August 4, 2026 -- Proverbs 13:23 -- How far-reaching is your confidence in God?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice. Proverbs 13:23 ESV
 
No doubt most of you reading this devotional are men and women who live in the city and are not too familiar with agricultural practices. Fallow ground refers to fields which are, for the seventh year, not planted. In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to leave their fields fallow, untilled, unplanted (Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus 25:1-7). It is a reference to the fact that once every seven years the land could rest and replenish. It is a command to trust God. He promised He will provide such a plentiful harvest for His people in the sixth year, that it would last through the sixth year, the seventh (the year of rest), and the eighth. That eighth year the faithful farmer would still be eating of the abundance of the fields and vineyards from the sixth year, while he waited for his current crop to yield food. It is a picture of a man (a woman, a family) that obeys God and trusts Him for every good thing.
 
Those who are workers of injustice are fools. They are men and women who refuse to obey God’s commands. They can be rich people who believe themselves to a law unto themselves. They can be rulers who require the people to live one way, while themselves break the commands of God. They can be men and women, who are part of God’s people, but do not keep His commands, out of fear that He will not do what He says He will do. Or, as verse 11 teaches, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it” (Proverbs 13:11). Typical right? Men and women usually know the ways of God but instead of obeying, in their pride think they know better than God. Instead of gathering little by little, they will aim for get rich schemes. Or will rip off the poor, or family members, or those who are in their care. Or such persons will waste precious money on lottery tickets.
 
Dear family in our Lord Jesus Christ—as sons and daughters of the Most High God, we have learned obedience is not a quick fix. One of Eugene Peterson’s books is called, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”. That is such a wonderful description of our faith in Jesus Christ. We are continually learning the commands of God (not so that God will love us, He already loves us through the reconciling work of our Lord Jesus Christ). The more we learn the rules God gives us for life, the more we can be putting them into practice so that our lives are an expression of thanksgiving to Him. The Holy Spirit takes verses like these, which can seem obscure, and reveals to us what it looks like to trust God, not only for our salvation, but how our trust in God touches every single sphere of our life: social, family, community, finances, work ethic, obedience, play time, teaching the next generation, planning for the future and so on.
 
Father in heaven, thank You for Your great and tender love demonstrated to us in Jesus. Thank You for the Bible, which shows us how to live, and express our life-long thanksgiving to You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, Your presence in us helps us to understand the word, enables us to see Jesus more fully. Jesus, Who is the Living Word and the radiance of the Father’s glory. Spirit, empower us, to really know Jesus, so we can, in wonder and love, whole-heartedly serve Him. Let our lives are an expression of praise to You Triune God, as we fulfil the holy purposes for which You made us. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/pTTlSx6zXio?si=nS_Kh3cxTMy5sO9p Knowing You, Jesus
 

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