Seize the Moment – Day 1312
Walk in the Way of Life!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, October 20.
Have you ever taken a wrong turn? There are certain times when this can be a costly decision, while at other times you simply recalculate your route at little cost of time or energy. When I am out on a hike in the backcountry, every trail intersection is an important decision. While some decisions are easier to make, as the trail is clearly marked, there are other times when it is a difficult decision to discern. I have made wrong decisions on the trail that have been costly in terms of time and energy. To avoid having to learn this lesson, again, I hike with a trail map and a compass, so if the trail is not well marked, I can find my location on the map and see which way the trail goes, so I can discern the right way to walk. The same is true in life; we need a map and direction finder so we can make wise decisions along the way. In Proverbs 14:12, 14-16, Solomon illustrated the choices we must make in life:
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. … The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied with his. The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps. A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless.
You have a decision to make today: to walk in the way of God’s wisdom or to take a different trail. Every step you take, and every move you make, is a decision point – to either keep your eyes on Jesus, heeding the Bible’s instructions, or to follow a different path of your own choosing.
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Read more...
Seize the Moment – Day 1311
Work for the Hope of a Brighter Future!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, October 19.
Do you believe the best is yet to come, that the glory days are ever before you? That’s the perspective by which I live my life because the alternative mindset hinders my ability to be a hope-bearer of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you believe the glory days are behind you, you will not work for the future with the same passion or conviction. I know how discouraging it is to feel like it doesn’t matter what you do; to be stuck in ground hog day. Hopelessness is an open chest wound that must be addressed immediately. Solomon wrote about this in Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” How do we, as the church of Jesus Christ, keep ourselves from getting “heart sick” after thousands of years of waiting for the Lord’s return?
Paul commanded in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” We are to pass on the faith, as Paul taught in 2 Timothy 2:1-2, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Commit yourself to the gospel work, experiencing the good fruit of your labor along the way, one person at a time. Yes, we are waiting eagerly for the Lord’s return, but we are to be trees of life from which people can enjoy the good fruit of faith.
Seize the moment and apply the wisdom of Proverbs 13: work for the hope of a brighter future and you will be a tree of life! You will reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7-9).
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Read more...
Seize the Moment – Day 1310
Get Help for Your Anxiety!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, October 18.
It’s time to go see a counselor. You’ve suffered a long time trying to work through these issues on your own, and it’s not against God’s will to talk through it with another person, especially someone who has been equipped to help you; a person who will listen prayerfully, offering biblical counsel. Proverbs 12:15b makes it clear that, “a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” It helps to talk with a safe person who can help you apply God’s wisdom to your situation. Proverbs 12:20b describes the kind of person God has in mind for you, “counselors of peace have joy.” Stop and pray about it right now: who can you call to get help for your anxiety?
Today is the day to return to the joy of God’s salvation. Proverbs 12:25 gives us the necessary insight into our mental and emotional health, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, or uneasiness about an anticipated ill in the future. The body produces this emotion within you naturally, increasing your focus and helping you be alert for a coming danger. While it can be a good thing; it was not intended to be an ongoing state of feeling uneasy about today and apprehensive for tomorrow. Living in this hypervigilant state of alertness is exhausting, and it will bring you to the point of feeling weary and heavy burdened. There is hope! Respond to Jesus’ invitation to find rest for your soul in Matthew 11:28, and apply God’s wisdom, as 1 Peter 5:7 prescribes, “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (cf. Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6-9).
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Read more...
Seize the Moment – Day 1309
Be a Person of Peace and Bless Your City!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, October 17.
The good fruit of revival inside a local church must be experienced by those outside the four walls of the church building. When the people of God are awakened by the Holy Spirit, we are to bring the transformative power of God’s grace with us everywhere we go, bringing flourishing to the communities in which we live. Jesus’ church is called to gather in every locality of the world, experiencing the blessing of His presence, so that we may bring the message of God’s peace, the ministry of reconciliation, to others. We are instructed to start with those closest to us, in our families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and centers of community life. The people of God have been blessed to be a blessing, as Proverbs 11:10-11 describes, “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.”
You are to have a healthy relationship with the city in which you live: to be a hope-bearer in word and deed. Proverbs 11 is a contrast between those who are living for God and those who are not, as Solomon summarized in verses 30-31, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!” There are consequences to how you live your life. You are not intended to be an island unto yourself. What are the practical ways you are blessing your community? Are you praying for your city and its leaders?
Seize the moment and apply the wisdom of Proverbs 11: be a person of peace and bless your city with good fruit!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Read more...
Seize the Moment – Day 1308
Be Wise with Your Words!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, October 16.
I wonder if my kindergarten teacher was paraphrasing a proverb when she corrected me, “Jerry, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” The reality is that our words reflect what is going on inside of us. When we are angry, we use hurtful words. When we are content, we use kind words. In today’s chapter, Proverbs 10:12-13, 18-21, Solomon described this reality of our words, and their effects on others:
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions. On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding. … He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool. When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of understanding.
Words have power, so be wise with your words. In Proverbs 18:21, Solomon explained the true power of words, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” He previously taught in Proverbs 4:23-24, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.” Solomon had a lot to say about words, so let’s get to the heart of the matter: words reflect our hearts. So, invite God to remove the hatred, wickedness, and foolishness from your life, and you will speak words of love.
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Read more...
Grow Strong in God’s Grace – Wk 27
Learning How to be a Faithful Farmer for God’s Harvest!
A Faith that Calls People Home!
Hebrews 11:32-40 (NASB)
God is in the business of transforming stories through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to grow strong in God’s grace as active participants in the world He created. God has entrusted His creation to His people to work as His Harvest workers – “All the world’s a field, and all the disciples of Jesus Christ merely farmers!” Therefore, let’s be faithful farmers by following the four-step strategy of a hard-working farmer: 1) cultivate people with faith; 2) sow the good seed of God’s grace (the gospel) into their hearts and minds; 3) care for them as their stories are transformed into fruit-bearing plants; and 4) reap a harvest of praise as the church of Jesus Christ. This strategy must be empowered by the Holy Spirit because apart from God we cannot bear any good fruit (John 15:5). Therefore, harvest workers of God’s kingdom are called to grow strong in God’s grace. Let’s take the first step by learning from the transforming stories of the Hall of Faith, found in Hebrews 11.
STEP #1 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CULTIVATE THE SOIL WITH FAITH
Today’s story is about the prophets of God, who are named explicitly as an office, and then many of their number are alluded to in Hebrews 11:32-40:
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions [the prophet Daniel in Daniel 6], quenched the power of fire [the prophet Daniel’s entourage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in Daniel 3], escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong [Hezekiah recovered from sickness by the Word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 38], became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection [the prophet Elijah with the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17 and the prophet Elisha with the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4]; and others were tortured [the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 20], not accepting their release [the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 40], so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned [Stephen in Acts 7], they were sawn in two [the tradition of the prophet Isaiah’s death by King Manasseh], they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword [the prophet Uriah in Jeremiah 26]; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins [Elijah, Zechariah, and John the Baptist], being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. [emphasis added]
The prophets are found throughout the Bible, as I briefly illustrated in the above passage. An excellent definition of a prophet is “a person inspired to proclaim or reveal divine will or purpose.”[1] I prefer this definition because it is inclusive to both forthtelling and foretelling. Today, a prophet is often, and wrongly, limited to the activity of divinely forecasting the future (foretelling), but there is so much more to it – prophecy is a calling forth of God’s will in a specific time and place, with a divine purpose in mind. When done properly, preaching is a prophetic work of the Spirit, in the forthtelling way, regardless of whether there is foretelling. That is important to realize as we learn from the prophets a faith that calls people home. We cannot foretell who God has chosen, and who will be saved, but we are called to forthtell to all, for Jesus died “once for all,” as Hebrews 7:25-27 proclaims:
Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
It is our calling to make known the great love of God, made accessible through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Let’s take the next action step so that we may learn how to have a faith that calls people to faith in Jesus Christ, calling them home to a right relationship with God through the forgiveness of their sins.
STEP #2 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: SOW THE GOOD SEED OF GOD’S GRACE
The prophetic ministry is important to the church of Jesus Christ today, as Ephesians 4:11 includes them in the list of gifts to the church that Jesus gave as He ascended to the right hand of the Father, “He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” All five spiritually-gifted persons has the same purpose – to build the body of Christ in love through the equipping of the saints. Therefore, we cannot see “prophets” as a ministry of the past; they are a current reality, a function of the eldership of the church today – we must hear the message of the prophets, which has been unchanging through the millennia: “Come Home – Return to Me!” A powerful example of this is from Joel 2:12-13:
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.
Other examples of the prophets declaring this message are the following:
- Jeremiah 4:1-2: “‘If you will return, O Israel,’ declares the Lord, ‘Then you should return to Me. And if you will put away your detested things from My presence, and will not waver, and you will swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ In truth, in justice and in righteousness; then the nations will bless themselves in Him, and in Him they will glory.’”
- Ezekiel 33:11: “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’”
- Hosea 12:6: “Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually.”
This is the same message of the last prophet of the Old Covenant, John the Baptist, who forthtold in Matthew 3:1-3:
Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of the one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!’”
As we transition to the next action step, be clear that John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ fulfilled the message of the prophets, as foretold by Malachi in Malachi 3:1-7:
“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. … For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
STEP #3 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CARE FOR THE MATURING PLANT
Did you hear the God’s emphasis in Malachi 3? From the days of their forefathers, from the beginning of their rebellion, God has been calling His people to return to Him – to come Home! We hear this longing in Jesus’ words in Luke 13:34, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!” Therefore, Jesus intentionally added His voice to the tradition of the prophets, in Matthew 4:12-17:
Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This is the gospel message by which we are saved, as we see clearly portrayed in Jesus’ prophetic ministry to the rebellious and far away, in Matthew 11:20-30:
Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.” At that time Jesus said, … Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The message is to come Home to a right relationship with God through Jesus. Home is a place of rest, safety, peace, joy, and comfort – all the promises of God are ours in Christ! Without the call of the prophet, there could be no way for the wayward to return home, which means there would be no way for any of us to have salvation in the first place; nevertheless, mature into fruit-bearing trees who reap a harvest of praise. Let’s turn to the last action step.
STEP #4 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: REAP A HARVEST OF PRAISE
In the parable of the lost son in Luke 15:11-32, Jesus emphasized the heart of God through the prophetic message – Come Home! Through it, He called all prodigals (wayward children of Israel and gentiles) to return to a right relationship with the Father, and He reminded the church that this is our prophetic task to call the nations home. Siblings, brethren, we cannot allow ourselves to become older sibling – the religious elite, and self-righteous saints, who become an obstacle to the throne of grace through tradition and regulation. We are called to be like Jesus, who came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). We are called to be “ambassadors of Christ,” entrusted with the “ministry of reconciliation,” as Paul prophesied in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20:
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Seize the Moment – Day 1306
Today’s hymn focus will be
King of Kings
Psalm 13:6 (NLT)
“I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
Written in the summer of 2019 by Hillsong Worship artists Jason Ingram and Brooke and Scott Ligertwood, this praise anthem was created to help worshipers lean into the truths of the words and be stirred to worship. With the song firmly rooted in scripture and packed full of theology, their hopes were that this song would articulate the heart of the Gospel and the message of the church. Christ is the rescuer of sinners and gives us hope of new life in Him.
Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit, three in One
God of Glory, Majesty, Praise forever to the King of Kings.
We need to wake up and realize that there is nothing that we can do to earn salvation. It is only through Christ’s rescue and redemption through his glorious resurrection that we can be saved. That is what gives us hope and is the message that we need to share with others today.
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
King of Kings
Read more...
Seize the Moment – Day 1305
Receive Correction Like a Champion!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, October 13.
Athletes are trained to receive their coach’s correction for the purpose it is being given – to help them become the very best they can be. I’ve never met a champion who didn’t have to suffer under their coach’s discipline. In fact, great athletes are attracted to successful programs for this very reason. They want to learn how to become a champion. Proverbs 9:7-10 captures the importance of how we, as God’s athletes, are to handle correction in our everyday lives, so that we can learn how to live like champions:
He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
You are God’s athlete, chosen to be a part of His championship team; now, live like it! Part of this mindset is learning how to respond to the Coach, and His appointed assistants, like a wise person. God intends for His correction, reproof, and instruction to bring out the best in you. As Hebrews 12:11 explains about the effects of the Coach’s training regimen upon His chosen athletes, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Read more...
Seize the Moment – Day 1304
Abide in Wisdom and Bear the Best Fruit!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, October 12.
In Proverbs 8, wisdom personified is calling out to those who will heed her voice. The heart of her message is captured in verses 17-19, “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, and my yield better than choicest silver.” What farmer doesn’t want to experience a large crop yield of good fruit? That is a universal desire of the heart, especially in an agrarian society. Who doesn’t want a good return for their efforts? Paul conveyed this truth to his protégé in 2 Timothy 2:6, “The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.” In the same way, the people who respond to wisdom’s plea want to know that walking in her ways will bring good fruit to their lives.
Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of wisdom personified, invited His disciples to bear good fruit in John 15:4-5, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” Just as Solomon was teaching his students to not do anything apart from the wisdom of God, Jesus was instructing His disciples to abide in Him. If you want a good return on the labors of your life, then don’t work alone; take on His easy yoke and abide in Jesus.
Seize the moment and apply the wisdom of Proverbs 8: abide in wisdom and bear the best fruit – “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a).
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Read more...
Seize the Moment – Day 1303
Walk in Wisdom and Live Victoriously!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, October 11.
Have you ever found yourself fixated on an issue? Maybe it’s money, work, a game, social media, or, if your like Solomon, sex. Solomon did not write Proverbs in a vacuum; foreign women were threatening to distract him from his relationship with God, so he instructed his students on this intimate subject, in Proverbs 7:1-5:
My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your intimate friend; that they may keep you from an adulteress, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
The adulteress’ lips were dripping with honey in Proverbs 5 and now she’s sprinkled her bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. The king was struggling with an unhealthy fixation. While that might surprise you; it shouldn’t because Solomon was a real person, in real history, who dealt with real life issues. In 1 Kings 11:3, we learned about Solomon, “He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away.” Solomon wrote Proverbs while he was trying to focus on God, passing on to his students the very wisdom he so desperately needed to heed himself – “Keep my commandments and live” (Proverbs 7:2).
Why didn’t Solomon follow his own advice, plentifully found in the book of Proverbs? Sexual purity was on his mind; it was a significant battle that he knew he must win to remain faithful to God. Solomon had the way of victory, and he prescribed it for others, but it was not enough for him to have the wisdom, he had to walk in it for himself.
Seize the moment and apply the wisdom of Proverbs 7: walk in wisdom and live victoriously!
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Read more...