Proverbs 1-4

Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom. That’s what we all want, don’t we? Wisdom to live happy, successful lives –  to have close families, and to find productive paths to prosperity and peace?

Well, here it is! The keys to all of these things lie within the book of Proverbs.

The first four chapters reiterate this concept over and over, making it clear that God’s way is the best way. And God’s way is within His Word.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (3:5-6)

When we trust in the Lord, we trust in His Word – and we obey it. We follow the principles, and we allow the Word to penetrate our hearts for our own transformation.

It’s a process, but all of life is a process. There are paths which we choose to take that allow us to go His way or another way. The longer we stay on either path, the more we will benefit – or not.

So the beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord and take His Word seriously. As we experience the many different challenges of life, we can always find wisdom in God’s Word.

Is your challenge pertaining to wealth? Your answers are in the Word. Do you have challenges related to health? Look at the Word. Are your challenges in your family? Once again – the Word is your source of wisdom. It’s all there.

“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom. And the man who gains understanding.For its profit is better than the profit of silver and its gain than fine gold.” (3:13-14) Long life, riches and honor are promised to those who pursue diligently God’s wisdom.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (4:23)

Do you believe it? I do!

Today, meditate on this one fact: God’s Word is true – and it is indeed the source of life for us. If we continue in His Word, we will find the keys to that abundant life we are all seeking.

II Corinthians 1-2

In the first two chapters of II Corinthians, we see one of the greatest principles of our faith.

Do you remember in Paul’s first letter how shocked and horrified he was concerning this man who had “taken his father’s wife?” Paul was adamant about separating him from the body of believers and showing him no mercy.

In these chapters, we see a different viewpoint. Why? The man had repented.

In this second letter the man had repented and was truly sorry for what he had done. Not only was he sorry, but he had changed his way and wanted to be back in fellowship with the others.

This time Paul rebukes those who are still treating the man with disrespect. They should “forgive and comfort” the man.

I have a hot news flash for you: we aren’t perfect. All of us fall short of God’s best from time to time. Hopefully we don’t commit gross sin, as this man did. But we sin. We hold unforgivenenss in our hearts. Or we gossip. Or we harm others with our unmerciful tongues. Or we are greedy. Or we judge others with a self-righteous attitude.

There are many ways that we can and do fall short, so all of us need God’s forgiveness – and all of us have it. That’s the beauty of the gospel, or at least one of the beauties. When we truly repent, we always have God’s forgiveness – and His restoration.

Just thinking about this makes me want to spend some time with Him and make sure that all of the vestiges of bitterness are removed from my heart.

That’s God’s way – and it has to be our way, if we live in the best He has for us.