Category: Proverbs–BibleTrekToday
Serve now, rule eternally
Scripture reading for July 27th: Luke 22, Psalm 149, Proverbs 25
Luke 22: 25-30 “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the One Who serves. You are those who have stayed with Me in My trial, and I assign to you, as My Father assigned to Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.””
God’s ways are different than man’s ways. The disciples were arguing about greatness when Jesus spoke plainly to them. They were to be servants here on earth, taking the lowest place, even in leadership positions. Jesus was their example, having just washed their feet! As they remained faithful to humbly serve God and others, they would receive great reward in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus promised them places at His table and thrones of judgment in the coming eternal kingdom. God truly does take pleasure in His people who prove their faith by humble service and sacrifice! To them eternal rulership and future glory is promised. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 149:4-5, 9 “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.” . . .“to execute on them the judgment written! This is the honor for all His godly ones. Praise the Lord!”
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for not always humbly serving my brothers and sisters here, especially those who consider me their enemy. Give me a servant’s heart through Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Help me to stay true to You and Your example of servanthood. I am in awe that You would promise me the honor of future rulership and greatness as a reward for faithful servanthood! Amen! Praise the Lord!
Proverbs 25:21-22 “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
The Glory of the Son of Man!
Scripture reading for July 26th: Luke 21, Psalm 148, Proverbs 24
Luke 21: 25-28 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Jesus was preparing His followers for the coming storm of adversity that would result in His crucifixion and resurrection. The disciples asked about when the end would come and what would be the sign of the end of the age. Jesus answered with various signs in the heavens and distress on earth caused by fear of what was coming through the shaking of the powers of heaven. The final sign would be the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and glory. These signs and events would be the time for disciples of Jesus to lift up their heads as their Redemption was close!
Psalm 148:11-13 “Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for His Name Alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving us instructions concerning the end of the age and Your Son’s return in power and glory. We praise You and honor You and Your Son as the exalted King of heaven and coming Bridegroom for Your people. Help me to stand strong in the coming days of adversity and the signs appearing in the heavens and the fear on earth. Use me to call others with Your Good News!
Proverbs 24:10 “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”
Religious Pride and hypocrisy
Scripture reading for July 25th: Luke 20, Psalm 147, Proverbs 23
Luke 20: 45-47 “And in the hearing of all the people He said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.””
Jesus publicly warned His people and the religious leaders of the dangers of putting on a religious show. The fear of man is a snare that the scribes were caught up in. To feed their own egos, they dressed up and took human honors. To fill their coffers, they devoured widows houses and merchandised their prayers. Jesus said that these would receive the greater condemnation. These people had greater knowledge of God’s truth and had rejected fear of the Lord and true care for the hurting and needy who were seeking help from God’s people and priests. Jesus, Son of God, although all powerful, built up Jerusalem through helping the brokenhearted and healing the oppressed. This is true wisdom and a timely warning!
Psalm 147:2-5 “The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars; He gives all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.”
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for falling under a fear of man and neglecting true care for those in need and seeking Your kingdom. Through Your Holy Spirit, keep me focused on Your kingdom and Your will, building up Your kingdom through going into the world and making disciples who will multiply ministry. I will keep my focus on Jesus as the highest example of wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 23:17-18 “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”
Discerning God in our midst
Scripture reading for July 24th: Luke 19, Psalm 146, Proverbs 22
Luke 19:41-44 “And, when He drew near and saw the city, He wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had know on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of joy and worship, he stopped to weep over the people there. He knew that their shouts of worship would turn into calls for His murder. He knew that sin and pride had hidden the Truth He had taught and modeled to them. He was now going to offer His own life and blood to save them. He cared for each one with His Father’s heart of love and compassion. But each person has a free will and must choose the things that make for peace with God. Each are given a time of visitation revealing Jesus as Lord, Messiah, and King. They have the choice of salvation through repentance and faith or eternal destruction and ruin through unbelief.
Psalm 146:9-10 “The Lord watches over the sojourners; He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your caring heart for those that are hurting and lost, rich or poor, as You have made them all. Thank You for giving me faith to know the time of my visitation and make peace with You through the blood of Your Son. Use me to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, Messiah, Lord, and King with others in need of a Holy visitation. Watch over me and guide me to my eternal home.
Proverbs 22:1-2 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is maker of them all.”
Persistent faith required!
Scripture reading for July 21st: Luke 18, Psalm 145, Proverbs 21
Luke 18: 1-8 “And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?””
God always honors faith. Faith puts its hope in God’s ability to do what He has promised or spoken. Jesus, in teaching His followers about faith and prayer, used this example of an unjust judge who neither feared God or respected man. This worldly judge finally gave in to the widow who was persistently coming to him for justice. He did this to get her complaint out of his sight. God is never unjust or callous toward those who call on Him. We must be persistent in faith and patient to wait for His sure answer. In the meantime, we must also be about His business of helping the poor and needy as we have opportunity.
Psalm 145:18-19 “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are never unjust or uncaring towards us when we call out to you. Help me to be persistent and always come in faith when I call to You. Help me to be attentive to those You put in my path who need Your help that I can provide. I will continue to call out to You for my family each day knowing You are near to me and hear my cry and will save them and provide for them.
Proverbs 21:13 “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”
The sudden return of Jesus!
Scripture reading for July 20th: Luke 17, Psalm 144, Proverbs 20
Luke 17: 22-27 “And He said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many thigs and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”
Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus told them that the kingdom of God was coming in ways that normal observation could not reveal. It was an inside job, known only to those humble enough to repent and turn to Jesus, the Son of Man. Jesus pointed out to His disciples that there would be those trying to say that the kingdom was ‘here’ or ‘there’, but not to believe them. The return of Jesus Christ would bring the fullness of God’s kingdom to earth. This would happen suddenly, like a lightning bolt that lit up the sky from east to west! It would happen like the days of Noah, when normal life was proceeding and suddenly the flood came and destroyed all not on the Ark!
Psalm 144:5-7 “Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out Your arrows and rout them! Stretch out Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, for the hand of foreigners, . .”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this instruction on the coming of Jesus Christ! I desire to see the fullness of the kingdom in the return of my Lord! I would pray with the psalmist, ‘O Lord, Bow Your heavens and come down!’ I long to see justice done on earth, as in heaven. I know that You desire to show mercy. Use me today to share the message of mercy You sent in Jesus Christ. Come, Lord Jesus!
Proverbs 20:22 “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.”
Impossible to serve two masters!
Scripture reading for July 19th: Luke 16, Psalm 143, Proverbs 19
Luke 16: 10-13 “”One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.””
Jesus had just told a parable about a dishonest manager who was shrewd to use his position to win friends to care for him after he was removed from management. Jesus explained that to be dishonest in even a little–the managing of another’s money, was to be dishonest in much. Dishonesty is part of our inner life and a lack of faithfulness with this world’s goods will bar us from stewardship of that which is truly of eternal value. Serving God requires truth and integrity in our inner man. Apart from our humble repentance and God’s grace, we end up serving the flesh and the devil who uses our flesh. We must sell out to serving God and invite Him to lead us on the level ground of faith on a day by day basis.
Psalm 143:9-10 “Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to You for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your Good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this simple instruction on honesty. Forgive me when I have not been a wise or honest steward of that which belongs to You. Giving You the tithe is an act of stewardship and integrity. Continue to help me and guide me on the level ground of faith. Thank You for promising to provide for all my needs if I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and faithfully serve You alone.
Proverbs 19:1 “Better is a poor person who walks in integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”
Rejoicing in heaven!
Scripture reading for July 18th: Luke 15, Psalm 142, Proverbs 18
Luke 15: 1-7 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.””
The proud religious leaders of Jesus’ day were always judging Him and in need of correction. Jesus patiently and kindly taught them in parables. The stories He told would help unlock the Truth of Scripture in a gentle manner, enabling repentance leading to eternal life. This parable of the ‘lost sheep’ was meant to instruct the judgmental Pharisees about God’s heart for the lost and hurting. What truly brings joy in heaven is God’s joy and heaven’s rejoicing over the lost finding salvation and restoration to the family of the Father. God sends true ‘shepherds’ out into the world to seek lost sheep and love them back into the family. This requires prayer and humility and a teachable heart.
Psalm 142:5-7 “I cry to You, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my Portion in the land of the living.” Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to Your name! For the righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for bringing me out of my own prison of pride and lust for the things of this world. Thank You for sending true ‘shepherd’s to me who did not judge me, but kindly shared the Good News of Jesus’ love and sacrifice on the cross. You have dealt bountifully with me! Open doors for me to share Your message of grace by sending me to the lost and hurting, bringing rejoicing in heaven.
Proverbs 18:23 “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”
Invited to the great banquet!
Scripture reading for July17th: Luke 14, Psalm 141, Proverbs 17
Luke 14:12-15 “He said also to the man who had invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” When one of those who reclined at table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.””
Jesus was invited to dinner on the Sabbath by a ruler of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were in attendance because they were watching Jesus for evil purposes. Jesus mildly rebuked the man with a word of instruction about giving banquets. He told the man not to invite to his dinner those who could or would invite him back and repay him. That system of favors was the way the world worked, but God’s kingdom was different. He was instructed to invite the poor, the crippled and the lame and blind. Honoring those who could not repay him would bring eternal commendation and reward at the resurrection of the just. God’s kingdom comes easy to those humble enough to receive grace. Those Pharisees there with evil motives were invited to the Great banquet in heaven, but they would never taste of the Bread of heaven!
Psalm 141:1-2 “O Lord, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! Let my prayer be counted as incense before You, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for caring for the poor, the blind, the lame, and the hurting. Thank You for the gift of salvation for all those who humbly repent and call on You. Forgive me when I have mocked the poor and hurting rather than helping them. Fill me with compassion and love for those You invite to the Great Banquet honoring Your Son at the resurrection of the just!
Proverbs 17:5 “Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.”
Those saved: Few? or many?
Scripture reading for July 14th: Luke 13, Psalm 140, Proverbs 16
Luke 13: 22-27 “He went on His way through the towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from, Depart from Me, all you workers of evil!'”
Because of a fear of punishment, man sometimes seeks to know the boundaries and plans of God. In this passage, a person asks Jesus about how many or few will be saved. Jesus had just told them that unless they repented that they would perish and used several illustrations of sudden deaths. These deaths had come from an accident and political persecution. Jesus answered them with careful instructions to enter God’s kingdom through the narrow door. Another time Jesus had taught that He was the ‘Door’ and still another ‘the Way’ to the Father’s house. Mere association and knowledge of Jesus would not be sufficient. They must have a personal relationship with Him and because of that, repented of evil.
Psalm 140:12-13 “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.”
Prayer: Father God, You Alone are just and righteous. You give the gift of righteousness to those who by faith in Jesus Christ have repented of sin and asked You for mercy. The narrow “Door” of faith in Jesus Christ is my only hope of salvation. Although narrow, You have promised it is wide enough for all who will by faith and repentance call upon Jesus for mercy. Amen! Lord have mercy on me the needy one.
Proverbs 16:11 “A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are His work.”