Bragging On Jesus

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, 5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.   A Sister And An Intimate Friend R Aylor At times in these devotions I’ve referred to Prudence and Knowledge, Understanding and Insight as some of the relatives of Wisdom who aid her in godliness. Today Solomon wants his son to consider Wisdom along with her sister Insight as his accountability partner to keep him from the forbidden woman. I think all Wisdom's relatives can help us in this same way… and not only to keep us from the forbidden woman but from the forbidden sins we are tempted with each day. If you think about it… In a godly household, it’s the individual family members and close friends who love us that can be our first line of defense to keep us from whatever sin so easily causes us to fall. Our families know us better than anyone else. And in the same way we

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 7:3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
  Stick Notes On Your Forehead? R Aylor 
In today's age… where people carry around smart phones and have easy access to paper and pencil… instead of tying reminders around his fingers Solomon might have told his son to stick post it notes on his forehead as a reminder to his fathers words. . I was just thinking something kind of crazy… I suppose if someone wanted to pursue evil, they also could tie pretty little bows on their fingers to remind them to sin but guess what??? We don't need any help remembering to follow the sinful nature handed down from the first Adam… That comes naturally. 

Back to the text… What helps us remember Gods word?

In order to remember it… It is reasonable to say that we have to read it right? And the more we read it the better we will remember it. Also, the Holy Spirit brings Gods word back to our minds to combat evil and give comfort,

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 7:2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;   The Apple Of Your Eye R Aylor Maybe you’ve heard this phrase “the apple of your eye” before or something similar. One variation… the phrase "Apple of his eye" was possibly first ever used in Deuteronomy 32:10 speaking of how God loved Jacob it says: “he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye”. This phrase or one similar has stayed relative to our language unto this day.

These words surely carry with them the idea that Solomon's wise teachings should have caught his son's heart's eye like a bright red apple... Solomon wanted his son to take hold of the wisdom God has given him; lavish it, prize it high, eat its fruit and find life. But certainly this passage is also for you and I today.  Gods words should catch our eye in the same way… they should be savored as something that appeals to us spiritually and desired as sweet nourishment to our soul

Proverbs In 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 7:1 My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;
 Don't Leave Home Without It R Aylor Have you ever left your smartphone at home and felt like something was missing? I …have… Maybe you wonder what’s missing and then it hits you so you have to go back and grab it as soon as you can.

Have you ever left home without reading your bible that day? If we do I would hope we feel like something is missing or something is wrong. At the least we should never leave home without Jesus words connected to our hearts. We should acknowledge him as we go about our day, and worship him with great delight. Psalm 1 talks a bit about that. Heres some of the chapter: Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 6:10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. No Vacations
 Yet Sweet Rest! R Aylor I don’t know about you but for me it’s usually when I'm lying in bed and should rise, shine and rejoice in the day the Lord has made that this scripture comes to my mind. However its truth about slumbering and resting is clearly applicable at other times and in other areas of life as well. You see, my idea of rest, relaxation and even vacation need a correct Christian world view understanding. Of course regular sleeping is good… it is a gift from God… it is letting your body take a vacation from its work… it gets rejuvenated so it can do everything better including work. However sleep turns bad when I sleep the day away so much that I become depressed and nothing gets accomplished so my day can become a fail big fail. And the sad thing is that

Proverbs In 365 Devotions For More Go To braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Go To The Ant R Aylor We are a little people but unlike the ant our lack of self discipline seems to make us even smaller than we are. At first it sounds like Solomon is addressing slugs and is trying to get them to learn from the ant, but we know he is speaking of mankind. For us, distractions like advertisements, politics, and millions of other things in our culture divert us and try to turn us aside from our path… As broken people, we are lazy and selfish; we don't keep our word. We choose our most agreeable teachers by listening to our most liked news cast or our preferred preacher but are afraid or to lazy to search God’s word ourselves to prove them right or wrong. In our tiny mind we fashion us up our own god and may even call him by the same name as th

Like A Master Workman R Aylor Long before the valleys low, mountains high and hills
 Before the first grain of dust, on earth upon the fields

 I was before him filled with joy, and He was pleased with me
 Twas all good, with no beginning, One God in Three

 So when he marked and drew a circle, I too was there
 And when he made the heavens, all this I shared

 He steadied the sky and established the deep 
He set boundaries for waters, they all heard him speak

 He marked out the earth, I offered my hands In his own image created We man 

He sent me to earth and I willingly went
 To the world I created now broken and bent

 I was paid wages for their hatred and sin
 For their good I lived, died and rose again

 Yet it was for Gods glory, his praise and his name
 That he chose you and made you, that his only Son came

 This good news of great joy for the human race 
Is all to the praise of his glorious grace

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 6:5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Run, Buck & Flap Your Wings R Aylor Solomon has been talking to his son about getting trapped by our own words… In verse one we learned not to make pledges or give security to strangers or even neighbors who want our approval or support for things that go against our God. In verses 2-4 we found out what to do if we make those kinds of mistakes with our mouth… If so then we have been trapped by our own words. We are to give our eyes no sleep until we go to them and set our words straight with Gods word. Today is more like a review for the last two devotions on this subject. Now in verse 5 we see the two analogies Solomon has given us. Let me read it again. “save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.” If an antelope is snagged by a rope what will he do? I suspect he will buck a

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 6:2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, 3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. 4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; Trapped By Our Own Words R Aylor As believers, we all have shortcomings and we sin. However, if we do not apologize to others when we misrepresent Christ, we have no testimony to show for repentance… if we even had it. Solomon set the conversation for us in verse one with the scenario that if… if… we have aligned and supported someone on some issue that goes against what is right and true… If we have comforted or encouraged someone in them turning away from Gods word… Solomon is now telling us to stop what you’re doing and run to your neighbor to set things right. He says that in making things right we are saving ourselves as though our words have caught u

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 6:1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, Man's Mouth Mans mouth has always been a big problem for him. The reason of course is because it shines out reflections of our heart which is bent towards sin. Jesus said beginning in Matthew 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person… As we will see here in the first part of Proverbs 6, Solomon is talking much about our words. In verse 1 he talks about putting security up for our neighbor and giving a pledge for a stranger. We can do both of these things with the words of our mouth. Think about the people you choose to fellowship with… those who you admire and are drawn to… like the text says… they might be our neighbor or they could be a stran

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 5:7 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Squirrel, Squirrel, Squirrel!!! R Aylor As I look back over the previous chapter it appears that from Proverbs 4:4 to 5:6 Solomon has been telling his sons the words of his father king David as they were told to him. Yes Solomon’s sons are receiving instructions now from two great kings that span two generations. Thats how it should be. We should tell our children the truths of God and they should tell their children and it should continue and form a legacy for the Lord to his glory. But yes, as we have noticed before… Solomon tells his sons to listen quite a lot. Like his sons, at times Jesus disciples also had hearing problems… I believe it was after the feeding of the 5000… In Mark 8:18 Jesus ask his disciples: …having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? That’s similar to what Solomon is saying… listen and understand… then keep these trut

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, The Heart Effects All We Do Daniel Castor A worthless person, a wicked man. This seems pretty harsh doesn't it. Is what a man says really tied to how he should be identified? You better believe it! A man who goes about all day talking of sex and making jokes of perversion... would we not call him a pervert? And a person who's only concerned with their finances and their means of gaining more... would we not call them greedy? Would it not also be true that one who has crooked speech is a crooked man? Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. The words we speak lay bare the conditions of our heart! No excuses! We must fill our heart and mind with pleasant and holy things. Let's hide Gods word within our he

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com The Path To Life Proverbs 5:5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; 6 she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. The path which the forbidden woman walks that Solomon is speaking of will lead to ultimate separation from everything pure and  true. It is a sad thing that she does not even know her steps follow the path to Sheol. Her heart does not contemplate her life or purpose or existence. In her own eyes she is making the best of the path she has found herself on and does not consider changing to another path or going another direction. But her feet trod the path that turns away from all things good and ends with eternal separation from God. Can you imagine an existence where every hint of goodness has been removed? That is her final destination. Not so for the those who rest in the righteousness of Jesus. Even in our death we have life because of His death and resurrection. We als

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 5:4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Bitter As Wormwood R Aylor I used to really be into vitamins and herbs… I even owned an herbal store for a while. The herb known as Wormwood is a very bitter shrub. I grew some for a few years and sampled it a number of times… If I remember correctly it’s used to get rid of parasites, to flavor and preserve meats and… And I believe American Indians used it for a number of different things… But like I said it is extremely bitter. Bitter herbs like wormwood can make one think of misery and are actually used by Jews in observance of the Passover where they remind the Jewish people of their bitter days in Egypt. They spent over 400 years in Egypt and much of that time was in bondage as slaves. This was the disagreeable experience that bitter herbs like wormwood reminded them of. In today's text Solomon is referring to the forbidden woman as he calls her… He compares

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 5:3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, The Forbidden Woman Fever R Aylor Maybe you’re like me and have had a high fever once or twice in your life. Not like you’re sick with the flu and a high temperature… What I’m talking about is that "new car fever"? You may catch it from a friend you carpool with or a next door neighbor. You know you have it when you begin to consistently take that second look at new cars going down the road. Then you'll find yourself looking at pictures on the Internet and then intentionally slowing down and finally stopping at car lots but you still tell yourself you're only looking. Soon the fever swells up inside you and your heart pumps heavily every free moment as your considerations drip with desire. Before you know it you’re driving away in a brand new car hardly worth the interest you'll be paying on it over the next 5 years of your life and your heart sinks

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 5:1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.   To Guard Knowledge? R Aylor 
It looks like Solomon is not letting up... As we said before he wants his son’s to hear his words over and above anything the world may be saying. The phrase “be attentive” remind me of a soldier that is to stand at attention when his superior gives him instructions. And then he says “incline your ear to my understanding” which paints a picture in my mind of someone cupping their hand around one ear and leaning in to hear so they won’t miss a single word. Solomon has been saying these kinds of things to his Sons but next he tells us another reason why. “that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge”. Solomon has introduced us to a few of Wisdom’s sisters so far… Ladies like Prudence, Understanding and Knowledge. And now we meet Discretion. To b

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 4:20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.   I Keep Repeating Myself but I'm Not Senile! R Aylor Have you noticed that from time to time it kind of sounds like Solomon is repeating himself? Of course you have… No, the wisest man alive is not going senile! But still in chapter after chapter, Solomon has been repeating this basic truth on purpose. The reason I think is because it’s that important! Why do you repeat things to your own children? Exactly! Listen to me son! Your whole life depends on you getting what I say here! 
I can almost hear the young man answering Solomon “yes father”, “I know father”, “I won’t forget father”. Then Solomon answering: “Son, I have stressed this to you over and over. You are a man like every other man. You have a bent… crookedness.

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 4:9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” The King's Jester? Maybe I’ve watched too many movies in my life but right or wrong for example’s sake lets say that some of the Kings of days gone by had a palace jester who was always talking in jokes, rhymes and riddles… and he wore a special cap too that set him apart. However I suppose you would know the King’s jester without their cap on… simply by hearing them speak a few words… Even so, the Lady Wisdom will place a crown on a wise mans head. It will be an invisible crown but you will be able to tell he is wearing it. Those who are around him… those who hear him will know he is wise by simply listening to him speak. Have you ever been in the presence of a very wise person? Maybe you know someone like this. They are a rare breed… This person may even be old and wrinkled but their wisdom makes them beautiful. Their body language, their

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 4:8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. The Embrace by R Aylor This makes me think of a husbands love for his wife. He should definitely prize her highly. He should praise her in public… He should show his love with a servants heart and embrace and cherish her always letting her know she is his delight. He should seek what is best for her in all things. If you genuinely treat her like a prized jewel she will honor and praise you. Once again the godly woman Wisdom becomes our great teacher. "Prize her highly" “embrace her”… Let Wisdom be your great treasure! In Matthew 13:44 Jesus told this insightful parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 
This man found riches of the great value… gold and sliver so precious he wanted dearly to embrace… I imagine him saying

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 4:6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Whatever You Get, Get Insight by Robin Aylor I love how Solomon returns to referring to wisdom as "her", polarizing her opposite to the adulterous woman mentioned throughout Proverbs. And he has told us time and time again to get wisdom… Wisdom is important enough to keep repeating to his Sons that's for sure… but what good is it if you don’t know how to use it. Maybe that’s why Solomon emphasizes “and whatever you get, get insight”. Insight is that what… almost intuition… or intensive awareness of what’s really going on around you in life. It’s spotting the adulterous woman before she tricks you… It’s reading people and noticing red flags… It’s being discerning in business dealings and relationships. Sure someone may have wisdom and you might change the world with it but if