Proverbs 3:13-18
God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.
Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold. Wisdom is more valuable than precious jewels; nothing you want compares with her.
In her right hand Wisdom holds a long life, and in her left hand are wealth and honor. Wisdom makes life pleasant and leads us safely along. Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Tonight, our little four-year-old Timothy will attend an open house for pre-K. His mom and dad will go with him, and they will all meet his teachers and the school’s directors… and Timothy’s classmates. While a part of me is quite sad to think that this signals the beginning of a whole new chapter in our little guy’s life… I am also incredibly excited. As a former kindergarten teacher, I know what this will mean for him… how much he will grow and learn…how enriched his life will be by this experience.
About two years ago, Timothy attended a daycare for a few months. The daycare owner had a really strong instructional curriculum that she taught to even the toddlers… there was a whole lot more going on each day than just playtime. And in a few short weeks, Timothy went from being a baby who could barely say a handful of words to a little boy who spoke complete sentences – about panda bears and other animals… colors and shapes… numbers and so much more. He began to develop social skills and to learn about structure and organized activities. I had a glimpse then of how much this wisdom was going to expand his already-bright mind… and I know for certain that we’re about to be amazed once again.
Some of you may be about to embark on another school year – if not as a student, as a teacher, coach, or school staff member. I hope you will think about wisdom… whether you are the one who imparts it, or the recipient of knowledge from another. We are all capable of learning new things every day. So even if you are not involved in formal education of some sort, God has things to share with you. As our focus shifts from absorbing knowledge in a classroom setting to actually functioning in the real everyday world, we learn about wisdom of another kind - God’s wisdom. And oh, how we need this!
God’s wisdom can make the difference between saying the right thing… and starting World War Three. His wisdom can keep us from making mistakes both great and small… from getting into trouble – or hurting someone’s feelings. God gives us common sense, so that we don’t make foolish choices. He shows us how to share the love of Jesus Christ with others… to win their hearts for Him… and how to nurture other believers in our path. God’s wisdom and common sense help us deal with crises and heartaches… times of great loneliness and sadness… and the “mountaintop experiences” that bring us tremendous joy. The “school of God” is far different from a pre-K or other formal educational setting. In order to learn from Him, we basically need three things… prayer and communion with Him, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. Through these avenues, God can grant us life-giving wisdom that will fill us with confidence, safety, joy, and peace.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this is a good time to declare “back to school” for all of us… regardless of our age or station in life! As a teacher, this time of year signaled a New Year to me even more, perhaps, than January 1st. So why don’t we resolve to start a new year of learning… a time of growth and increased knowledge in the LORD! Let’s agree to increase our Spiritual wisdom and common sense… to spend a little time in “study” with God… and to mature our faith in the coming months. Like the little four-year-old boy who is going off to pre-K, I have a feeling we will see amazing results in a short time. I’m willing to give it a shot… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label bible study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bible study. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 9, 2012
Isaiah 8:19-22
Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?
Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I will admit that I have watched the television show Long Island Medium. I’ve seen shows where the popular medium John Edwards has talked to spirits in the audience... given someone a message from a dear departed relative… or told someone something that they claimed “nobody else could have possibly known!” While I remain skeptical about such things… and this scripture passage suggests that we should not dabble in these practices, I cannot speak for others and how it makes them feel. I know that some people believe in this strongly… and some who have had a “reading” felt it was real – and comforting.
The thing is, we look to all sorts of people and things to make us feel better, when what we really need to do is consult our Bible and spend some time in prayer. With the Internet, you can type virtually any word in the search box for GOOGLE or many other search engines and find scripture to support you. For instance, type “scriptures on worry” and see what results you get. Enter “scriptures on addiction,” or “scriptures on sibling rivalry… debt…or illness” and you will find plenty of passages that address your exact need. Read the Proverbs and Psalms for guidance, wisdom, and comfort. And talk to God. See what He tells you and shows you. I guarantee that His answers will be truer and more comforting than any you can get from a psychic or anyone else who tells you they can help you get rich quick, make you a “better you,” or solve your problems!
We waste a lot of time and energy looking for answers in the wrong places. Isn’t it time to put aside such foolishness and turn to the One who can really help? Today is a great day to turn the corner. Look to God for answers, and start operating in his wisdom and peace!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?
Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I will admit that I have watched the television show Long Island Medium. I’ve seen shows where the popular medium John Edwards has talked to spirits in the audience... given someone a message from a dear departed relative… or told someone something that they claimed “nobody else could have possibly known!” While I remain skeptical about such things… and this scripture passage suggests that we should not dabble in these practices, I cannot speak for others and how it makes them feel. I know that some people believe in this strongly… and some who have had a “reading” felt it was real – and comforting.
The thing is, we look to all sorts of people and things to make us feel better, when what we really need to do is consult our Bible and spend some time in prayer. With the Internet, you can type virtually any word in the search box for GOOGLE or many other search engines and find scripture to support you. For instance, type “scriptures on worry” and see what results you get. Enter “scriptures on addiction,” or “scriptures on sibling rivalry… debt…or illness” and you will find plenty of passages that address your exact need. Read the Proverbs and Psalms for guidance, wisdom, and comfort. And talk to God. See what He tells you and shows you. I guarantee that His answers will be truer and more comforting than any you can get from a psychic or anyone else who tells you they can help you get rich quick, make you a “better you,” or solve your problems!
We waste a lot of time and energy looking for answers in the wrong places. Isn’t it time to put aside such foolishness and turn to the One who can really help? Today is a great day to turn the corner. Look to God for answers, and start operating in his wisdom and peace!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 30, 2012
Psalm 119:129-136
Every word you give me is a miracle word - how could I help but obey? Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything.
Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you. Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me. Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women so I can live life your way. Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live. I cry rivers of tears because nobody's living by your book!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few years ago, friends of mine traveled to a nearby city to stand in line until past midnight – in costume – to get the latest Harry Potter books! They were not alone. Thousands of people around the world clamored for each new release and stormed bookstores to wait in line and be among the first to get each copy. This has been repeated with the Twilight series and many others… as well as the latest releases of electronic gadgets, music albums, and more.
When was the last time you saw a line at a bookstore for the latest release of a Bible translation? Can you imagine people dressing up like Adam and Eve, Queen Esther, Moses, Noah, Ruth and Naomi, or others whose stories are told in the Bible? Can you picture a young girl dressed as Miriam, holding a wicker basket with a baby Moses, standing in line for the latest daily devotional Bible or even a new book written by someone like Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen or T.D. Jakes? Yet people talk for weeks about the anticipation of seeing a movie like The Hunger Games – and finishing the book beforehand.
When we consider that the words of the Bible are “miracle words” that steady our steps and rescue us from the “grip of bad men and women,” how can we help but find these comparisons a bit absurd… and downright embarrassing for those of us who claim to be faith-filled Christians? I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with Harry Potter or any other series of books. I think reading is a wonderful past-time and a great way to expand the mind and the imagination. But I find it amazing that people can read book after book… stay up all hours of the night and day reading… and seldom (if ever) crack open the Book of Life.
The psalmist concludes this passage by saying he cries rivers of tears because nobody is living by the Bible. To me, an equally sad consideration is that few are reading the Bible in the first place. The first step is to set aside time each day for even a verse or two of scripture. Meditate on this… consider what God is telling you with His Holy word. If we would trade reading a few pages in our favorite series for a few minutes spent studying a scripture passage, I think we would be amazed at how our lives could be transformed.
I count myself among those who have not truly given the Bible a fair enough shot. I have found other things to occupy my time. Were it not for the writing of these daily devotionals, I daresay I would not read scripture each and every day… and I do not say this proudly. But we can change! We can begin today to set aside time to spend in God’s word… and we can still have plenty of time for reading other books and participating in countless activities. I am confident that the few minutes or more spent in God’s word each day will make everything else so much better. It’s a theory I’m ready to test… are you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Every word you give me is a miracle word - how could I help but obey? Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything.
Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you. Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me. Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women so I can live life your way. Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live. I cry rivers of tears because nobody's living by your book!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few years ago, friends of mine traveled to a nearby city to stand in line until past midnight – in costume – to get the latest Harry Potter books! They were not alone. Thousands of people around the world clamored for each new release and stormed bookstores to wait in line and be among the first to get each copy. This has been repeated with the Twilight series and many others… as well as the latest releases of electronic gadgets, music albums, and more.
When was the last time you saw a line at a bookstore for the latest release of a Bible translation? Can you imagine people dressing up like Adam and Eve, Queen Esther, Moses, Noah, Ruth and Naomi, or others whose stories are told in the Bible? Can you picture a young girl dressed as Miriam, holding a wicker basket with a baby Moses, standing in line for the latest daily devotional Bible or even a new book written by someone like Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen or T.D. Jakes? Yet people talk for weeks about the anticipation of seeing a movie like The Hunger Games – and finishing the book beforehand.
When we consider that the words of the Bible are “miracle words” that steady our steps and rescue us from the “grip of bad men and women,” how can we help but find these comparisons a bit absurd… and downright embarrassing for those of us who claim to be faith-filled Christians? I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with Harry Potter or any other series of books. I think reading is a wonderful past-time and a great way to expand the mind and the imagination. But I find it amazing that people can read book after book… stay up all hours of the night and day reading… and seldom (if ever) crack open the Book of Life.
The psalmist concludes this passage by saying he cries rivers of tears because nobody is living by the Bible. To me, an equally sad consideration is that few are reading the Bible in the first place. The first step is to set aside time each day for even a verse or two of scripture. Meditate on this… consider what God is telling you with His Holy word. If we would trade reading a few pages in our favorite series for a few minutes spent studying a scripture passage, I think we would be amazed at how our lives could be transformed.
I count myself among those who have not truly given the Bible a fair enough shot. I have found other things to occupy my time. Were it not for the writing of these daily devotionals, I daresay I would not read scripture each and every day… and I do not say this proudly. But we can change! We can begin today to set aside time to spend in God’s word… and we can still have plenty of time for reading other books and participating in countless activities. I am confident that the few minutes or more spent in God’s word each day will make everything else so much better. It’s a theory I’m ready to test… are you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 19, 2012
1 Corinthians 10:1-7
Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God's fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.
The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did—"First the people partied, then they threw a dance."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Suppose you got a new car… the car of your dreams. You proudly drove it everywhere… even invited your friends to take a ride and enjoy how smoothly it drove. Everyone noticed your new car, and you felt like a different person when you were seen in it. Then the car ran out of gas… and you parked it in the garage and left it there. You still had a new car… but you went back to your old methods of getting around. A few people asked about the car, and you shrugged and said, “Yeah… I’ve got it, but gas takes money, and it’s a lot of work to keep it clean and running well, so I just parked it in the garage. It’s safe and clean there... I just don’t take it out often.”
Do you see my point? What good is a new car if you are not going to fill it with gas, maintain its engine, and drive it? And the same can be said of our faith. Many of us make a “salvation decision” – we invite Jesus to live in our hearts, and we get all excited for a while. Then the “gas” runs out, and we park our faith and return to our old habits. We don’t feed our relationship with Christ through prayer, Bible study, fellowship with others and actual service.
Equally as bad, we Christians often do a poor job of nurturing and encouraging others as they grow in their faith walk. We are so glad to add another name to the roll at church – and to increase our numbers. But I have long maintained that church growth is a good thing… if you take care of everyone who is already in the church body. Otherwise, we are just piling up “cars in the garage.”
So my challenge for each of us today is this…
©2012 Debbie Robus
Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God's fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much—most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.
The same thing could happen to us. We must be on guard so that we never get caught up in wanting our own way as they did. And we must not turn our religion into a circus as they did—"First the people partied, then they threw a dance."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Suppose you got a new car… the car of your dreams. You proudly drove it everywhere… even invited your friends to take a ride and enjoy how smoothly it drove. Everyone noticed your new car, and you felt like a different person when you were seen in it. Then the car ran out of gas… and you parked it in the garage and left it there. You still had a new car… but you went back to your old methods of getting around. A few people asked about the car, and you shrugged and said, “Yeah… I’ve got it, but gas takes money, and it’s a lot of work to keep it clean and running well, so I just parked it in the garage. It’s safe and clean there... I just don’t take it out often.”
Do you see my point? What good is a new car if you are not going to fill it with gas, maintain its engine, and drive it? And the same can be said of our faith. Many of us make a “salvation decision” – we invite Jesus to live in our hearts, and we get all excited for a while. Then the “gas” runs out, and we park our faith and return to our old habits. We don’t feed our relationship with Christ through prayer, Bible study, fellowship with others and actual service.
Equally as bad, we Christians often do a poor job of nurturing and encouraging others as they grow in their faith walk. We are so glad to add another name to the roll at church – and to increase our numbers. But I have long maintained that church growth is a good thing… if you take care of everyone who is already in the church body. Otherwise, we are just piling up “cars in the garage.”
So my challenge for each of us today is this…
- We must continually strive to grow and learn as Disciples of Christ. We must study the word of God… spend time with Him in prayer… and exercise our faith by serving God, sharing the Good News of Jesus with others, and genuinely caring for those we encounter.
- We must nurture and encourage others – believers and unbelievers alike. We must be awake and alert… always looking for ways to serve others in God’s name. We must make sure that others know that we care… and that we are willing to make the effort to help them as needed. Mere lip service is completely unacceptable.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 26, 2012
1 John 2:20-27
But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies.
So who is lying here? It's the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that's who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well.
Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life!
I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.
Joshua 1:8
And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was a young girl learning to sew, I was taught to do a lot of hand-basting with needle and thread before sewing seams and top-stitches on the machine. This made for neater edges, more uniform “gathers,” and a nicer garment overall. It also took a lot longer. Over the years, I became convinced by articles I read and friends who sewed that a lot of this was not necessary. A steady hand with the steam iron would press open seams. Good pinning could eliminate the need for hand-basting and speed up the process.
After ripping out several seams that were not quite straight or even… and getting a less than stellar result several times, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to stay with what I was taught from the beginning… the original message.
In so many areas of life, the “shortcuts” are actually paths to a bad end. A lot of us want to cut corners… to have the blessings of God without doing the work… to pick and choose which of His commandments we follow… to follow the “in crowd” but also belong to the body of Christ – even if the two are completely divided. In other words, we buy into the world’s insistence that God will overlook our irregular stitches and wrinkled seams… and “good enough” is, indeed, good enough.
The truth is that God gave His very best – Jesus Christ – to pay for our sins… and He wants our very best in return. We don’t have to look far to find the truth… the Bible – the “Book of the Revelation” – tells us everything we need to know about how to live as Disciples of Christ. The trouble comes when we want to cut corners… to have things our way… to follow those who would try to convince us otherwise… and still count on God to bless and anoint us with all He stands ready to give.
Inviting Jesus to be LORD of your life and asking the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but living deeply in both Son and Father is critical. So many people take the first step, then rest on the promise of Eternal Life. They fail to truly live deeply in the Son and Father… to serve completely and humbly as God’s servants and to minister to others in His name. And often, the results are like many of the garments I’ve sewn… less than stellar. Don’t let this happen to you. Really study the Word of God. Dig deeply and live in what you were taught. Ponder and meditate on what you have learned… and communicate with God continually to be sure you always stay on the right track.
©2012 Debbie Robus
But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies.
So who is lying here? It's the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that's who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well.
Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life!
I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.
Joshua 1:8
And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was a young girl learning to sew, I was taught to do a lot of hand-basting with needle and thread before sewing seams and top-stitches on the machine. This made for neater edges, more uniform “gathers,” and a nicer garment overall. It also took a lot longer. Over the years, I became convinced by articles I read and friends who sewed that a lot of this was not necessary. A steady hand with the steam iron would press open seams. Good pinning could eliminate the need for hand-basting and speed up the process.
After ripping out several seams that were not quite straight or even… and getting a less than stellar result several times, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to stay with what I was taught from the beginning… the original message.
In so many areas of life, the “shortcuts” are actually paths to a bad end. A lot of us want to cut corners… to have the blessings of God without doing the work… to pick and choose which of His commandments we follow… to follow the “in crowd” but also belong to the body of Christ – even if the two are completely divided. In other words, we buy into the world’s insistence that God will overlook our irregular stitches and wrinkled seams… and “good enough” is, indeed, good enough.
The truth is that God gave His very best – Jesus Christ – to pay for our sins… and He wants our very best in return. We don’t have to look far to find the truth… the Bible – the “Book of the Revelation” – tells us everything we need to know about how to live as Disciples of Christ. The trouble comes when we want to cut corners… to have things our way… to follow those who would try to convince us otherwise… and still count on God to bless and anoint us with all He stands ready to give.
Inviting Jesus to be LORD of your life and asking the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but living deeply in both Son and Father is critical. So many people take the first step, then rest on the promise of Eternal Life. They fail to truly live deeply in the Son and Father… to serve completely and humbly as God’s servants and to minister to others in His name. And often, the results are like many of the garments I’ve sewn… less than stellar. Don’t let this happen to you. Really study the Word of God. Dig deeply and live in what you were taught. Ponder and meditate on what you have learned… and communicate with God continually to be sure you always stay on the right track.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 25, 2012
Ephesians 3:8-10
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.
I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”
So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.
Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.
I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”
So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.
Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?
- Thank You, LORD, for your incredible wisdom. Today I pray that You will speak to us through Your word… that we will truly listen for Your voice… and that You will release all that You hold in store for us, according to Your will and what You determine we are able to handle. We praise You, LORD, for Your incredible gifts… Your grace, mercy and love. Amen.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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