Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Proverbs 1-2; 1 Corinthians 14
Devotional Thought:
Proverbs 1:2-5 says, “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” Solomon writes as a father to his son emphasizing the importance of wisdom. This entire book of the bible deals with helping us to know what is right, appropriate, discerning and balanced. There is a reason that God gave us two ears and only one mouth. We should listen to wise counsel and act upon it. It is a sad problem today that young people trust google more than they trust the aged people in their lives. People run to google before they run to their Bible. There is lots and lots of information at our fingertips today, but not necessarily wisdom. Verses 8-9 teach that the instruction of a father and mother is given so that the child may have their lives enriched like a crown upon a king or an expensive necklace around a queen’s neck. Wisdom helps children to develop in a way that enhances their relationships, societies, and ministries. Foolishness always destroys them. There is a stern warning at the end of this chapter in verses 25-31. “But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” If you or I ignore the clear teachings of this book, God will allow the tragedies of foolishness to engulf us and when we cry unto God in the midst of them, God will say, “…you did not choose the fear of the Lord.” May we decide as we read this book to seek God’s counsel, obey God’s counsel, and enjoy God’s counsel!
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to grow in my desire for your wisdom. Please grant me understanding as I read these important principles.
• Lord, please help me acknowledge that my own way leads to destruction. Help me to be fully surrendered to accept and apply your truth to my everyday decisions.
• Lord, please help me grasp the sobriety of your warning for not listening. Please keep my heart tender to your truths, and my ears sensitive to your instruction.
• Lord, please help me model for my wife and boys a life of submission to the instruction of my Heavenly Father.