PROVERBS 1
Author of book verse 1
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David – king of Israel
Purpose of the book of Proverbs verse 2- 4
To know wisdom and instruction
to perceive the words of understanding
to receive the instruction of
wisdom – justice – judgment – equity
to give subtlety to the simply
to the young man knowledge and discretion
Wise will listen to the proverbs verse 5- 6
A wise man will hear – and will increase learning
a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels
to understand a proverb – and the interpretation
the words of the wise
and their dark sayings
Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom verse 7
The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of knowledge
BUT fools despise wisdom and instruction
Children are to listen to parents verse 8- 9
My son – hear the instruction of your father
and forsake not the law of your mother
for they shall be an ornament of grace
to your head and chains about your neck
Way of sinners described verse 10- 14
My son
IF sinners entice you – consent you not
IF they say
Come with us – let us lay wait for blood
let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause
let us swallow them up alive as the grave
and whole – as those that go down into the pit
We shall find all precious substance
we shall fill our houses with spoil
cast in thy lot among us
let us all have one purse
Motive of sinners is personal gain at any cost verse 15- 19
My son – walk not you in the way with them
refrain your foot from their path
for their feet run to evil
and make hast to shed blood
surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird
and they lay wait for their own blood
they lurk privily for their own lives
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain
which takes away the life of the owners thereof
Wisdom is crying out for listeners verse 20- 23
Wisdom cries without – she utters her voice in the streets
she cries in the chief places of concourse
in the openings of the gates
in the city she utters her words saying
How long you simple ones – will you love simplicity?
and the scorners delight in their scorning
and fools hate knowledge?
Turn you at my reproof – BEHOLD
I will pour out my spirit to you
I will make known my words to you
Wisdom states consequences of not listening verse 24- 27
Because I have called – and you refused
I have stretched out my hand – and no man regarded
BUT you have set at nought all my counsel
and would none of my REPROOF
I also will laugh at your calamity
I will mock when your fear comes
when your fear comes as desolation
and your destruction comes as a whirlwind
when distress and anguish come upon you
When sinners cry for help wisdom will not answer verse 28- 33
THEN shall they call upon me – BUT I will not answer
they shall seek me early – BUT they shall not find me
FOR that they hated knowledge
and did not choose the FEAR of the LORD
they would none of my counsel
they despised all my reproof
THEREFORE shall they eat of the fruit of their own way
and be filled with their own devices
FOR the turning away of the simple shall slay them
and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them
BUT whoso hearkens to me shall dwell safely
and shall be quiet from fear of evil
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 “To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,” The New King James Version ( Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (Instruction – 4148 מוּסָר [muwcar /moo·sawr/] n m. From 3256; TWOT 877b; GK 4592; 50 occurrences; AV translates as “instruction” 30 times, “correction” eight times, “chasten” four times, “chastisement” three times, “check” once, “bond” once, “discipline” once, “doctrine” once, and “rebuker” once. 1 discipline, chastening, correction. 1A discipline, correction. 1B chastening. (James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: The word “proverbs” (māšāl) usually means a brief, pithy saying, it can also refer to longer discourses. The word “proverb” then refers to various forms of wise, insightful pronouncements. [The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 907] While short, down-to-earth statements at times may bring a smile to individuals there is usually a long standing truth behind the statements. This is true with the Proverbs, Solomon the son of David was instructing his son in wisdom and instruction. Those truths that would be passed from generation to generation to assist and train the young man in the development of their lives to be productive leaders. While that is not practiced as much today it still is important for fathers to train their children and help them to recognize time tested truths. Proverbs gives us many truths that we can apply to our daily lives if we reflect and learn from these teachings.
CHALLENGE: If you are a parent consider sharing some of Proverbs with a young person using a modern translation or if you are a young person think upon the truths Solomon shares as if he were teaching you today! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. (6195 “subtility” [‘ormah] means guile, wilily, wisdom, cleverness, cunning, discretion in practical affairs, prudence, or discernment.)
DEVOTION: There are many characteristics that we want to have in our lives as we try to serve the LORD all the days of our life. We need to ask the LORD for wisdom in all of our actions as we have to face the tricks of the devil and those who are following him.
Solomon is trying to encourage all those who are trying to follow the LORD to ask HIM for help in their daily lives. One of things we have to realize is that without HIS help we will have a problem knowing what to do when, in order, to please HIM.
As we read this book of the Bible we realize that the LORD is the one who will give HIS followers the ability to face any situation and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit will give us the ability to fight the wiles of the devil and those who are his servants in our world.
There are many people that are not followers of the LORD that want to see us fail in our daily walk with HIM. Our responsibility is to turn to HIM for guidance and direction each day through the reading of the Bible and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our life.
CHALLENGE: With the help of the LORD we can face any challenge with the help of the ministry of the Holy Spirit as HE gives us guidance in our daily walk with HIM.
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: 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (3374 “fear” [yare] means to reverence, awesomeness, piety, worship, revere or stand in awe.)
DEVOTION: How many intelligent people do you know that have no common sense? How many people do you know that were not very smart in school but had common sense and discovers a skill that they could use to get them ahead in life? Then there are those who have very little intelligence and no common sense and they don’t understand anything you try to teach them.
Solomon was the son of King David. He was given wisdom from the LORD because God asked what he would like, so that, he could rule the children of Israel. His desire was wisdom. The LORD gave him much more. He presented his wisdom in this book of instruction to his sons. Now we know that some children listen to their parents and others do not. The ones who have good parents that try to teach them the Word of God should listen but even some of them don’t because they want to do their own thing without the restrictions of the Word of God.
Solomon knew that everything that was important to know started with a proper relationship with the LORD. It is sad to say that toward the end of his life he was not following his own instructions.
Here we have the beginning of a wonderful book of instruction between a father and his son. He instructed his son that the beginning of wisdom and knowledge was a reverent awe of the Creator of the Universe. HE was the only God worth following. HE was the only God who could give true wisdom. It was wisdom from above. There is another type of wisdom that is called “earthly” which those who are not followers of the LORD follow. It is wrong and leads to destruction. The people who follow this wisdom are called “fools” throughout this book.
We have to instruct our children and grandchildren in the way of the LORD according to Deuteronomy 6. These instructions are very important to the life of them. We should be following them as well. We are the example that is set before our children and grandchildren.
Many of us have grown up in homes that didn’t honor the LORD. The instruction was not available. The only instruction was to live for self and do what is right in your own eyes. This type of instruction could cause a child to spend eternity in Hell.
CHALLENGE: Give Biblical instruction to your children. If you became a follower of the LORD later in life it is never too late to instruct your children and grandchildren. Begin NOW!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hat knowledge? (6612 “simple” [pethiy] means naivete, open-minded, easily enticed, foolish, untaught or showing lack of wisdom and understanding yet have the capacity to change this condition.
DEVOTION: We begin our study of Proverbs with the introduction to what is to follow throughout the book. A father is giving instruction to his son. This wisdom is supposed to be passed down from one generation to another.
Many in our generation don’t think that there are any absolutes in our world. The Bible teaches differently. There are absolutes. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. This means that if an individual doesn’t stand in AWE of God, he will not be willing to listen to these instructions.
We will continually read about three different types of individuals in this book. The first individual is naïve. His mind is so open-minded that nothing registers. He is gullible. In fact, he likes being gullible. It is an easy life. He is making no decisions for himself. He doesn’t have to think. The second individual is called a scorner. He is one who thinks he knows it all. He doesn’t need to learn because he has it all figured out and doesn’t need God.
The final individual is one who is called a fool. There are three words for fool used in the book of Proverbs. The first one is the one used in this verse and it means someone who is dull or stupid – “pethiy.” The second word used in the book is “ewiyl” which means the corrupt one who is morally perverted. The final word for fool is “nabel” which means stubborn or brutish or one whose mind is made up and won’t be convinced otherwise. They refuse instruction.
There is a digression of order here in this verse. The first person has a chance to change. The second person is going to have a harder time to change. The third person doesn’t care to change.
The Hebrew word here is used in three verses in this chapter: verses 4, 22, 32. We find in Psalm 19:7 this same Hebrew word, which states, “making wise the simple.” What is this verse referring to that will make the naïve wise? It is the Word of God. Wisdom is personified as a woman giving advice to people. We know that wisdom that is from above in James 3: 17 is: “pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy, good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” This is the type of wisdom that is crying to those who are living.
Are we listening to the right wisdom today? How would people describe us today? How will they describe us in ten years? Are we willing to learn? What type of wisdom is being given in your local church?
CHALLENGE: Each of us has to be willing to be taught by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Once we apply it to our life we need to instruct others. Never stop looking to the LORD for guidance.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 7, 29
Those the LORD doesn’t answer when they call verse 28
Those who don’t listen will seek HIM verse 28
Counsel of the LORD verse 30
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Pour out MY Spirit verse 23
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Son verse 1, 8, 10, 15
Young men verse 4
Wise men verse 5
Father verse 8
Mother verse 8
Simple verse 32
Fools verse 32
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Fools verse 7, 22, 32
despise wisdom and instruction
Forsaking law of mother verse 8
Sinners verse 10
Entice verse 10
Lay in wait for blood verse 11, 16, 18
Lurk privily for the innocent verse 11
Fill houses with spoil verse 13
Find precious substance verse 13
Cast lot with sinners verse 14
Walk with sinners verse 15
Run to evil verse 16, 33
Shed blood verse 16
Lay in wait verse 18
Greedy of gain verse 19
Kill verse 19
Simple ones verse 22, 32
Scorners verse 22
Fools hate knowledge verse 22
Refuse God’s call verse 24
Not regard hand of God verse 24
Set at nought God’s counsel verse 25
Refuse reproof verse 25, 30
Not answered of LORD verse 28
Not find LORD verse 28
Hate knowledge verse 29
Not fear LORD verse 29
Despised the reproof of the LORD verse 30
Filled with their own devices verse 31
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Wisdom verse 2, 3, 7, 20, 21
Instruction verse 2, 3, 7, 8
Perceive the words of understanding verse 2
Wisdom verse 3
Justice verse 3
Judgment verse 3
Equity verse 3
Subtilty verse 4
Knowledge verse 4, 7, 23
Discretion verse 4
Wise man will hear verse 5, 6
Learning verse 5
Understanding
Proverb
Interpretation
Words of the wise
Dark sayings verse 5, 6
Wise counsel verse 5
Fear of the LORD verse 7, 29
beginning of knowledge
Grace verse 9
Not listen to enticements of sinners verse 10
Refrain from path of sinners verse 15
Turn toward reproof verse 23
Holy Spirit verse 23
Called verse 24
Safety verse 33
Quiet life verse 33
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Proverbs of Solomon verse 1- 33
Written to his son
Forsake not the law of your mother
Walk not with enticing people
Laugh at calamity of those who
refuse to listen
I will mock when your fear comes
David – father of Solomon verse 1
King of Israel verse 1
Simple ones verse 22
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Go down to the pit verse 12
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
The proverbs: the opening noun (mišlê) gives the book its name in the Hebrew Bible as in ours. The Heb. term (in the singular, māšāl) basically means ‘a comparison’ (e.g. the sharp simile such as—at random—11:22; 12:4; or the full-grown allegory of Ezek. 17:2ff.; cf. Judg. 9:8ff.), but it came to stand for any kind of sage pronouncement, from a maxim or observation (see the middle chapters, passim) to a sermon (e.g. chapter 5), and from a wisecrack (Ezek. 18:2) to a doctrinal revelation (Ps. 49:4). See also the companion terms in verse 6.
The beginning (i.e. the first and controlling principle, rather than a stage which one leaves behind; cf. Eccl. 12:13) is not merely a right method of thought but a right relation: a worshipping submission (fear) to the God of the covenant, who has revealed himself by name (the Lord, i.e. Yahweh: Exod. 3:13–15). Knowledge, then, in its full sense, is a relationship, dependent on revelation and inseparable from character (‘wisdom and training’, 7b). When we fence off (as we must) limited fields of knowledge for special study, the missing context must be remembered, or our knowing is precocious and distorted, as at the fall, and we end by knowing less (cf. 3:7; Rom. 1:21, 22), not more. (Kidner, D. (1964). Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 17, p. 56). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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1:1 proverbs. See Introduction: Title. The proverbs are short, pithy sayings which express timeless truth and wisdom. They arrest one’s thoughts, causing the reader to reflect on how one might apply divine principles to life situations (e.g., 2:12). Proverbs contains insights both in poetry and prose; yet, at the same time, it includes commands to be obeyed. God’s proverbs are not limited to this book alone (see Ge 10:9; 1Sa 10:12; 24:13; Jer 31:29; Eze 12:22; 18:2). Solomon. See Introduction: Author and Date. As Solomon became king of Israel, he sought and received wisdom and knowledge from the Lord (2Ch 1:7–12), which led him to wealth, honor, and fame.
1:22 How long. Three questions reveal 3 classes of those needing wisdom, and the downward progression of sin: 1) the naive or simple-minded, who are ignorant; 2) scoffers or mockers, who commit more serious, determined acts; and 3) fools or obstinate unbelievers, who will not listen to the truth. Proverbs aims its wisdom primarily at the first group.
(MacArthur, J. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible : New American Standard Bible. (Pr 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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: 2 The Book of Proverbs has two purposes: to give moral skillfulness and to give mental discernment. The first purpose is developed in vv. 3–4; then, after a parenthetical exhortation in v. 5, the second purpose is developed in v. 6.
The first purpose is that the disciple will develop skillfulness and discipline in holy living (v. 2a). “Attaining,” from the infinitive daʿaṯ (lit., “to know”), encompasses an intellectual and experiential acquisition of wisdom and discipline.
“Wisdom” (ḥoḵmāh) basically means “skill.” This word describes the “skill” of the craftsmen who worked in the tabernacle (Exod 31:6), the “wits” of seasoned mariners (Ps 107:27), administrative abilities (1 Kings 3:28), and the “wise advice” of a counselor (2 Sam 20:22). In the Book of Proverbs “wisdom” signifies skillful living—the ability to make wise choices and live successfully according to the moral standards of the covenant community. The one who lives skillfully produces things of lasting value to God and to the community.
The other object to be acquired is “discipline” (mûsār; cf. 3:5), the necessary companion of wisdom. Mûsār denotes the training of the moral nature, involving the correcting of waywardness toward folly and the development of reverence to the Lord and personal integrity.
The second major purpose of the Book of Proverbs is for the disciple to acquire discernment (v. 2b). The meaning of the Hiphil infinitive hāḇîn (“to understand, discern”) can be illustrated by the cognate preposition bên (“between”—“to discern” means to distinguish between things, to compare concepts, form evaluations, or make analogies).
The object of this infinitive is cognate to it: “words of insight” (ʾimrê ḇînāh). Proverbs will train people to discern lessons about life, such as distinguishing permanent values from immediate gratifications. (Ross, A. P. (1991). Proverbs. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, pp. 904–905). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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When that judgment arrives, sinners will call upon the Lord but it will be too late. “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Isa. 55:6, NKJV). Sinners will reap what they have sown. “Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies” (Prov. 1:31, NKJV). They turned away their ears from hearing the truth (v. 32; see 2 Tim. 4:4) and were complacently comfortable with believing lies. In contrast to the judgment promised to unbelievers, wisdom promises security and peace to those who will listen to her and believe (Prov. 1:33). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Skillful (p. 27). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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1:32 complacency. Willful carelessness or lack of appropriate care is intended. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Pr 1:32). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 32. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, &c.] Or be the cause of their being slain; even their turning away from Christ, their aversion to him; their turning their backs on him, and a deaf ear to him; their turning away from his Gospel, and putting it from them, thereby judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life: in all which they shewed themselves to be the simple and foolish persons they were; and for which wrath and ruin came upon them, and they were slain with the sword and famine, and by one another. Some render it, as Aben Ezra, the rest or quietness of the simple, &c. taking up their rest in themselves, and in their observance of ceremonies and traditions; and crying Peace, peace, when sudden destruction was at hand: or a stubborn hardened rest in sin, a seared conscience; having no sense of guilt, nor fear of punishment; living in carnal security till death should seize upon them. And the prosperity of fools shall destroy them; that is, the abuse of it; leading them to commit sins, which bring destruction upon them; or, seeing sinners live with impunity, and prosper in the world, take encouragement from thence to indulge themselves in sin, which is their ruin; or, being in prosperity, think it will always be well with them, and therefore put away the evil day far from them, which comes upon them at an unawares; which was the case of the Jews. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 335). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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Prov. 1:32–33 generalise the preceding promises and warnings in a great antithesis. ‘The backsliding [or, turning away] of the simple slays them.’ There is allusion to Wisdom’s call in Prov. 1:23. The simple had turned, but in the wrong direction—away from and not towards her. To turn away from heavenly Wisdom is to set one’s face toward destruction. It cannot be too earnestly reiterated that we must make our choice of one of two directions for ourselves—either towards God, to seek whom is life, to find whom is heaven; or away from Him, to turn our backs on whom is to embrace unrest, and to be separate from whom is death. ‘The security of fools,’ by which is meant, not their safety, but their fancy that they are safe, ‘destroys them.’ No man is in such danger as the careless man of the world who thinks that he is all right. A traveller along the edge of a precipice in the night, who goes on as if he walked a broad road and takes no heed to his footing, will soon repent his rashness at the bottom, mangled and bruised. A man who in this changing world fancies that he sits as a king, and sees no sorrow, will have a rude wakening. A moment’s heed saves hours of pain.
The alternative to this suicidal folly is in listening to Wisdom’s call. Whoever does that will ‘dwell safely,’ not in fancied but real security; and in his quiet heart there need be no unrest from feared evils, for he will have hold of a charm which turns evils into good, and with such a guide he cannot go astray, nor with such a defender be wounded to death, nor with such a companion ever be solitary. If Christ be our Light, we shall not walk in darkness. If He be our Wisdom, we shall not err. If He be our Life, we shall never see death. If He is our Good, we shall fear no evil. (MacLaren, A. (2009). Expositions of Holy Scripture: Esther-Ecclesiastes (p. 83). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Franklin Graham writes – President Biden is in the news for making a statement that Rupert Murdoch was the “most dangerous man in the world,” and that Fox News was “one of the most destructive forces in the United States.”
Really? I’m thankful for Fox News, which gives a much more fair and independent journalistic approach to the news. I thank God that my father Billy Graham’s friend Rupert Murdoch has provided a more conservative platform for people to consider.
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poem by Anne R. C. Neale
I can’t do it alone oh, Lord,
I need you by my side,
I can’t do it alone, my Lord,
With me I want you to abide,
I need your hand in mine night and day
I need your strength and help too for which I pray,
I need you with me, please always stay,
I cannot do it alone, my Lord.
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A DIET
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee…You will never look at a cup of
coffee the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things
were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and
wanted to give up; she was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as
one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and
placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she
placed carrots, in the second, she placed eggs, and in the last she placed
ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots
out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a
bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her
daughter, she asked, ‘ Tell me what you see. ”Carrots, eggs, and coffee,’
she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and
noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg
and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter
smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, ‘What does it
mean, mother?’
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same
adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in
strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling
water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer
shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the
boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were
unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the
water.
‘Which are you?’ she asked her daughter. ‘When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Think
of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and
become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?
Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial
hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my
shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff
spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the
very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases
the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at
their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the
hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to
another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you
strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they
just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest
future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can’t go forward in
life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were
born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so
at the end, you’re the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to
you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or another;
to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you
see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose
friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life. May
we all be COFFEE!!!!!!! (Author unknown)
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Christ is the image of the invisible God and the Head of the church.
INSIGHT
On the surface, it is pretty difficult to explain why you believe in God. No one has seen Him face-to-face, touched Him, or smelled Him, yet His fingerprints are everywhere. You must get beneath the surface where the intangible becomes tangible. God is made visible through Jesus Christ. Paul writes that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” (v. 15). If you want to know about God, learn about Jesus. If you want to see God, look at Jesus. If you want to please God, follow Jesus. He is God in the flesh! (QuietWalk)
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Satan’s Strategic Plan
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)
The magnificent book of Genesis sets the foundation for Scripture, revealing the “Roman numerals” upon which the rest of the Bible’s message is built. Apart from the actual events of the creation week, the fall of Adam and Eve, and the subsequent horrific growth of sin and the awful judgment of the Flood, the gospel message would make little sense.
Paul’s warning showcases the importance of Satan’s strategy to ensnare humanity in the same trap. The Devil’s tactics change with time and culture, but the strategy remains the same.
First, Satan always attempts to make us doubt the Word of God (Genesis 3:1). If we question the accuracy, the meaning, the authenticity, the historicity, or any other shade of “all scripture” (2 Timothy 3:16), then we begin edging onto a slippery slope that will only lead to the next stage.
Second, Satan always confronts the doubter with a denial of the Word of God (Genesis 3:4). When one begins to deny the authority, the capability, or the will of God to carry out His Word, the slide into the final phase is inevitable.
Third, Satan ultimately heaps denigration on the Person of God Himself (Genesis 3:5). Once one embraces the thought that the Word of God is not trustworthy and that God either will not or cannot do what He says, it absolutely follows that God is either a liar, a hypocrite, or a capricious and whimsical ogre.
May God protect us from the “wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 1 John 3:19
What is prayer? Well, I cannot think of a better way of describing it than these two words that we have at the end of 1 John 3:19: “Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.” That is prayer; prayer is coming before Him. Now we are always in the presence of God, in him we live, and move, and have our being! (Acts 17:28)—and we are always under His eye. But prayer is something still more special. Prayer is having a special audience and going immediately and directly to Him,”before him.” Prayer is something in which we turn our back upon everything else, excluding everything else, while, for the time being, we find ourselves face to face with God alone. There is a sense in which one cannot expound it further; it is just that.
We have to realize that is exactly and precisely what we do when we pray. Obviously, therefore, in a sense the most vital thing in prayer is the realization that we are before Him. And you will find that the saints have always talked a great deal about this. That is the difficulty; thoughts will keep on obtruding themselves, and our imaginations will wander all over the world, and certain ideas and proposals and wants and needs will intrude. But all that must be dismissed, and we must just start by realizing that we are actually and literally in the presence of the living God. “Before him.”
Now, says John, this whole question of brotherly love is of importance because of that. It is when you come there, when you are before Him, that you begin to realize the importance of what you are doing with the rest of your life and with the rest of your time. It is when you come there that you begin to see the relevance of this.
A Thought to Ponder: We must just start by realizing that we are actually and literally in the presence of the living God. (From Children of God, p. 122. By Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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