Proverbs – Life Skills
When we have Jesus on our minds, in our hearts, with His Holy Spirit filling our souls we realize that the entire inspired work of God’s Word is about Jesus. For the beginning to the end, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega! John clearly reveals Jesus to us when he writes with God-driven inspiration as a personal eye witness;“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5, NIV
We must read every word of our Bibles, God’s word to us as a love letter, knowing that it is about the God “who so loves”, Who sent Jesus, His Son to save us, and Who wants a relationship that gives us real life forever.But God wants our love only if we decide to receive His gift of life. We get to choose. These are the two choices expressed in this proverb. Read and then choose. Choose wisely.
Proverbs 9, The Message
Lady Wisdom Gives a Dinner Party
1-6 Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home;
it’s supported by seven hewn timbers.
The banquet meal is ready to be served: lamb roasted,
wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers.
Having dismissed her serving maids,
Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place,
and invites everyone within sound of her voice:
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!
I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread,
roast lamb, carefully selected wines.
Leave your impoverished confusion and live!
Walk up the street to a life with meaning.”
7-12 If you reason with an arrogant cynic, you’ll get slapped in the face; confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.
So don’t waste your time on a scoffer;
all you’ll get for your pains is abuse.
But if you correct those who care about life,
that’s different—they’ll love you for it!
Save your breath for the wise—they’ll be wiser for it;
tell good people what you know—they’ll profit from it.
Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,
insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
It’s through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen.
Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life;
mock life and life will mock you.
Madame Whore Calls Out, Too13-18 Then there’s this other woman, Madame Whore—
brazen, empty-headed, frivolous.
She sits on the front porch
of her house on Main Street,
And as people walk by minding
their own business, calls out,
“Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on?
Steal off with me, I’ll show you a good time!
No one will ever know—I’ll give you the time of your life.”
But they don’t know about all the skeletons in her closet,
that all her guests end up in hell.
Life forever or Hell? Who do we choose to spend eternity? Who do we give our hearts, minds and souls to now?Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10, NIV
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6, NLT
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8, NIV
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3, NIVDavid knew God. The father of Solomon taught his son well about the choices before him. We see this teaching about God in this famous, well read psalm;
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Two choices. It seems obvious, but choices are muddled in the daily bombardment of this world’s conflicting messages. Pray that God’s voice will be heard each day above all other voices.
Choose this day whom you will serve. Choose Life.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 