SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 1-4
“If you really want to gain knowledge, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and training.” (Proverbs 1:7)
According to this verse, the key to knowledge or wisdom is a healthy respect or appreciation (fear, awe) of God.
On the one hand, God is so awesome – a consuming fire – that the only natural response is to “worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”(Hebrews 12:28-29)
But God did not create His children to cower in fear before Him, but to love, respect, honour and serve Him.
Yes, God could consume us like a fire, if He wanted to; but the thing is, He doesn’t want to (1 Peter 3:9).
Respect for God involves ‘deepest, tenderest fears’ (Hymn, ‘My God How Wonderful’), and other things like gratitude, wonder, delight, joy, desire are also involved.
Like a child who really loves their parent, they want nothing more than to enjoy the love and delight of the one they love.
They live and act and choose in ways that makes their beloved parent smile… it is love, not fear that makes them do this!
Wisdom is living and choosing in healthy, positive, God-smiling ways.
Wisdom is not only common sense, it is good sense, the best way to live for us, for God and for others.
But when people lose sight of God, and think more about themselves, their pleasure and desires, they tend to make unwise, unhealthy, unhappy choices, resulting in hurt for them, for God and for others.
God teaches us wise living (the kind that makes God smile) in many ways, but we have to be open to it.
We have to want to love and please God, and we have to want to live wisely.
If you really want to gain knowledge… but foolish people…
Where do I fit in?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, You are the greatest and the best. I love You and want to love You more. I want to live a God-pleasing life. Help me to see the wise and foolish choices that I face each day, and help me to choose wisely!
Observations/Application
The intro says it all – do what is right and just and fair – listen and do this – that’s what the Master says.
Listen and do.
Which voice am I listening to this day and always?
Open my ears Lord so that I tune in to Your Voice and listen
and
have life
and
know what is right and just and fair
and every good path – the path of the righteous.
Listen and do this
and keep His Way
and be loving and faithful in all of His Ways.
Stay on the Way.
He will be your Guide.
Again,
listen and do this!
Listen to the Father.
As a child listens to his earthly father
I must listen to my heavenly Father.
Hear Him speaking and He will lead me and guide me
in the Way.
Be heart strong in order to LiveStrong
and WalkStrong in the Way.
Today.
Prayer
Lord, help me to listen and do and keep my eyes upon Jesus so that I stay always in the Way.
Teach me, O Lord, Thy way of truth,
And from it I will not depart;
That I may steadfastly obey,
Give me an understanding heart.
In Thy commandments make me walk,
For in the law my joy shall be;
Give me a heart that loves Thy will,
From discontent and envy free.
Turn Thou my eyes from vanity,
And cause me in Thy ways to tread;
O let Thy servant prove Thy Word,
And thus to godly fear be led.
Turn Thou away reproach and fear,
Thy righteous judgments I confess;
To know Thy precepts I desire,
Revive me in Thy righteousness.