Category: proverbs
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A Proverb and a Prodigal
7The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.–Proverbs 28 It almost seems impossible that Jesus didn’t have this proverb on his mind when he gave his famous parable about the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Let’s use that passage to illustrate. A father had…
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Have These 3 Sharpeners in Your Life
17Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.–Proverbs 27 I am no blacksmith, nor am I a chemist, so I will not pretend to be able to dispense key metallurgical wisdom about this process. I do however want to apply the metaphor to some key wisdom for your life. 1. Have a 3AM friend. Nothing…
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What do you pursue most?
19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.–Proverbs 11 This proverb once again hit me in an end-times fashion this morning. No doubt Solomon was speaking of more temporal matters and situations. But it also works if you take a step back and ponder the scope of your life…
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Are you diligent about your words?
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.–Proverbs 10 I had many international friends in college. I marveled at their cultures and languages. Being immature, I learned from some of my guy friends how to say some bad words in a couple of those languages.…
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Are you doing these 3 things?
6Leave your simple ways, and live,and walk in the way of insight.”–Proverbs 9 In the book of Proverbs, you are heeding the call of one of two ‘women’–Lady Wisdom or Madam Folly. Those of us who follow Jesus already understand these. But, frankly, every person is a disciple of another. In some way or fashion.…
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What are you neglecting in your life?
33Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.—Proverbs 8 In my pastoral role I oversee support and recovery groups at my church. And I was the special guest at a men’s purity support group last night. I gave the room instruction from the Bible to take the purity journey seriously. I then challenged…
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Are you fighting the war within you?
24And now, O sons, listen to me,and be attentive to the words of my mouth.25Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;do not stray into her paths…–Proverbs 7 This is a chapter of the Bible that involves illicit sex. A married woman was pursuing a man. Adultery is wrong. Sin is sin. And yet,…
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Take wisdom throughout your day!
20My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. 21Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.22When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.—Proverbs 6 I do a weekly worship service at…
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Haste and You
20Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.—Proverbs 29 Hasty is other times in the Bible translated as ‘rash.’ In my brief study this morning, I couldn’t find a good character example of haste. Our proverb today certainly wasn’t a fan. Quickness…
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Auto Repair and Prayer
9If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.–Proverbs 28 I used to own an 1985 Chevy Astro Van that I called “The Beast”. The Beast always had something wrong with it. And at some point, my more mechanically-minded friends told me to pick up a Chilton Manual…
Joel M Bradshaw 