Scripture:
Proverbs 3:1-10 NKJV
[1] My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; [2] For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. [3] Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, [4] And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. [5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; [6] In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. [7] Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. [8] It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. [9] Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; [10] So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Observation:
Proverbs is one of those books that I don’t write about much. It was written by the wisest man to ever be on earth other just Jesus. His name was Solomon. He was the son of king David and Bathsheba GOD had come to him and asked told him what ever he asked for he woukd be given so Solomon asked for wisdom to lead GODS people and it was granted. The reason why i dont write about it is because it’s not a book that’s hard to understand for one, and for 2, I generally like to give us a little more than one or two verses to read in the face of what’s going on I’m my life the past few months I thought thes few verses would be good to take a look at. The first two are pretty simple and kind of go with some of what we talked about yesterday. The promises of GOD. You see, GOD is not some mean guy who wants to strike you down for messing up. HE wants you to have a long life and many days. In HIS word, HE has laid down a path that will lead directly to that. It’s in HIS law, and here in Proverbs, chapter 3, verses 1 and 2 are yet, but one more reminder of how to have a long life. GOD is not trying to take something from you. HE is trying to get something to you. Following HIS ways keeps us safe from the harm that can come by living according to what we can see, which brings me to verses 3 and 4 when mercy and truth are what leads your heart you seem to draw people to you and GOD’S favor is upon you. These characteristics are characteristics of the father HIMSELF, so when HE. Sees them in you, it brings a smile to HIS face, not to mention those whom you have just shown mercy. Now, here is where it gets a little difficult, verses 5 and 6trusting GOD with all your heart and not reacting to what it looks like. Leaning not on what you see but knowing that HE sees all and knows all. The trust that is required here is a lot. What is being said is what is right in front of you. it might not be what it looks like. Trusting that GOD knows better than you and can see the whole picture, whereas you are seeing it from a limited perspective, is the key to these verses. Solomon drives this point home in the next two verses. Solomon wants us to know that our wisdom fails in comparison to GOD’S. HIS wisdom is infinite, and ours is finite. HIS wisdom is eternal, and ours is temporal. So here is the overall flyover of what is being said in these verses. Now I mind you, this is what I believe and take action on in my life. So here we go, do what GOD’S word says no matter what it looks like and you will have a long life. And people will like you.
Application:
I don’t always understand what GOD is doing. So sometimes it’s hard to just let HIM do it and trust that it will cone out the way I want it. But here’s the thing… maybe the way I want it is not what is best. We have to trust HIM with all that is in us. Even when we think it should be different than what HE is doing. For the past few years, I have been trusting that I heard from GOD to build a company. That honors HIS word and builds disciples out of men who were much like I was. Overcome by addiction and life controlling issues. GOD has brought me a lot of different men to pour into, and I have seen lives change and captives set free. What a blessing it has been to be a part of each of their lives. Some of them have gone other ways, and that always hurts my heart. Sometimes, it’s from choices I have made, and sometimes, they feel like they need to move on. No matter the circumstances, it always hurts. When you see someone’s life starting to come back together and they make a choice that goes against what you think is best for them. It can be devastating to you. But GOD is an artist. HE uses all things for HIS good. Notice that I did not say all things feel good. HIS understanding of things is way bigger than what you can see. Maybe there is something that doesn’t fit where you are going, and that person needs more time to develop the kind of character to trust GOD with everything. What I’m saying is GOD knows better than you do, and although it may not feel good, you have to trust in HIM. HE knows how to get you to where you are trying to go. Here’s the thing GOD is painting a Mosaic. A Mosaic is a beautiful picture made out of broken pieces of tile most of the time but a beautiful picture none the less. If the pieces of the picture were not broken in just the right place, they would not fit the beautiful picture. Sometimes, it’s hard to understand what GOD is doing. We have to trust that HE sees more than we do. What HE is doing is for our GOD. Holding tight to HIS word and doing what it says even when it doesn’t look like it’s the best thing to do releases GOD to do exactly what HE knows is going to work to get you exactly where HE is taking you. My point is this. You have prayed you have asked GOD to do something, and HE is doing it. Just because it doesn’t look like what you have asked for at this point does not mean that when HE is done, it’s not going to be better than you ever imagined. Let HIM paint the picture. Even if all the broken pieces don’t make sense.
Prayer:
Father, I feel like I could write about you forever and never exhaust the depth of your wisdom. Or even totally understand it. You are such an amazing artist, and although from our perspective, we can’t see the picture you are painting, it’s because we are too close to it. We trust that you are not trying to take something from us. But get us to where you want us. We want what you want for us, and we are doing our best to lean on what you understand as the truth and not our limited perspective. Our desire is to be obedient to you and your word. Showing mercy where mercy is do and trusting that you will make all things right. As we keep our emotions in check. We know our hearts will mislead us. Our only choice is to trust that you see way more than we do, and what is coming is way better than we ever thought it could be. Your plan for us is good. Our job is to seek you with all our hearts and allow you to take care of the rest. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.