The unity of the Spirit. Ephesians 4:3

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

There is one body, and one Spirit. Eph. 4:4

The church needs unity around the goal of it's mission: evangelize and edify...

Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Eph. 2:18-22

Unity around the chief cornerstone, Christ; Who is also the head of the body, the church

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments. Psa. 133:1, 2

Dwell with them in unity...for the sake of perceptions

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. I Pet. 1:22

We are able to 'dwell together in unity' when we are made more mature in love!

Life Pursuit...

From Samuel Bagster's Daily Light for the Daily Path Devotional [c. 1875]

...with application and prayer responses by me...

Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col. 3:1

Lord, with all my heart, I seek You, Your will, Your help, guidance and care

Get wisdom, get understanding. Prov. 4:5

Lord, I know you give it, help me to 'get it'!

The wisdom that is from above. James 3:17

The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. Job 28:14

We are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Rom. 6:4, 5

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Heb. 12:1

Lord, give me vict'ry over my sin, cause me to see the 'long look' as a runner in a race and not be overly distracted by the temporal affairs that seek to distract me

God ... hath quickened us together with Christ.... and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:4-6

Am I quickened to spiritual truths? Does my attitude transcend the temporal to the ethereal?

They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Heb. 11:14

Ah! Beulah Land, I'm longing for you! And some day on thee I'll stand; where my home remains eternal; Beulah Land; sweet Beulah Land.

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness. Zeph. 2:3

Lord, help me pursue meekness with all the power you have to give!

Proverbs 29:1-27

(1) He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Watch your response to being reproved
(2) When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
the people are mourning right now...nationally, ecclesiastically, socially
(3) Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
Your father will rejoice if you handle things the right way...evidence of immorality is a certain kind of poverty
(4) The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
bribes ruin a leader's credibility...crony-ism is a scourge to any authority
(5) A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
Be careful of flattery...giving it or receiving it...receiving it is falling into an ego-trap set for you by the one giving it
(6) In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
Evidence of a righteous heart is singing and joy...
(7) The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
A righteous heart considers the plight of the poor...the wicked don't care...
(8) Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
Scorners! they defeat everyone they're around...
(9) If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
the evident and perpetual 'disconnect' between the wise and foolish...
(10) The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
Bloodthirsty, cruel, relentless people don't necessarily just 'avoid' the upright...they focus an attitude of 'hate' on them...contrarily, the upright seek his soul...they want to know his mind, will and emotional sets; application: see an upright man? seek to know his intellectual influences, his decision processes/principles; and ups and downs
(11) A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Keep some things to yourself...
(12) If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
The hole-y umbrella in business and leadership
(13) The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
Sometimes the poor are deceitful as a life-style...it is sometimes justified [as in old gypsy culture] in order to survive...someday, though, God will illuminate their minds that fraud is wrong
(14) The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
Merciful leadership = longevity of privilege
(15) The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
what give wisdom? the rod and reproof
(16) When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
If you see offenses increase, it is evidence there are more wicked in the vicinity...the righteous will see their fall
(17) Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
Kids wearing you out? correct them properly...the result will be delight to your mind, will and emotions, not 'fatigue'
(18) Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
people perish...we need Christ's vision for the world...those that apply themselves to Christ's commands are perpetually 'happy'
(19) A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
Someone who is a servant [employee] will have learned to keep his mouth shut
(20) Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
...keep thy mouth shut...
(21) He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
...Christ, in eternity, will bring many sons to glory...those who followed His pattern as a servant....
(22) An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
who stirs up strife? someone who is angry...perpetual anger/fury is characteristic of a heart that is in transgression
(23) A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
what brings a man to a low point in his life? pride! humility = honour
(24) Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
Don't partner with a thief...you bring frustration to your mind, will and emotions in doing this wrong...to the point of hearing cursing and bewraying it not
(25) The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Faith does not bring a snare...fear does...fear of man...don't worry what man will do to you...worry what God will do if you don't obey His will for your life
(26) Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
Politics happens...but there is a judgment to come
(27) An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Bible-believers value godly character

LOVE & FORGIVE

Walk in love. Eph. 5:2

It's always amazing to me that pastors and brethren can excuse so much un-Christian and un-ethical actions in the name of Fundamentalism...they seldom walk in love, but often in self-love

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34

Love...love...love; have you not read 1 Co 13? Do you not know that your life should be characterized by this sacrificial love?

Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. I Pet. 4:8

this love should be fervent

Love covereth all sins. Prov. 10:12

this love covers all sins...as does the great love of Christ our Savior

When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

If we don't forgive, we become bound to our offender!

Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again. Luke 6:35

Love your enemies...do good to them...hope for nothing back...give yourself away!

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth. Prov. 24:17

Loving your enemies means capturing this attitude from Prov 24

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. I Pet. 3:9

Don't render evil for evil to your enemies...nor railing for railing

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Rom. 12:18

What is impossible with God? Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world...

Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4:32

be kind...be tender-hearted...forgive one another

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. I John 3:18

love in deed and in truth...be honest in your love efforts...not contrived

Christ, who is the image of God. II Cor. 4:4

The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. Isa. 40:5

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:18, 14

He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. John 14:9

The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. Heb. 1:3

God was manifest in the flesh. I Tim. 3:16

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. Col. 1:14, 15

Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom. 8:29

As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. I Cor 15:49

Fools and their...mouths [not money]

Proverbs 26:1-28 KJV

Do not honour a fool
(1) As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

Quit worrying about what might be
(2) As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

Fools are an easy target for punishment
(3) A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

When and when not to answer fools
(4) Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
(5) Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Characteristics of a fool
(6) He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
(7) The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
(8) As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
(9) As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
(10) The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
(11) As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

Don't be conceited
(12) Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Slothful men and sluggards
(13) The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
(14) As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
(15) The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
(16) The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

Meddling in strife
(17) He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

'Just joking' and other excuses for bad behavior...
(18) As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
(19) So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Talebearers and contentious men
(20) Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
(21) As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Wounds to our soul
Tale-bearing lips
(22) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Burning lips
(23) Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Dissembling lips
(24) He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
(25) When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
(26) Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

Don't lay traps for people
(27) Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

and the last word in...
(28) A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:1-28 KJV

(1) These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

God conceals...kings find honor when they search out
(2) It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

we sometimes don't know what condition a king's heart is...this would explain why there was no revolt at Saul's, David's or other kings' disobedience and resulting judgment on their people
(3) The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

O God, purge my dross! make me a vessel for the finer
(4) Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

relationships to kings...as also proposed in vv.1-3; cf. 24:21 'Fear thou the LORD AND the king..."
(5) Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
(6) Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
(7) For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
mention of the king's under-managers: princes [v.7]

Choose your battles carefully...
(8) Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
(9) Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
(10) Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

Carefully choose your speech...
(11) A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
(12) As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

Be a faithful 'messenger'...reliable, trustworthy
(13) As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Don't be a cloud or a 'blow-hard', boasting that which you cannot deliver...
(14) Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Second mention of the 'prince' in this passage...the 2nd in command to the king and very influential
(15) By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Watch that sweet-tooth!
(16) Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Pull out early on a house-call!
(17) Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

False witnesses hurt us deeply
(18) A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Be faithful and reliable
(19) Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Don't try to cheer everyone up...let Christ, the word and the Spirit do it!
(20) As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

How to treat enemies...cf. 24:17-20
(21) If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
(22) For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

Gossipers!
(23) The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

Can't live with...can't live without...can live above, though
(24) It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Bring 'good news' from a far
(25) As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

The degradation of compromise
(26) A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

Don't search your own 'greatness'
(27) It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Rule your own spirit
(28) He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.