Proverbs 7 - 7.18.25

Scripture: Proverbs 7:1-5

1 My son, keep my words
    and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;
    guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

Observation

The wisest man in the world, King Solomon wrote Proverbs 7 as a warning against the dangers of temptation and immorality, stressing the importance of wisdom and following God’s commandments. In these verses he is encouraging his son to read the word of God, write it on the tablets of his heart (memorize scripture), obey God’s commands and guard, protect and cherish God’s words. We need to have a living, breathing relationship to the word of God. We need to truly regard the power of wisdom as a sister or a family member. The wisdom and power of God’s word helps to keep us from the immoral woman (or man). From God’s word we learn the deception and strategy of sin and temptation. We learn the end result of sin and the wonderful benefits of obedience. God’s word imparts the spiritual light and strength we need to obey God in this difficult area.

Application

My first husband, Ron was a Christian man who went to church, lead Bible studies, coached little league, read his Bible but did not cherish and protect the wisdom that was taught by King Solomon. He worked for Disney and they sent him to Hong Kong to help build Hong Kong Disneyland. The women out there loved American men and being away from home for months at a time fell in the trap of seduction, immorality, adultery and sin. He ended up losing his marriage, his family, his children and through years of hopelessness and despair, living a life of regret and addiction which eventually took his life.

Solomon, the wisest man in the world, warns us about the adulterous woman and tells us how we can keep from the trap and the snare of sin.

Read your Bible daily, let it penetrate your heart. Memorize scripture so you can pull it up anytime you need it. Spend time in the presence of God. Cherish and protect the Word of God and OBEY His Commands, so you will live a long and fruitful life. It’s Truth, it’s Real…Live it!

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for giving us your word as a Lamp unto our feet and Light unto our path. We ask that you help us to be People of Wisdom and cherish your word. Help us to be obedient to your word and live a life that is Blessed and Fruitful. Let us be people who are hearers of your word and walk in your commands. You are such an Awesome God!

- Michelle Craig

Mark 8 - 7.17.25

S – Mark 8:14-21

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.

20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

O -  Jesus was not talking about yeast from the bread. It was a metaphor of the evil that could creep in from the Pharisees, like how powerful a little yeast is in a loaf of bread. The disciples didn’t get it.  In Mark 6 we read that Jesus fed 5000, with five loaves of bread and two fish, then he proceeds to walk on water. In Ch. 7 we read how he healed many. Then in Ch 8 He feeds another 4000, with seven loaves and a few small fish. All of those things the Pharisees tried to explain away as luck, coincidence, or evil power. Their hearts were hardened. In verse 14 the disciples once again are worried because they forgot to bring but one loaf of bread. As they were discussing it, Jesus begins to question them and ask if THEIR hearts are hardened and if they had forgotten what He had done previously.

A – When I read verse 21, I can only imagine Jesus’ confusion and maybe even sadness, that his disciples who had been with Him and were first account witnesses to the miracles being performed, the healings, and the feeding of thousands with only a handful of bread and fish, had already forgotten it all. They were just there! Oh, but the conviction, how many times do I forget??

Mark 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied.

Not only did the thousands get fed, but they were also all satisfied AND there were leftovers. How many times does Jesus have to prove to us that He will come through when needed? That He will give us all that we need and then some! The leaders wanted Jesus to give them a sign and prove Himself.  When things get hard and we don’t see God moving when, or how we want, we begin to question Him as well.  Yet all we need to do is look back and remember what He has already done.

Asaph wrote in Psalms 77:11-12 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” 

We would be wise to physically write down (journal), as well as share with others, the things that God has already done for us, so that when times of frustration, waiting, and worry hit us, we can go back and read what we wrote and then remember how He has provided, healed, come through, protected, given, and loved us!

P –  Lord forgive me for the times I forget who you are and just what you are capable of. Help me to be disciplined in writing down all of the things you do, and have done for me, so that I can go back and remember them. Lord, I thank you that you are always faithful. I thank you for each and every time you have protected me from danger, myself, and even as recent as two near car crashes in the last two days. I could fill a journal with the things you have protected me from, as well as a journal on all of the blessings you have given me. May I intentionally take the time to remember the life that was headed for death which you saved me from. May I remember how I prayed for my husband, children, and friends that you have blessed me with.  Help us all to concentrate on all those things instead of complaining about how awful things are for us personally, or around our cities and the world. Help us to see the world through YOUR eyes and navigate our space with the hope and love that comes only from your precious son, Jesus! Amen.

- Crystal Flory

Mark 7 - 7.16.25

Scripture: Mark 7:14-15

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” 

Observation

The Pharisees thought they could create rules that must be followed in order to access God, and they thought they could enforce those rules on others. When people failed, it allowed the Pharisees to feel holier and more worthy than others. Those rules and traditions might have started out from God’s commands, but they had strayed far from them. In verse 8 Jesus challenges them, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

Mark 7:21-13 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

The Pharisees recognized that we are a sinful people. They thought they could change hearts by enacting rules. But they didn’t understand that salvation and transformation come only from God.

The Pharisees created roadblocks to accessing God. Jesus came to give access to all.  

Application

When asked what is the most important command, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 37-40.

So Jesus is saying if your focus is first on your relationship with God and then relationship with others, following the other commands will flow naturally from your changed heart.

Focus on relationship with God – if we truly want to serve God, we will spend time with Him allowing Him to transform us daily. Following a list of rules, checking off boxes, doing good deeds will not transform us. Only Jesus can do that.

Focus on relationship with others – love your neighbor as yourself. Show all people the same grace, love, and compassion that you hope to receive from God. Meet them where they are. Show them who Jesus is and how much he loves them. Allow God to change their hearts.

Prayer

Jesus, you know me well and you know how easy it is for me to stray into Pharisee tendencies. Not only do I fight against judging the behavior of others, I struggle with judging others for their judgmental behavior! You are the only one who can change my heart. Thank you for speaking to me and transforming me daily. Please continue your work in me. Please fill me with your spirit and your love and help me to overflow that love onto others. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me and giving me a new start every morning.

- Debbie Dunn