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PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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In our next section of Proverbs three, we are counseled by the Lord to change our allegiances in this life. No longer should the child of God trust in his or her own strength and individual wisdom; instead, we are simply called to trust in the Lord in all our ways. 

We can hear this call from God in the passage that follows:

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

(Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV11)

Godward

Again, we see that God is calling us out. We are being called out of a life of self and into a life of Godward trust. 

Today’s Wisdom

In our world today, we are told that our “gut” is the most trustworthy source of wisdom. What we feel, what we desire, what we “instinctually” understand to be true, these are the bedrocks of our modern epistemology (search for truth). 

Every day we hear some version of this flesh-centered lie that tells us that the highest good we can accomplish in this short life is to seek to be happy in all our ways. Whatever makes you feel like your true self, this is what we are counseled to embrace to the exclusion of all other truths.

Deep End

In Proverbs we are called by God to get out of the shallow end of the philosophical pool and to dive headlong into trust of someone outside of your influence. We are called to cast off our tiny truths and immature thoughts and to take on the grandeur of God’s wisdom.  

As we do, we will experience something far greater than physical happiness or the satiation of our fleshly desires. Embracing God’s wisdom will turn us away from the corruption of the body and the atrophy of our minds. The more we engage with God’s wisdom, the stronger our minds grow and the more wholesome our lives become. 

Echoed

Jesus Christ echoed this same calling while teaching his disciples in the sermon on the mount. We can hear his addition to this wisdom in the following passage:

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(Matthew 6:31-34 NIV11)

Explicit

Our Lord makes the message of Proverbs three explicit. The faithless world seeks out that which satisfies the flesh, while the child of God must learn to seek first that which the Lord God values most. 

The worries of this world will never cease. If we place our trust in politics, hedonism, and gratification of our fleshly desires, we will never be satisfied. They are like sugar on the lips. They taste sweet at first, but when we swallow them down into our souls, they make us sick. 

Out 

God’s word calls the willing out of this trap. 

•   Do not trust in your own wisdom and strength. 
•   Do not turn to the wisdom of this world for answers. 
•   Do not follow your instincts and desires over the clear truth of God’s word. 

Instead, trust in the Lord with all of your intellect, with all of your heart, and with all that is within you. As you lean not on your own understanding, the Lord will make your path straight and will add to you all that you truly need. 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I struggle with the temptation to listen to my own wisdom and the wisdom of the world around me. The voices of our times are loud and persuasive and I can get caught up in that which they claim as being of most value. Today, help me turn back to what is real, true, and eternal. Help me to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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