Daily Bible Study

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Day 272 (Proverbs 8:1-36) Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lifts her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors: “To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come the right things. For my mouth will speak the truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. I, wisdom, dwell with prudence and find out knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches, and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue is better than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, amid the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries. The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth. While He had not made the earth or the fields, or the primeval dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there. When He drew a circle on the face of the deep; when He established the clouds above; when He strengthened the fountains of the deep; when He assigned to the sea its limit so that the waters would not transgress His command; when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world, and my delight was with the sons of men. Now, therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instructions and be wise, and do not disdain them. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.” Does wisdom live in your home? Do you employ wisdom in everything you do? Or do you do whatever you will without thought about the outcome? Solomon showed that wisdom was with God from eternity. He used wisdom to create the world and set its boundaries. Wisdom pleaded with men to be wise in their dealings, not foolish. With wisdom comes blessing, life, and favor from the LORD. But those who don’t employ wisdom find death. Many Christians reflect the world around them. They act without wisdom, thought, intelligence, or knowledge. They claim to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord, but their actions speak otherwise. If asked, they will tell you they own a Bible, even have it downloaded on their phone, but in the next breath, they can’t tell you the last time they opened the Word to study it. They wear the jewelry, have bumper stickers on their cars, and even hang Christian pictures in their homes, but their lives don’t reflect Jesus. You can’t say you’re a Christian without the fruit on display in your life. When Christians act with wisdom, opening their Bibles, and studying God’s word, their lives will reflect the love of Jesus and the wisdom Solomon spoke about. They will be a light in the darkness. They will shine with the light of God’s love. Wisdom will be in everything they do, say, and think. Nothing will be done without wisdom working in their lives. Is wisdom working in your life? Do you reflect the love of Jesus in everything you do? Or are you a reflection of the world and wisdom has no place in your life? Let’s pray: Father, let wisdom take root in my life. Let me reflect You in everything I do, say, and think. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 12 April 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux