Proverbs Chapter 2 - Today's Word with Rick Pina

(2:1) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding

(Proverbs 2:1-5 NIV) My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Last week we finished off the first chapter. It is my prayer that you were blessed richly by Solomon’s opening words, but I am even more expectant that you will continue to be blessed by what we receive as we journey through the remaining 30 chapters. In this second chapter Solomon outlines some of the benefits of walking in God’s wisdom; of lining up our lives – our decisions and actions – with God’s Word, will, and way. Before he gets into explaining the benefits he gives us a list of prerequisites. We find eight of them in the first five verses. I like the way Solomon starts off his teaching by saying, “My Son.” This puts us at his feet. He is the tutor and we are the student, he is the father and we are the child, he is the wise man and we are his apprentice as we receive the pearls that flow from his lips. He tells us to:

Accept his words
Store up his commands
Turn our ear to wisdom
Apply our heart to understanding
Call out for insight
Cry aloud for understanding
Look for wisdom like miner mines for silver
Search for wisdom like a treasure-hunter pursues a hidden treasure

We will look at all eight of these as we move forward, but for this morning we enjoy a cursory view of them all. Solomon paints a picture for us of the hidden wisdom that is locked up within the pages of the Bible. As we unlock the power of God’s truth we are able to find God, His love, His character, attributes, and nature; along with finding ourselves, our purpose, future, destiny. God’s Word is like no other book ever written. It does not matter whether one lived in the times of Moses, Joshua, and Caleb; David, Saul, and Jonathan; Peter, James, and John; or Jim, Sally, and Suzy (today). The Bible was, is, and ever shall be applicable. That’s why Solomon tells us to not only accept, but to store up God’s commands in our heart. Not only are we to turn our ear to what God is saying, we are also to apply our heart to His understanding. We are not just supposed to learn, but we are urged to live these pages. No, this is not just a textbook to study, but rather a life-book to live. There is so much I can say about the Bible, but I will close with the words of John F. MacArthur Jr. He said, “This book contains: the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrine is holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here heaven is open, and the gates of hell are disclosed. Christ is the grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, health to the soul, and a river of pleasure. It is given to you here in this life, will be opened at the judgment, and is established forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and condemn all who trifle with its contents.”

Confession for this day: Lord God, I thank You so much for leaving us Your Word, which is Your will documented. I thank You for Your Word. I receive it’s truths by faith, I mine through it’s pages for the hidden wisdom You have locked therein. I find golden nuggets in Your Word daily. I store them in my heart, I apply them in my life, I speak them with my lips, I live them with my every fiber of my being. Thank You again, for Your Word! Your Word is the ruler by which I judge every decision, by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

(2:1-5) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part II)

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Yesterday I highlighted the lengthy if-then statement that Solomon opens the second chapter of Proverbs with, where the ‘if’ portion requires us to fulfill eight things. If we fulfill the requirement, we qualify for the ‘then’ portion, which promises that we will understand the fear of the Lord (Jehovah) and find the knowledge of God (Elohim – God the Creator). We will look at the eight requirements in sections of two, because that is the way that they are written.

Let’s focus in on the first section this morning. Solomon says, “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you.” The Hebrew word here for “accept” means: to receive, acquire, lay hold of, to take from, or to carry away. At first glance it seems like Solomon is telling us simply to not reject his words, which in context are really God’s Word. The word “accept” can connote a passive permission. And although it is true that we must accept and welcome God’s Word and not reject it, our requirement is much higher than mere acceptance. Yes, there are some people who simply reject God and the very notion that He worked through men to write the Bible. But we, as believers, must do more than just accept the Bible as God’s Words. Solomon tells us that we must lay hold, take possession of, and make personal the Word of God. It’s books may not have been written TO us, but they were surely documented FOR us. The first step in receiving God’s wisdom is acknowledging the validity and supremacy of God’s Word and then laying hold of it as ours, making it personal, making it God’s Word to US!

Not only does Solomon tell us to “accept” God’s Word, but he also tells us to “store up” God’s commands within us. Another translation says, “Collect my counsels and guard them with your life.” Not only are to we acknowledge the validity of God’s Word(s), not only are we to welcome and accept them into our lives, but we are to literally hide them within the center of our being. We must accept God’s Word to the point where it is written upon the tablets of our heart. This reminds me of something that Solomon’s father (David) said in the 119^th Psalm. David said, “Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps 119:11). No doubt Solomon learned many things from his father David, the man considered by many to be the greatest king to ever live. David’s greatest attribute, his greatest characteristic, his greatest accolade, was that he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). David chased after God’s heart by placing God’s Word within his own.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that if you want to access God’s wisdom, if you want to walk in His counsel, if you want to benefit from knowing His will, the first step is accepting and storing up His Word within you. You must settle the issue of the validity of God’s word for yourself. Men may have penned the scriptures, but they were not the authors. Men wrote the letters, but they did not manufacture the Words. They may have been the tools, but the Holy Spirit was the Mastermind. And then, after settling the issue of the origin of God’s Word, you must seek to hide His truth upon the tablet of your heart. Once you store up God’s Word within you, you will find yourself becoming what you have stored; you will slowly, but surely, be transformed. You know what they say, “You are what you eat” J.

Confession for this day: Lord God, I have settled the issue of the validity of Your Word in my heart. I know You worked through men to document Your Word for me. The books of the Bible may not have been written to me, but they were written for me. I learn from and live by Your Word. Your Word is written upon the tablet of my heart. I hide Your Word in my heart so I won’t sin against You! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

(2:1-5) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part III)

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God,” by taking a look a the second set of requirements listed here by Solomon for us. He says, “Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding.” It is no coincidence that the ear and the heart are coupled here by Solomon. Our ears and eyes are gateways to our soul. What we look at passes through our ‘eye-gate’ and what we listen to passes through our ‘ear-gate.’ Both directly affect our soul, which is comprised of our mind (our thinker), emotions (our feeler), and will (our chooser). That being the case, it is very important for us to listen to the right things. Just like our faith can be built up by hearing the right things (Rom 10:17), we can also build up fear in our lives if we listen to the wrong things. The bottom line is that whatever consistently passes through our ears will eventually get down into our heart.

Solomon tells us to literally turn our ear to wisdom. He teaches us that we have the power to choose what we listen to and we should use that power wisely. We have the ability to tune in and to tune out things that come our way. More importantly, we can simply put ourselves in a position to receive a constant diet of God’s Word. The more we receive God’s Word (His wisdom), the more it will get down in our heart. The more it gets down in our heart, the more we will be able to apply our heart to God’s understanding. The more we apply our heart to God’s understanding, the more we will find ourselves making Godly decisions and reaping Godly results. This reminds me of a time in Mark chapter four where Jesus was teaching a series of parables. At one point in the teaching He said, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” The people listening to Him obviously had ears, but His point was that they should ‘tune-in’ their ears to what He was saying. His words, God’s Words, are spirit and life (John 6:63). The more we listen to the words of God, the more we will be built up. That’s why Jesus went on to say, “Consider carefully what you hear” (Mark 4:23,24). Jesus knew that what we consistently hear eventually gets down into our heart and there it affects every area of our life.

When I first gave my life to Christ I was taught that I could listen to all sorts of teaching, but that I just had to have the ability “Take in the meat, and spit out the bones.” What that meant was that I was supposed to listen to it all, but then only digest what I wanted. The problem with that was that I had already listened to it. To some level, I had already digested it. This takes me to a story of a farmer and his donkey. He loved this donkey and he made sure that the donkey always had a place to graze. One day the donkey stopped eating. The farmer was not sure what happened and after a few days he got worried. He called in a vet. The vet stuck his hand down the donkey’s throat and pulled out a stick. Somehow a stick got caught in the donkey’s throat and it almost killed him. My point is that you just can’t listen to everything and then think you can take in the meat and spit out the bones. One of those bones might get stuck in your throat!

So what does this mean to you today? It simply means that you need to check your input. What you allow through your ear and eye gates will get down in your heart and once it is there, it can affect every area of your life. If you turn your ear to wisdom your heart will be filled with the right things and you will find yourself making decisions that are pleasing to God.

Confession for this day: Lord God, I have ears to hear and I declare, by faith, that I will turn my ears to the right teaching. I refuse to listen to things that will bring me down and that will lead me down the path of fear, doubt, or unbelief. I listen to things that build me up, that feed my faith, and that starve my doubts. What I listen to gets down in my heart and I find myself becoming more and more like You daily! I speak this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

(2:1-5) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part IV)

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God,” by taking a look a the third set of requirements listed here by Solomon for us. He says, “If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding.” I looked up the Hebrew words for “call out,” “cry aloud,” “insight,” and “understanding,” but they all basically mean just what they say. My emphasis, then, for this message will be on what I believe Solomon’s point is: that we should ASK God, with our own lips, for wisdom. The verbiage he uses connotes an earnest plea. He is telling us that we should ask God for insight and understanding, but we should do so earnestly or in-faith. Asking God for something, with our own lips, may be obvious, but it still needs to be stated. For one thing, you will be hard-pressed to find a silent prayer in the Bible. Solomon does not want us to wish for it, or to dream about it, but to literally ask God, to call out, to cry aloud to God for His wisdom concerning whatever we are facing.

Solomon is not alone in this teaching. James and Jesus (Himself) taught similar things. When Jesus was teaching on prayer He said, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9,10). So what happens if you don’t ask? It won’t be given. Or if you don’t seek? You will not find. Or if you don’t knock? The door will not be opened! And whose fault will it be, God’s or yours? The answer is obvious, yours! The Bible is clear that God expects us to ASK for what we need and desire. There are countless things stored up for us, things that we need to succeed in life, things that are readily available to us, if we access them through the vehicle of prayer.

Now let’s take a look at what James taught about this topic. He said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). You can’t get much clearer than that. James makes is plain – if you need wisdom, just like anything else you need, you should ask God for it! And like Solomon, James emphasizes the fact that we must be earnest in our prayer. If you read further you learn that James tells us that we MUST ask IN FAITH, not wavering. He explains that the person who waivers, who is double-minded, will NOT receive ANYTHING from God. And not only must our petition by IN FAITH, but in the fourth chapter James tells us that our motives must also be pure. He says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God,” this is further emphasis on our requirement to ask, but then James says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (4:2,3).

So what does this mean to you today? It means that God’s willingness to freely give wisdom (and other things) does not do away with our requirement to ask. God expects us to come to Him in prayer for the things that we desire and require in life. Oftentimes we think we are waiting on God, but He is actually waiting on us. God has set it up so that we must ask, but even then there are stipulations. We must ask earnestly, in faith, without wavering, and with pure motives.

Confession for this day: Lord God, first of all I thank You for giving me the ability to ask, for granting me the right to come boldly before the throne of Your grace in the name of Your Son Jesus! I have the access and I declare, by faith, that I will use it. I will ask, seek, and knock. I pray in faith, without wavering, and with pure motives and I receive, find, and walk through open doors. I have a relationship with You and part of that relationship is coming to You daily in prayer. I exercise this privilege and I enjoy the benefits. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:1-5) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part V)

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God,” by taking a look a the fourth and final set of requirements listed here by Solomon for us. He says, “If you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.” Another translation says, “If you search for wisdom as if it were money and hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure.”

How do people pursue money? Many do it at all costs. There are countless people today, unfortunately even believers, who pursue money with reckless abandon. Their endless pursuit of money often causes them to wind up with money, but only to realize that they have lost everything else along the way. Many lose their families, their integrity, and even their health in a tireless pursuit of money. Jesus once asked the question, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Mat 16:26). What good will the money be if you lose everything that matters to get it? Many even miss out on eternal life in their pursuit of temporal gain. I often say, “Money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master.” I think you get the point. So now let’s get back to what Solomon said. He taught us that we should pursue wisdom, God’s Wisdom, God’s Word, they way that people pursue money. The good news is that if we pursue Godly wisdom with the earnestness and fervor that others pursue money, we will be able to obtain the wisdom of God and still retain the things that matter the most to us in the process. As a matter of fact, the more Godly wisdom we receive, the more we are able to enjoy our family, life, health, and strength. Pursuing Godly wisdom will add to our lives, not take away from it. So search for her with passion, dedication, and enthusiasm, because the more you learn from God, the more you will be able to have and enjoy the life He desires for you!

The second point is that we are to search for wisdom they way that treasure hunters hunt for hidden treasure. I like movies and I really enjoy movies about hidden treasure. Oftentimes the treasure was right beneath the noses of people, within their reach for decades, sometimes even centuries, but since they never looked for it, they never found it. That’s how it is with many believers. They carry their Bible around with them. Some have several Bibles: one on their coffee table, one on the nightstand by the bed, another in the car, and yet another in their office. All these Bibles, all that wisdom right beneath their noses, but it will never benefit them if they never look for it. The Bible is a treasure chest of pearls of wisdom. It is chock-full of instruction, correction, encouragement, and strength, but it will never do you any good if you don’t read it.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that you should pursue God’s wisdom – the wisdom locked up within the pages of His Word – and you should do it with the passion, dedication, loyalty, and enthusiasm that people use when they pursue riches and hidden treasure. Wouldn’t be a shame if you pursued things more than you pursued God? Don’t let that be your testimony. Pursue God, receive His wisdom, and you won’t have to pursue things, they will pursue you!

Confession for this day: Lord God, I thank You for teaching me in Your Word about Your Word. Thank You for making it clear to me that your wisdom is locked up within the pages of the Bible. I will pursue Your wisdom with the dedication and determination that others pursue money. I will search for her with the devotion and excitement that others have when they search for hidden treasure. I give my all to this pursuit and I know that I will not lose anything important because of it, but I will rather be enriched in the process. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:5,6) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part VI)

(Proverbs 2:5,6 NIV) Then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Thus far in chapter two Solomon has told us that we must accept and store God’s Word in our hearts; that we must check our inputs, because what comes through our gates (ears and eyes) will eventually get down in our spirit; that we must use our lips to make petitions of God and when we do, we must do so earnestly, in faith, without wavering, and with pure motives; and finally, he told us to pursue God’s wisdom – the wisdom locked up within the pages of His Word – with the passion, dedication, loyalty, and enthusiasm that people use when they pursue riches and hidden treasure. Solomon has set the stage for us to genuinely attain Godly wisdom. It is “then,” he says, that we will “Understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” The reason why our pursuit of God’s wisdom must be so earnest and genuine is because it is not an overnight process. When we come to God we already have years upon years of teaching. In most cases it is teaching that DOES NOT line up with God’s Word. Our text tells us that the Lord gives wisdom, and yes He does, but to receive it and walk in it we must be willing to let go of the worldly wisdom we have received. At the end of the day, our life is a grand-sum-total of our decisions. If we make decisions based upon worldly counsel we will live a life that is NOT pleasing to God. Let’s look at some examples of the differences:

Enemies: Whether we like it or not, we all develop enemies as we walk down the path of our lives. Some people will dislike us, whether we do anything wrong to them or not. Worldly wisdom tells us to fight against our enemies, to expose their weaknesses, and to destroy them if we can. Godly wisdom us to love them, pray for them, and to attempt to overcome their evil with good. Walking in love is Godly wisdom, walking in revenge is worldly wisdom. Although the Bible is full of teaching on forgiveness and love, we must CHOOSE not to operate in hatred and revenge. Like anything else, the CHOICE is ours to make and – good or bad – we will reap the results.

Treatment of others: We live in a society of give and take, this for that, tit for tat. Worldly wisdom tells us to help only those THAT CAN help us back; to do things for those that can return the favor. Godly wisdom tells us to help others, even when it is obvious that they cannot do anything for us in return. Godly wisdom knows that everything we do is a seed. We sow (good or bad) into the lives of others and we don’t need to expect a harvest from them. Our God is the Lord of the Harvest and He will cause us to reap whatever we sow.

Finances: Worldly wisdom tells us to store up as much as we can, especially for a ‘rainy day.’ Godly wisdom is not against saving, but it does require us to give. We give to a God that we cannot see, we sow into ministries, we help the less fortunate, we give to the poor, because we do what we do as unto God; not man. We know that ultimately we are blessed TO BE a blessing. Now, a worldly financial advisor will look at the checkbook of a child of God and say, “You are giving away way too much. You should reduce your charitable contributions.” But a child of God that is giving, as he is led to give, knows that he continues to be blessed BECAUSE of his faithfulness in the area of finances. Whose counsel will you accept? God’s or the worlds?

Integrity: Worldly wisdom will tell you to get away with whatever you can to get ahead. Godly wisdom will tell you to do what is right, because its right, and then do it right, even if no one else is around! Integrity is a dying word in the world, but it is still a central requirement for Godly living.

Confession for this day: Lord God, I choose to live my life in accordance with Your Word, Your will and Your way. I am a Psalm 1 man (or woman). I refuse to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or to stand in the way of sinners, or to sit in the seat of mockers. My delight is in Your Word and I meditate therein day and night. I shall be like a tree that has a constant supply of what it needs to grow (Your Word). I bring forth fruit in season, my leaves do not wither and everything I do prospers, because I walk in Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:7) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part VII)

(Proverbs 2:7 NIV) He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” All last week we learned about the requirements that Solomon listed for receiving God’s wisdom and now we finally get into the benefits. This seventh verse basically lays out two benefits: wisdom and protection. To get the bigger picture of what Solomon is saying I want to share this verse with you from three more translations. The New American Standard Bible says, “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.” The Contemporary English Version says, “God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.” And the New Living Translation says, “He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.”

The first half of the verse tells us that God has wisdom/victory stored up for the righteous/just. First of all, those of us that have accepted Jesus as Lord have been made righteous by the Blood of Jesus. We are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21). We have been justified by faith (Rom 5:1). We are the people that Solomon is talking about. God has wisdom/victory stored up for us. I like the way some translators decided on the word wisdom or common sense, while others decided on the word victory. The way that I read it, I believe that God has wisdom available for us and when we CHOOSE to walk in it, we obtain the victory. I am convinced, through scripture, that God desires for His children to live a victorious life in the earth. The problem is that we are free moral agents. God has given us the power to make our own decisions. We are not puppets in the least. That being the case, we have a say in the matter. God has done His part by providing us His counsel (in His Word) and His Spirit (to guide us), but when we ignore His wisdom and choose to make decisions that are opposed to His will, we reap the consequences of those decisions and it is no one’s fault but our own. When we walk in His counsel we experience countless victories as we live out the remainder of our lives.

The second half of the verse deals with protection. Almost all of the translators paint the same picture: God will provide protection for those that walk in integrity. Our heavenly father wants us to know that when we walk upright before Him and when we live a life that is pleasing to Him, we will enjoy His protection. When I was a child growing up in Brooklyn I needed physical protection and I thank God that He provided it countless times. When deployed in the Middle East I have needed physical protection as well and God has been faithful to provide it. But the protection here is greater than just physical protection. This is protection against spiritual attacks; against the plots of unrighteous people; against schemes from enemies in the workplace; against bacteria, viruses, disease, and all manner of sickness; and etc. God can and will literally provide an impenetrable hedge of protection round about the person that fears Him (Ps 34:7)

So what does this mean to you today? It simply means that walking in God’s wisdom – His counsel, His Word – puts you in a position to experience victory and protection. When you choose to ignore God’s wisdom you open yourself up to failure and calamity. Close every door to the enemy today, by choosing to make decisions that are pleasing to God!

Confession for this day: Lord God, I know the type of life that You want me to experience and I want it as well. I want to experience Your best for the remainder of my years in the earth. To do so I must make wise decisions. Therefore, I declare, by faith, that my mind is renewed by and towards Your Word. I make decisions that are pleasing to You. I walk in integrity, honestly, and loyalty. I am the person You desire for me to be and I experience Your victory in every area of my life. I am protected from every attack, because I live my life under Your shield! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:8) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part VIII)

(Proverbs 2:8 NIV) For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Yesterday we started getting into the benefits and this one hits home with me this morning. This verse finds me where I am today. Like most people, I want to know that I am doing what God wants me to do and that I will be successful at the things He assigns me to. I am in a new environment, living in a new house, attending a new church, making new friends, facing new challenges, and doing it all by trusting in a God that is not new to me at all. Admittedly, I am not a fan of church hymns, but there is an old hymn by Jennie Wilson that I like. It says, “Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand, Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.” We live in a world of constant change. We seemingly make plans daily. Sometimes the plans hold true and other times they change completely. None of us entirely know what the future holds, but we want to believe that our path is protected, that our plans are worthy of execution and that our lives are headed down the right direction. That’s why Solomon is so adamant that we pursue God’s wisdom. God is the only constant in this world. His hand is the only unchanging hand. He is our stability in an ever-changing environment.

The words of Solomon really minister to me this morning and I pray they minister to you. I know that I do my best to walk in Godly wisdom, to pursue Godly counsel, and to live the life that God desires for me to live. This morning God tells all of us that are seeking to be faithful to Him that He guards our course and protects our way. The Contemporary English Version of this verse says, “God sees that justice is done, and he watches over everyone who is faithful to him” (CEV). Does it seem like others sometimes get the upper hand on you? Does is seem like things happen that should not happen or that others treat you wrong for no reason? Don’t try to get revenge. Leave revenge to God. Just pray for them and know that God will see to it that justice is done. God will see to it that you will reap the right reward. God will watch over you for being faithful to Him. God will!

The Message Bible translation of this verse makes it even more clear. It says, “He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones” (MSG). Are you loyally committed to God? If so, God’s Word just told you that God has His eye on you! Think about that for a moment. The God that sits on the circle of earth, that spoke to darkness and created light, that spoke to chaos and created order, that caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, the dumb to speak, and that dead to live, that God – our God – is watching over You! The God of the Universe takes time, every day, to watch over you! He guards your course and protects your way. Praise God! That is Good News!

So what does this mean to you today? It does not mean that bad things will not happen to good people, but it does mean that God will protect you as you walk down the path to your destiny. God will see to it that justice is done in your life. He keeps His eye on you to ensure that you experience His best. So continue to seek His counsel and to rely on His wisdom. He is the only constant in our world of constant change. Hold to God’s unchanging hand!

Confession for this day: Lord God, I speak the words of David this morning. I say that You, Oh Lord, are a shield for me. You’re my glory, the lifter up of my head. You lift my head whenever I am down. You encourage me when I need it. Because You watch over me. You see to it that justice is done in my life. You protect me from the unrighteous. You shield me from others and even from myself, when I am about to make a mistake. You show me my wrong ways, so that I can make Godly decisions. Because I am loyal, committed, and faithful to You, You guard my course and protect my way. So I just want to say THANK YOU! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:9) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part IX)

(Proverbs 2:9 NASB) Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity and every good course.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God,” by continuing to look at the benefits of walking in God’s wisdom and understanding. This morning’s benefit is a big one – discernment. Solomon was a king, a ruler, and an astute businessman. He oversaw the equivalent of billion-dollar enterprises. He led the greatest project of his time, and one of the greatest of all time, in building Solomon’s temple; the house of God. He had to make key decisions on a daily basis. He was able to do what He did, by the grace of God, because of the wisdom of God. He is fully qualified to tell us that when we walk in God’s wisdom we will be able to discern righteousness. He is basically telling us that when we walk with God and when His wisdom is operating in our lives we will be able to make the right decisions. We will choose what is right, just, equitable, and good.

The definition of discernment is: the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure; showing insight and understanding; acuteness of judgment. This is not limited to spiritual things. God’s wisdom is not just for understanding the scriptures, for going to church, or for leading a Bible study. No, God’s wisdom applies to every area of life. I am a Network Engineer in the Army. As a Warrant Officer I am expected to be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in my field and my field (communications) is pretty broad. Over the years I have been expected to comprehend the technical and often confusing aspects of technology and then develop action plans to implement the technology in the way that best suits the mission. I have been very successful – by the grace of God – because I have the ability to not only understand the obscure, but to articulate it in ways that are easily understandable. This is basically what God has graced me to do in the church as well; taking often understood Biblical concepts and explaining them in ways that are easily understood and applicable. The amazing part of all of this is that this comes naturally to me. I call this “sweatless victory.” Does it require energy and effort on my part? Of course, but not nearly the amount expended by those who attempt to do it on human ability alone.

I know that I do what I do by the grace of God. I know that it is not all God, but it is not all me either. This reminds me of something Paul said in his first letter to the church at Corinth. He said, “By God’s grace I am what I am.” But he knew that he could not stop there, because that sounds like he had no part in the matter. Someone could read that and say, “Well, my life is all up to God.” No, Paul went on to say, “I worked harder than all the others.” This made it clear Paul had a part in the matter, but that does not sound good either. Someone might think he was being arrogant. So Paul continued and said, “Not I, of course, but God’s grace that was with me” (1^st Cor 15:10). This shows that Paul had part and God had a part. Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not. It is God + man making a difference in the world.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that you can try to live your life on human ability alone, but why would you want to? When you operate in Godly wisdom it will impact every area of your life. God can show you things by revelation (in a minute) that would take years to learn by education. I am a relatively young man, but God has graced me to operate in wisdom beyond my years. I am not special. He can do the same for you. Don’t make it all you and don’t think I will be all God, it is God + you making a difference in your environment.

Confession for this day: Lord God, I declare that the more I learn the scriptures and apply them in my life, the more I become like You, the more I operate in Your counsel and Your way. As I walk with You, You walk with me. It is not all me, but it is not all You. It is You and I, together, making a difference in my environment. I am what I am by your grace and my effort. Together, You working with me, we impact this environment for the better. Thank You for giving me the ability to discern what is right, just, equitable, and good. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:10) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part X)

(Proverbs 2:10 NASB) For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God,” by continuing to look at the benefits of walking in God’s wisdom and understanding. This morning’s benefit is a vital benefit to any believer that wants to live a life that is pleasing to God and it is mind-renewal. When we come to God we do so with a set of ideas, beliefs, values, convictions, and etc.; along with many years of formal and informal education. The day we accept Jesus as Lord we do so without a clean slate. No, our slate, by that point, has been filled with knowledge, experiences, and decisions. When we accept Jesus as Lord we are Born Again. At that moment our spirit is regenerated by God’s Spirit and it is a wonderful and everlasting experience. The problem is that we, like God, are tripartite beings. God is Father, Son, and Spirit. We are spirit, soul, and body. Once we are Born Again our spirit is “saved,” but not our soul or our body. I like to say that our spirit was saved instantly, our soul must be saved progressively and our body will be saved eventually.

So if our spirit has already been saved and our body will eventually be saved, then what should be our focus today? You got it! The salvation of our soul. Our soul is comprised of our mind (the way we think), emotions (the way we feel), and will (the way we choose). When we come to God our soul is already conditioned to think, feel, and choose a certain way. Most of us came to God with a soul that was not conditioned to think, feel, and choose in ways that are pleasing to Him. Dr. Finace Bush says, “This new man in and old body needs a new mind!”

When I came to God I had already received 23 years of input, 18 of which came from living in Brooklyn, New York. I was a fast-tracker in the military, but I was rough around the edges. I liked confrontation, I cussed more than anyone I knew, and I wanted to be a man after the pattern of the men that I had seen in my life. These were men that I respected and looked up to, but they were not Godly men. So at the age of 23 I was Born Again, but my mind was still the same. I was a Christian, but I still wanted to fight, cuss, and live like the men that I had been looking up to. However, the more I read the Word the more I knew that I had to change. The more I accepted, received, and applied God’s Word to my life the more I realized that I was no longer rejecting the things of God, like I had done in the past, I was becoming them. Our text says that when we allow God’s wisdom to enter our heart His knowledge will become pleasant to our soul. Things that had never been pleasant to me before became more and more pleasant, day by day, as I learned to walk with God in accordance with His wisdom. Before I came to God I held grudges, but over time I realized that forgiveness was now pleasant to me. Before I came to God I wanted to fight my enemies, but over time I found myself praying for them. And the same can be said for many areas of my life. It’s been 13 years now and I can honestly say that the things of God are pleasant to my soul.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that renewing your mind is a process, not an event. It will take time, but if you stay with God, it will happen. The more you accept, apply, and live by God’s Word the more and more pleasant His ways will become to you. I know that when you first become a Christian it may not be all that easy to love, forgive, and turn the other cheek, but the more you read and apply His Word the more you will become what you read!

Confession for this day: Lord God, I thank You for giving me a book of Your Wisdom – Your Word. The more I read, receive, apply, and live out Your Word the more I become what I read. I declare, by faith, that Your ways are pleasant to my soul. I think, feel, and choose in ways that are pleasing to You, because Your ways are pleasing to me. My soul no longer rejects Your ways, it welcomes them with open arms! I speak this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:11) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part XI)

(Proverbs 2:11 NASB) Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Solomon tells us this morning that walking with God, receiving and applying His wisdom, lining up our decisions with His Word, will enable us to exercise discretion. This means that we will be able to make wise choices; exercising sound judgment. Why? Because we are not just using our own wisdom and understanding, but we have decided to live by God’s wisdom and understanding. Solomon tells us that His understanding will literally watch over us. Another translation of this text says, “Foresight will protect you. Understanding will guard you.” Yes, when we walk with God, when we pray daily, when we make decisions that are bathed in prayer, when we choose to line up our decisions with God’s Word, it is as if we are living our lives with foresight. God often leads us to make decisions that simply don’t make sense to us, but we do them anyway, by faith. Then, after the dust settles, we see why God led us to make the decisions and we come out looking like we knew what was coming. But in reality we didn’t, we just trusted God and our trust in Him protected us from making a mistake. I can tell you story after story of how God has protected me from mistakes along the way and most of the time He protected me from ME!

Yes, the person we often need most protection from is OURSELVES! Why? Because sometimes we allow our confidence in our own intellect and abilities to keep us from praying and seeking Godly wisdom. We want everything to make sense and to be logical, but sometimes logic fails us. What happens when God wants us to go against the grain? What happens when He knows that what makes the most sense is NOT the answer? What happens when He makes every attempt to lead us down the path of the irrational or unreasonable? If we listen to Him and follow His lead by faith, we will experience what He wants us to experience, but if we ignore His counsel, just because it does not make sense, we will find ourselves wondering why ignored God. See, God is a Spirit and His ways are Spiritual, not sensual. It does not make sense to Tithe, or to love those that hate you, or to speak to a God you cannot see, but you do it anyway. Why? Because we are instructed to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Our sight (natural ability) is limited, but God’s ability is infinite.

Conrad Adenauer, in his book The Churchman wrote, “The good Lord set definite limits on man’s wisdom, but set no limits on his stupidity – and that’s just not fair.” That might be a funny quote, but it does bring out a truth, and that is that we are prone to making mistakes. What we think is true today might not be true to us 10 years from now. We might even be adamant and sincere about something, but sincerity does not guarantee accuracy. We can be sincere and sincerely wrong. George Bernard Shaw once said, “New opinions often appear first as jokes and fancies, then as blasphemies and treason, then as questions open to discussion, and finally as established truths.” What this tells us is that human truth changes. That might be a sad reality, but you can I can find solace in knowing that God’s truth is eternal. What worked for Solomon, David, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, can also work for us.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that walking with God and applying His wisdom will protect you from the deception of others and even from yourself. Now, this does not mean that you will never make a mistake – I can attest to that – but it does mean that God’s wisdom will watch over you as you seek to maximize your purpose in the earth!

Confession for this day: Lord God, I thank You for the wisdom You give me in Your Word and by Your Spirit, who lives in me. I declare, by faith, that I will receive, apply, and live by Your wisdom, even when it does not make sense. I thank You for the natural abilities You have blessed me with, but I will not allow my intellect to keep me from submitting to Your wisdom. Your wisdom watches over me daily as I live my life BY FAITH! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:12,13) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part XII)

(Proverbs 2:12,13 NIV) Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” In verses 12-15 of this second chapter Solomon tells us that wisdom will save us from the ways of wicked men. This morning we look at verses 12 and 13. What do we know about the men that Solomon warns us about? We know that:

Their ways are wicked: The Hebrew word translated wicked here is also translated as evil, trouble, bad, and grievous. These are not people who are out to do good. The word wicked also means twisted. They have a twisted view of live and they are out to influence others to view things they way they do. They are not content in living in darkness by themselves, but they are out to bring as many people with them as possible. Solomon tells us that Godly wisdom will literally save or deliver us from them. Godly wisdom will highlight their wrongdoings. When you walk with God and you have His Word in you it is as if alarms go off in your head when you hear or see something wrong. You know immediately that you need to stay away from the way of the wicked. Instead of them influencing you, Godly wisdom will enable you to stand your ground, to remain on the path of righteousness, and to shine as light in the midst of darkness. That way you can be the person who does the influencing and not the other way around.
Their words are perverse: I did an entire series on the importance of your words. I often say, “What’s in you abundantly will come out of you eventually.” Your words show what’s inside of you. Jesus clearly taught this when He said, “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. You can tell what a tree is like by the fruit it produces. You cannot pick figs or grapes from thornbushes. Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart” (Luke 6:43-45). Since your words show what’s in your heart, people that speak perverse words – or words that don’t line up with God – are showing what’s in their heart. These are not people that you need to CHOOSE to be around regularly. If you surround yourself with perverse speech and you listen to it constantly, you will find yourself repeating it. You must protect your ear gate. What you continually hear will get down in your heart (your soul).
They have left the path of the upright for the way of darkness: This is the real danger. These are people that know better. They have tasted the way of the upright. They know right from wrong. They know what the Bible says. They can quote scripture. These people are most dangerous, because they say things like, “Well, I know what the Bible says, but…” Or, “God never really meant that, because…” They know what right is, but they simply choose to do wrong. They have left the path of the upright and they would want you to do the same, because it will help them justify their actions. When you take your stand it upsets them, because it reminds them of their wrongdoing. Holding fast to the wisdom of God will enable you to hold fast to the profession of your faith and to resist the temptations to do evil.

So what does this mean to you today? It means that you must choose your friends wisely. I can’t remember who said, “Who you will be in five years will be influenced by the friends you choose and the books you read.” Although I believe your relationship with God has a lot to do with where you will be in five years, the point is that your friends will also influence who you become. My mother used to tell me daily, “Show me who you hang with and I will tell you who you are.” I will talk more about this tomorrow.

Confession for this day: Lord God, I thank You for helping me to choose my friends wisely. I choose not to have close associations with those that are not out please You. I surround myself with people that will build me up and not tear me down. I connect with people that are of like precious faith, people that speak the language of faith, and that do their best to live their lives by faith. As iron sharpens iron, they sharpen me and I sharpen them. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:14,15) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part XIII)

(Proverbs 2:14,15 NLT) They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. Their actions are crooked, and their ways are wrong.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” In verses 12-15 of this second chapter Solomon tells us that wisdom will save us from the ways of wicked men. Yesterday we looked at verses 12 and 13 where we learned that the people Solomon is describing are people who speak perverse words, who have left the way of the upright for the path of darkness, and who know better, but choose not to do better. This morning he tells us that these people literally take pleasure in doing wrong, their moral compass is calibrated towards wickedness to the point that they enjoy twisted ways. Solomon tells us plainly that their actions are crooked and their ways are wrong. It is interesting that the word wrong is used in our text. I have gotten into many conversations with people who try to tell me that there is no right or wrong. They like to believe that we are just different. They want to find solace in thinking that living in sin is not wrong, but just their choice. They shun away from anyone who believes in an absolute right. Why? Because they realize that if the Bible is right, then they are wrong and they just don’t want to come to grips with that.

I remember an old song I learned when I first became a Christian that said, “The Bible is right, and somebody’s wrong!” Yes, we live in a society where anything goes. Those living in sin take pleasure in it, and rightly so. I know I was a good sinner. When I was a sinner I did my best to live like one. My point is that it would be foolish of me to expect a sinner to live like a believer. A person that is not redeemed, that has not been Born Again, that does not have God’s Spirit living on the inside of them, and that does not ascribe the truth in God’s Word is simply not equipped or positioned to live a life that is pleasing to God. That’s why we must share the truth of the Gospel with the lost. But Solomon’s point is that we must not be naïve enough to think that we can befriend sinners and not be affected by it. We must choose our friends wisely. Those that we closely associate with will influence us, one way or another.

Why do you think that Solomon is teaching us that wisdom will protect us from people who are twisted, crooked, and wrongdoers? Because he knows that we need protection from their negative influence. So, if the Bible is warning us against this influence, wouldn’t it be foolish of us to welcome it? I have two teenagers and they sometimes struggle to understand why I emphasize so strongly to them the importance of choosing friends wisely. I know that if they choose the wrong friends they will wind up doing the wrong things. How many times have you heard of kids taking a turn for the worse because they started hanging out with the wrong people? The problem is that many adults think peer pressure is something that is reserved for children. No, we can all be affected by those that we CHOOSE to associate with. And that’s the good news – we have a CHOICE! We get to choose who we call our friends. We get to choose whom we spend time with. We get to choose whom we allow to speak into our lives. We get to choose whom we share intimate thoughts with. We get to CHOOSE!

So what does this mean to you today? It means that like so many other things in life, the choice is yours! You can choose to surround yourself with people that will help promote your relationship with God, or you can choose to surround yourself with people that will draw you back away from God. Don’t fool yourself into believing that your friends can’t affect your destiny. Choose wisely!

Confession for this day: Lord God, I declare, by faith, that Your wisdom is evident in my decisions. I make wise choices, especially when choosing friends. I connect with those that will lead me down the path You want me to go. I am no lone ranger. I am not in this race alone. And I choose to run it with people that are living lives that are pleasing to You. That way I build them up and they build me up! Together we are making a difference. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:16-19) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part XIV)

(Proverbs 2:16-19 NLT) Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman. She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God. Entering her house leads to death; it is the road to the grave. The man who visits her is doomed. He will never reach the paths of life.

This morning we continue the series entitled, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” God gives us both encouragement and a warning in these four verses. The encouragement is that heeding to His wisdom will save us from the trap of sexual immorality. The warning is that if we ignore His wisdom and follow the path of sexual immorality, we may never find our way back.

Paul told us that we should not be ignorant of satan’s tactics (2^nd Cor 2:11). One tactic that has been tremendously successful for him, especially with men, is sexual sin. I did a quick search for statistics on internet porn alone and the estimates are the worldwide internet porn brings in around $97 Billion a year. That is remarkable and that is just one aspect of sexual sin. The warning here against the adulteress or the woman that has left the husband of her youth is a warning against all sexual sin. Let’s be clear, it is not a temptation for you if you are not tempted by it; meaning that if something is not tempting to you, then you won’t be tempted by it. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it can never happen to you. The enemy has been watching you all your life. Imagine him having a file on you that documents what type of women you like. He knows how you like them and he will do everything he can to set you up for failure. There are people (men and women) in the kingdom of darkness that have no regard for the covenant they made with their spouses or with God. These are people that are out to have a good time and they are used (knowingly or not) by the enemy to bring down people in God’s kingdom.

One time Jesus was accused of doing what He did by the power of satan. Jesus responded saying, “If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?” (Mat 12:26). Did you catch that? Jesus identified the fact that satan has a kingdom and we know that God has a Kingdom. These two kingdoms are in all out war and the war will not be over until Jesus returns.

Getting back to our text. Solomon tells us that if we fall to the temptation of the woman who has no regard for the covenant she made with her spouse or her god, then we are walking down the path of death; it is the road to the grave. He tells us clearly that we are doomed and he says that we will NEVER reach the paths of life. Now, lest you be confused, this does not mean that if you have fallen to sexual sin that you are condemned forever. No, just like anything else, you can repent, receive forgiveness, overcome the temptation by the power of God, and get back on the road to fulfilling your purpose. But let’s be clear, opening the door to sexual sin opens many other doors in your life and before you know it you can be so entangled that you may never make it back. Many powerful men of God have fallen to sexual sin. The enemy has used this tactic time and time again against believers. Heed the warning. Don’t fall to sexual sin!

So what does this mean to you today? It means that walking in the wisdom of God can save you from sexual sin and from the myriad of other tactics the enemy uses to bring believers down. When you walk in the wisdom of God you live the life that is pleasing to Him and you abstain from even the very appearance of evil (1^st Thes 5:22). I have two confessions today:

Confession for the Married: Lord God, I declare, by faith, that I abstain from sexual sin. I close the door to immorality in my life. I walk in purity and my sexual desires are towards my spouse and my spouse alone. I please my spouse and my spouse pleases me. We have a passionate and fulfilling sex life and we are content with each other. We keep ourselves physically and we make opportunities for romantic moments. Father, thank You for blessing me with my spouse and I will not violate the covenant I made with them or with You! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Confession for the Single: Lord God, I declare, by faith, that I have the ability to make the right decisions. I live the celibate life, until You lead me to connect with my life-long mate. When I connect with my mate we will please each other sexually, but until then, I walk in abstinence and I do it with Your help. I am not foolish enough to believe that I cannot fall, but I declare that I WILL NOT fall to sexual sin. I close the door to the enemy I walk in righteousness, by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:20) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part XV)

(Prov 2:20 GNB) So you must follow the example of good people and live a righteous life.

This morning we get back to our current series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” Solomon has already told us to avoid the way of the evil man and the strange woman. Here he contrasts the warning against what NOT TO do with instruction on what TO do. The previous picture of shame and sin is compared to the call to live a better life. He tells us that we MUST follow the example of good people and live a righteous life. He knows that history is full of examples, especially for us, who have God’s Word. We have 66 books of examples of good and evil. We have thousands of years of history documented for us; giving us countless examples of right and wrong. Solomon commands us to walk in the way of good men.

The writer of Hebrews said something similar. He told us not to be lazy, but rather imitators of those that have gone before us, who through faith and patience have obtained the promises of God (Heb 6:12). The Hebrew writer knows that we have all sorts of examples in life and in scripture and He urged us not to follow the example of the lazy, of those that are simply unwilling to put forth the effort to live by faith and to have the staying power required of patience. No, he tells us to follow the right example, the example of those that coupled patience with their faith, those that believed God and held on to that belief no matter how long it took, those that stayed the course and who were able to – at the end of the day – receive the promises of God.

This is why it is so very important for us to check our input. We can’t listen to worldly and negative teaching, watch ungodly material, and surround ourselves (consistently) with unrighteous people and then think that we will not be affected by it. The call to wisdom is a call to live the life that is right before God. It is difficult to live that life when you place yourself in the wrong environments. The call to follow the example of good and righteous people is the call to live a good and righteous life. This is not a onetime thing. This is not an event. This is not for a moment. This is a God wanting us to live the remainder of our days in the earth is ways that are pleasing to Him. Matthew Henry explained this well. When commenting on this verse he said, “And we must not only walk in that way awhile, but we must keep it, keep in it, and never turn aside out of it: The paths of the righteous are the paths of life, which all that are wise, having taken hold of, will keep their hold of.” That’s what wisdom does for us; it enables us to find the path of God and to stay on it. The fool might stumble on to the right path, but he will not remain there.

So what does this mean to you today? A few things:

1. Your friends matter: Solomon clearly explains the impact made by those that we CHOOSE to associate with. Choose the right friends and they will help you live the right life.

2. Select Godly mentors: One day I will teach on mentoring relationships. Mentors enable us to do much more than we can alone. Select your mentors wisely and grant them ‘right of passage;’ giving them access to speak into your life.

3. Follow the mentors in scripture: In addition to the Godly mentors that we can and should have in the earth today, we can be mentored by the heroes of the faith in scripture. Follow their example. Learn from their lives. Imitate their faith and patience and you too will be able to obtain the promises of God.

Confession for today: Lord God, I intentionally choose to follow the example of the righteous. I learn from those that are walking examples of Your goodness in the earth today and those that have gone before me in scripture. I allow my living mentors to speak into my life. I grant them right of passage to my soul. I also allow those that have gone before me in scripture to mentor me through their life experiences; through both their failures and success. Who you desire for me to be is far too great for me to attempt to become it alone. I allow the righteous lives of others to poured into my own, by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!

(2:21,22) The Benefits of Walking in God’s Wisdom and Understanding (Part XVI)

(Prov 2:21,22 GNB) Righteous people — people of integrity — will live in this land of ours. But God will snatch the wicked from the land and pull sinners out of it like plants from the ground.

This morning we get back to our current series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” We finally get to the end of chapter two. In this chapter we have learned a great deal about the benefits of receiving, applying, and living by God’s wisdom. The final benefit that Solomon lays out in this chapter is one that is near and dear to the Jews. It is a promise to dwell in the land promised to their forefathers, the land of Canaan, modern day Israel.

Going back to Jehovah’s first encounter with Abraham (Gen 12:1) the Lord promised to lead Abraham to a land. Later the Lord promised that land to both Abraham and his descendants. If there is anything that is close to the heart of the Hebrew it is his love for home and country. Solomon tells the Jew in the closing words of this second chapter that if he walks in wisdom, if he lives the righteous life, if he is a person of integrity, he will live in the land of promise.

David knew the importance of Canaan to both he and his people. His desire for and understanding of the blessing it was to live in Canaan is evident in many of the psalms he wrote. For example, in the 37^th Psalm David said, “Don’t be annoyed by anyone who does wrong, and don’t envy them. They will soon disappear like grass without rain. Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe” (verses 1-3). The reference to the land here is a reference to Canaan and like his son Solomon, David mentioned the reward of the wicked. In our text Solomon tells us that the wicked will be snatched from the land. If we continue reading psalm 37 we see that Solomon’s words are very similar to those of his father used when David said, “Those who trust in the LORD will possess the land, but the wicked will be driven out” (v.9). These words provided hope for the Jew because even though were able to take possession of the land promised to them by God, it was not without a fight (initially) and not without constant defense. See, the land was promised to them by God, but that does not mean that they were going to live there happily ever after. They were, and we are, in the world. God promises to bless us, but His blessing does not mean that we will live in a bubble. Living in the world brings with it the occasional challenge from the wicked, but both Solomon and David tell us that the wicked will have their reward. Instead of trying to get even, wisdom tells us to simply live right before God. God will ensure the wicked receive what’s coming to them. That’s why David, later in psalm 37, went on to say, “Turn away from evil and do good, and your descendants will always live in the land” (v.27). Once again, the focus was not on what we cannot control (others), but rather on what we can (ourselves).

So what does this mean to you today? It means that you although your desire may not be to live in present day Israel, you too have a promise to be both blessed in the earth and in the hereafter. So walk in wisdom, be the righteous person, the person of integrity described in this text, and you will find yourself walking in The Blessing. And finally, don’t spend a lot of energy worrying about the wicked. They might rise up against you from time to time, but don’t waste brain power developing ways to get back at them. Leave vengeance to God. Your part is to walk in love and live a life pleasing to Him! Godly wisdom requires true forgiveness and an unwavering focus that is on self, not others.

Confession for today: Lord God, I thank You for blessing me to live in the earth. I know that I am going to heaven, but I thank You for leaving me here, for now, to make a difference in my environment. I know that living in the world will bring the occasional challenge from the wicked, but I declare, by faith, that I am not focused on them. My focus is on myself, on living in integrity, and on walking upright before You. I forgive the wicked in my heart and I leave their fate to you. I work on me and I seek to be a blessing to others. Use me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!