1. LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS
In this Passage - Proverbs 4:1-9 we see the value of learning the wise teaching of parents and elders. Learning is HARD WORK but it has "immense value". Children are encouraged to learn from their parents, and it is their responsibility to pass on WISDOM to them. As grandmother, teacher and writer, I still VALUE LEARNING and "esteem and embrace" it, so I can pas it on to my granddaughters.
"My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn GOOD JUDGEMENT, for I am giving you GOOD GUIDANCE . My father taught me, "Take my words to heart. Follow my commands and you will live." Proverbs 4:1,2a&4 (NLT)
"It's not good enough to listen to wise words , you need to LIIVE THEM. PUT GOD'S WORDS INTO PRACTICE! Lord, help us GROW in wisdom and understanding by reading and listening to GOD'S TEACHINGS." Nicky Gumbel
"Believe in the value of WISDOM and it will make you great. USE IT and it will bring you honour. Like flowers in your hair, it will beautify your life. Like a CROWN, it will make you look beautiful." Proverbs 4:8&9 (ICB)
Proverbs reminds us that to be WISE and BEAUTIFUL we need to be LIKE JESUS. We need to have His Heart and to live obedient to His Word. This is the kind of beauty money can't buy. BELIEVE this PROMISE in GOD'S WORD and ask Him "to fill you with the wisdom from above."
2. GUARD YOUR HEARTS
"Get yourself in an imagination station; go back to Jerusalem - back in time, in a busy market place - with King Solomon and his sons. He was sharing with them some words of wisdom. Have you ever spent time with your mother and father, listening and learning to their words of wisdom and uunderstanding. This applys to daughters as well!" Peyton Jones
These young men and women were guided well by their parents and their grandfather David, but they probably followed many distractions, as our children also do today. But their father didn't want their sons to stumble and fall. In the market place there were many swindlers, and the fathers wanted their young ones to "step wisely in the world". He is not telling them "which path to take", but is equipping them to make the "right choices."
"Hold on to INSTRUCTION and do not let it go. GUARD IT WELL, for it is your LIFE. Do not set your foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the ways of the evildoers. AVOID IT and do not TRAVEL ON IT; turn from it and go on your way."
Proverbs 4:13-15 (NIV)
"The ways of the GOOD PERSON is like the light of dawn. It grows brighter and brighter until it is full daylight.....Don't ever FORGET MY WORDS. Listen closely to what I say. These WORDS are the secret to life for those who find them. They bring HEALTH to the whole body." Proverbs 4:18, 21&22 (ICB)
"Then the father sees sees something GOOD - A RIGHTEOUS PERSON! Have you ever been to a campsite when it is dark, but in the morning the sun begins to rise. Suddenly the world become alives with fresh sunshine. That's the PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS, following the full LIGHT OF DAY." Peyton Jones
There is a dark path where the wicked stumble. It is dangerous and you can't see the "spiritual righteousness". But our Father reminds us that we need to pay attention to what He says. To listen to HIS WORDS, to guard our hearts from all "lust, envy, poison", that will lead us into darkness.
Give careful thought to your words, and keep your eyes focused on what is right. Watch where you put your feet, so you can go in the right direction. Remember what Jesus taught us:
a) The mouth is an overflow of the heart. Corrupt words is a sign that something has gone bad on the inside.
"Don't use your mouth to tell lies, keep it from perversity. Don't ever say things that are not true, keep corrupt talk from your lips." Proverbs 4:24 (ICB/NIV)
b) Eyes are a lamp for the body. Every athlete knows that if he loses his gaze and focus, you will move off track.
"Keep your eyes focused on what is right, fix your gaze directly before you. Keep looking straight ahead at what is good." Proverbs 4:25 (ICB/NIV)
c) Don't just start walking on the path - know where you intend to go. Commit yourself to follow God's way!
"Give careful thought to the paths of your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or to the left. Keep your foot from evil. " Proverbs 4:26&27 (NIV)
I have just been given a new "Game" to play, for my Stroke Trial. I have to keep my eyes and brain focused and on track. I have fallen over once! And, it's not as easy as I thought to keep "on track". Mark keeps telling me: "Keep your eyes on the whole board", but that's not so easy when you haven't got 100% peripheral vision. Also, when you feel a little dizzy and your legs are don't want to cooperate.
But, my online Dr Lee Warren reminds me: "What you think in your BRAIN, affects the WAY YOUR BODY ACTS."
And if I can train my brain to "keep on track" with my "Game", I should also be able to be obedient to follow GOD'S WILL in my life. We need to "program our brains to think as Jesus thinks" and to believe HIS TRUTH in our lives.
4. WALK WISELY
You have a part to play in responding to GOD'S CALL! You are to THINK WISELY, SPEAK WISELY, be careful WHAT YOU LOOK AT and WHERE YOU GO! The life you lead will flow from your heart. Your words are powerful, and you can use them to lift others up in an encouraging way, or you can bring them down. I would hope that you would chose the LOVE AND KINDNESS.
Paul reminded us:
"Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Be careful what you look at - especially on T.V, the computer, social media. Jesus said, that if you look at the wrong things your whole body is full of darkness, but if follow Him, you are more to have HEALING and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
"The EYE IS A LAMP of the body, If your EYES ARE HEALTHY, you whole body is full of life.....Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY, and He will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:22 &33 (NIV/NLT)
Avoid TEMPTATION - "keep your feet from evil". We encouraged to "run with perseverence" and "fix our eyes on Jesus". If you follow Jesus and all the PROMISES IN HIS WORD, He will lead in the "WISDOM WAY". It may not always be EASY, but ultimately, it will be filled with JOY AND EXCITEMENT.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily snares us, and let us RUN WITH PERSEVERENCE THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US, FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE PIONEER AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH." Hebrews 12:1&2b (NKJV/NIV)
"Spiritual growth is like a journey. You progress ONE STEP AT A TIME. It doesn't matter how far you get, but that you are heading in the right direction, and keep going that way. Thank you Lord that you lead us on the STRAIGHT PATHS AND WE CAN FOLLOW YOUR WISDOM today. Guard our hearts and help us to WALK WISELY!" Nicky Gumbel
"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW KING JAMES VERSION", 1982, Thomas Nelson
"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW INTERNATONAL VERSION", 2011, Biblica
'THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW LIVING TRANSLATION", 2015, Tyndale House Publishers
'INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S BIBLE", 2015, Thomas Nelson
GUMBEL, Nicky, "Wisdom Way - Proverbs 24-27 - "Bible In One Year" (2009/2026), Alpha International/YouVersion
JONES, Peyton, "Guard Your Hearts - Proverbs 4", 2026, Through the Word
WARREN, Dr Lee, "10 Commandments for Self Brain Surgery" , 2025, www.neurosurgeon.com
"Keep Your Heart" - Proverbs 04:23, Scripture Memory Verse (ESV) ", 0
No comments:
Post a Comment