God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead | P2-V18

January 20, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹⁸ For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead;

It’s difficult enough as it is to resist sexual activity when the body calls for it, but then to resist pornography … and if not pornography, fantasies … if not fantasies, masturbation … if not masturbation, lust.

What did our Lord say about lust?

Mat 5:27 — “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; ²⁸but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

Jesus warns us about the severity to lust after one another, that it’s better to cut out our eyes than to be thrown into hell because of our lack of self-control.

If you’re honest with yourself about this issue of lust, would you be a person to cut out your eyes to avoid committing adultery. I can honestly say, I didn’t used to be one of those people. Although now, with much discipline and still much more to come; there are times that I would much rather be blind than to experience the temptations that my eyes desire when out in the world to get supplies. My wife knows the deepest and darkest secrets about the man I was, and I am so unworthy of the grace of God that by His mercy you would find this post as a treasure from above to tell you that you’re not alone if you feel that way.

God knew we couldn’t escape hell by this data we hear or read from the scriptures, and that is why Jesus died. So by the power of the Holy Spirit we can now experience repentance from lust, turn to God, and have life. I can look at women now with a knowledge about their attraction while yet resisting the urge to act on that attraction. Don’t get me wrong, it’s the most difficult thing in the world, and it’s not science. This is something you have to go to war against every single day, and you will feel death every single day.

But damn it if my wife isn’t worth death every single day. My woman deserves a man after God’s own heart, and nothing will ever get in the way of that!

And while that might sound stoic, the truth is, I get in my own way every single day; Jesus is the only Man after God’s own heart worthy of my wife’s love and adoration. Jesus is the Husband that no man on earth will ever be.

But here’s the awesome part!

God is making those of us (man or woman) who believe in Jesus into those qualities of His Son, our Lord, Jesus. By faith in the work of the Holy Spirit, our conscience’s are cleansed from lust, and we’re equipped with the will of God to resist sin. The experience of repentance will hurt, the discipline of our heavenly Father is real and alive because He loves us.

Heb 12:7 — It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ¹¹ 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. ¹²Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.¹⁴ Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; ¹⁶ that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Heb 9:13-15 — For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Heb 10:19 — Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; ²⁴ and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Heb 13:17-18 — Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

RESOURCE

[BP]

Proverbs 2 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
¹ My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, ² Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; ³ For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; ⁴ If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; ⁵Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. ⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. ⁷He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, ⁸ Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. ⁹ Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. ¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; ¹¹ Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, ¹² To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; ¹³From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; ¹⁴ Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; ¹⁵ Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; ¹⁶ To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; ¹⁷ That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; ¹⁸ For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; ¹⁹None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. ²⁰ So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. ²¹ For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; ²² But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V18) Commentary
[2.] How fatal it will prove to those that fall in league with her, v. 18, 19. Let the sufferings of others be our warnings. Take heed of the sin of whoredom; for,

First, The ruin of those who are guilty of it is certain and unavoidable, if they do not repent. It is a sin that has a direct tendency to the killing of the soul, the extinguishing of all good affections and dispositions in it, and the exposing of it to the wrath and curse of God and the sword of his justice. Those that live in forbidden pleasures are dead while they live. Let discretion preserve every man, not only from the evil woman, but from the evil house, for the house inclines to death; it is in the road that leads directly to eternal death; and her paths unto Rephaim, to the giants (so some read it), the sinners of the old world, who, living in luxury and excess of riot, were cut down out of time, and their foundation was overthrown with a flood. Our Lord Jesus deters us from sinful pleasures with the consideration of everlasting torments which follow them. Where the worm dies not, nor is the fire quenched. See Mt. 5:28, 29.
Secondly, Their repentance and recovery are extremely hazardous: None, or next to none, that go unto her, return again. It is very rare that any who are caught in this snare of the devil recover themselves, so much is the heart hardened, and the mind blinded, by the deceitfulness of this sin. Having once lost their hold of the paths of life, they know not how to take hold of them again, but are perfectly besotted and bewitched with those base lusts. Many learned interpreters think that this caution against the strange woman, besides the literal sense, is to be understood figuratively, as a caution,
- 1. Against idolatry, which is spiritual whoredom. Wisdom will keep thee from all familiarity with the worshippers of images, and all inclination to join with them, which had for many ages been of such pernicious consequence to Israel and proved so to Solomon himself.
- 2. Against the debauching of the intellectual powers and faculties of the soul by the lusts and appetites of the body. Wisdom will keep thee from being captivated by the carnal mind, and from subjecting the spirit to the dominion of the flesh, that notorious adulteress which forsakes its guide, violates the covenant of our God, which inclines to death, and which, when it has got an undisturbed dominion, makes the case of the soul desperate.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God | P2-V17

January 19, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹⁷ That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God;

Commit these scriptures to memory when you find that your flesh burns for want as discussed in the previous devotional. Then take a cold shower or ice bath.

2Pe 1:2 — Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; ³ seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. ⁴For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. ⁵ Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, ⁶ and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, ⁷and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; ¹¹ for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Our bodies are made in the image and likeness of God, and we have a responsibility to them as temples that possess the most valuable possession ever to experience: the Word of God.

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V17) Commentary
(2.) From women of corrupt practices. The former lead to spiritual wickednesses, the lusts of the unsanctified mind; these lead to fleshly lusts, which defile the body, that living temple, but withal war against the soul. The adulteress is here called the strange woman, because no man that has any wisdom or goodness in him will have any acquaintance with her; she is to be shunned by every Israelite as if she were a heathen, and a stranger to that sacred commonwealth. A strange woman indeed! utterly estranged from all principles of reason, virtue, and honour. It is a great mercy to be delivered from the allurements of the adulteress, considering,

[1.] How false she is. Who will have any dealings with those that are made up of treachery? She is a strange woman; for,
- First, She is false to him whom she entices. She speaks fair, tells him how much she admires him above any man, and what a kindness she has for him; but she flatters with her words; she has no true affection for him, nor any desire of his welfare, any more than Delilah had of Samson’s. All she designs is to pick his pocket and gratify a base lust of her own.
- Secondly, She is false to her husband, and violates the sacred obligation she lies under to him. He was the guide of her youth; by marrying him she chose him to be so, and submitted herself to his guidance, with a promise to attend him only, and forsake all others. But she has forsaken him, and therefore it cannot be thought that she should be faithful to any one else; and whoever entertains her is partaker with her in her falsehood.
- Thirdly, She is false to God himself: She forgets the covenant of her God, the marriage-covenant (v. 17), to which God is not only a witness, but a party, for, he having instituted the ordinance, both sides vow to him to be true to each other. It is not her husband only that she sins against, but her God, who will judge whoremongers and adulterers because they despise the oath and break the covenant, Eze. 17:18; Mal. 2:14.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words | P2-V16

January 18, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹⁶ To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words;

STRANGE WOMAN

Lady Wisdom gets real; she likens the lurking lustful desires of our flesh hidden beneath the skin, to a strange woman who speaks its language by one behaving inappropriately toward men innocent of such activity.

However, she does promise to deliver us (men and women) from such vices if we’ll listen and accept the discipline.

There is not a man or woman that doesn’t experience this strange woman beneath their skin. She represents the core issue of Desire itself … Lust.

While the verse reveals the nature of lust with a scene that progressively concludes in the act of adultery, the root cause of this is where we need to go to find deliverance.

ADULTERESS

Imagine you’re a single male or female in your teenage years of adolescence experiencing the natural processes of procreation in your body, do you remember those feelings of desire that enlightened the mind to realize … I’m no longer a child, but a human being capable of producing children?

But there was a problem…

No one actually taught you what those feelings meant, so naturally, you engage in what the body is designed to do. And now that you’ve become accustomed to the pleasures meant for a marriage bed undefiled, you keep engaging in those pleasures all the while setting your conscience on fire; can you imagine someone telling you how that’s a sin against God if you hadn’t already heard it before without listening? Or can you imagine you had a step-father who was also a preacher that would teach the gospel all the while “teaching” what sexual intimacy is all about to his step-daughter and step-son?

Ohhhh… the flattery!

The adulterous who flatters poison of which persuades sons and daughters of God to disguise the truth about sin with pleasurable delights that seep down to Hell. A language of which the body signals want, “I want you!” Killing the soul to death over and over again unless … unless there is a rescue.

And there is!!!

Jesus Christ is where the power of our rescue is, and He’s proven it time and time again by testimonies around the world that have placed their faith in Him. God does honor the promises of His Word, and we can trust in His deliverance!

Wisdom delivers us from the strange woman and the adulterous who flatters with her words.

WE ARE SAVED!

RESOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V16) Commentary
(2.) From women of corrupt practices. The former lead to spiritual wickednesses, the lusts of the unsanctified mind; these lead to fleshly lusts, which defile the body, that living temple, but withal war against the soul. The adulteress is here called the strange woman, because no man that has any wisdom or goodness in him will have any acquaintance with her; she is to be shunned by every Israelite as if she were a heathen, and a stranger to that sacred commonwealth. A strange woman indeed! utterly estranged from all principles of reason, virtue, and honour. It is a great mercy to be delivered from the allurements of the adulteress, considering,

[1.] How false she is. Who will have any dealings with those that are made up of treachery? She is a strange woman; for,
- First, She is false to him whom she entices. She speaks fair, tells him how much she admires him above any man, and what a kindness she has for him; but she flatters with her words; she has no true affection for him, nor any desire of his welfare, any more than Delilah had of Samson’s. All she designs is to pick his pocket and gratify a base lust of her own.
- Secondly, She is false to her husband, and violates the sacred obligation she lies under to him. He was the guide of her youth; by marrying him she chose him to be so, and submitted herself to his guidance, with a promise to attend him only, and forsake all others. But she has forsaken him, and therefore it cannot be thought that she should be faithful to any one else; and whoever entertains her is partaker with her in her falsehood.
- Thirdly, She is false to God himself: She forgets the covenant of her God, the marriage-covenant (v. 17), to which God is not only a witness, but a party, for, he having instituted the ordinance, both sides vow to him to be true to each other. It is not her husband only that she sins against, but her God, who will judge whoremongers and adulterers because they despise the oath and break the covenant, Eze. 17:18; Mal. 2:14.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways | P2-V15

January 17, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹⁵ Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways;

CROOKED PATHS

Wisdom delivers us from those whose paths are crooked, by faith.

What does that mean, by faith?

As we know from scripture, flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom of heaven ^{1Co 15:50}, and we are presently experiencing the knowledge of good and evil by consequence of disobedience that prevents us from entering the kingdom of heaven ^{Rom 5:19}. Why is that? The wages of sin is death ^{Rom 6:23}; God is: Life, Good, Holy, Wise, Just, Love, and Glory. We cannot serve two masters ^{Luk 16:13}; we are either serving disobedience, or obedience, but our faith determines which ^{Rom 16:26}. There is a very important distinction to make between those who are on a crooked path of sin, and those who are lost.

Those on the crooked path live to indulge their flesh even knowing Christ set them free from those desires.
Those on the lost path might look and act like those on the crooked path, but there is a genuine hope to being rescued.

DEVIOUS WAYS

Wisdom delivers us from those on the crooked path, and who are devious in their ways.

Those who’ve chosen to indulge in the pleasures of their sin in this world have developed a tactic, skills, and a strategy, like any enemy set out against their opponent; these people will invite and entice to engage in all sorts of experiences that illuminate the mind to knowledge that corrupts the heart for gain. These people will appear confident and worthy of your attention by what they know and understand about the sin of our flesh, and the chemistries’ it’s of. They speak with a double tongue to entice desires while convincing you by insertion of thoughts, “You’re missing out…” of something that you already know as on the crooked path. And they have become completely blind of it, unless they turn away from it themselves and receive sight.

Act 13:4 — So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵ When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper. ⁶ When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹ But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, ¹⁰ and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? ¹¹ Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V15) Commentary
[4.] They are resolute in sin (v. 15): Their ways are crooked, a great many windings and turnings to escape the pursuit of their convictions and break the force of them; some sly excuse, some subtle evasion or other, their deceitful hearts furnish them with, for the strengthening of their hands in their wickedness; and in the crooked mazes of that labyrinth they secure themselves from the arrests of God’s word and their own consciences; for they are froward in their paths, that is, they are resolved to go on in them, whatever is said against it. Every wise man will shun the company of such as these.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil | P2-V14

January 16, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹⁴ Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;

DELIGHT IN EVIL

Who delight in doing evil?..

As soon as you wakeup in the flesh of your person, the skin of God’s grace; your eyes … open, body … conscious, breath … taken.

Do you feel the choice you have?

Do you hear wisdom speaking?

Allegorically speaking, you’re not out of bed just yet; matter of fact…

*HIT THAT SNOOZE BUTTON!

But without going back to sleep… just focus on your relationship to the Word of God that causes you to live—not by bread alone.

Deu 8:3 — “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.

Mat 4:4 — But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

You have in these moments of reading to think about what you’re going to do now and afterwards.

Right now you’re reading, but while you’ve been reading—have you considered whether what you’re reading is evil in any way?

Can you trust that your author is NOT evil?

Or do you know and understand what evil means?

Let’s assume you do not know me, nor what evil means. How would you discern whether to keep reading or not to? It might just be out of curiosity.

Is curiosity evil?

Since we’ve assumed you do not know me, nor what evil means, and yet are still reading; what do you hope to gain or criticize by reading further?

What evil do you delight in?

PERVERSITY OF EVIL

And who rejoices in the perversity of evil?..

While I do know certain people that might read this, there are those whom I know not , that will read as well.

I can tell you that God…

Is good!

According to His grace through faith at my hearing of the gospel, the cross of Christ that works salvation to all those who look to Him for healing, is doing it’s work in me. Inspiration provided me through belief in the Word of God, a promise.

Let me tell you about this promise!

Let me tell you about what God said!

Num 21:7 — So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. ⁸ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” ⁹ And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

Jhn 3:12 — …¹² If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. ¹⁴ As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; ¹⁵ so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

To deny this promise of eternal life by God through His only Son as fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of Man—is evil.

Because to believe otherwise is to accept the power of your insecurities over the power of this promise.

And to believe otherwise is to be possessed by Satan, the father of lies.

Jhn 8:44 — … “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V14) Commentary
[3.] They take a pleasure in sin, both in committing it themselves and in seeing others commit it (v. 14): They rejoice in an opportunity to do evil, and in the accomplishment and success of any wicked project. It is sport to fools to do mischief; nor is any sight more grateful to them than to see the frowardness of the wicked, to see those that are hopeful drawn into the ways of sin, and then to see them hardened and confirmed in those ways. They are pleased if they can discern that the devil’s kingdom gets ground (see Rom. 1:32), such a height of impiety have they arrived at.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness | P2-V13

January 15, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹³From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

THOSE WHO LEAVE

From those who leave the paths of uprightness… that sounds like someone experiencing apostasy. I think our commentator, Matthew Henry, would agree, but what is apostasy?

Heb 6:4-6 — For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

As having been a faithful disciple to the cross of Christ by these devotionals … imagine seeing yesterday’s devotional only to find a completely different post today; a post that communicates an issue of the heart. It could be that I just outright denounce my faith here and now, and what you see is content that reveals dark desires of my heart. It could also be that I’m going through a phase, where—I’m very angry and say things I don’t actually mean … or drowning in emotions so that they might confuse the fruit of my words to indicate a need; what fruit am I communicating if my narrative is off, literature out of whack, and something is just not adding up? There could be an experience of apostasy as whatever event/s mean to shake up my faith. Wisdom will deliver us from this, if this happens to be you, keep the faith. We’ll get through it together.

WAYS OF DARKNESS

I find it easy to quit this faith if my heart were to twist the truth of God’s wisdom for my own pleasure. To walk in the way of darkness is always a temptation, or, at least, it feels that way while in this flesh of my body that demands all sorts of maintenance. While our bodies demand maintenance, emotions are rampant, and the mind is vulnerable. There is so much to experience when I think about the way of the world, but being disciplined by this wisdom will deliver us!

What road are you on in life?
What fruit to you produce (good or bad)
What kind of tree are you? (find the scripture)
What is your way of darkness?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V13) Commentary
[2.] They are themselves apostates from that which is good, and such are commonly the most malicious and dangerous enemies religion has, witness Julian (v. 13): They leave the paths of uprightness, which they were trained up in and had set out in, shake off the influences of their education, and break off the thread of their hopeful beginnings, to walk in the ways of darkness, in those wicked ways which hate the light, in which men are led blindfold by ignorance and error, and which lead men into utter darkness. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe; what fools are those that leave the plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in those ways! Ps. 82:5; 1 Jn. 2:11.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things | P2-V12

January 14, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹² To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things;

WAY OF EVIL

Wisdom assures that disciples of the cross will be delivered from the way of evil, and people who speak perverse things.

What does this mean, that we’ll be delivered?

What is the way of evil to be delivered from?

I hope that I’m revealing the evidence of this in my own life (especially through my writing as the literature reflects the condition of my heart); I continue to practice preaching the gospel to fellow disciples that can discipline me with the Word of our God, and it’s only a matter of time before the iron is sharpened so sharp it will be time for battle, and then the process of sharpening starts over again for the next battle… before the war. I want to be ready if our Lord returns in the next moment, hour, day, year, but always at the ready.

Until then, there are souls lost out in the seas of this world that need saving, and what does it profit me if I’m physically fit for the storms of evil but not spiritually equipped with the gift of good news?

2Ti 3:5 — holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Jesus equips His disciples with power … even and especially today! So don’t fear the mention of the cross of Jesus Christ; because He’s the way, truth, and life!

Jhn 14:6 — Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The power of the cross is evident by how we conduct ourselves in a world that wants to kill, just as it was in the days of God in the flesh and blood of Jesus. When converting to Christian, we become aliens in this world … it’s obvious by how we’re treated, but God knows those who are being drawn to Jesus by the work of His Word in His Church yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Are we trusting the wisdom of this verse when we preach, confident that we’re delivered from the way of evil (those who’ve denied the power of godliness)?

PERVERSE THINGS

I think the apostle Paul informs us well about the man who speaks perverse things:

2Ti 3:1 — But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ²For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.⁶ For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. ⁹ But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

Paul also testifies to the glorious work of this verse in his letter to Timothy:

¹⁰Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³ But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

What say you?

Are you delivered from the way of evil?
From the man who speaks perverse things?
How do you experience this verse?
Are you preaching the gospel for the lost?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V12) Commentary
2. More particularly, wisdom will preserve us,

(1.) From men of corrupt principles, atheistical profane men, who make it their business to debauch young men’s judgments, and instil into their minds prejudices against religion and arguments for vice: “It will deliver thee from the way of the evil man (v. 12), and a blessed deliverance it will be, as from the very jaws of death, from the way in which he walks, and in which he would persuade thee to walk.’ The enemy is spoken of as one (v. 12), an evil man, but afterwards as many (v. 13); there is a club, a gang of them, that are in confederacy against religion, and join hand in hand for the support of the devil’s kingdom and the interests of it.
- [1.] They have a spirit of contradiction to that which is good: They speak froward things; they say all they can against religion, both to show their own enmity to it and to dissuade others from it. They are advocates for Satan; they plead for Baal, and pervert the right ways of the Lord. How peevishly will profane wits argue for sin, and with what frowardness will they carp at the word of God! Wisdom will keep us either from conversing with such men or at least from being ensnared by them.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you | P2-V11

January 13, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹¹ Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you,

DISCRETION WILL GUARD

When you think about the first part of our verse—discretion will guard you—what comes to mind, and how do you feel about it? Because I experience this discretion as coming from Someone else, not myself. So I’ll direct my heart and mind to the Person of the Lord in me, the Holy Spirit; Jesus has all the delicate information about myself and others, and so even though there is access to that information at mine and their disposal, doesn’t mean it should be used. That is how discretion guards me, personally, because if my heart is in a difficult place and emotions are a bit unpredictable can then produce bad fruit if not guarded by the Wisdom of discretion. And I don’t know about you, but I’m still very much working out this discipline of handling all information the Lord entrusts to me; especially as more and more information is accumulated overtime about myself and different people.

Heb 5:14 — But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Heb 12:11 — 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.

Because… the information available to me is a responsibility of my faith in Christ; so… to completely disregard the Holy Spirit in me and spout off information that was initially guarded by discretion is the temptation at hand, especially living in a vessel of flesh that is prone to sin let alone dealing with the sin of other people ignorant of this discretion—people yet to be trained in discernment—as this book of Proverbs means to teach and provide in our souls (I believe). I can quickly enter into a place of my flesh when on online platforms, I write things that cause me to cringe a bit after processing through different perspectives, waiting eagerly for the future to bury my untamed tongue. I think it’s important we Christians make a practice of correcting our worldly language to the spiritual language of Christ, the world is watching how we Christians behave, especially as those who claim to represent the nature of God in us through the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

UNDERSTANDING WILL WATCH

I really hope this second part of our verse—understanding will watch over you—will fill you with peace. Because ultimately, that is my experience with the Personification of understanding; understanding watches over me as I hold my tongue to listen just a little longer, or speaking up at just the right time—when the information calls for it. That is the edification process as many members of One unified Church Body come together to develop into the image and likeness of Christ our Lord on the earth, a holy priesthood. We Christians should live in a way that reveals the qualities of an eternal nature that these spiritual attributes and principles represent. I believe they communicate a very real everlasting education to those confused by the ramifications of sin, part of which being a broken education system in this world. So I feel the question becomes:

Are we as a Christian Church around the world doing our due diligence to bring about the unification of our Body in Christ on this earth?

Because it sounds to me that Wisdom is disciplining us through discretion and understanding of the Holy Spirit to function as a unit in this world, and when we function as a unit will reveal the nature of Christ to the glory of our God on this earth as a people of faith are sanctified to live as the righteousness of Jesus.

That might-of gone off on a tangent, but… whatever, I hope it makes sense; if it doesn’t… well… shalom.

2Ti 2:7 — Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

What do you experience by this verse?
How does discretion guard you?
How does understanding watch over you?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V11) Commentary
I. For our preservation from evil, from the evil of sin, and, consequently, from the evil of trouble that attends it.

1. In general (v. 10, 11), “When wisdom has entire possession of thee, it will keep thee.’ And when has it an entire possession of us?
- (1.) When it has dominion over us. When it not only fills the head with notions, but enters into the heart and has a commanding power and influence upon that,-when it is upon the throne there, and gives law to the affections and passions,-when it enters into the heart as the leaven into the dough, to diffuse its relish there, and to change it into its own image-then it is likely to do us good.
- (2.) When we have delight in it, when knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul: “When thou beginnest to relish it as the most agreeable entertainment, and art subject to its rules, of choice, and with satisfaction,-when thou callest the practice of virtue, not a slavery and a task, but liberty and pleasure, and a life of serious godliness the most comfortable life a man can live in this world,-then thou wilt find the benefit of it.’ Though its restraints should be in some respects unpleasant to the body, yet even those must be pleasant to the soul. When it has come to this, with us, discretion shall preserve us and keep us. God keeps the way of his saints (v. 8), by giving them discretion to keep out of harm’s way, to keep themselves that the wicked one touch them not. Note, A principle of grace reigning in the heart will be a powerful preservative both against corruptions within and temptations without, Eccl. 9:16, 18.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul | P2-V10

January 12, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

WISDOM WILL ENTER

When we wake up everyday with an effort of directing our soul to the Kingdom of God, wisdom is stored up in the innermost part of our being waiting to fill every intent and motive with breath, word, and action.

Let’s really think about that for a moment.

The wisdom of God is stored up inside a person, how? The grace of God. By God’s grace we have access to live and have life, but then what does that mean, “to live and have life?” All of these words (wisdom, grace, live, life) mean different things to different people, but when we make it a spiritual matter, then what? The insignificance of these words become significant, not by any human will or definition, but by the will and power of God. God has somehow invented a way for the human soul to have faith by grace: without faith the human soul is lost in science, and without grace, the human soul is lost in sin.

The gospel is being sent out and preached to the ears of the unheard around the world, but this religion of Christianity seems to be well built into the subconscious of the western hemisphere. So wisdom has already entered every place where the gospel has been preached (not every place around the world, research the 10/40 window), even places where Jesus was unwelcome, which is as a consequence of their rejection—became a testimony against them; the disciples that carried the message saying, “‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.” means that the message of salvation was not received and becomes as a curse—a judgement so severe that not even the day of Sodom will compare when Jesus returns.

^{Luk 9:5} — “And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

^{Luk 10:10} — “But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.”

So I pray this gospel I’m writing about will find you where you are with an open heart to receive and learn to understand, than to find you outright reject this presence of peace. The message comes so near to your heart with no expectation of price than to receive the gift of God’s kingdom, Jesus is knocking by this truth of His Word, and so will you open the door and invite Him in and listen while you host every need?

KNOWLEDGE WILL BE

The act of grace to receive the gospel message is an act of faith to receive the Lord Himself into your life by the power of the Holy Spirit. And the knowledge of Jesus in your heart is so pleasant that a taste of eternity is there, there is nothing like this experience of salvation in Christ our Lord, Jesus.

But now there is a world of which needs to hear about this grace through faith in our King that lives in the hearts of all that receive Him, the spiritual knowledge of the kingdom of God. So put on your armor against the temptations of the world, but carry the gospel with only your clothes, nothing more; in doing so will exercise that wisdom that has entered your heart and the pleasance of knowledge in every circumstance. Trust in the will of the Lord.

How do you experience wisdom entering your heart
What does knowledge feel like, is it pleasant?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V10) Commentary
I. For our preservation from evil, from the evil of sin, and, consequently, from the evil of trouble that attends it.

1. In general (v. 10, 11), “When wisdom has entire possession of thee, it will keep thee.’ And when has it an entire possession of us?
- (1.) When it has dominion over us. When it not only fills the head with notions, but enters into the heart and has a commanding power and influence upon that,-when it is upon the throne there, and gives law to the affections and passions,-when it enters into the heart as the leaven into the dough, to diffuse its relish there, and to change it into its own image-then it is likely to do us good.
- (2.) When we have delight in it, when knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul: “When thou beginnest to relish it as the most agreeable entertainment, and art subject to its rules, of choice, and with satisfaction,-when thou callest the practice of virtue, not a slavery and a task, but liberty and pleasure, and a life of serious godliness the most comfortable life a man can live in this world,-then thou wilt find the benefit of it.’ Though its restraints should be in some respects unpleasant to the body, yet even those must be pleasant to the soul. When it has come to this, with us, discretion shall preserve us and keep us. God keeps the way of his saints (v. 8), by giving them discretion to keep out of harm’s way, to keep themselves that the wicked one touch them not. Note, A principle of grace reigning in the heart will be a powerful preservative both against corruptions within and temptations without, Eccl. 9:16, 18.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course | P2-V9

January 11, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

⁹ Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

How do we define the nature of righteousness if we, being unrighteous, are incapable of living as such on this side of eternity? I’ll venture to say that we can be righteous on this side of eternity, or else the value of this verse, is without power. So then… what is righteousness? A friend of mine gave me the perfect answer for this, “Jesus”. And of course; I completely agree! In becoming a partaker of the Holy Spirit and tasting the age to come as revealed in the book of Hebrews teaches us about this nature of righteousness while existing in a body prone to unrighteousness.

^{Heb 6:4} — For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

There is a process, no different than a child being reared by their parents until they become adults for themselves, so too is there a spiritual rearing to a life eternal. And we have right now, today, to start educating our children about the nature of righteousness according to the Word of God.

JUSTICE

What is justice? This question brings me to Solomon:

^{1Ki 3:23}— Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” ²⁴ The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. ²⁵ The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” ²⁶ Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!” ²⁷ Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.” ²⁸ When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

EQUITY

^{Deu 10:17} — “For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.

you will discern

I’d love to hear your testimony, where you are with regards to this ability to discern; because us Christians, the Church, are called to exercise this power through the living Word of God that bears witness to our souls while on this earth. We have a tremendous honor and responsibility to the work and will of God. To believe in Jesus Christ is to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for Salvation, and to share it, not hide it; there are children in need of being reared up spiritually in the Lord for that coming day of His return. Am I ready? Are you ready? Are we ready?

But most importantly; are our children ready?

What do you think about this?
Are you righteous? (If not, why?)
Are you being discipled by the Word of God?
Where are you in your faith?
What course are you on? (Is it good?)

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V9) Commentary
Pro 2:10-22

The scope of these verses is to show,

1. What great advantage true wisdom will be of to us; it will keep us from the paths of sin, which lead to ruin, and will therein do us a greater kindness than if it enriched us with all the wealth of the world.
2. What good use we should make of the wisdom God gives us; we must use it for our own guidance in the paths of virtue, and for the arming of us against temptations of every kind.
3. By what rules we may try ourselves whether we have this wisdom or no. This tree will be known by its fruits; if we be truly wise, it will appear by our care to avoid all evil company and evil practices.

This wisdom will be of use to us,

I. For our preservation from evil, from the evil of sin, and, consequently, from the evil of trouble that attends it.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Guarding the paths of justice, and He preserves the way of His godly ones | P2-V8

January 10, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

⁸ Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

PATHS

Sometimes … our paths don’t seem so clear. As I meditate on this verse, a continuation from yesterday’s verse, altogether reads:

⁷He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, ⁸ Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

I think about Job from my writing yesterday, and how Job’s path in relation to mine, is clear—for me. But is it clear to my family and friends?

… *sigh* …

I feel like the most painful form of abuse is spiritual abuse; that’s not to take away from anyone who would disagree for reasons beyond me, but on our subject of Job; I believe his case will prove most enlightening to spiritual abuse in our lives today.

If we can imagine our lives from the viewpoint or perspective of Job while dealing with his family and friends, will see the similarities to intent and motives of our own believing families and friends that mean well on God’s behalf, but completely misrepresent God. And it is dangerous, as we’ll see in the book:

Job 42:7 — It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. ⁸ Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” ⁹ So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job.

See I fear that I’ve been guilty of misrepresenting God by seeing with a lens of human eyes rather than the lens of a godly heart; I see and hear what’s happening in the United States politics and think of “sins” that might have caused our present conditions; being a democrat or republican can procure an argument between friends, but the question is…

…what is the right path?

JUSTICE

Without fail, Job looked through his wife’s advice to curse God, his friends advice to accept defeat, and pleaded for the source—the only One Who could put an end to, or explain, his constant agony:

Job 2:10 — But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job 6:1 — Then Job answered, …⁸ “Oh that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my longing! ⁹ “Would that God were willing to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off! ¹⁰“But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One. ¹¹ “What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure? ¹² “Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze? ¹³ “Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?

Jesus guards our paths of justice just as He did Job’s, and not only Job’s, but his wife’s and friends; Job didn’t cave into sin because the testimony about Job’s faith (blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil) proved true even when put to the test by our enemy.

Will your faith prove the same for you?

So what if we choose not to put our faith in our government, but the sustenance of God’s Word? Could it be then that the path of a democrat, or a republican, prove null and void, because those paths don’t actually matter?

When I look at the book of Job and think about Jesus, I see a path guarded and preserved for my soul.

Do you see that for you?

Job 42:10 — The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. ¹¹ Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. ¹² The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. ¹³ He had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. ¹⁵In all the land no women were found so fair as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. ¹⁶ After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. ¹⁷ And Job died, an old man and full of days.

There is so much more I want to dig into with this devotional, but unfortunately, my deadline is fast approaching…

The last little bit of insight I found from Job for my character development was that Job was instructed to pray for his friends, even though they proved worse than no help, he prayed and afterwards was restored. Notice it was when Job prayed for his friends that he was restored, not before.

Are you praying for your brothers and sisters in Christ on both sides of our democracy? Or consider this… we’re all liberal and conservative at the same time, so there is no side but liberty in Jesus Christ.

Do you trust that your path is guarded, and that your way is preserved?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V7) Commentary
3. He has particularly provided that good men, who are sincerely disposed to do his will, shall have that knowledge and that understanding which are necessary for them, Jn. 7:17. Let them seek wisdom, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them, v. 7, 8. Observe here,

(1.) Who those are that are thus favoured. They are the righteous, on whom the image of God is renewed, which consists in righteousness, and those who walk uprightly, who are honest in their dealings both with God and man and make conscience of doing their duty as far as they know it. They are his saints, devoted to his honour, and set apart for his service.
(2.) What it is that is provided for them.
- [1.] Instruction. The means of wisdom are given to all, but wisdom itself, sound wisdom, is laid up for the righteous, laid up in Christ their head, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and who is made of God to us wisdom. The same that is the Spirit of revelation in the word is a Spirit of wisdom in the souls of those that are sanctified, that wisdom of the prudent which is to understand his way; and it is sound wisdom, its foundations firm, its principles solid, and its products of lasting advantage.
- [2.] Satisfaction. Some read it, He lays up substance for the righteous, not only substantial knowledge, but substantial happiness and comfort, Prov. 8:21. Riches are things that are not, and those that have them only fancy themselves happy; but what is laid up in the promises and in heaven for the righteous will make them truly, thoroughly, and eternally happy.
- [3.] Protection. Even those who walk uprightly may be brought into danger for the trial of their faith, but God is, and will be, a buckler to them, so that nothing that happens to them shall do them any real hurt, or possess them with any terrific apprehensions; they are safe, and they shall think themselves so. Fear not, Abraham; I am thy shield. It is their way, the paths of judgment in which they walk, that the Lord knows, and owns, and takes care of.
- [4.] Grace to persevere to the end. If we depend upon God, and seek to him for wisdom, he will uphold us in our integrity, will enable us to keep the paths of judgment, however we may be tempted to turn aside out of them; for he preserves the way of his saints, that it be not perverted, and so preserves them in it safe and blameless to his heavenly kingdom. The assurances God has given us of his grace, if duly improved, will excite and quicken our endeavours in doing our duty. Work out your salvation, for God works in you.

God and Coffee

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity | P2-V7

January 9, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

⁷He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

SOUND WISDOM

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright

Job 1:1—There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

I’m curious… have you read the story of Job?

If you haven’t, stick around … because this book of the Bible is pressing on my heart to write my—I die daily devotions—on next. I digress.

If we didn’t know anything else about the man named Job other than what that first verse describes…

…what would you think?

Because it sounds like Job would be protected by God; he’s blameless, upright, and respects the power of His Holy God by turning away from evil.

So what could possibly go wrong?!

Well if we were to continue on, in the story, one might make the argument that God went wrong to be proud of Job, and that is exactly what Satan did; Satan made that argument, ultimately challenging the Word of God about Job, and was granted the permission to put his [Satan’s] challenge to the test.

What do you think happened to Job?

Do you think that Job remained blameless, upright, and fearing God?

If we, Christians today, think ourselves to be upright, how would it be determined?

Do we think that if we lived with knowledge of the scriptures, to practice them in faith by: prophesying, casting out demons, working miracles, etc.; that according to the evidence of that power through the scriptures, we must be upright?

The answer according to scripture is…

No.

Mat 7:21—“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. ²² Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

You see… there are quite a few fascinating insights and treasures we can gain by this story of Job regarding uprightness and integrity:

Job was known by God.
Satan challenged the integrity of God’s Word.
Satan challenged the integrity of Job’s character.
Job was put to the test.

Okay, now watch this…

We are known by God through Jesus Christ.
Satan is challenging the integrity of grace.
Satan is challenging the integrity of the cross.
We are being put to the test.

SHIELD

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity

Jesus is our shield of faith as we breathe each breath, clap our hands, and stomp our feet! Thinking to myself:

“Shoot…

It’s time to feel that beat of the drum!

BUM-BUM-BUM!”

Let death come?

No!

Let change come!

1Co 15: — “… ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. …”

As we walk through the valley of this shadow of death, we’ll fear no evil.

Christ, by His Word, is the Holy Spirit that lives in us who are known by the Word of God; to be that shield to our integrity, that justice due our sin was paid on the cross of Jesus, and by our acceptance of that truth is an act of faith revealed at the confession of our behavior—Jesus is the name of the Lord.

AND WE SERVE HIM…

TO THE GLORY OF GOD…

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN!

Oh… the war is here… it’s already happening… can you feel it?

Satan is killing; people are dropping dead. Satan is taking; people are losing income. Satan is lying; people are cursing the day of their birth for want of understanding.

Can you hear?

The Whirlwind is here… do you hear?

Are we listening?

Job 38:1—Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, ² “Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?

I mean… who am I [Nathan] to say what’s next?

Is God to blame? No! God is not to blame for divine beings that have manipulated His [God’s] glory for the sake of their own, of which is not attainable, but Hell is their destiny… their choice, and regretfully so… .

We are but dust, a vapor in the wind, and yet…

LOVED!

As you examine your life, and think about Job, what do you experience and why?
How does our verse today inspire you?
What do you hear come from the whirlwind in your life right now, and what is your response?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

(1.) Who those are that are thus favoured. They are the righteous, on whom the image of God is renewed, which consists in righteousness, and those who walk uprightly, who are honest in their dealings both with God and man and make conscience of doing their duty as far as they know it. They are his saints, devoted to his honour, and set apart for his service.
(2.) What it is that is provided for them.
- [1.] Instruction. The means of wisdom are given to all, but wisdom itself, sound wisdom, is laid up for the righteous, laid up in Christ their head, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and who is made of God to us wisdom. The same that is the Spirit of revelation in the word is a Spirit of wisdom in the souls of those that are sanctified, that wisdom of the prudent which is to understand his way; and it is sound wisdom, its foundations firm, its principles solid, and its products of lasting advantage.
- [2.] Satisfaction. Some read it, He lays up substance for the righteous, not only substantial knowledge, but substantial happiness and comfort, Prov. 8:21. Riches are things that are not, and those that have them only fancy themselves happy; but what is laid up in the promises and in heaven for the righteous will make them truly, thoroughly, and eternally happy.
- [3.] Protection. Even those who walk uprightly may be brought into danger for the trial of their faith, but God is, and will be, a buckler to them, so that nothing that happens to them shall do them any real hurt, or possess them with any terrific apprehensions; they are safe, and they shall think themselves so. Fear not, Abraham; I am thy shield. It is their way, the paths of judgment in which they walk, that the Lord knows, and owns, and takes care of.
- [4.] Grace to persevere to the end. If we depend upon God, and seek to him for wisdom, he will uphold us in our integrity, will enable us to keep the paths of judgment, however we may be tempted to turn aside out of them; for he preserves the way of his saints, that it be not perverted, and so preserves them in it safe and blameless to his heavenly kingdom. The assurances God has given us of his grace, if duly improved, will excite and quicken our endeavours in doing our duty. Work out your salvation, for God works in you.

God and Coffee

For the Lord gives wisdom | P2-V6

January 8, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

WISDOM

For the LORD gives wisdom...

“How does the Lord give me wisdom?”

I love asking myself this question because I immediately want to go to His Word and read what our Lord taught, and discover the wisdom He gives, for example:

^{John 7:14} But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. ¹⁵ The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” ¹⁶ So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. ¹⁷ If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. ¹⁸ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Right here ^^^^, so the wisdom given me is not mine, but Christ in me; just as wisdom is being taught NOT of Christ, but of God… His Father …to these Jews.

Jesus is of the Father in glory … just as the Father is of Jesus in the flesh, and the Church is of Christ in this world … just as the Holy Spirit is of God in our bodies of faith while in this world; the flesh and blood of Jesus was a Body, a Lamb, prepared and given as the ultimate sacrifice. A sacrificial payment, we’re bought with a price:

1Co 6:20 — For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

1Co 7:23 — You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

And so according to this wisdom of our Lord found in this text, you and I being Christian, can say that our teaching is not our own but of the Holy Spirit that lives in me and you (if you believe in Jesus to be your Lord and Savior).

“WHAT SAY YOU?!?”

Do you teach for your own glory?

According to the apostle Paul… wisdom instructs us to glorify God in our bodies, that by teaching we’re bought with a price, and not to become enslaved to this world, but rather, to live as though we’re already changed during our time of grace:

1Co 15:50 — Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

MOUTH

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding...

So according to our verse, the mouth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, speaks through the Holy Spirit inspired in the Body of our Church.

Which means that you and I can know and understand the language of God for the glory of His will, and obey. That even though we’re in this world of sin, our bodies are built with the skin of grace, the grace of God that saves to change our bodies for His glory if we believe in His Son?

The Holy Spirit is poured out and given to all that will do this…

Rom 10:8 — But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; ¹³ for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

FAITH!

Knowledge and understanding comes through faith in the Holy Spirit living in your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And we have a responsibility to our relationship with Christ, first, before our family and friends…

…SO…

…are you living out this wisdom and teaching the knowledge and understanding of a glory that is not yours but…

CHRIST ALONE?

It is to His glory I write, and we read… together, forever. In Jesus.

Amen

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V6) Commentary
III. What ground we have to hope for this success in our pursuits of wisdom; we must take our encouragement herein from God only, v. 6-8.

1. God has wisdom to bestow, v. 6. The Lord not only is wise himself, but he gives wisdom, and that is more than the wisest men in the world can do, for it is God’s prerogative to open the understanding. All the wisdom that is in any creature is his gift, his free gift, and he gives it liberally (Jam. 1:5), has given it to many, and is still giving it; to him therefore let us apply for it.
2. He has blessed the world with a revelation of his will. Out of his mouth, by the law and the prophets, by the written word and by his ministers, both which are his mouth to the children of men, come knowledge and understanding, such a discovery of truth and good as, if we admit and receive the impressions of it, will make us truly knowing and intelligent. It is both an engagement and encouragement to search after wisdom that we have the scriptures to search, in which we may find it if we seek it diligently.
3. He has particularly provided that good men, who are sincerely disposed to do his will, shall have that knowledge and that understanding which are necessary for them, Jn. 7:17. Let them seek wisdom, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them, v. 7, 8. Observe here,

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Then you will discern the fear of the Lord | P2-V5

January 7, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

⁵Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.

My dad may not remember this, but I remember because it was a good kind of trauma. I was little, maybe like … 7. We were at this place called Sand Beach where we would go swimming during the summer in the small town of Iowa Park TX (it’s no longer Sand Beach).

There was a tall straight slide, no twists or turns, but straight at the water with a lip at the end, just after the shallow point of the pool; there was a floating string line that you would have to swim under (or lift over your head if you were lame—joking) that divided the deep-end from the shallow-end of the pool; there was a diving board at the corner of the deepest area of the pool.

I won’t forget being with my dad at the diving board; I remember going to the end of the board and stopping, frozen in place, just staring at the pretty blue water thinking to myself about how intimidating it was… “Should I jump?”, but wouldn’t. My dad was there with me, but I was unsure what was expected of me if I made the decision to… jump.

I didn’t jump, but my dad, being with me, picked me up, and threw me in!

FEAR

Then you will discern the fear of the Lord…

I knew I couldn’t swim, but more importantly, so did my dad. I didn’t know it at the time, but discovered what it meant to discern the fear of the Lord by this event; my dad tossing me off the diving board into the deep-end of the water. When he threw me in, I won’t forget being beneath the surface of the water, seeing the air bubbles rise, waiting beneath as the disturbance of the water settled above me; as I looked at the surface of the water remember seeing the light of the sun piercing through, my eyes transfixed with certainty, holding my breath as hope manifested in confidence knowing… “My dad will get me.”

I had nothing to fear!

Why?

Because I knew there was someone above the surface of the water that knew how to swim, but more importantly, I knew that he loved me and wouldn’t let me drown.

Then I see him…!

*SPLASH!*

There he is, level with me under the water, he lifts me to the surface, and I breathe in the fresh air saying…

“LETS GO AGAIN!”

DISCOVER

And discover the knowledge of God…

We have an Eternal Father above the surface of this world. We are waiting below the surface of the water, holding our breath, and there is good news!

Our Father knows exactly where we are and how to swim…

…there is nothing to fear!

We can confidently say that our Father loves us!

This world likes to create waves by causing all kinds of storms, but don’t forget…

^{Matthew 14:28} Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” ²⁹ And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

The Son of Man is going to return in the glory of our Father, and the world cannot drown us when our faith is in the One Who lived to die so that we might believe and have eternal life in Jesus Christ.

But do you doubt!?

If you doubt, then just as Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” You do the same, and don’t doubt that He can. Did Peter doubt that Christ could save him? No. And therefore, we shouldn’t either. So don’t doubt, we’ll get through it, don’t worry…

…HAVE FAITH!

Our Father is level with us in the water, believe and have faith that He will lift you to the surface, but this time…

…Let’s not go again!

Do you feel like you’re drowning?
Do you respect the power of God’s Word?
Do you believe our Father will save you in Christ?
Is there sin that is preventing your confidence in your salvation through Jesus Christ?
What is the knowledge of God in your own words?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V5) Commentary
II. What success we may hope for in the use of these means. Our labour shall not be in vain; for,

1. We shall know how to maintain our acquaintance and communion with God: “Thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord (v. 5), that is, thou shalt know how to worship him aright, shalt be led into the meaning and mystery of every ordinance, and be enabled to answer the end of its institution.’ Thou shalt find the knowledge of God, which is necessary to our fearing him aright. It concerns us to understand how much it is our interest to know God, and to evidence it by agreeable affections towards him and adorations of him.
2. We shall know how to conduct ourselves aright towards all men (v. 9): “Thou shalt understand, by the word of God, righteousness, and judgment, and equity, shalt learn those principles of justice, and charity, and fair dealing, which shall guide and govern thee in the whole course of thy conversation, shall make thee fit for every relation, every business, and faithful to every trust. It shall give thee not only a right notion of justice, but a disposition to practise it, and to render to all their due; for those that do not do justly do not rightly understand it.’ This will lead them in every good path, for the scripture will make the man of God perfect. Note, Those have the best knowledge who know their duty, Ps. 111:10.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

And search for her as for hidden treasures | P2-V4

January 6, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

⁴ If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;

SEEK HER AS SILVER

Silver is a tangible substance to seek for, and Wisdom knows her quality!

But are we seeking for her?

If you seek her as silver means to recognize your quality; build wisdom into your character. Silver does not decompose although it can discolor and tarnish, and that might be where your faith is, colored or tarnished, but the quality remains the same.

I believe we’re all colored and tarnished silver right now in our bodies of flesh and blood, but our faith in Christ is not colored or tarnished.

Our human bodies according to our verse, are capable of possessing silver and obtaining hidden treasures that build our character with spiritual significance that resembles eternity.

SEARCH FOR HER…

We are at a time in our lives where information is like an ocean we can dive into, and some might be drowning by it, if so … then lets learn to swim together.

There is a hidden treasure in the ability to swim!

And search for her as for hidden treasures means to dive into the deep-end of our faith in the Word of God.

If you can’t swim, or even understand the concept of swimming, imagine this: we’re in a boat heading out to the deep side of the ocean where our feet cannot touch nor our eyes see the coral reefs on the ocean floor; once at the deep the captain instructs us to the edge of the boat to see a distant island, once at the edge of the boat, the captain pushes us into the deep water.

Now why in the world would he do that!?

All of a sudden you wakeup coughing up water on the captain’s boat, you don’t even remember drowning until you’re resuscitated back to life from the experience.

There are hidden treasures about our experiences that only faith can teach as the soul develops, and spirit builds, those qualities into our character to teach others how to swim.

We’re out in the ocean right now, and I’ve just pushed you off my boat!

Hope you know how to swim…

Are you seeking for silver?
Are you searching for her as for hidden treasures?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V4) Commentary

3. We must be willing to take pains (v. 4); we must seek it as silver, preferring it far before all the wealth of this world, and labouring in search of it as those who dig in the mines, who undergo great toil and run great hazards, with indefatigable industry and invincible constancy and resolution, in pursuit of the ore; or as those who will be rich rise up early, and sit up late, and turn every stone to get money and fill their treasures. Thus diligent must we be in the use of the means of knowledge, following on to know the Lord.

II. What success we may hope for in the use of these means. Our labour shall not be in vain; for,

1. We shall know how to maintain our acquaintance and communion with God: “Thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord (v. 5), that is, thou shalt know how to worship him aright, shalt be led into the meaning and mystery of every ordinance, and be enabled to answer the end of its institution.’ Thou shalt find the knowledge of God, which is necessary to our fearing him aright. It concerns us to understand how much it is our interest to know God, and to evidence it by agreeable affections towards him and adorations of him.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For if you cry for discernment | P2-V3

January 5, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

³ For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;

DISCERNMENT

For if you cry for discernment… how amazing it is that our bodies can cry for something as though there is Someone else on the other side?

Well, and because … God is!

When these bodies, our human bodies—no more than vessels that consist of flesh and blood, innocent in and of themselves—are tested and tried by the forces of good and evil, principalities and powers that mean to destroy our lives, react to the spirits of those who possess them, will one day testify and reveal the true nature of the person he or she once was … on that great and terrible day of the Lord come ^{_{(Joel 2:11,31)}}.

So the eyes fill with tears, legs give way, knees crash to the ground, the human body … defeated.

But what is the language of our cry?

Is it a cry for discernment or a cry in hatred against God?

LIFT YOUR VOICE

Lift your voice for understanding… how amazing it is that our bodies are designed to speak. We have voices to inquire the knowledge of God, but how do we inquire? With respect—the fear of the Lord?

Our bodies are defeated in sin, the innocence of blood cries out! But the spirit says to God… “Am I my body’s keeper?” ^{_{(Genesis 4:6-13)}} Yes! Or do we not know that our bodies are the temples of the living God ^{_{(2 Corinthians 6:16}, _{1 Corinthians 6:19})}?

So we need to lift up our voices for understanding:

“Help me, God, a sinner, have mercy on me; please Father, help me understand!”

Discipline is not meant to be soft, but to give understanding in righteousness. And to be righteous requires much discipline, even to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Are we carrying our crosses?

Our death was defeated at the cross of Christ, and the sin of the world was taken away by the blood of Christ.

Our soul and spirit are redeemed in Jesus Christ, so wipe your tears, strengthen your legs, and rise; praise God…

lets go!

No enemy has power over you, so don’t fear, don’t be afraid, and practice righteousness! God keeps His promises in the name of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Lift up your voice in faith and believe, then move on, we have souls to save!

Lets go Church!

Amen.

Why do you think its important we cry for discernment?
What do you learn as you talk to God about discernment (write down your inspirations).
When you lift up your voice for understanding, what is the condition of your heart when you do?
Where are you when you pray and ask for understanding (track the layers of understanding you mature upon by journaling)?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V3) Commentary
2. We must be much in prayer, v. 3. We must cry after knowledge, as one that is ready to perish for hunger begs hard for bread. Faint desires will not prevail; we must be importunate, as those that know the worth of knowledge and our own want of it. We must cry, as new-born babes, after the sincere milk of the word. 1 Pt. 2:2. We must lift our voice for understanding lift it up to heaven; thence these good and perfect gifts must be expected, Jam. 1:17; Job 38:34. We must give our voice to understanding (so the word is), speak for it, vote for it, submit the tongue to the command of wisdom. We must consecrate our voice to it; having applied our heart to it, we must employ our voice in seeking for it. Solomon could write probatum est-a tried remedy, upon this method; he prayed for wisdom and so obtained it.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Incline your heart to understanding | P2-V2

January 4, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

² Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;

ATTENTIVE

How does one make their ear attentive to wisdom? I know I at least, can make the mistake of thinking that earthly wisdom is what this verse is suggesting to mean: thinking back when I was child, obey my parents; years later, drive the speed limit; beat the deadline, get the promotion. All good things, but these things of our present time only last for a short while. Our lives on earth are but a vapor in the wind; we’re here, and then we’re gone, but what will we leave behind as a testimony to us, and where are we going according to Who, and why?

We can thank God for designing our souls in a way that inspires a choice. How are we going to live our lives in respect of what this verse of ‘attentive wisdom’ and a ‘heart of understanding’ mean? Will we go on to live a lifestyle of sin according to the gospel after claiming the label as to be a Christian? And if we do so—having deliberately chosen that course of sin—then are our hearts truly inclined to understand the meaning of Wisdom?

INCLINE

There is a serious tone with this instruction—incline your hearts to understanding. Because the nature of good and evil that we presently experience is obvious, but we treat our situation like a joke. And that’s not intended to be taken as condemning … we can joke, but not in regards to our faith in salvation through Christ by God our Father according to the gospel. That is serious. Our salvation in Jesus Christ is serious because He is going to return, and our faith will reveal the true nature of our hearts position. Do we actually believe? Do we actually understand the power of Heaven on earth that took away the sin of the world?

If one says they have faith in that spiritual reality of the cross (Jesus)—being our redemption from sin—and we continue to be in our sin: sexually immoral, addicted to pornography, creating lustful fantasies of others while intimate with our spouse’s, or just lustful arousal stirred up at the sight of ‘his’ or ‘her’ attractive features, and I haven’t even touched on lying let alone anger, or any other sin. But if we continue in this behavior… then are we truly inclining our hearts to understand the meaning of our faith in Jesus and the cross? If any of these struggles have pricked at your conscience, and you’re still reading, wondering how it’s possible to inherit the Kingdom of God. The short answer is faith, but it’s important to be reminded that faith without works is as dead as our flesh and blood. And wisdom is instructing us to cry for discernment and to lift up our voice for understanding—coming in our devo tomorrow.

What does it mean for me to have an ear attentive to wisdom?
Is my heart inclined to understand, but still choose to sin?
Is there any sin in my lifestyle according to the gospel that needs the cross?
Do I take serious that my sin was taken away by the cross of Jesus Christ?

P.S. Please feel free to reach out to us authors of T4P if there are any questions and or are in need of prayer, but otherwise, seek a brother and or sister in the Body of Christ when necessary to be prayed over with spiritual hands… be cleansed, and healed, in Jesus name [Hebrews 10: 19-22, James 5: 13-16]. Amen.

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V2) Commentary
Job had asked, long before this, Where shall wisdom be found? Whence cometh wisdom? (Job 28:12, 20) and he had given this general answer (v. 23), God knoweth the place of it; but Solomon here goes further, and tells us both where we may find it and how we may get it. We are here told,

I. What means we must use that we may obtain wisdom.
- 1. We must closely attend to the word of God, for that is the word of wisdom, which is able to make us wise unto salvation, v. 1, 2.
  - (1.) We must be convinced that the words of God are the fountain and standard of wisdom and understanding, and that we need not desire to be wiser than they will make us. We must incline our ear and apply our hearts to them, as to wisdom or understanding itself. Many wise things may be found in human compositions, but divine revelation, and true religion built upon it, are all wisdom.
  - (2.) We must, accordingly, receive the word of God with all readiness of mind, and bid it welcome, even the commandments as well as the promises, without murmuring or disputing. Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.
  - (3.) We must hide them with us, as we do our treasures, which we are afraid of being robbed of. We must not only receive, but retain, the word of God, and lodge it in our hearts, that it may be always ready to us.
  - (4.) We must incline our ear to them; we must lay hold on all opportunities of hearing the word of God, and listen to it with attention and seriousness, as those that are afraid of letting it slip.
  - (5.) We must apply our hearts to them, else inclining the ear to them will stand us in no stead.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

My son, if you receive my words | P2-V1

January 3, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹ My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you,

I love the language of promise this verse speaks; my son, if you will receive my words. I mean do you hear the confidence and truth by those words? The option is presented to us as we hear these words, and we can test them on family and friends to see how they respond. I think we’ll be surprised. I think we’ll learn by the attitude and behavior of those who hear this verse whether they’ve received these words or not, but I think the more challenging inquiry will be whether family and friends have treasured them; treasure my commandments within you.

RECEIVE AND TREASURE

Any one of us can say that, “Yah… I’ve received these words. I know the commandments by heart and believe Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.” But what if you know a person that will confess this and yet behave in a way contrary to the confession … it becomes a contradiction … no?

But see, whether the words have come to your ears through holy men or a broken vessel, the words themselves remain pure and true to that power they belong of—the Word of God.

So if we are going to receive these words, we must see past the human flesh to the Spirit of God; ^{Philippians 2:12} So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

We are in absence of the time when the apostles walked the earth with Christ to testify of the glory of the Kingdom at hand, and the glory to come, the Son of Man. But the words of which these same apostles that lived so long ago remain today, being heard from ear to ear, until all will hear.

But the option remains, if we receive, and that is something only you can answer and behave to reflect. When we behave as though we’ve received the glory of Christ’s coming by these words Wisdom speaks, then the treasure of the commandments within will become who we are (Eph 3:6, Jas 2:5, Rom 8:17, Tit 3:7) according to promise.

How does this verse speak to you?
What does it mean to receive these words of wisdom?
What is the greatest commandment?
Why should I treasure these commandments within me?

RECOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Chapter 2

Solomon, having foretold the destruction of those who are obstinate in their impiety, in this chapter applies himself to those who are willing to be taught; and,

I. He shows them that, if they would diligently use the means of knowledge and grace, they should obtain of God the knowledge and grace which they seek (v. 1-9).
II. He shows them of what unspeakable advantage it would be to them.
- 1. It would preserve them from the snares of evil men (v. 10-15) and of evil women (v. 16-19).
- 2. It would direct them into, and keep them in, the way of good men (v. 20-22).

So that in this chapter we are taught both how to get wisdom and how to use it when we have it, that we may neither seek it, nor receive it in vain.

Matthew Henry (P2-V1) Commentary
Job had asked, long before this, Where shall wisdom be found? Whence cometh wisdom? (Job 28:12, 20) and he had given this general answer (v. 23), God knoweth the place of it; but Solomon here goes further, and tells us both where we may find it and how we may get it. We are here told,

I. What means we must use that we may obtain wisdom.
- 1. We must closely attend to the word of God, for that is the word of wisdom, which is able to make us wise unto salvation, v. 1, 2.
  - (1.) We must be convinced that the words of God are the fountain and standard of wisdom and understanding, and that we need not desire to be wiser than they will make us. We must incline our ear and apply our hearts to them, as to wisdom or understanding itself. Many wise things may be found in human compositions, but divine revelation, and true religion built upon it, are all wisdom.
  - (2.) We must, accordingly, receive the word of God with all readiness of mind, and bid it welcome, even the commandments as well as the promises, without murmuring or disputing. Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.
  - (3.) We must hide them with us, as we do our treasures, which we are afraid of being robbed of. We must not only receive, but retain, the word of God, and lodge it in our hearts, that it may be always ready to us.
  - (4.) We must incline our ear to them; we must lay hold on all opportunities of hearing the word of God, and listen to it with attention and seriousness, as those that are afraid of letting it slip.
  - (5.) We must apply our hearts to them, else inclining the ear to them will stand us in no stead.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

But he who listens to me shall live securely | P1-V33

January 2, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

³³ “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

Finally… the climactic verse that quiets the soul after the storm of hard verses prior to receive, but necessary for an experience of discernment between good and evil nonetheless. It might prove wise to refresh yourself with the previous disciplining verses of this chapter to then experience a feeling of understanding by it. After all, as children of a Heavenly Father that loves us, means to teach us in a way that prepares us for eternity with Him. And because our Eternal Father is Holy, we experience the consequential nature of sin by the Spirit of Wisdom at work in the soul of death—that we would find life in Christ. This verse reflects on the secure life we have in Jesus Christ, and no evil can cause us to fear, but rather… we’re equipped with a profound confidence to press on into the maturity of eternity.

LIVE SECURELY

So if we listen to Wisdom as she reminds us like a mother teaching her children to behave; she reminds us of the wisdom gifted us through her presence and yet, in the same breath, warns us of those who choose otherwise. And even though her children of disobedience, our siblings in the flesh, are not listening; she will still respect us as adults to make our own decisions that will inevitably experience the consequences thereof.

Just as a human mother knows by instinct how to nurture and care for the wounds of the innocent and guilty children, so too does mother Wisdom know how to spiritually address each of us.

Just as a child might experience a swaddling by their earthly father by disobeying his instructions, so too does our Heavenly Father know how to save His Child from death by His Word. Wisdom of which is presently speaking in our souls the words of the gospel, is also gracing us with a conscience equipped to heal from the pain of what was once wrong.

Now, here we are, in a place of silence, we can bow our heads, close our eyes, and pray on; we’re now more learned children, more prepared to face the dread of evil.

And when we open our eyes to see the world of the dead, we’ll know more how to understand the nature of respect and honor, but most importantly… the LOVE of our Eternal Father in Jesus Christ.

After the refreshed memory of the previous verses, how does this verse affect you?
Is there any part of your life where you’re not wanting to receive the counsel of Wisdom on, and why?
How do you feel about seeking a trusted person (in Christ) as a means to practice listening to counsel?
Do you experience the dread of evil?
Will you pray for clarity of conscience, and as you are guided through the Word of God for that clarity, seek cleansing and confidence through the Holy Spirit alive in you?

RECOURCE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
¹ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: ² To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, ³ To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; ⁴To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, ⁵ A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, ⁶ To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. ⁸ Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; ⁹ Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. ¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. ¹¹ If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; ¹² Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; ¹³ We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; ¹⁴ Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” ¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, ¹⁶ For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. ¹⁷ Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; ¹⁸ But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. ¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns ²⁰ Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; ²¹ At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: ²² “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? ²³ “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. ²⁴ “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; ²⁵ And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; ²⁶ I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, ²⁷ When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. ²⁸ “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, ²⁹ Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. ³⁰ “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. ³¹ “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.³²“For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. ³³ “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V33) Commentary
4. He concludes with an assurance of safety and happiness to all those that submit to the instructions of wisdom (v. 33): “Whoso hearkeneth unto me, and will be ruled by me, he shall,’

(1.) “Be safe; he shall dwell under the special protection of Heaven, so that nothing shall do him any real hurt.’
(2.) “He shall be easy, and have no disquieting apprehensions of danger; he shall not only be safe from evil, but quiet from the fear of it.’ Though the earth be removed, yet shall not they fear. Would we be safe from evil, and quiet from the fear of it? Let religion always rule us and the word of God be our counsellor. That is the way to dwell safely in this world, and to be quiet from the fear of evil in the other world.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For the waywardness of the naive will kill them | P1-V32

January 1, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

³²“For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Was the year 2020 a wayward year? You’re the judge, but TODAY … is more than a NEW DAY! We’ve just kicked off the starting line of a NEW YEAR! TwentyTwenty-one! MMXXI! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2021

The first part of our verse today kills me (no pun intended) because the waywardness of the naïve is seen not only in my environment—as I think of select individuals and their reasons to reject the proclamation for a behavior contrary to the spiritual work of the gospel—but all around the world through social media. I mean if we really looked intently at the law of liberty ^{_{(James 1:25)}} next to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. posts can see the alarming nature of the human condition that will kill them. Now, of course, it might be that someone reading this is still in the process of learning about the Christian faith while Christians of the faith are still going through their process of sanctification, and when these two different stages of faith developments’ collide can be catastrophic to the conscience of both parties, but as we go through these Proverbs together will discover the healthy environment that the Holy Spirit works in—to the glory of Jesus Christ.

COMPLACENCY

If you happen to be one of those people who are seeing the nature of sin by the world around you as your conscience bears witness, your spirit gradually descending into depression, don’t fret or become intimidated by the information overload that our advancing society expects us to keep up with; you know… the new trend, or… that new smart technology, whatever it is that compels you to show it off in a new selfie photo, waiting for the ‘likes’ and ‘loves’ of those who care. “OH BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!” Now distracted by the ‘ads’ in the onslaught of social media feeds that the complacency of fools spend there days to grab your attention, sucking your life blood into their vortex of demise, an outcome that will destroy them. It’s time now to turn our attention to the good Word of God that means to save your soul, not destroy it. You see, there is an Eternal Father that loves you more than you’ll ever know because that’s how faith in eternity works, a hope that is for you, personally: ^{Romans 8:24} For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. ^{Hebrews 9:27} And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. So don’t find yourself wayward with the naïve, but blessed by the grace and mercy of God to pray for a clean conscience and live by that faith; don’t get distracted (for at least too long) by the social media drama and become so complacent you forget that perfect law that set you free from sin. Let’s replace the sin about our lives with the confidence we have in Christ!

How have you kickstarted your new year?
What are your faith goals for 2021?
How can you avoid being naïve?
What is the best strategy against complacency?
How can you serve the Church this year?

RECOURCE

P1-V33

But he who listens to me shall live securely | P1-V33

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V32) Commentary
[5.] Now they value themselves upon their worldly prosperity; but then that shall help to aggravate their ruin, v. 32.

First, They are now proud that they can turn away from God and get clear of the restraints of religion; but that very thing shall slay them, the remembrance of it shall cut them to the heart.
Secondly, They are now proud of their own security and sensuality; but the ease of the simple (so the margin reads it) shall slay them; the more secure they are the more certain and the more dreadful will their destruction be, and the prosperity of fools shall help to destroy them, by puffing them up with pride, gluing their hearts to the world, furnishing them with fuel for their lusts, and hardening their hearts in their evil ways.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way | P1-V31

December 31, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

³¹ “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.

2021 A.D. … is upon us! And with it… a fruit of opportunities. Happy New Year? We’ll see. If going into this new year with grand ideas of opportunities apart from Christ, well, according to His Word of salvation, we need to rethink our intentions and motives because no matter how bad or good the year can be, a person without knowledge of God is to our shame; ^{1 Corinth 15:34} Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. We have a responsibility to the ministry of our reconciliation to God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

FRUIT

The fruit of peace and prosperity might be on the forecast for the new year, but let’s not become in danger of deception by that fruit in thinking it means God is pleased when Christ is yet to be here with all His glory. I pray the fruit of our faith will not fail, and that those who are eating the fruit of their own way will stop. It is by grace that our Eternal Father draws all men to Christ, but their are those who have yet to respond to that draw, and remain in their choice of rejection. However, to those who have responded to the draw of God’s grace: I pray you’ll be blessed by the labor of your faith. The new year is already cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ! Jesus has already removed sin by the work of His cross, and I pray all will come to know His Name. When you look to the heavens this new year, be reminded that the fruit of Jesus Christ is eternal life. There is not a more valuable gift, nor a more important decision, than the confidence one receives through the Holy Spirit of God in the soul of the dead. Jesus Christ gave His life and assures it’s truth by the testimony of where He is today…

Do I know where Christ is today?
Do I know where Jesus is this new year?
Have I responded to the draw of my Eternal Father?
Have I answered the call to His ministry on earth?
Who is the Spirit of Grace?
What does faith mean?
Will I respond to grace? Will I answer in faith?
Do I have knowledge of God?

RECOURCE

P1-V32

For the waywardness of the naive will kill them | P1-V32

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V31) Commentary
[4.] Now they are eager upon their own way, and fond of their own devices; but then they will have enough of them (v. 31), according to the proverb, Let men drink as they brew; they shall eat the fruit of their own way; their wages shall be according to their work, and, as was their choice, so shall their doom be, Gal. 6:7, 8. Note,

First, There is a natural tendency in sin to destruction, Jam. 1:15. Sinners are certainly miserable if they do but eat the fruit of their own way.
Secondly, Those that perish must thank themselves, and can lay no blame upon any other. It is their own device; let them make their boast of it. God chooses their delusions, Isa. 66:4.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

They would not accept my counsel | P1-V30

December 30, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

³⁰ “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.

Have you ever prayed over your donut expecting the sugar its made of to change the unhealthy nature of its effect; when in all reality, we just got fatter by our insulin getting pissed about the placebo our mind is selling. “We’re getting phatter!” “No! You’re NOT!”—Insulin yells back. I do this, also, with caffeine; it’s actually a very bad habit, and even worse to lie convinced its truth by the mere “justification” of a prayer. Can you imagine, we’re in a court of law, the judge just gave us the verdict: *The gavel comes down, WHAM!* “Guilty!” “BUT BUT, JUDGE! I’M JUSTIFIED BECAUSE I PRAYED BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE MURDER—SO IT DOESN’T COUNT!” “Son, are you an idiot?”

NOT ACCEPTABLE

Okay, the judge doesn’t have to say that, but… is it a fair question if put another way? “Son, why are we in court of law if lawlessness is justified in prayer?” What do you think? If we Christians say we believe and yet continue in our sin as we pray for forgiveness, is the sin justified? Is it not wise to become educated about what we are eating, of which once learned, to stop eating the sin with prayer as though we’re right with God when… we’re not. ^{James 1:26} If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. If I know that caffeine can cause infertility in me, and yet pray it doesn’t, will not change the truth about that drug even if someone else has four kids being completely ignorant (or not) of that fact about “too much” caffeine. And that’s not to tempt people who don’t want kids either, so don’t think you can get away with that, said facetiously. What do you think? Is it important that we Christians exemplify the nature of prayer appropriately, and understand the risks involved to the choices we make or don’t make? I think so because we are the Church, the Light to the world, a Beacon of faith, truth, hope, and Love. ^{James 5:19} My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Why do you, and I, not accept counsel?
Do you, or I, know someone who struggles with reproof?
What does accepting the counsel of Wisdom look like?
How can we learn to accept reproof?
How can we serve those who struggle against reproof?

RECOURCE

P1-V31

So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way | P1-V31

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V30) Commentary
[4.] Now they are eager upon their own way, and fond of their own devices; but then they will have enough of them (v. 31), according to the proverb, Let men drink as they brew; they shall eat the fruit of their own way; their wages shall be according to their work, and, as was their choice, so shall their doom be, Gal. 6:7, 8. Note,

First, There is a natural tendency in sin to destruction, Jam. 1:15. Sinners are certainly miserable if they do but eat the fruit of their own way.
Secondly, Those that perish must thank themselves, and can lay no blame upon any other. It is their own device; let them make their boast of it. God chooses their delusions, Isa. 66:4.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Because they hated knowledge | P1-V29

December 29, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²⁹ Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.

When I think of the idea of hating knowledge, I think of the apostle Paul telling me… ^{Galatians 6:11} See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. ¹²Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. I was guilty of this wrong in the past for the comfort of myself, not wanting to share the gospel—to avoid the persecution of the cross—for the sake of my environment mixed with tempting desires to experience in this life, or what’s worse, to share the gospel with words of faith, but a heart filled with fear and want, not actually taking serious the power of the Word—my faith was in vain.

HATED KNOWLEDGE

When I think about my disobedience to God I think of what the bond-servant James says… ^{James 1:}²¹ Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. I ask the question, “Why do people choose not the fear of the Lord?” And then clarity comes, the answers’ so evident, so true; yet here I remain as a man regretful of who I once was… the man in the mirror, until … I looked intently upon the perfect law of liberty. However, there are still those present with us today that choose rather to hate the knowledge of the cross and don’t fear the Lord. Don’t lose hope, keep praying for these people, but remain faithful to respect the justice of God in Christ our Lord. Let’s not fear persecution and keep looking intently at the perfect law of liberty.

What do you, and I, think of to be “hated knowledge”?
Why do these people choose not the fear of the Lord?
Are you and I looking intently at the perfect law of liberty?
How can we serve those who hate knowledge?
What can we do about those who don’t fear the Lord?

RECOURCE

P1-V30

They would not accept my counsel | P1-V30

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V29) Commentary
[4.] Now they are eager upon their own way, and fond of their own devices; but then they will have enough of them (v. 31), according to the proverb, Let men drink as they brew; they shall eat the fruit of their own way; their wages shall be according to their work, and, as was their choice, so shall their doom be, Gal. 6:7, 8. Note,

First, There is a natural tendency in sin to destruction, Jam. 1:15. Sinners are certainly miserable if they do but eat the fruit of their own way.
Secondly, Those that perish must thank themselves, and can lay no blame upon any other. It is their own device; let them make their boast of it. God chooses their delusions, Isa. 66:4.

belief-structure, Nathan Dooley, Personality, Therapy

Nathan’s Public Journal | V

December 29, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Tuesday, 12/29/2020

As I’ve thought more and more about this public journal and the interweaving of a story that tells The Taste Of Immortality (previous journal posts). I’ve come to realize how difficult it would be to maintain that course, and not only that, but if continued, would actually do a disservice to the concept of WarCof in that fictional nonfiction story. The idea of that story was meant to shift the readers perspective from their flesh of sin to a mind of the Spirit while using my life to bring it about, but it won’t work like that. So I plan on turning that story into a book, but in doing so will require some time and help.

Now that I have a consistency with these I die daily devotionals, am preparing to implement my goals for this new year! One goal being systematic in the T4P YouTube channel that is now named “T4P PODCAST” that will start having at least a video a week.

“The goal for this channel is to build a fortification of Christian Wisdom. Time For Providence means to broadcast the good news of the gospel, and also warn the reality of its message once heard. The good news of the gospel is that salvation is here by the name of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and when the soul believes in Jesus by faith, the Spirit cleanses the sinner through a process of justification for sanctification. However, the reality of this process will be a discipline that the soul undergoes for an eternal outcome, and discipline does not ever feel good although necessary for change. Everyone reacts differently to this spiritual process, and that can cause a lot of confusion as to how to respond to this truth of which not all believe. So I hope and pray that you’ll give this channel a listen, and discover the love of an Eternal Father through Jesus Christ who desires a relationship in you.”

Right now all I have is cringe worthy content, but the whole reason there is a field to practice is to develop ones skills for winning the game. I miss playing soccer… anyway.

What bothers me the most about myself at times is the goof that comes out to absolutely obliterate the potential to be taken seriously or keep a good thing going. Not that being a goof doesn’t have its benefits when the timing is right and measured appropriately during the occasion, but I’ve failed many-a-times and reaped an inevitable embarrassment, losing the momentum or worse, evaporating from the present situation to never show my face again.

And so I have a theory that should help me regulate that spontaneous humor lurking to reveal itself by organizing my time differently. That’s another systematic goal going forward into this new year, time management, but my work schedule will be the conflicting factor to this goal and foresee its difficulty. That’s okay, its… at the very least, in my subconscious to work that out.

Now as far as an outcome based goal—write a book. I want to write several books, but if I can write at least one book this next year I’ll be ecstatic at that achievement! About writing books, there is another idea I’m experimenting with for this website, which is adding a couple pages dedicated for fiction/nonfiction based story writing. I’m still working that out in my head, but we’ll see; I’m not convinced about this idea because I already feel in over my head about what I have for this new year as it is.

My take away from 2020… is discovering the value of time and the meaning of my purpose while on this earth; I won’t reveal, yet, what that purpose is, but will say that there is no greater value than the gift of the gospel.

Belief is an axiomatic living system within the innermost part of the human being, and this system functions as an abstract ideological personality that represents the soul. Everyone believes that they are alive because of this system, but not all have faith to fear the God that can destroy this system in hell—^{Matt 10:28} Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. An axiomatic system is self-evident by the nature of two energies that build a structure of principles to reflect on one truth, we are going to die because of disobedience, the very nature of sin; the two energies are good and evil that we experience as a consequence of knowledge, having eaten the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

So the soul of the human being is compromised by this system because its only capable of disobeying the law of God; when we’re commanded not to do something, that very law of the command produces the nature of our condition, which is to inevitably sin—even if we want to obey the law. Ultimately… because the law of God is Holy, and the soul of man is cursed with sin, the law kills the person for reason of being incapable of obedience to the law. However, although the human being dies, we also give birth to new life over, and over, and over, again, until finally there is an end; which, if the end came, the law would judge our cause useless forever to be forgotten in the pit of hell. But the end hadn’t come yet, and there was a solution to the problem of the law that kills.

God gave us – human beings – His own Son, heir to His throne, for all the law and prophecies to be fulfilled and sin taken away from the world. However, there was still a problem, humankind is cursed with disobedience. God, knowing our curse of disobedience would ultimately murder His Son, Jesus remained obedient to His Father, our God, where we could not… so the curse of the law would be lifted and an offering of eternal life granted for all human beings that believe in Jesus Christ.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

But I will not answer and they will not find me | P1-V28

December 28, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²⁸ “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,

Jesus tells us about a poor man named Lazarus who was laid at a rich man’s gate, and when both these men died, Lazarus was carried by angels whereas the rich man was buried. Lazarus experienced a place of peace and comfort whereas the rich man… ^{Luke 16:23} In Hades lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. ²⁴ And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’

NOT ANSWER

However, the request of the rich man from Hades could not be met. The justice of God has fixed a ²⁶ …great chasm, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ And so the rich man understanding the truth of his life and the nature of his situation makes another request to father Abraham for Lazarus. ²⁷ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— ²⁸ for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ The rich man knew, that hearing Moses and the Prophets would not persuade his brothers’ belief of that place so, he begged, …if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But father Abraham, knowing that the law of Moses and the Word of the Prophets are in fact Jesus Himself—descended from the throne of Heaven born in the flesh of mankind as the only offering qualified to convince the world—would not be enough for those brothers. ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Have I heard Moses and the Prophets?
What do Moses and the Prophets say?
Is Jesus the Word of God come in the flesh?
How do I resemble the rich man?
What does it mean to be Lazarus?

RECOURCE

P1-V29

Because they hated knowledge | P1-V29

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V28) Commentary

[2.] Now God pities their folly, but he will then laugh at their calamity (v. 26): “I also will laugh at your distress, even as you laughed at my counsel.’ Those that ridicule religion will thereby but make themselves ridiculous before all the world. The righteous will laugh at them (Ps. 52:6), for God himself will. It intimates that they shall be for ever shut out of God’s compassions; they have so long sinned against mercy that they have now quite sinned it away. His eye shall not spare, neither will he have pity. Nay, his justice being glorified in their ruin, he will be pleased with it, though now he would rather they should turn and live. Ah! I will ease me of my adversaries.
[3.] Now God is ready to hear their prayers and to meet them with mercy, if they would but seek to him for it; but then the door will be shut, and they shall cry in vain (v. 28): “Then shall they call upon me when it is too late, Lord, Lord, open to us. They would then gladly be beholden to that mercy which now they reject and make light of; but I will not answer, because, when I called, they would not answer;’ all the answer then will be, Depart from me, I know you not. This has been the case of some even in this life, as of Saul, whom God answered not by Urim or prophets; but, ordinarily, while there is life there is room for prayer and hope of speeding, and therefore this must refer to the inexorable justice of the last judgment. Then those that slighted God will seek him early (that is, earnestly), but in vain; they shall not find him, because they sought him not when he might be found, Isa. 55:6. The rich man in hell begged, but was denied.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

When your dread comes like a storm | P1-V27

December 27, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²⁷ When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.

Yes, dread does come like a storm, and calamity, like a whirlwind. The storm and whirlwind are here, and with them, distress and anguish. Our conscience bears witness to the psychology of our hearts and minds as we experience the law of God, ^{Gen 2:17} …but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” When that fruit was eaten in disobedience, dread came, and is here like a storm, and the calamity, a whirlwind; we’re marked with distress and anguish, bearing the responsibility of that knowledge in which we ate, a nature of good and evil—sin. It’s painful to bear the shame of loved ones not knowing. ^{1 Cor 15:32}…If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.

DREAD COMES

³³ Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ³⁴ Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. Christian… do you feel that pain? We as a people believing in Christ, by faith, experience the Personality of God. And can we feel His Person? Can you feel the dread of those who keep on sinning, or do they have no knowledge of God? Do they think the dead are not raised? Do they think Jesus is not coming? Well… Let’s tell them! Wisdom speaks, “Indeed, the dead are raised!” Wisdom yells, “Indeed, be on the alert, Jesus is coming!” But there are those “alive” as Judas Iscariot scheming, deceiving, and betraying for the sake of themselves, not listening to the warnings of Wisdom. There are sinners that have rejected her outstretched hand, denying the truth of the gospel. And the time will come when we will laugh with God… because they did not take serious His Word that means to save them today, right now. Jesus is our vaccine for the pandemic of sin. ^{Rev 19:11} And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. ¹³ He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵ From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Do I believe the dead are raised?
Do I keep sinning?
What does sin mean?
Do I desire to stop sinning?
Do I fear the thought of Christ coming?
Am I ready for Jesus to come?
Do I have the vaccine for sin?

RECOURCE

P1-V28

But I will not answer and they will not find me | P1-V28

^{Genesis 2:17} but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

^{1 Corinthians 15:33} Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ³⁴ Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

^{Matthew 24:42} “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

^{Revelation 22:20} He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. ²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

^{John 3:16} “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.¹⁷For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. ¹⁸He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V27) Commentary

First, Their calamity will come (v. 26); sickness will come, and those diseases which they shall apprehend to be the very arrests and harbingers of death; other troubles will come, in mind, in estate, which will convince them of their folly in setting God at a distance.
Secondly, Their calamity will put them into a great fright. Fear seizes them, and they apprehend that bad will be worse. When public judgments are abroad the sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness surprises the hypocrites. Death is the king of terrors to them (Job 15:21, etc.; 18:11, etc.); this fear will be their continual torment.
Thirdly, According to their fright will it be to them. Their fear shall come (the thing they were afraid of shall befal them); it shall come as desolation, as a mighty deluge bearing down all before it; it shall be their destruction, their total and final destruction; and it shall come as a whirlwind, which suddenly and forcibly drives away all the chaff. Note, Those that will not admit the fear of God lay themselves open to all other fears, and their fears will not prove causeless.
Fourthly, Their fright will then be turned into despair: Distress and anguish shall come upon them, for, having fallen into the pit they were afraid of, they shall see no way to escape, v. 27. Saul cries out (2 Sa. 1:9), Anguish has come upon me; and in hell there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth for anguish, tribulation and anguish to the soul of the sinner, the fruit of the indignation and wrath of the righteous God, Rom. 2:8, 9.

[2.] Now God pities their folly, but he will then laugh at their calamity (v. 26): “I also will laugh at your distress, even as you laughed at my counsel.’ Those that ridicule religion will thereby but make themselves ridiculous before all the world. The righteous will laugh at them (Ps. 52:6), for God himself will. It intimates that they shall be for ever shut out of God’s compassions; they have so long sinned against mercy that they have now quite sinned it away. His eye shall not spare, neither will he have pity. Nay, his justice being glorified in their ruin, he will be pleased with it, though now he would rather they should turn and live. Ah! I will ease me of my adversaries.
[3.] Now God is ready to hear their prayers and to meet them with mercy, if they would but seek to him for it; but then the door will be shut, and they shall cry in vain (v. 28): “Then shall they call upon me when it is too late, Lord, Lord, open to us. They would then gladly be beholden to that mercy which now they reject and make light of; but I will not answer, because, when I called, they would not answer;’ all the answer then will be, Depart from me, I know you not. This has been the case of some even in this life, as of Saul, whom God answered not by Urim or prophets; but, ordinarily, while there is life there is room for prayer and hope of speeding, and therefore this must refer to the inexorable justice of the last judgment. Then those that slighted God will seek him early (that is, earnestly), but in vain; they shall not find him, because they sought him not when he might be found, Isa. 55:6. The rich man in hell begged, but was denied.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

I will also laugh at your calamity | P1-V26

December 26, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²⁶ I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,

This verse and commentary makes real the I die of these devotionals. The world is experiencing a pandemic, and after nearing closer and closer by friends getting touched by it, has finally become even more personal; my dad is currently in quarantine with COVID-19 experiencing its painful effects; he had extreme back pain at the beginning, weak and exhausted, loss of appetite, and the list goes on. It feels much like this verse; Wisdom is laughing at our calamity, mocking at our dread that is here. After all, we are sinners, not because we’re proud of it, but because it is the truth whether we want it to be or not. Yet… there is someone who experienced the calamity of our present condition with a message.

CALAMITY

^{1 Cor 1:18} For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. The calamity of our sin yesterday, today, and tomorrow was put on the cross of Jesus Christ as to offer all to come and believe in the truth of the gospel message. The wrath of God of which is the experience of this knowledge of good and evil was satisfied on the cross of His only Son for the sake of our salvation from sin, calamity is personal to God. There is only one innocent from the seed of sin brought forth through Adam, born of a virgin through the seed of a woman ^{_{(Gen 3:15)}} by the name of Wisdom _^(Mary), the Son of God—Jesus Christ—the Son of Man. ^{Matt 3:11}“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Justice for sin is found at the cross of Jesus Christ, of Whom is our true repentance. However… the chapter, is not over…

Am I experiencing calamity?
Has dread come upon me?
Why does Wisdom laugh?
Why does Wisdom mock?
How am I saved by the cross?
Is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior?

RECOURCE

P1-V27

When your dread comes like a storm | P1-V27

^{Genesis 3:14}The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life; ¹⁵ And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” ¹⁶ To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V26) Commentary
(2.) The sentence is pronounced, and it is certainly ruining. Those that will not submit to God’s government will certainly perish under his wrath and curse, and the gospel itself will not relieve them. They would not take the benefit of God’s mercy when it was offered them, and therefore justly fall as victims to his justice, ch. 29:1. The threatenings here will have their full accomplishment in the judgment of the great day and the eternal misery of the impenitent, of which yet there are some earnests in present judgments.

[1.] Now sinners are in prosperity and secure; they live at ease, and set sorrow at defiance. But,
- First, Their calamity will come (v. 26); sickness will come, and those diseases which they shall apprehend to be the very arrests and harbingers of death; other troubles will come, in mind, in estate, which will convince them of their folly in setting God at a distance.
- Secondly, Their calamity will put them into a great fright. Fear seizes them, and they apprehend that bad will be worse. When public judgments are abroad the sinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulness surprises the hypocrites. Death is the king of terrors to them (Job 15:21, etc.; 18:11, etc.); this fear will be their continual torment.
- Thirdly, According to their fright will it be to them. Their fear shall come (the thing they were afraid of shall befal them); it shall come as desolation, as a mighty deluge bearing down all before it; it shall be their destruction, their total and final destruction; and it shall come as a whirlwind, which suddenly and forcibly drives away all the chaff. Note, Those that will not admit the fear of God lay themselves open to all other fears, and their fears will not prove causeless.
- Fourthly, Their fright will then be turned into despair: Distress and anguish shall come upon them, for, having fallen into the pit they were afraid of, they shall see no way to escape, v. 27. Saul cries out (2 Sa. 1:9), Anguish has come upon me; and in hell there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth for anguish, tribulation and anguish to the soul of the sinner, the fruit of the indignation and wrath of the righteous God, Rom. 2:8, 9.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

And you neglected all my counsel | P1-V25

December 25, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²⁵ And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;

Jesus is still very much alive today, just as He was when in the flesh with His disciples. There was a time when Jesus was reproving the Jews about the nature of eternal life; He told the Jews to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life. ^{John 6:60} Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” ⁶¹ But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? And several of His disciples decided to no longer follow Him, this teaching was neglected, and yet Jesus continues…

YOU NEGLECTED

⁶² What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? ⁶³It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” But the disciples didn’t want this reproof; they wanted a King like David to conquer the Romans, and to establish Israel. And we today, still neglecting and not wanting reproof because our sin is deep within the most inner parts of the human being, our soul. We want our King to return, and for this sin to be removed, but won’t accept this Word of God that teaches us how it is removed. Remember— ^{1 Corinthians 15:51} Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. ⁵⁵ O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; ⁵⁷but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

How is Jesus alive today?
Have I neglected?
Am I neglecting?
Do I want reproof?
Am I reproved?
Have I the victory?

RESOURCE

P1-V26

I will also laugh at your calamity | P1-V26

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V25) Commentary

[2.] Christ reproved and counselled them, not only reproved them for what they did amiss, but counselled them to do better (those are reproofs of instruction and evidences of love and good-will), but they set at nought all his counsel as not worth heeding, and would none of his reproof, as if it were below them to be reproved by him and as if they had never done any thing that deserved reproof, v. 25. This is repeated (v. 30): “They would none of my counsel, but rejected it with disdain; they called reproofs reproaches, and took them as an insult (Jer. 6:10); nay, they despised all my reproof, as if it were all a jest, and not worth taking notice of.’ Note, Those are marked for ruin that are deaf to reproof and good counsel.
[3.] They were exhorted to submit to the government of right reason and religion, but they rebelled against both.
- First, Reason should not rule them, for they hated knowledge (v. 29), hated the light of divine truth because it discovered to them the evil of their deeds, Jn. 3:20. They hated to be told that which they could not bear to know.
- Secondly, Religion could not rule them, for they did not choose the fear of the Lord, but chose to walk in the way of their heart and in the sight of their eyes. They were pressed to set God always before them, but they chose rather to cast him and his fear behind their backs. Note, Those who do not choose the fear of the Lord show that they have no knowledge.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Because I called and you refused | P1-V24

December 24, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²⁴ “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

So how are we to be reproved by Wisdom? As our previous verse describes, Jesus is our reproof. Now, here we are, and how appropriate—considering the new year upon us. We are at a … ‘stand still’, a pause … because these 7 days we celebrate the gift of grace; people are home for Christmas before being home for New Years, gifts are waiting to be unwrapped and hope is in the air, work is less of a burden. We have grace to be alive and share in this gift of life for Wisdom. Wisdom is calling sinners to repent and heed the gospel, but who refused?

YOU REFUSED

Wisdom was preached from the prophets of old, the ancients, people moved by the Spirit of God, yet not the Word of God themselves, but sinners. Words of God were preached and proclaimed from the mouths of the dead, wisdom called, but was still refused. So the Word of God became flesh, a hand stretched out to the world, but have we paid attention? The scriptures, appearing to be an abstract notion of hope spoken and written down through the seed of Adam for the preservation of the human soul by God, until there was such a voice that claimed authority as being those very scriptures made alive into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. Again, have we paid attention? Jesus, the Son of God, innocent of any sin and proved to be the miracle all prayed for, was murdered on the cross by the human race—crucified. The entire human race is guilty of murder. Every soul was guilty of the sin of Adam who disobeyed God for the questionable position of whether to receive from the hand of his wife or not, but now worse, we’re guilty of sin itself having murdered the Son of God who took away the sin of the world. We refused the gift of God. …no one paid attention.

Have I heard?
Have I paid attention?
Have I believed?
Have I faith?
Have I forgiveness?
Have I Jesus Christ?

RECOURCE

P1-V25

And you neglected all my counsel | P1-V25

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V24) Commentary
3. He reads the doom of those that continue obstinate against all these means and methods of grace. It is large and very terrible, v. 24-32. Wisdom, having called sinners to return, pauses awhile, to see what effect the call has, hearkens and hears; but they speak not aright (Jer. 8:6), and therefore she goes on to tell them what will be in the end hereof.

(1.) The crime is recited and it is highly provoking. See what it is for which judgment will be given against impenitent sinners in the great day, and you will say they deserve it, and the Lord is righteous in it. It is, in short, rejecting Christ and the offers of his grace, and refusing to submit to the terms of his gospel, which would have saved them both from the curse of the law of God and from the dominion of the law of sin.
- [1.] Christ called to them, to warn them of their danger; he stretched out his hand to offer them mercy, nay, to help them out of their miserable condition, stretched out his hand for them to take hold of, but they refused and no man regarded; some were careless and never heeded it, nor took notice of what was said to them; others were wilful, and, though they could not avoid hearing the will of Christ, yet they gave him a flat denial, they refused, v. 24. They were in love with their folly, and would not be made wise. They were obstinate to all the methods that were taken to reclaim them. God stretched out his hand in mercies bestowed upon them, and, when those would not work upon them, in corrections, but all were in vain; they regarded the operations of his hand no more than the declarations of his mouth.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Turn to my reproof | P1-V23

December 23, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²³ “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Wisdom teaches us the meaning of love, but to love ourselves or our family members more than Christ our Lord … are we then worthy of that love? ^{Matthew 10:37} “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. To love in the meaning of our eternal Father, we must be reproved.

WISDOM REPROVES

Wisdom goes on to teach us that – ³⁹He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it – because the spirit of Wisdom is poured out on us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. To love as our eternal Father loves, means to die, but there is a promise. So when we die to ourselves by the experience of our faith as we live for the Word of God, we effectively communicate the gospel of salvation from sin. And the enemy of our faith hates this good word of God, this love of God, that saves us into a life eternal through Christ. Times will get heavy, trials will come, and pain will be experienced, but the spirit of God is pouring out on us to handle every moment of that process. God is with us in the reproof, lets stay the course, and trust the Lord.

Are you having a Merry Christmas?
Do you need reproof?
Do I need reproof?
Do we need reproof?
Can we trust our eternal Father at His Word?
What is the meaning of Love?

RECOURSE

P1-V24

Because I called and you refused | P1-V24

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V23) Commentary
2. He invites them to repent and become wise, v. 23. And here,

(1.) The precept is plain: Turn you at my reproof. We do not make a right use of the reproofs that are given us for that which is evil if we do not turn from it to that which is good; for for this end the reproof was given. Turn, that is, return to your right mind, turn to God, turn to your duty, turn and live.
(2.) The promises are very encouraging. Those that love simplicity find themselves under a moral impotency to change their own mind and way; they cannot turn by any power of their own. To this God answers, “Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you; set yourselves to do what you can, and the grace of God shall set in with you, and work in you both to will and to do that good which, without that grace, you could not do.’ Help thyself, and God will help thee; stretch forth thy withered hand, and Christ will strengthen and heal it.
- [1.] The author of this grace is the Spirit, and that is promised: I will pour out my Spirit unto you, as oil, as water; you shall have the Spirit in abundance, rivers of living water, Jn. 7:38. Our heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him.
- [2.] The means of this grace is the word, which, if we take it aright, will turn us; it is therefore promised, “I will make known my words unto you, not only speak them to you, but make them known, give you to understand them.’ Note, Special grace is necessary to a sincere conversion. But that grace shall never be denied to any that honestly seek it and submit to it.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded | P1-V22

December 22, 2020 Nathan Dooley 1 Comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²² “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?

Jesus continues from yesterday’s devo: ^{Matthew 10:34}“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Invisible, yet visible, is the Word of God that we read. The sword that Jesus is describing ^{Hebrews 4:12}…is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

SIMPLE-MINDED

^{Matthew 10:35} For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; ³⁶ and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. The spiritual conversion that the soul undergoes is painful by nature of the truth against sin, and not all who are loved will be so willing to accept this truth at the timing of our desire or worse, at all. There are family members that will believe, and yet, use this ministry to abuse the innocent. There are family members that will not believe, and yet, be the most philanthropic people you’ll ever know. And when this truth is presented within the home, and all have their hearts and minds laid bare, every family member will be turned against the other. We are not home yet, Christ is yet to be physically here, but don’t lose sight of the Light in your hearts… because He is there!

Are you simple-minded?
Is your family simple-minded?
Am I simple-minded?
Is my family simple-minded?
Are we home?
Is Christ here?
What does home mean for you?

RECOURCE

P1-V23

Turn to my reproof | P1-V23

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V22) Commentary
III. What the call of God and Christ is.

1. He reproves sinners for their folly and their obstinately persisting in it, v. 22. Observe,
- (1.) Who they are that Wisdom here reproves and expostulates with. In general, they are such as are simple, and therefore might justly be despised, such as love simplicity, and therefore might justly be despaired of; but we must use the means even with those that we have but little hopes of, because we know not what divine grace may do. Three sorts of persons are here called to:-
  - [1.] Simple ones that love simplicity. Sin is simplicity, and sinners are simple ones; they do foolishly, very foolishly; and the condition of those is very bad who love simplicity, are fond of their simple notions of good and evil, their simple prejudices against the ways of God, and are in their element when they are doing a simple thing, sporting themselves in their own deceivings and flattering themselves in their wickedness.
  - [2.] Scorners that delight in scorning-proud people that take a pleasure in hectoring all about them, jovial people that banter all mankind, and make a jest of every thing that comes in their way. But scoffers at religion are especially meant, the worst of sinners, that scorn to submit to the truths and laws of Christ, and to the reproofs and admonitions of his word, and take a pride in running down every thing that is sacred and serious.
  - [3.] Fools that hate knowledge. None but fools hate knowledge. Those only are enemies to religion that do not understand it aright. And those are the worst of fools that hate to be instructed and reformed, and have a rooted antipathy to serious godliness.
- (2.) How the reproof is expressed: “How long will you do so?’ This implies that the God of heaven desires the conversion and reformation of sinners and not their ruin, that he is much displeased with their obstinacy and dilatoriness, that he waits to be gracious, and is willing to reason the case with them.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

At the head of the noisy streets she cries out | P1-V21

December 21, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²¹ At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:

Jesus is crying out in out in our hearts and uttering his sayings in our minds, our conscience is bearing witness, and are we listening? ^{Matthew 10:26} “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.²⁸Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

SHE UTTERS

^{Matthew 10:32} “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. ³³But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Wisdom utters her voice about the true God and Father in every body and soul. And the consequence of understanding the knowledge of good and evil is our experience of this present death by that sin of Adam. However, by Jesus, the Son of God, that sin was taken away when He died on the cross in obedience to His Father, our Father in Heaven, where Jesus has ascended and is, right now, the true King. Wisdom is the whisper in our ears, the meaning of principles that reflect the nature of an eternal life, an eternal life through the belief in Jesus Christ. Wisdom is our hope and faith in this life to behave in a way that reflects the next. This truth will not bring peace, but a spiritual war.

Do I hear her cry?
Do I hear her utter?
Do I hear her whisper?
Does my life speak Jesus before men?

RECOURSE

P1-V22

How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded | P1-V22

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V21) Commentary
II. How he calls to us, and in what manner.

1. Very publicly, that whosoever hath ears to hear may hear, since all are welcome to take the benefit of what is said and all are concerned to heed it. The rules of wisdom are published without in the streets, not in the schools only, or in the palaces of princes, but in the chief places of concourse, among the common people that pass and repass in the opening of the gates and in the city. It is comfortable casting the net of the gospel where there is a multitude of fish, in hopes that then some will be enclosed. This was fulfilled in our Lord Jesus, who taught openly in the temple, in crowds of people, and in secret said nothing (Jn. 18:20), and charged his ministers to proclaim his gospel on the housetop, Mt. 10:27. God says (Isa. 45:19), I have not spoken in secret. There is no speech or language where Wisdom’s voice is not heard. Truth seeks not corners, nor is virtue ashamed of itself.
2. Very pathetically; she cries, and again she cries, as one in earnest. Jesus stood and cried. She utters her voice, she utters her words with all possible clearness and affection. God is desirous to be heard and heeded.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Wisdom shouts in the street | P1-V20

December 20, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Wisdom Warns

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

²⁰ Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;

We’ve just come out of some daily dying to the temptations sinners impress upon the innocent by the agent of evil—Satan. But now we enter into the severity of wisdoms call, and what it means when we don’t listen to the counsel of God.

WISDOM SHOUTS

I’ve never been Manhattan, but imagine you’re walking in the middle of time square of New York City. You’re walking and you begin to hear this voice coming from your conscience to “stop, watch, and listen”. So you do, and you observe as you feel this experience to your life being interrupted by this profound voice that compels you to stop, watch, and listen. This voice then begins to draw your attention to an interpretation of words that is not of this world, although personal to you. You begin to see your life stretched out in the course of time, and hear Wisdom lift her voice — this course satisfies a means to die. But listen to me, and you will live. Then you recall words spoken from long ago from men moved by the Holy Spirit of God. And there you are left in the square with a choice; “Do I follow this voice of Wisdom in my conscience, or do I suppress the motion into the darkness of ignorance and remain simple-minded on my present course?

Do I experience conviction?
Why am I convicted?
Why is there evil in the world?
Why is there good in the world?
What does death mean?
Do I listen to the voice of Wisdom?
Who are the men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God?

RECOURCE

P1-V21

At the head of the noisy streets she cries out | P1-V21

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
¹ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: ² To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, ³ To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; ⁴To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, ⁵ A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, ⁶ To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. ⁸ Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; ⁹ Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. ¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. ¹¹ If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; ¹² Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; ¹³ We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; ¹⁴ Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” ¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, ¹⁶ For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. ¹⁷ Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; ¹⁸ But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. ¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. ²⁰ Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; ²¹ At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: ²² “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? ²³ “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. ²⁴ “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; ²⁵ And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; ²⁶ I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, ²⁷ When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. ²⁸ “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, ²⁹ Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. ³⁰ “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. ³¹ “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.³²“For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. ³³ “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V20) Commentary
Solomon, having shown how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptations of Satan, here shows how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God, which we shall for ever rue the neglect of. Observe,

I. By whom God calls to us-by wisdom. It is wisdom that crieth without. The word is plural-wisdoms, for, as there is infinite wisdom in God, so there is the manifold wisdom of God, Eph. 3:10. God speaks to the children of men by all the kinds of wisdom, and, as in every will, so in every word, of God there is a counsel.
- 1. Human understanding is wisdom, the light and law of nature, the powers and faculties of reason, and the office of conscience, Job 38:36. By these God speaks to the children of men, and reasons with them. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord; and, wherever men go, they may hear a voice behind them, saying, This is the way; and the voice of conscience is the voice of God, and not always a still small voice, but sometimes it cries.
- 2. Civil government is wisdom; it is God’s ordinance; magistrates are his vicegerents. God by David had said to the fools, Deal not foolishly, Ps. 75:4. In the opening of the gates, and in the places of concourse, where courts were kept, the judges, the wisdom of the nation, called to wicked people, in God’s name, to repent and reform.
- 3. Divine revelation is wisdom; all its dictates, all its laws, are wise as wisdom itself. God does, by the written word, by the law of Moses, which sets before us the blessing and the curse, by the priests’ lips which keep knowledge, by his servants the prophets, and all the ministers of this word, declare his mind to sinners, and give them warning as plainly as that which is proclaimed in the streets or courts of judicature by the criers. God, in his word, not only opens the case, but argues it with the children of men. Come, now, and let us reason together, Isa. 1:18.
- 4. Christ himself is Wisdom, is Wisdoms, for in him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and he is the centre of all divine revelation, not only the essential Wisdom, but the eternal Word, by whom God speaks to us and to whom he has committed all judgment; he it is therefore who here both pleads with sinners and passes sentence on them. He calls himself Wisdom, Lu. 7:35.

belief-structure, Nathan Dooley, Personality, Therapy

Nathan’s Public Journal | IV

December 20, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Sunday, 12/20/2020

When the cleaning crew arrived, the majority are ladies, and they’re attractive.

As soon as I saw them come in to collect their keys for access; their bodies burned that red and fiery orange color that orbed around their physique, but there was something different; I could see a light brownish glow that came from their brain. This color was new, or… I didn’t recognize it before. And as they would get closer, and closer, to the security desk, that brownish color intensified to it’s darkest form.

After issuing them their keys, WarCof appears next to me and asks, “Why do you see that color?”

Ignoring WarCof, I escort them to the elevators of the second floor.

My security desk is stationed on the second floor of my building of 4; my building is located on the west wing also know as West Tower-2 (WT2). There are 24 floors to each of these 4 buildings, and they’re built perpendicular to each other: North, South, East, and West.

They were built in this way for its main attraction, which is a globe that hangs in the middle connecting each of these towers at the 12^th floor.

The elevators have two sets of doors; the first set grants access to visitors, tenants, and vendors to the Towers; the second set will open exclusively for authorized personal to the globe, but no tenants, vendors, or visitors have access—making my job that much more fun—not even the third party management company that answers directly to GE, or God’s Eye, we call it, has access without security, into the globe.

GE stands for Global Earth, which is the company name of very powerful people I have yet to meet in person, and to the best of my knowledge the globe functions as a meeting lab for Avengers. Okay, well, not exactly. But it gives off that feel … considering the secrecy and philanthropic vibe by research, and having observed the evolving change and activity from a distance for 7 years; it’s a mystery, and way way above my pay grade to care that much.

On the way to the elevators, the cleaning crew is in front of me, and the ladies have my attention whether they’d asked for it or not. They are talking in their native tongue, Spanish. Some are giggling while making subtle glances in my direction; young, early twenties, somewhat petite, but the worst part is…they’re desirable, and they know it.

My routine is rote which makes this part of my job very dangerous in that I’m human and experience what humans desire; which if not controlled, compromises the nature of my position to prevent liability, maintain integrity, and hold dear my vows to Laura; the vulnerability of the human condition is sensitive to the extreme, and for some odd reason the reproductive system of my body ignites this desire to be fruitful and multiply more children of wrath in this world.

These colors of light about these ladies is entrancing… How the deep dark red is pulsating to their hearts’ beat, their bodies lit a flame that orbs about them, and now, how the color of their minds are shifting shades of brown as I draw closer or further away. I stare more intently at the color of their mind and feel this urg—

“DING” – “SECOND FLOOR—GOING DOWN“

Distracted by the elevator’s artificial operator, I think to myself “Why do I see that color?”, and quickly come to my senses.

It’s afterhours and in the event there is any malfunction, especially an indicator of a technological glitch in the artificial intelligent geware; I must be ready to respond and immediately notify PM—Property Management—which technically is that third party management service aforementioned, so they can quickly report the issue and await further instruction. I’m more or less a backup system in the event of a cyber crisis, and the geware system need be shutdown; or basically, quite simply, the elevator doors, just…don’t open.

On the way back to the security desk I process the color activity between me and those attractive women, why did the color behave like that?

Then WarCof, still with me, said—”Nathan, you don’t see your own color for a reason, but as you’ve already witnessed: there is a blue to green light orb that describes the essence of men, so too, you have in like fashion as they. As both these colors between men and women collide, a language is revealed. A language of activity that has the power to reveal an active truth. And as those ladies drew nearer to you, the colors revealed the nature of your sin, your desire; humans have a chemical energy and radiance that influences the behavior in which you were experiencing. When the green orbs of men clashes with the orange orbs of women, information that is invisible to the human eye you now have access to see, and the brown color in the minds of those women—you found attractive—reveals a nature of sin that is in every human.”

Stunned, I didn’t know what to think. I went on autopilot and continued to process every word of what WarCof said… and in that state, I remained.

I arrive home, it’s late, Laura is already asleep, but there she lay in all her magnificence, with that beautiful deep red to fiery purple orb that lights up the dark just right, it’s perfect, and incredible. The light behaves in such a way that it brings peace as she sleeps, “pfffffffff…” then there’s this loudest fart that came out of nowhere vibrating the entire room, strong enough to disturb the colors of the orb. That was amazing and quite profound, I thought it would never end. She shuffles a little bit, unconsciously, like she was about to wake up, but nope. No matter.

I can’t help but to watch her sleep, like a creeper, and I have so many questions. Like… why does her mind not behave like that of the other women? I don’t see the brown glow in her mind? Is she attracted to me? Have I no attraction for her? Does she not have that sin as WarCof said? Was WarCof wrong? Can I trust what WarCof is telling me? Is something wrong…

THE TASTE OF IMMORTALITY

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence | P1-V19

December 19, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Enticement of Sinners

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors.

This verse reminds me of the 6^th commandment—^{Exodus 20:13} “You shall not murder.—in parallel to what Jesus said, ^{Matthew 5:21} “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

GAINS BY VIOLENCE

The gain is a fiery hell. Anger is a powerful emotion, powerful enough to convict us of murder before the court with a verdict – guilty. Where there is anger in the heart against a person, there is violence, and that violence makes us guilty before the court of God. This can be difficult to accept let alone hear; as one speaking from experience, especially when thinking upon the person of faith that abused me and my family, in the past. I, personally, was guilty of this sin of murder—not like actually murdering someone, but—by the violence in my heart to hate and desire punishment for that person who did us wrong, and still has yet to make it right (in my opinion). But there is a couple verses later in our proverbs (that we won’t see until October of 2022), that have helped me process the necessary change in my heart about this unresolved past offense. I’ve learned to trust in the vengeance of our Lord with that person ^{1 Timothy 1:20}“…whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme“; yet hoping for mercy upon that person, as much as mercy would be extended upon me or anyone else guilty of murder. I pray that our understanding of justice will reconcile us to God—in the name of Christ our Lord, Jesus.

^{Proverbs 24:17}Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; ¹⁸ Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.

Have I committed murder?
Am I guilty of anger toward anyone?
Do I trust in the vengeance of the Lord?
Have I accepted responsibility for my sin?
Will I confess my sin of anger?
Lord, will you please forgive me, and help me?

RESOURCE

P1-V20

Wisdom shouts in the street | P1-V20

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V19) Commentary
Herein,

(1.) They are like the silly bird, that sees the net spread to take her, and yet it is in vain; she is decoyed into it by the bait, and will not take the warning which her own eyes gave her, v. 17. But we think ourselves of more value than many sparrows, and therefore should have more wit, and act with more caution. God has made us wiser than the fowls of heaven (Job 35:11), and shall we then be as stupid as they?
(2.) They are worse than the birds, and have not the sense which we sometimes perceive them to have; for the fowler knows it is in vain to lay his snare in the sight of the bird, and therefore he has arts to conceal it. But the sinner sees ruin at the end of his way; the murderer, the thief, see the jail and the gallows before them, nay, they may see hell before them; their watchmen tell them they shall surely die, but it is to no purpose; they rush into sin, and rush on in it, like the horse into the battle. For really the stone they roll will turn upon themselves, v. 18, 19. They lay wait, and lurk privily, for the blood and lives of others, but it will prove, contrary to their intention, to be for their own blood, their own lives; they will come, at length, to a shameful end; and, if they escape the sword of the magistrate, yet there is a divine Nemesis that pursues them. Vengeance suffers them not to live. Their greediness of gain hurries them upon those practices which will not suffer them to live out half their days, but will cut off the number of their months in the midst. They have little reason to be proud of their property in that which takes away the life of the owners and then passes to other masters; and what is a man profited, though he gain the world, if he lose his life? For then he can enjoy the world no longer; much less if he lose his soul, and that be drowned in destruction and perdition, as multitudes are by the love of money.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

They ambush their own lives | P1-V18

December 18, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Enticement of Sinners

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

¹⁸ But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.

We’ve seen this verse before, hadn’t we? No. And actually. The script is flipped now.

It was back at verse 11 we read—if they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause—that the child of Wisdom is warned not to consent to the enticement of sinners.

THEIR OWN BLOOD

Their goal of gain in this life is at the cost of innocence. Their choice is made, they’ve chosen to love their own soul above their God who gave it to them, and ultimately, entices the innocent by that behavior, influencing a lie—a pleasure—about the way of their demise—justifying and blaming the world around them—rather than repenting of their selfish endeavors for the sake of God. But they won’t, they don’t repent; the sinner will seek to devour the innocent without a thought of losing their own soul for the sake of preserving the innocent—for the sake of Christ. The sinner says, “You need sex with multiple partners. You need pornography. You need to make more money. You need a vacation, cut loose, and just enjoy life.” But their gain is the ambush of their own lives, and once the innocent is converted… will he or she repent?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
Do you have faith that Jesus is resurrected?
Have you accepted responsibility for your sin?
Are you actively repenting of your sin?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
Do you have faith that Jesus is resurrected?
Have you accepted responsibility for your sin?
Are you actively repenting of your sin?
Have you sought to make your belief known?

Find a body of believers.
Tell them the meaning of salvation.
Seek to be baptized.
Study the Word of God.
Become equipped in your hope.
Practice your defense with believers.
Preach the Word of God to this world.
Be faithful to Christ.
Be faithful to your church body.
Understand how death is defeated.
Love God; Love neighbor.
Pray, Jesus come. Amen.

RESOURCE

P1-V19

So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence | P1-V19

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V18) Commentary
Herein,

(1.) They are like the silly bird, that sees the net spread to take her, and yet it is in vain; she is decoyed into it by the bait, and will not take the warning which her own eyes gave her, v. 17. But we think ourselves of more value than many sparrows, and therefore should have more wit, and act with more caution. God has made us wiser than the fowls of heaven (Job 35:11), and shall we then be as stupid as they?
(2.) They are worse than the birds, and have not the sense which we sometimes perceive them to have; for the fowler knows it is in vain to lay his snare in the sight of the bird, and therefore he has arts to conceal it. But the sinner sees ruin at the end of his way; the murderer, the thief, see the jail and the gallows before them, nay, they may see hell before them; their watchmen tell them they shall surely die, but it is to no purpose; they rush into sin, and rush on in it, like the horse into the battle. For really the stone they roll will turn upon themselves, v. 18, 19. They lay wait, and lurk privily, for the blood and lives of others, but it will prove, contrary to their intention, to be for their own blood, their own lives; they will come, at length, to a shameful end; and, if they escape the sword of the magistrate, yet there is a divine Nemesis that pursues them. Vengeance suffers them not to live. Their greediness of gain hurries them upon those practices which will not suffer them to live out half their days, but will cut off the number of their months in the midst. They have little reason to be proud of their property in that which takes away the life of the owners and then passes to other masters; and what is a man profited, though he gain the world, if he lose his life? For then he can enjoy the world no longer; much less if he lose his soul, and that be drowned in destruction and perdition, as multitudes are by the love of money.

belief-structure, Nathan Dooley, Personality, Therapy

Nathan’s Public Journal | III

December 17, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Thursday, 12/17/2020

Laura burns with a different color than the other women I see. Her heart burns with that same intense deep red, but where there is a fiery orange for the other women… Laura has a gorgeous purple similar to that of WarCof. “Why”, I say to WarCof, but then everything unfreezes and WarCof is disappeared, gone. Everything returned as though nothing happened, but something remained…

Okay, the bigger font is our story. I still have the date at the top of our journal post to indicate the present time. The military time (Time ####—) I used in the previous journal entry NPJ | II was to log the actual time I was writing that day to describe my events of that day—that actually occurred, other than the fantasy aspect of the narration—I’m using for the beginning of our story. And to prevent any confusion between fiction or nonfiction; I’m using this smaller font as my true nonfictional self (Hi, my name is Nathan), where as now, the…

bigger font

…has evolved into our story line, which includes fiction with the nonfiction. The fiction, of course, involves: WarCof and these now supernatural affects/abilities to our characters that describe our eternal realm that surrounds us, and is truly about us. This story is describing a very present and real taste of immortality, but also told from a very real dying and human perspective, of which the meaning is revealed as the story continues. Okay, now back to the story—where Nathan is still at NorthPark Center with Laura having a mental breakdown…

My head is spinning, I’m dizzy. I could hear the muffled tone of Laura’s concerned voice, “Honey, are you okay?” But it was like waking up from a vivid dream, processing what I’d just dreamt. But in this case witnessed, thinking—did that just really happen, is this really happening—do I really have these new abilities, what is going on?

I feel this pain in my head gradually increasing as I look at Laura; her body is transparent by this deep pulsating dark red, the color moves with each beat—thu-dump, thu-dump, thu-dump—of her heart, causing a ripple like effect; the light is as constant as her pulse, like it’s alive or something; as the light moves outward from her heart to the shape of her body, that dark red transitions to light red at her frame; then right at the exterior of her frame, the colors converge into this fiery purple, giving off this orb like glow that extends out into her surrounding space. It’s magnificent…

“‘AHH!’ ‘OU!’ ‘SSS-GAWW!'” It’s painful to look at her for too long.

Laura’s tone becomes desperate, “Honeyyyy, talk to me, what’s wrong?” “EMMMM—my head … hurts. Might be a migraine?”, I lie.

We’re on the second floor of the shopping center, a railing is close by; the center of the mall opens up from floor to ceiling, revealing the two dividing floors where escaladers are strategically stationed at select locations for consumers to ascend and descend between the floors.

I stumble to the railing, catching myself, while hearing Laura’s elevated tone, “Honey!? … Honey!?? Do you need to sit down!? Are you okay!?”

We are not far from the food court, and the place is packed with all kinds of humans! The light shining from each person gives off an extraordinary combination of colors, especially as they get closer to the orbs of other people. It’s fascinating!

While I’m on the railing, I can see the first floor where people are walking under us oblivious to who’s looking from above.

I try my best to keep my composure; I have one hand on my face squeezing my head with my index finger and thumb, while the other hand is holding myself up on this rail—with the help of Laura, of course.

I close my eyes, shake my head violently, blink rapidly, and several times. I’m trying to adapt to this changing condition and new ability of my sight to these colors of light; I don’t understand it—obviously—it’s not making any sense, why would it?

I mumble… “WarCof” … “What! Who?”, Laura asked. “Oh uh— nothing”, I say quickly, while thinking to myself; how do I know his name?

I could feel Laura’s arm squeeze tighter; she had wrapped it around me to prevent the worst possible outcome, going over the rail when I’d stumbled over to it; she is trying to hold me up—deeply concerned that I’m about to pass-out or something, “Come on honey, let’s go.”

She motions to that bench, that bench where the kid was above—frozen mid air—now, available.

I’m catching glimpses of peoples’ attention drawing on us now, and I can feel Laura’s anxiety spiking. People walking by us are slowing down.

Aware of what’s happening; I try to adapt immediately to fake a normal composure, but I can feel myself changing, and it’s extremely painful with each step. My brain is throbbing, and the vibration of my steps—intensifies the pain.

It felt like eternity, but finally, a place to sit.

The bystanders are curious, I can feel them. I tell Laura, “I don’t feel so good.” Laura wanted to call the police, but I’d noticed already, several were close by, acting aloof, while Laura was still waiting on my answers after so many unanswered frantic questions. “No, no! I’m okay, I’m okay!” I said.

I’m obviously not okay, but attempting to explain the nature of my condition would land me in a Psych ward.

“Let’s go home.” I say to Laura. “Okay, babae kissies”, she says ever so sweetly. So I muster the strength to get up, and hopefully, walk normal—which might look like I was either drugged or drunk to onlookers watching our every move. I mean it does, indeed, look weird seeing a grown man leaning on a cute little Mexican woman for support.

But then again, looking around, the other men with Hispanic ladies are doing the same thing. I guess I’m not the only husband getting la chancla at home, one guy even used Morse code to signal an S.O.S. from the light of his phone in his pocket and also—”these women are crazy, man, help me”—I signaled back—dude, mine knows that signal, are you trying to get us killed—his eyes got massive, face full of fear, and then we smiled facetiously as we moved along.

As soon as Laura and I make it back to our decked-out four door 2035 hovering Toyota Corolla LE that counters the gravitation pull… or rather, the momentum of the earths rotational force around the sun influx of our Milky Way galaxy’s trajectory into dark matter and energy—Laura pops’ the trunk, throws me in saying, “I saw the Morse code.”, and pulls out this chancla I’d never seen before.

The End.

Okay, not really, but once inside our normal gas engine vehicle, I passed out cold—dead asleep. I hardly remember getting out of the car to find our bed once we’d arrived home, and thankfully, I didn’t have work until Thursday 12/17/2020.

Two days later—today.

I’d slept for nearly two days, woke up feeling like it was any other day, and just in time to get ready for work.

I could hear Laura downstairs in the kitchen, probably preparing me something to eat now, and a meal for later. I quickly get dressed in my security uniform and go downstairs. BOOM! I hit the door at the end of our staircase as soon as I see Laura. There she is in all her fiery red purple glow as she stands in the kitchen stunned and confused by my display.

It all came back to me, and I remember the WarCof encounter and the sound of his voice.

Thinking to myself What do these colors mean? as I make my way to Laura, still somewhat confused. “Something’s going on with you?”, she says. “Me, naww, I’m alright, much better now that I’ve slept.” I kiss her, but could tell that Laura wasn’t buying it, and time didn’t allow for further investigation.

I ate fast, grabbed my meal and supplies for work, and said, “Thank you, Love, I love you.” Laura walks me to the door, watches me like some creeper as I walk to the car. Just kidding, she always beholds me with great wonder and enthusiasm as I strut to the car like I’m the king of the world because she’s watching.

I put my things in the back seat, just behind the drivers side, and as soon as I get in the car—WarCof.

WarCof appears in the passenger side seat in all his amazing glory scaring the death, literally, out of me, “How did yo—” “Drive!”

I put the car in gear and head north from south Dallas. “What is going on?” I ask with subtle fear and intense hope, “You know the scriptures, and where it speaks of what this experience is…” “No, no I don’t, and how do I know your name? WarCof.” “Don’t worry about driving.” There was a brief silence. “…What!?” “I know where your occupation is—so don’t worry about driving.” This was weird, I didn’t know how to respond to that. So I kept silent.

I continued to drive in disbelief of his instruction. I didn’t say another word, but for some reason, his company remained with me in the passenger seat. So we just sat there, in silence, the whole way to my job site in the metroplex of Dallas TX. Once I’d arrived onsite, clocked in for duty, WarCof was still at my side—or at least, within proximity of my sight. His presence was powerful, nothing like anything to compare from an earthly description.

I stationed myself at the security desk after making a patrol of the site, checking the high priority areas inside the high-rise office building first, then the integrity of the garage and building structure next. The cleaning services were about to arrive, and would need access into certain tenants’ offices with a red dot on their door handle indicating ‘authorized personal only’.

When the cleaning crew arrived, the majority are ladies, and they’re attractive. As soon as I saw them coming into the building to collect their keys for access, their bodies burned with that red and fiery orange color that orbed around their physique, but there was something different. I could see a light brownish glow that came from their brain. This color was new, or… I didn’t recognize it before. As they would get closer and closer to the security desk, that brownish color intensified to it’s darkest form.

After issuing them their keys, WarCof appears next to me and asks, “Why do you see that color?”

Okay, we’ll get to there in a our next journal entry (NPJ | IV). Until then, be thinking about this scripture: ⁴For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

THE TASTE OF IMMORTALITY

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

It is useless to spread the baited net | P1-V17

December 17, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Enticement of Sinners

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

¹⁷ Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;

Financial freedom is a useless net to cast for sinners, because they’re already doing what pleases them. They have no mind for Wisdom, or heart, for Understanding. They only chase after their own destruction by taking advantage of the innocent. Remember, my son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

USELESS

When education is learned with a skill to achieve financial stability, the sinner does not care to hear the advice of counsel. The sinner ignores the calling and draw of a heavenly Father, they’re so pleased by their achievements. The sinner has no mind for their abilities gifted from above, and ignore their responsibility to love. The sinner will cast their net for gain, but their heart chooses not to understand spiritual counsel. The net they cast is their own destruction, for the sake of money and pleasure.

Do I seek the kingdom of God first?
Am I chasing after money?
Do I desire financial freedom?
Am I seeking a net of personal gain?

RESOURCE

P1-V18

They ambush their own lives | P1-V18

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V17) Commentary
Herein,

(1.) They are like the silly bird, that sees the net spread to take her, and yet it is in vain; she is decoyed into it by the bait, and will not take the warning which her own eyes gave her, v. 17. But we think ourselves of more value than many sparrows, and therefore should have more wit, and act with more caution. God has made us wiser than the fowls of heaven (Job 35:11), and shall we then be as stupid as they?
(2.) They are worse than the birds, and have not the sense which we sometimes perceive them to have; for the fowler knows it is in vain to lay his snare in the sight of the bird, and therefore he has arts to conceal it. But the sinner sees ruin at the end of his way; the murderer, the thief, see the jail and the gallows before them, nay, they may see hell before them; their watchmen tell them they shall surely die, but it is to no purpose; they rush into sin, and rush on in it, like the horse into the battle. For really the stone they roll will turn upon themselves, v. 18, 19. They lay wait, and lurk privily, for the blood and lives of others, but it will prove, contrary to their intention, to be for their own blood, their own lives; they will come, at length, to a shameful end; and, if they escape the sword of the magistrate, yet there is a divine Nemesis that pursues them. Vengeance suffers them not to live. Their greediness of gain hurries them upon those practices which will not suffer them to live out half their days, but will cut off the number of their months in the midst. They have little reason to be proud of their property in that which takes away the life of the owners and then passes to other masters; and what is a man profited, though he gain the world, if he lose his life? For then he can enjoy the world no longer; much less if he lose his soul, and that be drowned in destruction and perdition, as multitudes are by the love of money.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Their feet run to evil | P1-V16

December 16, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Enticement of Sinners

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

¹⁶ For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood.

What country are you from? What laws describe your country that make up its governance? Tell me, do you abide by those laws? If so, why do you subject yourself to the law of your land? And if you don’t, why do you hide? Or… what does it mean for you to disagree with the law? Do you think its the law of the land, the terms and policies of your company, that will determine your fate?

THEIR FEET RUN

Christian, as our eternal Father teaches by this Wisdom of His Word; there are principalities, powers, worldly forces, and heavenly forces of darkness, for the pleasure of themselves in allegiance to an evil that runs to shed blood. And we might feel like we are their victims, and in a sense, we are. But when Jesus went to the cross to die for our sin … Who was the victim then? Do we think their treatment of abuse justifies our sin, or are we held captive to hate—not accepting hope for the perpetrators conversion? Don’t fall prey to fear or hate by running to a place called… Victimhood. Because there, that place, comforted by a relatable despair, is hastening us to shed blood in the name of Vengeance.

^{Romans 12:17} Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹ Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. ²⁰ “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Am I filled with hate?
Have I been abused?
Am I angry and or depressed?
Did Jesus take away the sin of the world?
Can I trust the Lord, Jesus?
What does Your vengeance mean, Lord?
How do I understand?
Am I willing to forgive?

RESCOURCE

P1-V17

It is useless to spread the baited net | P1-V17

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V16) Commentary
II. He shows the perniciousness of these ways, as a reason why we should dread them (v. 15): “My son, walk not thou in the way with them; do not associate with them; get, and keep, as far off from them as thou canst; refrain thy foot from their path; do not take example by them, not do as they do.’ Such is the corruption of our nature that our foot is very prone to step into the path of sin, so that we must use necessary violence upon ourselves to refrain our foot from it, and check ourselves if at any time we take the least step towards it. Consider,

1. How pernicious their way is in its own nature (v. 16): Their feet run to evil, to that which is displeasing to God and hurtful to mankind, for they make haste to shed blood. Note, The way of sin is down-hill; men not only cannot stop themselves, but, the longer they continue in it, the faster they run, and make haste in it, as if they were afraid they should not do mischief enough and were resolved to lose no time. They said they would proceed leisurely (Let us lay wait for blood, v. 11), but thou wilt find they are all in haste, so much has Satan filled their hearts.
2. How pernicious the consequences of it will be. They are plainly told that this wicked way will certainly end in their own destruction, and yet they persist in it.

belief-structure, Nathan Dooley, Personality, Therapy

Nathan’s Public Journal | II

December 15, 2020 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

Tuesday, 12/15/2020

Time 0140—In the morning of this brisk, silent, night. Well, “silent”… as in a feeling; my beautiful wife is breathing in a way that indicates REM sleep, and there is a sound of warm air blowing through the ventilation system—to fight off the cold in the night; awe of course, and the sound of the ‘k’ ‘e’ ‘y’ ‘s’ mashing against my keyboard as my fingers mean to type quietly. I don’t want to awaken the… Naura; ooooohhhh…I’m joking-I’m Joking! My wife (Laura), is the sweetest; even if she woke up, she’d probably unconsciously give me a hug and a kiss, then back to bed.

So after listening to the critique, well… honest advice, of my wife, on the original version to this journal entry (12/12-14/2020), decided on a different tactic for this post. I won’t bore you on the details because written well, it won’t matter.

Don’t mind skipping past the reference structure below. It’s my map.

Jesus Christ is my belief structure.
1. What does that mean? (salvation).
  1. Human soul and God.
    1. Saved by grace through faith.
    2. How does faith work?
I love my wife—priority.
1. She is the core/center of my responsibilities.
  1. I need structure.
    1. Public Journal/accountability
Job with hours to aid me on this trajectory.
1. Not ideal, but blessed.
  1. I work nights and days.
  2. Best option at the moment.
    1. Aim for only nights if available.
    2. Or learn how to write, like, very good!
Psychology Professor—Jordan Peterson.
1. Mentor/Maps of Meaning/(biblical skeptic?)
  1. I think Jordan’s strategy to understand ‘meaning’ is awesome!
My personality— understand and improve.
1. 1 Peter 3:15 (but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;)
  1. There is a hope in the personality of a believer.
    1. My personality is wild; I want to understand it.
Skill/s to master:
1. Writing.
2. Videography.
Goal/s…
- Is there more than one?
  - Where is the sacred ground?
    - What is this going to do?
      - How will this be effective?
        What is the sacrifice?
        Will the practice, preach?
        What does it mean?
        When is it time to plant?
The seed is to sanctify Christ as Lord in my heart.

Time 0439—Just completed a couple scheduled devotionals (P1-V15 and P1-V16). Now that, that work is prepped; it frees me up to get creative with this public journal. The idea is to write in a way that tells a story, a true story, but with a twist. The reason this journal is public is to benefit both the writer, but more importantly, the reader. And I can’t have you bored out of your mind. So let me go get some more coffee real quick as I think about you in this story of ours.

Time 0519—I kid you not, as soon as I grabbed my coffee cup to head downstairs, Laura says to me, “Are you getting coffee?” Mind you, she has no idea what I’d just written, the room is dark (other than the candle next to me), and she couldn’t see that I’d grabbed my cup (because a black fabric blocks her view as it hangs from our ceiling nearly the length of our desk). This might be prophetic—said facetiously. I asked her how she knew I was going to get coffee, and she says “I don’t know.” I mean, that’s just providential!

Anyway, as I thought of you while getting coffee; I was inspired by the written word of God, to have a title for our story:

^_THE _TASTE _^OF ^IMMORTALITY

Time 0911—We live in the realm of the eternal, this isn’t a fictional story. There are fictional names to real characters in mine and your stories, but our land of the eternal is very real—nonfictional (actually occurring) as we live today. There are enemies and friendlies that move all around and about us, so listen closely as we venture into the world of the eternal. And experience the taste of immortality.

Time 2111—There is a character by the name of WarCof, also known by his initials (WC). It’s getting late; I have less than 3 hours. The time is dark, evil is lurking. WarCof is an image-bearer of the Light, an eternal being known as the—Wonderful Counselor. The earth at this time of our lives, is also know as—the world of wrath. This world of wrath is presently an age of what feels like an eternal hell; these earthly beings are wearing face masks, carrying hand sanitizers and disinfectants, maintaining social distancing to prevent the spread of the inevitable consequence of sin—death.

Time 2145—Laura and I (Nathan), decided to go out into the world of wrath between the gap of 0911-2111; for nearly 6 hours, we were out at a shopping center called NorthPark; we exchanged clothing items that were the wrong fit for us at the H&M shop, and found a gift for a close relative. The shopping center was packed with people, and as Laura and I walked a couple laps, the strangest thing started to happen with my eyes.

At first, all I saw was gray, the color gray was everywhere; the shops, the people, the merchandise, everything with a physical form was gray. I blinked a few times, no change. I closed my eyes and rubbed each of them simultaneously with my hands, when they opened, I met WarCof. WarCof strangely appeared in this magnificent color of white/purple, his figure wasn’t that attractive, but built like a man. He was about my height (5’7″), but couldn’t figure his weight, it wouldn’t register in my brain. His voice made a sharp deep powerful sound, although, it felt gentle to my ears—a perfect tone.

“Look”, he said. And when I did, I saw everything perfectly still. Nothing moved, no sound was made, no air was felt, and the people and their children completely frozen in their place. I saw families in mid step, mouths unmoved although stuck open from mid conversation, a kid frozen in mid air from leaping off a bench. Police officers… well… nothing too unique there, they were already posed.

But here is where it gets interesting.

As I continued to look … two distinct colors began to emerge specific to their gender, male and female; the women have this color combination of red/orange giving off this beautiful fiery glow, their bodies are transparent as the color intensifies at their core, their heart burns an intense deep red; the color of the men glow an amazing blue/green, and a deep cold dark blue intensifies at the heart, exactly the same way the deep red does for the women. Then my eyes shift to gaze upon my wife, I nearly fall to the ground ducking; she has this froze pissed off face, it’s actually quite cute and funny.

Laura burns with a different color than the other women I see. Her heart burns with that same intense deep red, but where there is a fiery orange for the other women… Laura has a gorgeous purple similar to that of WarCof. “Why”, I say to WarCof, but then everything unfreezes. WarCof is disappeared, gone. Everything returned as though nothing happened, but something remained…

THE TASTE OF IMMORTALITY

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STRANGE WOMAN

ADULTERESS

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CROOKED PATHS

DEVIOUS WAYS

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DELIGHT IN EVIL

PERVERSITY OF EVIL

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THOSE WHO LEAVE

WAYS OF DARKNESS

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WAY OF EVIL

PERVERSE THINGS

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DISCRETION WILL GUARD

UNDERSTANDING WILL WATCH

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WISDOM WILL ENTER

KNOWLEDGE WILL BE

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RIGHTEOUSNESS

JUSTICE

EQUITY

you will discern

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PATHS

JUSTICE

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SOUND WISDOM

SHIELD

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Chapter 2

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P1-V33

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P1-V32

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P1-V31

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P1-V30

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P1-V29

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P1-V28

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