Proverbs 11:22

Proverbs 11:22 

English Standard Version 

  Now you know the root of the old saying about putting lipstick on a pig -- you can dress it up however you want, but it's still just a pig.  Of course, if you love bacon, that may be good news indeed, but I highly doubt the Old Testament was looking at things from that angle, seeing as how they didn't eat pork...

  But the Proverbs here are reminding us that anyone (not just women) who fails to exercise discretion is hoping that some physical traits will cover up a lack of character.  And this can work for a while... but eventually, character is always revealed.  Who we are matters, and Proverbs is advising us to build strong character, for that's more important than superficial traits like beauty.  It's a hard thing to teach children, and to believe for ourselves, because we see how those with strong superficial traits can get ahead -- but character matters more.  May we pursue sinking our roots deep into Scripture and drawing wisdom from that, to pursue Godliness above all else, to grow closer to God, no matter how tempting and alluring some of the world's treasures are.

Proverbs 11:1-4

Proverbs 11:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  Scripture is packed with wisdom & guidance telling us that money will not give us the ultimate security that we so desperately want, but we ignore it, because we're convinced that we need it and that we can have everything.  Rather than start with treasure in heaven, though, we tend to start with treasure on earth, because that's easier to grasp and understand.  Only treasure in heaven will save, however, no matter how much treasure on earth we accumulate.  Many are tempted to try and grasp wealth by unrighteous methods, and that corrodes and corrupts the soul.   It can be hard to trust in heavenly wealth -- it doesn't show up in bank statements or sit in our wallet.  It can give us peace that earthly wealth cannot -- peace in the depths of our souls if we learn to trust God with our eternal future.  That is a deposit unlike anything else in the world.

  So how's your spiritual checkbook balance?  Is it growing?  Holding steady?  How can you let God add to that today?

Proverbs 9:13-17

Proverbs 9:13-17 

English Standard Version 

  Thousands of years ago, long before Al Gore invented the internet, the book of Proverbs predicted the rise of social media here in chapter 9!  Folly doesn't have to be the correct voice -- it's simply the loudest, and even though folly doesn't know anything, it doesn't stop folly from shouting to everyone who passes by, tempting them to turn away from their current path and opting for something easier, distracting them from their course by shouting loudly.  It's easy to engage with folly.

  If you are going straight on your way, avoid the temptation to engage.  Stick to your convictions, to your path, to your course.  Choosing to stray and engaging with folly will only lead you away, even if it seems so easy.  After one step away from your path, the next is even easier, and soon you'll be on another path entirely.

Proverbs 8:12-21

Proverbs 8:12-21 

English Standard Version 

  A good reminder here to keep us all humble -- good things in life are gifts, and we are wise to seek wisdom above all else -- even fine gold and choice silver.  I wonder how many mistakes in life would be avoided if we'd learn this lesson.  Imagine the different world we'd live in if each of us pursued what was wise rather than what might make us the most money or give us the most power.  Politics would be different, and so would each community and each household.  We'd certainly share much better!  We often hoard out of fear rather than share out of wisdom.  What's the line?  How do we know?  It's probably different for each of us, but wisdom helps us learn what is 'enough' and what is more than we need.  May we seek such wisdom, so that we, too, can live just lives, trusting in the strength of God and fearing only the Lord, nothing else, trusting that our treasury has been filled by God alone.

Proverbs 7:1-4

Proverbs 7:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  How much of what you learned in geometry do you remember?  What about social studies?  Can you remember all the types of poems?  Or what makes up the cell?  (I remember that mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.  That's about it.)

  If you continued to study these things every day, you'd probably still remember them.... but you learned them once, knew enough to get through the test, and have long since forgotten most of it.

  To remain wise, we have to do more than study it once.  We have to consider Biblical wisdom an intimate friend, one that we remain close to each and every day, constantly writing them in our hearts through our dedicated study.  It's the only way -- there are no shortcuts.  If we hope to recall the guidance of wisdom, particularly when we're under stress, we have to consistently dedicate ourselves to the study of wisdom, seeking God's guidance so that it's close in times of need.

Proverbs 6:27-28

Proverbs 6:27-28 

English Standard Version 

  How long can you tiptoe on the edge of a cliff before you fall over?  How long can you stare at a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie before you give in and take a bit?  

  Studies have shown that our willpower is like a muscle.  That means you can exercise it and make it stronger, but it also means that it can wear out.

  Given that it can wear out, why put it to the test?  If you know it will give out immediately, the wise option is to turn away from anything that tests it at the first sign, rather than dabble with it.  Flee from sin at the first opportunity, rather than play with temptation and think you're stronger than it.  No matter what you may think, if you live close to the edge for long enough, eventually, you'll fall over.  It's simply a matter of time.

  Here, the author is warning about adultery, but it's true of any sin... flee from it at the first sign, don't engage with temptation of any sort -- rather than test yourself, turn from sin and find a wise path that makes it easier to avoid sin.

Proverbs 6:6-11

Proverbs 6:6-11 

English Standard Version 

  There are religious traditions that point so strongly to heaven that they're accused of not having practical application.  There is certainly plenty of Scripture that orients us towards heaven, but it's often done with the intention of changing life here on earth as well.  We're transformed by the Holy Spirit, but God then sends us out into the world to show God's love to the world through our actions.  We can't forget about our worldly obligations to love and serve one another because we get focused on heaven, and we can't forget about heaven in the event we get too focused on the world around us.  There's always a balance.  

  Here in Proverbs, we have very practical wisdom.  The ant is held up as industrious, and the proverbial sluggard here in Proverbs is addressed with the intent of motivating them to work, to create internal discipline and accountability -- or else poverty and want will win the day.  Work hard, we're told, or else we end up wasting our gifts, which are themes Jesus picks up on in certain parables, where we are encouraged to work, and yet to remember that it's not our work that makes us worthy, but we do so out of gratitude for the grace extended to us.

Proverbs 4:23-27

Proverbs 4:23-27 

English Standard Version 

  I once went to Costco and only bought one thing -- it was a proud moment for me.  Typically, I go into Costco for 5 things and come out with 15.  Every time I go in there, or any grocery store, I inevitably end up with way more than I anticipated, because my eyes stray and so many things look good in the heat of the moment.  I'm not disciplined enough to stick to my list, so I buy whatever is appealing.

  We can go through life this way if we're not careful -- we chase what is appealing in the moment.  It's always easier to pursue entertainment on our phones, or take the easy shortcut, rather than to stay disciplined and focused and pursue what we want.

   Take a moment on this Monday morning -- write out what you want from the day, from the week.  What do you need to ignore, to put away, to achieve this?  How can you ask for God's help to set your eyes forward, to keep your feet from straying?  Maybe you need help from a friend to avoid an addiction or temptation.  Whatever it takes, ponder the path of your feet before you set out.  Take some time to consider the next steps, and if you do so, you can walk with purpose, rather than just hoping you end up where you want to be.  

Proverbs 3:13-18

Proverbs 3:13-18

English Standard Version 

  If you were holding a popular vote, I wouldn't like wisdom's chances in modern society when up against some of the other options.  Precious jewels might win by a landslide.

  But precious jewels won't help you when life is falling apart.  Precious jewels don't help you appreciate the gifts of family and friends.  Precious jewels offer little comfort in the dying embers of the day.

  Wisdom, however, offers a road of peace and a way to life.  Those who cling to wisdom understand the gifts of community and the true meaning of life -- they keep perspective when the cards are against them, and the fear of God keeps them from fearing other threats that nip at their heels.  

  Wisdom may not be popular, but it's prudent, and will keep you stable on the path through life, and only wisdom will show you the way through the veil that separates this world and the next.

Proverbs 3:5-8

Proverbs 3:5-8

English Standard Version 

  It was Augustine who said that our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.  Martin Luther was a little more direct when he called the heart a factory of idols.

  Our hearts chase things -- there are so many alluring things in the world that we can sometimes feel like our hearts are spinning after so many desirable things.  I was recently in Miami on South Beach, and my head was on a swivel to look at all the high-end cars with loud engines.  There must be some city ordinance that Collins Drive always has at least two Lamborghinis on it at all times.  For someone who grew up with a poster of one on my wall, there was a lot to look at.  It distracted me from whatever I was trying to focus on, which diminished in value in comparison to the Lamborghini racing by.

  We do this with lots of things -- our hearts are restless, racing after possessions and status and money and people.  So many things seek to claim the top spot in our hearts, and it exhausts and distracts us.  Until we can let our hearts rest in God, depending on the Lord to lead our hearts and minds, we'll always be fighting this battle, giving pieces of our hearts away to plenty of worldly things.  Sabbath rest helps us fight this battle, for when we celebrate the Sabbath, we set aside all those worldly things and let God lead our hearts.  In the still, small spaces, we can often hear God speaking in ways we miss when the volume is turned up to 11 and we're racing from event to event.

Proverbs 2:4-8

Proverbs 2:4-8 

English Standard Version 

  There's a book called Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea about a treasure hunter's search for the wreck of the S.S. Central America that sunk in 1857 with 21 tons of gold on board.  That's a pretty strong motivator -- what would you do for the opportunity to get 21 tons of gold?  You'd probably go through quite a bit for such treasure, or even part of that.  (At $2,009/ounce, that's about $64 million)

  We undervalue the treasure of God's wisdom.  It doesn't deliver monetary riches, so we discount it in our minds and hearts, spending time and energy pursuing worldly riches and treasure.  We can't wrap our minds around the eternal, so we don't invest the time into it that we should, because it doesn't make the same kind of sense to us -- it's not as clear as dollars in a bank account.  

  If we're wise, Proverbs tells us, we'll recognize that seeking the Lord like a treasure of silver is the better move, because the treasure we find in God is one that is eternal and can't be stolen or lost.  No thief can get at it, and it lasts forever.  Every treasure on earth will be spent down, no matter how big, given enough time, whereas the treasure we receive from God only grows.

Proverbs 1:20-24

Proverbs 1:20-24 

The Message 

  I often watch with frustration as my kids do things that I've told them not to do... and I wonder at how God must feel the same way.  God must look at us, God's children, and wonder at some of the choices we make.  We pursue selfish things and then wonder why our lives aren't rich in relationships.  We grab for short-term gains and then wonder why our long-term plans don't work out.  We ignore one another and then wonder why others cry out in pain.  We've turned up the volume on every other news source in our lives, and I don't know that things are going very well...  when I look at the news, I see a society that is hurting and looking for answers.  We're asking a lot of questions, but given that we've largely rejected the big picture answers, it's hard to hold a cohesive narrative that brings us together when we're all grabbing for the answers that each of us prefers individually.  Lady Wisdom is shouting, but we're all tuned in to our own curated narratives and don't have the patience for anyone else to correct or lead us.  

  Is there room in your life to hear Lady Wisdom's daily cries?  Are you open to correction, to being led, to recognizing the dangerous influences of the other things that would lead you in this life?  God is ready to revise our lives, and like thirsty travelers, we're in need of drinking from the fountain of life.  May we drink deeply, humbly, and with contrite hearts, ready to listen, ready to learn.

Proverbs 1:8-9

Proverbs 1:8-9

English Standard Version 

  I was thinking about this verse a lot on Mother's Day.  Things would've been a lot easier if I'd been wise enough to hear what my parents were trying to teach me.  I suppose I gained a lot of wisdom from making plenty of mistakes, but how many wrong paths could've been prevented if I'd listened.  I suppose that's true for every teenager out there, or at least most of them, so I'm not unique in this situation, but often we only realize on the other side of mistakes that our parents were right all along!

  We often take the same posture towards Scripture -- we pridefully believe that we know best, and yet after getting it wrong, we realize how wise Scripture can be.  The guidance in the pages of the Bible is timeless and has stood the test of centuries, but often I'm out here thinking that my forty years on this planet has prepared me better!  Humility can be hard...

  When we read Scripture, may we do so with hearts prepared to be shown how we are wrong, and may we pray for the humility to let the light shine into the darkest corners of our hearts and offer correction, that we may be led back to the truth by the words of Scripture.

Psalm 131

Psalm 131 

English Standard Version 

I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul 

A Song of Ascents. 

Of David. 

  This is one worth revisiting often.  It's one of the richest images in Scripture -- that of a child, curled in its mother's lap, completely at ease.  You can likely recall this image -- it's one we see often in society.  With Mother's Day coming up, it's a good one to recall, for we all yearned for our mothers like this.  As a child, this was peace.  Even when I could get our kids to be quiet, I couldn't comfort them in the same way their mother could.  At 3 in the morning, they didn't call for dad... they always cried out for mom.

  May we be so inspired to reach out for God this same way, craving God's comfort, knowing that's the one place we can find peace.

Psalm 46:8-11

Psalm 46:8-11 

English Standard Version 

  You may have seen this Psalm verse before, Be Still and Know that I am God.  Did you realize that it was seated in the heart of chaos?  Did you recognize that it was in the midst of wars and desolations?  It's amazing to find such a verse in such a place.... but that's the amazing thing about the peace of God.  It can be found anywhere if we hand ourselves over.  I recently read a great book by Michael Horton about the fear of God, and in it, he was describing how a proper understanding of the fear of God helps us to not be afraid of anything else in the world.  When we understand God's power and majesty, all other fears fade into background noise, because we have nothing to fear.  Thus, even in the midst of desolation, we can be still and trust in God.

Psalm 46:4-7

Psalm 46:4-7 

English Standard Version

  A few years ago, I spent an hour in a deprivation tank.  It was marvelous -- complete quiet for an hour, with no outside disturbances.  There could've been aliens invading outside that tank, and I wouldn't have known about it.  My phone didn't buzz, no one told me about things that needed to be done... it was peaceful.  

  I think about that when I read about the city of God.  Inside those walls, there is peace.  Nations may be raging on the outside, but we are in a fortress that shall not be moved.  God's voice can melt every opposing force outside the city walls -- what are we to worry for if God can do that?  It's like attacking a tiger with a toothpick when a hunter stands behind us, ready to defend us.  

  When we're in a place of peace, it doesn't matter what's on the outside.  We spend our lives with a vision, with glimpses, of that promised heavenly kingdom, and we try and practice for it, living with the confidence of children.  We won't know the full peace until we arrive in fullness in that place, but for now, let us try and capture a little bit of that peace each and every day.

Psalm 46:1-3

Psalm 46:1-3 

English Standard Version 

  Sounds like some pretty worthwhile things to fear.  If a mountain is picked up and thrown into the sea... things are going badly.  We worry and obsess about a lot less.  

  What's your biggest worry today?  Last week?  What keeps you up at night, disrupts your thoughts, circles your mind consistently?  Do you worry about the earth giving way under your feet, or maybe something that will feel that way?

  God is our refuge and strength.

  No matter what, no matter how big the concern, the trial, the tribulation... God is our refuge and strength.

  Exhale.  Inhale.  Let the Holy Spirit fill you and ground you.  As the earth gives way, there is a firm foundation, and God will not fail.

Psalm 63:5-8

Psalm 63:5-8 

English Standard Version 

  Martin Luther talks about the human heart as a factory of idols, because what happens is we take worldly pleasures and make them the ultimate end, when in reality, all the worldly pleasure should point beyond itself to the maker of all pleasures.  The beauty in the world should point us to God's beauty.  Rich and wondrous food should lead us to anticipate the heavenly banquet and the God who gives us good things.  Joyous moments with friends and family point to the relationship of the Trinity and the community of the body of believers.  Everything good and wonderful points to God and leads us into worship if we allow it.  It's easy to stop and begin to worship the beautiful things itself, but Scripture is always pushing us beyond that, so that we see the richness of God in every good thing.

Psalm 63:1-4

Psalm 63:1-4 

English Standard Version 

  I always read this Psalm with jealousy -- I want this same desire for God.  We all do, right?  We long to have this type of intimacy, to seek after God as a parched traveler in the wilderness.  

  It's easy to assume that David had some type of special relationship, but God offers us the same grace and love that David found.  David pursued it with passion, with consistency, with purpose.

  May we do the same -- may we awake every morning and give thanks for the God who pursues us, who saves us, who redeems us from the pit.  In time, we grow in intimacy, and the more we look to the cross, the more we are amazed at the love God offers us and the way God has pursued us, even at great cost.  Such awareness of such love gives us thirst, and leads us deeper into God's steadfast love.

Psalm 6:1-3

Psalm 6:1-3

English Standard Version 

  I often don't know how to pray.  Do you ever feel that way?  You don't know the words to say, and you can't gather your thoughts, or perhaps don't feel like they're worthy of presenting to God.  Maybe you feel rushed or stressed or in turmoil, so you put it off, and promise you'll get around to it later.

  The Psalms are the prayers for us.

  Ever feel like you've let God down?  The Psalms teach us language to pray to God for that.

  Ever feel like you're troubled to your very bones?  The Psalms give us language to take that to God.

  Ever feel stressed emotionally?  The Psalms can help us offer that to God.

  Ever wonder if your problems will ever end?  The Psalms give us permission to offer that to God.

  Oh... and that's just in the first 3 verses of one Psalm.

  This book is a treasure that will instruct us over the course of our entire lives, if we let it.  It will teach us about ourselves and about God and show us how to grow in faith and give us words to pray when we don't even have the language to bring ourselves before God.

Nehemiah 12:44-47

Nehemiah 12:44-47

English Standard Version 

  Beauty in the world is worth supporting.  It's amazing to think of how many treasures in art museums exist because patrons were willing to spend money on art, to support artists who were creating something beautiful.

  Here, the people in those days are providing portions for those who sing songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.  It's a wondrous image -- the entire city gathering around this group of people who are singing and uplifting the city through their praising of God.

  May we follow where the Holy Spirit leads us and support beautiful things in this world, wherever it may be, and may we be uplifted by that beauty, all of it turning our hearts to praise God.

Nehemiah 12:27-30

Nehemiah 12:27-30 

English Standard Version 

  Do you stop to celebrate things in life?  

  It's so easy to finish something and immediately jump into the very next thing.  There's always something pressing, some next event -- the world is moving so fast, we have to jump from thing to thing just to try and keep up.  As a result, we often don't end up celebrating things -- we forget, and I think we've lost something important as a result of that.

  It's important to celebrate.  All sorts of amazing things happen, and when we stop to celebrate them, we're reminded of the many rich blessings that we have.  It reminds us of reasons to be grateful, and it leads our hearts to praise -- to praise God for what God gives us, and to praise other people in our lives.

  So what can you celebrate today?

Nehemiah 11:1-2

Nehemiah 11:1-2 

English Standard Version 

  What does it mean for you to bless another? 

  Those who went to live in Jerusalem were taking a risk, but thinking of the good of the entire people.  They weren't sent out on their own, though -- the blessings of the nation went with them.

  So how do we bless one another?  

  Maybe it's a gift of food, a meal cooked for another.  In these days, you could send a DoorDash delivery meal to someone's house.

  Maybe it's some other material gift, or money itself.  You could send a giftcard or some other gift that both communicates how you care and helps provide something that a person would have to get for themselves otherwise. 

  Maybe you reach out to them and have a conversation, to let them know you're thinking of them and are supporting them.

  Maybe you simply continue to lift them up in prayer.

  Whatever it may be, it's important that we bless one another, and that we continue to do it -- it's easy to do it once, but everyone you know is fighting something that will likely take weeks or months or years.  May we be the kind of people who persist, who endure, and continue to bless months down the road, for we journey together, and we all need long-term support to help us make it through.