DAY 1 – MAY 30
TITLE: “WARNINGS”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs, chapters
5 – 9
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs 6:20
Key Verse: “My son, keep your
father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Proverbs 6:20
Through the
years, I have seen a variety of warnings. A warning, when heeded, can protect a
person or keep them safe from harm. Here
is a list of warnings that may catch your attention.
In
Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 9 of Proverbs, two basic warnings are given. The first is
the warning against adultery. The scripture warns, “Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not
let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims
she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.” Proverbs 7:24-26. The
seventh commandment is clear when it says, “You
shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14
In
1631, there was a printed edition of the Bible that became known as the “Wicked
Bible.” It was the King James Version, but there was one word left out of the
Ten Commandments. It was the word, ‘not’ in the seventh commandment. It read,
“Thou shalt commit adultery.” The printers were fined
a lifetime’s income. The word, ‘not’ or ‘no’ cannot be left out of this
commandment. The commandment calls us to say, ‘no’ to adultery and ‘yes’ to
God’s standards.
The
warning is clear that we are not to play with sin or get near it. Proverbs
6:27-28 reminds us, “Can a man scoop fire
into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?”
The second
warning is against folly. Chapter 9 presents the invitation of Folly. It says, “The woman Folly is loud; she is
undisciplined and without knowledge.” Proverbs 9:13. However, in chapter nine another invitation
is given. It is the invitation of wisdom. “‘Let
all who are simple come in here!’ she says to those who lack judgment. Come,
eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will
live; walk in the way of understanding.” Proverbs 9:4-6. Heed the warnings today and respond to the
invitation of wisdom.
DAY 2 – MAY 31
TITLE: “I CALL OUT”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs, chapters
5 – 9
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs
8:1-5
Key Verse: “To
you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.” Proverbs 8:4
Back in the
70’s, I came to do some ministry at Medford First Church of the Nazarene.
Pastor Dan Penn was the pastor when I came to town. I was here to do a Kids Krusade. It was a week of meetings for children. My purpose
was to tell as many children as I could about Jesus.
In order to
bring as many children in as possible for the evening meetings, I would go out
during the day to invite and encourage people to come. However, you probably would
have not have recognized me. Back then, during the day, I was “Juggles the
Clown.” I would go up and down the street with some children from the church to
invite people to come to a show at someone’s house in the neighborhood. I did these short shows with the intent of
inviting the children to come to the evening meetings at the church.
As I walked
up and down the streets, I would usually play the harmonica and juggle. Most of
the time, I would play my version of a song that simply said, “Jesus is Calling.” It was a
catchy tune, at least the way I played it. I would play that song as we called
the children together.
This passage
in Proverbs is saying that wisdom is calling. Amidst all the other calls of the
world that take place, wisdom is not silent. Wisdom does not hide in the dark
but comes out into the open. Wisdom wants her message to be heard. She takes to
the streets to make her message of hope known. She goes to where the people are
so they can hear her invitation. Wisdom is aggressively seeking. Sometimes I
hear people saying they are searching for wisdom. The reality is that wisdom is
searching for them.
Wisdom issues
her invitation everyone. The invitation from wisdom embraces all people,
including the simple and the foolish. The purpose of the invitation is to gain
prudence and understanding. Godly wisdom has something to offer us if we will
only accept the invitation and receive it.
Recently, my
wife and I received an invitation to attend an event. We had to look at the
calendar to see if we were able to attend. The invitation asked that we
respond. The invitation of wisdom is given to you. It has your name on it. Will
you open up the word of God and receive the wisdom God offers you today? God’s
wisdom calls out to you.
DAY 3 – JUNE 1
TITLE: “LISTEN”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs, chapters
5 – 9
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs
8:6-9
Key Verse: “Listen, for I have
worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.” Proverbs 8:6
What comes to
mind when you think of the word ‘worthy?’ For many, words like good, honorable,
dependable, reliable, noble, dutiful, trustworthy, charitable, virtuous, moral,
pure, decent, righteous, fit, suitable, reputable, incorrupt, creditable,
deserving and exemplary might come to mind.
When I think
of the word ‘worthy,’ I personally think of worship. Author, Ralph Martin,
says, "Worship is the dramatic celebration of God in His supreme worth in
such a manner that His 'worthiness' becomes the norm and inspiration of human
living." The declaration of God's worth is at the very heart of worship.
Simply put, one author said, "Worship is an active response to God whereby
we declare His worth." Worship is based on the worthiness of the one being
worshipped. God is worthy of our worship. I Chronicles 16:25 says, “For great is the Lord and most worthy of
praise; he is to be feared above all gods.”
In the New
Testament understanding of worship, we again see that worship is based on the
worthiness of God. Scripture declares, "Worthy
is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12. Worship is the
declaration of the worthiness of God. Authors, Allen and Borror,
reveal the term comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘weorthscipe.’
Their conclusion is, "Worship means to attribute worth to something or
someone." This understanding of the
word “worship” infers that worship cannot really take place without declaring
God's worth.
God is
worthy. He is worthy of your heart. God has worthy things to say to us because
God is worthy. God’s word is honorable, dependable, trustworthy and noble. Will
you listen to His words today?
Throughout
the day, we can read and listen to a variety of words. Yet, many of the words
spoken are not worthy of our time, attention or consideration. Proverbs calls
us to listen to that which is worthy of our time and consideration. Listen to
the One who is worthy. Listen to the One who has worthy things to say to you
today. Like Samuel said in I Samuel 3:9, may we stop
and say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant
is listening.” Open up His word with a listening heart so you can hear the
things God wants to say to you today.
DAY 4 – JUNE 2
TITLE: “CHOICES”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs, chapters
5 – 9
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs 8:10
Key Verse: “Choose
my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.” Proverbs 8:10
Last night, I
set out a blue shirt that I had decided to wear today. However, this morning, I
changed my mind. I did not want to wear that shirt. I had several shirts in the
closet that I could choose from so I made a different choice. So, today I am
wearing a gold colored shirt. It is the result of a choice I made.
Famous singer, Luciano Pavarotti, tells the story of when he was a boy,
and his father, who was a baker, introduced him to the wonders of song. His
father urged him to work very hard to develop his voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in his hometown of
His father replied, “If you
try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose
one chair.” Luciano said, “I chose one. It took
seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional
appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now, I
think, whether it's laying bricks, writing a book--whatever we choose--we
should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that's the key. Choose one
chair."
The
invitation is given to receive instruction and knowledge over silver and gold.
True wealth derived from instruction and knowledge. True wealth does not come
from silver and gold.
Every day, we
are confronted by choices. Some of the choices are significant and others are
not, but every choice has a consequence. Many of the choices we make will impact
other choices we make throughout the day. The writer of Proverbs is calling for
us to make the choice of his instruction. That choice would require that other
choices would not be made. He was trying to open our eyes to the reality that
the choice for wise instruction was better than choosing silver. Knowledge
gained would be better than even the choicest gold.
Joshua
confronted the people of God with a choice. Listen to his words with an open
heart today. He said, “Now fear the Lord
and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers
worshiped beyond the River and Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the
Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers
served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are
living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua
24:14-15. Choose wisely today.
DAY 5 – JUNE 3
TITLE: “MORE PRECIOUS THAN RUBIES ”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs Chapters
5 -9
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs 8:11
Key Verse: “for
wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with
her.” Proverbs 8:11
Antiques Roadshow is the most popular television
program on PBS. The premise is simple: the country's leading auction houses
join independent dealers to offer free appraisals of the antiques and
collectibles people have sitting around in their livings rooms, bedrooms,
attics, or garages. In his book, The
Discipline of Spiritual Discernment,
author, Tim Challies, refers to a particular episode
in which an elderly man from Tucson, Arizona brought in an old blanket he had
inherited several years ago. Though the man knew the old blanket probably
possessed a little value when it came into his possession, he had simply thrown
it over the back of a rocking chair in his bedroom. It had remained on the
rocking chair until the opportunity arose for him to take it to the experts of
the PBS program. Challies writes about what
transpired:
“With
the blanket hanging on a rack behind them, the expert appraiser told the old
man that his heart stopped when he first saw it. … [The appraiser explained]
that the item was a Navajo chief's blanket that had been woven in the 1840’s.
In wonderful condition, it was one of the oldest, intact Navajo weaves to
survive to the twentieth-first century, and certainly one of only a tiny
handful to exist outside of museum collections.”
Because
of its rarity and significance, the appraiser had no trouble assigning a value
of somewhere between $350,000 and $500,000. As the man walked out of the
convention center…the blanket he had cavalierly carried in with him was now
cradled carefully in his arms. He walked out of the building with security
guards on either side of him, drove straight to a bank, and placed the blanket
in a safe deposit box.”
What
had been "junk," a mere accent to an old rocking chair, had been
instantly transformed into a precious treasure. Wisdom is a precious and valuable
treasure. Jesus is the Pearl of Great Price and the valuable treasure. “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3.
Lord, You are
more precious than silver.
Lord, You are more costly than gold.
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds,
And, nothing I desire compares to You.
Who can weigh the value of knowing You?
Who can judge the worth of who You are?
Who can count the blessings of loving You?
Who can say just how great You are?
(By
Lynn Deshazo)