The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Proverbs 27-29
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 5: Kings and Prophets: God shapes a kingdom people
Background Information: Proverbs 27-29
When you memorize Scripture, you are putting “buttons” in your mind that the Holy Spirit can press at just the right time to remind you of God’s word and shape your response. If you have not committed portions of God’s word to mind, then you should not be surprised that the Spirit does not give you wisdom when you most need it. A good parent does not enable a lazy child, and God is a good parent. When Jesus said the Holy Spirit will remind the disciples of all that he has said, the implication is that they will have done the work to hear and retain the Lord’s words (Luke 14:26). If we have not done the work to put God’s word in our minds, then we must not blame God when we lack wisdom when we most need it. God has spoken in his word; it is on us to plant that word deep in our minds. Today’s reading contains some essential life shaping verses, and you would do well to commit them to memory. Here are just a few:
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
someone else, and not your own lips.”
Proverbs 27:2
If you brag about yourself, you will get the exact opposite of what you hope for. You will not get respect, but disrespect. If others speak of your value, you will gain respect.
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Proverbs 27:5-6
A true friend offers truth, not flattery. Someone who is always telling you what you want to hear is no friend of yours. If you are prone to flattery, then perhaps you care more about yourself than others.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17
The truth of a friend is not easy to give or to receive. Iron is sharpened through friction and sparks. Someone who is intentionally a jerk is no friend to you, but neither is someone who avoids difficult conversations.
“He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.”
Proverbs 28:26
Do you trust yourself more than the counsel of those God has put in your life? If so, you are foolish and you are not safe. Wisdom keeps you safe; wisdom trusts others more than self. We are not always able to see what is true about our own lives. We need to trust those with a more objective perspective if we hope to walk in wisdom.
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
Proverbs 29:25
Proverbs give us complementary, never contradictory truth. To listen to others is wisdom and will keep us safe. To fear others is folly and will cause us harm. What does it mean to “fear men”? It means that we care more about what they think of us than what God thinks of us. When we fear God instead of people, we are able to hear what God is saying to us through others. Do you want to be wise? Then put God’s word deep into your heart. God has given his word; we must do the work (Proverbs 3:1).
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for God to work through Rick and Amelia as they serve overseas discipling Muslim background believers and sharing the gospel with people walking in darkness.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.