Proverbs 9 - 6.10.24
Scripture
Proverbs 9:10 NLT
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”
Observation
In this proverb of King Solomon, he compares and contrasts wisdom and foolishness. He even gives them both human characteristics. King Solomon urges for people to seek true wisdom. For when you attain wisdom, you will truly benefit, and you will be able to add years to your life (verses 11-12). But if you answer “Folly’s Calling”, it will only lead you down the path of destruction (verse 18).
Application
Fearing the Lord means having a deep reverence/respect for Him and His ways.
There are some people out there who think of God as some big “party pooper”. They think that God creates all these rules and regulations for us to follow because He doesn’t want us to have any fun and He doesn’t want us to experience life at it’s fullest. Can I tell you that is the furthest thing from the truth and a lie that the enemy feeds us to rebel against God.
Let me explain it to you through the eyes of a father. As a father I set rules and boundaries for my kids to keep them away from trouble. As a father, who has lived a lot longer than they have, I know through experience of life’s pitfalls and traps that could cause my kids problems. It’s not because I don’t want my kids to enjoy life and have fun that I set these rules and boundaries. It’s quite the opposite! I want them to have a good life. I want them to live long and prosper. I want them to fulfill everything that God has called them to be. But they’re going to have to trust me.
In the same way, when we begin to trust God, (our Heavenly Father), and follow His ways over our own, we will be the ones who benefit in life. God will provide our every need and more. He will protect us and never leave us. He will uplift and strengthen us. He will grant us the wisdom we seek to accomplish whatever task is at hand. But most of all, He gives us life…eternal life, as we put our faith and trust in His Son, Jesus.
So don’t think of God as a God who sets all these rules and boundaries as if it’s like a cage, keeping us away from truly experiencing life. Think of them as a wall or a defense barrier around us, protecting us from the evil in this world, that is trying to ruin us and bring us down. Lets take it from one of the wisest men who ever lived in King Solomon. Let’s choose to live a life having a deep reverence for God and let’s follow His ways. Let’s choose to live wisely today. 😊
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that I can walk out today living wisely, by first and foremost following Your ways. May I be able to enjoy all the benefits that King Solomon spoke of by choosing wisdom over folly. May I pass on this wisdom that You have blessed me with to my kids so this wisdom can be carried on from generations to come. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Proverbs 8 - 6.7.2024
Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.
Proverbs 8:12-14
“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?
I think the most difficult biblical task I have given myself over the years is to learn parenting through the bible. Sometimes, I have wished that God had laid out a plan for parents who are Christians in Leviticus. As I read Leviticus 6, I could feel a part of me going, I wish there were several chapters devoted to raising children! Maybe there is and I have missed it but over the years I have done my best to use the examples of God’s love and God’s justice to hone my (very limited) parenting skills.
I felt like I was in a parenting rut this week. I had been doing a lot better over the past several years, but this week I felt like I missed the mark. I felt like the Holy Spirit telling me to go back to the basics, to seek Wisdom:
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” - v.7
“Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.” - v.14
“By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.” -v.15,16
And then I was hit with some 2 Peter 1:5-7:
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
Application - How will you apply this to your life?
I’m going back to the basics today. I feel like I am in a slight parenting rut, but I will not give up. I will pray to God for His Wisdom more often. I will run my parenting techniques, philosophies, and house policies through the ‘growth filter’ provided by the apostle Peter. If I feel like the house rules, parenting techniques don’t work with the filter, then I will start from scratch implementing greater Christ centered parenting techniques.
Prayer - Write out a prayer.
My loving Lord, my Savior, my Creator, my Teacher. Please, teach me wisdom today. I wish to be a better parent, a better husband, a better son, a better brother, a better friend. Grant me just a piece of your wisdom Lord, so that I may grow. Help to add onto me Lord. Build my faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.
May my deeds, my words, my very essence be a reflection of growth in You. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.
-kenneth lee
1 Peter 5 - 6.6.24
S - 1 Peter 5:8-10
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
O – Peter wrote this as an encouragement to suffering Christians who were scattered about and suffering. He wanted them to be thankful for the privilege of suffering for Christ as they lived to become more like him. Peter had known persecution firsthand but would allow nothing to shake his faith in Christ. He wanted to urge others to not let their suffering distract them from living holy lives, for being loyal to, and putting their trust and hope in Jesus. He wanted to warn us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering or being persecuted. He wanted to remind us that even when we are suffering and it feels like the pain will never end, in comparison to eternity which we are promised with Him, this is just a “blip” on the radar.
A - It is imperative as Christians that we trust God and resist Satan (temptation). This is not a passive thing and requires action on our part. Being sober and being vigilant are closely connected. The word vigilant means keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties. A vigilant person actively pays attention to what is vying for his attention and what affects his heart and mind.
Mark 13:33 3 Be on guard! Be alert[a]! You do not know when that time will come.
We must keep a clear mind as we vigilantly keep watch over our lives and the world around us. Now more than ever!! The enemy is just waiting for us to drop our guard, to be divisive, to be isolated, to be hyper focused on our problems so that we are like a weak little lamb to be devoured. When we are struggling/suffering through a situation, illness, addiction, etc., that is not the time to skip church, stop praying, stop reading or stay indoors and hide under the covers! THAT is when we call on our brothers and sisters in Christ to rally around us in prayer. I can’t tell you how many times over the years I have had Christian friends tell me about a situation they had gone through….ummmm, how come I, or someone in the church was not aware? How come we weren’t praying them through that situation? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t isolate yourself when feeling alone and weak. That is the enemy’s playground! You have a church family at DSC who loves you and prayer teams just waiting to pray for you.
Ephesians 6:1818 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
The term sober literally means “free from intoxicating influences.” To be sober means to not allow ourselves to be influenced by anything that leads us away from God’s truth and sound judgment. Sobriety is a state of being (gotquestions.org). Therefore, it’s important that we take the time, every day if necessary, to ask Him what are we allowing into our lives that may be leading us away from His truth.
P – Lord Jesus I thank you that you have given us your written Words through people such as Paul, as instruction on how to live Holy lives. Thank you for Your Words on how to pray, how to protect ourselves. Words to remind us that this little time here on earth will be challenging but that the benefit we will receive once we get to spend eternity with you makes it all worth it. Help us to be on guard here and now. Help us to keep our eyes on You and resist the Devil. To be alert and actively pursuing you through prayer each day. In Jesus’ name I pray! Amen.
- Crystal Flory