Proverbs 31 - 2.16.23

Scripture

Proverbs 31:2 NIV “Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!”

Observation-What does it say?

King Lemuel shares wisdom his mom gave him regarding his role as king. The first 7 verses, she gives advice on ways to protect his role as king. Verses 8-9, she speaks on how to treat the people, especially the poor, needy and those who cannot speak up for themselves. However, a bulk of this chapter, Verses 10-31, his mom gives him advice on the type of woman he should look out for to take as his wife, a wife of virtue and noble character.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Listen to the advice of those who love us, protect us and want the best for us, such as our parents, spouses or spiritual parents/mentors. God gave them to us for a reason.

King Lemuel’s mom is protective of her son as evidenced by the advice she gives him in this chapter. She wants to protect his professional life, but most importantly, his personal life. King Lemuel’s life as a king, which is a public influential figure and I’m sure attached with many riches, can be ruined by the wrong choice in wife. Therefore, the wife he chooses needs to be trustworthy, a hard worker, loving, a servant to the people, a good manager of the home, worthy of respect and wise. Most importantly, she must fear the Lord. He cannot only look for the most charming and beautiful woman, because that is fleeting and deceptive. All those good character traits are the fruits of being a Godly woman.

Life Application

Seek to be a Godly woman (or man) and attract the same in the process.

What I find interesting about this chapter is that it not only describes what a good woman is like. Many of those traits are equally important for the male as well. The King has to be trustworthy. He has to be loving, a servant to the people, a good manager of the home, wise, worthy of respect and most importantly have fear and respect for the Lord, allowing the Lord to tell him how to lead as king and lead his family. I hear many singles (and I admit I did this myself as a single person before growing up a little), have a list of the type of person they want to marry; however, they don’t look at themselves to see if they are the type of person someone else would want to marry. I truly believe we should be the person we want to attract. I’m not talking about having the same likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc. Our differences are what make us unique.

Our focus must be on the most important things which matter, which is our character and relationship with Jesus. Also, for marrieds like myself, this doesn’t end after the ring is on the finger. It continues afterwards as well.

Dear Lord, whether we are single, engaged or married, I pray that we would be and continue to be the type of person our future and current mates would want and the type of person our friends would be refreshed to be around. I pray we would be men and women of godly character whose substance doesn’t only go as far as outward appearance, but one who is trustworthy, faithful, hard working, loving, a servant to people, a good manager of our home and finances, wise and worthy of respect. Help us Holy Spirit to live our lives in pursuit of Your fruits as we seek You first in everything we do. Amen.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:30-31 NIV  

-Michelle Gaddi

Proverbs 30 - 2.15.23

Scripture

Proverbs 30:5-6

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

Observation-What does it say?

This chapter was written by Agur, son of Jakeh and he wrote this to Ithiel. I studied several commentaries on who these people were and there were differing opinions. While others say that he was a man in Solomon's time, some say that Agur could have been Solomon himself. Others say that Agur was not even the author's real name, but spoke of the character of this man as a collector, who collected the wise sayings of others. Whatever the case, we know that what was written was inspired. This chapter contains prophecies from God that were passed on to Ithiel, who was either Agur's child or a student. In the above verse, Agur was teaching Ithiel that the source of all wisdom and truth is found in the word of God.

Understanding-What does it mean?

‭God's Word is flawless. It is perfect. That's why nothing more should be or needs to be added to it. Adding to it would indicate that there is a flaw in it, but it is flaw-LESS. 

Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in Scripture, as well as the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses, speaks all about the word of God and loving His commands. 

The Bible is our Source of all Truth and our lives are based on what it says, not what our emotions say. It is why we post SOUL Journals every day and encourage every one to do the same. Being in God's Word is a discipline that is vital to every Believer's life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17-"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

‭

Life Application

In order to experience the transforming power of God's Word in our lives, we must read it, study it and APPLY it.

As James says in ch. 1:22-24, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

Dear Lord, thank You for Your perfect Word. Thank You for men and women of faith who have and are dedicating their lives to read it, study it and apply it in their personal lives. I pray that if we are living a life contrary to Your Word, that You would bring us back to the Truth. I pray we would continually meditate on Your Truth instead of the lies that the enemy and the world throws at us. Thank You that Your Word is a lamp for our feet and a light on our path. (Ps. 119:105). Please continue to direct our paths through Your Word and may we submit to its Truths. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Romans 7 - 2.14.23

Scripture

Romans 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Observation

Before Jesus, we were bound by the law, but it was a standard we could never attain. And so, we were separated from God by our sin – our inability to follow the law. Jesus came to free us. When we accept him, we have a new spirit. We are no longer slaves to the letter to of the law, but instead we become slaves to our desire to serve him, empowered not by our own strength, but by the strength of the Holy Spirit.

Understanding

In chapter 7, Paul makes it very clear that the law is not wrong. Jesus did not come to give us license to do whatever we want to do. But following the law should not be our motivation, following Jesus should be our motivation.

In Matthew 22:36-40, when asked what law is the greatest, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

If we focus our all on following Jesus and loving others, we will far exceed the requirements of the law.

Life Application

Many times, we tend to beat ourselves up when we fail, or worse yet, give up on even trying to do what’s right. This is wrong. When we react this way, we are focusing on ourselves instead of focusing on God. When I fail, my response should not be, “What is wrong with you Debbie? Why do you continue to fail? Why can’t you get it right?” Instead, my response should be, “I love you Jesus. Show me how to follow and become more and more like you.”

- Debbie Dunn