Category Archives: Devotional

Spiritfire, Proverbs 20:4 “Beans Or No Beans”

“Sluggards do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.”

We live next to a bean field these days. This led perfectly into discovering the seed of wisdom the proverb contained and we prayed for God to plant it firmly and deeply into the gardens of our hearts, souls, and minds.

Sluggards are one of the 5 residents of the Imposter’s House- one of the 3 houses in the book of Proverbs. Other inhabitants of the Imposter’s House include: the violent man, the perverse man, the scoundrel, and the gossip, 16:27-29. These 5 give an enticing but false view of wisdom which proverbs like this one reveal to the discerning.

Sluggard’s don’t want to work, they won’t even bring their hands from the bowl to their mouth, 19:24. We talked about the field next door and the timing involved; the plants are almost 3 feet tall. If the farmer decided to sleep instead of to plow would there even be a harvest? He would look and find nothing. The poor sluggard, always causing his own problems, but always expecting none.

Then we looked for Jesus, Wisdom’s fulfiller, in this proverb and found He talked about it in Mark 4, the parable of the sower. We decided the sluggard was most like the stony ground. The proverb didn’t say the sluggard doesn’t plow, just that he doesn’t in season. His inactivity left him without a harvest; like the plants of the rocky soil, it all withered and died.

We then began to talk about a mystery of God: The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few, Luke 10:2. Would a sluggard even see the harvest when he looks out over the field? Does God hide it from him, and if so, why?

Spiritfire: Something to Yell About!

It all started with watching kids shout about Karate during a training session. The sensei would give the kids empowering phrases to scream before he began the day’s lesson, and they would respond by shouting it back to him at the top of their lungs.

This gave me an idea for our Spiritfire times. I saw how much they enjoyed screaming about martial arts, though my kids didn’t really enjoy the actual lessons, so I wanted to give them something to yell at the beginning of our devo-times that actually gave them real power.

I had them back up as far as they could and then run to the middle of the room and jump up real high stomping their feet as they landed. After they did this, I had them shout: “I am a child of God! (They would make a fist and pound their chest) He loves me! (They’d point to heaven), so I love me! (They’d point to themselves)”

Our Spiritfire times have never been the same.

Spiritfire, Proverbs 20:1 A Better Brawler

“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”

As soon as we opened the door on this one, we knew it was talking about another bad seed like 19:24, 28 and so many more. We were immediately given a window view into Folly’s house and we witnessed the lot of those who succumb to the drink. Abused wives, beaten kids, lost jobs, lost souls, our hearts were heavy as Betsy and I explained this Proverb to our kids.

Substance abuse has overtaken so many. The overdose of various drugs takes the lives of the users and destroys their families. “Led astray” is too gentle a way of putting it.

We couldn’t focus on the darkness for long and began looking for Jesus. Over the years I have had the honor of leading worship for different groups like Celebrate Recovery, drug rehabilitation centers, and prison ministries. In much the same way as this Proverb revealed the darkness, each opportunity to praise Jesus revealed His Light.

I learned people become dependent on whatever substance they are addicted to. What do they receive from such a reliance? Pain, misery, and darkness. I have heard everyone’s addicted to something. Changing one’s addiction from drugs to Jesus is like changing from darkness to Light. What do they receive from such a reliance?

You tell me.

I’ve heard stories of families restored, lives healed, and hope returned as the Holy Spirit moves. Turns out the Love of Jesus is a better brawler than beer, and His blood is better than wine.

Spiritfire: Proverbs 19:27, “Mirror, mirror on the wall”

“Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.”

As we looked at this proverb to explore the wisdom it taught, we were surprised to see a mirror reflection of proverb 19:20. Much like the multiples of 9, you see the reflection as you pass from 45 to 54, the following numbers follow the pattern. And like that pattern, the two proverbs mirror each other in form and meaning. If you stop listening, not only will you not be “counted among the wise”, you will be counted among a different group, the fools. You will stray and be lost to the discernment from the advice you could have gained. This “Core” proverb revealed the price of disobedience by looking at the other side of the apple, the dark side of the moon.

We then looked again for how Jesus fulfilled this proverb. He is the Word, John 1, there is no greater knowledge than knowing Him. He is Way, John 14:6, and as we follow Him, we will not stray. And just as Jesus submitted to the Father and became the “source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him”, Hebrews 5:9, if He didn’t, then there would be no salvation and we would all be lost doomed to stray in the darkness for He is the Light of the world, John 8:12.

My kids met a man the other day who questioned them about Jesus. He asked, “Why don’t you believe in a god that has a cooler name?” As my kids see first hand how Jesus fulfilled all wisdom, was the new Adam that opened the way for us to be new creations and provided salvation for all who obey Him, they truly understood Acts 4:12. For when it comes to names:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Spiritfire: Proverbs 19:26, Wild Loving

“Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother
is a child who brings shame and disgrace.”

When we opened this treasure chest we were immediately confronted with a seed that would grow to become a poisonous vine whose fruit destroys families. Luke 15:11–32, is the fullest example and explanation of this Proverb. In those verses, Jesus told us of a son who did exactly what the proverb foretold. He took his inheritance and spent it on ‘wild living’ bringing shame and disgrace on his father who in turn took the opportunity to give his son something worth much more than a material inheritance. As has already been said, his material inheritance was spent on ‘wild living’, but this other kind of inheritance from his father was of a spiritual nature- love and forgiveness. It couldn’t be spent in such a way on such things.

We then began to see Jesus, the Son and “heir of all things” Hebrews 1:2, who took the riches of God and lavished them on us, Ephesians 1:7-10. This proverb, as fulfilled by Jesus, exposed the building blocks of the Kingdom of God. In so doing, Jesus didn’t bring shame and disgrace but was “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being”, Hebrews 1:3.

Jesus fulfilled this proverb and his own parable not by ‘wild living’, but by wild loving.

Spiritfire: Proverbs 19:20, “The Core”

“Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”

During Spiritfire, our family devotion time with God, we have been creating names for the different proverbs to help us classify the type of wisdom within them. I know I’ve already shared some: “Coin” proverbs, “This and More” proverbs, “If-Then”, etc. Even though some proverbs defy it, we’ve found that by placing them in their correct classification it can help us to better learn from them. Proverbs 19:20, for my family, has been placed among the “Core” proverbs. These proverbs tap directly into the theme of wisdom and knowledge taught from chapter 1:1-7.

One of the rules I have given my kids when eating apples is, “You’re not finished with your apple till I can see the core.” This rule has needed refinement over the years due to the creative ways my kids will eat one spot to the core leaving the rest of the apple untouched, but they understood the point. The “Apple-core Rule” has become a template for the type of kids I want them to become. You will learn the accurate meaning/character of something/someone when you get to the core.

Proverbs 19:20, along with others like 19:11, reveal keys for attaining the vast treasures of the fear of the Lord. By listening to advice, we shortcut the pain of learning by experience alone. By accepting discipline and living in obedience to it, we learn discernment and humility as we often need to be taught the difference between right and wrong. The result of these dual crucibles is the whole point of why Proverbs was written: to be “counted among the wise”.

Hebrews 5:8-10 reveals how this proverb was fulfilled through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, achieving for Him perfection so that He became, “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him”. This “Core” proverb revealed the very heart of God.

The Pattern Fulfilled

Religion is a pattern of how to live life. Most patterns are based on an ethic, on morals defined by its leader. Adherence to those morals requires obedience from those who follow. If you are not living according to the pattern then you are not a follower. Many believe punishment awaits those who fail to measure up, or reward/enlightenment for those who do.

Communities of followers gather together to make living according to the pattern possible. Leaders are trained to teach the pattern and remind followers how to live accordingly in an ever-changing world that holds to a sometimes drastically different pattern based on wants and desires.

Outside forces try to make followers abandon the course and inside forces inspire rebellion. How closely you guard yourself against these forces equals the quality of your faith.

Then there’s Jesus. The One who completely fulfilled the pattern. Without Him the best we have is a reincarnation/another chance to try to be better, to live better, to match up to the pattern. With Him, we are brought further than we could ever accomplish on our own. His love and sacrifice beats all.

I have a friend who thought he could do better than Jesus and made his own religion free of hypocrites. But that’s the best we can do. Jesus gives grace to all, even to those who fail. My friend’s religion offered no hope, no salvation to any but himself, that is until he will fail his own pattern. Grace is a hard concept for the self-righteous.

A few days ago, my wife got into a car accident with a young Muslim man. Immediately he checked to see if she was ok. She was, and then he proceeded to speak to her about his faith. He believed God had a reason for their accident. Later, he told us both of the good deeds he has done: taking care of the poor and other deeds of justice, etc. of which I’m sure his treatment of my wife was included. He was very kind and considerate, much more so than many of our own faith.

I could see his passion for Islam and hear of his obedience to the pattern it taught. As he spoke I thought, “Wait a minute, isn’t he supposed to want to chop off the heads of infidels and enslave women?” Here was a young man doing his best to make the grade. I pray for the chance to help him know Jesus as Lord and Savior and be filled with the Holy Spirit, for without the salvation freely given by Jesus, he will continue to run a doomed race he can’t ever finish.

Religion is a pattern of how to live life. All without Jesus are left living the best they can with hopes that in the end, it will be enough. They will keep jumping that pile of sticks till they can’t do it anymore. Then they will be left with nothing, cast out and away from their god.

Developing Sight, A Pathway To Intimacy With God

Teacher: “Are you ready to go?”

Student: “Yes master.”

Teacher: “Then let’s go. Follow me.”

Go outside and claim a stretch of forest. Develop in yourself a love for your forest. Take care of it. When you see a tree leaning or fallen upon another safely lift it off. Clean it of litter. If you find any bones, bury them. In this way, you will learn holiness.

Be silent and observe how your forest is alive. Listen to the tree branches sway in the breeze. Watch the critters move across the ground or through the trees. Sit in the branches and see the roads birds fly upon. Observe their paths and run with the deer. In this way, you will learn awe and respect.

If you remain silent and motionless long enough you will be awarded views many, save the patient hunter, never see. Deer, turkeys, woodchucks, raccoons, possums, and many such creatures will appear and walk among you. In this way, you will learn the value of patience and stillness.

Let the Lord speak to you in your solitude. Create a space that is your sanctuary. Praise Him there in your thoughts and glorify Him for what He has revealed to you that day. In this way, you will learn worship.

May the Lord bless you with an increased depth of perception. May you become enraptured by the wonders He has made. As you witness life, may it purify your own. In this way, you will learn serenity.

On the path of receiving from the Lord, you may be tempted to prove yourself worthy. In my forest, I was. On its entrance, there was a high gateway of fallen branches. I made jumping it a test of my worthiness. Over time the branches fell lower and lower till I was able to simply walk through to enter. Others would not have been able to enter and follow before, but after the gate was opened, the veil was torn, and the way was made clear. In this way, I learned mercy, but not yet the vast richness of the grace of Christ. It was for me a foretaste.

Also on this path of receiving from the Lord, I made a vow. I swore my allegiance before the earth, sky, and sun, my only witnesses, that I would hold true to the Beauty He showed me there in my forest. Though I know Jesus says to not make them, Matthew 5:34, I found that when made as a response to God, they are a lifelong joy. Much like a marriage, I vowed my adherence and faithfulness to Him. I leave this up to whatever seems right to you and your relationship with God. I am only telling you to make you aware, not as a directive. Such vows make a man, but as in Ecclesiastes 5:5, “It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”

May the Maker of heaven and earth be ever with you. May you find solace beneath His wings. For surely such joy and peace you find there will be found nowhere else.