Proverbs 3
This chapter is full of short instructions guiding us in the way of wisdom. The challenge is not to simply read it and say, "yes, that is true," but to examine our hearts and ask, "Do I do that?" That single question should be asked by each of us as we read the chapter. "Do I do that?" - either negatively or positively, examine your hearts and see.
"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart." verse 3 gives me much to think about. Do I wear kindness and truth as a necklace, an adornment that is visible and identifiable by all who know me? Are they only on the outside (making a good show), but on the inside my heart is harsh or critical? Do I value kindness above truth - so that I won't tell the truth to people for fear that I might hurt their feelings? Do I value truth above kindness so that I speak whatever is on my mind even though it may not be kind? (especially to my spouse or family members?) We need to measure all of our words and our thoughts. "Nice" is not the issue; Jesus was not "nice," but He was kind and truthful. May kindness and truth visibly be bound around our necks and written on our hearts.
How has God spoken to you today?
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Calvary Chapel West Boca
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5 comments:
"Store My commands in your heart" tells me that I don not have enough of God's word stored in my heart - memorized - to be able to use to minister, to convict myself, to meditate on, for comfort, for clarification, for direction, for every aspect of my life. When I challenge the youth to memorize verses, I will challenge myself as well.
3:5-6 are verses we are all familiar with. Do I trust in the Lord with all of my heart? Do I consistently and conciously depend on the Lord for every aspect of my life? I think I do, if not, I pray that God would bless me with that kind of faith. My own understanding, my own wisdom is not reliable.
Lord, I want to be godly, upright, humble and wise (vs 32-35), please show me how.
When the Lord asks me to do something, I sometimes think “that won’t work”. This is especially true in the case of conflict, or when the Lord wants me to do something that I don’t want to do. But verse 7 tells me not to be wise in my own eyes – fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Why do I think that I am so wise in myself? Pride. The solution? Fear the Lord. His ways don’t have to make sense to me, but I do have to obey them.
It didn’t make sense to the Israelites to walk around the walls of Jericho for 1 time for six days and then on the 7th day walk 7 times and then when the priests tell you, shout and the walls will collapse. In my own estimation and probably the estimation of many of the Israelites, this seems like a foolish plan. But the glory of the Lord and His strength was revealed.
As Tye asked, do I do that? Yes. I am wise in my own eyes. But then the Lord graciously reveals to me the folly of my ways. Do I fear the Lord? Yes. This is what pulls me to my senses to obey Him above my ways. It’s what yanks the rug of pride out from under me… PRAISE GOD!
Amen Deb, may the Lord show us as a church how to be upright, humble and wise.
vs 5-6 I am challenged in trusting the Lord more and more. It is easy to trust the Lord when things are going well, however when things seem to upside down in my life and hard to understand- that is where my real faith and trust come in. God is using these times to show me where I really am with him. I am laying down everything and asking him to be in charge of all my actions and directions. Many times my flesh wants to do things that seem right to me; but the word tells me that I will be healthy if I trust the Lord's wisdom and directions instead of my own. I choose to daily surrender to God's plan and make it my aim to bring him glory. I pray that he will increase my faith and this habit so that it will be as natural as breathing.
Awesome stuff in Prov 3.
It is clear that God shows us how we can obtain wisdom and favor within these text. Some key verses that spoke to me.
Pro 3:3-4 Do not let kindness and truth leave you. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Pro 3:9-10 Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father {corrects} the son in whom he delights.
Pro 3:24-25 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes.
These verses let me know that God loves me. I will find favor if I stay truthful and display kindness. He will keep us on the straight path when we put him first in all things. Give God your best and first fruits and he will make sure that you will never go without. When I make a mistake he will correct me(real love) And finally he promises sweet sleep when we lie down, even though he says that the onslaught of the wicked will come. I find many of these proverbs very comforting and find a another truth every time I read thru them again...Mike
Mike,
That last verse is such an incredible promise. The onslaught of the wicked WILL come. we can't stop it, but we can rest in the Lord who has already won the battles for us. If we truly trust God at His word, we will experience that peace that passes understanding in the midst of any storm.
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