Seeking wisdom
Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today Mal Calladine starts getting into monthly chunks of a new book, unique in the Bible in its style and focus, with nuggets of knowledge that have loads of life application.
What did I like about today’s passage?
I like Proverbs! The short, pithy, sticky, memorable one-liners. These are like little discipleship pieces of chewing gum – each little verse couplet being like a Wrigleys Extra of chewy freshness that has enough flavour to consider over my life for a while to get everything out of it. And as I do, it improves my oral health! Today this book introduces its goal (1:1-7) – to gain wisdom and instruction. I know I need that on a daily ongoing basis. Being in a right place with Him is where I need to begin (v7)
So watch out who I hang out with (1. 8-19), look and listen for where God’s Wisdom is getting my attention. Because (1: 20-33) says Wisdom does cry out – but who listens? Many don't. But there is a promise: ‘whoever listens to me will live in safety; and be at ease, without fear of harm.’ (1:33)
Then into chapters 2 and 3, a few verses most jumped out at me:
- the familiarity of 3:5-6 (the verses most used at christening and baptisms!) – if I acknowledge Him in everything, He will make my paths straight!
- 3: 10-11 – a rebuke from God is OK! I mustn’t resent it. Boundaries of discipline, parental delight and pleasure are linked – I know it as a dad; I still need it as a child of my Heavenly Father.
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
He wants me to listen and memorise His words to me!
Joining the “if, then” promise of 2;1 and 2:9-10: IF you accept my words and store up my commands within you, THEN you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart.
That affects everything.
What am I going to do differently as a result?
We keep a tub of gum in our key cupboard, and a tub of gum in the car. Much to a posh friend of mine’s dismay, we are often all chewing! But they bring regular refreshing. I’m wondering how I can work these little pieces of truth deeper into my life. How do I have the Proverbs version of these little nuggets available to chew on? I am going to talk to my family about this. We have a blackboard in our kitchen with a Proverb on it (4:23 if you are interested!) I wonder if we need to change it now weekly, at least.
And for me personally, I think overall this reading has made me thirsty again for more Proverbs in my life as a route planner to discipleship. So I need to make space to listen more! And the bits I notice to ‘store up’, memorise and respond to. The goal for me is one verse from scripture a day, whatever gets my attention, to then look to memorise and work through. So to dig into a verse daily.
Who am I going to share this with?
The listening more thing: with Chriscelle (my wife) and the online accountability group I talk to on a Monday night with Faithwalking. To think practically where and how I can do that more. I think it might involve my gym time.
With the other snippets I’m processing, it is my privilege to get to live a life where I have lots of 1-1 conversation time. I want to find out which of these powerful, pithy sound-bites I most own today, because I know if I own it deeply it will ‘sweat’ out of me in a glistening sort of way at some point– I just won’t be able to help it. I know I’m leading the services at church today, so I hope it will be with those I get to talk to and pray with there.