Good day to you all! Thursday the 29th of January - this month has flown by. As we have read thru Proverbs it has struck me several times that I will read a verse and say to myself - "Haven't I read this before?" - only to discover that the verse I just read has been repeated. There are things that are repeated because they are the basis of what we need to believe. For instance, verses on disciplining your children. They are said over and over again - even in this chapter (vs 17). The benefit brought out in this verse is that you will have peace of mind if you discipline your children and they will make your heart glad. You don't see that right away but if you will do what this word - and many others in Proverbs - say then you will reap the benefits. Another verse is vs 2 about the people rejoicing when the godly are in authority. That theme is seen over and over again. For this very reason some people read this book every month. There is so much to learn you can't possible soak it in by reading it just once in a while. I love how Solomon just rephrases some of these Proverbs - the ones that seem to be very important to follow - just so we will see it in a different way. I am always challenged about laziness and honesty when I read this Book!
What "Themes" have spoken to you as you have read thru this book?
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One of the verses that struck me today is verse 19 "A servant will not be corrected by mere words; for though he understands he will not respond." Whether this relates to our children, husbands, ministry employees, etc, it strikes me in this verse that people don't learn and receive correction just from telling them what they do wrong. It says they might understand what the problem is, but they don't respond. I have experienced this too many times in my life....I think I'm helping to bring correction, but I don't get a response. I believe this verse is saying that we can't just correct with our words, but our own lifestyle and example speaks so much more. We have to "show" people the way. We can't just tell our kids what they do wrong, we have to lead by example and train them in the way they should go. People don't receive correction if they see too many holes in our own lifestyle or example too....not that we have to be perfect, but training and correcting is about so much more than words alone.
One of the themes that has stuck out to me is just exercising wisdom and sound judgement. I think sometimes we focus so much on "faith" but faith fizzles out when we don't mix it with wisdom. When we make decisions without good judgment or fail to actually exercise wisdom in our decision making, faith doesn't make up for the difference. All these verses about parenting, and building a solid foundation for our lifestyle really ministered to me, but really the foundation of those verses for me were about exercising wisdom and sound judgment in how I operate and build my life and kids in those areas.
Welcome home, Pastor Eleanor!
Vs 15 in the Message Bible reads, "Wise discipline imparts wisdom; spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents." This indicates that wise discipline begins at an early age...before the child reaches adolescence. This verse also refers to wise discipline, which to me is building Godly character in our children as we bring correction, as opposed to discipline, merely a consequence for a disobedience. Vs. 17 in the Msg Bible reads, "Discipline your children, you'll be glad you did -- they'll turn out delightful to live with." I don't believe we have to wait until our children are grown for them to "turn out delightful to live with." I believe that our children are delightful to live with at every age because we discipline wisely.
Each time I read Proverbs, God "tweeks" my character a little more....and I am challenged. Does my life reflect whose I am? Do my reactions or responses to circumstances/situations reflect God in my life? Do I look at and interact with people based on their cirumstance in life (wealthy, poor, educated, etc) or do I see them through God's eyes and love them with His love? Am I generous to the poor? Do I advocate for those needing a voice? Again, I am so thankful for God's grace and mercy.
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