Proverbs 27 - 7.4.24
Proverbs 27:9, 17
S - 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice (NIV)
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend (NLT)
O - Proverbs 27 is an inspirational guide on navigating life's challenges and relationships with wisdom. It imparts the significance of humility, the importance of genuine friendship, and the value of diligent work and prudent stewardship. These words of wisdom are timeless, offering guidance for life in any era and reminding us that while life may be unpredictable, wisdom will always guide us towards a life of integrity and fulfillment. These verses elaborate on the essence of true friendship, advising the reader to value and maintain strong friendships (Biblehub.com)
A – Growing up I had a handful of close friends who have stayed with me through adulthood. I treasure those relationships for the value they have because we have been through decades of life together…laughter, tears, children, losing parents, and getting old! LOL However, only one of those friends is a Believer and as a young woman I was hurting and longing for something more. When I became Christian 23 years ago, I discovered it was JESUS I missed in those friendships and why I still could feel so alone even though I love them dearly. When I discovered friendships through my church family it opened my world to deep, spiritual connections with like-minded brothers and sisters. THIS is what I was missing. There is something life-giving about growing in the Word together, and doing life together while we partner with God to bring others to know HIM. I am always amazed to think back on how lonely I was in my youth and to see how blessed I am now, with so many great friends that I honestly can’t get enough time in with any of them! I have learned that the only way we can sharpen each other and help each other grow is to be present (which means being focused and engaged on the here and now, not distracted or mentally absent). It includes self-sacrifice, opening your home to others, letting people see your “mess”, inviting people to coffee or lunch, taking the time to check in on people and see how they are really doing. It may mean holding one another accountable or showing someone an area you believe them to be in sin, or causing themselves harm. God created us to be in relationship with Himself and with other believers and to work together to invite the unsaved into relationship with Him. It is a privilege, and it feeds the SOUL.
If you haven’t been involved in small groups, outreaches, or you have never invited anyone to meet you outside of church, I would encourage you to seek God on how you can make that happen, and with whom. And when you are struggling with something, don’t isolate or attempt to solve the problem on your own. Seek God of course, but also seek the counsel of a Christian brother or sister. I promise it isn’t as scary as it might seem, and you may find that others have been where you are. Or maybe you have just gotten busy with your own life lately and have been MIA for a while. I encourage you to take the opportunity to connect with your DSC family. God will work through each of us to give wise counsel to each other IF we seek Him and seek out helping others.
P – Lord Jesus, I pray you would put other’s who need some wise counsel in our thoughts and in our path. I pray that you will give us the WISDOM needed in each of the situations we come across to help encourage those people. Help us to take off the blinders to what other people need, to put others FIRST as you have called us to do, to sacrifice our time, money and comforts in order to bless someone who needs a tangible connection. I pray you continue to use me to bless others and to have discernment when others need connection. Help us amid our busy lives to not let anyone in our DSC family slip through the cracks unnoticed. Help each of us to be SEEN. In Jesus’ name I pray.
- Crystal Flory
Proverbs 26 - 7.3.24
Scripture
Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
Observation
This gross illustration is meant to capture our attention. May we be as disgusted by our sin as we are by vomit.
Application
I don’t know about you, but if I throw up a particular food, I never want to go near that food item again. But Rover doesn’t agree. Rover easily forgets how the sock he ate caused so much cramping, pain, and nausea. Once the trauma is over, he forgets all about it. Out of body, out of mind. But not out of sight. A few minutes later, he sees the sock, and in its partially digested state, it looks particularly enticing. So he tries it again.
We are not like Rover, right? Sin is like that sock. Once we are freed from it, sometimes we forget the pain it caused, both to us and to God. And sometimes, in our folly, even though we have repented and been forgiven, we return to it. And that should disgust us!
If we are wise, we learn and grow from spending time in the word, listening to wise instruction, and from our previous failures and mistakes.
Proverbs 9:9
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Or we can be like Rover.
Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey
And a rod for the back of fools
Prayer
Lord, may I be so disgusted by my sin that I run away from it. I don’t want to be a fool, returning to my sin over and over. May I be the wise person who spends time with You and listens and puts that instruction into practice. Thank you for your word to me today.
- Debbie Dunn
Proverbs 25 - 7.2.24
Scripture
Proverbs 25:21-22 NLT
“If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.”
Observation
Words of wisdom from King Solomon in this passage. The particular verse I chose today also mirrors the words that Jesus spoke when he told his disciples to “love your enemies.”
Application
Kill them with kindness.
Something my dad used to tell me when I was younger was, “kill them with kindness son.” Now I don’t quite remember when or what situation I was in when he gave me that advice, but those words still stick with me to this day. It reminds of the time when I worked in retail, during those busy holiday seasons. You would think people would be nice to one another, especially during those times! Instead, people were quite the opposite. They were impatient, and quite rude to one another. And being a guy who worked during those busy seasons, I seemed to be on the receiving end of those customer tirades. But those words my dad spoke when I was younger, those words that would ring through my ears, really resonated with me during those times. I could have easily spouted back mean things back at the customer and really let them have it. But, then it would have probably made things worse. I probably would lose my job if I responded angrily. But, instead I chose to “kill them with kindness”. I would respond in a friendly and polite manner. I would keep that smile on my face, (even if I didn’t feel like it at the moment). I would offer assistance in a fast and friendly manner. I would go above and beyond to provide the best possible customer assistance. And for the most part, I found out by me doing that, it would help defuse the situation. The once irate customer would calm down. We would then be able to have a nice, normal conversation. Believe it or not, when the situation was over, most customers would even take the time to apologize to me for acting the way they did. What?!
Looking back on those times, it shouldn’t surprise me that that would happen. It shouldn’t surprise you either because “killing them with kindness” is basically the concept Jesus gives us when He instructs us to love our enemies. It’s the concept King Solomon speaks in the verse I chose today too. There is something about loving on our enemies, and praying for them, that can turn their frown upside down. It can turn them from a foe into a friend. I mean even Abraham Lincoln knew that the best way to destroy an enemy is by making them your friend. 😊❤️
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.” - Luke 6:35
Prayer
Dear Jesus, I am reminded today that before I knew You, I too, was once Your enemy. But You never gave up on me. You always loved me. You even died for me. Thank You for Your grace, mercies, and unconditional love that You show me each day. May I follow Your lead Jesus. May I love the unlovable. May I forgive the unforgivable. May I do it because You first did it for me. I pray these things in Your name Jesus, Amen. 🙏🏽
- Moses Gaddi