January 26-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:13-15, Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Observe what it is saying.
The way of blessedness or happiness is found in attaining God’s wisdom. When we gain God’s eternal perspective then we have received heavenly insight into the ultimate value of life. This is the most valuable of all gifts. It is worth far more than silver, gold, rubies, or anything else we highly treasure on earth. Jesus told a similar parable. Matthew 13:44-46, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Jesus said entering into His kingdom is far greater than all the treasures of this world. It would seem reasonable to think that the wisdom that Solomon speaks of and the kingdom of God are of the same essence. To have one is to have the other. The blessings of which Solomon are the same we find in Ephesians 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” God’s wisdom is the full revelation of Jesus Christ and His heavenly kingdom that He brought to earth. When we enter in, we delightfully find all the wealth of heaven available to us.
Relate it to your life.
If I could fully fathom the beauty of spiritual wealth, then I would discover there is no comparison to what Christ offers and what this world offers as its reward.
Do something.
Father, I choose your wisdom, wealth, and kingdom. I do not want to sell myself short of the eternal riches that are available to all who trust in and follow You. I refuse to settle for the temporary wealth of this world. Amen.
January 27-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:16-18, Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon continues his description of the high value of wisdom. Yesterday, he described its worth as far greater than silver, gold, and rubies. Solomon taught that the Godly way of wisdom increases your life span and your ability to achieve honor and wealth. When we go this way, we discover it to be the most pleasant and peaceful way. It reduces opportunities for conflict and increases emotional intelligence to more effectively handle difficult relationships and interactions. Wisdom is the tree of abundant life for all who will enjoy and eat its fruit. When we take in this diet of Godly thinking and apply it throughout our lives each day, we can expect to live the happiest possible lives. This does not mean all troubles and trials will be removed, but it does give us the proper perspective to look at them from an eternal viewpoint and know what is most important.
Relate it to your life.
When I choose the way of Godly living, it gives me the greatest opportunity to enjoy the blessed life.
Do something.
Lord, help me to cling to Your word and wisdom. Direct my steps in Your holy way today. Amen.
January 28-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:19-20, By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
Observe what it is saying.
God’s very first act in depicting His wisdom is found in creation. As we read through Genesis 1, we are captivated by the order and majesty by which He went about His creative work. He spoke the universe into existence. He created time by dividing days with evening and morning. Since evening is mentioned first, our Jewish friends begin each new day at sunset. He numbered each day. He called each aspect of His creation good. When He created mankind, He said we were very good. There is so much we can learn about the nature of God from His fabulous design skills. Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Because nature so easily and beautifully displays God’s wisdom and power, we have no excuse not to know Him. Creation shouts out loud God’s attributes of goodness, love, knowledge, power, order, creativity, beauty, sovereignty, majesty, holiness, and so much more. As we marvel at creation, may we, in awe, worship the Creator.
Relate it to your life.
I am in awe as I consider God’s voluminous glory in creation and cannot help but offer Him all my praise.
Do something.
Lord, as I carefully consider the vast universe, I am overwhelmed by its immensity and intricacy. I give You all my praise for how incomparably remarkable You are in all Your ways. Amen.
January 29-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:21-26, My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Observe what it is saying.
Do not let wisdom out of your sight! There is never an appropriate time to set aside our gaze upon the Lord, no matter how temporary it is, to chase some fleeting fantasy. It is in that moment of indiscretion, we can stumble or even tragically change the trajectory of our lives. Instead, we need to understand that God’s way is the only path of life. Just like the finest jewelry that we proudly wear, we want everyone to know that we have chosen the Lord’s way. We know His way illuminates our path to keep us safe from stumbling. With such a God-focused life, we can lie down to rest in complete peace. We have no reason to fear for God is there. We do not have to worry about our lifestyle destroying us like the ungodly should fret about. A sinful lifestyle will eventually bring disaster in one way or another. However, for those of us who are centered on walking in the wisdom of the Lord, we can count on the fact that the Lord is right there with us protecting us from the snares of Satan. The way of wisdom is truly the abundant life that Jesus Himself promised to give to all who follow and listen to His voice which safely leads His sheep.
Relate it to your life.
It matters today and for all eternity what voice I choose to follow.
Do something.
Lord, give me an all-out laser focus on Your holy way. Do not let me look away for a brief moment. Do not let me get caught up in anything that is not related to Your life-giving word. Give me a single loving desire to listen to and follow You all the days of my life. Amen.
January 30-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:27-30, Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. 29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. 30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.
Observe what it is saying.
The Godly life will reveal itself as one of generosity. It is willing to give what we have when we have it. We will not put others off when we have the resources to give today. As God is merciful with us each and every day so should we be willing to demonstrate such mercy to those who are seeking aid. James writes about this as well, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17) Solomon adds to this discussion about being a good neighbor that we should not plot evil against nor should we speak ill of them when they have done no harm. In this passage, we find two core rules of building healthy relationships: “Do no harm” and “Do all the good you can.”
Relate it to your life.
Godly living will grow abundant fruit in the form of healthy and strong relationships.
Do something.
Father, help me to do no harm and do all the good I can in all of my relationships. May I be known as a giver not a taker. May I show Your generous nature to all who interact with me. Amen.
January 31-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:31-35, Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. 32 For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. 33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. 35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon gives us the vast contrast between how God views the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked, the humble and mockers. The Lord detests those who are perverse, but those who follow His word are drawn into His confidence. He makes known even greater spiritual realities that we would not know otherwise. Jesus said it this way, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) This is what God does for us who choose Jesus’ way of righteousness. The blessing of God is to be drawn into His presence so that we might know His heart and mind towards us. Such honor is reserved for the humble and righteous. On the other hand, those who maintain their evil ways will find themselves under God’s curse and in the end will inherit shame. Solomon makes a compelling case to go the Lord’s holy way, not the way of foolish evil.
Relate it to your life.
It makes total sense that God’s blessings come to those who choose to walk in His righteousness, and curses are reserved for those who fail to walk in that same path.
Do something.
Lord, thank You for calling me a friend and bringing me into Your confidence. I don’t want to miss any blessing You have for me. Keep me on Your holy way, every day, all the days of my life. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:13-15, Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Observe what it is saying.
The way of blessedness or happiness is found in attaining God’s wisdom. When we gain God’s eternal perspective then we have received heavenly insight into the ultimate value of life. This is the most valuable of all gifts. It is worth far more than silver, gold, rubies, or anything else we highly treasure on earth. Jesus told a similar parable. Matthew 13:44-46, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Jesus said entering into His kingdom is far greater than all the treasures of this world. It would seem reasonable to think that the wisdom that Solomon speaks of and the kingdom of God are of the same essence. To have one is to have the other. The blessings of which Solomon are the same we find in Ephesians 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” God’s wisdom is the full revelation of Jesus Christ and His heavenly kingdom that He brought to earth. When we enter in, we delightfully find all the wealth of heaven available to us.
Relate it to your life.
If I could fully fathom the beauty of spiritual wealth, then I would discover there is no comparison to what Christ offers and what this world offers as its reward.
Do something.
Father, I choose your wisdom, wealth, and kingdom. I do not want to sell myself short of the eternal riches that are available to all who trust in and follow You. I refuse to settle for the temporary wealth of this world. Amen.
January 27-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:16-18, Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon continues his description of the high value of wisdom. Yesterday, he described its worth as far greater than silver, gold, and rubies. Solomon taught that the Godly way of wisdom increases your life span and your ability to achieve honor and wealth. When we go this way, we discover it to be the most pleasant and peaceful way. It reduces opportunities for conflict and increases emotional intelligence to more effectively handle difficult relationships and interactions. Wisdom is the tree of abundant life for all who will enjoy and eat its fruit. When we take in this diet of Godly thinking and apply it throughout our lives each day, we can expect to live the happiest possible lives. This does not mean all troubles and trials will be removed, but it does give us the proper perspective to look at them from an eternal viewpoint and know what is most important.
Relate it to your life.
When I choose the way of Godly living, it gives me the greatest opportunity to enjoy the blessed life.
Do something.
Lord, help me to cling to Your word and wisdom. Direct my steps in Your holy way today. Amen.
January 28-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:19-20, By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.
Observe what it is saying.
God’s very first act in depicting His wisdom is found in creation. As we read through Genesis 1, we are captivated by the order and majesty by which He went about His creative work. He spoke the universe into existence. He created time by dividing days with evening and morning. Since evening is mentioned first, our Jewish friends begin each new day at sunset. He numbered each day. He called each aspect of His creation good. When He created mankind, He said we were very good. There is so much we can learn about the nature of God from His fabulous design skills. Romans 1:20, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Because nature so easily and beautifully displays God’s wisdom and power, we have no excuse not to know Him. Creation shouts out loud God’s attributes of goodness, love, knowledge, power, order, creativity, beauty, sovereignty, majesty, holiness, and so much more. As we marvel at creation, may we, in awe, worship the Creator.
Relate it to your life.
I am in awe as I consider God’s voluminous glory in creation and cannot help but offer Him all my praise.
Do something.
Lord, as I carefully consider the vast universe, I am overwhelmed by its immensity and intricacy. I give You all my praise for how incomparably remarkable You are in all Your ways. Amen.
January 29-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:21-26, My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Observe what it is saying.
Do not let wisdom out of your sight! There is never an appropriate time to set aside our gaze upon the Lord, no matter how temporary it is, to chase some fleeting fantasy. It is in that moment of indiscretion, we can stumble or even tragically change the trajectory of our lives. Instead, we need to understand that God’s way is the only path of life. Just like the finest jewelry that we proudly wear, we want everyone to know that we have chosen the Lord’s way. We know His way illuminates our path to keep us safe from stumbling. With such a God-focused life, we can lie down to rest in complete peace. We have no reason to fear for God is there. We do not have to worry about our lifestyle destroying us like the ungodly should fret about. A sinful lifestyle will eventually bring disaster in one way or another. However, for those of us who are centered on walking in the wisdom of the Lord, we can count on the fact that the Lord is right there with us protecting us from the snares of Satan. The way of wisdom is truly the abundant life that Jesus Himself promised to give to all who follow and listen to His voice which safely leads His sheep.
Relate it to your life.
It matters today and for all eternity what voice I choose to follow.
Do something.
Lord, give me an all-out laser focus on Your holy way. Do not let me look away for a brief moment. Do not let me get caught up in anything that is not related to Your life-giving word. Give me a single loving desire to listen to and follow You all the days of my life. Amen.
January 30-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:27-30, Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. 29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. 30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.
Observe what it is saying.
The Godly life will reveal itself as one of generosity. It is willing to give what we have when we have it. We will not put others off when we have the resources to give today. As God is merciful with us each and every day so should we be willing to demonstrate such mercy to those who are seeking aid. James writes about this as well, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17) Solomon adds to this discussion about being a good neighbor that we should not plot evil against nor should we speak ill of them when they have done no harm. In this passage, we find two core rules of building healthy relationships: “Do no harm” and “Do all the good you can.”
Relate it to your life.
Godly living will grow abundant fruit in the form of healthy and strong relationships.
Do something.
Father, help me to do no harm and do all the good I can in all of my relationships. May I be known as a giver not a taker. May I show Your generous nature to all who interact with me. Amen.
January 31-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 3:31-35, Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. 32 For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. 33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. 35 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon gives us the vast contrast between how God views the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked, the humble and mockers. The Lord detests those who are perverse, but those who follow His word are drawn into His confidence. He makes known even greater spiritual realities that we would not know otherwise. Jesus said it this way, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) This is what God does for us who choose Jesus’ way of righteousness. The blessing of God is to be drawn into His presence so that we might know His heart and mind towards us. Such honor is reserved for the humble and righteous. On the other hand, those who maintain their evil ways will find themselves under God’s curse and in the end will inherit shame. Solomon makes a compelling case to go the Lord’s holy way, not the way of foolish evil.
Relate it to your life.
It makes total sense that God’s blessings come to those who choose to walk in His righteousness, and curses are reserved for those who fail to walk in that same path.
Do something.
Lord, thank You for calling me a friend and bringing me into Your confidence. I don’t want to miss any blessing You have for me. Keep me on Your holy way, every day, all the days of my life. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals