Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. (Ecclesiastes 10:1,3)
Devotional Guide
Not only is foolishness repulsive, it announces itself to everyone in the vicinity but the fool who is exuding it. When we walk in foolishness the aroma of our life is a stench, announcing to the world our lack of alignment with wisdom and God’s character. Compare this with the sweet aroma in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15:
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ…
When we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) we lead a life submitted to Jesus Christ resulting in that sweet fragrance of His character and nature surrounding it as He transforms us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). We won’t have to announce it. The sweet allure of our Lord’s nature will become noticeable, drawing to God those whom He is calling to Himself and repulsing others who have made up their mind to reject Him.
Prayer
Lord, show us the dead flies in our lives — those unsubmitted areas of our character that reek of the stench of foolishness — overpowering the sweet scent of Your glory and character, Christ in us. We invite You in and ask You to renew our hearts and minds, our very nature, in You.
Connect
I want to hear from you! How is God speaking to you? Connect with me by leaving a comment. If this devotional was helpful to you consider liking and subscribe for more! Until next time, all God’s blessings be yours in Christ Jesus.
“Everyone needs a Timothy and everyone needs a Paul in their life.”
I’ll never forget the quote above. My pastor used to say it. He meant that we should be keeping a sharp eye out for those younger less experienced Christians in the body of Christ to lead, mentor, and disciple; as well as looking ahead to catch up to those whose walk is deeper and more mature than our own. Our Christian walk is one hand reaching back to give assistance, one hand reaching forward to receive, and both eyes fixed on Jesus.
Someone has said that the best leaders are also great followers. They are ever learning. Ever growing. Ever changing. They are students of others. The best disciples are the same way. Primarily, we are students of Christ. After all, the word disciple means to be a follower or learner of (someone/something).
Find a Mentor
But, sometimes life decisions and relationships can get confusing, even if you are reading the Bible and earnestly seeking the Lord. Oh, what a significant difference it can make to have a living, breathing example of Christlikeness! How great a guidance it is to witness first hand a gracious but truthful handling of difficult situations and people by a follower of Christ, a man or woman whose life reflects the maturity of one transformed by submission to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God!
*Note* If you don’t have the opportunity to be mentored by someone in your life like this, take heart! God gives this opportunity to many but not all. Just keep seeking the Lord! He will faithfully lead you and you will someday have the opportunity to be for others the mentor you did not have.
Be a Mentor
As you walk in the footsteps of faithful Christ-following men and women, soaking in lessons, gleaning the precious gems of wisdom for life and following Christ that they share with you through counsel or example, do not forget to ask God to show you someone who you can lead also. What is given to us is meant for us to freely give away. Don’t store it up for yourself only. Pass it on. Find a “Timothy.” Come alongside a younger brother or sister and help them along the journey. Encourage them, point them to a deeper relationship with Christ. Model for them how to navigate the situations of life with wisdom, and humility, with submission to the Holy Spirit and the commandments of God.
Final Thoughts
Through each of our obedience to the Lord and our love and care for one another, may the body of Christ be built up and brought to maturity! The Lord bless each of you in every way. May He give you a Paul. May He give you a Timothy. And may you fix your eyes on Christ as you ultimately follow Him!
1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
“…Is there not a lie [idol] in my right hand?” (Isaiah 44:20 NASB, 1995)
I had been making and chasing idols of all kinds, both tangible and intangible for many years. When I could no longer believe the lie of one idol, it lost its appeal and I cast it aside. But instead of turning to God I was always quick to find another and cling to it, the flash and appeal of a new lie I hadn’t yet tasted.
They were heavy. They were harmful. They led me to brokenness in so many ways.
This conversation was the beginning of the end of my idolatry:
“Mom had a stroke.” He said softly.
“Oh my God!” I reached my hand out, touching his arm comfortingly. The words that came next were unexpected.
“I may need to move back to help them out.” He said.
My eyes widened, taking in the implications of my then boyfriend (and the main breadwinner of our home) moving out of state.
“Well I won’t be moving if we’re not married!” I shot back as I recoiled.
“I didn’t say you had to.” Came the soft response. “Go or stay, that’s your choice, but I may need to go.”
Here was another idol, my relationship, being brought into the light, its deception crumbling. It was full of compromise and trial. My boyfriend was an alcoholic and we were both miserable. But I needed him. And I clung to him. I had found security in knowing I had someone who was committed to me, who would always be there for me. I knew my relationship was solid, until I realized it wasn’t.
I was living a lie. In a flash I realized I didn’t believe my status as girlfriend held the same rights and security as a wife. Our conversation proved just how fragile our commitment really was. Waking up from pretending was devastating. I had thought I could take God’s rules and discard them to build my own empire, my way. But God is a great King and the Creator of all things and His ways are not lightly cast aside without consequence.
“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV)
Truth crumbles the castles and fortresses of the darkness, it changes perceptions and directions. Truth is the only lasting Cornerstone. When we’re groping our way through the darkness and suddenly stub our toe on the immovable unyielding truth, we can curse it for confronting us or we can embrace it and build on it. I had a long track record of cursing and stumbling and I was weary of it.
I let go of the idol, the lie, that was in my right hand. I humbled myself and asked real questions. Looked for real answers. I started attending a small Bible study. I wanted what was real and I wanted life. I found it in Jesus Christ.
“Lord, I’ve made such a mess. None of the things I chased after and held on to have taken me anywhere good. They have wounded and broken me and left me empty. My life is a wreck and it’s spinning out of control. If You’re willing, I give You all this broken mess and whatever is left of me. I bow before You as King. From here on out, I will follow You. No exceptions.”
That was the prayer I prayed in 2019. Since that time, I have since been increasingly living within the boundaries God created and has given us in His word. Living in the Light of fellowship with Him and with His people. The change He has wrought in my life is immeasurable.
Surrendering everything to Jesus resulted in the death of the old me and that was excruciating. But it resulted in new life. Abundant life. Peace. Fulfillment. Flourishing. I want that for you too.
Prayer and Reflection
Lord, reveal to us the deceptions, the lies, the idols we have unknowingly taken hold of and clung to. Let us be transformed by the truth of Your word and Your Son. We humble ourselves before you and seek You.
Friend, are there any idols, any lies, that the Lord has revealed to you? Is there any misplaced hope for fulfillment?
Will you cast it aside and build on the Rock, Jesus Christ? If you do, you will not be put to shame, for all your deeds will then be wrought in the Light.
The one who builds his life, his house, on the foundation that is Jesus builds an everlasting house. A thing both strong and beautiful, wrought of the Lord, that no storm of life or wind of change can tear down.
“Behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.” (Isaiah 54:11 KJV)
I gave my life fully to Christ in late 2019, and my whole world turned upside down (or should I say, right side up?)
Since that moment God has continuously, painstakingly immersed me in, and walked me through, a series of fires to burn away the dross of old vices, mindsets, and worldly perspectives.
The purifying changes God has wrought in my heart and mind; the things I have learned about His nature and character and word, I long to make known to you. My burning desire is that the church may experience increased fellowship with our Father, and with one another. May you be both challenged and encouraged along your journey and be “built up in your most holy faith.”
With this desire in mind, I dedicate this blog to You, O Lord. You are the Living and True God, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer and Friend. Lord Jesus, I hold all things loosely so as not to grab or grasp at something not made for or given to me, and whether whether this blog reaches one or many, as for me, I chase after You. Let me gaze upon Your Word and upon Your works and may I never be the same.
I leave you today with these words, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” (1 John1:3-4)
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