Daily Devotional

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 03, 2024 Sunday

Proverbs 21:1-5 (KJV)
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Pride, a deadly sin

David Jacobs

Of the seven deadly sins, which would you say is the “worst”? Lust, gluttony, greed, pride, wrath, sloth, or envy? Any person has felt these at some point, but learning to let go of these temptations improves your life and more importantly improve the world. Much of the prohibitions laid out in the Bible are not there to restrict us, they are there to help us. Let us examine this proverb a bit closer.

A proud heart and the plowing of the wicked is the sin. Elevating one’s own importance over others is vain and displeases God. We must remember, what are we but lowly servants to an all-powerful God? Nothing, no nation, person, group, or god, is better than the others. There is only one, the alpha and omega, creator of heaven and earth. Be patient, as the proverb says, for wanting too much too quickly will only leave you wanting more.

Prayer
Forgiving Father, my rock and shield, grant me the peace to avoid the temptations and sins that plague this world. With my avoidance, I know that I improve this world, making it more like your heavenly kingdom. Amen.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 04, 2024 Monday

Ephesians 3:16-21 (KJV)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Let Christ dwell in your heart

David Jacobs

There is a song by Billy Joel called “The Stranger” that I always really liked. The lyrics of the song discuss how everyone wears masks at times, some for strangers, some for lovers, some for family, and some for ourselves. We wear these masks so often that it can start to get difficult to understand who we really are, because we are always acting in a different way depending on the company we are with. It made me reflect on my own life and how I act in different settings: with family, my wife, friends, at church, and when I am alone. Why do I act differently depending on the circumstance? Why can’t I just be myself?

In these verses, we read that Christ dwells in the faithful hearts. Through our faith in God, the need to hide and masquerade as someone else is removed. Through our relationship with Christ we can grow to be more confident, knowledgeable, and understand that we are full of the positive energy of God. We have been built in the likeness of our Lord, why should we hide what is deep within? Would God make us in His image and not be pleased with what He made?

The last verses serve as a reminder that we are but humble servants to the Lord. No matter how high we climb, no matter how much we achieve, we are still lowly children in comparison to God. Why hide from others when we know that we are all lowly children? Shed your mask and let the power of Christ that dwells inside you gush out.

Prayer

Lord God, the most almighty! I am a lowly servant, begging to do your bidding. Any opportunity I have to be more like you I relish, and thank you for all the gifts and positive attributes that you have bestowed on me. This day, as all days, I long to worship you, to take off my mask, and be more like your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 05, 2024 Tuesday

James 1:17-20 (KJV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

God’s gift

David Jacobs

Can you remember the best gift that you ever received? I have spent several minutes wracking my brain trying to think of a great gift that I have received, and honestly, I mostly think back to the great gifts that I have given to others. It sounds like a cliché, but it truly is better to give than to receive. The same can be said of the Lord our God, as these verses suggest.

All of the gifts that I have received come from God. All of the gifts that any of us have received come from God. Why would God do this for us? Like I said before, perhaps even God feels that it is better to give than to receive. He has created both heaven and earth, and given us the chance, through the teachings and life of his son, Jesus Christ, to be redeemed. We all have been gifted a gift that we can never possibly repay, and if we are slow to receive the message or refuse it, we will feel the wrath of God. In 1 Peter 4:10, it says:

As every man hath received the gift, even so, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

All of us have been given a gift. We also have a responsibility to give back. We should read these verses from James, and reflect on it: we should aim to be slow to speak, swift to hear, and slow to wrath, for that is the path to wisdom. Following the path that God has laid out for us is the ultimate gift that we can use to pay him back. Unlike me, hopefully God can remember it.

Prayer

Generous and loving God, every moment that I have to grow closer to you is a gift. I shall use every moment as I said, for that is also mygreatest gift that I can give to you. Lead me away from the sins and temptations that may fall in front of my feet as I walk with you, my Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Amen.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 06, 2024 Wednesday

Psalms 53:1-6 (KJV)
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

When did you start to believe?

David Jacobs

When my brother was younger, he refused to listen to the word of God. He did not want to hear anything about God, Christianity, or church. For some reason, he had a block in his mind and was unable to even consider any of the good things that the Lord had done for him. Even if he wanted to believe that God was not real, he certainly had to see the positive impact that being Christian had had on our family. We were blessed to have wonderful parents that were devout and loving in ways that few families are. It was only until he met his future wife that he was pulled back to the church and then his heart was eventually made ready to accept the Lord again.

God is always searching for those of us who are ready to listen to his message. In the hustle and bustle of our lives it can be difficult to focus on the things that are not important for our immediate survival. If we “believe” in God but do nothing to show it, are we any different from my stubborn brother? Is it better to believe but never rejoice in the name of our Lord or to not believe at all? This psalm speaks powerfully about the people that refuse to let God enter their hearts. They are corrupted, broken, and let wanting. They hunger for knowledge, but no matter how much they eat, they will not be satisfied. God will provide for you, but you must let Him in. He is patient, but we should do all that we can to prepare our hearts, minds, and souls to accept Him.

Prayer

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Blessed are those that come in the name of the Lord, and corrupted are those that do not. Help me on this day, as all days, to heal those corrupted souls. As you have been my shepherd, guiding me to green pastures, let me direct these lost sheep to your flock. I know you will not abandon me, and they will know the same. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 07, 2024

Ephesians 6:20-24 (KJV)
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

A letter from prison

David Jacobs

Some improvements need to be made in the prison system in America. The recidivism rate is dreadful, meaning that once you go to prison it is very likely that you will go back to prison upon your original release. The prisoners are not given much opportunity to gain any useful skills, and are basically used for slave labor. It can be a depressing and lonely place, sapping the will to live from many that have entered.

Luckily for us, Paul the Apostle, along with the other Apostles, had made a pact with Christ. He vowed to spread the good news of the gospel to every creature on earth (Mark 16:15). Unluckily for Paul, his doing so landed him in a jail cell. Due to his pact with Christ, the iron bars that kept him caged inside did not stop him from doing all that he could to spread the teachings of Christ. In verse 20, he speaks of being in bondage, able to speak boldly. I am always fascinated by how the authors of books of the Bible conclude their writings. In the book of Ephesians, Paul wishes peace to his brethren, love with faith, and grace to all that love Christ. He does this from a prison cell! He stays faithful and happy, working to spread the love of Christ around the world.

Prayer

Reading this is inspiring but also makes me feel a bit guilty: if Paul can do all of this from the cold confines of a cell, what more can I be doing? Ask yourself the same question. Meditate on it, pray to God, and perhaps you will get an answer to what more you can be doing.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 08, 2024 Friday

Amos 5:12-15 (KJV)

For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Seek evil, find evil. Seek good, find good.

David Jacobs

No matter how far we may walk off the path of righteousness, God still keeps us near. My friend’s son got involved with a very bad crowd. He was squatting in empty houses, doing and selling drugs, in and out of prison, and not working at all. In middle school, he was a sweet boy, great at sports and music, a good student, and beloved by parents. It was hard to even recognize who he had become, and it was hard to even reach out to help him because of how heartbroken it left us.

One pastor from the church was made aware of his situation and knew him like a brother, reaching out to him. He refused. The pastor asked again and was refused. And again. And so on and so on until finally the boy relented, came to the church, and wept as soon as he entered the sanctuary. His entire family and his friends had gathered there to support him, and the show of love took the evil spirit out of him and changed him that day.

One might think that the boy was walking with the devil, on the path to damnation, but that is not how I view it. Even if you choose to love evil and hate that is good, God is patiently waiting for you. God does not abandon his flock, he will never reject his people (Psalms 94:14).He is always there, no matter how far we may stray.

Another thing to take away from these verses is this: if you seek evil, you will find it.

Prayer

If you seek good, you will find it. God allows us to make the choice, but He is watching and waiting, for us to choose Him.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 09, 2024 Saturday

Romans 15:29-33 (KJV)

And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Strive together in prayer

David Jacobs

How often do you pray? I don’t mean a quick prayer at dinner. I mean really, really pray. For most Christians, I think it is safe to say that the answer is “not enough.” I would put myself in that category.

There has been a recent explosion in mindfulness and meditation. My phone app store is filled with new meditation apps, trying to teach you how to be mindful and to meditate. I think that this is a great movement, although I also feel that Christians are not taught how to be similarly mindful. Paul sat in a jail cell for long periods of time, writing letters that became books of the Bible. He certainly spent a lot of time praying, but I am certain that it is not in the same manner that we pray in church or at home. I imagine that it was for a much longer period of time, like these mindfulness apps try to teach, and that you entered the meditative prayer session with a clear question in mind. At the end of the prayer, which could take a while, you may have gotten closer to an answer.

The importance of prayer cannot be overstated. In Christ’s last moments before crucifixion, he was found in the garden with his disciples where he most liked to meditate in prayer (John 18:1-32. The art of prayer is being lost, and you can see how much Paul values even the prayers of other people, for he knows the value that it has had for him. What value has it had for you?

Prayer

Instead of a prayer, I would like you to sit down, quietly, with a question, idea, or praise to give to God. Relax and meditate on it for 15 minutes. How do you feel?

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 10, 2024 Sunday

Psalms 63:1-4 (KJV)

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Practice lovingkindness

David Jacobs

I love podcasts and listen to them regularly. One of my favorites is called the ‘Tim Ferris podcast’ with host, you guessed it, Tim Ferris. Ferris is an angel investor and all-around smart guy, constantly experimenting on himself in order to improve the way he feels, thinks, and acts. He had a Buddhist monk on the program that taught me something that I still use today: practicing lovingkindness. Every morning when the monk wakes up, he writes down a list of the first 10 people that he wants to share his love and kindness with. I started to do this, and it had a dramatic effect. Lots of the people on my list were people that I had problems with or that were on my mind. After writing their names down, the next time I saw them, it was as if the problems had melted away and been replaced with lovingkindness.

It is rather depressing to think of how few people we share our love with on a regular basis. Our love is also somewhat conditional, hinging on things like if they are faithful, reciprocate our love, or don’t understand us fully. God has written His list of lovingkindness, and it contains every living thing. There are no conditions as there may be for us, but we should strive to accept God into our hearts. Until we do, we will never be able to fully love others, ourselves, or experience eternal life. His love for us is unconditional, but He gives us the choice of whether or not to reciprocate. The choice is ours; thanks be to God for giving it to us!

Prayer

Write your lovingkindness list. Who is on your list? Is God?

• AMEN

[user1234567890]

@Prayer_Warrior

Every morning when the monk wakes up, he writes down a list of the first 10 people that he wants to share his love and kindness with. I started to do this, and it had a dramatic effect. Lots of the people on my list were people that I had problems with or that were on my mind. After writing their names down, the next time I saw them, it was as if the problems had melted away and been replaced with lovingkindness.

You know, Brother, that’s actually an interesting idea! I like it!

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 11, 2024 Monday

Ephesians 4:29-32 (KJV)

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Let there be no evil in your mouth

David Jacobs

You may have heard the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never hurt me.” I always thought this was an incredibly foolish thing to teach a child, because words can obviously hurt us! In fact, there are many examples in the Bible urging believers of God to be mindful of their speech. Christ’s followers should be swift to hear and slow to speak. This is the path to wisdom, and in my own experiences, I would say that my ability to listen to people far outweighs my ability to speak.

Swift to listen and slow to speak…this phrase reminds me of another popular quote. There is a saying from the movie Bambi. Thumper, the cute rabbit, utters this line: “If you can’t say something nice don’t say nothin’ at all.” It may sound less pretty, but it is a good summation of this verse in Ephesians. The final verses discuss things that we should avoid, most in regards to our temperament, and the last is feelings that we should feel.

Prayer

Paul has learned well from Christ; hopefully we can too, but if not, maybe the rabbit, Thumper, can teach us a valuable lesson.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 12, 2024

1 Peter 5:6-9 (KJV)

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Casting all your care on the Lord

David Jacobs

I have been quite selfish at times in my relationships. With an inflated sense of ego, I have thought that I may deserve better than the other person at certain times. It led me to treat other people as if they should be happy that I give them any love or attention at all, hurting them in the process. That all changed when I met my wife, because at that time, I certainly knew that she was better than me. If I didn’t know, she had no problem telling me.

Prayer

Think about your own relationships: do you care as much as the other person does? Now think about God: do you think you care even a fraction as much as He does? Although we would like to hope that we do, it is impossible to care as much as God has for us. He sent his only begotten son to die for our sins, and it is a debt that we can never hope to repay. He could have stopped there, but He has promised that He will never stop loving us. As these verses say, throw every care on the Lord as He has done to us. We owe Him that.

• AMEN

[user1234567890]

Amen! We can love God as much as we want, and yet we will never out-love the Lord!

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 13, 2024 Wednesday

Psalms 104:33-35 (KJV)

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

Sing for as long as I live

David Jacobs

I have been fortunate to share my music ministry with many congregations since I was young. There is no activity that I have ever done where I received more praise than singing as a child soloist in my church. Decades later, I can still remember the eager looks in the pews of my church, staring up at me in anticipation of this music. The amount of joy that I brought to people’s lives simply by singly a cute song in front of the church unabashedly was humbling, so humbling that I still remember that ‘rock star’ feeling that I got as a child to this day.

Prayer

Nobody sang the praises of God more loudly and more often than King David. He seemed to sing the praises of God with nearly every breath that he took, and much of the Old Testament is evidence of that. How many chances have we had to lift up our voices and sing in joyous worship of the Lord? The answer is at any time. Our entire life can be lived as a song of worship or a prayer of devotion to our God. Why do we not sing God’s praises with every chance that we have? The sinners will live a life of temptation, ours will be a life of rejoicing. Thanks be to God! Amen.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 14, 2024 Thursday

Psalms 98:1-4 (KJV)

O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

A joyful noise

David Jacobs

Do you enjoy going to church? Ask yourself this question. At every church that I have been to, it seems a large amount of the people there have no interest in being there. They are either forced by their spouse or parents and are just there because it is a part of their culture. When the scriptures are read or the sermon begins, it may turn into naptime for some people. How have we allowed a weekly worship to turn into this? Is this what it was originally meant to be?

We can think about prayer and worship in many ways, and there are certainly many congregations that are finding new ways to approach it and bring in new devotees of Christ. It may rustle the feathers of some of the older generations, but as long as the overall meaning is similar, there is no harm in trying to be innovative and continue to pay respect to God.

Prayer

However, as these verses suggest, church is not the only place that we are meant to sing God’s praises. Anywhere and everywhere we go we should sing God’s praises. I also like to use the idea of a song as a metaphor for my life: everything that I do, every positive and negative action, every up and down, is a different note on my worship song to God. I share my song with all that encounter me, and hopefully, they share theirs with me. Whatever your gift may be, it is our duty, as these verses suggest, to share what we can in a joyful noise unto all the earth. Make a loud noise, rejoice! God is great! Amen.

• AMEN

[user1234567890]

Kinda reminds me of what you’ve been talking about in your diary, concerning worship, Brother! Very good!

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 15, 2024 Friday

Psalms 103:1-5 (KJV)

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Blessed the Lord, O my soul

David Jacobs

I am sometimes stricken with anxiety and insecurity, expecting the worst-case scenario to occur even before it has happened. It can be crippling at times, because I anticipate trouble even though it may never happen. This anticipation, however, affects my mood, and I can assure you, it does not affect it in a positive way. In these moments, it is so easy for me to forget about all the things that I am thankful for: the best family I could possibly ask for, beautiful children, parents that one could only dream of, a good job, food, health, happiness. In my moments of anxiety, nothing else matters.

This is where the Bible has helped me the most. When I am feeling anxiety or insecurity, I can read a few pages and be inspired. I can read about the hardships of the Old Testament prophets, the kingdom of Israel, or Christ and the disciples and feel a little bit better about my own situation. I can also be inspired by their faith: no matter the odds against them, God was with them and they were with God. They never forgot who gave them everything. Life is never going to be perfect; we will always have our moments of anxiety and doubt. With a strong faith in God, we will bounce back faster, stronger, and more determined, and we will be less able to forget all that God has given us.

Prayer

Christ in heaven, my redeemer, I owe you a debt of my life. Forgive me heavenly Father, for I have forgotten and lost faith at my lowest and even highest moments. Keep me balanced, O Lord, so that I may never forget where all the good in the world and in heaven comes from: from your lovingkindness, which you share with all man. I beg for your mercy Lord, knowing full well that I do not deserve it, and also knowing that you will grant it to me as long as I ask. In your name I pray, Amen.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 16, 2024 Saturday

Proverbs 19:1-4 (KJV)

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

Rich or poor? That is the question

David Jacobs

I lived in China for a few years, and the desire for wealth there is as much as I have ever seen. A famous celebrity gained infamy for uttering these words: “I would rather be crying in the back of a BMW than smiling on the back of a bike.” The urge to obtain and collect possession is an obsession, greed on of the seven deadly sins. If it is considered such a sin, how have we allowed the consumer culture that we live in to grow to the extent that it has?

Much has been forgotten and most of our society does not consider the scriptures. This is why we, as devoted followers of Christ, owe it to ourselves and to all of society to be learned and knowledgeable in the ways of the Lord.

This proverb begins praising the poor but righteous and bashing the fool that is perverse in speech. If someone speaks without knowledge, they are a fool and a sinner, wicked in the eyes of the Lord.

The last verse is most striking to me: wealth may make many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbor.

Prayer

Prayer
However, what kind of friends are attracted to wealth? Are they not using you simply for your material belongings? When trouble hits you and you need a true friend, who would you be able to rely on? Some of the most generous are the poorest, as was the case with the widow’s offering in the temple (Mark 12:41-44). She may not have a BMW that she can cry in, but she will have access to the kingdom of heaven, more riches than even the wealthiest on earth can possibly imagine.She shall inherit the earth. To the wealthiest among us: where will your false friends be?

• AMEN

[user1234567890]

A couple of verses came to mind while reading this, Brother.

Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Proverbs 13:7
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

God bless you!

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 17, 2024

Proverbs 8:12-14 (KJV)

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

What does it mean to be wise?

David Jacobs

If I asked you who the wisest person in the Bible was, who would you say? Maybe Jesus, maybe Moses, but the name Solomon is almost synonymous with wisdom, referenced several times in the books of the Bible (especially 1 Kings 3 and 4). His wisdom was so great that God rewarded him as He rewarded no other man on earth: He chose Solomon as the person to build His temple in Jerusalem. King David is one of the most lauded characters in the Old Testament, and he was ready to build the temple for God. God chose his son, Solomon, known for his wisdom, rather than David, a conquering war hero, known perhaps too much for bloodshed and sin. David accepts this nobly, for he knows that Solomon is…the wise choice (1 Chronicles 28-29).

There are 2 things to notice about these verses: first, it is God’s favor to wisdom. With sound counsel, understanding, and wisdom, there is strength.

The second thing to notice is what God abhors: evil, pride, and arrogance. These are the things that God hates. These are the evil way, the path to darkness. God does not hate many things, but these are the things He makes clear to use the word hate in reference to. If we are to fully understand and follow the word of the Lord, we must remember these verses: to closely follow God’s path, we must love wisdom and hate pride and arrogance. To do so grants us more wisdom and strength. With these things, we can build our own inner temple, just as Solomon did, and join God, Solomon, and Christ, in the temple of heaven.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, lead me away from all sin, and towards a path of wisdom, understanding, and
strength. I ask that you pardon my sins when I have been arrogant and prideful; I shall do all in my power to be better and clasp to the things that you deem righteous. Amen.

• AMEN

[Prayer_Warrior]

November 18, 2024 Monday

## 1 Timothy 3:14-16 (KJV) These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Where is the mystery?

David Jacobs

The Lord works in mysterious ways. We have all probably heard this phrase before. I have always thought that it was nonsensical: how much evidence and scripture must there be for us to have a clear understanding of how the Lord works? There are some things that we do not have much understanding of, certainly. There are great mysteries that we have only begun to unravel. But there is a mountain of evidence and scholars that have spent their entire lives writing about the Lord’s “ways.” Mysterious is not the word that I would use, and it is also not the word that Paul would use in his letter to Timothy.

In fact, Paul states the exact opposite: there can be no controversy to how God works. Paul then lists exactly what the Lord claimed He would do and did! God lived amongst men as Christ, justified by the Holy Spirit, seen by angels at the time of his birth, preached during his lifetime to all that would hear him, believed by those that would hear him including by us, and then died and went to heaven. Where is the mystery? There can be no dispute that Christ’s life was truly extraordinary. Praise his name and glory today and every day, for in him was the word and the truth resolved, made manifest in his flesh.

Prayer

Blessed are those that come in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest. May we forever sing your praises my God. There is no mystery surrounding your goodness. I thank you with every breath, every fiber of my being, every ounce of my love. I love you as you have loved me. Amen.

• AMEN