Read Proverbs 27 -- 31
In Today's Reading:
Advice to the wise; Agur's confession of his faith; the words of King Lemuel; praise of a good wife.
Verses for Today:
Whoso keepth the Law is a wise son: but. . . . He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be abomination (detestable and unacceptable to God) (28:7,9).
If we love someone, we want to be with them and to know what pleases them in order to develop a lasting relationship. We also want to know what they dislike in order to avoid actions that would displease them. Surely, this is also an important consideration in our relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
If we want God to listen to us when we pray, then it is exceedingly important to read His qualifications for anyone to offer acceptable prayer to Him. Could anyone be so foolish as to think that, what the Creator of the universe had recorded in His only inspired Word on how to please Him is a waste of our time to read? The prayer God calls an abomination is one offered to Him by those who assume there is no need to read all that He has to say.
The prayers of the self-deceived person who ignores God's Word are an insult to Him. He that [covers] his sins shall not prosper: but whoso [confesses] and [forsakes] them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13).
The Apostle John reminded believers: We have confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His Commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:21-22). But, how can we keep His Commandments if we don't read His Word to know what they are?
Strange as it may seem, there is a lot of talk about "biblical principles" by those who see no need to read all the Bible in order to know what biblical principles are. They pray for solutions to life's problems, but they fail to go to the one source where God provides all the answers.
Why is there such widespread failure among Christians to read all of the Word of God? Is it because of pride resulting from the assumption that their own "good judgment" can take the place of the Bible; or is it because certain portions of the Scriptures condemn their own acceptance of a popular, but worldly, lifestyle. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness (Proverbs 30:12).
Pray for men and women to be like the prophet Jeremiah, who exposed the popular preachers of his day, saying: The prophets prophesy falsely . . . and My people love to have it so. . . . Behold, the Word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. . . . They have not hearkened [to] My words, nor to My Law, but rejected it (Jeremiah 5:31; 6:10,19). Throughout history, God rejected His people when they refused to accept the guidance that He has prepared.
The Holy Spirit led the psalmist to write: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me (Psalms 66:18).
Jesus placed great emphasis on the necessity of obedience to His Word to assure answered prayer. He said: If ye abide in Me, and My Words (Genesis through Revelation) abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15:7).
Christ Revealed:
As the One Who ascended to and descended from Heaven (Proverbs 30:4). No man [has] ascended up to Heaven, but He that came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which is in Heaven (John 3:13).
Word Studies:
27:16 whosoever hideth her hideth the wind = restraining a contentious woman is like attempting to hold the wind; 28:11 searcheth him out = sees through him; 28:14 that feareth alway = who is always reverent; 28:17 stay = help; 29:10 seek his soul = has concern for his well-being; 30:23 odious = hateful.
Prayer Needs:
Government Officials: Rep. William Clay, Jr. (MO) and Rep. Charles Norwood (GA) · Pray for your Sunday School teacher · Country: Niger (10 million) in west-central Africa · Major languages: French and Hausa · Christian evangelism is limited · 89% Muslim; 10% animist; .4% Christian · Prayer Suggestion: Pray in one accord and praise God as the Creator (Acts 4:24).
Optional Reading: Hebrews 4
Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 3:23