Bible League: Living His Word Fools are quick to express their anger, but wise people are patient and control themselves.Fools are not necessarily stupid. Rather, they are people who hate wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:22). Instead of submitting to wisdom and knowledge about God and His creation, they follow the dictates of their own sinful selves. Fools, in other words, are rebellious people. They are in rebellion against any principle of wisdom and knowledge that impinges upon them from the outside. They want to do whatever they want, whenever they want. That's why fools "are quick to express their anger." There is nothing holding them back. There is no norm, or law, or principle, or command that they acknowledge and respect to keep them from losing control of themselves. If anyone tries to calm them down, they get angrier still. They are like horses and mules which have no understanding and must be controlled with bit and reins (Psalm 32:9). You can't appeal to the better instincts of a fool. The wise, in contrast, are not necessarily smart. Rather, they are people who love wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 4:8). Instead of following the dictates of their own sinful selves, they submit to wisdom and knowledge about God and His creation. The wise, in other words, are obedient people. They obey the God-given principles of wisdom and knowledge that impinge upon them from the outside. They want to be in compliance with them and reap the benefits thereof. That's why the wise "are patient and control themselves." The principles of wisdom and knowledge hold them back. The God-given norms, laws, principles, and commands that they acknowledge and respect keep them from losing control. If they do get angry, you can calm them down. Unlike horses and mules, you don't have to control them with bit and reins. You can appeal to the better instincts of the wise. The wise are patient and in control, but they are not passive. The wise are capable of righteous anger and indignation. Like Jesus, they can get angry when they are confronted with great sin, when they are confronted with gross disobedience to the principles of wisdom and knowledge (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 3:5). Even then, however, they are not, like the fool, quick to express their anger. Indeed, they are "slow to become angry" (James 1:19). Today, let us ask God for help in becoming judicious and wise when it comes to the expression of anger. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 16, 17, 18 Isaiah 16 -- Prophecy of Calamity for Moab NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 17 -- Prophecy against Damascus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 18 -- Prophecy against Ethiopia NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Ephesians 1 Ephesians 1 -- Thanksgiving for the Ephesians; Election and Adoption by Grace NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”Insight Jesus said, “Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.'' How do we remember Christ in the Lord's Supper? Challenge By thinking about what he did and why he did it. If the Lord's Supper becomes just a ritual or a pious habit, it no longer remembers Christ, and it loses its significance. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Songs 3:4 I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go.Does Christ receive us when we come to him, notwithstanding all our past sinfulness? Does he never chide us for having tried all other refuges first? And is there none on earth like him? Is he the best of all the good, the fairest of all the fair? Oh, then let us praise him! Daughters of Jerusalem, extol him with timbrel and harp! Down with your idols, up with the Lord Jesus. Now let the standards of pomp and pride be trampled under foot, but let the cross of Jesus, which the world frowns and scoffs at, be lifted on high. O for a throne of ivory for our King Solomon! Let him be set on high forever, and let my soul sit at his footstool, and kiss his feet, and wash them with my tears. Oh, how precious is Christ! How can it be that I have thought so little of him? How is it I can go abroad for joy or comfort when he is so full, so rich, so satisfying. Fellow believer, make a covenant with thine heart that thou wilt never depart from him, and ask thy Lord to ratify it. Bid him set thee as a signet upon his finger, and as a bracelet upon his arm. Ask him to bind thee about him, as the bride decketh herself with ornaments, and as the bridegroom putteth on his jewels. I would live in Christ's heart; in the clefts of that rock my soul would eternally abide. The sparrow hath made a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God; and so too would I make my nest, my home, in thee, and never from thee may the soul of thy turtle dove go forth again, but may I nestle close to thee, O Jesus, my true and only rest. "When my precious Lord I find, All my ardent passions glow; Him with cords of love I bind, Hold and will not let him go." Daily Light on the Daily Path John 5:19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Luke 21:15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Jude 1:1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: Hebrews 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, Jeremiah 23:24 "Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. Ephesians 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Isaiah 43:11 "I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no savior besides Me. John 4:42 and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." Titus 1:4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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