30 Day Cleanse - Day 8

Scripture

"Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, for blessed are they who keep my ways." --Proverbs 8:32

Observe

 

The Therefore

In Bible School, one of my professors was known for a certain saying:

"When you see a 'therefore', find out what it's there for, for it's there for a reason."

In the original Hebrew, the word for "therefore" is "attah", which means "now". In English, we could translate it as, "so".

Imagine if you walked in a room to the end of someone's joke:  "So the farmer says, 'We didn't knead it anyway!'" Everyone in the room busts up laughing, but you're confused. All you heard was the punchline.

This verse is the punchline of Proverbs 8.

Wisdom is making her final statement that ties everything together. She says, "So you really want to listen to be, because people who do are spoiled rotten by God."

As a stand-alone statement that sounds pretty easy to understand, but just like you need to hear the whole joke for the punchline to be funny, we need to look at the rest of what Wisdom says, in order to understand the HUGENESS of what she is saying.

So, let's back up a couple of verses, and read Proverbs 8:22-31:

“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills I was brought forth; While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first dust of the world.

When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became fixed, When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth; Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men."

The Context

 

On Day 3, we talked about how wisdom is an attribute of God, which He gives to us through His Holy Spirit.
We discussed how Heaven and Earth were made by the Wisdom of God, and how it gives us worth as people and advantage in every situation of life.

But today, Solomon is not talking about Wisdom. Instead SHE declares her own existence and gives her own history.

And there is distinct purpose in the WAY she talks.

Have you ever read the book of Job?

For those of you who haven't, the basic context of the story is this: There's a guy named Job who undergoes a tremendous amount of suffering for God; in the midst of it, he has a bunch of friends visit--who make him feel like he must have sinned; he tells them that he hasn't sinned and tries to defend himself and God.

There is A LOT MORE in the book of Job, but my favorite part is when God shows up, and puts all of them in their place.

Read what He says in Job 38:1-11.

"Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

'Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

'Or who enclosed the sea with doors when, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; when I made a cloud its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and I placed boundaries on it and set a bolt and doors, and I said, "Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop"?'"

Answering the Question

 

Who was there when God started the beginning?

Wisdom.

And the whole time, she cheered God on and rejoiced with Him in the beauty and perfection of His creation.

God doesn't just have an acquaintance with Wisdom; they're inseperable.

Apply

On Day 7, we learned that pursuing Wisdom is a way of getting to know God.

This passage affirms it.

Wisdom tells us, "Because of who I am and where I've been with God, learn from me. God will reward you for it."

Remember the whole family analogy?

Wisdom is like an older sister who has gone before us.

Want to learn the layout of your high school? She knows; she's went there first. Want to know which professors are good in college? She knows; she's studied under them first. Want to know the quickest way to the mall? She knows; she's driven there many times.

Want to get to know God? Wisdom knows. She knew Him first.

Pray

God, thank you for teaching us to appreciate and value wisdom. Help us to listen to wisdom and pay attention to your Holy Spirit, so we can get to know You better. Thank you for teaching us so much and for always wanting our hearts. Amen.

Your Turn!!!

You know the drill. HMU

30 Day Cleanse - Day 7

Scripture

"Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' And call understanding your intimate friend;" --Proverbs 7:4

Observe

Become friends with wisdom and understanding; love them like they are part of your family.

Call the ones who are wise your brothers and sisters; declare that the discerning will know you the best.

The Sacrifice

On Day 4, we learned that, in order to obtain true wisdom, we have to give up our own thoughts and ideas. On Day 5, we talked about how we need to get away from negative influences in our lives--in order to be able to listen to and follow God.

When we put those things together, it sounds like we could be lonely or miserable.

Imagine Solomon's sons. They heard these words from their father, knowing that someday they would be kings themselves. And they became responsible (even from a young age) to abstain from all the pleasures reserved for kings.

Before they even got a chance to try it out, Solomon busted up their party, and told them it wasn't going to be worth it.

I would have pouted.

In fact, sometimes I DO pout when I think about the things I'm "missing out on", or the sacrifices I make "for God" with no immediate reward.

BUT God encourages me.

The Reward

God himself reaches down from Heaven into my exact circumstance (remember how perfect His timing is?), and encourages me.

In times when I'm down, God reminds me that my relationship with Him isn't just sacrifice. I also GAIN a LOT of things:  Friendship with Him, awesome revelations in the Word, crazy friends who love Jesus, comfort when I'm sad, someone to talk to when I'm lonely, healing when I'm broken, and hope that--no matter what I go through today--God has a plan for my life.

Apply

In our verse today, God reminds us to not just see wisdom as something to memorize, something to conquer, or something to check off the invisible list.

He tells us to take our time getting to know wisdom, because when we pursue wisdom, we are pursuing Him, and nothing compares to knowing Him.

He's the best friend that we could ever have.

AND you'll find that, along the way, your friendship with God will bring people into your life who have been pursuing wisdom too.

When you are complete in God, surrounded by others who know God, walking in the plan God has for your life, suddenly you'll realize that the sacrifices are well WORTH the rewards.

Pray

God, we thank you that you love us and that you want to know us. It is an honor that you give us salvation AND friendship. Help us to understand wisdom--not just so we can say that we get it, but so we can know your heart. We pray for our friends and family all around the world right now. Holy Spirit, please encourage their hearts, and help us--no matter how near or far--to be united in wisdom, heart, and purpose. We love you, Lord! Amen.

Your Turn!!!

You know the drill. Hit me up with your comments!

30 Day Cleanse - Day 6

Recap:

So far on our journey, we have learned the following things:

Day 1 - If we pay attention to the Holy Spirit, we will be wise.
Day 2 - God fights for us, because we have been made righteous through Christ.
Day 3 - When God fills us with the Holy Spirit, He gives us access to all wisdom.
Day 4 - The cost of wisdom is the same as the cost of salvation:  Everything we have.
Day 5 - Part of the cost of wisdom is laying down ungodly relationships and behaviors that hinder us from being who God made us to be.

 

Scripture

 

"My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you." --Proverbs 6:20-22

Observe

I LOVE these verses!

In them, Solomon is telling his children to pay attention to the wisdom from their parents, because the things they are taught will guide them, protect them, and give them counsel through all of life's situations.

This passage reminds me of three things:

1. God's Omnipresence
2. God's Timing
3. God's Word

God's Omnipresence

 

Omnipresence is a word meaning everywhere, all the time.

Just like Solomon tells his children that his teachings will accompany them wherever they go, God is with us wherever we are.

In fact, Solomon's dad, David, wrote about that in Psalm 139:

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me.... I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!" --Psalm 139:1-7

God's Timing

God's omnipresence allows Him to guide us through literally every situation in life.

Just like Solomon's wisdom would guide, guard, and teach his children, God interacts with us in real time to provide us with guidance, protection, and wisdom for us and others.

In the New Testament, God affirms that He will give us direction and wisdom--exactly when we need it: 

"'But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.'" --Matthew 10:19-20

God's Word

It is always good to know that God never leaves us--no matter where we go--but we don't always feel like He's there. Likewise, it's good to know that God's timing is perfect for every situation, but in the middle of some situations, we can feel absolutely desperate for God to show up.

So, how do we stand in times like these?

In the Old Testament, we read about how Moses led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into the desert. They were headed to the Promised Land, but due the hearts of the people, most of them never saw it--including Moses.

Before he died, Moses passed the responsibility of leading God's people to Joshua.

Joshua needed to experience the omnipresence of God. He needed God to be with him everywhere he went; He needed to experience the direction of God; and He needed the words of God to lead the people of God.

In Joshua's most desperate moment, God himself showed up and gave Joshua everything he needed:

"'Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'" --Joshua 1:8

 

One of the greatest ways we get to experience God's omnipresence and timing is through His Word.

Apply

Like it says in John 15:5, we can't do anything without God. We desperately need Him in our lives.

We live our lives in the presence of God by studying the Word of God.

Solomon taught his children that wisdom would be with them always if they would do two things:  Bind wisdom to their hearts (memorize), and fasten them around their necks (reflect). In the same ways (through memorization and constant reflection) we can keep God's wisdom--His Word--with us.

You'll be amazed at how often God will use the very passages you study to reveal Himself to you--and to others, through you.

Pray

God, we thank you that you never leave us (Matthew 28:20). We thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit--who teaches us everything we need to know and reminds us of everything You have told us (John 14:26). We ask that as we study your Word, you would guide us, watch over us, and speak to us. Thank you that your word is alive (Hebrews 4:12). Like David said, let us hide your word in our hearts, so we will not sin against you (Psalm 119:11). Amen.

Your Turn!!!

What is God saying to you today? Respond below.

 

 

30 Day Cleanse - Day 5

Scripture

"Now then, my sons, listen to me and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from [the adulterous] and do not go near the door of her house, or you will give your vigor to others and your years to the cruel one;" --Proverbs 5:7-9
 

Observe

Solomon tells his children to listen to and remember to follow the things he says. He warns them to stay far away from adulterers (those who have turned aside, the profane, strangers). If not, they will sacrifice their honor and give their lives to those who are cruel.

The Old Testament contains a narrative of God's chosen people (the Israelites)--from the call of Abraham (Genesis 12) to the conquering of the Promised Land (Canaan) under the headship of Joshua, starting with Jericho (Joshua 6).

Throughout history, various antagonists have entered the story of God's people.

One of the most noteworthy adversaries, however, was Israel's own choice: Intermarriage with foreign nations.

The Old Testament is full of stories that go something like this:

A godly king conquers an enemy nation with the miraculous power of God; the king has to make a choice about whether or not to destroy that nation completely or to take some of its treasure (and women) for himself; the king decides to take one (or several) ungodly (pagan) women, and the whole nation of soldiers follows suit; the pagan women lead their men into worship of foreign gods; the godly nation turns away from God, removing God's blessing; a foreign nation then conquers Israel (God's chosen people); Israel cries out to God; God liberate Israel and gives them another godly king; the godly king would go to battle....

And the process repeats again and again.

So, it is understandable why Solomon would advise his children--future kings and leaders--to stay away from adulterers (those who would lead them away from God). If they didn't, they would sacrifice their honor (literally majesty, authority), and the years on their throne(s) to the cruelty of foreign nations.

Apply

In the New Testament, Paul writes the same advice to believers:

"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" --2 Corinthians 6:14

When we become Christians, we become sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:15) and heirs along with Jesus (Romans 8:17). We, like Solomon's sons, are current and future rulers of God's Kingdom.

Whereas Solomon warned his sons that intermarriage with foreign wives would cause them to sacrifice the glory of kings, God warns us (His children) that being influenced by those who have turned away from Him will cause us to not live up to the glory of God.

This does not mean that we cannot have non-Christian friends. Jesus used to hang out with "sinners" all the time.

The most important thing, however, was that wherever Jesus went, the people around Him changed--not the other way around.

Pray

God, we recognize that wisdom tells us to be careful in our relationships. It is so easy to compromise the things that we believe in when we are surrounded by people and media that don't believe in you. We live in, go to school in, and work in this world. Sometimes it feels like we can't escape it. BUT we want to be people who accurately demonstrate the glory of God--in such a way that the lives of the people around us are changed. So, please give us grace to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) and help us to remember that you have overcome the world (John 16:33) when we encounter struggles. We trust that you are still fighting for us and will give us wisdom and victory in every area. Amen.

Your Turn!!!

Do you have experience in this area? How has God given you wisdom in balancing your relationships and your time? What did God speak to you through Proverbs 5? Comment below!

30 Day Cleanse - Day 4

Scripture

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding." --Proverbs 4:7

Observe

The very start of being wise is to acquire wisdom in the first place--which will take you everything you have.

Apply

Giving all we have to obtain wisdom is done in two ways:

1. We GIVE our all.
2. We SURRENDER our all.

 

We GIVE our all.

In Proverbs 4:7, the word for "all you have" is the Hebrew word "kol" which means "all". Kol comes from the word "kalal" which means "complete, perfect."

Kol is the same word used in Jeremiah 29:13, when God says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart."

It reminds me of the Greatest Commandment:  "Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength."

Since wisdom comes from God, we must seek God to find wisdom.

And God is found by us when we give our ALL.

We SURRENDER our all.

In order to obtain wisdom, we must first give up our own human wisdom.

Like it says in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

Part of the battle to gain wisdom is a battle against the thoughts that come naturally to us.

On Day 3 of our cleanse, we discussed how humans have a soul--containing our mind, will, and emotions.

Our soul is how we think and feel about things.

Unfortunately, oftentimes our soul gets in the way of listening to the wisdom of God:  His thoughts and feelings about things.

Therefore, in order to gain true wisdom, we must surrender our thoughts and feelings in exchange for his.

Pray

God, we thank you that you do not withhold wisdom from those who seek it. It says in your word that you love giving wisdom those who ask for it. We know that you made a way for us to be filled with wisdom by filling us with your Holy Spirit, but we recognize that we aren't perfect yet. So we ask you for MORE wisdom. Help us to seek wisdom like it's treasure, and help us to lay down our own thoughts and feelings that could get in the way of choosing wisdom. Amen.

Your Turn!!!

Write your thoughts and/or the wisdom God has given you about Proverbs 4 below!

30 Day Cleanse - Day 3

Recap:

Day 1 - Proverbs 1 - Wisdom comes from God; when we listen to Wisdom, God gives us more of His Spirit--who gives us more Wisdom.

Day 2 - Proverbs 2 - God fights for the righteous; we are made righteous through Christ, so God is fighting for us.

Today - Proverbs 3 - God gives us Wisdom in the form of His Holy Spirit, because He wants us to be victorious.

Scripture

 

"The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens." --Proverbs 3:19

Observe

Some things are made in Taiwan; some things are made in China; some things are made with love. God, however, made everything with Wisdom.

If Wisdom took place in the creation of heaven and earth, it is not a created thing. It is part of who God is.

Wisdom is part of God's Spirit.

What is His Spirit?

Do you remember when we talked about how humans are created in the image of God?

Humans are spirits who possess souls and live in bodies.

Body:  A physical casing comprised of tangible matter.
Soul:  Emotions, thoughts, desires, and the human will.
Spirit:  The essence of a man--the person who has the emotions, thoughts, desires, etc.

God's Spirit is His essence--the permanent things, like His character:

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." --Galatians 5:22-23

Wisdom is part of God's Spirit.

Just like a person who has a compassionate spirit may desire to feed the homeless, God's Spirit of Wisdom prompts Him to do cool things--like create the whole world, provide salvation for you and me, and work all things together for the good of those who love Him.

Apply

When Jesus went back to Heaven to be with God, He gave us His Spirit.

"It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us." --2 Corinthians 1:21-22

By giving us His Spirit, God literally FILLS us with Wisdom.

If you go back and re-read the first three chapters of Proverbs--paying close attention to the blessings, provision, and promises of God in the lives of the wise--you'll realize that being filled with Wisdom is one of the greatest blessings God could give.

In the end, the wise overcome.

Because God is God (who loves rigging the deck in our favor), He filled us with His Spirit--who being Wisdom, teaches us to be more wise, so we can live in victory and experience tremendous blessing and provision!

Pray

God, we thank you that you give us so many good things! From eternal salvation, to giving us your Spirit--who brings us peace, teaches us, and makes us more like you--to literally providing every way for us to be victorious and blessed. You are awesome, and we are grateful for your love. Thank you for the truth of your Word, and help us to continue to understand your love and wisdom as we read it. Give us grace to LISTEN to the voice of wisdom and walk in the victories you've already provided for us. Amen.

Your turn!!!

What do you think of Proverbs? What has God been teaching you? Have you been challenged? Respond below!

30 Day Cleanse - Day 2

Recap:

 

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. Wisdom was a gift God gave to him, because Solomon had a faithful heart and desired to wisely lead God's people.

From our reading yesterday, we know that wisdom comes from God.

By giving Solomon a piece of Himself--wisdom--God gave Solomon insight into things that had not yet happened.

Keep reading!

 

Scripture

 

"He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones." --Proverbs 2:7b-8

Observe

God himself covers, surrounds, and defends the righteous. He watches over justice to make sure that it is carried out in all situations, and He is a bodyguard for those who show mercy.

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.

 

The word for "integrity" in the original Hebrew is "tom"--which comes from the root word "tamam". Tamam means "finished."

But what is finished?

Right before Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sin of all humanity (John 3:16), he uttered one Greek word:  Tetelestai. (John 19:30)

Tetelestai literally means "It is finished."

In New Testament times, it was the same word used to declare indentured servants free. It announced in bold letters, "Your debt is paid in full."

Reread that.

God himself covers, surrounds, and defends those who walk in integrity--those who have been made righteous by the FINISHED work of Christ on the cross.

Apply

Sometimes we feel like we're all alone in the world, like everyone we love is against us, life is caving in and we are left fighting by ourselves.

Jesus summed it up for us in Matthew 10:22:  "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

So, how do we stand firm?

God himself covers, surrounds, and defends us, because of what Jesus did for us. And if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

God literally set it up so that, before it even got started, the battle was already won.

Pray

Jesus, we thank you that you came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died in our place. We thank you that you gave up your life to make us perfect and to give us right-standing with God. God, we love you and are so grateful to get to know you. And we are SO honored that you are always fighting for us. We know that you will give us victory in all things, so please give us courage, boldness, and a sense of your presence with us in our battles. Make us confident that we will stand firm to the end. We trust you, and we thank you that we don't have to fight alone. Amen.

Your Turn!!!

 

What did you like about Proverbs 2? Respond below!

30 Day Cleanse - Day 1

Scripture

 

"Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you." --Proverbs 1:23

Observe

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote the book of Proverbs to his children. He used Hebrew poetry and story-telling to give them tid-bits of wisdom for life.

Throughout Proverbs, Solomon personifies Wisdom as a woman who stands and calls loudly at people. She stands out in the street, shouting out the differences between wisdom and folly and giving advice to anyone who will listen. It is literally impossible for people to miss her.

In this verse, she cries, "When I correct you, listen to me and apply my words to your life. If you do, I will give you all of myself."

If you take that out of quotes and put it in a direct statement, the verse says this: Turn back to wisdom when you are corrected / rebuked / disciplined. If you do, you will receive a "spirit" of wisdom--a living source that will constantly give you understanding.

Apply

Wisdom comes from God (James 1:5), and in this verse, Wisdom talks just like Him!

1. Turn. Wisdom says turn; God says repent (Mark 1:15).
2. Reproof. Wisdom says, "Pay attention to my reproof"; God says His Word is good for reproof (2 Timothy 3:16).
3. Spirit. Wisdom says she will pour out her spirit; God says He will pour out His Spirit (Joel 2:28-29).
4. Known. Wisdom says she will make her words known; God says He will make Himself known (Ezekiel 38:23).

How does this apply to everyday life?

We make mistakes all the time. The Bible says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), BUT if we return to God (REPENT) when He corrects us, He will cover us in His Spirit and reveal Himself to us in greater ways.

Proverbs 1:23 is a picture of salvation--many many years before Jesus even came!

 

 

Pray

God, you are all glorious on your throne. You have all knowledge and wisdom. You hold time in your hands and have created every mystery. We thank you for the perfection of your Word and hold tight to your promise that if we ask you for wisdom, you will give it to us. So, right now, we ask you for wisdom. And we ask for grace in the moments when we don't want to listen to wisdom and want to do things our own way. It says in Philippians 2:13 that you are working on our hearts--not only do you help us to DO your will, but you give us the HEART and DESIRE to do your will. Please help us to turn to you as you correct us, so we can grow. Help us to repent when we mess up, so we can come close to you and get more of you. Mostly, we pray that you would pour out your Spirit upon us--that we would be full of you. Amen.

Your turn!!!

What did you get from Proverbs 1? Comment below.

 

30 Day "Cleanse"

January 1st, for most people, is a day of reflection and resolution. When looking at a new year, we tend to see opportunity. Nothing has been done in the new year yet, so we can make it great! We can eat better, sleep better, play better, be better friends, and do more good things--basically becoming better people.

With that in mind, we make resolutions and set goals. For the first few days, we're successful, but we end up wrestling between new ideas and old habits--till we end up here.

Today.

When someone reminds us that our plans have failed. The year is almost half-way over, and we're not the people that we wanted to be yet.

But the keyword is YET.

January is over; February is over; March is over; April is going quickly, but LIFE is not over.

We still have time to make every moment count, to make every effort to eat better, sleep better, play better, be better friends, do more good things, and become better people.

For me, personally, it's time to get back up and running again (literally), but especially when it comes to reading the Word.

One of our guests to UR presented a concept that her church embraces called SOAP-ing. It's where you read the Bible, pick a verse that stands out to you, and do the following:

S - Scripture (Write it down word for word)
O - Observe (Write what it means, in your own words)
A - Apply (Write how it applies to your life)
P - Pray (Write a simple prayer about what you've learned)

There's a lot of SOAP to be had, so we're going to do a 30 Day "Cleanse".

For the next 30 days, we're going to read through Proverbs together. I'll provide a SOAP of the day, and all are welcome to respond and/or share theirs for the chapter too.

It's a lot easier to keep a goal when we work together.

Let's do this!!!