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In John 5 Jesus gives us an example of his healing power. However, there is more to the story if we look closely:

John 5:2-9:

2Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.[b] 5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7″Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Here is a guy that has been sitting next to this same exact pool, in the same exact place for 38 years. It takes a lot of faith to keep coming back for 38 years in order to receive a healing doesn’t it? Or does it? Notice what Jesus said to the man in verse 6? He asks the invalid, “Do you want to get well?” What a question! To us, it seems the answer must be obvious. Many of us may even commend the man for his faith to keep coming back 38 years and hoping for a miracle.

It turns out that there were people that would camp out at the pool and beg for money. They didn’t want to go into the pool and be healed as they were pretty comfortable earning a living by begging. What purpose would be served if Jesus had healed someone like that? They may actually get kinda mad at Jesus for taking away their livelihood! Others were there because they just wanted to feel sorry for themselves. They weren’t believing in being healed as they would never enter the pool, choosing instead to sit on the sidelines and complain about how bad life was and how they couldn’t even get help into the pool as no one cares about them. Again, what purpose would it serve if they were healed by Jesus? None, as they would just wander off somewhere and find something else to cause them to feel burdened upon and sorry for themselves.

Now, ask yourself a question. Which one of these describes you? As much as we try to portray ourselves as strong and above it all, we each have experienced our own pity party at some point. We each have been in a situation where we have made excuses for things not happening as a way to just not keep going. A lot of us just keep doing the same old thing regardless of whether it works or not because we are such creatures of habit!

What if Jesus is asking you right now if you want to be delivered from your affliction? If you want to do what it takes to get that job and find a way to make ends meet or if you just want to keep pretending to look for a job and complain that there is too much competition so you’ll never get hired. What if Jesus is asking you to stop saying “Woe is me!” and make a decision to take a step in the right direction?

In verse 7 the invalid actually tries to make an excuse. He says no one will help him get into the pool and he is always just a little too slow on his own to make it. You know what Jesus does? It’s right there in verse 8. He doesn’t even acknowledge the excuses! Jesus hears the man, but immediately replies by telling him to, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” With this, the man gets up and walks away.

If we’d just look to Jesus to help us with our problems and be ready to respond immediately when he moves on our behalf, we would save a lot of wasted time and time pitying ourselves. You know, we’ve all gone through it and we’ll all go through it some more, but sometimes we just have to rise above it all and know that Jesus is asking us if we really want to be delivered and empowered and waiting for us to say “YES!” Won’t you stand up and pick up your mat and walk and say “YES!” to Jesus today?

In Matthew 22:39 we are commanded by Christ to “love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, love others equally as you would love yourself. However, what if you really don’t love yourself very much? Interesting dilemma!

It’s really okay to feel good about yourself…really! You were created in the image of a loving God that cares for you more than words can say. He wants you to embrace that love and unleash it onto others around you.

Believing in yourself and liking who you are is not pride and it’s not a sin. It’s encouraged by God as he wants you to celebrate life and your relationship with him! Through you others can come to know God’s love for them and realize they are important. If you don’t appreciate yourself and your ability to contribute then how can God show his love through you? Therefore don’t be ashamed or afraid to give yourself hug and tell yourself how great you are and that God has an awesome plan for your life and it will affect a lot of other people in your lifetime. He has things planned for you that no one else will have the ability to do. God created you with a unique purpose and he needs you to see that purpose fulfilled. You matter to God and you matter to us!

Remember, it all starts with you. Let God show you how much you really mean to him and how important you are. Let him put a smile on your face and joy in your heart. Just ask him to share this with you. He’s waiting on you.

This is probably one of the most beautiful and relevant scriptures for our daily lives because it stands the test of time and offers wisdom that cannot be denied. Christian or not, these words will help empower women and cause husbands to lift up their wives as precious and lovely and serving equally within the household. There is a certain independence that comes from reading and truly understanding this chapter of Proverbs.

I am going to cite the entire chapter and ask you to find those words that God has for you today and call upon you to pray and meditate on those words. I am sharing with you the Amplified Bible version which expounds upon the definition of the original language using brackets where appropriate. Follow the footnotes that are explained at biblegateway.com though this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=pro%2031;&version=45;
and get an in-depth perspective on some of these verses which have been taken out of context.

May you come to know the full beauty of knowing Christ within you as God reveals to you the ways of the Lord for your home and family. May this time with God bring your family closer together in understanding how each member of the house should help unite the other so that God’s glory may be revealed and that your family be leave a legacy of the kingdom of heaven for all to see. May you truly come to know and live the life of being a Proverbs 31 woman:

Proverbs 31 AMP-

1THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

2What, my [a]son? What, son of my womb? What [shall I advise you], son of my vows and dedication to God?

3Give not your strength to [loose] women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings.

4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,(A)

5Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.

6Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart.

7Let him drink and forget his poverty and [seriously] remember his want and misery no more.

8Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless;(B)

9Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.(C)

10A capable, intelligent, and [b]virtuous woman–who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.(D)

11The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

12She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

13She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

14She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far [country].

15She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.(E)

16She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]

17She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

18She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

19She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

21She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.(F)

22She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].(G)

23Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.(H)

24She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

25Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

26She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

27She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.(I)

28Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

29[c]Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

30Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!(J)

There is something that we as Christians must always heed. No man on this earth has the authority to alter the Word of God. Yes, I know that the Bible as we know it today was written through the hands of men. However, my emphasis is on adding words to the scripture, not interpretation.

There are people out there that claim they are the embodiment of Jesus coming back to claim his bride. There are signs that will follow so that we may know the real Christ. There are people out there that will call upon you to dig down deep into your pockets so that they can expand their ministry with a new jet aircraft. They say it is God’s will for them to travel in such an elaborate style, but with Jesus not even knowing where he would rest his head at night when he came upon some cities, does a personal jet really become God’s will for an evangelist?

I’m not criticizing or being judgmental. I am merely asking you to really look for confirmation of what someone tells you by God’s own Word first. Be in prayer and seek wisdom. Don’t just believe that because someone looks like a pastor or has a title or serves within a particular capacity within ministry that they always speak God’s truth.

Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

As we are about to conclude our 31 days of prayer and mediation in Proverbs this week, I ask that you will prayerfully seek the Lord’s will as you read the devotions and pray. Always uphold my words against the living word of God and follow God’s Word over my words always! May you do the same for everything that is presented to you through man that is credited to be from God.

Proverbs 29:19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words;
though he understands, he will not respond.

This is something that I believe all of us understand in theory, but don’t always put into practice. Too many times I have heard stories from teens where their parents will punish them for their language, but their parents use worse language and that is okay. It gets even deeper. Parents will tell their children not to have sex before they are married or not to take drugs or drink alcohol, yet the kids know their parents have done these exact things. Then, the parents will say that just because they did it does not make it right and it is their hope that the kids will learn from the mistakes of the parents and benefit from their wisdom. ERRRRRRRRR! Just stop it right there! This tactic just doesn’t work. Do as I say, not as I do has no credibility in anyone’s world!

If we aren’t willing to be examples of what we teach, how can we expect others to follow our ways? That is the awesome thing about Jesus. Not only does he give us wisdom through his teaching, but he lived the life in the flesh for the world to see. He never stumbled or compromised. When Jesus teaches something we can know that he lived it himself.

What can you eliminate from your life that sets a bad example for others? Especially if you’re a parent, I would hope you would take this verse to heart. Could you give up drinking to avoid putting yourself in compromising positions? If you think taking out your co-workers for drinks after work and then saying some dumb things will help them respect your authority in the workplace, you are totally wrong. if you tell your girlfriend to be more responsible in staying in touch with you, shouldn’t you do the same thing? There are so many things we do, consciously and sub-consciously that reveal us to be somewhat hypocritical. Let’s seek the Lord, ask His forgiveness, and start being better examples of what we say. Respect cannot be demanded, but it must be earned.

It’s rare to find someone that isn’t a professing Christian that really understands this idea, but lying, stealing, cheating, and being deceitful to cover up your mistakes really doesn’t gain you anything. It has nothing to do with whether only Christians can be moral. When I was an atheist I felt I had a strong moral compass. However, when one is not a Christian it’s easy to rationalize taking advantage of others for our own personal gain or to do some things we can get away with because they aren’t smart enough to figure it out and it’s not your place to educate them. In reality, this mindset is just wrong!

Proverbs 28:13 tells us:

If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.

If you’re an unbeliever reading this, it probably seems like it’s false. There are people that hide things and yet they are very successful, right? However, the context of this verse has to do with being successful from a heavenly perspective, not a worldly one.

Not only is confessing our mistakes to God a continual process in humbling ourselves before God, but it removes a tremendous burden from our shoulders always! We’re better off confessing our mistakes to others and taking what happens as a result than we are by trying to continually keep lying to cover it up. God doesn’t want anyone to feel guilty, yet without God we can find plenty in our lives that cause us to feel guilty.

If you’re feeling guilty about something, stop it! Confess it to God and He will offer forgiveness and remove it from his memory as if it never happened. He will never use it against you in the future or cause you to feel guilt or shame. Whatever is causing your guilt, won’t you connect with the person you were dishonest to or took advantage of and just let them know you’re sorry and ask their forgiveness? Isn’t it about time? Take the opportunity to let go of that burden and start enjoying the life God wants you to experience. Let the guilt be replaced with peace and joy.

One of the things that we tend to struggle with is giving in to anger or emotion or retribution because we are provoked by another. It’s easy to make excuses and blame others, but with Christ in us, can we really say, “Tom made me do it?” or whoever it is that you believe caused your mis-step? If we are to be a reflection of Jesus, can someone else’s words really make us look bad? Should we really stand on our own pride and ego if we are to be Christ-like in our ways?

This is one of the most difficult things to do as Satan knows we are sinful in nature and therefore we are going to be prone to be temporarily blinded when someone gets in our face and calls us out and we respond by lashing out verbally or physically as we sense a threat or damage to our pride. As Jesus told us in Matthew 5, it’s not eye for an eye, but turn the other cheek. It’s almost impossible to comprehend when someone is trying to get us riled up, but the one thing that ends this is to let them have their stupid way and eventually they leave to go pick on someone else, or they come to realize how stupid they are acting and just stop. It goes much farther than giving into their way and trying to fight back.

Just know that Proverbs 27:3 really is true:

Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

The weight of publicly feeling like we are being made to look like a fool or the butt of someone’s jokes or being asked to respond to the idiotic question, “What are you gonna do about it?” is really heavy. However, the weight of giving into the provoking from another is an even bigger burden and it sets a never-ending trap to always respond the same way. Be above the urge to play Satan’s game and just stop. Let them have their fun or appear to have the upper hand. In reality, as you have Christ on your side and his love in your heart, you will prevail. It’s a matter of trusting in God or trusting in the greatest liar Satan. The choice is yours.

Have you ever had a time–maybe even now–where things seem to be closing in on you and you don’t know what to do? You question why you of all people should have to deal with such a thing? After everything you’ve been through, you ask, “When will it all end?”

As difficult as it is going to sound, I’d ask you to just step back and believe that you are going to get through it. Whether it is a threat of something due to not having enough money or losing a job while you have debt or struggling with temptations…whatever it is, just pause and give it all to the Lord. Tell him that you’re believing this isn’t for you and that you will rise above it by trusting that God has bigger and better plans for you and that he intends to prosper you rather than harm you just like it is revealed in Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV):

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Don’t let the deceit of Satan the liar get the best of you. All sorts of calamity may appear to be raining down upon your head or your house, but do not fear. Stuff is always going to happen around you, but you have been given faith in order to have hope and know that there is always a positive outcome in the works of the Lord.

Reflect today on the words of Proverbs 26:2 this time from The Message translation:

You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse
as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow.

Believe the curse is undeserved because God would not cause you harm! Treat it as if you were being descended upon by a tiny little sparrow. Obviously, the much-smaller sparrow would not intend you to be its target so you would not be concerned. In Christ, you are bigger than anything any devil would throw at you. It’s time to take a stand and profess in the name of Christ that you are not going to give in to the lies and fear and the stress of this world. Trust in God and he will see you through anything. Even though the sky is dark and the clouds look ominous, you may see the light of day before you see any rain.

In verse 4 of the King James Version (KJV) we find that the language used isn’t common for most of us today. The word dross is used:

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

What is dross? Well we can guess or look it up, but I’m sure you know what we typically do. We’ll just skip over that and go onto to the next passage. When we do this, we lose a lot as the passage we skip must be relevant and intended to be known by us or it would not have been included in the scriptures.

One of the things I like to do is go to other translations and see how verses are interpreted or sometimes even spend longer periods of time just in one different translation to get a different perspective. For study this isn’t good as some translations are paraphrases and not completely accurate to the original language (Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic), but for meditation it is great in my opinion!

Let’s take a look at verse 4 in other translations and see if it helps:

NIV: Remove the dross from the silver,
and out comes material for the silversmith;

This is exactly the same translation used in the KJV so most-likely we’d just skim past it too.

NLT: Remove the impurities from silver,
and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.

Ah, this is beginning to make sense now to those of us that don’t know the meaning of the word dross. It’s like impurities. We could have probably guessed that, but should we approach the Bible guessing about what it means?

Let’s look at one more translation and see if it offers any more help:

CEV: Silver must be purified

before it can be used

to make something of value.

Can you see how this elaborates even further than the NLT version? It’s not just that the impurities must be removed from the silver before the silversmith can use it; instead, we must have the impurities removed from the silver so that the silversmith can make something valuable. Now that is something that most people can read and come to understand clearly without a dictionary or without having to guess.

I’d encourage you to refer to translations like the NLT (New Living Translation) or the CEV (Contemporary English Version) to help in your devotion and meditation time. It will allow you to know and understand some of those things that God wants you to give up (impurities) so that he (silversmith) can present you as something valuable to others. We must keep in mind too that we are of tremendous value in God’s eyes just as we are! We should remember that he would leave the 99 to go after the 1 that went astray (Matthew 18:12-14). So, we don’t remove impurities to be more valuable to God, instead we become more valuable for God to use us so that someone else can be found.

May God be perfecting you as precious silver so that others can look at you and see the beauty in God and all that he creates.

Proverbs 24:26:

An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.

Some of us need that sweet kiss of honesty and some of us need to offer more honesty. There really isn’t thing good about a lie regardless of the context. It sets a trap to justify more lies. Stand firm in your honesty and it will be as if those around you just got a kiss on the lips.

Is there someone you weren’t completely honest with that deserves to know the whole truth? Won’t you make an effort to seek their forgiveness and give them the rest of the story?