Category: Proverbs

All Prove True

Old Testament: 1 Kings 1 & 2

Poetry: Proverbs 30

New Testament: Acts 24


I try to always follow through on my word, but sometimes I forget, and other times the circumstances are out of my control. I teach 6th graders who are always quick (and annoyingly eager) to call me out on these times.


“You said I could go to the bathroom after the lesson.“ Sorry, I forgot. I can’t keep track of 130 students’ bladders.


“You said we’d have time to work on this assignment.“ Sorry, somebody pulled the fire alarm and we’ve spent all class outside.


I’m fallible, so my word is fallible, too. But, God never forgets and every circumstance is within His control. He is infallible. Today’s proverb holds the promise that all God’s promises are true. It’s like God extending his pinky towards ours and locking it in an eternal pinky promise.


Every word of God proves true.
(Proverbs 30:5a, ESV).


One man, Everett R. Storms, once counted 7,487 promises made by God to humankind. They. All. Prove. True. Of those 7,487, here are just a few promises to reflect on today:


God Promises Strength
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10, ESV)


God Promises to Fight For You
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. (Exodus 14:14, ESV)


God Promises Wisdom
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without
reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5, ESV)

God Promises to Be With You
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2, ESV)


God Promises to Answer Prayer
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7, ESV)


God Promises Peace
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7, ESV)


God Promises Forgiveness
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, ESV)


God Promises the Kingdom
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4, ESV)

-Mackenzie McClain


Reflection Questions:

  1. How does knowing God’s promises change the way you approach your everyday
    life?
  2. How have you experienced these promises in your own life?
  3. What other promises does God make throughout scripture? Hint: there’s 7,479
    more!

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Sharpening One Another

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 21 & 22

*Poetry: Proverbs 27

New Testament: Acts 21

     Today we will discuss a few pieces of wisdom from Proverbs 27. Some sections of the book offer extended advice on one topic, but for this chapter I will just comment on three verses.

     “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:6). I think this is a helpful reminder about the nature of wisdom, whether with human friends or our relationship with God. Love sometimes involves the willingness to say someone is wrong, but being told you are wrong can be painful. That means the friend can be taking a risk to offer that truth. And the pain involved for the one hearing the truth may be in proportion to how much pride has built up for them, how much of a false image needs to be removed. But truth is better than a lie, even when truth hurts. (A proverb can’t cover every detail, and this isn’t saying that a friend should seek to harm when giving the truth. Faithfulness and friendship are already assumed in this proverb.) But on the other side of matters an enemy will be quite ready to mislead while seeming friendly, giving deceitful kisses (perhaps only metaphorically) as they guide someone’s conduct and heart astray. Remember that truth is not determined by how we feel when we first hear it, it must be examined.

     When I was at Bible college we used to talk about Proverbs 27:14: “If you loudly greet your neighbor early in the morning, he will think of it as a curse.” To me the application for this text involved the frustration of being up early if you were not a morning person, if someone else was and they were not cautious about their conduct. At college we had added issues to watch out for, like people who had stayed up late into the night studying or writing, or talking about theology (or life). But when I looked up this text to see the views of researchers I found reference after reference treating it as about over-the-top flattery or kindness being treated as a sign of hypocrisy to be rejected. I was quite surprised. Maybe I was just too focused on one perspective, or perhaps I am too used to honesty to think in those terms. Still, it never occurred to me from the text to see the meaning that way. But this is a useful illustration of the fact that proverbs are open to interpretation. Dwelling on one, working it over in your mind, or even sharing your thoughts about it with another person, can allow you to gain insight.

“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (v. 17) This is another proverb that I have been aware of and considered for many years. It brings to mind a late stage in the process of developing a tool, perhaps a sword. It supposes that we all are hardened, we all have gone through some discipline and experience. But seeking to grow with each other we can hone the edges of what we are meant to be. Some years ago there was a theological journal published out of Michigan called Sharpening Steel which took its name from this verse. I believe the idea of the title was that by people examining scriptures and writing about what they learned from them believers would be able to help each other gain new ideas and new thoughts about how to grow and serve. It is a useful principle for a journal but also for how we operate in our regular lives.

Lord, as I finish this week of writing devotions I ask you to watch over the people who have been reading these words. Help them to find the strength they need. None of them are meant to be acting alone. Please, Lord, help the ones that are trying to go it alone this week to reach out to a brother or a sister in Christ and acknowledge that they need more strength than they have. Don’t let any of us be closed off. I feel that this is not the case right now. Let your Spirit work in the hearts of your people. Let the knowledge of Jesus’s love warm us all. May we reach out to each other. In the name of your son I pray these things. Amen.

-Daniel Smead

Questions:

  1. Can you look back on a time when you think you learned something that seemed painful and you later recognized it was true and valuable? Has that changed your behavior?
  2. What do you speak to other believers about? How often do you find time to talk about what you have valued in the scripture? Or what you find beautiful in the world? Or what you have struggled with?
  3. Don’t assume that you must be much stronger than those around you to be able to be of any help – iron can sharpen iron, it doesn’t take diamond. Notice that the proverb is meant to work both ways, are you prepared to be strengthened by those around you? For that to happen will there need to be any change in your thinking or your attitudes?
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Trusting in the Guidance of the Lord

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 29-31

Poetry: Proverbs 16

New Testament: Acts 10

In the book of Proverbs, we find a treasure trove of wisdom that has the power to transform our lives. Chapter 16 is no exception, offering profound insights that speak directly to our hearts and the way we navigate this world. Today, let us take a closer look at verse 3, which encourages us to commit our work to the Lord, knowing that He is the one who establishes our plans.

In a society driven by achievement and self-reliance, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that success is solely dependent on our own abilities and strategies. We may spend countless hours meticulously crafting our plans and pursuing our goals, forgetting that we are called to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and seek His guidance in all that we do. However, Proverbs reminds us that true success comes from surrendering our efforts to the Lord.

Committing our work to the Lord involves recognizing that He is the ultimate authority and the source of all wisdom and understanding. It requires us to approach our tasks, aspirations, and dreams with an attitude of humility, acknowledging that apart from Him, we can do nothing of lasting significance. We are called to submit our plans to His will, seeking His guidance and trusting that He will align our desires with His purposes.

By entrusting our work to God, we are liberated from the burden of self-reliance and the anxiety that often accompanies it. We can rest in the assurance that the Lord, in His infinite wisdom and love, will establish our plans. This does not mean that we will be exempt from challenges or difficulties along the way, but it does mean that God will faithfully guide us, direct our steps, and use our efforts for His glory.

When we commit our work to the Lord, we invite Him to be an active participant in every aspect of our lives. We open ourselves up to His guidance and leading, allowing Him to shape our plans according to His perfect will. Our work becomes an opportunity to partner with God, to be instruments through which His purposes are fulfilled in this world.

As we reflect on Proverbs chapter 16, may we be encouraged to surrender our ambitions, our dreams, and our work to the Lord. Let us seek His wisdom, trust in His guidance, and find peace in knowing that He is the one who establishes our plans. By entrusting ourselves to Him, we embark on a journey of purpose and fulfillment, where our lives become a testament to His grace and faithfulness.

-Austin Kizer

Reflection Questions

  1. In what areas of your life would it be wise to surrender your plans to the Lord? What does that look like? What thoughts and feelings does it create? Pray for help in doing so.
  2. What does true success look like? Is it possible apart from God and His plans?
  3. What will God reveal to you about Himself in your Bible reading today?
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Who You Walk With

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 23 & 24

*Poetry: Proverbs 13

New Testament: Acts 7

Proverbs 13:20 says, “The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but the one who associates with fools will suffer harm.”

Out of all the proverbs in this chapter, let’s ruminate on this one for a few minutes. The meaning of the proverb is simple enough on the surface: you become wise if you hang out with people who are “wise,” but you will suffer harm or get in trouble if you hang out with “fools.” Nevertheless, the depth of the meaning comes in understanding why the proverb is true, and also the difficulty it poses for actually applying it in our lives. What do I mean? I am saying that the proverb is simple in what it is stating, but the concept behind why what it says is true is very deep and rich.

This proverb touches on a reality of our lives that is so often overlooked or minimized, and that is, how other people can influence and change our behavior. One of the most powerful forces in the formation of human psychology and sociology is peers. The people our age that we spend the most time with are some of the most influential people in our lives. We tend to subconsciously adjust our ways of speaking, acting, and even preferences to align with what others around us are doing and think is “cool.”

The phrase “the one who walks with the wise” is an idiom that describes spending significant time with and to be in close association with a wise person. “Walking” together is a way of saying doing life together. And friends are definitely people that you “do” life with. But it is not just friends that the proverb has in mind, it is specifically a person who is “wise.” Wisdom comes with age, and so if you are relatively young, then a “wise” person is probably much older than you. And while older people might not rank high on the “cool” factor in the eyes of young people, they possess a vast amount of wisdom to young people in comparison.

If your friends exhibit godly speech and conduct in their lives, then that is part of wisdom, and they are exerting a positive influence on you, whether you consciously realize it or not. But if your friends talk behind peoples backs, rebel against authority, use vicious words to tear others down, steal, lie, or any other number of wicked patterns of behavior, then they are a “fool,” and they will likely either rub off on you or pressure you to be more like them (because they will ridicule you if you don’t or just stop hanging out with you because they think you are “lame”).

The apostle Paul mentions this principle in 1 Corinthians 15:33 when he writes, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” His warning expresses the same wisdom as the second line of the proverb. If you associate yourself with “fools” you are bound to get corrupted and become like them. It only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole bunch.

Take a moment to think about if you are spending time with a “bad apple,” and if so, whether you notice how that relationship is negatively affecting you. Because one way or another, it is. If you find yourself thinking that you need more positive influences in your life, then maybe it is time to start walking with someone who is “wise” so that you too can become “wise.”

-Jerry Wierwille

Reflection Questions

  1. How would you honestly describe the people you spend the most time with? Take a moment to think about if you are spending time with someone who is negatively affecting you. What are your options? Which is the best one?
  2. Who do you know who is wiser than yourself? What can you do this week/month to spend more time with that person? Set it up.
  3. How can you be a wise friend to others rather than being a bad influence that leads them (and yourself) to harm?
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A Hot Head

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 21 & 22

* Poetry: Proverbs 12

New Testament: Acts 6

Proverbs chapter 12 has some very interesting proverbs that can walk us deeper into understanding the wisdom and knowledge that begins with the fear of Yahweh (cf. 1:7; 9:10). One of those proverbs is 12:16, which says, “The anger of a fool is known at once, but a prudent person conceals dishonor.”

Picking up on the conjunction “but” that connects the two lines together, this suggests that the parallelism in this proverb is likely antithetic, meaning the two lines are expressing opposing ideas. In the first line, the main idea is that the “anger of a fool” is readily apparent (i.e., “known at once”). The question we always need to ask ourselves when reading wisdom literature, especially Proverbs, is, “How is this proverb true?” In other words, “What circumstance could this proverb be accurately describing?”

Have you ever known someone who had a short temper? And what was the characteristic behavior of this individual that earned them this reputation? Probably they got angry easily, right? The first line is identifying that a fool is someone who has no control over their temper and quickly erupts at the smallest provocation. They are a “hot head” just waiting to blow. Given the wrong remark or facial expression from others, their attitude can turn sour in an instant and their anger flares up like a barrel fire.

On the contrary to this foolish behavior, the “prudent person,” who exercises self-control and discipline and has a “cool head” about them, “conceals dishonor.” Thus, unlike the fool that vents their anger immediately, unable to rule their emotions but makes an open show of their contempt, the “prudent person” covers over, overlooks, or does not give attention to the dishonorable actions of others. They do not respond in a like manner with unrestrained, emotionally charged reactions.

Thus, the point of the proverb is that a wise person recognizes the best way to handle criticisms or insults and does not react impulsively or irrationally by stooping to meet the fool at their level.

Have you ever just wanted to let someone have a “piece of your mind”? I sure have, and I bet you have too. But the self-restraint required to not vent one’s frustration or anger is part of living with wisdom. Did you know that learning how to rule over your emotions was exercising godly wisdom? It may not “feel” as good in the moment as it would if you yelled at the other person, but wisdom is not about what “feels” good—it is about what is good and right to do that glorifies Yahweh and aligns with his intention for how life is best lived. Therefore, the wise person must deny the temptation to give in to destructive emotions, like uncontrolled anger, that would inflict harm on others. Wisdom teaches how to build strong, healthy relationships and ways of interacting that promote peace and godliness. And that entails being able to keep one’s emotions in check.

-Jerry Wierwille

Reflection Questions:

  1. Give some examples of how temper can interfere with living a life that glorifies Yahweh. Any come to mind when you were the one with the hot head? How could it have played out differently with more self-control?
  2. How can you work on more self-control and discipline? Ask Yahweh, too.
  3. What does Yahweh value?
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Thought Provoking Proverbs

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17 & 18

*Poetry: Proverbs 10

New Testament: Acts 4

Proverbs 10 begins a new section in the Book of Proverbs where the longer wisdom speeches of chapters 1-9 disappear, and the more traditionally recognized two-line couplets of Proverbs become the predominant form.

The couplet form of most proverbs in chapter 10 and onward is based primarily on the Hebrew poetry structure of parallelism, where two (or sometimes more) lines are related to each other in a particular way. The three dominant types of parallelism are: synonymous, antithetic, and synthetic. The simple way to view these parallelisms is that in synonymous parallelism, the lines are usually saying the same/similar idea in just two different ways; in antithetic parallelism, the lines are usually saying opposing ideas of each other (not necessarily just the opposite); and in synthetic parallelism, the lines function together to present the whole idea of the proverb, where any one line by itself is insufficient to understand the point that the proverb is trying to make.

While the proverbs that are collected in chapter 10 and following rarely have any direct connection from one to the next, something important to note is that certain themes or subjects resurface in various places. So to get an understanding of what Proverbs has to say about a specific topic often requires searching and collecting scattered verses throughout the book and then viewing them together to get an overall picture of what sort of wisdom Proverbs contains on it. But that then becomes the trick with Proverbs, figuring out what they are trying to say.

For example, in Proverbs 10:10, “The one winking his eye causes pain, and the one who is foolish with his lips will come to ruin.” It is not readily apparent what “winking” the eye has to do with causing “pain.” Unless the reader understands that there is an implicit context that must be discerned, they might just walk away scratching their head. We have to ask ourselves, “In what situation would this proverb prove true?” Our basic assumption is that the wisdom of Proverbs is true wisdom, therefore, there must be a context in which the wisdom of the proverb proves to be true. The task of us as readers is to decipher what that context might be. And this is the beauty of wisdom literature like Proverbs, it is very thought provoking, requiring a person to carefully deliberate on it for a while.

To answer the question of what does “winking his eye causes pain” mean in Proverbs 10:10, we must first understand that within the biblical culture, “winking” (or “squinting”) of the eyes represents hostile or mischievous behavior. This sort of gesture is associated with wickedness and is indicative of a person’s evil and malicious intent. Thus, to “wink” indicates that the person is conniving and plotting something deceitful which would bring harm to the unsuspecting victim, and they would not see it coming until it was too late.

-Jerry Wierwille

Reflection Questions

  1. Pick two of the verses in Proverbs 10. Which type of parallelism is each an example of?
  2. What can be learned from today’s proverbs? Did any stand out as something you specifically need to work on or need to remember more often?
  3. Are there any that don’t seem to make sense to you at first? If so, take a little time to do some research on the meaning of this proverb.
  4. Why do you think God included these Proverbs in His Holy Scriptures? What do we learn about God in our Bible reading today?
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Will you Accept her Dinner Invitation?

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 15 & 16

* Poetry: Proverbs 9

New Testament: Acts 3

An interesting comparison is made in Proverbs 9 between two personified figures called “Lady Wisdom” (v. 1) and “Lady Folly” (v. 13). An elaborate scene is painted where Lady Wisdom is said to have prepared a great feast and is inviting everyone in the town to come eat her delicious food. Part of her invitation to dine with her involves exhorting people to leave behind their “naïve ways” so that they can live. If they come and eat with her, they will gain understanding.

The first questions that one might ask are, “Why is Lady Wisdom throwing a party? And what does eating at someone’s house have to do with learning to make good choices in life?” Those are great questions! The answer is that the first part of the chapter where Lady Wisdom is inviting people to come dine with her is an ancient custom where someone who accepts an invitation to a meal is agreeing to be associated with that person and also open to their company and influence in their life. Essentially, Lady Wisdom is asking you to welcome and embrace her as a friend and a trusted counselor by coming to dine at her table.

Secondly, if you want someone to lend you their ear and hear what you have to say, what better way to do that than to throw a party and have everyone come over. Now, the whole scene of going to the house of Lady Wisdom for dinner is clearly a metaphor for going to her and allowing her to feed you with her wisdom so that you will become wise.

One of the most important proverbs of all is 9:10, “The fear of Yahweh is the starting point of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is the starting point of understanding.” This is an incredibly simple but profound statement: “fear of Yahweh is the starting point of wisdom”. Wisdom begins with the “fear of Yahweh,” and if wisdom begins with the “fear of Yahweh,” then everything else builds from there.

The Hebrew word translated “fear” can mean “to be afraid,” (i.e., terrified), but it can also mean to have “reverence” or “respect” for someone or something. The “fear of Yahweh” mentioned in the Proverbs 9:10 is the second definition and refers to living with a proper awareness and mindfulness of the reality of Yahweh’s rule over all creation, which includes his authority and power to not only govern the universe and all things that happen within the cosmos, but also as the owner of all truth and understanding about life. Yahweh is the source of all knowledge, and no right understanding about how to best live can be attained apart from him. Only when we live with the “fear of Yahweh” can we begin to understand wisdom and knowledge, for only when our hearts are properly oriented toward Yahweh will we be able to receive his grace in sharing with us the wisdom and knowledge that only he can bestow.

            But there is another dimension to the “fear of Yahweh,” and that is that it also entails the idea of loyalty and faithfulness. Living with the “fear of Yahweh” involves adjusting our lives so that we are in a right relationship with Yahweh; it means to understand life and all knowledge through that covenant relationship. Fearing Yahweh (i.e., showing reverence) is demonstrated by loyalty and faithfulness through loving him and obeying him by living according to his commandments and statutes. Thus, by submitting to Yahweh and abiding in a covenant relationship with him, we prove that we honor, love, and revere him.

Are you willing to dine with Lady Wisdom and learn the “fear of Yahweh” and be on the road to living with wisdom? I hope so, it is going to be the beginning of the greatest adventure you will ever have.

-Jerry Wierwille

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you willing to dine with Lady Wisdom and learn the “fear of Yahweh” and be on the road to living with wisdom?
  2. Do you “fear” – revere and respect Yahweh enough? What is the danger in not fearing Him? What can you do to show more reverence and respect?
  3. What can you learn about Yahweh in today’s reading?
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The Successful Approach to Life

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 13 & 14

*Poetry: Proverbs 8

New Testament: Acts 2

Proverbs chapter 8 is an extended poem on Wisdom. The chapter is filled with personification where Wisdom is described as being alive and “calling out” to people (v. 4), and “uttering” words of truth and righteousness (v. 7). Also, Wisdom is described as something that is extremely valuable. In fact, she is elevated above any costly material such as silver, gold, and precious gems (vv. 10-11). Nothing can be compared to her. She is the most important treasure that could ever be found.

Why is it that wisdom is so valuable? Everyone knows that it is better to be wise than to be foolish. But what does having wisdom in life actually do for you? Wisdom is more like an outlook and mode of operating than a formula or blueprint. When you have wisdom, you look at life differently, which in turn, causes you to think differently, and thus, act differently. The choices you make in life will be different when you have wisdom. But what is the real difference, you might ask? The difference is that living with wisdom points you in the direction of Yahweh and builds a habit in your life of looking at things from Yahweh’s perspective rather than just our own.

You can think of having wisdom as having the ability to make the right choice and act in the right way in any given situation. Now, that might sound like wisdom is just a bunch of “rule following.” But that can’t be farther from the truth. Wisdom is not about “rules” but about perspective and patterns of thinking and acting. If you want to be successful in school, if you want to find a good spouse, if you want to get a promotion at work, if you want to have money, if you want to know how to deal with difficult people, and so many other aspects of life, wisdom teaches us the way to develop an approach to life that can yield joy, success, and prosperity.

You might be thinking, “Now hold on…are you saying that Wisdom guarantees that I will marry the person of my dreams, be successful, and have lots of money?” The answer is “no.” Wisdom doesn’t automatically yield these things in your life. In vv. 17-19, it says, “I [Wisdom] love those who love me, and those who desire me will find me. 18Riches and glory are with me, enduring prosperity, and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, even better than refined gold, and my gain is better than silver.” If you want to have a good romantic relationship with someone, if you want to have money, and if you want to be successful in life, wisdom prepares and teaches us the principles that can help get us there. There is no guarantee in life that things will go your way if you live with wisdom. But I can guarantee that they will definitely not go your way if you are a fool.

In the closing part of the chapter, Wisdom says that those who follow her teachings (i.e., “keep her ways”) are “blessed” and will “find life” and “obtain favor” from Yahweh. That alone is a good reason to listen to Wisdom!

-Jerry Wierwille

Reflection Questions

  1. Who is one of the wisest persons you know? Describe them. Do any parts of Proverbs 8 remind you of this person?
  2. What are some of the wisest choices you have made? What was the result of each decision? What foolish choices have you made? What were the results of those choices? What upcoming decision do you have to make? How can you work at making a wise decision?
  3. What is your favorite verse(s) in Proverbs 8? Write it out and keep it somewhere you will see often this week. Pray for wisdom.
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A Heart that Desires Wisdom

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 11 & 12

*Poetry: Proverbs 7

New Testament: Acts 1

Proverbs 7 is a warning to young men and women about the dangers of sexual desires when they are not pursued properly within God’s intended design, which is within the covenant of marriage. It is written from the viewpoint of a father warning his son about not being enticed by women and drawn away after them. There is an assumption in the text that the young man is marriage, and the warning is about being lured into an adulterous affair with a woman who is not his wife, referred to as the “strange” or “foreign” woman because she is “strange” or “foreign” to his covenant of marriage—she is an outsider.

While this extended speech in Proverbs 7 is aimed at marriage faithfulness and loyalty, its application extends beyond that. Faithfulness and loyalty are not necessary in just a marriage relationship, they are necessary in any relationship, whether it is a family relationship, friendship, or even professional relationship. Anyone will quickly come to learn the importance of faithfulness and loyalty if they betray a relationship and break that bond of trust and commitment. In a family, privileges might be taken away from you. In a friendship, the other person may not confide in you any longer. In a professional relationship, you might lose responsibility, or worse, lose your job entirely.

In Proverbs 7:1-4, the father is telling his son to hold on to his teaching and instruction. The metaphor that he uses is to “bind” them on your fingers,” and “write them on the tablet of your heart.” Furthermore, the son is to treat Wisdom as like a sibling—someone who is part of your family. The purpose for this figurative language is to reinforce the attitude that the son is supposed to have toward Wisdom and living with the fear of Yahweh. Not only that, but the admonition of the father is to also build desire for Wisdom. And the explicit purpose is “in order to keep you from the strange woman, from the foreign woman who flatters with her words” (v. 5).

I think that having a heart that desires Wisdom is vitally important for young people to develop. The world is filled with foolishness, especially in regard to sexuality. It implicitly condones a “do whatever feels good” mindset that is completely opposed to God’s intended way for humans to view sex and to enjoy it. But if a young person doesn’t listen to Wisdom, but follows the ways of the world and allows themselves to be enticed and led astray into sexual passions, they will inevitably suffer and learn the hard way that the world’s way of living is not what produces healthy, loving relationships that lead to the life-long commitment of marriage where sex is intended to be fully explored and enjoyed as God designed for it to be.

-Jerry Wierwille

Reflection Questions

  1. What dangers are warned of in Proverbs 7?
  2. What are some examples of worldly foolishness in the area of sexuality? Why are these problems?
  3. How can you increase your faithfulness and loyalty?
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Changed into a Different Person

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 9 & 10

Poetry: Proverbs 6

New Testament: Acts Introduction below

Saul was looking for Samuel and Samuel was looking for Saul but for different reasons! At first, Saul was looking for his father’s donkeys, and Samuel for the king of Israel – then, all was found. Not only was Saul (tall and handsome) anointed the first king of Israel, but the Spirit of God came upon him. It even says, “He’d be turned into another man (1 Samuel 10:7) … God gave him another heart.” (10:9) Imagine to go looking for donkeys and to be anointed the first king of Israel, what a shocking surprise! Honestly, I’m not too surprised he was hiding amongst the equipment. That’s probably where I would’ve been too. But the LORD knew right where he was and whom He had chosen.

Sometimes things turn out differently than we’d planned, actually a lot of times. My motto around the house is we need to be flexible or we’ll break as our plans are often shifting. 😊 After the time of the judges, authorities will shift to kingship. Yet, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you. But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’” (10:17-19) It is sad that the people rejected God as their king and yet God was gracious and granted them one anyhow.

“These are six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brothers.”  (Proverbs 6:16-19)

“My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.

Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck,

When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you;

And when you awake, they will speak with you.

For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” (6:20-23)

Amen!

-Stephanie Schlegel

Reflection Questions:

  1.  Is there something in our lives that we’re failing to acknowledge God for doing for us? Let’s keep a thankful heart and thank Him for three things that happened today.
  2. Are we aware of the 7 things God hates and hopefully not doing any of them?
  3. Are we keeping God’s ways close to us throughout the day and letting them guide us even while we lie down to sleep?

Acts Introduction

The Book of Acts, also known as The Acts of the Apostles, is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke.  Luke, a physician who traveled with the apostle Paul, wrote both.  In fact, Luke wrote more of the New Testament than any other author, including Paul.  The book of Acts covers the period of time from just after the resurrection of Jesus until just before the death of Paul, and tells the history of the early Church.  Because the story about Paul ends abruptly with his house arrest and awaiting trial before Caesar, it’s likely the Book of Acts was written at that time, likely around 62 or 63 AD.

The first half of the Book of Acts focuses primarily on Peter, who taught mostly Jews, while the last half is about Paul, who taught mostly Gentiles.  Luke detailed the expansion of Christianity from being centered in Israel, to reaching worldwide (in the known world of that day).  Luke recorded several sermons, from Peter’s on the day of Pentecost, to Stephen’s, and multiple of Paul’s.  By using the word “we” in parts of the second half of the book, it is obvious that Luke traveled with Paul.

From Chapter 1, we can see several things the early church believed:

  • The reality of Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 1:3a)
  • The promise of the coming kingdom (Acts 1:3b)
  • The power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
  • Jesus will return the same way he left (Acts 1:11)
  • Prayer was important, and they spent lots of time in prayer (Acts 1:14)
  • They believed in God’s leading (Acts 1:24-26)

Some of the more well-known information in Acts includes:

  • Jesus’ ascension into heaven (Acts 1:7-11)
  • The Holy Spirit being poured out on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2)
  • Peter and John healing a crippled beggar (Acts 3)
  • Peter and John before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4)
  • Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)
  • Stephen’s sermon and the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7)
  • Philip and the Ethiopian (Acts 8)
  • Saul’s conversion (Acts 9)
  • Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10)
  • Peter’s miraculous escape from prison (Acts 12)
  • Paul’s missionary journeys (starting in Acts 13)
  • etc.

As you can see, Acts is a very exciting and well-known book.

I love Acts 4:13, which says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  As you study the book of Acts, and ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit, I pray that people will notice you and be astonished, and will take note that you have been with Jesus.

-Steve Mattison

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