Be wise my son

Listen, my son. Accept my words. I am teaching you the way of wisdom. Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life. 1 Wisdom is supreme – so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding. 2

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded. Don’t travel that road with them. 3 Don’t associate with those who drink too much wine or with those who gorge themselves on meat. 4

My son though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her words are smoother than oil, in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death. 5

My son, pay attention to my words. Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. 6

My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice. 7 My son, don’t forget my teaching. Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of of your heart. Then you will find favour and high regard in the sight of God and man. 8

 

1 Prov 4.10-11,13 2 Prov 4.7 3 Prov 1.10,15 4 Prov 23.20 5 Prov 5.1,3-5 6 Prov 4.20,23-24 7 Prov 23.25 8 Prov 3.1,3-4

Do not love the world

You are not of the world. 1 You are but aliens and sojourners. 2

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 3

Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God. 4 Many are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 5

If you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come. 6

I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 7 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. 8 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 9

 

1 Jn 15.19 2 Lev 25.23 3 1Jn 2.15-16 4 Jam 4.4 5 Phil 3.18-19 6 Col 3.1-3,5-6 7 1Pt 2.11 8 Rom 12.2 9 1Jn 2.17

From death to life

 We know that we have passed from death to life. 1

You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. 2

The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. 4

But the Spirit gives life. 5 Inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 6 God has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 7

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life – 8 eternal life to which you were called, 9 life that is truly life, 10 life that is in Christ Jesus. 11

 

1 1Jn 3.14 2 Eph 2.1-5 3 Rom 8.2 4 Rom 5.12 5 2Cor 3.6 6 2Cor 4.16 7 2Pet 1.4 8 Rom 6.13 9 1Tim 6.12 10 1Tim 6.19 11 2Tim 1.1

I will lead you

God says

 

I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. 1 Walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you. 2 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 3

Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. 4 I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 5

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. 6 I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble. 7

I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. 8

I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. 9 I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up. 10

These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them. 11

 

1 Isa 48.17 2 Jer 7.23 3 Josh 1.7 4 Gen 28.15 5 Jer 3.14 6 Ezek 34.15 7 Jer 31.9 8 Ezek 34.13 9 Isa 42.16 10 Isa 49.11 11 Isa 42.16

The LORD’s garden

Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also. 1 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 2

And they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden.” 3

For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew. 4 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps. 5

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. 6

 

1 Isa 45.8 2 Isa 61.11 3 Ezek 36.35 4 Zec 8.12 5 Psa 85.10-13 6 Hos 10.12

Blessed is the man

The LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 1

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 2

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. 4

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD. His righteousness endures forever. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. 5

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 6

 

1 Psa 34.8 2 Psa 40.4 3 Psa 1.1-2 4 Jer 17.7-8 5 Psa 112.1,3,6-8 Jam 1.12

Give praise to God

Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!” 1 How manifold are your works! 2

Great is your power! 3 Strong is your hand! 4

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! 5 How abundant is your goodness! 6 Great is your faithfulness! 7 Great is your mercy! 8

How precious are your thoughts, O God! 9 How sweet are your words! 10 True and just are your judgments! 11 Just and true are your ways! 12

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! 13

 

1 Psa 66.1-3 2 Psa 104.24 3 Psa 66.3 4 Psa 89.13 5 Psa 36.7 6 Psa 31.19 7 Lam 3.23 8 Psa 119.156 9 Psa 139.17 10 Psa 119.103 11 Rev 16.7 12 Rev 15.3 13 Psa 8.1