14-17 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

  The end of our passage today implies an old phrase, “don’t overstay your welcome.” Even close friends need their space and time to themselves. Husbands and wives, the closest of friends, need time alone. They not only need time to themselves, but also time alone with God.

    Too much of anything is not always a good thing. “Hast thou found honey?” our text asks. Honey is a natural sweetener. A little bit tastes good, and it is also good for you. Too much however, will make you sick.

    We often become people of excess. When we find something or someone we really like, we want more of it or of them. We obsess over it. Items taken to excess become problems. They begin to consume our thoughts, our time, and our life. Any item that takes us away from God, no matter how good it may be, can easily become our idol. We begin to worship the gift more so than the giver of all good gifts.

    Items, for the most part are not in and of themselves evil. Items are just things, as they have no soul or conscience. Things can not cause us to leave God. Items are not the problem. A person obsessing over items becomes the problem. We have all heard what it says in 1 Tim 6:10; “the love of money is the root of all evil:” Money is not evil. It is the over obsession toward money which cause the problem. The entire verse says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Why is this item then a problem? Because it causes many to err from their faith. Forsaking God for anything or anyone will always be the beginning of many sorrows.

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    “Everything in moderation.” That would be a great slogan for all Christians. That is, everything in moderation except for God and His Word. You just cannot get enough of Him.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 19, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 8 – 9     /   Proverbs 25:14-17

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 59-62            /     1 Thess. 5

Living In His Word Ministries

Weekend Review

October 17 & 18, 2020

Proverbs 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. 

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 41 – Day 6

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

Proverbs 24-25

WEEK 41 – 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

October 19, 2020   Luke 8   – Luke 9           Proverbs 25:14 – 17
October 20, 2020   Luke 10 – Luke 11         Proverbs 25:18 – 20
October 21, 2020   Luke 12 – Luke 14         Proverbs 25:21 – 24
October 22, 2020   Luke 15 – Luke 17         Proverbs 25:25 – 28
October 23, 2020   Luke 18 – Luke 20         Proverbs 26:1 – 5
October 24, 2020   Proverbs 25 – 26                       
October 25, 2020     No Passages Assigned    

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

October 19, 2020   Isa. 59-62                       1 Thess. 5
October 20, 2020   Isa. 63-66                       2 Thess. 1-2
October 21, 2020   Jer. 1-3                           2 Thess.3
October 22, 2020   Jer. 4-6                           1 Tim. 1
October 23, 2020   Jer. 7-9                           1 Tim. 2-3
October 24, 2020   Jer. 10-12                       1 Tim. 4
October 25, 2020     No Passages Assigned          

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

October 17, 2020     Isa. 53-58    /    1 Thess. 3-4
October 18, 2020     No Passages Assigned

Like A Mountain Stream

October 16, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 25:11-13 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 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.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Have you ever been near a cool mountain stream? The snow that has fallen on the mountaintop slowly melts in the heat of the noonday sun. The result is a flow of cold clear water that streams down to the valleys below. That water is as crystal clear as a pane of transparent glass. Not only is it clear, but it is also refreshingly cold. To someone who may be working hard at the base of the mountain on that day, this cool clear water is like a blessing from God for a hard day’s work. One would almost need to be careful so as not to drink too much of it and become bloated. Nevertheless, it just tastes so cool, so good, and so refreshing. 

    Our verses today tell of the same goodness. Just as the refreshing, invigorating and thirst-quenching cold water that comes from the snow on a mountaintop to the workers in the valley below, so refreshing is a messenger who brings faithful truth to comfort our very soul.

    The truth of God’s Word and His saving grace is, as the verses say, like apples of gold in a silver bowl, and fine jewels to the wearer. Like a cool, refreshing, drink of water on a hot day. The good news, or the Gospel as it is called, is so valuable and refreshing to the soul burdened down under the sin of today. Wouldn’t you like to be God’s faithful refreshing messenger of this good news today?

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Not only can the message be a comfort, but also look at those verses again. They say the messenger refresheth the one who sent them. Oh, dear child of God, don’t you want to be that for the Lord today. To be refreshing to Him as we deliver His message. Like a cool glass of water to a dry and thirsty world, and an obedient child to our God.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 16, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 6 – 7     /   Proverbs 25:11-13

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 49-52           /     1 Thess. 1-2

Living In His Word Ministries

Think It Through

October 15, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 25:8-10 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Passion, zeal, and enthusiasm are all good things to have, when they are kept under control and used in the right places. In our verses today, Solomon is warning his son of the problem of acting too quickly on a matter without thinking it through.

    Thinking it through does not mean discussing it with everyone who comes by. We often tend to alter, or exaggerate facts to make others like our point of view. We will also gravitate toward those who will agree with us. If the matter has to do with someone else, handling a matter between two believers should remain between two believers unless others are directly involved.

    Our wisdom must come from God. To make a better decision on handling a matter it is always best to take time to speak with God, allowing Him to direct your paths. Quite often God will handle the matter for you before you even have to say or do anything. Deciding to “Deal With A Problem,” as we may like to call it, without taking time to pray over it is like going into battle with no clear directive. You go with your mind made up as to what you want and what you feel is best for you. However, as believers we must ask first, what does God want? What might be God’s priorities in this situation or decision? How can God use you in what has happening?

    Passion, zeal, and enthusiasm are great. However, our passion and zeal must be to do the work of our Father, which is in Heaven. If this is our goal, God will be glorified, not horrified.


    THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    A few easy rules in conflict resolution are given here.

       (1) Sleep on it if at all possible. Do not be too hasty and rush to judgment.

     (2) Talk it out with the person alone. Not everything needs to be brought into a public arena.

     (3) Guard your testimony and that of the person you are dealing with. Remember, both testimonies are important in lifting up God. The world is watching us. 

GOD TALKING TO ME:  October 15, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 3 – 5    / Proverbs 25:8-10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Isa. 45-48   /   Col. 4