{"id":3153,"date":"2020-04-20T16:00:33","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T23:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/?p=3153"},"modified":"2020-04-20T16:00:49","modified_gmt":"2020-04-20T23:00:49","slug":"hobart-herd-devotional-proverbs-20-4-20-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/?p=3153","title":{"rendered":"Hobart Herd Devotional – Proverbs 20 – 4-20-20"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hobart Herd \u2013 Proverbs 20 \u2013 4-20-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   The first thing I noticed about chapter 20\nis that there are a lot of warnings of the pitfalls of this sinful world.  We are warned against drunkenness, fighting,\nlaziness, double standards, greed, boasting, stealing, slander, gossiping, just\nto name a few.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes I am so busy\nthat I fail to see these things creeping into my heart.  If I am not carefully following the Word of\nGod, led by His Spirit, the things of this world become a part of my thinking,\nheart and life.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  There are two questions in this chapter that\ncaused me to stop and ponder the answers. \nThe first is found in verse 9, \u201cWho can say, “I have cleansed my\nheart, I am pure from my sin”?(NAS) \nAt first I was confused as I know that I can know my heart is cleansed\nfrom sin.  But then I reread it and it\nbecame clear that we can not make that declaration of \u201cself cleansing\u201d and\nforgiveness before the Lord.  1 John\n1:8-9 says this:  8         If we say that we have no sin, we are\ndeceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9        If we confess our sins,\nHe is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us\nfrom all unrighteousness.(NAS)  I am\ndependent on the Lord\u2019s faithfulness and righteousness provided to me by His\nsacrificial death on the cross to provide my cleansing and forgiveness.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   The second question is found in verse 24: \u201cMan’s\nsteps are {ordained} by the LORD, how then can man understand his way?\u201d(NAS)  Often in my walk with the Lord I have been\nconfused as to path that the Lord would have me take.  I recognize that my steps are ordained by the\nLord, and in this crazy world today, I will not live any longer then the Lord\nhas ordained for me.  Our lives are truly\nin His hands.  However, understanding God\u2019s\ndirection in life can be frustrating in or own understanding and wisdom.  The answer to this question is found in Psalm\n119:105; \u201cThy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.\u201d(NAS)  It is my job to stay in His Word and allow\nHis Holy Spirit to be a light to my path. \nThen verse 27 can come into play. \nThe Word of God through the Spirit of God can use our spirit and\nconscience to show us the way.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am reminded of Psalm\n37:4, \u201cDelight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your\nheart.\u201d  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Father, thank you for the clear warnings of\nYour Word that keep me from falling prey to Satan, sin and the world.  I recognize my sinful heart likes to lead me\ninto sin and trouble.  Thank You for Your\nSon that provides the cleansing and forgiveness that I so long to know.  Thank You for Your Spirit\u2019s direction as I\nremain in Your truth.  Help me to live in\nsuch a way that Your desires become my hearts desires.  For then You can grant me the desires of my\nheart and Yours together.  In Jesus name,\nAmen! Pastor Rob<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hobart Herd \u2013 Proverbs 20 \u2013 4-20-20    The first thing I noticed about chapter 20 is that there are a lot of warnings of the pitfalls of this sinful world.  We are warned against drunkenness, fighting, laziness, double standards, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[142],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3153"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3153"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3153\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3154,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3153\/revisions\/3154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}