Month: January 2021

Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:35Genesis 21–22Matthew 11Psalms 11 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:35) The wise inherit honor,     but fools get only shame. Meditation Hello! Can you believe we’re a third of the way through our first month together? Already the year seems to be flying by…. So, our verse focus today talks about yet another facet of wisdom: those who are wise are respected and honored, while fools are humiliated and disgraced. This is actually a very strong motive for our sin-centered natures to seek wisdom since we tend to care an awful lot about what other people think! Certainly no one wants…

Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:27Genesis 19–20Matthew 10Psalms 10 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:27) Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,     when it is in your power to act. Meditation Good morning (or good afternoon) to you all! Today’s verse focus is from Proverbs 3:27. We are told not to “withhold good” from those to whom it is due, especially when we have the power to act for good. The very next verse in Proverbs gives us an example, saying that we shouldn’t tell a neighbor to come back tomorrow when we have the item with us then. To some…

Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:25–26Genesis 17–18Matthew 9Psalms 9 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:25–26) 25Have no fear of sudden disaster     or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,26for the LORD will be at your side     and will keep your foot from being snared. Meditation Good morning and welcome! Today our verse focus, Proverbs 3:25-26, gives a wonderful promise of peace and protection. Do not fear sudden disaster. Don’t fear ruin. God will be with you — right next to you, in fact! — and He will keep your “foot from being snared.” Just hearing these words gives me peace and strengthens the trust I have…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:13–14Genesis 15–16Matthew 8Psalms 8 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:13–14) 13Blessed are those who find wisdom,     those who gain understanding,14for she is more profitable than silver     and yields better returns than gold. Meditation We should not be surprised to find that our verse focus today, Proverbs 3:13-14, extols the value of wisdom. This is, after all, essentially what the entire book of Proverbs is about! But think about the claim in these verses for a moment: wisdom is “more profitable” than silver and a better investment than gold. Wow! Wealth is one of the highest values in our human society. Money,…

Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:9–10Genesis 13–14Matthew 7Psalms 7 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:9–10) 9Honor the LORD with your wealth,     with the firstfruits of all your crops;10then your barns will be filled to overflowing,     and your vats will brim over with new wine. Meditation Our verse focus today, Proverbs 3:9–10, talks about the importance of honoring God with your money and introduces a principle that if you give to God, God will give back to you by blessing your harvests. I said “money,” but wealth is more accurate. And wealth is not just financial. Do you have skills and abilities that God has given you?…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:7–8Genesis 11–12Matthew 6Psalms 6 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:7–8) 7Do not be wise in your own eyes;     fear the LORD and shun evil.8This will bring health to your body     and nourishment to your bones. Meditation Happy Epiphany (assuming this is January 6th for you). Today is the day the church celebrates the arrival of the wise men before the baby Jesus. May the Holy Spirit bring you epiphanies today as you study the Word! Proverbs 3:7-8 is like much of the wisdom in the Bible when it tells us to “fear the LORD and shun evil.” This commandment is repeated…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:5–6Genesis 9–10Matthew 5Psalms 5 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:5–6) 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart     and lean not on your own understanding;6in all your ways submit to him,     and he will make your paths straight. Meditation Our verse focus today is Proverbs 3:5-6. This is an extremely familiar passage for those who have been raised in the church. Often memorized, frequently chosen as a “life” verse, these two verses talk about cleaving to God. It’s not just a matter of trusting God, but of trusting His word and His ways above what you might think would be the…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:3–4Genesis 7–8Matthew 4Psalms 4 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:3–4) 3Let love and faithfulness never leave you;     bind them around your neck,     write them on the tablet of your heart.4Then you will win favor and a good name     in the sight of God and man. Meditation Today’s verse focus offers more wisdom as it talks about the importance of love and faithfulness in your life. If these qualities characterize your life, you will “win favor and a good name” not just in the sight of God, but also in the sight of man. One way of interpreting this verse is to think…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 3:1–2Genesis 5–6Matthew 3Psalms 3 Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:1–2) 1My son, do not forget my teaching,but keep my commands in your heart,2for they will prolong your life many yearsand bring you peace and prosperity. Meditation Our verse focus today is an important command with a tantalizing promise: if you remember God’s word and keep his commands in your heart, then your life with be prolonged in peace and prosperity. This is quite a promise! It’s what we all long for, isn’t it? I find I actually have a greater longing for peace and prosperity the older I get.…

Scripture Readings Proverbs 2:6Genesis 3–4Matthew 2Psalms 2 Verse Focus (Proverbs 2:6) For the LORD gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Meditation Today’s verse focus from Proverbs says that the Lord gives wisdom and that from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. This is so very similar to yesterday’s verse! My first reaction upon reading it was to wonder whether or not I could say or learn anything different about today’s verse — other than to say, simply, that wisdom is a prevailing theme in the Scriptures. But then I started thinking about the verb: gives. The Lord gives…

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