- Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. Proverbs 10:26 – As we step into the next dozen or so chapters, let us understand that each verse will be its own proverb and have its unique meaning. So rarely will they connect with the following verses and are to be understood by themselves. Here we see a description being given to us on how a sluggard, a lazy person, is to those who he serves. He is like vinegar to the teeth and smoke in the eyes. Vinegar to the teeth is irritating and painful, and so is standing by a fire and getting smoke in your eyes. The thought then is the one who is lazy at carrying out their master’s command is irritating to the master and painful to him. As we then take that into our context, how irritating is a follower of Jesus to Jesus who is sluggish in carrying out his mission? God is telling us that when we have a command from Him, we ought to never be sluggish in carrying it out. We are commanded to love one another, to forgive one another, to serve one another, and to share the Gospel (alongside side other things too). How often though do we find ourselves “lazy” in doing such things? Procrastinating, saying we’re not ready for that yet, saying we will when that other person does _____. Let us as followers of God be quick to be faithful to His commands. Being like smoke to the eyes of the Lord, irritating and painful, should cause us to quicken our step today in our obedience to His word. Be faithful and be diligent in your faithfulness. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2918
- He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. Proverbs 10:5 – What’s your harvest that you are supposed to be gathering? Even while I live in Kansas I don’t do the whole farming life so this verse doesn’t apply to me that way. Which is fine because I believe it has an even deeper meaning than just the superficial. When in Matthew 9:37 it speaks about how plentiful the harvest is yet how few the workers are, is it just talking about crops? No, it’s saying we have a purpose from God and we need to get on it. For us our purpose is to share the love of God with everyone and to worship Him. So let’s be prudent, or responsible, children of God and take care of our harvest before it’s too late. Remember there are people today in this season of your life that you may never have the same connection with like you do now again. Let’s begin the work of sharing. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 681
- What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. Proverbs 10:24-25 – If you are pursuing a walk with Jesus today, then you have no reason to fear tomorrow. God, who knows your thoughts from afar, who knows your true desires in life, will provide for you in your tomorrow. What the verse also speaks to is the tomorrow of those that are seeking something other than Jesus. What they dread to come will come, that the wicked will be no more. What your tomorrow will hold is decided by your choices today. You can have deep peace concerning tomorrow if you choose today to follow Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1692
Daily DEVO 