THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for
the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
PROVERBS
CHAPTER 4
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
A good father wants the best for his son. The best thing a father can give a son is WISDOM from the Lord. The right way to give WISDOM from God is to TEACH THE BIBLE. Father's should speak from the Bible and of the Bible all the time.
As Solomon says, "Wisdom is the PRINCIPAL thing;" (verse 7). If a man will "exalt" wisdom from God, he will bring honor and glory to God, as well as bring honor to himself among men.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
The TEACHING of wisdom is one thing but, receiving wisdom is quite another. God has been teaching wisdom for thousands of years. But few men have been willing to receive it.
The best teachers in the world will tell you that if a student is not WILLING to receive, he cannot be taught.
But if a child will receive what God teaches, then God's wisdom from the Bible will "guide" him in making right decisions in life (verse 12).
Notice also (verse 13), a person must take "fast hold" upon God's Word. We must be willing to CLING to making decisions God's way rather than be influenced by self or peer-pressure.
Those who do not determine in their hearts to follow God's will, are constantly doing that which is AGAINST God (verses 14-17). A person who RECEIVES wisdom from God will "avoid" doing things contrary to God's expressed will in the Bible.
The "path," or manner of living, for the "righteous" is to abide by God's expressed will (verse 18).
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
A child of God will "attend to," or pay attention to reading the Bible. He/she will want to LISTEN to God as He speaks through His Word.
REAL LIFE is found in obedience to God (verses 21-22). When we are born, we have physical life. But REAL LIFE is when we are born again! Then we come to know Christ as Lord and Savior. And residing with Him for eternity is having REAL LIFE!
Determined obedience is the key to being a child of God through Jesus Christ (verses 21-25).
Listen to what Jesus said in John 8:30-32.
"As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
So if we CONTINUE to study the Word of God we come to know the PERSON of Jesus Christ. THAT is what gives FREEDOM to living! Coming to know JESUS as LORD saves us from sin!
Have you determined in your heart to know CHRIST? Have you determined in your heart to know Him BETTER by continuing to study His Word?
Then "Turn not to the right hand nor to the left," and JESUS will "remove thy foot from evil."
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.