Sunday, October 17, 2010

Experience the Wisdom of God through Proverbs: The Lord test the heart

3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. NLT

The Lord test the heart. Think about that a minute. Fire brings the impurities of silver and gold to the surface...and likewise God has ways to test our heart that surely bring our impurities to the forefront of our lives where we are confronted with the truth. It can be scary to allow God to show us what is inside, yet if we realize that Holy Spirit wants to bring us to a place of being conformed to the image of Jesus and He has our best interest at heart we are comforted. Indeed we desire those impurities to be removed from our lives. This verse reminds me of a faithful verse that I read often.


Psalm 139:23-24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life NLT

Don't be sucked in by temptation
8 A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper! NLT

What? I can't believe that verse says that...it can't mean that...can it??? Wow. When I read this it floored me. It is not the first time I've read Proverbs but it is the first time I've "seen" it presented this way. Though I didn't highlight one of them I've already read Proverbs that say bribes are bad...something I already know anyway. So what is up with this? I'm tempted to pretend I didn't see it. Can't do that successfully though..it would bug me too much and what if someone ask me about it later. A look at other versions shows the word translated "gift" many use the word bribe. So which is it. Some study shows that it is a satire about how people are drawn into bribes for the gift and definitely is not advocating bribes. Thank God...mystery solved.

Here are a few more verses that were interesting to me.

15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the Lord. NLT

17
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. NLT

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. NLT

27 A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. NLT

What verse or verses did Holy Spirit talk to you about today?

4 comments:

  1. I like this. I didn't know you were such an active blogger, Ruth.

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  2. slothfulness castest into a deep sleep and an idle soul shall suffer hunger..
    been thinking about how much time I have spent in front of the television...use to think that the old time preachers that spoke against the bad box were radical but when we consider how much time we devote to this box and what does it produce? Lord, help to balance my time properly--I do not want you to see slothfulness in my life.

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  3. Thanks Lisa. I've become an active blogger lately. We decided to go through Proverbs during the month of October. I'm really enjoying writing so I will try to keep it up even after the 31 days.

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  4. Hearts,
    That is true. Wow you are making me think about that too. You know this study has gotten me thinking about being more productive with my time.

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