Month: January 2021

Scripture Readings Proverbs 10:8Isaiah 11–12Romans 5–6Psalms 31 Verse Focus (Proverbs 10:8) The wise in heart accept commands,     but a chattering fool comes to ruin. Meditation Hallelujah! Happy last day of the month! Pat yourself on the back for making it this far: this is an accomplishment worth rejoicing. It doesn’t matter if you missed days or readings; it doesn’t matter if you were less than “perfect” in your walk so far. What matters is that you are here, now, reading, and ready to meet with God. So, Hallelujah, Amen! Our verse focus today is Proverbs 10:8 which says, “The wise in…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 10:4Isaiah 9–10Romans 3–4Psalms 30 Verse Focus (Proverbs 10:4) Lazy hands make for poverty,     but diligent hands bring wealth. Meditation Good morning! Or, good afternoon or evening. 🙂 I hope the day finds you well in body and spirit. Today’s proverb says, in the NRSV, “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” We’ve talked about laziness before as the sluggard is one type of fool that the book of Proverbs warns us about. Here, we have the contrast between poverty and wealth. Obviously, if we have a choice about it, we’ll choose wealth…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 10:3Isaiah 7–8Romans 1–2Psalms 29 Verse Focus (Proverbs 10:3) The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,     but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Meditation Our verse focus today, Proverbs 10:3, says, “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” Food is one of our most basic needs, but the second half of the verse makes me think this Scripture is talking about more than food. What do the wicked crave? Power? Wealth? Violence? I’m so very grateful that the LORD thwarts the craving of the wicked! It…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 9:12Isaiah 5–6Matthew 28JudePsalms 28 Verse Focus (Proverbs 9:12) If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;     if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. Meditation Our proverb today is perhaps a little more obscure, depending on what translation you read. There’s the NIV translation, “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” However, the verse may also say something like, “If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it (NRSV).” Some translations also interpret the mocking to be…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 9:10Isaiah 3–4Matthew 27Psalms 27 Verse Focus (Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,     and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Meditation Today’s proverb, Proverbs 9:10, is very similar to the proverb we studied at the beginning of the month. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Our proverb today says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Okay. So let’s unpack this a bit. The fear of the LORD…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 9:9Isaiah 1–2Matthew 26Psalms 26 Verse Focus (Proverbs 9:9) Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;     teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. Meditation Hello, and welcome! It’s a new day, and we have another proverb to consider. Proverbs 9:9 says, “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” Here we learn that the wise always have the capacity to learn something new; further, the wise are inherently humble and do not assume that they know all the answers. We have the second…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 8:17Genesis 49–50Matthew 25Psalms 25 Verse Focus (Proverbs 8:17) I love those who love me,     and those who seek me find me. Meditation Do you love wisdom? Do you love Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father? In Proverbs 8:17, Wisdom declares, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” What a wonderful promise for us! Not only that God loves us, but that those who seek Him shall find him. I’m particularly struck by the verb tense used. This is present tense. In the now, you find wisdom. You find Christ.…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 8:11Genesis 47–48Matthew 24Psalms 24 Verse Focus (Proverbs 8:11) For wisdom is more precious than rubies,     and nothing you desire can compare with her. Meditation “For wisdom is more precious than rubies,” says Proverbs 8:11, “and nothing you desire can compare with her.” To me, this perfectly sums up the book of Proverbs. Wisdom — Christ — the Word of God. This is what it’s all about. Although we don’t trade in precious jewels the way the ancient world did, we still understand treasure. And to say that nothing else compares to wisdom — what else can you say?…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 7:2Genesis 45–46Matthew 23Psalms 23 Verse Focus (Proverbs 7:2) Keep my commands and you will live;     guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Meditation We come to the end of another long week. How fitting is our proverb for today! Proverbs 7:2 says, “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.” We want to live, we want life and abundant life. We want renewal. Keeping the commands of Scripture, practicing the words of Jesus — this is how we will live. I think about the “apple of your eye”…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 7:1Genesis 43–44Matthew 22Psalms 22 Verse Focus (Proverbs 7:1) My son, keep my words     and store up my commands within you. Meditation Proverbs 7:1 begins by addressing us as “my son,” reminding us that we are learning wisdom from one who loves us deeply and intimately, desiring only the best things for our life and future. It also reminds us that we are learning from one who is older and wiser than we are. Again, there are those who have trouble with the gender-specific language, objecting to the designation as “son.” Yes, it was a patriarchal, male-dominated society when…