First Love

On June 28, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 5: 1 – 5

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding, so that you may maintain discretion and your lips may comply with knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

We can talk about adultery in the narrowest sense. In this case, a married man having an extra-marital affair. We understand that. However, perhaps these verses have a broader context as well. We, the beloved, have stepped out on God who is our first love, our true love. We have put our careers, human relationships, sports, food and about everything you can name before Him. When we are supposed to be with Him, we are giving our affection to other things or people. They have become the adulteress who lures us away from the one true love and they lead us into Sheol, to our demise, to our death. We, not just individually, but collectively. We, the church, have forsaken our first love.

Later, in this proverb, Solomon says to be satisfied with the wife of your youth. That speaks of God who loved us first, who loved us before our great-grandparents were born, who saw us from the pre-dawn of time and dedicated Himself to us forever.

As a body, and as individuals, our hearts long to return to our first love and be satisfied. However, all the other components of who we are and life’s complexities conspire to steal us away from the deepest love of our heart. It takes dedication and determined purpose to retain the zeal of young love. Remember how sweet this love is and fall in love all over again.

Proverb 5: 

https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverb+5&version=NASB

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Acquire Wisdom

On June 21, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 4: 7

The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; and with all your possessions, acquire understanding.

If we wish to be persons of wisdom then the starting point is, seek wisdom. This verse immediately separates the fools from those who would be wise because in order to acquire wisdom, one must seek her. The first step to being wise is to get wisdom. That makes sense, doesn’t it?

From where will you get wisdom? Well, this book of proverbs is a really good start. I hope you are taking the time to read the entire proverb. There is a link at the bottom of this devotion which will take you to Proverb 4.

Most importantly, God gives wisdom. James 1: 5 reads, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Solomon received wisdom from God because he requested it. He understood that the task before him was beyond his means, so he asked God to give him the requisite wisdom and God did. We should not overlook the opportunity to commune with God and receive all we need from Him.

We should understand that God will speak to our own hearts and minds when we inquire of Him. However, it is also likely that God will use another person to impart answers to you. It seems to me that we live in a time when people do not want to acknowledge that others may have knowledge or wisdom that we do not. However, there are people who have travelled the road before us and others who are anointed by God to offices which are intended to aid us. Sometimes, humility is the key we need to open the door to wisdom. That is a difficult admission. Recognize also that God has commissioned libraries of books which reveal His wisdom. If we truly wish to attain wisdom, we must be wise and humble enough to search for it and search passionately. Solomon reveals that in order to attain the wisdom of God, we must exercise enough wisdom to seek His ways.

The first step is ours. God is willing to give us His wisdom generously and without reproach. Ask of God and be willing to hear His answer. Search for wisdom and you shall find her. She is not rain, though and thus, will not fall out of the sky upon us. She is a precious gem which must be sought after.

The beginning of wisdom is, acquire wisdom.

Proverb 4:

https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverb%204&version=NASB

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Peace and Happiness

On June 14, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 3: 13 – 18

Blessed is a person who finds wisdom, and one who obtains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver, and her produce better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are those who hold on to her.

Discussing Proverbs Monday with a friend of mine, I confessed that the hardest part is choosing which verse to select. Today’s proverb is an excellent example of that challenge. May I make a suggestion early in this Proverb Monday journey. Perhaps take the rest of the week to read the entire proverb. I am sure you will be very blessed. Then, maybe, on Sunday, reread the Word of the Day from that week. You are sure to glean some amazing truths from this exercise. So, what would that look like again? On Monday, read the Word of the Day’s Monday proverb. Throughout the rest of the week, read that proverb in its entirety. Then on Sunday, reread the Word of the Day. By Sunday you will see much more than you did on Monday when you first read it. Secondly, you will prime yourself for the proverb you will receive the next day.

I only wish to make one observation from today’s proverb and a couple of quick highlights. First, note that Wisdom is referred to with a feminine pronoun. Why is that? Is Wisdom a spirit of God? Is Wisdom a spiritual entity? Just things to ponder or journal.

And the highlights, verse 18 reveals wisdom as a tree of life. That would seem to be a huge revelation. Peace and happiness are with her so let us tenaciously seek wisdom.

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Seeking Wisdom

On June 7, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 2: 1 – 5

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom; incline your heart to understanding. For if you cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God.

I may have told you that Proverbs is one of the first books I discovered when I began my journey with the Bible. This passage grabbed my attention early on. The idea that we could discover the knowledge of God set me on my ear. So began my voyage.

As we go through the proverbs, you may learn some astounding things. I hope you will be inspired and encouraged. The next verses of this proverb reveal that seeking wisdom is the path to success, protection and guidance. Through wisdom, you will stand in the comfort and security of the Lord. You will have assurance and confidence. You will see the way in which you are to go. Peace will flow to you and through you on the waves of God’s wisdom. Without effort you will glean truth.

Seek wisdom. Ask the Father, daily, to show you his ways. Be still and let Him share His wisdom with you. Glory! What a way to begin the week, and the rest of our lives. Go with God my beloved.

Speaking of Journeys Through the Bible, have you read my book of the same title.  Get your copy here.

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Ivey Rorie has done it again with an insightful look into all the books of the Bible! She is a truly anointed writer with a wonderful way of applying the Word of God to my everyday life situations – right on my level. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about God’s Word, grow in their walk with the Father, and find practical applications to apply God’s Word in every area of your life.

Connie Hollingsworth, Pastor
Believers Faith Fellowship
Omaha, Nebraska

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The Proverbs

On May 31, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Proverb 1: 1 – 7

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

What better way to begin our journey through the proverbs than to discover the author and have him tell us the purpose for giving them? The book of Proverbs is the ultimate book of wisdom. Of course, wisdom is found throughout the Bible but this book succinctly discloses golden nuggets of wisdom for us.

Solomon begins his disclosure on how to receive wisdom in the very next verse when he tells us that the beginning of all wisdom is in reverential awe and respect of Yahweh. In God is all the wisdom of the universe so when we give our lives and time to Him, He reveals Himself and His wisdom to us.

Through this journey, we will acquire wisdom, discipline and insight. It’s going to be a great voyage!

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Happy Memorial Day

On May 27, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

 

As we pause this weekend to remember and honor those who gave their lives to protect our freedom, let us also remember the one who initially purchased that freedom for us.  Love is known by this, that Jesus willingly laid down his life for us (1 John 3: 16) so that we might be free.

The Word of the Day will start it’s summer schedule beginning next week.  Posts will be sent on Mondays only.  Since Psalm Mondays seemed to be enjoyed, we will begin Proverb Mondays.  We will start with Proverb 1 next week and then go through the Proverbs sequentially.  Read ahead and ask yourself which verse you would select from the next Proverb.

 

Have a happy Memorial Day!

 

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Revealed in You

On May 26, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

John 14: 21

The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.

I admit it; I am motivated by that last phrase, that Jesus will reveal himself to me. So, I back into the rest of the verse. If I want Jesus to reveal himself to me, then I must, first, have his commandments, and second, keep them. Keeping them means doing them. Well, what are Jesus’ commandments? When I began my Bible journey back in the 80’s, I began by reading the gospels with particular emphasis on the words written in red. And yes, I like the red letter Bible because Jesus’ words are in red, but truth be told, he is the Word so every word in the Bible is Jesus. Anyway, I started in Matthew but also read a psalm and a proverb each day. After that, I stayed in the habit of reading the Old Testament and the New. The One Year Bible is a nice tool for getting a bit of each every day.

Before we can keep Jesus’ commandments, we must know what they are. Watching how he acted and hearing his words instructs us. Doing his commandments is different. Most of us begin through an act of our willpower. And, for most of us, that is doomed to failure. The way to do his works and follow his commandments is to give ourselves over to him. The book of John talks about living in and with the trinity. I meditated on that book for a long time and still am. Jesus told us that it is not by our strength, but by our surrender that we live to Christ and show the Father within us. It sounds easy but it is the hardest thing in the world. We must die to self and put on the new self which is Christ in us.

When we let go of doing things of our will and design; when we let him intertwine with us, then he is revealed, and it is glorious. So, interestingly, the more you let go, the more you get. Not only does Christ love you but he is able to show you his love. He is able to express himself and his love to you and through you.

We must know the person of Christ, but all the study in the world will not help you to know the love of Christ and see him revealed. There are plenty of folks who have Bible knowledge but do not have the love of Christ flowing through them. That comes by putting our egos on the shelf and letting him be Lord. It comes through meditative surrender which is a function of trusting Jesus and courage. Some people are too afraid of what they will see in themselves if they ever get quiet enough to let truth arise. Jesus is truth but he is also life so where there is truth, there is life. When we allow him to speak to our hearts, he is able to express his love to us and that, in turn, is seen by the world as we naturally keep his commandments.

Let Jesus bless your heart today. Let him speak to you and reveal himself to you. He is the glory of God and he lives in you. Wow, that is amazing!

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