"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." - Proverbs 1:33
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Our studies of the Book of Proverbs have taken us on a deep spiritual and metaphysical journey from the very first... as these proverbs are explicitly given for US...
"To know wisdom and instruction;
to perceive the words of --understanding;
To receive the instruction of --wisdom, ---justice, and ---judgment, and ---equity;
To give --subtilty to the simple,
to the --young man --knowledge and --discretion.
[ wisdom, instruction, understanding, justice, judgment(/verdicts),equity, subtlety, knowledge, and discretion .... thats an impressive list +...]
----A wise man--- will ---hear, and will ----increase (+) learning--; and a --man of understanding ---shall ---attain unto --- (+) wise counsels:
To understand a --proverb, and the --interpretation [/aphorism/taunt] ; the --words of the wise, and their --dark sayings.
[ It is smart to study and practice these things, even though they are in proverb/taunt/saying format... for they make even smart people - SMARTER! ]
The fear [//obedience/respect] of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but ---fools---- despise wisdom and instruction. " --- Proverbs 1:2-7
How have we done so far .... well... if you haven't been following along... here's what we have understood thus far...
1. We clearly understood that we (humans) are eternal spiritual Persons (made in the image of God Himself).
While our personhood would seem to depend on our material existence (I need a brain and a body to support the person in my brain that is AN "I AM"), the Resurrection of Jesus Christ gave us PROOF that the life transcends the body... (something even the Jewish Sadducees did not agree with).
2. We understood that our lifelong struggle, as individual humans, and as a species, is against the pernicious influence of SIN in our lives. This is in spiritual antithesis to the Law of God that uses our body and mental desires (for pleasure, power, money, fame) against us to bend our will to its desires... envy, jealousy, hatred, anger....
3. We must learn to clearly recognize Sin in all its forms ... some invisible forms include Pride (!) , Lust, Hatred... and REJECT it, as Christ did, to give us an example ... for our BENEFIT, and also to be counted worthy to attain the elevated privileges accorded to a mature son/daughter of God!
4. We must learn to be one with the NATURE of God, through the promptings of His Word and His Spirit, to be used by HIM to accomplish HIS purposes.... and that means surrendering to His Will and being mindful of its promptings... every single day!!!
The benefits of being wise are many, but it does come with a certain amount of weariness. Studying is hard, life is even more difficult, and nothing seems to change, and things just go from bad to worse...
Do they really?
We are definitely being bombarded with MUCH MUCH MORE negative information, pouring off our screens and into our minds and lives. But stop and consider.... there is nothing being reported that is really new... people have been miserable to each other throughout the history of the world... the only difference is that now.... the WHOLE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT IT!!
Before this 24x7 Tiktok, Instagram, Twitter... what did people do? Bad things still happened, but most people didn't know or care about it! They went on with what REALLY MATTERED... THEIR DAILY LIVES and the PEOPLE IN THEM!!
In todays news and entertainment, what do we see?
1. Violence in the earth (wars and fighting), and violence in our entertainment ("Action movies", "Crime" thrillers, violent super heroes, cool villains)
2. Sensuality and pleasure - porn ( in all forms including TV-MA content), adulterous behaviour ("reality shows") , & the pursuit of thrills.
3. Hatred and dissension : Racism, religious hate, cultural hatreds
4. Suffering : hunger, famine, disease, enviromental meltdown
Now, how much of that applies to --your-- life?
We are being serious. Yes, your taxes support the things your government does on your behalf, like wage war , maintain law and order, and conduct trade, but what of the rest?
For the most part, nothing. Your vote and your taxes... thats what really matters, and your money of course...!!
Is all of this content of any value to you at all? Does it add one iota to your salary? (rather your subscriptions are a constant hole in your pocket).
Please ask these questions as you decide what ideas you want to consume, and how much time you want to spend on those ideas, and actually letting them control your life.
Wake up!!
Your life is all around you, and its beautiful!! There is a life beyond the screens of our phones and smart devices.
In that life, everything that comes at you, comes through the FILTER of God's plan to grow and mature you....
Difficult people, family problems, your own personal shortcomings, challenging situations, tough choices and even great suffering....
... don't worry, panic or fear.
BELIEVE AND TRUST HIM, and OBEY His commandments...
They will bring you peace, quiet and tranquility even when the world seems to falling apart around you.. and HE WILL KEEP you!
LORD, help us to learn to choose the good and to refuse the evil. Help us to distinguish between the condemning lies of the enemy -- and your loving conviction of the sin that still reigns in our hearts, and to which we yield our bodies as willing instruments.
LORD, pour out of your Spirit into the lives of your children so that their eyes may be opened and they can taste and see that you are GOOD., and MERCIFUL, and TRUE, and your Word is to be believed!
LORD, keep us from falling, preserve us, until the day when we may be counted worthy to stand in your presence!
In Jesus Name we pray....