Verse of the Day 1/2

Verse of the Day 1/2

Proverbs 1:1-3 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.

² Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
    to help them understand the insights of the wise.
³ Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
    to help them do what is right, just, and fair.    New Living Translation (NLT)

Many people begin the new year with a resolution to read the Bible, some of them will plan to read through the Bible in a year.  It takes effort but once you establish it, it becomes a habit and something you plan for, look forward to and benefit from every day.  There are many reading plans available, the whole Bible, Old or New Testaments, blended readings of Old, New and Psalms and so on.  I read through the New Testament in a year and the Old Testament in two.  I also spend time in the Psalms and Proverbs daily.

Yesterday I started at the beginning of Proverbs again and read today's verses.  They give us good reasons to read not only the Proverbs; but also God's Word, the rest of the Bible in general.  The Bible teaches us wisdom and discipline, gives understanding and insight into how God operates and how we are to operate as God's followers.  They are designed to teach us to live with discipline and be successful and to do what is right, just and fair.

Verse 7 is not in the first "section" of the chapter in my Bible, but it is a helpful reminder for us that the reading is not the goal in and of itself, nor strictly to be wiser and more knowledgeable about the Bible.  Start with God, bow down in prayer and ask Him to guide you through His Word.

Proverbs 1:7 Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God;
    only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. The Message

One of the things that we'll learn is that we need God's Word.  As we do, we learn to depend upon it "through it all".

I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.

I've been to lots of places,

I've seen a lot of faces,
there's been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours,
yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus lets me know that I was His own

Through it all,
through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.

Through it all,
through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

As you go through the year, may you read His Word, trust in Jesus, and depend upon Him and God's Word.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Proverbs 1:1-7 The Message (MSG)

Wise Sayings of Solomon

A Manual for Living

1 ^1-6 These are the wise sayings of Solomon,
    David's son, Israel's king—
Written down so we'll know how to live well and right,
    to understand what life means and where it's going;
A manual for living,
    for learning what's right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
    and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There's something here also for seasoned men and women,
    still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
    the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Start with God

⁷ Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God;
    only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.