God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth | P3-V19

March 3, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. ¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. ²⁰ By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew.

You know since the beginning of when we ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the discovery of our earth and heavens has been through an experience of mourning, crying, and pain. Do you look forward to the time when we will experience the wisdom of these words by Revelation?

^21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, ⁴ and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

It’s crazy to think about our life as striving after wind, the Preacher would write in Ecclesiastes:

^1:12I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.¹³And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.¹⁴I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. ¹⁵What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted. ¹⁶I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind. ¹⁸Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.

See even the Preacher acknowledges back in his day an experience of increasing pain that testifies of our present experiences, and were it not for Christ—increasing pain would be our doom. But what did Christ say about Solomon in the gospel according to Luke?

^11:30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹ The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Jesus Christ is that greater wisdom that Solomon seemed to be searching for, but could not grasp because it did not belong to his time nor to him. God had already made up His mind on Who the Son of Man was going to be, and He came born of a virgin, the Son of God, our Lamb of Sacrifice, the Savior of the world—Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus founded the earth and established the heavens as the true and only Gardener of His universe. According to the gospel I believe in, Jesus is standing at the right hand of God mediating each and every one of our prayers to a Holy God, our Father in Heaven.

I’m SO looking forward to my day of judgment and hope you are too because Jesus is the author and finisher of my faith, and His Word does not return void!

¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens.

RESOURCE

Proverbs 3 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; ² For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. ³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; ¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. ¹¹ My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, ¹² For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. ¹³ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. ¹⁴ For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. ¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. ²⁰ By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. ²¹ My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, ²² So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. ²³ Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. ²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; ²⁶ For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught. ²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it, ”When you have it with you. ²⁹ Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. ³⁰ Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. ³¹ Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. ³² For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright. ³³ The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. ³⁴ Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. ³⁵ The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V19) Commentary
4. It is a participation of the happiness of God himself, for wisdom is his everlasting glory and blessedness, v. 19, 20. This should make us in love with the wisdom and understanding which God gives, that the Lord by wisdom founded the earth, so that it cannot be removed, nor can ever fail of answering all the ends of its creation, to which it is admirably and unexceptionably fitted. By understanding he has likewise established the heavens and directed all the motions of them in the best manner. The heavenly bodies are vast, yet there is no flaw in them-numerous, yet no disorder in them-the motion rapid, yet no wear or tear; the depths of the sea are broken up, and thence come the waters beneath the firmament, and the clouds drop down the dews, the waters from above the firmament, and all this by the divine wisdom and knowledge; therefore happy is the man that finds wisdom, for he will thereby be thoroughly furnished for every good word and work. Christ is that Wisdom, by whom the worlds were made and still consist; happy therefore are those to whom he is made of God wisdom, for he has wherewithal to make good all the foregoing promises of long life, riches, and honour; for all the wealth of heaven, earth, and seas, is his.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

She is a tree of life | P3-V18

March 1, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. ¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens.

Good morning, it’s still early here in Dallas Tx; the sky is dark, street lights are lit; a glistening mirror of wetness covers the surface of the ground as though to be a dew, but it’s no dew; in a few hours … sunrise. There is a graceful thunder rumbling outside, although, at times, the thunder is strong enough you can feel the vibration of its sound; cars all around our neighborhood are sounding the alarm as though being broken into simultaneously; as the seconds count, a subtle rainfall begins only to end in minutes thereafter, but not before the sound of another … rumble.

You know what; I think that might have nothing to do with today’s devotional, but it felt good when writing it out, perhaps because I love stormy weather and nonfiction stories are the best when a storm is involved—that holds more weight than my opinion, okay, don’t judge me, it’s fact.

Now let’s watch how that storm navigates into wisdom being a tree of life in the midst of our impending death. Don’t be discouraged by the storms you experience in your life (which is much easier written than practiced in real time); no matter what that “storm” is described as for you, it’s not the end according to our gospel if we are holding fast to the tree of life that is wisdom. Hold fast with me. She is our experience of happiness. Wisdom is a lady that blesses us with the reward of gladness in the face of adversity because we’re alive in Christ our Lord, Jesus. Jesus is the salvation of our souls, and no amount of sin is capable of removing that promise upon belief in Jesus Christ.

However, the gospel warns us about people choosing to remain in their sin of disobedience to this gospel. To believe in Jesus means to have wisdom as our tree of life that seals us in the book of life, but if we’ve continued in our sin after claiming to be Christian then we’ve missed the mark of conviction that secures our promise through faith. Jesus tells us to go and sin no more. It is by grace through faith we are saved by the work of the cross, not our cross, but the cross of Jesus Christ. What that means is that the Holy Spirit of God will help us live in obedience to the gospel through faith as we learn more and more through the discipline of divine inspiration—the Word of God at work in the heart, mind, soul, and strength of our conversion (born again).

Hold fast to what wisdom teaches us in the letter to the Hebrews:

^6:17In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. ¹⁹This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, ²⁰where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Whenever we hear to understand this gospel, there is an experience of conviction that pierces the conscience of a person. That experience is the truth said in love by almighty God, telling us about our sin condition that died with Christ Jesus, the Son of God; Jesus made peace with God our Father (God had poured out His wrath on our sin that His only begotten Son took on our behalf) when He [Jesus] was crucified to death for our salvation—which means we are to be resurrected as a new creature—born again with a seal of promise, our hope set before us as an anchor of the soul—eternal life. So if you’re still in sin while claiming Christian, it’s time to repent and be saved to a living purpose rather than a dead one in Hell.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.

God our Father in Heaven through the mighty Name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus. I pray for me and my friends reading this devotional that might not know the glory of Your Lady Wisdom that blesses us with the memory of Your law and commands for long life and length of days and peace added to us. Thank you so much for sending Your only Begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins, and I pray we will take hold of the tree of life and hold her fast. In Jesus Name … Amen.

RESOURCE

Proverbs 3 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org | biblegateway.com
¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; ² For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. ³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; ¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. ¹¹ My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, ¹² For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. ¹³ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. ¹⁴ For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. ¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. ²⁰ By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. ²¹ My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, ²² So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. ²³ Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. ²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; ²⁶ For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught. ²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it, ”When you have it with you. ²⁹ Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. ³⁰ Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. ³¹ Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. ³² For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright. ³³ The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. ³⁴ Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. ³⁵ The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V18) Commentary
3. It is the happiness of paradise (v. 18): She is a tree of life. True grace is that to the soul which the tree of life would have been, from which our first parents were shut out for eating of the forbidden tree. It is a seed of immortality, a well of living waters, springing up to life eternal. It is an earnest of the New Jerusalem, in the midst of which is the tree of life, Rev. 22:2; 2:7. Those that feed and feast on this heavenly wisdom shall not only be cured by it of every fatal malady, but shall find an antidote against age and death; they shall eat and live for ever.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Her ways are pleasant | P3-V17

February 27, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.

In my experience, the ways of wisdom are pleasant when learning to understand the nature of God by His Word. We can experience the meaning of pleasantness when walking with God in the cool of the morning, seeing the birds in the trees awake and alive for the joy set before them singing a song of praise to God (at least that’s my interpretation of their sound when chirping about the making of a melody). Although my lips may not move, my heart joins them as a hum to break my silence. The interpretation of my hum is an agreement with the encompassing sound of worship to God, a choice given me through the pleasantness of wisdom.

What is your experience to the pleasantness of wisdom?

Peace—is such a remarkable experience. I’m so thankful for peace! Even when on the most darkest of paths, if wisdom is my constant reward, peace is with me. What is there to fear if God is with us, nothing! To believe in God through faith in Jesus is the constant reward of wisdom in the innermost parts of the soul. We can experience peace in the face of temptations and the most difficult of tests when we listen to the rewards of wisdom. There is power in this truth, but the discipline to acquire it is difficult to bear because this worlds hates this wisdom. The world hates what wisdom means; believe in name of Jesus for salvation. No matter what paths we find ourselves on, without faith in Jesus, it’s impossible to please God. To have peace means to share the good news of the gospel. To have wisdom means to live a life that testifies to your belief in the gospel.

Do your paths reveal the peace of the gospel?

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V17) Commentary
2. It is a true happiness; for it is inclusive of, and equivalent to, all those things which are supposed to make men happy, v. 16, 17. Wisdom is here represented as a bright and bountiful queen, reaching forth gifts to her faithful and loving subjects, and offering them to all that will submit to her government.

(1.) Is length of days a blessing? Yes, the most valuable; life includes all good, and therefore she offers that in her right hand. Religion puts us into the best methods of prolonging life, entitles us to the promises of it, and, though our days on earth should be no more than our neighbour’s, yet it will secure to us everlasting life in a better world.
(2.) Are riches and honour accounted blessings? They are so, and them she reaches out with her left hand. For, as she is ready to embrace those that submit to her with both arms, so she is ready to give out to them with both hands. They shall have the wealth of this world as far as Infinite Wisdom sees good for them; while the true riches, by which men are rich towards God, are secured to them. Nor is there any honour, by birth or preferment, comparable to that which attends religion; it makes the righteous more excellent than his neighbour, recommends men to God, commands respect and veneration with all the sober part of mankind, and will in the other world make those that are now buried in obscurity to shine forth as the sun.
(3.) Is pleasure courted as much as any thing? It is so, and it is certain that true piety has in it the greatest true pleasure. Her ways are ways of pleasantness; the ways in which she has directed us to walk are such as we shall find abundance of delight and satisfaction in. All the enjoyments and entertainments of sense are not comparable to the pleasure which gracious souls have in communion with God and doing good. That which is the only right way to bring us to our journey’s end we must walk in, fair or foul, pleasant or unpleasant; but the way of religion, as it is the right way, so it is a pleasant way; it is smooth and clean, and strewed with roses: All her paths are peace. There is not only peace in the end, but peace in the way; not only in the way of religion in general, but in the particular paths of that way, in all her paths, all the several acts, instances, and duties of it. One does not embitter what the other sweetens, as it is with the allays of this world; but they are all peace, not only sweet, but safe. The saints enter into peace on this side heaven, and enjoy a present sabbatism.

God and Coffee, Journal, Nathan Dooley

NATHAN’S JOURNAL 2021 — Winter Storm Uri | VI

February 21, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

I’ve missed you people! Or well I’ve missed the meditative prayerful thoughts of you people when writing! There is a time for everything the Preacher says, and it was time for my writing to be on hold during last week’s winter storm “Uri” for the care of my family. But we’re okay! We’re alive … sort of!

I’ve had a little longer than a week to think about some things, ‘thinking’ can be quite dangerous if not spiritually healthy, and by healthy, I mean, trusting in the Holy Spirit of God to guide, even and especially when nothing makes sense: Like how does – “The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages scheduling on an electric grid carrying 90 percent of Texas’ load.” – resolve the issue of people freezing to death if the math forecasts dead cold temperatures upon us (said playfully to mean a very serious problem)? Not that I’m complaining, necessarily, because my faith is in Christ my Lord and Savior while being Texas proud, but being without power intermittently and for longer than 24hrs in freezing temperatures does cause pause, not to mention caring for someone sick—in a COVID stigmatized nation—to “help” our situation. So … needless to say; I’ve been thinking … “time to go off grid?!”

I did actually think that though, to go off grid, and even brainstormed with Laura (my wife) on how to go about doing that while camped out in our living room with my mother-in-law to try and stay warm. We had candles lit all around us like we’re performing some sort of witch craft or something—”you should’ve seen it! We made my mother-in-law levitate off the couch in subzero temperatures and everything! It was awesome!” (I’m definitely getting in trouble for that joke). But while freezing to death, decided to reach out to every Christian Texan on the cost of going off grid as a way of protest … unfortunately … it would ultimately mean war. That’s me confessing how my thoughts can take shape to form dangerous ideas in the wake of difficult circumstances if not governed by the Holy Spirit of God.

Anyway, apart from uneducated thoughts, my Christian brothers and sisters did take great care of us while in the midst of this Uri storm. I’m eternally grateful for Christian community! Going on 24+ hrs with no power, a Christian family of close Christian friends invited us into their warm home until our power was restored and remained on. They even took us in at the risk of one of us having COVID.

No one should deny the magnificent beauty through a costly storm as the language of it’s existence declares the scientific presence of God.

This storm called life is not over, and thank God for that! The experience of being alive should not be taken for granted, nor used to deny it’s Author. God is with us no matter what storm we are going through, but will the person reading this trust in the testimony of that truth? Man, I hope so! Jesus died, was buried, and rose on the third day taking away the sin of the world, defeating death! The Word of God is declaring His coming judgement, and if you died today … are you ready? I’m excited to write again, thank You Lord! I’ll leave you with this scripture to think about:

^{John 16:7} But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; ¹¹and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

“Truth without love is ice cold.”

_{^{—Nathan Dooley}}

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Long life is in her right hand in her left hand are riches and honor | P3-V16

February 13, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.

This verse from our lady wisdom is assuring us of a truth that is ours for understanding—by God, through Christ Jesus, the Word of God—that helps us keep long life, riches and honor.

Imagine your club, your squad, your gang, your people, that you know and trust. Do you have them in mind? Go up to them and tell them to hold out their hands in front of them, palms facing heaven, and say, “In your right hand is given long life.” And then, with them still holding out their hands as though to receive something, say—”In your left hand is given riches and honor.” Then tell each of them to grab their neighbor’s hand at their right and left, form a circle, and say:

“The nails that pierced the hands of the Son of God who took away the sin of the world is alive by His Spirit here and now according to the glory of God. And in His right hand—eternal life; while in His left—riches and honor. Jesus is in the glory of God with hands working the sanctification of the new covenant in us as the gift of the Holy Spirit; death is defeated, and long life is recognized in the resurrection of the dead, but in the kingdom of heaven—not hell (If we’ve accepted the truth of the gospel, the experience of our salvation in Jesus Christ while in our flesh and blood because flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom of God—^{1 Cor 15:50}Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.). We share in the suffering of our Lord and Savior which is our riches and honor to celebrate as people are drawn to believe in Jesus by this faithful work and service of God for salvation.”

The words that testify of Jesus are written in more books than what the bible holds, but ONE message is clear according to the Scriptures—Jesus is the Word of God, and is going to return again.

^{Luke 21:25} “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, ²⁶ men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. ²⁸ But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V16) Commentary
2. It is a true happiness; for it is inclusive of, and equivalent to, all those things which are supposed to make men happy, v. 16, 17. Wisdom is here represented as a bright and bountiful queen, reaching forth gifts to her faithful and loving subjects, and offering them to all that will submit to her government.

(1.) Is length of days a blessing? Yes, the most valuable; life includes all good, and therefore she offers that in her right hand. Religion puts us into the best methods of prolonging life, entitles us to the promises of it, and, though our days on earth should be no more than our neighbour’s, yet it will secure to us everlasting life in a better world.
(2.) Are riches and honour accounted blessings? They are so, and them she reaches out with her left hand. For, as she is ready to embrace those that submit to her with both arms, so she is ready to give out to them with both hands. They shall have the wealth of this world as far as Infinite Wisdom sees good for them; while the true riches, by which men are rich towards God, are secured to them. Nor is there any honour, by birth or preferment, comparable to that which attends religion; it makes the righteous more excellent than his neighbour, recommends men to God, commands respect and veneration with all the sober part of mankind, and will in the other world make those that are now buried in obscurity to shine forth as the sun.
(3.) Is pleasure courted as much as any thing? It is so, and it is certain that true piety has in it the greatest true pleasure. Her ways are ways of pleasantness; the ways in which she has directed us to walk are such as we shall find abundance of delight and satisfaction in. All the enjoyments and entertainments of sense are not comparable to the pleasure which gracious souls have in communion with God and doing good. That which is the only right way to bring us to our journey’s end we must walk in, fair or foul, pleasant or unpleasant; but the way of religion, as it is the right way, so it is a pleasant way; it is smooth and clean, and strewed with roses: All her paths are peace. There is not only peace in the end, but peace in the way; not only in the way of religion in general, but in the particular paths of that way, in all her paths, all the several acts, instances, and duties of it. One does not embitter what the other sweetens, as it is with the allays of this world; but they are all peace, not only sweet, but safe. The saints enter into peace on this side heaven, and enjoy a present sabbatism.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

She is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire compares with her | P3-V15

February 12, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.

^{Eze 28:12-19} — “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. “You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared. “You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. “You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you. “By the abundance of your trade You were internally filled with violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane From the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the stones of fire. “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you. “By the multitude of your iniquities, In the unrighteousness of your trade You profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you; It has consumed you, And I have turned you to ashes on the earth In the eyes of all who see you. “All who know you among the peoples Are appalled at you; You have become terrified And you will cease to be forever.”’”

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V15) Commentary
II. What the happiness of those is who do find it.

1. It is a transcendent happiness, more than can be found in the wealth of this world, if we had ever so much of it, v. 14, 15. It is not only a surer, but a more gainful merchandise to trade for wisdom, for Christ, and grace, and spiritual blessings, than for silver, and gold, and rubies. Suppose a man to have got these in abundance, nay, to have all the things he can desire of this world (and who is it that ever had?), yet,
- (1.) All this would not purchase heavenly wisdom; no, it would utterly be contemned; it cannot be gotten for gold, Job 28:15, etc.
- (2.) All this would not countervail the want of heavenly wisdom nor be the ransom of a soul lost by its own folly.
- (3.) All this would not make a man half so happy, no, not in this world, as those are who have true wisdom, though they have none of all these things.
- (4.) Heavenly wisdom will procure that for us, and secure that to us, which silver, and gold, and rubies, will not be the purchase of.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than find gold | P3-V14

February 11, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹⁴ For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold.

This profit of wisdom is truly foreign in nature because who in their “right mind”—speaking from a worldly perspective—would die for such a claim as faith in Jesus Christ to be the living Son of God? When I think of silver or gold; I think of what is tangibly profitable in this world that purchases all sorts of desires and pleasures. What would it be like indeed, to possess the responsibility of a cooperating nation given to freedom; a freedom built on the backs of invented machinery that our ancestors sweat, bled, and died to… see? No. We’ve missed the mark indeed, in fact, we’re way off the mark! My ancestors died that we would learn of their faith to live and have love. To work hard in honor of Jesus Christ, a labor worthy to strive for … a living hope!

The value of wisdom is conviction, it’s in the book of Hebrews 11:1—Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. This is that profit she [wisdom] is speaking of, a profit powered by eternal life. Jesus is the profit of this wisdom by way of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer to sanctify Christ in our hearts. There is a profit of sweetness at the taste of our favorite ice cream; a profit of favor at the taste of belief in the Son of God. The most magnificently good experience on this earth is a life span of 120 years lived in the obedience of service to God, an obedience of daily death. We die daily for the sake of the gospel that testifies to the living One. We’ve died, but faith produces the profit of wisdom that changes our state of being into a living hope that preaches to the nations—the only true God is Jesus!

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V14) Commentary
II. What the happiness of those is who do find it.

1. It is a transcendent happiness, more than can be found in the wealth of this world, if we had ever so much of it, v. 14, 15. It is not only a surer, but a more gainful merchandise to trade for wisdom, for Christ, and grace, and spiritual blessings, than for silver, and gold, and rubies. Suppose a man to have got these in abundance, nay, to have all the things he can desire of this world (and who is it that ever had?), yet,
- (1.) All this would not purchase heavenly wisdom; no, it would utterly be contemned; it cannot be gotten for gold, Job 28:15, etc.
- (2.) All this would not countervail the want of heavenly wisdom nor be the ransom of a soul lost by its own folly.
- (3.) All this would not make a man half so happy, no, not in this world, as those are who have true wisdom, though they have none of all these things.
- (4.) Heavenly wisdom will procure that for us, and secure that to us, which silver, and gold, and rubies, will not be the purchase of.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding | P3-V13

February 10, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹³ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.

Lord, I’m so very thankful for the wisdom which You give for our understanding. I say ‘our‘ to mean those who’ve entrusted their lives to You even to death, knowing with full and complete confidence that You are alive today as I write this devotional out. You are our treasure of wisdom that gains our understanding of the gift You’ve given. The gift of eternal life in the Holy Spirit – of which no one can purchase, but can choose to accept and keep. And the application of this gift is revealed in a persons’ heart of belief in the gospel of God. We have found our treasure, the treasure of Jesus; Jesus is the glory of Your Name; Holy is Your Name. God, in honor of Your Name, I pray on behalf of those who might read this devotional; I pray Your treasure upon them, the treasure of wisdom, that we will gain in understanding of Your will, and knowledge of Your Word for the sake of Your Love.

Energy transforms by a process of conversion; by Your grace through faith in the energy of Your Word—that is to say Christ is the Lord, Jesus—and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, change my state of sin and death to righteousness and glory. Rom 10:8-10 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, 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; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Oh Lord, make my heart believe and my mouth confess, so that all will know this experience of salvation. Jesus, You are all the evidence anyone needs. I pray those who do not believe will change their mind, and believe in the truth of You.

^{Mat 10:32-3}³—“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V13) Commentary
Solomon had pressed us earnestly to seek diligently for wisdom (ch. 2:1, etc.), and had assured us that we should succeed in our sincere and constant pursuits. But the question is, What shall we get by it when we have found it? Prospect of advantage is the spring and spur of industry; he therefore shows us how much it will be to our profit, laying this down for an unquestionable truth, Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, that true wisdom which consists in the knowledge and love of God, and an entire conformity to all the intentions of his truths, providences, and laws. Now observe,

I. What it is to find wisdom so as to be made happy by it.
- 1. We must get it. He is the happy man who, having found it, makes it his own, gets both an interest in it and the possession of it, who draws out understanding (so the word it), that is,
  - (1.) Who derives it from God. Having it not in himself, he draws it with the bucket of prayer from the fountain of all wisdom, who gives liberally.
  - (2.) Who takes pains for it, as he does who draws ore out of the mine. It if do not come easily, we must put the more strength to draw it.
  - (3.) Who improves in it, who, having some understanding, draws it out by growing in knowledge and making five talents ten.
  - (4.) Who does good with it, who draws out from the stock he has, as wine from the vessel, and communicates to others, for their instruction, things new and old. That is well got, and to good purpose, that is thus used to good purpose.
- 2. We must trade for it. We read here of the merchandise of wisdom, which intimates,
  - (1.) That we must make it our business, and not a by-business, as the merchant bestows the main of his thoughts and time upon his merchandise.
  - (2.) That we must venture all in it, as a stock in trade, and be willing to part with all for it. This is that pearl of great price which, when we have found it, we must willingly sell all for the purchase of, Mt. 13:45, 46. Buy the truth, (Prov. 23:23); he does not say at what rate, because we must buy it at any rate rather than miss it.
- 3. We must lay hold on it as we lay hold on a good bargain when it is offered to us, which we do the more carefully if there be danger of having it taken out of our hands. We must apprehend with all our might, and put forth our utmost vigour in the pursuit of it, lay hold on all occasions to improve in it, and catch at the least of its dictates.
- 4. We must retain it. It is not enough to lay hold on wisdom, but we must keep our hold, hold it fast, with a resolution never to let it go, but to persevere in the ways of wisdom to the end. We must sustain it (so some read it), must embrace it with all our might, as we do that which we would sustain. We must do all we can to support the declining interests of religion in the places where we live.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For whom the Lord loves He reproves even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights | P3-V12

February 9, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹² For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Oh Lord, how can I compare this experience of reproof? The correction is spiritual in nature, different from the discipline of a human parent. I can feel the force of temptation to sin while experiencing the wisdom to resist. Lord, the heart of pleasure is teasing, and the mind of reason is clouded. I see all encompassing options to do what Your wisdom is teaching me to resist; I’m enlightened to the knowledge of the consequence, and yet, I desire still, what is contrary to the correction.

Ah, okay!

I see!

I remember what the Holy Spirit taught Peter, and Peter spoke saying: … ^{1 Peter 3:15} but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts … . Being resurrected from death to life to serve the leaving God in eternal life by grace through faith is a necessary process for understanding the knowledge of truth and love. Lord, keep reproving me, please keep correcting me. Help me. Help us. I love you. Jesus, thank you for the gift of our salvation to be reconciled to God our Father in this way of sanctification. Change me, Lord. Perfect us by Your Word, the Word of God, the Word that You are in us. I pray we will endure. Amen.

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V12) Commentary
2. What will be our comfort when we are in affliction.

(1.) That it is a divine correction; it is the chastening of the Lord, which, as it is a reason why we should submit to it (for it is folly to contend with a God of incontestable sovereignty and irresistible power), so it is a reason why we should be satisfied in it; for we may be sure that a God of unspotted purity does us no wrong and that a God of infinite goodness means us no hurt. It is from God, and therefore must not be despised; for a slight put upon the messenger is an affront to him that sends him. It is from God, and therefore we must not be weary of it, for he knows our frame, both what we need and what we can bear.
(2.) That it is a fatherly correction; it comes not from his vindictive justice as a Judge, but his wise affection as a Father. The father corrects the son whom he loves, nay, and because he loves him and desires he may be wise and good. He delights in that in his son which is amiable and agreeable, and therefore corrects him for the prevention and cure of that which would be a deformity to him, and an alloy to his delight in him. Thus God hath said, As many as I love I rebuke and chasten, Rev. 3:19. This is a great comfort to God’s children, under their afflictions,
- [1.] That they not only consist with, but flow from, covenant-love.
- [2.] That they are so far from doing them any real hurt that, by the grace of God working with them, they do a great deal of good, and are happy means of their satisfaction.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

My son do not reject the discpline of the Lord or loathe His reproof | P3-V11

February 8, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹¹ My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof,

Lord, here we are again, a time to be devoted. And in this devotion, You remind me of the beginning; when mankind was created. You’ve taken me back to when Adam awoke to life by Your breath—^{Genesis 2:5}Now no shrub of the field was yet on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. ⁶But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. ⁷Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person. So I close my eyes, and breathe.

When my eyes are closed, and I breathe in the air … there is only darkness. I can feel my body expand as the air You breathe enters my body, my eyes open and I see the wonder of Your majesty. I experience Your presence, but have yet to hear Your voice. And then … there it is; I hear You; I comprehend our relationship and recognize Who You are in me. My Father. You give me an environment with a warning, a command, to eat from “… any tree of the garden …; ¹⁷but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” Everything was good, but being alone.

¹⁸Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” And so You gave me love, a woman, and everything was complete. Then sin entered the heart of what was created to be good. Knowledge is inevitable, but evil is cunning, and death has reigned from millennia to millennia since that day of sin committed by mankind—^{1 Timothy 2:13}For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. ¹⁴And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a wrongdoer [underline bold mine]. I can feel the law of faith discipline me as a son, enlightening me by the testimony of Your Word made flesh for the salvation of souls.

My conscience bears witness to Your work in me, the process of sanctification is an experience foreign to the mind of a human. But to the mind of the resurrected, it’s a taste of home. Oh Lord, I pray for all to be saved by grace through faith in Your Name, to the glory of God our Father.

^{Hebrews 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? ¹⁰For 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.¹² Therefore, 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. ¹⁴Pursue 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.

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V11) Commentary
III. We must conduct ourselves aright under our afflictions, v. 11, 12. This the apostle quotes (Heb. 12:5), and calls it an exhortation which speaks unto us as unto children, with the authority and affection of a father. We are here in a world of troubles. Now observe,

1. What must be our care when we are in affliction. We must neither despise it nor be weary of it. His exhortation, before, was to those that are rich and in prosperity, here to those that are poor and in adversity.
- (1.) We must not despise an affliction, be it ever so light and short, as if it were not worth taking notice of, or as if it were not sent on an errand and therefore required no answer. We must not be stocks, and stones, and stoics, under our afflictions, insensible of them, hardening ourselves under them, and concluding we can easily get through them without God.
- (2.) We must not be weary of an affliction, be it ever so heavy and long, not faint under it, so the apostle renders it, not be dispirited, dispossessed of our own souls, or driven to despair, or to use any indirect means for our relief and the redress of our grievances. We must not think that the affliction either presses harder or continues longer than is meet, not conclude that deliverance will never come because it does not come so soon as we expect it.
2. What will be our comfort when we are in affliction.
- (1.) That it is a divine correction; it is the chastening of the Lord, which, as it is a reason why we should submit to it (for it is folly to contend with a God of incontestable sovereignty and irresistible power), so it is a reason why we should be satisfied in it; for we may be sure that a God of unspotted purity does us no wrong and that a God of infinite goodness means us no hurt. It is from God, and therefore must not be despised; for a slight put upon the messenger is an affront to him that sends him. It is from God, and therefore we must not be weary of it, for he knows our frame, both what we need and what we can bear.
- (2.) That it is a fatherly correction; it comes not from his vindictive justice as a Judge, but his wise affection as a Father. The father corrects the son whom he loves, nay, and because he loves him and desires he may be wise and good. He delights in that in his son which is amiable and agreeable, and therefore corrects him for the prevention and cure of that which would be a deformity to him, and an alloy to his delight in him. Thus God hath said, As many as I love I rebuke and chasten, Rev. 3:19. This is a great comfort to God’s children, under their afflictions,
  - [1.] That they not only consist with, but flow from, covenant-love.
  - [2.] That they are so far from doing them any real hurt that, by the grace of God working with them, they do a great deal of good, and are happy means of their satisfaction.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine | P3-V10

February 7, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.

I love this wisdom!

The previous devotional was—at least the very least, meant to be—more focused on the giving of our personal development (that reflects our belief system and faith portion) first, to God; now lets focus on the Person of God and the increase given as result of applying this wisdom.

As we make a practice of faithfully giving the first portion of our ‘gross pay’ income to our God (church, family [orphans/widows\etc.], homelessness, etc.; Christian organizations), is a testimony to our spiritual position and health because we serve a living God that means to give us the good of Himself for an eternal life with Him through His only Son, Christ our Lord, Yahweh.

God our Father gave us the ultimate first of all His produce

We couldn’t pray for a better produce from our God and Father, than His Son, and He is Who we have every moment of everyday in all things we’ve been blessed to experience.

^{Philippians 3:7}But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, ⁹and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

^{Hebrew 2:9}But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. ¹⁰For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

^{1 Corinthians 8:5}For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, ⁶yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. ⁷However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

So watch how God gives the increase as we continue in our faithful obedience to His Son, our Lord and Savior, the Messiah, Jesus. Lets put this wisdom to the test by heeding its instruction to give the first of all our produce, and trusting God with the nature of Christ our Lord as increase in our spiritual development … to be more like Christ, from glory to glory.

^{2 Corinthians 3:17}Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V10) Commentary
2. A promise, which makes it our interest to serve God with our estates. It is the way to make a little much, and much more; it is the surest and safest method of thriving: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty. He does not say thy bags, but thy barns, not thy wardrobe replenished, but thy presses: “God shall bless thee with an increase of that which is for use, not for show or ornament-for spending and laying out, not for hoarding and laying up.’ Those that do good with what they have shall have more to do more good with. Note, If we make our worldly estates serviceable to our religion we shall find our religion very serviceable to the prosperity of our worldly affairs. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is and most of the comfort of it. We mistake if we think that giving will undo us and make us poor. No, giving for God’s honour will make us rich, Hag. 2:19. What we gave we have.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce | P3-V9

February 6, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

⁹ Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;

“Our Father in Heaven … Holy … is Your Name.” When we look from the ground to the stars, the mirror to our scars; the idea of wealth feels real when the value is us. The first of our produce should be a prayer in faith, to God. The value that produces currency, is not money; it’s belief. And so the next time you read the letters on a dollar bill, take notice how we’ve went from “IN GOD WE TRUST” to ‘DIGITAL‘ because that precious reminder of trusting God is long past due. The first of every breath, every thought, every experience, is to honor our Lord and Savior, Christ the Son of God, Jesus. It could be that our children become leaders of the most wealthy on the face of the planet, every person subject to their wisdom, their every decision, but if they have not God? All of the achievements to success and wealth will have amounted to a debt of eternal hell. I thank God for the prayer of grace that has been ever present at the work of the cross, the heart of God; grace that stretches from the eternal east to the eternal west—^{Gen 3:24} So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. Jesus is our tree of life. There is no amount of wealth that will buy belief, it’s a matter of faith, it is the gift of God in Jesus Christ that canonizes our relationship to God our Father in Heaven (not the Roman Catholic Church or any other Church than the One Jesus said, and upon this rock I’ll build My church ^{Mat 16:18}). “Jesus, I trust you.”

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V9) Commentary
II. We must make a good use of our estates, and that is the way to increase them, v. 9, 10. Here is,

1. A precept which makes it our duty to serve God with our estates: Honour the Lord with thy substance. It is the end of our creation and redemption to honour God, to be to him for a name and a praise; we are no other way capable of serving him than in his honour. His honour we must show forth and the honour we have for him. We must honour him, not only with our bodies and spirits which are his, but with our estates too, for they also are his: we and all our appurtenances must be devoted to his glory. Worldly wealth is but poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it, and then, if ever, it becomes substantial. We must honour God,
- (1.) With our increase. Where riches increase we are tempted to honour ourselves (Deu. 8:17) and to set our hearts upon the world (Ps. 62:10); but the more God gives us the more we should study to honour him. It is meant of the increase of the earth, for we live upon annual products, to keep us in constant dependence on God.
- (2.) With all our increase. As God has prospered us in every thing, we must honour him. Our law will allow a prescription for a modus decimandi-a mode of tithing, but none de non decimando-for exemption from paying tithes.
- (3.) With the first-fruits of all, as Abel, Gen. 4:4. This was the law (Ex. 23:19), and the prophets, Mal. 3:10. God, who is the first and best, must have the first and best of every thing; his right is prior to all other, and therefore he must be served first. Note, It is our duty to make our worldly estates serviceable to our religion, to use them and the interest we have by them for the promoting of religion, to do good to the poor with what we have and abound in all works of piety and charity, devising liberal things.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

I Die Daily Devotional | III

February 5, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. I think about when the disciples were with Jesus before He was betrayed. Jesus found them sleeping; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

^{Matthew 26:39} And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰ And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

This encourages me to keep watch and pray without ceasing, that we don’t enter into temptation. The discipline of life change is exhausting, but with the Helper given as Jesus has promised … we can get through it. By faith, the Spirit of God is working in us to stay awake and watch. God is good.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones | P3-V8

February 4, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

⁸ It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

What will be healing to our bodies and refreshment to our bones?

… ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. …

We have a short life span as it is, so what is the significance of this wisdom? To experience healing and refreshment?

It’s difficult to separate from the reality of our impending death to believe in a life everlasting, but I write with the Lord being present in both mind and body which produces the reality of an impending life that is eternal.

Faith to trust in the Lord and lean not on our own understanding, to acknowledge Him as our straight and narrow path to God our Father, and to respect the nature of His design and glory is to experience our lives change in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. We will experience the ongoing discipline of our Holy God as the Father Who—loves us more than we can fathom as enough—produces in us this wisdom of healing and refreshment for time with Him in the eternal, having learned through the severity of disobedience—by the consequence of our present condition of death—enlightened by the grace of God to Jesus Christ for our salvation.

To experience healing and refreshment, is to experience the discipline of repentance from dead works to serving a living God. To repent, and serve God, is a choice made by people of faith in Christ our Lord, Jesus. Amen.

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V8) Commentary
2. A dutiful subjection: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil; take heed of doing any thing to offend him and to forfeit his care. To fear the Lord, so as to depart from evil, is true wisdom and understanding (Job 28:28); those that have it are truly wise, but self-denyingly so, and not wise in their own eyes. For our encouragement thus to live in the fear of God it is here promised (v. 8) that it shall be as serviceable even to the outward man as our necessary food. It will be nourishing: It shall be health to thy navel. It will be strengthening: It shall be marrow to thy bones. The prudence, temperance, and sobriety, the calmness and composure of mind, and the good government of the appetites and passions, which religion teaches, tend very much not only to the health of the soul, but to a good habit of body, which is very desirable, and without which our other enjoyments in this world are insipid. Envy is the rottenness of the bones; the sorrow of the world dries them; but hope and joy in God are marrow to them.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil | P3-V7

February 3, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

As I think about this verse am examining how it pertains to me personally as well as how it might pertain to you. I think of what it means to be wise from the eyes of Christ and His Church on earth.

I then think about the world and how my eyes were well acquainted to sin before experiencing the freedom from Hell by the wisdom of God in the work of His Son on the cross.

Being wise in our own eyes from the western part of our globe looks like the freedom to be happy in doing whatever makes us “happy”, no judgement or consequences, just … power and pleasure to be who we want to be. It looks like the world is on its way to self-sustainability for life apart from religion, or life apart from the conviction of truth—telling us how went wrong, are sinful, and in need of repentance until the return of Christ to make us Holy.

However, fearing the Lord by turning away from evil (repentance) reminds us of where our truth is … which is in us by faith if we pass the test. The test being that we are found securely fastened to the gospel promise of Christ, the Son of God, our salvation. Our faith producing in us glory to glory…

^{2 Corinthians 3:17}Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

^{2 Corinthians 13:5}Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V7) Commentary
We have here before us three exhortations, each of them enforced with a good reason:-

I. We must live in a humble and dutiful subjection to God and his government (v. 7): “Fear the Lord, as your sovereign Lord and Master; be ruled in every thing by your religion and subject to the divine will.’ This must be,
- 1. A humble subjection: Be not wise in thy own eyes. Note, There is not a greater enemy to the power of religion, and the fear of God in the heart, than conceitedness of our own wisdom. Those that have an opinion of their own sufficiency think it below them, and a disparagement to them, to take their measures from, much more to hamper themselves with, religion’s rules.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight | P3-V6

February 2, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Even when on a date with my wife or writing out this devotional, my heart means to acknowledge Him before anything else including myself. Although, of course, I miss the mark at times as result of practice not to miss the mark. But as I write this … can think of several perspectives throughout my day where I didn’t acknowledge God before voicing my perspective or behaving contrary to this verse’s’ instruction. And yet, with that thought, have reached the end of this day by the grace and mercy of God. His love is truly powerful, and I’m so very thankful. Even when my ways are about the day, whatever it holds, my faith in the path of Jesus is straight; Jesus has made my path straight because of my faith in Him, my salvation is secure. I pray this devotional will find you in this faith, steadfast and secure, a fellow heir of the kingdom of God while in the flesh of an alien dying on this earth for the hope that all will come to know our Lord and Savior, Christ (Messiah) the Priest King, Jesus.

^{John 14:5} Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” ⁶Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. ⁷ If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V6) Commentary
2. By prayer (v. 6): In all thy ways acknowledge God. We must not only in our judgment believe that there is an over-ruling hand of God ordering and disposing of us and all our affairs, but we must solemnly own it, and address ourselves to him accordingly. We must ask his leave, and not design any thing but what we are sure is lawful. We must ask his advice and beg direction from him, not only when the case is difficult (when we know not what to do, no thanks to us that we have our eyes up to him), but in every case, be it ever so plain, We must ask success of him, as those who know the race is not to the swift. We must refer ourselves to him as one from whom our judgment proceeds, and patiently, and with a holy indifferency, wait his award. In all our ways that prove direct, and fair, and pleasant, in which we gain our point to our satisfaction, we must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that prove cross and uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must acknowledge God with submission. Our eye must be ever towards God; to him we must, in every thing, make our requests known, as Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh, Jdg. 11:11. For our encouragement to do this, it is promised, “He shall direct thy paths, so that thy way shall be safe and good and the issue happy at last.’ Note, Those that put themselves under a divine guidance shall always have the benefit of it. God will give them that wisdom which is profitable to direct, so that they shall not turn aside into the by-paths of sin, and then will himself so wisely order the event that it shall be to their mind, or (which is equivalent) for their good. Those that faithfully follow the pillar of cloud and fire shall find that though it may lead them about it leads them the right way and will bring them to Canaan at last.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

I DIE DAILY DEVOTIONAL | II

February 1, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

I spent the time today on a date with my wife, and so thankful for that time. Getting right to it. Let’s see … how should today’s devotional be written? Hmmm… “Lord, I need you”.

Let me write to record as my mind shifts to focus on the Word of God.

I could quickly write on P3-V6, but then I think about the freedom of spontaneity and feel compelled to write my thoughts as Scripture shift into view and becomes my focus, but what does that mean?

Well … I guess that means a couple different things; I think of the Person of the Spirit, and of what Scripture means to teach me through the testimony of the gospel—because the gospel is Jesus. I then think about Jesus being alive according to His Word and where He is with God my Father.

I’m confident that Jesus lives in me by faith and therefore is doing an extraordinary work that was not initially detected until keying in on the psychological significance of repentance, and as I learn more and more about the psychological experience of the Spirit in me am capable of facing my fears about fears I didn’t even know I had for repentance to have it’s necessary affect of change—to the glory of God—in me.

^{Mat 11:}²⁰ — Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

As we can see from our gospel that Jesus denounces the cities—that His miracles were done—because they did not repent, so what does that mean for us today that believe in salvation through Jesus if we do not truly repent? Jesus gave us the answer from above (literally and figuratively).

If we are not truly repenting from sin although claim to believe in Christ, then are we truly believing in Jesus for salvation?

We do have the capacity to repent upon belief in Jesus because of the Word of God at work in us that believe, so let’s hold each other accountable.

Deadline hit.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding | P3-V5

January 31, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

The commentary that Matthew Henry writes on this verse is why this site exists to the glory of God:

“By faith. We must repose an entire confidence in the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, assuring ourselves of the extent of his providence to all the creatures and all their actions. … In all our conduct we must be diffident of our own judgment, and confident of God’s wisdom, power, and goodness, and therefore must follow Providence and not force it. That often proves best which was least our own doing.“

Lets say by providence; that within our century we discover the science capable to prevent our bodies from decay, cures all suffering, and extends the lives of our children beyond the age of 120.

Doesn’t that sound good!?

No, it doesn’t, and lets discover why.

The gospel of God reveals to us the dominion of Satan that the apostle Paul testifies of to King Agrippa:

^{Acts 26:17} — rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ ¹⁹ “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

Even if we were to solve the mystery of death, suffering, and long life; to deny God is to remain in the condemnation of sin for eternity in hell, where torment lives…

…^{Rev 14:11} — “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

^{Genesis 6:3}— Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

Don’t trust in your flesh because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ^{(1 Cor 15:50)}; so do not lean on your own understanding, but have faith in Jesus. Jesus told us through the apostle Paul—by the Word of God we have today—to turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that we may receive an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Christ the Lord, Jesus.

So lets trust in the providence of our Lord with all our heart and lean on the providence of God by faith in Jesus!

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V5) Commentary
III. We must have a continual regard to God’s providence, must own and depend upon it in all our affairs, both by faith and prayer.

1. By faith. We must repose an entire confidence in the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, assuring ourselves of the extent of his providence to all the creatures and all their actions. We must therefore trust in the Lord with all our hearts (v. 5); we must believe that he is able to do what he will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to his promise, to do what is best for us, if we love him, and serve him. We must, with an entire submission and satisfaction, depend upon him to perform all things for us, and not lean to our own understanding, as if we could, by any forecast of our own, without God, help ourselves, and bring our affairs to a good issue. Those who know themselves cannot but find their own understanding to be a broken reed, which, if they lean to, will certainly fail them. In all our conduct we must be diffident of our own judgment, and confident of God’s wisdom, power, and goodness, and therefore must follow Providence and not force it. That often proves best which was least our own doing.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man | P3-V4

January 30, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

⁴So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

It was at twelve years of age that our Lord stayed at Jerusalem, in the temple, to be about His Father’s business. And in case you think I mean His earthly “father” figure (Joseph), I don’t. It would appear as though Mary and Joseph had left Jesus behind, after all, we ARE talking about raising the Son of God here! I mean what better excuse to be released from such a responsibility of raising the Son of the living God than to leave Him with His “Biological” Father at the temple?

*Mary: Here! It’s your weekend! Good luck!

*God: … Sigh … Ah—Come Onnn!

*Mary and God: (…dialogue…)

*Meanwhile Jesus is in the background revealing the issues of divorce to the Teachers of the Law as they sit and watch with popcorn at the drama between God and Mary.

*Jesus: …annnd that’s why I’m not getting married.

*Teachers of the Law: (^{Luk 2:47} — “…amazed at His understanding and His answers.”) Awwwe, I see…

*Joseph: I knew there was a reason we brought the table we just finished carving out during our journey, gather round, hand me the popcorn … this is gettin good!

But what actually happened was that Jesus stayed behind, He wasn’t left as though forgotten. Jesus understood the nature of His purpose, but Mary and Joseph had yet to understand. Jesus stayed behind in the temple to be with His Father … to be home. Jesus is the true Priest and King of everything, not just in Jerusalem of Israel. God chose Israel for the revelation of His Son, the Lamb of God that took away the sin of the world. Everything the old law represents, culminates, in the flesh and blood of Jesus. We would all be dead in hell if it wasn’t for the grace of God established by the cross of Christ; the old law demands such perfection that none could keep it and live because of the sin that would match the law in its effect, thereby condemning the people obeying the law because of the sin that matched its effect. This is why it was inevitable Christ our Lord, Jesus, would die on the cross. This is why Jesus was predestined for our salvation because there was no other logical way for us to be redeemed from the sin of ONE man! The law can NOT redeem without Jesus. And so now that we have Jesus through the Holy Spirit (upon belief through faith), the gospel makes us alive to a new purpose (born again).

We now possess the capacity to truly repent of sin because of the gift of God!

^{Luke 2:41}Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; ⁴³and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, ⁴⁴but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. ⁴⁶Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. ⁴⁸When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” ⁴⁹And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” ⁵⁰But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. ⁵¹And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

As a people of God evolving intelligently in the 21^st century during a time when the world has connected in a way never thought imaginable, this verse excites me all the more! Jesus is still finding favor today through His Church across the globe, just as He had when in the flesh of His ministry.

^{Luke 2:52}— And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

To have favor with God and humankind is to reveal the commandments written on the tablets of our hearts by believing in the gospel of God. If we do not believe the gospel of God … the commandments will condemn us to hell because we think that it’s the commandments that save. The commandments do not save, Jesus saves because He is the commandments. The commandments testified of Jesus and is how we have eternal life … because we believe in the Person of God that fulfilled the power of the law while taking upon Himself our sin so we can believe in Him.

To believe in Jesus means we have two distinct qualities that make us standout as a separate people (sheep) in the midst of all destructive people (wolves).

favor
good repute

Favor

We have the favor of God by our testimony of belief in His ONE and ONLY begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah.

GOOD REPUTE

Faith produces sanctification by the help of the Holy Spirit in the believer. This means your entire behavior changes to reflect the gospel while in this life … because the gospel is our good repute … the gospel is Jesus in the flesh of His Bride, the Church.

^{John 20:26} After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” ²⁸ Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

The bible is something we see much like Thomas; we can see it, touch it and therefore, believe it. But the bible is not meant to be idolized as to be worshipped; it’s only meant as a compass, guide, and mirror, for all who are drawn to Jesus; Jesus produces our confidence through belief to turn from our sin by repentance, having truly been saved from our present trajectory of hell, to a life everlasting in the name of Jesus! But if we hold to our state of sin that the Word of God convicts in us to change by warning us of the nature it will destine; what then is the consequence? Have you truly believed? Or are you just believing for sheer want of being favored? That is why those of us who believe without the bible, are blessed … because we’ve believed in Jesus, without seeing!

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V4) Commentary
To encourage us to do this we are assured (v. 4) that this is the way to recommend ourselves both to our Creator and fellow-creatures: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding.

1. A good man seeks the favour of God in the first place, is ambitious of the honour of being accepted of the Lord, and he shall find that favour, and with it a good understanding; God will make the best of him, and put a favourable construction upon what he says and does. He shall be owned as one of Wisdom’s children, and shall have praise with God, as one having that good understanding which is ascribed to all those that do his commandments.

2. He wishes to have favour with men also (as Christ had, Lu. 2:52), to be accepted of the multitude of his brethren (Esth. 10:3), and that he shall have; they shall understand him aright, and in his dealings with them he shall appear to be prudent, shall act intelligently and with discretion. He shall have good success (so some translate it), the common effect of good understanding.

III. We must have a continual regard to God’s providence, must own and depend upon it in all our affairs, both by faith and prayer.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart | P3-V3

January 29, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

I thank God that we have technology so advanced that we can connect with each other around the world, but not only that, a plethora of information to sift through upon need of instantaneous education on any given subject as even these topics of kindness and truth, only … those principles are not taught by an online inquiry … they’re learned by meditating on the Person of Jesus, our Christ. The only way to develop such principles is by observing the Person of Christ in the churches of God across the globe. You’ll notice all throughout the apostolic testimonies, how they addressed our churches still alive today:

^{Romans 16:16} — Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

^{1 Thessalonians 1:1}— Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

^{1 Corinthians 16:19} — The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

^{Galatians 1:2} — and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

^{1 Thessalonians 2:13-}— For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. ¹⁴For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all people,

^{Hebrews 12:23} — to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

I hope you experience the joy in these words that were sent out from the hearts of churches 2000 years ago to be written on the tablets of our hearts today, right now. I pray you’ll do that. Write to remember the kindness and truth of God, that when you’re addressing people of the faith you’re addressing the Bride of the Lamb. And when addressing the world of sin, you’re proclaiming the good news from your tablets within. By faith we have the Word of God made secure in hope for our salvation, but there might be eyes that see not nor ears that hear not for the glory of God written in you to reveal Him in the name of Jesus.

The churches are still greeting us today … will you hear the kindness and truth of their voices, and see those principles as a favorite necklace around your neck? If you’re reading this … the church from the household of Laura and Nathan greet you.

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V3) Commentary
II. We must have a continual regard to God’s promises, which go along with his precepts, and are to be received, and retained, with them (v. 3): “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee, God’s mercy in promising, and his truth in performing. Do not forfeit these, but live up to them, and preserve thy interest in them; do not forget these, but live upon them, and take the comfort of them. Bind them about thy neck, as the most graceful ornament.’ It is the greatest honour we are capable of in this world to have an interest in the mercy and truth of God. “Write to them upon the table of thy heart, as dear to thee, thy portion, and most delightful entertainment; take a pleasure in applying them and thinking them over.’ Or it may be meant of the mercy and truth which are our duty, piety and sincerity, charity towards men, fidelity towards God. Let these be fixed and commanding principles in thee. To encourage us to do this we are assured (v. 4) that this is the way to recommend ourselves both to our Creator and fellow-creatures: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you | P3-V2

January 28, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

² For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.

Jesus is our law of liberty that brings us to length of days and years. And because we have faith in the cross of Christ, peace is added to us.

What is the law of liberty?

^P3-V1 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; ² For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.

The perfect law of liberty was accomplished at the cross when Jesus was crucified for the sin of the world; Jesus took away the sin of the world! The law of liberty is our way to God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ. The old law that held us captive to our sin of disobedience is now covered by the Body and Blood of Jesus having set us free from the captivity of sin that condemns our soul to hell—along with that crafty serpent of old—upon believing in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

John 1:29 — The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

James 1:25 — 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.

James 2:12 — So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

Revelation 12:9 — And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Revelation 20:2 — And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

The scheme of the devil today might be hard to detect or discern because the doctrine used is designed to confuse those of us in the faith of Christianity by the teaching of Puritans and Reformers, or “Pharisees and Sadducees” in western civilization … during this present era or epoch. The disciples of these Reformed preachers are rising up against the Bride of Christ through reforming old testament law into the new testament gospel of God.

These preachers will teach a doctrine based on the 5 solas, but will then turn to condemn a believer who does not conform to an idolatry of their doctrine.

The 5 Solas

Sola Gratia (Grace alone)
Sola Fide (Faith alone)
Solus Christus (Christ alone)
Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
Soli Deo Gloria (To the glory of God alone)

These statements of belief are without the most vital components, or organ, and thus lives as brittle as sandstones to be mistaken for a house that was built on a “Rock”. The components are lights that shine—as the unified Church—through a prism of love to create the beauty of colors that glorify God, and the organ … the heart of God that beats inside the soul of His Son alive at His right Hand.

Which means these 5 solas are built on this idea of: “alone”. And how appropriate … as it stands alone without Scripture to fill it with life; it becomes the cat of nine tails, wood, stone, and nails, now to crucify the Bride of Christ. These 5 solas are the equivalent of the first five books of the Holy Law; the Holy Law that was designed as a tutor for Jewish Temple Keepers, Teachers, and Preachers trained in their senses to perceive the coming of Christ, but were instead used as stones to hurl the death of our salvation; captivated by their sin of disobedience to crucify the Son of the living God.

Here we are again 2000 years later doing the same thing as the Chief Priests, Pharisees and Sadducees—now against the Bride of Christ, the Church. So beware of the leaven of the Puritans and Reformers who search the Scriptures because in them they think they have eternal life.

Witness of the Scripture

^{John 5:39}— You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; ⁴⁰and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. ⁴¹I do not receive glory from men; ⁴²but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. ⁴³I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. ⁴⁴How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? ⁴⁵Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. ⁴⁶For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The book known as the “Holy Bible” carries in it the testimony of Jesus Christ, the love and glory of God. The bible is a witness to us about the coming of our Salvation from sin that was accomplished on the cross of Christ our Lord, Jesus.

Listen Listen

We are not suppose to treat the bible as an idol to worship. The bible is a mirror that reflects the testimony of God’s grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit in the believer who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ. God is love, and His Word is given as the truth and promise to our eternal life that lives inside us by faith. We who believe are in a process of sanctification if Christ is in us. Remember, examine yourselves to see if Christ is in you.

2Co 13:5 — Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

How would you answer when you examine yourself?
Do you have the testimony of Scripture in you as your promise?
Or are you driven by the doctrine of men?
How do you treat the bible?
Who do you go to for eternal life?

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V2) Commentary
2. To encourage us to submit ourselves to all the restraints and injunctions of the divine law, we are assured (v. 2) that it is the certain way to long life and prosperity.

(1.) It is the way to be long-lived. God’s commandments shall add to us length of days; to a good useful life on earth, they shall add an eternal life in heaven, length of days for ever and ever, Ps. 21:4. God shall be our life and the length of our days, and that will be indeed long life, with an addition. But, because length of days may possibly become a burden and a trouble, it is promised,
(2.) That it shall prove the way to be easy too, so that even the days of old age shall not be evil days, but days in which thou shalt have pleasure: Peace shall they be continually adding to thee. As grace increases, peace shall increase; and of the increase of Christ’s government and peace, in the heart as well as in the world, there shall be no end. Great and growing peace have those that love the law.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

I Die Daily Devotional | I

January 27, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

I’m still working on today’s verse 2, from Proverbs chapter 3. I’ve been meditating on it, still working through Scripture.

Pro 3:2 — For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.

And there is no way I’m going to make the deadline, which makes this an interesting daily devotional … something a bit spontaneous.

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; ² For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. ³Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Jesus didn’t forget the teaching of His Father, and He [Jesus] let His heart keep His Father’s commandments. Jesus didn’t cave to the temptations common to man even and especially while accomplishing the Work of His ministry.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; | P3-V1

January 26, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Proverbs 3; I die daily devotional.

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;

I’m so excited about this chapter!

And let me tell you why!

We people of God live with the temptations of sin constantly crouching at our door as long as we’re alive in this world under the dominion of Satan, waiting to devour us … and as those pressures of temptation build up inside of us (for want of something we think we need, didn’t get, or don’t have) … the affect might look like a very bad attitude of disbelief, theology, or doctrine, that eventually kills the innocent love of God which means to save our souls—through the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is hard work to master our emotions and logic in a way that resists the temptation to live for ourselves, and yet to rather, die for the sake of Christ and the gospel. But wisdom rewards us with the capacity to resist sin by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! Jesus is our reward! We receive the rewards of what Jesus accomplished on the cross! We share in His afflictions! We receive the rewards of wisdom with the help of the Holy Spirit!

Thinking about that reminded me a bit about the story of Cain and Abel:

^{Gen 4:3}So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. ⁴Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; ⁵but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy. ⁶Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy? ⁷If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” ⁸Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

As members of the Body of Christ, we become targets to the enemy because we live contrary to his [Satan’s] agenda. We’ve willingly died with Christ through baptism as a confession of faith in repentance to death, born again with a new life in Christ for the sake of our faith in the gospel. That looks a lot like what happened to Abel when offering in faith the firstborn of his flock; his faith was revealed by the innocence of his blood crying out from the ground to plead his case. The blood of Christ that saves us, cries out to God, pleading our case even though we deserve the curse of Cain. God hears the cry of His Son in us as we live out our lives for the sake of Jesus and the gospel. You and I, are each others keeper in the Lord. Wisdom teaches us courage to confess our sins through prayer in Jesus, and by doing so will heal our broken consciences that experiences the guilt of our wrongdoings; we’re forgiven—cleansed from the guilt of our lying, lust, and pride, to serve God with assurance and confidence in the promise of eternal life.

^{Gen 4:9}Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” ¹⁰Then He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. ¹¹Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

^{Heb 11:4}By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

And we haven’t even gotten to our verse yet yo!!!

Okay, to our verse of the day.

Examine the Scriptures within yourselves—unless indeed you fail the test? Now you might not agree with me on this, or just don’t care one way or the other, but when I read … “My son…” … I think of God the Father in Christ, instructing His Son that will eventually be revealed as Jesus of Nazareth (the Word of God in the flesh) through the lineage of prophecy (Adam to Joseph) at the time of the Spirit in Solomon. And so now that, that time has passed, we of the faith, are being transformed in the image of His [Jesus Christ’s] glory; the Holy Father of Jesus becomes our Holy Father in Christ by the seal of the Holy Spirit as a promise alive in us who’ve believed and are born again. So by the Spirit of Jesus alive in us, God is now instructing us as His Children in the Lord—”do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;“

^{2 Cor 13:5}Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

^{2 Cor 3:15}But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; ¹⁶but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

^{Matt 1:1} The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: ²Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. ³Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Ram. ⁴Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon. ⁵ Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse. ⁶Jesse fathered David the king. David fathered Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. ⁷Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asa. ⁸Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, and Joram fathered Uzziah. ⁹Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah. ¹⁰Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, and Amon fathered Josiah. ¹¹Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. ¹²After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel, and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel. ¹³ Zerubbabel fathered Abihud, Abihud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor. ¹⁴Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud. ¹⁵Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob. ¹⁶Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

^{Luke 3:23}When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years old, being, as was commonly held, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, ²⁴the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³²the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, ³³the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

RESOURCE

COMMENTARY

Chapter 3

Matthew Henry (P3-V1) Commentary
This chapter is one of the most excellent in all this book, both for argument to persuade us to be religious and for directions therein.

I. We must be constant to our duty because that is the way to be happy (v. 1-4).
II. We must live a life of dependence upon God because that is the way to be safe (v. 5).
III. We must keep up the fear of God because that is the way to be healthful (v. 7, 8).
IV. We must serve God with our estates because that is the way to be rich (v. 9, 10).
V. We must hear afflictions well because that is the way to get good by them (v. 11, 12).
VI. We must take pains to obtain wisdom because that is the way to gain her, and to gain by her (v. 13-20).
VII. We must always govern ourselves by the rules of wisdom, of right reason and religion, because that is the way to be always easy (v. 21-26).
VIII. We must do all the good we can, and no hurt, to our neighbours, because according as men are just or unjust, charitable or uncharitable, humble or haughty, accordingly they shall receive of God (v. 27-35).

From all this it appears what a tendency religion has to make men both blessed and blessings.

Pro 3:1-6

We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage.

I. We must have a continual regard to God’s precepts, v. 1, 2.
- 1. We must,
  - (1.) Fix God’s law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience.
  - (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew.
  - (3.) We must remember them so that they may be ready to us whenever we have occasion to use them.
  - (4.) Our wills and affections must be subject to them and must in every thing conform to them. Not only our heads, but our hearts, must keep God’s commandments; in them, as in the ark of the testimony, both the tables of the law must be deposited.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

REST

January 25, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

I’m praying for you. I’m not sure who you are, reading this, or what you might be going through in your life at this time. But I’m confident that God knows, and I can only hope that you believe in His Son, the Lord, Jesus. Today’s daily devotional is a little different as you can see.

I want you to think about what we’ve been over in Proverbs so far, talk to God about your experiences when you meditate on the Word of God. Journal what you learn and feel, ask questions; go an extra mile with God in your search for wisdom, truth, and understanding, for necessary change.

We all need to be praying constantly, and taking time to rest. That’s what I hope you’ll do tonight. Pray and Rest. Then get excited about chapter 3 of Proverbs! I love you in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Challenge: What Scripture comes to mind when you think of Prayer? Write it down, then go search for it; once you find it – PRAY.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it | P2-V22

January 24, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

²² But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

Lady Wisdom isn’t pulling any punches by these verses, like this one, that means to get our attention to the severity of wicked and treacherous behavior.

What do you think of … when you read, but the wicked will be cut off from the land?

I think to myself, “Well, what does it mean to be wicked?” And by asking; I’m then sent on this spiritual journey with Lady Wisdom to teach me how to understand, so I don’t make the mistake of claiming ignorance. Wisdom teaches me perspective; it’s important that I don’t delude myself in the practice of wicked behavior as though it’s impossible to escape out of it while in the flesh of this world. Satan has his way of lying.

Deu 25:1-3 — “If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, then it shall be if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall then make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of stripes according to his guilt. “He may beat him forty times but no more, so that he does not beat him with many more stripes than these and your brother is not degraded in your eyes.

So what does “wicked” look like for you?

I believe wisdom equips us with knowledge through our present experiences, even now, while you’re reading through this devo. As we begin to engage the depths of her [Wisdoms’] teachings, she enlightens us to our capacity of wickedness while warning us about the outcome, the consequences of that path; which ultimately leads to … Hell.

Mat 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.

Let me ask you a couple interesting questions—you see that verse (^{_{Mat 10:28}}) above; how did that verse come to be used by me? Is it because they’re just words or do they testify of a truth that is alive?

Really think about that a moment … because it didn’t just come from no where. The Word of God is alive and active in us who believe. It’s alive to save those who will believe and condemn those who will not believe.

Mar 16:15-16 — And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Can you hear Lady Wisdom speaking to you?

No, I don’t mean audibly, of course, like an actual voice saying … “Don’t go that way!” But I mean a very real and literal experience to the truth alive in you, giving you the awareness of, “Not that way!”.

We already know all about how to be wicked, and the pleasures of wickedness. And so what the Word of God does is testify to the truth of that condemnation that was already at work in you by having eaten that fruit of the knowledge of good and evil in disobedience. That is why we know all to well how to answer the desires of Satan. We are rich in this world of wickedness because of a treachery that was born at the beginning we missed the mark (sin).

However, thanks be to God, by His grace through Jesus Christ, we have our Salvation. We don’t have an excuse to behave in a way that contradicts the truth about our salvation. Jesus obeyed the commands of His Father because we didn’t know God as our Father until Jesus showed us the way. We were of our father the devil, remember?

Jhn 8:42-44 — Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. “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.

So these people who’ve heard and disbelieve the gospel have chosen a trajectory that will not go well for them or anyone else that follows after them. The consequence of being wicked as a result of their disbelief will condemn them; they will be cut off from the land they have now (their treasures of the world will perish along with them) and the treacherous will be uprooted all together from salvation (body and blood of the earth—Jesus Christ) because they’ve betrayed the testimony of truth that was given to save them (just like what happened with Judas Iscariot).

Jhn 9:39-41 — And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

There is no amount of good that earns our salvation in Christ. When Christ died on that cross, He paid the penalty of which we could not pay! He took the beatings we deserve, the chains, the lashes, the nails, the cross, the death—we all deserved. Jesus traded His innocence’s for our sin, and is why we now have the capacity to resist sin to serve the living God!

Act 26:18 — to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

2Co 3:3 — being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Heb 9:14 — 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?

Will you experience the truth inside you?

If you are living a wicked lifestyle of disbelief, then it’s time to repent and turn to God. Stick with us on these devotionals a day at a time and watch how God changes your life from unbelief to belief.

Mar 9:19-24 — And He *answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (*bold/underline* mine)

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-V22) Commentary
(2.) Because men’s iniquity will be their destruction, v. 22. See what becomes of the wicked, who choose the way of the evil man; they shall be cut off, not only from heaven hereafter and all hopes of that, but from the earth now, on which they set their affections, and in which they lay up their treasure. They think to take root in it, but they and their families shall be rooted out of it, in judgment to them, but in mercy to the earth. There is a day coming which shall leave them neither root nor branch, Mal. 4:1. Let that wisdom then enter into our hearts, and be pleasant to our souls, which will keep us out of a way that will end thus.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it | P2-V21

January 23, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

²¹ For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it;

Wisdom is teaching that the upright will live in the land of promise and the blameless will remain in it.

Where is the land of promise?

Heb 11:8-9 — By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Much like Abraham didn’t know where he was going, neither to do we know where we are going. We are born in dust, raised as dust, and then aware of a world of which dust stretches out into eternity without knowing where eternity ends. We are just here along for the ride so it seems; as the earth is on a trajectory in our solar system with our Milky Way Galaxy.

Where are we going?

Astronomers Say They Have Proof the Milky Way Galaxy Is Still Expanding—And No One Can Explain It — https://www.outerplaces.com/science/item/18198-astronomers-milky-way-galaxy-expanding

Heb 12:22-24 — But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

We are going to a city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where there are myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood—which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

Check this out Christian!

Rev 21:1-8 — Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Our sanctification through faith behaves in a way to change us from a personality of sin, the dominion of Satan, to God. And so the inheritance that we do not yet see although hope for, is very much alive in us by the power of the Holy Spirit as we wait eagerly for our uniting of a new heaven and earth, to the glory of God.

Wisdom teaches us how to live free from sin and blameless for remaining in the land of promise that we inherit according to faith in the Word of God while living in the flesh here and now.

We are on a trajectory of salvation in Christ to eternal life in the promise land with Jesus, if indeed, Christ is in us?

Is Christ in you?

2Co 13:5 — Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

RESOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V21) Commentary
(1.) Because men’s integrity will be their establishment, v. 21. It will be the establishment,

[1.] Of their persons: The upright shall dwell in the land, peaceably and quietly, as long as they live; and their uprightness will contribute to it, as it settles their minds, guides their counsels, gains them the good-will of their neighbours, and entitles them to God’s special favour.
[2.] Of their families: The perfect, in their posterity, shall remain in it. They shall dwell and remain for ever in the heavenly Canaan, of which the earthly one was but a type.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous | P2-V20

January 22, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

²⁰ So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous.

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.

Wisdom teaches us that the way of good men is to follow Jesus, but how do we do that since Jesus is at the right hand of God? The help of the Holy Spirit will come if we ask God in faith, trusting that He will deliver the revelation of His will to us.

Heb 10:12 — but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,

But if we ask God anything in unbelief … do you really think He doesn’t know whether you’re truly asking in faith or not? We are talking to the very Person that created us, designed us, and loves us. It’s foolish to think that God doesn’t know what we are experiencing and why. It’s foolish to think that God doesn’t know our limitations and desires. It’s foolish to think that we arrived at our event of providence to doubt the living God. We are drawn to actually have a conversation with our Creator, to truly experience a relationship with God as our Father in Christ our Lord, Jesus.

God knows what sins you’re living in, still committing, and will face all throughout your life.

But don’t doubt for a moment that Jesus didn’t pay for your life to be redeemed. The question is…

Will you accept the grace of God’s redemption that’s provided through faith in Jesus alone?

RESOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V20) Commentary
II. This wisdom will be of use to guide and direct us in that which is good (v. 20): That thou mayest walk in the way of good men. We must avoid the way of the evil man, and the strange woman, in order that we may walk in good ways; we must cease to do evil, in order that we may learn to do well. Note,

1. There is a way which is peculiarly the way of good men, the way in which good men, as such, and as far as they have really been such, have always walked.
2. It will be our wisdom to walk in that way, to ask for the good old way and walk therein, Jer. 6:16; Heb. 6:12; 12:1. And we must not only walk in that way awhile, but we must keep it, keep in it, and never turn aside out of it: The paths of the righteous are the paths of life, which all that are wise, having taken hold of, will keep their hold of. “That thou mayest imitate those excellent persons, the patriarchs and prophets (so bishop Patrick paraphrases it), and be preserved in the paths of those righteous men who followed after them.’ We must not only choose our way in general by the good examples of the saints, but must also take directions from them in the choice of our particular paths; observe the track, and go forth by the footsteps of the flock. Two reasons are here given why we should thus choose:-

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life | P2-V19

January 21, 2021 Nathan Dooley Leave a comment

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

¹⁹None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life.

I didn’t realize just how important this verse was when I was engaging in sexual activity before and outside of my marriage (not to mention the sexual abuse I experienced as a child); let me explain the latter (outside of marriage).

Even though I was a believer when I married my wife, my marriage bed was still defiled (spiritually unclean).

Heb 13:4 — Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

I hope you’re wondering how because it will be hard to understand unless you’re willing to receive the truth of my testimony and how the work of God is alive in us who believe.

As I mentioned before, I had engaged in sexual activity before my marriage, with a # of different women. As God as my witness, He knows the number as well as my wife, but it’s not relevant to the purpose of this information. The point is that just because I became married to Laura, our marriage bed became defiled by what was going on in my heart and mind.

I had heard and read these proverbs in my youth, but I wasn’t ready to understand because I struggled against insecurities. I was terrified of marriage although desired to be “right” with God.

My shame … is a very real experience … and the experience is not to be taken lightly … because in it … is where I discovered the fear of the Lord.

So even though I was married, I still thought of previous sexual activity with women that were not my wife. I would still watch pornography. If I didn’t have pornography, I would create to fantasize and imagine it while intimate with my wife.

^{Proverbs 2:16} 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.

It’s crucial that you recognize where Satan is in my testimony. Do you see how I used my marriage as a cover to continue in my sexual sin, that is how clever Satan is in our lives.

God designed marriage between a man and woman for a reason … we might get to that … we’ll see. Also, God designed the roles of men and women in the service of God to be holy. So if you’re a single male or female struggling against lust, please understand that it doesn’t change when you’re married.

1Co 7:29 — But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; ³⁰ and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; ³¹ and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.

It is to the glory of God through Jesus my Savior that I can report to you in this devotional how Satan does not hold my soul captive to sin. I’m actively in repentance of these sins you’ve become a witness of and many more of my personal sins.

Jas 5:20 — 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.

Let me make it clear, though, that I’m far from perfect … although that is my aim, my direction!

Mat 5:48 — “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Going to Church has killed my life, you might need to read that again; I wasn’t joking. Going to Church has killed my life, but by God’s grace and mercy, I’ve been born again. And my devotion is to my King, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I have been delivered from the strange woman, and you can be delivered as well. It is possible through much discipline. I have had the Holy Spirit alive in me working nonstop, the Holy Spirit is our Helper!

Jhn 14:16 — “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

The love of my wife has helped change me from a man of sin, to a man chasing after God!

1Pe 3:1— In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,

RESOURCE

[BP]

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V19) 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

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]

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.

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GOOD REPUTE

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The 5 Solas

Witness of the Scripture

Listen Listen

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