January 5-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:1-6, The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon is the primary writer of the book called Proverbs. God endowed him with a special gift of supernatural knowledge after he humbly prayed for discernment in leading God’s people. Though Solomon did not fully live out his own message of wisdom in his later years, this book is divine Scripture. Solomon’s purpose in writing his instructional book is so we will add to our understanding of how to live wisely by doing what is right, just, and fair. So, the goal is not to make us book smart but to live smart. The target audience includes those who are not wise (the simple), the young who naturally need such instruction, and the mature (the wise and discerning) who can always add to their learning. In fact, one of the marks of a wise person is they are teachable and seek to apply more truth into their lives. Wise people have the ability to grow spiritually every day for the rest of their lives if they have the right attitude that seeks to receive holy instruction.
Relate it to your life.
I have the ability to keep growing each day in my walk with the Lord as I apply His teaching into my life.
Do something.
Father, thank You for not giving up on me but choosing to instruct me daily so that I can grow up in the faith and become a mature follower who pleases You in all things. Amen.
January 6-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:7, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon reveals that the most valuable source of wisdom and knowledge begins with our holy reverence of the Lord. This is the central theme for his book. It is the same kind of message in which Jesus began the Lord’s prayer, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” When we understand the holy nature of God, we will have a healthy fear of Him. We will understand that He is our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Judge. He holds our lives in His hands. He alone determines our eternal future so we should willingly humble and submit ourselves to His perfect nature, word, and will. When we elevate God in our hearts and minds to the place where He belongs, we have begun our journey into wisdom. However, if we fail to do so, we reveal how foolish we are in our lack of desire to be instructed in the holy way of God. The fear of the Lord leads us to wholeheartedly desire to worship, serve, and live according to the holy nature of God and to be done with lesser things.
Relate it to your life.
I know I have a healthy fear of the Lord when I love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind.
Do something.
Holy Lord, give me a fresh vision of who You are. Forgive me when I forget Your high and holy position ruling over all that has been created. You alone are to be worshiped. You alone are the One in whom I surrender myself in loving service. May You be highly honored and praised in my life today. Amen.
January 7-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:8-9, Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon writes this collection of wisdom sayings for his son to know the way of true knowledge. As he said yesterday, the deeper reason is so that we will have a healthy fear of the Lord. This was Solomon’s heart for his children. As followers of Jesus, we deeply desire our children to know and follow the Lord for we understand the weight of the spiritual truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no greater wisdom than the full revelation of God’s knowledge given in His Son. I love the fact that Solomon, in a male-dominated world, includes his wife as an equal source of teaching for their son. In homes of two parents, it is a powerful witness when both are united in their faith and model the truth of Jesus for their kids. A single parent home can provide tremendous influence as well. The high value of faith in the home is found in the garland and chain that are ornamental metaphors that reveal the eternal worth of parental instruction. Parents need to understand the tremendous importance of passing down the faith and children/youth must willingly receive it as the most precious gift that can ever be given.
Relate it to your life.
I may give many gifts as a parent to my kids but there is no greater gift than offering them Jesus.
Do something.
Lord, I ask for heaven’s help in teaching and showing my kids, grandkids, the way of Jesus. May I do so in a way that can be seen, heard, and received with joy. Amen.
January 8-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:10-19, My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; 12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”— 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
Observe what it is saying.
The first major teaching Solomon offers to his son is about ill-gotten gain. Evidently, there were idle people who sat around plotting how to take advantage of others. These lazy-minded individuals would set traps to imprison and even kill the innocent so they could plunder their homes and make themselves rich. This was a real threat or Solomon would not have included this instruction for his son. Solomon warned his son to stay away from people who tempted him to join in their evil plans. In his wisdom, Solomon revealed the secret that what they think they can do to others will actually turn around and destroy the perpetrators of evil. If anyone is set on ill-gotten gain or any evil for that matter, you can expect they will reap what they sow and will end up paying a costly price in one way or another. Being motivated by greed that leads to all manner of evil never turns out well for the aggressor.
Relate it to your life.
I must guard my heart from anyone or anything that would entice me to cheat or gain by evil means.
Do something.
Lord, I may not be so foolish to join others who murder so that I can plunder them, but please keep my heart pure so that I have no desire to gain advantage in any way that dishonors You or others. Amen.
January 9-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:20-27, Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 21 on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
Observe what it is saying.
Wisdom speaks in a loud ringing voice that everybody can hear. Such wisdom is found in creation which speaks forth the beauty, majesty, order, power, and greatness of God. It is also found in our conscience as God reveals what can be known about Him through that inner voice. Today, the church joins in with theses voices to declare wisdom through the gospel message so that the world will know and be saved. As wisdom is personified to do, we, too, must proclaim the Word boldly, loudly, and in an uncompromising way so no one can have any excuse of not knowing the way to life. This message is offered to all so that the possibility of repentance can occur opening the way for God to infuse His eternal thoughts and teachings into those who will humbly respond. However, those who refuse to pay attention to Godly teaching will be found out to be the fool in the end.
Relate it to your life.
Am I paying attention as I am taught God’s wisdom through creation, conscience, and God’s Word?
Do something.
Father, in a world that disregards Your wisdom, give me a humble heart and willing mind to receive every morsel of truth that You offer and apply it to my life.
January 10-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:28-33, “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. 30 Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Observe what it is saying.
When judgment arrives upon those who failed to respond to wisdom’s call to pay attention and change their way, sinners will call out to the Lord, but it will be too late. We need to understand there is a day when judgment comes, and we cannot reverse the course that we put into motion. Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” We must not be mistaken. God cannot be mocked. Sinners will reap what they have sown. They turn away from hearing the truth and become complacent and comfortable with living the lie in which they found themselves. In contrast to the judgment promised to unbelievers, choosing the way of wisdom, the way of God, promises security and peace to those who will listen and believe. This way has now been fully revealed in Jesus Christ.
Relate it to your life.
I determine what my future by what I do with the wisdom God has revealed in Jesus Christ.
Do something.
Lord, give me a tender, responsive heart to respond quickly to Your word and Your way for eternal living. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:1-6, The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon is the primary writer of the book called Proverbs. God endowed him with a special gift of supernatural knowledge after he humbly prayed for discernment in leading God’s people. Though Solomon did not fully live out his own message of wisdom in his later years, this book is divine Scripture. Solomon’s purpose in writing his instructional book is so we will add to our understanding of how to live wisely by doing what is right, just, and fair. So, the goal is not to make us book smart but to live smart. The target audience includes those who are not wise (the simple), the young who naturally need such instruction, and the mature (the wise and discerning) who can always add to their learning. In fact, one of the marks of a wise person is they are teachable and seek to apply more truth into their lives. Wise people have the ability to grow spiritually every day for the rest of their lives if they have the right attitude that seeks to receive holy instruction.
Relate it to your life.
I have the ability to keep growing each day in my walk with the Lord as I apply His teaching into my life.
Do something.
Father, thank You for not giving up on me but choosing to instruct me daily so that I can grow up in the faith and become a mature follower who pleases You in all things. Amen.
January 6-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:7, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon reveals that the most valuable source of wisdom and knowledge begins with our holy reverence of the Lord. This is the central theme for his book. It is the same kind of message in which Jesus began the Lord’s prayer, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” When we understand the holy nature of God, we will have a healthy fear of Him. We will understand that He is our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Judge. He holds our lives in His hands. He alone determines our eternal future so we should willingly humble and submit ourselves to His perfect nature, word, and will. When we elevate God in our hearts and minds to the place where He belongs, we have begun our journey into wisdom. However, if we fail to do so, we reveal how foolish we are in our lack of desire to be instructed in the holy way of God. The fear of the Lord leads us to wholeheartedly desire to worship, serve, and live according to the holy nature of God and to be done with lesser things.
Relate it to your life.
I know I have a healthy fear of the Lord when I love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind.
Do something.
Holy Lord, give me a fresh vision of who You are. Forgive me when I forget Your high and holy position ruling over all that has been created. You alone are to be worshiped. You alone are the One in whom I surrender myself in loving service. May You be highly honored and praised in my life today. Amen.
January 7-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:8-9, Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon writes this collection of wisdom sayings for his son to know the way of true knowledge. As he said yesterday, the deeper reason is so that we will have a healthy fear of the Lord. This was Solomon’s heart for his children. As followers of Jesus, we deeply desire our children to know and follow the Lord for we understand the weight of the spiritual truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no greater wisdom than the full revelation of God’s knowledge given in His Son. I love the fact that Solomon, in a male-dominated world, includes his wife as an equal source of teaching for their son. In homes of two parents, it is a powerful witness when both are united in their faith and model the truth of Jesus for their kids. A single parent home can provide tremendous influence as well. The high value of faith in the home is found in the garland and chain that are ornamental metaphors that reveal the eternal worth of parental instruction. Parents need to understand the tremendous importance of passing down the faith and children/youth must willingly receive it as the most precious gift that can ever be given.
Relate it to your life.
I may give many gifts as a parent to my kids but there is no greater gift than offering them Jesus.
Do something.
Lord, I ask for heaven’s help in teaching and showing my kids, grandkids, the way of Jesus. May I do so in a way that can be seen, heard, and received with joy. Amen.
January 8-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:10-19, My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; 12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”— 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
Observe what it is saying.
The first major teaching Solomon offers to his son is about ill-gotten gain. Evidently, there were idle people who sat around plotting how to take advantage of others. These lazy-minded individuals would set traps to imprison and even kill the innocent so they could plunder their homes and make themselves rich. This was a real threat or Solomon would not have included this instruction for his son. Solomon warned his son to stay away from people who tempted him to join in their evil plans. In his wisdom, Solomon revealed the secret that what they think they can do to others will actually turn around and destroy the perpetrators of evil. If anyone is set on ill-gotten gain or any evil for that matter, you can expect they will reap what they sow and will end up paying a costly price in one way or another. Being motivated by greed that leads to all manner of evil never turns out well for the aggressor.
Relate it to your life.
I must guard my heart from anyone or anything that would entice me to cheat or gain by evil means.
Do something.
Lord, I may not be so foolish to join others who murder so that I can plunder them, but please keep my heart pure so that I have no desire to gain advantage in any way that dishonors You or others. Amen.
January 9-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:20-27, Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 21 on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
Observe what it is saying.
Wisdom speaks in a loud ringing voice that everybody can hear. Such wisdom is found in creation which speaks forth the beauty, majesty, order, power, and greatness of God. It is also found in our conscience as God reveals what can be known about Him through that inner voice. Today, the church joins in with theses voices to declare wisdom through the gospel message so that the world will know and be saved. As wisdom is personified to do, we, too, must proclaim the Word boldly, loudly, and in an uncompromising way so no one can have any excuse of not knowing the way to life. This message is offered to all so that the possibility of repentance can occur opening the way for God to infuse His eternal thoughts and teachings into those who will humbly respond. However, those who refuse to pay attention to Godly teaching will be found out to be the fool in the end.
Relate it to your life.
Am I paying attention as I am taught God’s wisdom through creation, conscience, and God’s Word?
Do something.
Father, in a world that disregards Your wisdom, give me a humble heart and willing mind to receive every morsel of truth that You offer and apply it to my life.
January 10-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 1:28-33, “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. 30 Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Observe what it is saying.
When judgment arrives upon those who failed to respond to wisdom’s call to pay attention and change their way, sinners will call out to the Lord, but it will be too late. We need to understand there is a day when judgment comes, and we cannot reverse the course that we put into motion. Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” We must not be mistaken. God cannot be mocked. Sinners will reap what they have sown. They turn away from hearing the truth and become complacent and comfortable with living the lie in which they found themselves. In contrast to the judgment promised to unbelievers, choosing the way of wisdom, the way of God, promises security and peace to those who will listen and believe. This way has now been fully revealed in Jesus Christ.
Relate it to your life.
I determine what my future by what I do with the wisdom God has revealed in Jesus Christ.
Do something.
Lord, give me a tender, responsive heart to respond quickly to Your word and Your way for eternal living. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals