Outpost 170 Royal Rangers

Scripture:

Proverbs 2:2 – “Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding.” (NASB)

Observation:

It took a long time, but I finally understood. Living with four women, a wife and three daughters, has taught me a thing or two. Most men like to fix things, if we see a problem or hear a problem, our first instinct is to try and fix it. So when one of my daughters or my wife begins to share a problem, my first reaction is to try and fix it. That has lead me into some pretty deep trouble. You see, over the years I have learned that what they really need me to do is just listen not try to fix it, but try to understand what they are sharing. Today's verse is a great verse to remember for us men, "make our ears attentive to wisdom and incline our hearts to understanding!" Rather than try to fix my daughters’ problems, I learned to listen, to hear exactly what they were saying, and to be sympathetic to what they were trying to relate to me. Then and only then, that's when they ask me to try and help or fix it, but only if they ask. I have learned to be attentive to their wisdom about the situation, and in doing so have learned to understand them better. Maybe you have been trying to fix "that" problem instead of just listening and showing compassion for someone else's problems. Maybe that's why God gave us two ears and one mouth...to listen twice as much as speaking.

Application:

Personal Application: Continue spending time with the Lord daily. Sow righteousness and reap the fruit of God's unfailing love.
Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is that we must continue to spend time with the Lord and keep our hearts focused on His plans and purposes. Pray for them.
TOM SEMBER has been involved in ministering to men for over 25 years. He is an ordained minister with the AG in the NY Ministry Network. Tom lives with his wife, Carolyn, and children in New York. You can connect with Tom on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Scripture:

Philippians 1:11 – “Having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (NASB)

Observation:

When I framed houses and had to build walls, we had to make sure they were square. So we went to the standard rule that says: 3 feet on one side, and 4 feet on the other would equal 5 feet across both points. It was and is called the 3,4,5 rule (for those who like big words it’s the Pythagorean Theorem). You may be asking what this has to do with today’s reading? Well the verse states that having been filled with the fruit of righteousness in order for the house to be right: the walls need to be straight, the windows level, the doors plumb, etc., and that kind of righteousness in our own lives comes through Jesus Christ. The rule we need to use is Jesus – plain and simple – no big formulas or equations, just Jesus. Do we measure up? What theorem are we using as a standard so our house can be on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ? Anything less than Him and our house will not be square!

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (NASB)

Observation:

The craving was overwhelming, but there was also opportunity to say NO. Everywhere he turned, there was opportunity to either sin or walk in the Victory of Christ! As we start Day 4 of Victory Over Addiction, we see a verse that teaches us we are not alone! Sitting at the Saturday morning men’s breakfast, the topic came up about fighting addictions alone. One man shared that although he knew he had Christ in his corner, he felt like he was the only one going through his temptations. Not until other men began to share their stories did the man feel that all men face some sort of temptation. The more the men shared, the more the man felt as if God was giving him the escape path he needed (the second part of today’s verse!)

Application:

Personal Application: Take time to read today’s verse slowly and meditate upon the fact that you are not alone in the fight for addiction victory. Don’t go it alone but reach out to a godly friend today and be honest with where you are in facing temptation.
Family Devotional: Read this verse to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is that we must continue to spend time with the Lord and keep our hearts focused on His plans and purposes. Pray for them