My Daily Pause

Category: Devotional

  • The Woodshed

    The Woodshed

    My child, do not reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t get angry when he corrects you.
    The Lord corrects those he loves,
    just as parents correct the child they delight in. – Proverbs 3:11-12 NCV

    God’s discipline might be one of the most under taught subjects today. Why would God discipline his children? Because he loves them!

    The Hebrew writer quotes directly from these verses in Hebrews 12:5-6. He shows us that chastisement comes completely from the love of God. Through Hebrews 5:3-11 we see that God cares enough to:

    • Help us correct our faults
    • Strengthen our faith
    • Promote our welfare

    We also see how we should respond:

    • We are not to despise God for it
    • We must submit to it
    • We must be exercised by the purpose of it

    Sometimes we get a little too self-dependent and it takes a little shakeup to get right with God again. When we are challenged, we can be joyful for the Christian strength we will gain rather than feel sorry for ourselves. (James 1:2-4) In the end, God simply wants continual growth and service dedicated to him.

    Daily Bible reading for May 5

    Proverbs 3:1-12
    Deuteronomy 6
    Hosea 2:2-23
    2 Timothy 4:9-22

  • The Fruit of Wisdom

    The Fruit of Wisdom

    Paul tells us that the scriptures were given to us by inspired writers (literally, God-breathed into them.) It has everything we need to carry out the great commission. (2 Timothy 3:16) With the scriptures we can:

    • Teach others how to find salvation (Teach)
    • Challenge our fellow Christians to improve (Reprove)
    • Show ourselves and others where we see sin (Correct)
    • Make progress toward righteousness (Train)

    Solomon knew this too. In Proverbs 2 he lists the five fruits of Wisdom. Through listening and trying to understand (Proverbs 2:2) God’s words, these things begin to happen:

    • We find God (Proverbs 2:1-8)
    • We are rewarded with the love of knowledge (Proverbs 2:9-11)
    • We are delivered from evil (Proverbs 2:12-15)
    • We have safety from harlotry (Proverbs 2:16-19)
    • We will receive a special inheritance (Proverbs 2:20-22)

    The next step beyond a daily devotional reading, once it is a well rooted habit, is taking time to really try to understand what God has told us. A momentum begins to build and we become a reflection of his wisdom.

    Daily Bible reading for June 4

    Proverbs 2
    Deuteronomy 5
    Hosea 1:1-2:1
    2 Timothy 3:10-4:8

  • Wisdom Calls for God’s Followers

    Wisdom Calls for God’s Followers

    God has laid out his complete plan. He made sure it was sufficient to make us people of God. It equips us for good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). He then sent out his people to teach and prepare others so they can have salvation too.

    He pleads. He persuades. He promises. (Proverbs 1:20-33)

    We see Paul customarily going to Scripture to reason with those he taught (Acts 17:2-3). No opinion. No feelings. Just God’s word.

    Still, there are some that ignore parts of it. Some teach opinions based on their feelings. Some leave out parts that are “inconvenient.” Some justify their sins with flawed reasoning. These sinners are in the same danger as the five virgins – at some point the door will close on the ones who are not ready. (Matthew 25:10).

    For the complete parable of the ten virgins, read Matthew 25:1-13

    Daily Bible reading for May 3

    Proverbs 1:20-33
    Deuteronomy 4
    Jonah 4
    2 Timothy 3:1-9

  • Stay Off the Wrong Path

    Stay Off the Wrong Path

    Contrast the birds’ ability to avoid an obvious trap with someone that enters willingly into sinful adventures – The easy score … The fast buck … “One upping” someone…

    Even a bird has more sense than people that follow the temptations the world offers. (Proverbs 1:17-19)

    History is littered with the failure of those who thought they could avoid falling into their own trap. Every year there is some new scandal in the government. Someone thought they could get away with ignoring the rules. Sometimes it seems they do it in spite of knowing they will get caught.

    The only safe way is to stay off the path of evil. (Proverbs 1:15-16) For the ultimate example of avoiding temptation, read about Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11.

    Daily Bible Reading for June 2

    Proverbs 1:8-19
    Deuteronomy 3
    Jonah 3
    2 Timothy 2

  • Clean Living with Proverbs

    Clean Living with Proverbs

    I learned of an old technique for better living, better business and better relationships that I have been trying to develop into a habit. Begin a daily reading plan by selecting the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month.

    For the rest of the day, reflect on one or more of the principles in that day’s chapter. You might even try to take action based on something in that reading. Just as the Proverb writer says in Proverbs 1:2-7, these ageless bits of wisdom can be used to make one a more godly person. From long thoughtful passages to short pithy zingers, even the wise have something to gain from the inspired words of Solomon.

    Some things you will get from applying Proverbs to your life:

    • Wisdom
    • Instruction
    • Prudence
    • Beneficial Knowledge
    • Discretion
    • The ability to apply information
    • Sound Counsel
    • Understanding
    • The fear of God

    Truly the ultimate self-help book!

     Daily Bible reading for June 1

    Proverbs 1:1-7
    Deuteronomy 2
    Jonah 2
    2 Timothy 1:8-18

  • Fleeing From God

    Fleeing From God

    Jonah didn’t want to save Nineveh.

    He said so. (Jonah 4:1-3)

    So he tried to hide. (Jonah 1:3)

    A little like Adam and Eve when they heard God coming. Like a person that is not doing what he knows God has asked of him. Jesus said that the wicked hate the light and avoid it so their sins are hidden. (John 3:20)

    There is no hiding and everyone that tried found that out all through the Bible.

    We see a lot of people these days trying to make some sins seem new and popular. To help their cause they deny God or laugh at the thought of a living God.

    Just remember they are trying to hide.

    Daily Bible reading for May 31

    Psalm 150
    Deuteronomy 1
    Jonah 1
    2 Timothy 1:1-7