Bluffton North Devotionals

As women, we are often intimidated by this chapter because it looks like a very tall order. But we need to consider that these words came from a woman, written to her son, King Lemuel. No doubt she had seen kings in the past fall into an addictive lifestyle of alcohol and womanizing pleasures. In vs 5 she cautions him of the interference this would have on his leadership. Starting in vs 10 she’s telling him what to look for in a wife, one who is trustworthy and industrious (shops carefully). She is aware of her household needs and can see what work needs to be done. The fact that her children respect her (vs 28) says that she uses kindness and tactfulness in all her doings, (vs26). It appears that she balances all this productivity with having a heart for the poor (vs20) and a calmness concerning the future (vs25). She cautions him not to be attracted to charm and beauty (as comes naturally to most men) but to look for a woman who fears the Lord (vs 30). As men we often avoid this chapter either considering that it is for women or too fearful to discuss it with our wives lest we say the wrong thing and offend them. But, as stated before these are teachings from a mother to her son. Before verses 12-22 in verse 11 the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. In our culture we are taught that trust is built not given, but here it comes first. Are we as men building confidence in our wives? Do we help them flourish in their God given gifts? In doing so we are not only trusting them, but also the Holy Spirit to work through them. Verse 23 states that her husband is known in the gates or respected. That respect is then transferred to her in the community. She is viewed as possessing strength and honor. Is our integrity worthy of respect in our community? Finally praise, verse 28, do we praise her in the right things or just when she makes us look good in the eyes of others? Correctly given praise will cause her to be fruitful in this earth and in Gods eyes. God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group

Where do we go for comfort? What avenues do we take when we are faced with challenges? Are we allowing earthly fears to overwhelm us, causing us to waiver? Do we put our trust in monetary or material possessions that fade away? Where do we look for guidance? Who do we seek for council? Does our discernment come through our own understanding? In God’s word we find answers to each of these questions. We are reminded that God’s word was given to us as doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2Tim 3:16). Through God’s word we are reminded to keep His commandments, to put them in our minds and write the words on our hearts (Jer 31:33, Prov 3:3). We can see in the Old Testament how those who kept His word prospered and had good success, and also how those who ignored it diminished. Proverbs 3:2 encourages us that if we keep God’s commandments, we should have length of days and long life. We will have peace added to our lives and mercy can be found there. We are instructed to approach the throne boldly, that we may obtain His mercy and find grace to help in times of need (Heb 4:16). “Do not be wise in our own opinion’s” (vs. 7), reminds us that we need to recognize that God’s ways are above our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts (Is 55: 8-9). Jesus taught us that the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mt 26:41) and that the mind is continually evil (Gen 6:5, Jer 17:9), Who can know it? God alone can direct our paths, He will guide our steps (Prov 16:9), and through His word we can find direction. God never intended that man should walk alone or be independent of all that He has for us. Rather His desire for us is that we would be fully dependent on Him and daily look to Him for the strength to sustain us. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding, in all ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (vs 5-6). Despite the occasional correction we receive from Him, we can know that it is all done for our benefit so that we might be purified. May we understand His guidance and see the benefit of allowing the Spirit to direct our hearts and minds though the word. For in this word is found wisdom above our understanding that can only be achieved through the implanted word in our hearts. When wisdom is found, it is better and more profitable than gold and silver and you will desire it above all. Pleasant are her ways and great are its days, she is a tree of Life to those who take hold of her and happy are all who retain her (vs13-18). Hopefully this causes our minds to think upon Jesus; how He is our salvation, how we can find direction, truth and life in Him, how our lives should be found in Him who is the word, and lest we abide in Him can do nothing (Jn 15:5). His commandments are really just precious promises reassuring us that all He has spoken and all that He has done will never fail (Josh 21:45), and knowing that we are secure if we stand on these precious promises written within His word. Understanding that our trust in Jesus, gives us grace that helps us overcome any obstacle or giant that might stand in our path. Realizing all things are ordained by Him and that it is by the strength of His hand that we are even able to stand. May we put our trust and assurance in the very God of our salvation who can provide all things according to His will. May we meditate therein and reverence His holy name that our lives would be stayed on Jesus that we might be a reflection of His love. God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group

Today, it is easy to find intelligent men and difficult to find wise men. Intelligence comes from spending time with the educators of this world. Wisdom comes from spending time with the Creator of this world. The Book of Proverbs is God inspired and full of wise counsel, but, that counsel is of little value if unheeded. In the 1st chapter of First Corinthians, the apostle Paul who determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified asked, “Where is the wise?” (vs. 20). While many intellects believe their intelligence will best get them through this life, it will never lead them to eternal life and frequently leads them away from God. He has “chosen the foolish things of his world to confound the (worldly) wise” (vs. 27). Intellectualism propels proud men to view God’s ways and wisdom as foolish and unworthy of pursuit (vs. 18). Though God’s storehouse of wisdom is never empty and freely available, only the righteous have right of entry into this house. Access may only be obtained through Jesus Christ who holds the keys that unlock the door to such treasure. He never dispenses his riches frivolously, yet He never withholds nor upbraids those who come seeking with humble and contrite hearts. God will, without a second thought, freely give us wisdom and never reproach or rebuke us for our request (Jas. 1:5). He is not only Provider but also Protector for those who choose to take the way of wisdom and the highway of holiness. While some in life choose to crawl in the filth of this world, God wants no such position for His children. He wants us to “walk uprightly” with alert minds and ready hearts. He promises a mighty shield to all whose heart will freely yield. Yea, He is the soul Defender to every righteous un-pretender. Challenge : We dare not chance vulnerability in the fight against unrighteousness, and yet we often compromise the Lord’s protection by failing to walk uprightly in His wisdom. Determine, by God’s grace to risk no failure as you step into the fight today. Stay alert and stay behind the shield of faith in the Lord’s ability to keep you from the evil. God’s power, protection and wisdom is already secured for you. Enter each new morning and live each new day with a firm unwavering resolution that compromise is not an option! His grace is more than sufficient for every challenge. And, he is wise who dares avail himself of it fully. Prayer : Father, impart unto me the wisdom laid up in store for this day. I know that without it I am defenseless, but with it, I am invincible as I pick up the shield of faith and head into battle. Grant me full humility that I may receive a full portion of grace and demonstrate the full power of Christ in my every endeavor. Lord Jesus be magnified through my full obedience today for the furthering of Your kingdom. Amen. God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group

In verse 12 God tells Solomon that executing judgement and keeping his commandments is what will bring his blessings and prolong the covenant he made with David. From this we can understand that all the glorious detail and work and expense that went into the temple meant nothing if there wasn't a commitment to keeping God's word. Today we would word it differently. Practicing religion and all of its facets may be beneficial to some degree but a true heart change is the true evidence of salvation. That heart change can only come with the grace of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God's covenant with us is that through faith in his son we can approach the very throne of God and be given salvation. In Ephesians 2 we are told that by faith alone and not works, lest we should boast. Just as Solomon could build a magnificent temple but still found it difficult to live out God's word, we to can live moral lives and not really give ourselves over to God. If we seek God out through his word and follow obediently, he will be faithful in keeping his part of the covenant. Even Paul in his letter to Titus stated “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us …” (v. 5). He then goes on to state “This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works …” (v. 8). May we honor God today by reflecting His Son to a sick and dying world; letting our light so shine before men/women that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. (Mt 5:16) God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group

Many times, in our lives we see contradictions between what we believe in our hearts and what we feel and experience in our own emotions. This can cause us to doubt at times wondering if we really believe what we say. Jeremiah records in 17:9 that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. The psalmist has written out for us in these 48 verses an example of this ongoing inner battle of the soul. Keep in mind this is David who has been declared to be a man after God’s own heart. Let us start with show casing verse 165 “Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them”. It would seem then that David would be in constant tranquility. I found in the following verses “I” statements, such as I forget not thy precepts, I love thy word, I hope in thy word. 131,134,141,145,147,148,153,157,159,162,166,167,168,173,174,176 Perhaps you can find more. In a host of other verses we can identify praise or adoration for God and his statutes. 129,130,137,138,140,142,144,151,160,161,164,171,172,175 If we tie all this interaction with and praise for Gods laws, statutes, judgments… to verse 165, it would seem that we would experience very little unrest in our lives. Yet in this same piece of scripture we read of David’s laments, grief, or oppressions. 134,139,141,143,150,154,155,157,158,161,163 In 4 verses he mentions crying 136,145,146,147 twice in 132 and 156 he asks for mercy and in 149,154, 156, and 159 he asks to be quickened or revived. Ultimately in the last verse of this iconic psalm David declares I have gone astray like a lost sheep and pleads for his savior to seek for him. So it seems that in this human experience that we call life we are forced to confront the battle between our soul and carnal nature. We come face to face with verses like Eccl. 7:20 “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not” and Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”. But at the same time we cling to and put all our faith in scriptures like John 10:9 “I am the door, by me if any man enter in he shall be saved” and Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” It is no wonder that David found great peace in loving the word of God. God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group

Delight. What is our delight? Our delight is often measured by what we think about most. And, what we think about most is usually dictated by the thing(s) we value most. What we value most determines what we worship most. We tend to worship the source of our delight. So, one of the most telling indicators of our core values and who we are is linked to what brings us the most pleasure. The psalmist knew that delight in God’s Word, followed by humble Spirit-led obedience to the Word, would lead to a deeper love for the author of the Word. He recognized that growing in the knowledge and love of God was unattainable without spending significant time in the presence of God. Like the psalmist, we would do well to deliberately practice meditating upon God’s Word during our waking hours, both day and night. God wants to illuminate our hearts with His wisdom and truth so that we may remain unshaken by dark thoughts and deceptions leveled by the Enemy. The Father of Lies is no match for the Father of Lights (James 1:17). Challenge : When you come to the Scriptures, do you come to taste or to feast? Do you come to “eat and run” or to linger long at the Lord’s Table? What is keeping you from earnest devotion and meditation on God’s Word? Can you willingly fall under the scrutiny of God’s all-seeing eyes and allow Him to search your heart and mind to uncover the least to the greatest inordinate affection? As He exposes your blemishes by the light of His Word, will you not cry out for a single heart that despises any ugly spot of flesh on your beautiful garment of righteousness, and instead take pure delight in Him? Determine to love sin less and love God more. And, as you dwell more on His Word, you will be troubled less by the world. The darkness of worry will fade, and the light of peace will increase. Nothing, but nothing will sway you from relentless faith as you face the Devil, a relentless foe. Never underestimate the great value of hiding God’s Word securely in your heart to call up at a moment’s notice as you encounter any and every challenge. “Because greater is He (the Word) that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Prayer : Father, Giver of the law that led me to Christ, help me to delight most in the things that are treasured in heaven. Grant me proper perspective and keep me from the earthly distractions that threaten to take my eyes off what is eternally pleasurable. Help me to rehearse from the heart daily, the words of psalmist, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (Ps. 139:17). In the fray of the day help me default to meditation upon Your everlasting Word. I treasure Your Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit that enables me to keep Your Word. For Jesus’ sake, I pray it. Amen. God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group

In Isaiah 61:3 God promises to give beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, and the spirit of praise for heaviness. This story in the life of David gives us an example of just how God can do that. Relying on the strength of men rather than the power of God, David wants the people numbered. Once done, he realizes the sin he has committed and in verse 10 he confesses and asks God to remove the iniquity. Through the prophet Gad, he is given 3 choices. David chose wisely in that he placed himself in God’s hands as opposed to mans’ hands. He had just been told he had 800,000 valiant men from Israel and another 500,000 in Judah, but chose not to fight an enemy for 3 months. So many times, we are tempted to fix our sins and mistakes with our own supposed abilities. But that, however, is at the heart of the problem. We get ourselves in trouble, like David, relying on self and not God. Having given himself and all of Israel into the hand of God, they suffer pestilence and death for 3 days; 70,000 are lost and death is at Jerusalem’s door. David pleads again to God asking for himself and his family to be afflicted instead of God’s people. When God stops the death angel and through Gad commands an altar be built, David would accept nothing free but pays the full price for Araunah’s threshing floor. We are often tempted to try to escape bad situations with as little cost as possible. It might be a financial problem or we might try to sugar coat a sin to get out of some embarrassment; but David’s example is to own up and pay in full. This is where the beauty comes from the ashes. The purchased land becomes the site where Solomon builds the temple. The writer of 2 Chron. 3:1 refers to the same location as Mount Moriah implying that near this site is where Abraham started to offer up Isaac. So, this site of death, when God steps in, becomes a site of worship, not only for David and possibly Abraham but for generations of Israelites. From the time of Solomon’s dedication prayer till just before they were carried away by king Nebuchadnezzar, the Glory of the Lord lived there. We are all born in sin and are spiritually dead; but when God comes into our heart it is changed from a site of death to a holy place of worship where the Spirit of the most high God dwells. God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group

2 Samuel 12 What a poignant reminder of what should happen when the light of God’s Word shines upon the darkness of our sin. The prophet Nathan effectively spoke God’s message to David following his downward spiral into sin and left him with the full realization of sin’s seriousness and the severity of its consequences. David’s conscience was fully awakened, his awareness of sin heightened and his sorrow for sin deepened. We do not read that David rent his garments, but it is abundantly clear that he rent his heart. That is where God wanted him and that is where He wants us when our sins are exposed. Joel 2:13 reads, “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.” God is not interested in outward demonstrations of repentance if the inward man is not grieving over sin to the point of leaving our transgressions behind and reaching forward to embrace His righteousness. Torn garments are nothing; turned hearts are everything. Real repentance always involves real change, not just sorrow for sin committed. Repentance, by definition, is a military term that implies a complete about face. A 180-degree turn means we are no longer walking toward the sin, which provoked our repentance. It is not merely pain for the sin, but, change from the sin. It means we will have no regrets leaving the sin, only regrets for having committed the sin. Our eyes, ears, heads, and bodies will turn from sin when our hearts turn away from sin. If we truly abandon our sin and turn unto the Lord our God, the tenor of our daily pursuits will reflect our affections. When our hearts are in persistent search of the things that please the Lord, He lavishes His grace, mercy, patience, and great kindness upon us. And who dares live one day, or even one moment, without these blessings of the Lord generously heaped upon us? Challenge : So, what are you chasing? The things that grieve the Lord your God, or the things that bless Him? Where is your heart today? You may believe that little harm will come from trifling with sin, but make no mistake, the Lord looks at no sin in a small or insignificant way. God knows how quickly “little” sins grow up to be “big” sins and the big and often deadly price they exact upon us. God loves us all too much to wink at sin and its horrible effects. He didn’t excuse sin in David’s life, and He cannot in ours. Though Christ’s love held Him there, sin nailed Him to the cross. Your least sin was deadly to Jesus, and it will be deadly for you. Prayer : Merciful Father, impose upon my heart the serious cost of sin. May I grieve over the hurt even the smallest infraction will inflict upon my Savior. Help me to walk in the ways of righteousness because of a growing love for this same Jesus who now sits at Thy right hand making intercession for those He redeemed by the blood He shed. Through His name and intercessory power, I pray. Amen. God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group

In this text, we see David at rest from warring with the Canaanites, and Israel is completely in control of the promised land. David proposes to build a temple for Yahweh, the God who has brought him and Israel to this point of peace. Yahweh tells David that he is not to build his temple, but lavishly responds by making a covenant with David and his descendants forever. In a way, Yahweh turns the tables and vows to build the house of David (family) rather than allowing David to build his house (temple). The chapter ends with a poetic prayer by David as he contemplates all Yahweh has done and will do. 2 Samuel 7 represents the resolution of two major narratives in the Hebrew scriptures. On a small scale this chapter represents the final chapter of a story that started when David was anointed by Samuel (see 1 Samuel 16). With many chapters in between, we see David has finally become an uncontested king and is even promised that his kingship will never fade. God says in verse 8, “I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.” On a grander scale, the current passage culminates the saga that began when God promised Abraham and his descendants that he would give them the land of the Canaanites (see Genesis 15 and Exodus 3). When David brings the ark of God to Jerusalem, it can finally be said that Israel controls the promised land. God says in verse 10, “I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.” Therefore, 2 Samuel 7 stands as a poetic ending to both the plot line of David and the kingship, and to the children of Israel and the promised land. We can also see in this story the Biblical theme of Sabbath rest, and it is here that we can take some concrete application. We as humans can be quite legalistic, the most obvious form of legalism being our tendency to do things to earn salvation and favor from God. Still a more subtle form of legalism is shown when we try to do things to return the favor that we have already received from God. We feel that God has been so good to us that we ought to do things in order to pay him back in kind. This is the heart of David at the beginning of the chapter. Although it sounds reasonable to us, the God of Scripture actually takes offence to this notion of reciprocation. Stated simply, it is not the type of relationship that he needs or desires. Yahweh did not go to battle with Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt in order to win for himself a nation of slaves. Likewise, Jesus did not ransom our lives on Calvary in order to gain our capacity to do religious works. Scripture indicates that the God of the Bible scandalously won us from slavery for the purpose of making himself famous in the heavens and within the sacred temples of our tiny hearts. He did it for His glory rather than as an investment in human capital. The Biblical concept of Sabbath flies in the face of our tendency to earn success in our lives and favor from God by doing. The people of ancient Israel as well as Christ followers today are challenged to periodically take a Sabbath rest. We are to refrain from the doing of works and focus on being thankful and blessed. We are to follow David’s example and to refrain from doing something for God and enter into his presence to bask in the glory of all that he has done and will do. In verse 22 David says, “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” As we read these words, may we from our most inward person say, ‘amen.’ God’s blessings on your day! Bluffton North Ministry Group