Reading the Word Ecclesiastes 10:1–4 (ESV)1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.3 … Continue reading A Little Bad Ruins a Lot of Good
Shaped by the Word is a daily, Bible-reading devotional. I do not publish supplemental material on Sundays, but I do include a suggested Scripture reading. Please be sure to subscribe to this page to follow along every day. Thanks for … Continue reading Closing Your Ears to God
Reading the Word “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” (Proverbs 26:11, ESV) Understanding and Applying the Word What a vivid picture. It is the gross imagery of a dog returning to … Continue reading Like a Dog Returns to His Vomit
Reading the Word “Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.” (Proverbs 26:7, ESV) Understanding and Applying the Word A proverb is a saying that teaches wisdom. A fool is one who … Continue reading Never Stop Learning
Reading the Word “Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 19:27, ESV) Understanding and Applying the Word We must never stop learning. We simply will never know all things. The world … Continue reading Never Stop Learning
Reading the Word “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” (Proverbs 17:28, ESV) Understanding and Applying the Word People are quick to speak. We love to voice our thoughts … Continue reading Maybe It’s Better To Say Nothing
Reading the Word Proverbs 9:7–9 (ESV)7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love … Continue reading Willing to Learn
Reading the Word Proverbs 3:11–12 (ESV) 11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Understanding and Applying the Word The Book of Proverbs is about growing in wisdom. One of the primary ways we do that is through failure and discipline. We have the choice to learn from such correction or become hardened and unteachable. In today’s reading, we see that the Lord is compared to a father who disciplines his children. As the … Continue reading The Father’s Discipline
Reading the Word Proverbs 1:20–23 (ESV) 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Understanding and Applying the Word Wisdom is personified as a woman who calls … Continue reading Lady Wisdom Calls Out
Reading the Word Proverbs 1:8–9 (ESV) 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. Understanding and Applying the Word Yesterday, I posted the opening words to the Book of Proverbs. As I considered those words, I thought, “Why not spend some time in the Book of Proverbs and examine some f the things we learn there?” So, that is what I plan to do for the next several days. Let me know if you have any favorites that you … Continue reading Learning from Your Parents
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