Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:20-21 Wisdom leads to a glorious future; it is a doorway to eternity. In the New Testament the idea that corresponds…
“It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 This verse is part of a section where God is telling His people to worship and follow Him only. The revelation of God through Moses…
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 David wrote this Psalm when he was in the Desert of Judah. Even in the wilderness and on the run, David expresses his…
“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:4 The word “trust” means “to commit oneself fully to. The “Lord Himself” is an emphatic designation of God. The word “rock” translates two Hebrew terms “rock or cliff face” and “massive rock or boulder.” The word occurs many…
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1 As Jesus did in His teaching, the Psalmist of ancient Israel warned about a concern for tomorrow that overshadows the needs of today. Jesus said, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your…
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1:3 “In His great mercy” is a phrase to remind us of His act of compassion toward us…
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when … persecuted” is…
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ…” Philippians 1:9-10 Fallen human nature continually produces counterfeit notions of love. Paul prays that…
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 “To seek … His kingdom of God and His righteousness” means to desire God’s righteous rule (His salvation) on this earth. In other words, you desire above all to live under the rule…
“For we know Him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30-31 The author quotes two passages from Deuteronomy 32 to make the point that judgment belongs to the…