Boy, Proverbs 10 is like a tennis match. It bounces back and forth between the righteous and the wicked.
"The fear of the Lord prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." Proverb 10:27
I've read this verse many times but it has only been within the last year or so that I have really seen the truth of this verse. The Bible says (in Proverbs, actually) that the way of a transgressor is hard.
Sin has many different effects on people. One effect I have noticed in the past year has been how it can really age a person. I know people who have, in the past few years, decided to turn away from God and live their life however they so chose and I can see the effects of their lifestyle. They can sometimes look far older than they really are and on the same note, I know people who have resisted sin and strive to live a clean, God-honoring life and they look much younger than their actual age.
Another thought that can be drawn out of today's proverb is the way you lead your life is always being watched by others.
"He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; but he that pervertheth his ways shall be known." Proverb 10:9
His ways shall be known. I know in the verse it is discussing a man that is leading an unholy life ad how his ways are known but your ways are known whether they be upright or not.
When you lead an upright, holy and clean life, others will see it and know you by it. But when you lead of life of sin and follow every temptation laid before you, well, others see that as well and know you by it.
Which would you rather be described as: upright or perverted?
Keep in the Book and allow Him to be your Guide rather than you and you can find yourself living an upright life, free of concern of the judgment or condemnation of others, free to do as much for Him as He will allow. There are all kinds of blessings intertwined with for God, I believe this is one of the subtil ones.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Day 9
"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding." Proverb 9:6
When you become a Christian, a saved, born-again Christian, you change. There is a super-natural change that is brought about within you.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
There are many changes that take place, some happen faster than others but the changes, they always come.
When I read verse 6 of today's proverb, that's what I thought of..changes.
Times of change are not always the easiest times to go through. They can be trying times, challenging times, difficult times.
But verse tells us we need to forsake the foolish and go in the way of understanding. This is sometimes easiest right after we get saved. Our eyes have just been opened to the Bible and God and His standards and expectations and desires and we can see ourselves stuck in the life we had been living up to that point and it can be easy to discern the foolish things from the right things.
But what about 10 years down the road? Is it still as easy to discern?
It should be.
We may not have as many foolish things in our life after being saved and in the Word for a few years but I'm sure if we examined ourselves and our lives, we could find some foolish things in our lives.
I know I have. I don't think there is anything wrong with self-examinations. Wait, maybe I should restate that. I don't think there is anything wrong with periodic self-examinations.
In fact, I know that I need to examine my self, examine my life, my speech, my thoughts and actions from time to time.
Even better, is when I allow God to examine me.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24
We don't always like to actually pray that prayer for God to search, in fear of what He will find and expose to us. We can very easily turn a blind eye to our own faults and foolishness. And when I say "we", I do mean myself included.
I believe the wise thing to do, is to regularly ask God to search out your heart, you mind, your thoughts, your life and ask Him to reveal unto you the "foolishness" that you are holding onto and carrying with you. When He does show you those things, address them (don't ignore them) and forsake them. This will free you up and allow God to guide you in the way of everlasting and in the way of understanding.
"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding." Proverb 9:6
I've got some evaluating to do.
When you become a Christian, a saved, born-again Christian, you change. There is a super-natural change that is brought about within you.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
There are many changes that take place, some happen faster than others but the changes, they always come.
When I read verse 6 of today's proverb, that's what I thought of..changes.
Times of change are not always the easiest times to go through. They can be trying times, challenging times, difficult times.
But verse tells us we need to forsake the foolish and go in the way of understanding. This is sometimes easiest right after we get saved. Our eyes have just been opened to the Bible and God and His standards and expectations and desires and we can see ourselves stuck in the life we had been living up to that point and it can be easy to discern the foolish things from the right things.
But what about 10 years down the road? Is it still as easy to discern?
It should be.
We may not have as many foolish things in our life after being saved and in the Word for a few years but I'm sure if we examined ourselves and our lives, we could find some foolish things in our lives.
I know I have. I don't think there is anything wrong with self-examinations. Wait, maybe I should restate that. I don't think there is anything wrong with periodic self-examinations.
In fact, I know that I need to examine my self, examine my life, my speech, my thoughts and actions from time to time.
Even better, is when I allow God to examine me.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24
We don't always like to actually pray that prayer for God to search, in fear of what He will find and expose to us. We can very easily turn a blind eye to our own faults and foolishness. And when I say "we", I do mean myself included.
I believe the wise thing to do, is to regularly ask God to search out your heart, you mind, your thoughts, your life and ask Him to reveal unto you the "foolishness" that you are holding onto and carrying with you. When He does show you those things, address them (don't ignore them) and forsake them. This will free you up and allow God to guide you in the way of everlasting and in the way of understanding.
"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding." Proverb 9:6
I've got some evaluating to do.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Day 8
"Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me, findeth life and shall obtain favor of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." Proverb 8:33-36
Wow. Today's Proverb was jam-packed with great verses about wisdom. It describes how wisdom cries out and wants to be sought after, how wisdom was there when God created everything. It also talks about it's inestimable worth!
"For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things may be desired are not to be compared to it." Proverb 8:11
Our culture desires many things but wisdom doesn't exactly seem to top the list.
Wow. Today's Proverb was jam-packed with great verses about wisdom. It describes how wisdom cries out and wants to be sought after, how wisdom was there when God created everything. It also talks about it's inestimable worth!
"For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things may be desired are not to be compared to it." Proverb 8:11
Our culture desires many things but wisdom doesn't exactly seem to top the list.
Can you imagine where we would be as a culture if wisdom was a top priority and desire? Can you imagine where you would be if you sought wisdom first and foremost in your life?
Seek it daily, wait by the posts...when you find wisdom, you will find life and favor of the Lord!
So Christian, where is wisdom found on your list of priorities?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Day 7
So thus far in the book of Proverbs, the importance of wisdom is quite obvious. We've read verses of how instruction is thy life and how we are to keep our hearts with all diligence and yesterday we were reminded to bind the wisdom of the Word of God upon our hearts.
Today, we are given a great example of why we ought to hearken unto wisdom.
"Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded; yea many strong men have been slain by her." Proverbs 7:24-26
Proverbs 7 tells the tale of a young man who yielded to a harlot.
I am quite familiar with this chapter. I've heard sermons preached out this chapter and I have read over it and studied out. It's not exactly one of my favorite chapters in Proverbs but it does have a lot of good stuff to draw out.
As I thought about this chapter today, I began to ponder the scenario of what are we to do once we begin to obtain wisdom. You know, so far in Proverbs, we are told over and over and over again to get wisdom, to keep it, to bind it up our hearts and wear it around our necks. We're not to let wisdom go.
Great. But once I have some wisdom, what do I do with it?
Use it.
Use it to discern the right choice from the wrong choice, the right place from the wrong place.
Our young man from today's Proverb found himself in the wrong place. Actually, I think he knew exactly where he was, he simply chose the wrong place.
"Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night; and behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart." Proverbs 7:8-10
Verse 8 tells us the young man was near her corner and he went the way to her house. He knew where to find sin. We all know where to find sin. It isn't exactly hiding. We don't need to search it out. But this young fella, he went after it. He meandered in a place where he should not have been. He could have spared himself, had he used some wisdom to discern that he did not belong in that neighborhood.
I also thought of Solomon. God offered him anything and he chose wisdom. Great choice. He is the one who actually wrote the Proverbs. However, I thought to myself, "Where did all that wisdom get Solomon?" He didn't exactly end his life victoriously serving God.
He let his guard down. He stopped using the wisdom God had given him and he allowed his heart to be drawn away from God unto other idols. This, in large part, was a result of all the wives he had. Solomon allowed himself to be surrounded by people who did not seek after God's wisdom. Solomon found himself surrounded by the wrong people.
So what are we to do with wisdom, as we obtain it from God and His Word. We are to keep it. Use it. Allow it to work in us and guide us. If we don't, we allow our hearts to be unguarded and make ourselves vulnerable to sin.
Seek after wisdom and when you get it, put it to use right away, allow it to become your habit and your guide.
Today, we are given a great example of why we ought to hearken unto wisdom.
"Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded; yea many strong men have been slain by her." Proverbs 7:24-26
Proverbs 7 tells the tale of a young man who yielded to a harlot.
I am quite familiar with this chapter. I've heard sermons preached out this chapter and I have read over it and studied out. It's not exactly one of my favorite chapters in Proverbs but it does have a lot of good stuff to draw out.
As I thought about this chapter today, I began to ponder the scenario of what are we to do once we begin to obtain wisdom. You know, so far in Proverbs, we are told over and over and over again to get wisdom, to keep it, to bind it up our hearts and wear it around our necks. We're not to let wisdom go.
Great. But once I have some wisdom, what do I do with it?
Use it.
Use it to discern the right choice from the wrong choice, the right place from the wrong place.
Our young man from today's Proverb found himself in the wrong place. Actually, I think he knew exactly where he was, he simply chose the wrong place.
"Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night; and behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart." Proverbs 7:8-10
Verse 8 tells us the young man was near her corner and he went the way to her house. He knew where to find sin. We all know where to find sin. It isn't exactly hiding. We don't need to search it out. But this young fella, he went after it. He meandered in a place where he should not have been. He could have spared himself, had he used some wisdom to discern that he did not belong in that neighborhood.
I also thought of Solomon. God offered him anything and he chose wisdom. Great choice. He is the one who actually wrote the Proverbs. However, I thought to myself, "Where did all that wisdom get Solomon?" He didn't exactly end his life victoriously serving God.
He let his guard down. He stopped using the wisdom God had given him and he allowed his heart to be drawn away from God unto other idols. This, in large part, was a result of all the wives he had. Solomon allowed himself to be surrounded by people who did not seek after God's wisdom. Solomon found himself surrounded by the wrong people.
So what are we to do with wisdom, as we obtain it from God and His Word. We are to keep it. Use it. Allow it to work in us and guide us. If we don't, we allow our hearts to be unguarded and make ourselves vulnerable to sin.
Seek after wisdom and when you get it, put it to use right away, allow it to become your habit and your guide.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Day 6
"My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee: and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee." Proverbs 6:20-22
Take the Word of God and bind it to your heart, embed it in your mind. When you need it, it will be there.
Today, I'm taking this as a reminder of the importance of memorizing scripture. A famous phrase comes to mind: "Sin kept me from it now it keeps me from sin."
Very true words. I have experienced it myself. My encouragement for you today, reader, is to find a verse to mediate on and take this week to memorize it - bind it upon your heart.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Day 5
Proverbs 5
Today, I chose verse 21: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings."
Initially when I chose this verse this morning, I figured I would relate it to the fact that no matter where we are or where we go, God is ever-present. He always knows exactly where we are...at all times. That thought can be both comforting but it can also be quite sobering. It's comforting to know He is there, watching out for us, even when we lock our keys in our car. It can be quite sobering though, especially when we are not serving Him the way we ought to our when we find ourselves in the middle of sin.
That was my initial thought on this verse, but as it swirled about in my mind this evening, it began to broaden the boundaries of my original thought.
I thought about how we, as Christians, never really have to worry about being lost because our ways are before the eyes of the Lord and we know that He will go and seek after His lost sheep.
Lost.
That word seemed to just hang in the air like a dense morning fog.
Sometimes I feel lost. Not lost in the sense that some of you might think, not lost in the sense of being a "lost" person but sometimes lost in life.
Am I really doing what God would have me to do? Is this where God wants me? Is this what God wants me to be doing right now?
I'm just going to be honest here folks, there are times when I question if I have missed major opportunities the the Lord wanted me to seize. I wonder from time to time if I made decisions contrary to what God really wanted for me.
There are some areas in my life that I don't doubt at all. I want to be sure that is clear. I am very grateful for the privilege I have to be a Sunday School teacher and I know the things I am currently doing, I am doing them because I know God wants me to but some time I just wonder if there were opportunities that I let pass by.
The answer maybe yes, that I have let opportunities pass by but I can know that no matter which way I go, it is always before the Lord. Verse 21 from today's Proverb, encourages me to be sure my ways are worthy for God to see. When He sees where I am going and what I am doing I want to please Him. So even if I have let opportunities pass by, this verse is a great reminder to remain aware of what I am doing and to touch base with God and make sure we are on the same page...or for me to make sure I am on His page!
"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings." Proverbs 5:21
Today, I chose verse 21: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings."
Initially when I chose this verse this morning, I figured I would relate it to the fact that no matter where we are or where we go, God is ever-present. He always knows exactly where we are...at all times. That thought can be both comforting but it can also be quite sobering. It's comforting to know He is there, watching out for us, even when we lock our keys in our car. It can be quite sobering though, especially when we are not serving Him the way we ought to our when we find ourselves in the middle of sin.
That was my initial thought on this verse, but as it swirled about in my mind this evening, it began to broaden the boundaries of my original thought.
I thought about how we, as Christians, never really have to worry about being lost because our ways are before the eyes of the Lord and we know that He will go and seek after His lost sheep.
Lost.
That word seemed to just hang in the air like a dense morning fog.
Sometimes I feel lost. Not lost in the sense that some of you might think, not lost in the sense of being a "lost" person but sometimes lost in life.
Am I really doing what God would have me to do? Is this where God wants me? Is this what God wants me to be doing right now?
I'm just going to be honest here folks, there are times when I question if I have missed major opportunities the the Lord wanted me to seize. I wonder from time to time if I made decisions contrary to what God really wanted for me.
There are some areas in my life that I don't doubt at all. I want to be sure that is clear. I am very grateful for the privilege I have to be a Sunday School teacher and I know the things I am currently doing, I am doing them because I know God wants me to but some time I just wonder if there were opportunities that I let pass by.
The answer maybe yes, that I have let opportunities pass by but I can know that no matter which way I go, it is always before the Lord. Verse 21 from today's Proverb, encourages me to be sure my ways are worthy for God to see. When He sees where I am going and what I am doing I want to please Him. So even if I have let opportunities pass by, this verse is a great reminder to remain aware of what I am doing and to touch base with God and make sure we are on the same page...or for me to make sure I am on His page!
"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings." Proverbs 5:21
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Day 4 Keep thy heart
I knew I would have days during this challenge when I would come across a chapter that is jam-packed with great verses and that I would have difficulty selecting just one verse or one thought.
Today was one of those days.
When I opened my Bible to Proverbs 4 this morning, I noticed it was a very colorful page. I have the several verses highlighted or marked. Verses like:
Verse 5-8: "Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee; love her and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her."
Verse 13-15: "Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."
Great verses!
But I knew I would have to go with verse 23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
I'm sure I have mentioned this before but on Friday nights, my brother and his wife hold a Bible study in their home and we have spent the past few months doing an in-depth study on the tabernacle. It has been a great study and I have gotten a lot out of it and learned a lot.
One thing I learned through the study was just how very particular God is. He has a certain way He wants things done and there is nothing wrong with that because He is God!
As we were wrapping up the study, we were discussing the mercy seat and the veil and coverings. As we were studying this, my brother made the comment about how we are now currently, the temple of God. Now, I have heard messages on this subject and have read the verses about it but sitting at that table on Friday night, my mind began to click and put things together.
When they constructed the tabernacle, they were given very specific instruction about what supplies to use, how to construct it and what dimensions were to be for each piece. God was so particular about this task because it is a variation of something in Heaven. He actually dwelt in the Holy of Holies, where the mercy seat was and this was a protected area. It was protected by a 15 foot, incredibly dense veil and this room was only approached once a year.
The priest who entered this room annually had to go through a process to reach this point as well. They had to be cleansed and all their sins had to be confessed and taken care of before reaching this Holy place. This task was not taken lightly. It was very serious and very sobering, I'm sure.
With all that in mind, I began to think; since we are now the temple of God and have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us, we ought to be protecting that just as the Holy of Holies was protected. That's when verse 23 came to mind. If the Holy Spirit is dwelling inside me,let's say in my heart, than what am I doing to protect it?
God obviously thought it was important to protect the room where He and His Glory dwelt when He dwelt among Israel, why should it be any different now that He dwells within our hearts?
I've been contemplating this thought and verse since Friday night and this morning, during the preaching at church, God gave me some answers about how I can improve the protection of my heart. I have already followed through with most of them but let me ask you, reader, if you are saved and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, how are you protecting your heart?
Proverbs 4:23 tells us to protect our hearts with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. How diligent are you?
It is a great privilege and blessing to a born-again Christian, to have the Holy Spirit dwell within us and to have the access to God that we do. But we ought not to take it for granted and ought not to be flippant about it, either, Christian.
Keep your guard up. Keep your heart and be diligent about it. Ask God to examine your heart and show you where you can improve and then, most importantly, be obedient to Him. Don't resist it. Don't argue with Him about it and don't harbor things that He tells you to rid yourself of.
"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life."
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