We are given a looking glass into our own lives in Isaiah 29 and 30. What do you treasure? What do you value? What do you hold in high regard? Our lives will answer these questions without a need for us to speak. We can proclaim to act or believe in one thing or another but if our actions do not match what we say we are lying. Do you live out what you proclaim to be your faith in God? Do your actions proclaim your trust or disdain of God? “And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.’” Isaiah 29:13,14 Where is your heart? Our hearts are what truly motivate us to do everything we do. Continue Reading…
Do your actions proclaim your trust or disdain of God: Isaiah 29 and 30
We live, breathe, and endure because of God’s will: Ecclesiastes 3 and 4
Popular culture reflects upon the word and wonder of God without acknowledging His hand at work in creation. In the song ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ by the Byrds they sing “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 The song by the Byrds is a melodic tune that easily gets caught in our minds but how often do we think about the true meaning to the words? What was Solomon imparting to us with these words in Ecclesiastes? Continue Reading…
Our inherent need fulfilled in the sovereignty of God: Ecclesiastes 1 and 2
Solomon, the son of David, was imparted with great wisdom beyond measure. This king of Jerusalem did not lack anything in his life. This life of Solomon is truly what many people today are striving to obtain. If I could just have more money, family, friends, and fulfillment I would be complete. We desire to surround ourselves with items that promise satisfaction for our every desire. Will you listen to the words of the man who had everything? What did Solomon think of life? ”Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 The length and breadth of mans life is but a small ripple in the ocean of eternity. How do we reconcile the futility of our lives with the vastness of creation? What are we living for? Continue Reading…
Seek to live a life that is an abomination to the wicked: Proverbs 29 and 30
“Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!” Proverbs 30:4 Will you marvel at that wondrous creation of God? Know today that God is manifested through His handiwork in creating all things. Do not get too consumed with the things of this world because they are all passing away. To Agur son of Jakeh it was totally apparent and simple to know what mattered in life, “Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:7-9 Do desire that all falsehood and lying be removed from you? Do you desire only what is necessary to sustain you? Be vigilantly on guard and do not become so consumed with the world and its enticements so that you forget God.
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Only God can release us from our bondage to sin: Proverbs 25 and 26
“It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Proverbs 25:27,28 Foolishness is our belief that we do not need God. We seek our own glory believing that God doesn’t matter to our hopes, our dreams, and our lives? When we reject God we are seeking our own way in this world. We let loose an unquenchable appetite for anything that seems to meet the needs of the moment. Our lack of self-control leaves us helpless and weak in a world full of trouble. We were not designed by God to live out our lives seeking our desires unchecked. The more we seek out a life of sinfulness the more we become dissatisfied. ”If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.” Proverbs 25:16 It is only by God’s grace that we can overcome our inherent sinfulness. God enables us to live free from the bondage to our lust because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Continue Reading…
The impact of wisdom seen in the simplicity of honey: Proverbs 23 and 24
How does wisdom impact our lives? How do we recognize the work of wisdom around us? What is offered to us by wisdom? Can we live life without wisdom? “My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 24:13,14 Solomon equates wisdom’s effect upon our lives to that of pure and fresh honey. How would you describe honey? Would you remark on the honey’s sweetness, consistency, appearance, or the different floral nuances inherent to different kinds?
Have we forgot how truly unique honey is because we are surrounded by so many sweetened products. Was honey prized in Solomon’s culture because the sugar contained in it could sustain them in the wilderness? If we didn’t have all the unnaturally sweet products that proliferate every convenience stores we would cherish honey and its sweetness with a renewed passion. Wisdom works in the same way upon our lives. We find peace, encouragement, and hope for today and tomorrow in wisdom. There are many different things that compete for our attention but none of them will sustain us as wisdom in our lives. The worries of the world overwhelm us when we don’t allow wisdom to guide our thoughts and motives. God is the true source of wisdom for all mankind. There are people of renown who claim to have great insight and wisdom but if it is not sourced in the limitless wisdom of God it is complete foolishness. We must consistently run to the pure wisdom of God for our sustenance instead of running to the various offerings of the world.
Do you find wisdom precious? Do you value God? You must make a decision of whether you will follow God or the ways of the world but based upon this decision you will either secure a future of hope that will never be cut off or your will find yourself cut off. What is your decision? The first step you must take is to acknowledge that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and that you are incapable of helping yourself. Is Jesus Christ your Savior? Do you desire the hope that is found in Jesus Christ? Will you trust Him today?
The dynamics of the contentious and vexing woman: Proverbs 21 and 22
How many different ways are there to lose weight? Is one weight loss plan superior than another? It is guaranteed that there are differing weight loss views held by people which is attested to by the proliferation of books on the subject. “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice is desired by the lord more than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:2,3 No matter the thoughts and intentions of mankind a way will never prove to bring true lasting fulfillment and hope. God looks upon the lives of men and He sees the intentions of every heart. There is no one that is able to hide their hearts from God. If you are motivated by righteousness and justice will there be strife? As we desire the things of God we will find great hope for tomorrow. Continue Reading…
Can we lay a claim on the things that he cannot see: Proverbs 17 and 18
How can we quantify and describe God’s refining work in the lives of mankind? Is refinement a simple process that tickles or causes joy and pleasure? “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts.” Proverbs 17:3 Gold and silver are precious metals that we value to such extents that we dig deep beneath the surface of the earth to obtain them. After such great lengths to secure the gold and silver it is subjected to great heat to refine it. Proverbs 17 speaks of how God acts upon the hearts of men just as the refining pot refines silver or the furnace purifies gold. What does this mean? God is the only force that is capable of refining and purifying the corrupt hearts of men. There is no other source of purification for the lives of the men and women of the world. If this is true what impact should it have upon out lives? Should we care? Continue Reading…
Will you commit your way to the Lord and delight in Him: Proverbs 15 and 16
What does God see when He looks upon the lives of men? We make choices every moment of every day that give a clearcut perspective of who we are. ”The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good. A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit. A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but he who regards reproof is sensible.” Proverbs 15:3-5 Can we be sensible without the active grace of God working for our good? We are helpless apart from God’s interaction, participation, and direction in our lives. Do you fully comprehend the marvelous grace of God. Continue Reading…
Will you share the message of hope in wisdom: Proverbs 13 and 14
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, but the one who fears the commandments will be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:12,13 What do you hope in? Can any hope, birthed of human desire, lead to fulfillment? We always hope that tomorrow will be a better day than yesterday and today but there is no guarantee within our grasp that will give us any iota of assurance. Our prowess is proven to be inadequate, what do we do, what can we do? Do we finally give up and wallow in misery waiting to meet death upon the road of life?
When faced with such despair an unearthly inspiration and hope enlightens a way made for us that existed long before the feeling of need, want, or inadequacy set in within our souls. “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death.” Proverbs 13:14 The collective failures of people hopelessly treading the path of life, to only fall upon the path to die, find salvation abiding alongside them. There is an amazing transformation that impacts and repurposes the lives of people when Jesus Christ becomes their Lord and Savior. We learn that the journey that God has placed before us is part of a greater purpose and story written by Him. The failures we make today are the foundations of the wisdom we impart to our children’s. Are you imparting wisdom gleaned from failure to the future generations?
Why do we get so consumed with the journey of life and miss the wellspring of life and happiness that flows before us. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief. The backslider in heart will have is fill of his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied with his. The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps.” Proverbs 14:12-15 Consider the path that you have chosen for your life. If you choose the path that is not sustained by the love of Jesus Christ you will find no hope or rest. You will only reap despair and uncertainty. ”The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death. In a multitude of people is a king’s glory, but in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin. He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones.” Proverbs 14:27-30 Do you fear God? Do you feel and inexplicable awe when you ponder the nature of God? Who are you? What defines you?
“Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but in the hearts of fools it is made known.” Proverbs 14:33 Does wisdom rest within your heart? Will you abide in Jesus Christ? The life of devotion to God will be a signpost that shines brightly to the world proclaiming that hope exists and it desires to know them. Will you share the message of hope contained in wisdom?
