Day 3 Devotion of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs

Day 3  There is more than one way to skin a cat (but who would ever want to skin a cat!) There is often more than one way to do things, but wisdom is doing the right thing at the right time in the right way.  We often know how to do something (or can figure it out on our own), but the truly wise person seeks and follows God's way because it is always the right way. It takes humility to admit that your way is not the best way, but there is great wisdom in laying aside your own plan in favor of God's will. Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs 3:5-6 Don't depend on your own understanding. Instead, trust the Lord completely at your very core. Always try to follow God's plan and give Him credit for everything and He will lead you down a clear path. Prayer "Lord, help me to be humble and set aside my own plan in favor of Yours. Show me Your will and give me courage and wisdom to trust You and do things Your way. Amen." Read Proverbs Chapter 3
New American Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 3 The Rewards of Wisdom 1 My son, do not forget my [a]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. 4 So you will find favor and good [b]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 [c]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 [d]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 [e]jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. 16 [f]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 [g]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 [h]onslaught of the wicked when it comes; 26 For the Lord will be [i]your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from [j]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 [k]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 [l]display dishonor. Footnotes: 1.            Proverbs 3:1 Or law 2.            Proverbs 3:4 Lit understanding 3.            Proverbs 3:8 Lit navel 4.            Proverbs 3:11 Or instruction 5.            Proverbs 3:15 Lit corals 6.            Proverbs 3:16 Lit Length of days 7.            Proverbs 3:21 Lit depart 8.            Proverbs 3:25 Lit storm 9.            Proverbs 3:26 Or at your side 10.          Proverbs 3:27 Lit its owners 11.          Proverbs 3:32 Lit His private counsel is 12.          Proverbs 3:35 Lit raise high	Proverbs 3 Trust God 1-4 Child, don’t forget what I’ve said, make my rules the core of who you are, because they’ll help you live a long, successful life.  Never give up on love and loyalty; wear them like a badge of honor; tattoo them on your heart.  Then you’ll be respected and admired by God and everyone else. 5-6 Don't depend on your own understanding. Instead, trust the Lord completely at your very core. Always try to follow God's plan and give Him credit for everything and He will lead you down a clear path. 7-10 Don’t ever think you’ve got it all figured out.  Have deep reverence for God and run away from evil.  You will be healthy and strong and full of energy.  Honor God with all you have and always give Him your first and best; then you’ll have more than enough and your life will overflow with goodness. 11-12 Child, don’t resent it when the Lord disciplines you or get tired of His correction, for the Lord corrects people He loves just like good parents correct their children. The Tree of Life 13-18 People who find wisdom and understanding are happy and blessed, because wisdom is better than silver and gold.  Wisdom and understanding are more precious than jewels; nothing you could want in this life can even compare.  On the one hand, they help you have a long life; on the other, they give you riches and honor.  Wisdom will help you truly enjoy life and be at peace.  Wisdom is a tree of life to everyone who eats her fruit; they will be truly blessed. 19-20 The Lord created the earth with this same wisdom we’re talking about and used understanding to make the heavens.  With His knowledge, He made water spring up from below and rain to fall down from the sky. Safe and Secure Living 21-28 Child, don’t miss what I’m telling you: let wisdom and common sense be your guide.  They’ll refresh your soul and make you standout from the crowd.  You’ll be safe and secure and won’t fall along life’s path.  You’ll have nothing to fear and will sleep in peace at night.  You won’t have to worry when others panic or disasters strike the wicked, because Jehovah’s on your side and He’ll keep you from harm. 27-32 Always do good to those who deserve it whenever you can.  Don’t say, “Come back tomorrow” when you can take care of it right now.  Your neighbors trust you.  Don’t take advantage of them.  Don’t argue with people without a good reason, especially if no real harm has been done.  And definitely don’t envy or try to be like the bully who uses force to get what they want.  God can’t stand it when people are crooked, but He takes care of those who live right. 33-35 The Lord’s curse surrounds everything about the wicked, but He surrounds righteous people with blessings.  He scorns those who are scornful, but helps those who are humble.  The wise come into honor, but stubborn fools find only disgrace.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs (PCP) Copyright © 2018 by Chris Mullis

The Truth As Far As I Can Tell... Graduation

            My son Gavin will pass another milestone this month.  He will graduate from high school.  In fact, we have six of our youth from our church graduating from high school—Nikki Hollis, Julia McDonald, Gavin Mullis, Kyle Roberts, Max Wilson, and Tiffany Crawford.  My how time flies!  It seems like just yesterday that Gavin was learning to walk.  I’m so proud of Gavin and all our young people who have grown into fine young men and women.

            The next few years will be tremendously exciting and formative for our graduates.  They will become more independent, making the majority of their decisions for themselves.  I pray that the faith and values we have taught them together at PGUMC will guide their whole life and especially in the next decade as they experience the tremendous transformation of the young adult years.

            If I could offer one final bit of advice for our graduates, it would be the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6:

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take. 

            This is true wisdom for all of us.  So much of life is beyond our understanding.  Even what we do grasp is only a partial picture.  We do not know what the next day may bring or all that God is doing through our current circumstances.  It is often only after many years that we are able to look back in retrospect and glimpse what God was doing. 

Therefore, as we progress through life, the most important thing is to follow God’s will for us the best we know how.  We must walk by faith—trusting in the Lord.  Since we cannot understand it all, we must have faith that God has a master plan as we step through each door He opens for us.  If we seek His will above all else, God will open up the right doors for us.

We do not yet know what our life will be.  However, if we trust in the Lord with all our heart and don’t depend on our own understanding, if we seek His will in all we do, He will show us the way.  And maybe one day, we will reflect back on our life and see the beautiful journey we walked with God and our hearts will smile.  Of course, I’m no expert and I certainly don’t claim to know everything, but that’s the Truth as far as I can tell…

 

God loves you and so do I!