My Daily Pause

I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work,
long before he made anything else.

I was created in the very beginning,
even before the world began.

I was born before there were oceans,
or springs overflowing with water,
before the hills were there,
before the mountains were put in place.

God had not made the earth or fields,
not even the first dust of the earth.

I was there when God put the skies in place,
when he stretched the horizon over the oceans,
when he made the clouds above
and put the deep underground springs in place.

I was there when he ordered the sea
not to go beyond the borders he had set.

I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.

I was like a child by his side.

I was delighted every day,
enjoying his presence all the time,
enjoying the whole world,
and delighted with all its people. – Proverbs 8:22-31 NCV

Proverbs 8:22-31 is a beautiful personification of wisdom that carries overtones of Christ. It reminds me of John 1:1-5 when I read it. Whether or not the passage is actually a prophesy or is describing Christ, I’ll leave to the experts to argue, but we do know that Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24)

To look back at the Old Testament and see indicators pointing to Christ’s coming – to confirm what we believe – is my favorite part of bible study. Throughout the Old Testament we see how God’s perfect plan was conceived from the beginning (Genesis 3:15) and praised (Psalm 90:1-2) and taught (Isaiah 53).

What a privilege to live after Jesus willingly completed that plan by living among us and dying for us in an expression of God’s love! (John 3:16)

Daily Bible reading for June 13

Proverbs 8
Deuteronomy 15:1-18
Hosea 11:12-13:16
Philemon 4-7

Paul tells us that the scriptures were given to us by inspired writers (literally, God-breathed into them.) It has everything we need to carry out the great commission. (2 Timothy 3:16) With the scriptures we can:

• Teach others how to find salvation (Teach)
• Challenge our fellow Christians to improve (Reprove)
• Show ourselves and others where we see sin (Correct)
• Make progress toward righteousness (Train)

Solomon knew this too. In Proverbs 2 he lists the five fruits of Wisdom. Through listening and trying to understand (Proverbs 2:2) God’s words, these things begin to happen:

• We find God (Proverbs 2:1-8)
• We are rewarded with the love of knowledge (Proverbs 2:9-11)
• We are delivered from evil (Proverbs 2:12-15)
• We have safety from harlotry (Proverbs 2:16-19)
• We will receive a special inheritance (Proverbs 2:20-22)

The next step beyond a daily devotional reading, once it is a well rooted habit, is taking time to really try to understand what God has told us. A momentum begins to build and we become a reflection of his wisdom.

Daily Bible reading for June 4

Proverbs 2
Deuteronomy 5
Hosea 1:1-2:1
2 Timothy 3:10-4:8

God has laid out his complete plan. He made sure it was sufficient to make us people of God. It equips us for good work (2 Tim 3:16-17). He then sent out his people to teach and prepare others so they can have salvation too.

He pleads. He persuades. He promises. (Proverbs 1:20-33)

We see Paul customarily going to Scripture to reason with those he taught (Acts 17:2-3). No opinion. No feelings. Just God’s word.

Still, there are some that ignore parts of it. Some teach opinions based on their feelings. Some leave out parts that are “inconvenient.” Some justify their sins with flawed reasoning. These sinners are in the same danger as the five virgins – at some point the door will close on the ones who are not ready. (Matthew 25:10).

For the complete parable of the ten virgins, read Matthew 25:1-13

Daily Bible reading for May 3

Proverbs 1:20-33
Deuteronomy 4
Jonah 4
2 Timothy 3:1-9

I learned of an old technique for better living, better business and better relationships that I have been trying to develop into a habit. Begin a daily reading plan by selecting the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month.

For the rest of the day, reflect on one or more of the principles in that day’s chapter. You might even try to take action based on something in that reading. Just as the Proverb writer says in Proverbs 1:2-7, these ageless bits of wisdom can be used to make one a more godly person. From long thoughtful passages to short pithy zingers, even the wise have something to gain from the inspired words of Solomon.

Some things you will get from applying Proverbs to your life:

• Wisdom
• Instruction
• Prudence
• Beneficial Knowledge
• Discretion
• The ability to apply information
• Sound Counsel
• Understanding
• The fear of God

Truly the ultimate self-help book!

 Daily Bible reading for June 1

Proverbs 1:1-7
Deuteronomy 2
Jonah 2
2 Timothy 1:8-18

The current trend in the world is for educated people to look down at those who teach the gospel. However, Paul was a student in Tarsus, a widely respected university, and even spent time “at the feet” of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).

In 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, we see Paul snub the “excellency of speech or wisdom” in favor of the pure and simple Gospel. In fact even though he quotes a number of learned men in his letters (Aratus in Acts 17:28, Epimenides in Titus 1:12, Menander in 1 Corinthians 15:33), He considered that rubbish compared to the gospel.

If we are to follow the Apostles example (Philippians 4:9), we cannot be discouraged by “educated” folks, but depend on the testimony of God. Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 1:1 insinuates that the gospel didn’t depend on the conformity to the philosophy of the Greeks nor on the eloquence of its preachers. It depends only on God and he confirmed it with miracles.