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Proverbs 8New Living Translation
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
8 Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 “I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
5 You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
7 for I speak the truth
and detest every kind of deception.
8 My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.[a]
17 “I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in righteousness,
in paths of justice.
21 Those who love me inherit wealth.
I will fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
23 I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
24 I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
26 before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 I was there when he set the clouds above,
when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30 I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence.
31 And how happy I was with the world he created;
how I rejoiced with the human family!
32 “And so, my children,[b] listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8
21 REASONS WHY I LOVE TO READ MY BIBLE EVERY DAY
December 30, 2018
If you were to ask me what is the single greatest key to an effective Christian life, it would not take me two seconds to answer: meeting with God every day through the Word of God and prayer. Recently, I shared a personal testimony of why I love to read the Bible every day with my church. Here’s the “condensed” version! These are not things I read somewhere, but the real testimony of what reading the Bible has done in my life over the last 50 years.
1. THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD
2 Peter 1:20-21: But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God
2. THE BIBLE IS HOW GOD SPEAKS TO ME
Psalm 119:102: I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
3. THE BIBLE SHOWS ME THINGS I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MYSELF
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
4. THE BIBLE PUTS THINGS IN ORDER FOR ME.
Psalm 119: 130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
5. THE BIBLE LEADS ME TO A FRUITFUL LIFE
Psalm 1
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
6. THE BIBLE SHOWS ME EVERYTHING GOD HAS PROMISED FOR ME
2 Peter 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
7. THE BIBLE BUILDS MY FAITH, SO I CAN EXPERIENCE ALL HE HAS PROMISED FOR ME
Romans 10:17: so faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God
8. THE BIBLE BRINGS ME PEACE
Psalm 119:165 Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
9. THE BIBLE TRANSFORMS MY LIFE.
John 17:17: Sanctify them in Your truth; Your Word is truth
Romans 12:2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
10. THE BIBLE HAS BEEN USED TO REVIVE ME, HUNDREDS OF TIMES
Psa 119:107 I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.
11. THE BIBLE EQUIPS ME FOR EVERYTHING I FACE.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
12. THE BIBLE IS NOT SOMETHING I NEED OCCASIONALLY, BUT EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY
Proverbs 8: 34-35 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD.
13. THE BIBLE IS MY GUIDE FOR EVERY DECISION
Mt 4:4: But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ ”
14. THE BIBLE HAS A CUMULATIVE EFFECT, YIELDING MORE AS I GET OLDER
Psalm 119: thy Word have I hid (STORED UP) in my heart that I may not sin against God
15. THE BIBLE KEEPS ME ON THE RIGHT PATH
2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
16. THE BIBLE MAKES ME WISER THAN MY AGE
Psalm 119:99-100 I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts.
17. THE BIBLE MAKES ME WISER THAN MY ENEMIES
Psalm 119: 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine.
18. THE BIBLE IS MY MOST POWERFUL WEAPON AGAINST THE WORLD, THE FLESH, AND THE DEVIL
Eph 6:16-17 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
19. THE BIBLE SETS ME FREE!
John 8:31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
20. THE BIBLE IS MY ONE CONSTANT IN A VERY CHANGING WORLD
Psalm 119:89 Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
21. THE BIBLE CAN CHANGE OTHERS, JUST LIKE IT’S CHANGED ME
Isa 55:10-11
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earthnd making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
AND A BONUS…
22. THE BIBLE IS SWEET AND PRECIOUS TO ME.
Psalm 19:10-11They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Scripture Passage: Proverbs 2:1-9
The Book of Proverbs was not written by human experience, but by divine revelation. The insight encased in these pages are not just things worked out by human ingenuity. They are God’s words of wisdom, given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The Book of Proverbs is King Solomon’s love letter of wisdom, given to him by God alone, to his child. And we, as children of the King of Kings, can read it with full confidence that these words from our Father are for our best interest. They are for our health, wealth, and wisdom.
But the greatest of these is wisdom.
Wisdom is the most important virtue we could ever obtain. Proverbs 8:11 says: “For wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”
Wisdom’s worth comes from the Father. He is the One who provides it, promises it, and initiates the purpose of it.
The Bible says that great men are not always wise. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. A lot of people have head knowledge but lack wisdom. You can obtain knowledge without the Holy Spirit, but you cannot get true wisdom without the Holy Spirit. And it comes, not from books, but from knowing Jesus.
In order to know the secrets of the universe, you have to know the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Bible says in Colossians 2:3 “In him (Jesus) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Adrian Rogers said it this way: “When a man reverences God, when a man receives Christ, when a man has a personal encounter, that man receives the wisdom of God and here is the incomparable worth of wisdom. It, dear friend, is provided by the father. It is produced by the spirit but only by the presence of the son. When you have the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart then you are ready to have that real Wisdom.”
Apply it to your life
True wisdom comes from a relationship with Jesus. Ask him for wisdom today and pursue Scripture, perhaps starting in the Book of Proverbs, with fresh eyes. Hide what you read in your heart. Appreciate it. Appropriate it. Simulate it. Activate it in your life.
The Daily Hatch 