Good Morning, Siblings!
Today’s readings are Proverbs 24-26
Click here to read today’s passages on BibleGateway.
Rabbit Trails
Proverbs 24 comes right out of the gate with precious advice. Don’t envy evil people, don’t want what they have, because there is a whole heap of mess you don’t want to get tangled up in that comes along with it. Instead, value what has value…
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4
Where do we obtain wisdom? From the source – the Father. He generously gifts it to us through His word. Proverbs 24:13-14 is a perfect extension of this thought so make sure you check that one out. .
Proverbs 24:10 really struck a chord with me.
If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small. Prov 24:10
I’ve found that when I begin feeling weary, overwhelmed, and defeated, as if I can’t continue on, these are the times in which I’ve slowly but surely shifted over to my own strength reserves rather than relying on the Father’s. All around us, people are suffering, worrying, feeling anxiety and shaken by all manner of insecurities. And during so many of these trials that grip us on any given day, Believers who have professed that the Father is our hope and our joy are being looked to for guidance on how to remain strong and hold onto that hope.
Family, this is the kind of stuff we’ve been training for. The Father has equipped us with His strength, His assurance, and we have access to His wisdom on how to relate to the world and how to love our neighbor regardless of situation or circumstance. That world’s fuel isn’t compatible for your tank anymore because you are not of the world! Empty all that out and fill up with the fuel of His spirit then get out there and let His light shine!
Proverbs 24:17-18 There exists people of honor who show integrity and humility even in victory. We don’t see it much these days but as the remnant rises up and prophecy is fulfilled, we will begin to see sparkles of it from time to time.
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. Proverbs 25:2
This reminds me of Deuteronomy 29:29: The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
There are so many things we cannot know in this lifetime. Daily, I see people tossing around conspiracy theories for one thing or another, arguing over future events and how a prophecy should be interpreted, what the mark of the beast will look like, whether or not we will see it in our lifetime, etc. I watched a wonderful ten minute video clip last week. It is a Messianic Rabbi and he was spot on.
Sidenote: Messianic means He believes Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah, the Rabbi part tells you he is a pastor but of Jewish ancestry. That is the cliff notes condensed version.
The rabbi spoke about people trying to figure out all these things, arguing over this and that, and the culmination of it was that we are focused on things we can never know and the Father never called us to know. Instead of using all of our energy chasing these fruitless pursuits, how about we just focus on being faithful to Him? That’s all He has ever asked. Just be faithful. That should be our goal when we wake up and as we go about our day and as we go to bed at night. Was I faithful today?
How can I be more faithful tomorrow?
It’s time to refuse to be drawn into the distractions and focus on what He has called us to focus on. Being faithful to Him. What does this look like? It looks like a daily process of being hearers and doers of His Word. Of wholeheartedly seeking Him. He Is Worthy.
The video is below. I don’t often share things like this but I want to assure you that watching this is a very worthwhile way to spend ten minutes. In sharing this, I am only endorsing this one message. We each have the responsibility to test everything, every teaching, from everyone (including my notes).
Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; Proverbs 25:4
Some translations make a bit more sense to our modern minds by using “impurities” rather than dross. We have talked lately about the refiner’s fire and how the Father is working on refining us. In becoming more like Him, we have to be less like the world and that is going to mean giving up some things. Often, He calls us to give those things up of our own accord before He bestows on us the gifts He wants to give us. If we want to be refined, if we want to be purified, we have to be willing to accept a momentary discomfort of the burning away. (Daniel 11:35) Most Believers today are not willing to do that. That is why, to quote my friend, Debbie, it has always just been a remnant. (Jeremiah 23:3 Luke 13:23-30)
Father, help us to cling to you and all that you are. Strengthen us so that we are brave enough to let go of the worldly things that keep us from you.
I’m going to share one more verse that blessed me today, although there are many.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12
The wise person knows there is so much left to learn. The arrogant get a grain of knowledge and think they can teach the wise! For me and my husband, this is one of the many very exciting aspects of being a Believer who reads the word. The Father has given us the gift of constantly being able to drink of His wisdom and apply that wisdom to our lives. The more we learn, the more there is left to learn. We are growing, being refined, and becoming closer to our Father and more like our Messiah each day. Now if THAT doesn’t leave you excited, I don’t know what will!
Test everything, hold tight to what is good.~ 1 Thess 5:21
We are saved by Grace alone: Obedience is not the root of our salvation, it is the fruit!
May YHWH bless the reading of His Word!