Read Proverbs 8
Highlights In Today's Reading:
We're admonished to praise wisdom and avoid folly: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy (Holy is plural in Hebrew and refers to God as in Elohim) is understanding (9:10). A wealth of truth is found in Chapters 10 & 11 contrasting wisdom, the fear of God, and righteousness with folly, sin, and wickedness.
The supreme principle to follow in spiritual service is to cooperate with our Creator. Although God can do all things, yet in all things God has chosen that we must cooperate with Him. We often hear someone say: "I believe God can do it," yet they make no effort to do what they can. To illustrate, God promised manna. But the Israelites had to pick up a certain amount — no more, no less. Some picked up too much. It became rotten. If an Israelite stayed in his tent, God did not place his portion at his door. Paul chose to pray three times to be healed, but God chose to respond with more grace to sustain him in his need (II Corinthians 12:8-9.
There is (one) that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is (one) that withholdeth more than is meet (right), but it tendeth (leads) to poverty (Proverbs 11:24). This was also God's principle of the manna, that: He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack (Exodus 16:18; II Corinthians 8:14-15). It is also true of True Bread from heaven (John 6:32) — even Christ and His Word. This means that if he who would have gathered little was to have no lack, someone who gathered much must be willing to share his abundance. Some of us have proved by experience the preciousness of this fact. When we share the Word of God and give our tithes for those who gather little, God sees to it that we gather much; but, if instead we think merely of our own selves, the very most we can hope for is to gather little.
It is a privilege to be able to help our brethren in the Lord. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. . . . for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (II Corinthians 9:6-8).
God has ordained no other way than we Christians to deliver His Word. How very significant we are to Him, for God operates through His Word, but His Word is delivered not by angels or a voice on Sinai, but, by and through ordinary Christians who will pay the price of giving themselves to help others.
My friend, don't you think that the Lord would want you to influence some of your loved ones and friends to read the Bible — to encourage America to read all His Word?
Freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).
Thought for Today:
God has provided His Word for us to sow as seeds in our own lives and the lives of others that there may be a great harvest of souls.
Christ Revealed:
As the Creator who prepared the heavens (Prov. 8:27-31). The heavens are the works of Thine hands (Heb. 1:10, John 1:3).
Word Studies:
8:12 of witty inventions =b> with wise insight; 8:29 his decree =b> its boundary; 9:7 getteth himself a blot =b> gets insults in return; 10:1 heaviness =b> grief, shame; 10:4 slack =b> negligent, lazy; 10:8 prating fool =b> self-sufficient know-it-all; 11:6 naughtiness =b> wickedness.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Shortwave Broadcasts sponsored by Mrs. Alberta T. Brown • Staff: Gina Lesnefsky • Government Officials: Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL), Rep. Michael Ferguson (NJ), Sen. Kay Hutchison (TX), Rep. John Larson (CT) and Rep. Steven LaTourette (OH) • Country: Albania (3.1 million) in southeastern Europe • Major languages: Albanian and Greek • Newly opened to evangelism • 41.5% Christian; 39% Muslim; 19.5% non-Religious/Other; .2% Baha'i; .01% Jewish • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to fill you with love for the unlovely (I John 4:7-8).
Optional Reading: Titus 3
Memory Verse for the Week: 2 Corinthians 4:10
