#proverbs 2

The Value of Wisdom

1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures; 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you; understanding will guard you; 12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil; 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

16 You will be saved from the loose woman, from the adventuress with her smooth words, 17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the shades; 19 none who go to her come back nor do they regain the paths of life.

20 So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and men of integrity will remain in it; 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. — Proverbs 2 | Revised Standard Version (RSV) Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 2:24; Genesis 49:15; Deuteronomy 28:63; 1 Samuel 2:9; 1 Kings 3:9; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 84:11; Psalm 90:12; Psalm 125:5; Proverbs 1:3-4; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 4:1; Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 6:12; proverbs 28:10; Jeremiah 11:15; Matthew 13:44; John 3:19-20; Hebrews 6:12; James 1:5

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.  – King Solomon.

Have you noticed what is going on around you? I bet you cannot keep up with the news all around the world. Let this not be a red herring for you. Pay attention to the subtle battles that are going on. Look into your spiritual well-being. Watch your ways and be vigilant do not give the enemy the opportunity to attack.

Bible Reading

Today’s devotional reading is from the Book of Proverbs 2:8. Please, read our recent devotional from the Letter of Paul to the Romans 12:1: Create Your Body As The Temple Of The Holy Spirit

Watch your ways and be vigilant

We should be watchful and vigilant. A lot of examples in the Bible have shown how God watches over His saints. He guides their paths and provides for their needs. The men of God listen to His words (Old Testament) and study them (New Testament). Moreover, we can only be vigilant if we do read and study the scriptures. 

The Word of God will help us discern and be more watchful of the things around us. Remember, our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). He is cunning and sneaky in tricking us to fall into temptations. Gear up every day with the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Watch others, too

We are called to be in communion with the Triune God and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, our responsibility to be watchful and vigilant does not end with ourselves. Also, we are commanded to watch for each other. 

Paul wrote to Timothy, preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2). Moreover, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2).

Therefore, let us be vigilant and watchful on how we think, speak and act. Moreover, we should also be mindful of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Preach the Gospel of Christ to all who would listen, this is the Good News that will initiate them to be watchful and vigilant. 

Reflection

This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye e reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV.

Have you noticed what is going on around you?

What do you do to learn more about the things around you?

Do you take time to evaluate the well-being of your soul?

Is the Holy Spirit part of your life? Accept Jesus Now.

How do you reach out to God to ask for His help to guide your ways?

Were there instances that you have warned others about the enemy?

How do you share Christ with others?

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Prayer

Merciful Lord and Savior, We thank You that You never loosen Your hold on us, no matter what we are going through, for You are always faithful, even when we are not.

As You know Lord, my friend has decided that she doesn’t want to walk with You anymore. I pray that this change of heart is temporary and that like the prodigal son, she will make her way back home to You, where You will welcome her back with open arms.

We thank You that with You we will always find grace. And, that we will always belong to You, and You to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen to Wisdom

1 My son, pay attention to what I say. Remember my commands. 2 Listen to wisdom, and do your best to understand. 3 Ask for good judgment. Cry out for understanding. 4 Look for wisdom like silver. Search for it like hidden treasure. 5 If you do this, you will understand what it means to respect the Lord, and you will come to know God.

6 The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth. 7 He gives good advice to honest people and shields those who do what is right. 8 He makes sure that people are treated fairly. He watches over his loyal followers.

9 If you listen to him, you will understand what is just and fair and how to do what is right. 10 You will gain wisdom, and knowledge will bring you joy.

11 Planning ahead will protect you, and understanding will guard you. 12 These will keep you from following the wrong path and will protect you from those who have evil plans. 13 Such people have left the straight path and now walk in darkness. 14 They enjoy doing evil and are happy with the confusion it brings. 15 Their ways are crooked; they lie and cheat.

16 Wisdom will save you from that other woman, another man’s wife, who tempts you with sweet words. 17 She married when she was young, but then she left her husband. She forgot the marriage vows she made before God. 18 Going into her house leads to death. She will lead you to the grave. 19 All who enter lose their life and never return.

The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security