Bible League: Living His Word My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.— Proverbs 24:13-14 ESV Let's begin with a question: What is it that sustains your hope in life — a feeling that what is desired can be had or that events will turn out for the best? Hope is valued (or not) by that which describes it: a "lasting hope," a "constant hope," as over against a "fleeting hope," or even a "misplaced hope." Hope for all of us seems to be in continual motion. At times we sense the strength of its presence, and at other times, it's like hope just stood up and walked out the door! If we are honest with ourselves, we would admit that hope wavers and wanders in relation to the events that are taking place in our lives. Whether near or distant, we have learned, for the most part, to temper our thoughts and look through the lens God has provided to see that He is working on our behalf. Our verses for today metaphorically describe this "lens" God has graciously provided to give anchor to hope. King Solomon is not introducing the latest dessert item on the royal menu, but he is intentionally drawing a relationship between honey and wisdom -- indeed, the wisdom that comes from the Word of God. Both Solomon and his father King David took ample opportunity to extoll the superior virtues of this kind of wisdom through their writings. Wisdom is better than rubies (Proverbs 3:15; 8:11; 20:15); it is better than silver or gold (Proverbs 3:14; 8:10; Psalm 119:72); summarily, it is better than anything you could desire (Proverbs 4:7)! For those who will not just see it or hear it, but truly apply it there is great reward (Psalm 19:11), and it certainly provides an anchored, delightful hope amid that which could truly snatch our hope away if we allowed it (Psalm 1:1-3). But we don't allow it! We remain steadfast in the Word, like a well-nourished tree remains near the source of its nourishment. Though the Proverbs can be individualized pithy statements of truth, it surely is not by accident that Proverbs 13:12 and 13 have a tight relationship with one another that substantiates the connection between our hope for life and our love for the Word of God. Hope keeps rising in our lives, like a well-nourished "tree of life" for those who love and revere the Word of God. Some days may be dark. Some circumstances may cause us to wonder where hope went. But a faithful meditation and obedience toward the Word of God will eventually renew the feeling of God's love in our lives, and nothing is quite so sweet as His presence! By Bill Niblette, Ph.D., Bible League International staff, Pennsylvania U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingIsaiah 59, 60, 61 Isaiah 59 -- Your sins have separated you and your God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 60 -- The Glory of Zion NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Isaiah 61 -- The Spirit of the Lord is on me; The Year of the Lord's Favor NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Thessalonians 4 1 Thessalonians 4 -- Live to Please God; The Dead in Christ Brought with His Second Coming NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.Insight We are saved by faith, not by deeds. But love for others and for God is the response of those whom God has forgiven. God's forgiveness is complete, and Jesus said that those who are forgiven much love much. Challenge Because faith expresses itself through love, you can check your love for others as a way to monitor your faith. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.In these words the believer is invited to a holy nearness to Jesus. "Come and dine," implies the same table, the same meat; aye, and sometimes it means to sit side by side, and lean our head upon the Saviour's bosom. It is being brought into the banqueting-house, where waves the banner of redeeming love. "Come and dine," gives us a vision of union with Jesus, because the only food that we can feast upon when we dine with Jesus is himself. Oh, what union is this! It is a depth which reason cannot fathom, that we thus feed upon Jesus. "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." It is also an invitation to enjoy fellowship with the saints. Christians may differ on a variety of points, but they have all one spiritual appetite; and if we cannot all feel alike, we can all feed alike on the bread of life sent down from heaven. At the table of fellowship with Jesus we are one bread and one cup. As the loving cup goes round we pledge one another heartily therein. Get nearer to Jesus, and you will find yourself linked more and more in spirit to all who are like yourself, supported by the same heavenly manna. If we were more near to Jesus we should be more near to one another. We likewise see in these words the source of strength for every Christian. To look at Christ is to live, but for strength to serve him you must "come and dine." We labor under much unnecessary weakness on account of neglecting this percept of the Master. We none of us need to put ourselves on low diet; on the contrary, we should fatten on the marrow and fatness of the gospel that we may accumulate strength therein, and urge every power to its full tension in the Master's service. Thus, then, if you would realize nearness to Jesus, union with Jesus, love to his people and strength from Jesus, "come and dine" with him by faith. Daily Light on the Daily Path Romans 12:11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. Colossians 3:23,24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, • knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Ephesians 6:8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. John 9:4 "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. Luke 2:49 And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME." 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; Hebrews 6:11,12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, • so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 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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