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Proverbs 3 (ESV)

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
² for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

³ Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
¹² for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Loving kindness and honesty are both important virtues. Not only do they need to be in the heart, they also require action to show them. A loving person not only feels love, but also loves honestly and seriously. Faithful people not only believe in the truth, but also strive for justice for others. Thoughts and words are not enough to show whether we are truly loving and honest. Only in our lives and behaviors can it be reflected. Only in this way can we please God and gain true intelligence. Think of your top priority, what do you think is the most valuable? In what ways are you still unclear about God’s will? What advice and admonition does God have for you? In everything you do, have you accepted God as the master and dedicated your firstfruits, that is, your best, to God? If you still have a gap, ask God to give you the confidence and strength to do this.
2. The righteous are not always prosperous, because God will admonish and discipline us through adversity. For many people, discipline often has a negative meaning, but God does not punish us for liking us to suffer, but because He loves us and cares for our growth. He knows that in order to make us strong and good in virtue, we must use His loving discipline to enable us to distinguish right from wrong. When we are disciplined by God, it is sometimes difficult to immediately understand His intentions, until we look back at the situation in the future to understand. Let us not think that we are wise, feel unfair when we are in adversity, and complain to God. Trusting and obeying God in everything is true wisdom.

 

PRAYER:

Pray for God to make you understand that His thoughts are far higher than yours, and His wisdom is far greater than yours. If you are caught in temporary injustice or suffering, ask God to give you greater trust in Him and do not complain to Him. Ask God to supervise and teach you like a father admonishes his beloved children, so that you can walk in His way throughout your life, with love and honesty in everything you do.

 

HYMN:

 

Our God: www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Yj7H-eSjM&ab_channel=crossingctr