by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Proverbs 9-12
Instruct a wise man and he will become wiser still … but not the fool. “Don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you.” (9:8 NLT).
These four proverbs explain in detail the difference between the wise man and the fool.
The wise man is industrious, humble, teachable, truthful, and just to all. His words are true and full of kindness and mercy. He has a desire to bless those around him, not taking advantage of others, and not thinking too highly of himself.
The fool is just the opposite. He puts himself on a pedestal and takes no instruction. In fact, because of his pride, he mocks advice and correction. He is dishonest and mean to others. And he often is lazy – trying to reap where he didn’t sow. His words often hurt those around him, as he tries to control them – and have his own way.
So what is the fruit of each man? What does he obtain for his chosen path?
The rewards are decidedly different as well. The wise man receives honor, riches, long life, a happy peaceful family – and a close walk with the Lord. His favor and His blessing.
The fool continues down the destructive path and reaps that reward. Hatred, strife in his home, poverty, illness, and everything we don’t want!
I know the path that I want to take. In fact, I want to be in dead center of it.
Lord, forgive me when I am proud and arrogant. Teach me your ways, and I want to be true to You all the days of my life.
II Corinthians 5
When we come to Christ we become new creatures in Him. Old things are passed away and all things become new – and all of these new things are from God. (V 17-18).
Such a mystery; so supernatural. Yet it’s absolutely the truth.
I am reminded of a story I read about Augustine. (You know, St. Augustine).
Before he became a Christian, he was an atheist and an extremely worldly person. During this time in his life, he lived with a woman for many years.
He finally received Jesus and was born again – to this new life we are talking about.
Many years went by and Augustine happened to run into his former lover. She came running to meet him, calling out his name. He ignored her and didn’t stop to talk. She said, “Augustine! Look at me. It is I.” He turned and said, “But you don’t understand. It is not I.”
Augustine was so aware of the new creature which God had made him that he didn’t even identify with his “old man.”
Now I admit that was extreme, and I think he should have stopped to witness to her. However, that’s not the point. The point is that he saw himself as a completely new individual – now a child of God. He no longer saw himself as he had been.
If we could just “get” this concept, our lives would be so different. We would be pursuing this new life we have , and not just trying to live in both worlds – the old and the new.
“All of this is a gift from God.” (V. 18). Let’s receive our gift and live in this new life He has made for us – with the Holy Spirit as our Teacher, and His Word as our guide.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Proverbs 5-8
Don’t be tricked into following the wrong paths. These proverbs warn us in many ways.
One of the warnings has to do with laziness. “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and your poverty will come in like a vagabond, and your need like an armed man.” (6: 10-11).
Idleness is a danger to anyone. We all yearn for our vacation and play times, and indeed we do need those moments. But our happiest times are really our productive days. The days when we are challenged and meet the challenge. Or the days when we can go to sleep at night knowing we have accomplished a good amount. God created us to be productive, and we are happiest when we are doing just that.
Another warning is not to be a deceitful person. God calls the man a worthless man who secretly devises evil in his heart for others. He spreads strife, often even speaking lies in order to gain his upper hand. Such wickedness will not be rewarded by our Father.
Yet the greatest warning comes to those who are contemplating adultery. The Lord has some pretty ominous things to say about the adulteress, who tries to deceive someone into a relationship with her. She flatters with her words – and her eyelids. Her beauty may be tempting.
However, on account of her, you may be reduced to a loaf of bread. (6:26) If you follow her, you will be like an ox going to slaughter. (7:22)
These truths are relevant today in our permissive society, just as they were in the days of these proverbs. You can look around and see many homes destroyed and children wounded by those who run to adultery. And the sorrows of an adulterer are still numerous.
God’s way is still the best way! If we run to it and follow it, we will be following His path completely.
II Corinthians 3-4
Paul is constantly reminding his followers about the differences in the way of the law and the way of the Spirit. It’s hard to understand unless you have the Spirit of God within you.
The law was glorious in its time. When the law was presented to Moses, he had to wear a veil over his face because his face was too bright from God’s glory for the people to look at him.
Yet this is a new day – the day of the Spirit of God. No longer do we have the law, which is to be carried out by natural means. Now we have the Spirit of God living within us. He is changing us from within – not from without.
Now when people try to just “keep the law” for their righteousness, they put a veil over their faces again. They are trying to do with their natural abilities something which is impossible to do. (In fact, one of the things the Law was designed to do was to let people know that they can’t do it in their own strength).
When they turn to Christ, they have the veil removed and they are able to understand what God has for them.
Rather than nervous, self-righteous “keepers of the law,” we become letters of God’s grace for all to read. Many who embrace the call of God to the fullest are those who have had turbulent pasts. They know they need more than themselves, and they are willing to go with God’s best. In their humility, they find God’s glorious truth and the veil is removed.
What freedom comes with this new revelation! Their goodness is from Him and Him alone. Their love for Him and their confidence in Him cause them to live to higher standards – above anything the Law could ever do.
That’s the glorious gospel Paul is always talking about: the greatest life available.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Proverbs 1-4
Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom. That’s what we all want, don’t we? Wisdom to live happy, successful lives – to have close families, and to find productive paths to prosperity and peace?
Well, here it is! The keys to all of these things lie within the book of Proverbs.
The first four chapters reiterate this concept over and over, making it clear that God’s way is the best way. And God’s way is within His Word.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (3:5-6)
When we trust in the Lord, we trust in His Word – and we obey it. We follow the principles, and we allow the Word to penetrate our hearts for our own transformation.
It’s a process, but all of life is a process. There are paths which we choose to take that allow us to go His way or another way. The longer we stay on either path, the more we will benefit – or not.
So the beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord and take His Word seriously. As we experience the many different challenges of life, we can always find wisdom in God’s Word.
Is your challenge pertaining to wealth? Your answers are in the Word. Do you have challenges related to health? Look at the Word. Are your challenges in your family? Once again – the Word is your source of wisdom. It’s all there.
“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom. And the man who gains understanding.For its profit is better than the profit of silver and its gain than fine gold.” (3:13-14) Long life, riches and honor are promised to those who pursue diligently God’s wisdom.
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (4:23)
Do you believe it? I do!
Today, meditate on this one fact: God’s Word is true – and it is indeed the source of life for us. If we continue in His Word, we will find the keys to that abundant life we are all seeking.
II Corinthians 1-2
In the first two chapters of II Corinthians, we see one of the greatest principles of our faith.
Do you remember in Paul’s first letter how shocked and horrified he was concerning this man who had “taken his father’s wife?” Paul was adamant about separating him from the body of believers and showing him no mercy.
In these chapters, we see a different viewpoint. Why? The man had repented.
In this second letter the man had repented and was truly sorry for what he had done. Not only was he sorry, but he had changed his way and wanted to be back in fellowship with the others.
This time Paul rebukes those who are still treating the man with disrespect. They should “forgive and comfort” the man.
I have a hot news flash for you: we aren’t perfect. All of us fall short of God’s best from time to time. Hopefully we don’t commit gross sin, as this man did. But we sin. We hold unforgivenenss in our hearts. Or we gossip. Or we harm others with our unmerciful tongues. Or we are greedy. Or we judge others with a self-righteous attitude.
There are many ways that we can and do fall short, so all of us need God’s forgiveness – and all of us have it. That’s the beauty of the gospel, or at least one of the beauties. When we truly repent, we always have God’s forgiveness – and His restoration.
Just thinking about this makes me want to spend some time with Him and make sure that all of the vestiges of bitterness are removed from my heart.
That’s God’s way – and it has to be our way, if we live in the best He has for us.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalm 147-150
Today we wind up the book of Psalms and, as one might expect, we wind up on a high note. A high note of praise.
Let everything and everyone praise the Lord. Everything in the earth or above it. Every angel, all His hosts, the sun the moon and the stars, all of His creation – I mean everything! I love it!
There is another important lesson, however, which is planted in the midst of all the praise. It comes in Psalm 147:15-20. From time to time, as we study the Bible, we come across the concept of God’s Word and its many ramifications. Sometimes it is called “logos,” and sometimes “rhema.” (Those are the Greek words for “word”).
“Logos” means the general Word of God – the Bible and the words on the page which everyone can read. However, “rhema” means something different. It means the spoken Word. It can be spoken out loud for all to hear, or it can be spoken to you personally. When the latter happens, the words leap off of the page and you see something you never saw before – or you are reminded of something you need to hear again right now. You understand the Word.
When I am teaching, I sometimes bring some ice cubes in a glass. In that form, though they are water, they have no ability to reach the roots of a plant. They are water locked up. However, as I teach, they begin to melt and then they can begin to be useful for the watering process.
Psalm 147:15-20 is a good illustration of this concept. God speaks his Word into the earth, but it is locked up. It is icy fragments; snow like wool. No one can understand what He is saying.
Then He speaks again and the ice is melted. The wind of the Holy Spirit blows and the waters begin to flow. This second speaking is “rhema.” He is declaring His Word to His people. Understanding comes to those who are His.
As we study the Bible, we need to pray for “rhema.” We want more than just to read the words on the page; we want to understand it so that we can apply it to our lives.
The “rhema” is what we are counting on from God. That understood Word is what guides our lives and brings us deliverance.
Ask Him for more of His speaking to you personally – opening up the great truths locked up in His Word.
I Corinthians 16
“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (V.13)
These are some of the words Paul leaves with the Corinthians in this letter. And these are words which we should take to heart everyday.
There is always an opposition to our walk with the Lord. There are disappointments and trials. There are also those who mock our faith and try to dissuade us.
We need to be strong – in Him and know that He is our answer in everything. His Word is true whether anyone believes it or not. His path is the right one, even if we see everyone around us going another way.
Be alert and stand strong. That’s how we obtain the good, abundant life He has promised.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalm 143-146++
“I will extol Thee, my God, my King; and I will bless Thy name forever and ever.” (145:1)
The great praiser, David, concentrates on the many facets of God’s greatness. Besides being mighty and able to do anything, He is also gracious, merciful, great in lovingkindness, good to all. (145:8-9).
We walk with a God whose attributes are beyond human understanding. Most people – even unbelievers – know that our God is strong and mighty. His ability to perform is greater than anything we can know. Yet many – even Christians – don’t have David’s understanding of God’s mercy and lovingkindness.
It was His mercy that sent His Son to the earth to bring deliverance to us. To pay the price we owed for our sinful nature.
Then it was His mercy which took us to a new level with Him by giving us the gift of righteousness. He made us righteous and put His Holy Spirit within us.
How could we not praise Him for all of these works? How could we not praise Him for all of the kindness and mercy He has shown us personally?
So now we are to live our lives in that mercy. He has forgiven us? Okay, let’s forgive ourselves. If God, the Creator of the Universe has forgiven us, then we need to forgive ourselves.
Let’s live with our hearts free from the condemnation we used to carry. He set us free from that, if we will receive it.
His mercy, His grace, and His forgiveness are not just words. They are truths we are called to live in.
His mercy endures forever! And I receive it!
I Corinthians 15:29-58
The seed principle comes up again and again throughout scripture. This time it speaks of the earthly life as compared to the heavenly life after resurrection.
Just as a seed is sown and grows to produce the appointed crop, our natural bodies are sown into the ground and will be raised up supernatural, spiritual bodies. These new bodies are the eternal bodies we will have as we live forever with Jesus.
Paul is speaking of the resurrection. Some had contested that they didn’t believe in the resurrection, and Paul rebukes them boldly. That’s when he compares the perishable and the imperishable bodies.
After we are born again, we live as children of God. Our spirits become alive and we begin to transform our souls through prayer and the Word of God. Our bodies are the last to be changed, but they will be in the resurrection. We will be sown a perishable body and raised up an imperishable one.
“O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?” (V.55) Death has neither victory nor sting for the Christian. The resurrection life overcomes death, and we live forever.
“Therefore be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (V. 58)
Never give up. Never give up doing what God directs you to do. His grace is with you wherever you go and in whatever comes your way. His love never fails – and always causes you to overcome, when you are in His will.
I embrace His purpose in my life and I embrace His ability to do it!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalm 140-142
Isn’t it wonderful to know that we can run to our God with anything? Are you fearful? Run to Him. Are you feeling guilty of your sin? Run to Him. Are you not sure what to do next? Run to Him.
Our Father is always on our side. He is always pulling for us and there to help us. His grace is there to carry us to the next level.
Our job is to be honest with Him. It’s silly to think that we can be otherwise, because he knows our thoughts, our fears, and our weaknesses. Yet many somehow think that they can pretend with God, and He will be fooled.
David really understood the significance of being honest with God. He poured our his heart to the Lord on a regular basis – just as he would a best friend. God was indeed David’s best friend.
Now we come to our century and our own set of issues. Our generation is a “got it all together” generation. We want to be on top of everything and always be ready for the challenge. That attitude can be a source of strength to us when it makes us stand strong and exhibit fortitude. However, that attitude can cause trouble for us if we think that we shouldn’t be honest with our Lord.
You don’t have to tell everybody else what you are going through emotionally and spiritually, but when you run to your God and pour out your heart to Him, He will lift you up like no one else can. He will cause new strength to rise up within you. He will direct your steps, and cause greater victories than ever.
He will never fail you.
I Corinthians 15:1-28
“By the grace of God I am what I am,” says Paul. (V.10). The apostle is addressing the Corinthians and reminding them to “hold fast that Word” which he brought to them.
The word they are to hold on to is the gospel, which he has preached to them. That Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose again the third day, seen by Cephas, the twelve apostles, over five hundred brothers at once, and then by Paul.
Apparently there were in the group at Corinth those who were trying to say that the resurrection had not occurred. Paul is addressing that issue.
If Christ has not been resurrected, then there is no hope for anyone, says Paul. It’s important to know and believe that Christ died and rose again for our sins. He paid the price for the sin debt which was against us. That’s the essence of the gospel.
He now is seated at the right hand of God until every enemy is made His footstool. The last enemy is death – which will eventually be totally done away with.
There will come a time when the kingdom of God will rule the earth as He intends. It may seem hard to believe that when you look around you now, but that is the Word of God, and it will happen in due season.
Until then, let’s remain strong and press toward the high calling of our Father which He has for us in this day.
Forever upward!
