March 3, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 3
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Following Scripture Verses

1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12. For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22. So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31. Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Today's Pathway:
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"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5

Today's verse, coupled with verse 6, is one of the most quoted passages of Scripture. Many a Christian has adopted these texts as his or her "life verse". Though familiar, it would still do us good to take a moment and dig into this verse to find out exactly what the Lord wants us to learn from it.

First of all, we are instructed to "trust". This word literally means "to hide for refuge", and implies that you have confidence in something or someone to meet your every need in spite of the circumstances. This is what the Lord wants us to do with Him. When trouble comes we need to flee to Him. When questions arise we need to inquire of Him. He is God, and He loves us, and what He tells us will always be correct and will always be for our spiritual betterment.

Second, we are to trust him whole-heartedly. We are not to come to Him with doubts, but with complete confidence. James tells us that if we lack wisdom we should ask it of the Lord, but he then adds that we are to ask in faith, "nothing wavering", for if we do not have total faith then we can not expect to receive anything from God (James 1:3-7).

Third, we are not to attempt to figure things out for ourselves. Human reasoning will always send us in the wrong direction, for God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9), and thus the only way we can comprehend what the Lord is doing is to seek Him and follow Him completely. Many a Christian has shipwrecked his life by attempting to apply his own thinking to the situations of life. We dare not lean on our own minds; only the mind of Christ will suffice.

God knows what He is doing. Lean on Him alone for answers and directions.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery