January 2024

He’s A Wise Guy
January 8 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 1:1-3

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

     Wouldn’t it have been great if, when you woke up today, you had all the answers to everything? Everyone would come to you for advice on how to do this or that, and because of your wisdom, everyone would listen to you. Oh, to be so wise.

     However, the problem is that often, those who are very intelligent will rely solely on their wisdom to navigate life. Instead of trusting God, they choose to rely on their judgments and mental abilities. Sadly, this self-reliance will eventually fail them, and they may end up hurt. With wisdom comes the responsibility to use it wisely; it’s not just about having wisdom, but also knowing how to apply it.

     God told Solomon that he would be the wisest man who ever lived. However, much of Solomon’s wisdom, which we now benefit from, came from the lessons he learned through years of trials and errors, as described in Ecclesiastes. Fortunately, we don’t have to make the same mistakes to gain the wisdom of instruction. We simply need to listen to the words of God through Solomon.

     Proverbs are a collection of wise statements about the complexities of life. This book contains wisdom, instruction, and guidance for gaining a true understanding of the ways of life. It will help us discern what is fair, what is just, and to understand what God sees as right. If you truly desire to make the right choices in life, then pray today for a clear understanding of what God has to convey to us through Solomon this year as we journey through the Book of Proverbs.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

   I’m sorry you didn’t wake up today with all the answers to every area of life. However, you did wake up today with the ability to find them. It’s all written out for you in the pages of the Bible. Take time every day to spend with God. He has created each day to spend with you.

 

What will the two of you talk about today?

 

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: JANUARY 8, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
          Genesis 1-4     /     Proverbs 1:1-3

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
         Genesis 18-20     /     Matthew 6:16-34

 

Weekend Preview
January 6 & 7, 2024

Proverbs 20:12-13

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
the LORD hath made even both of them. 
Love not sleep,
lest thou come to poverty;
open thine eyes,
and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Work Week Devotions
Through The Book Of Proverbs

     As previously mentioned, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we will only be publishing a Devotional Thought on Monday – Friday. On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying through, and if we will be going into the following chapter the next week, we encourage you to read that chapter as well.

      There are never Devotions on Sunday. 

      We will also publish the next weeks bible reading Schedules. There will be two Schedules. 

    The First one is a Scheduled reading that compliments our Proverbs Study. It will take you through the Bible beginning in Genesis, and ending in Revelations. There are only five days of reading in this schedule. This reading will skip the book of Proverbs, as we will be studying that day by day, and we will be reading this book on Saturdays.

     The Second Schedule is what we refer to as, the Traditional Bible Reading Schedule. It will also take you through the entire bible. However, it has a passage of Scripture from the Old Testament and the New Testament every day. This is a six day reading schedule.

    Neither schedule have any reading on Sundays as previously mentioned.

    Thank you for staying with us this week as we have introduced this Work Week Devotional Concept. Lord willing, we will see you on Monday as we begin our Journey Through The Book Of Proverbs in 2024.

 

WEEK 1 – Day 6:
      On Saturday, we suggest you re-read the Proverb we have written from this past week and the week to come.

Proverbs 1-2

WEEK 1 – Day 7:

      Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastor’s heart. Whatever Scripture he uses for today’s message were given to him by God for your specific needs.

 

THOUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT TODAY AND TOMORROW

JANUARY 6, 2020     Genesis 15-17         Matthew 13:36-58
JANUARY 7, 2020     No Passages Assigned

 

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

January 8, 2024          Genesis 1   – Genesis 4         Proverbs 1:1- 3
January 9, 2024          Genesis 5   – Genesis 8         Proverbs 1:4 – 6
January 10, 2024        Genesis 9   – Genesis 13       Proverbs 1:7 – 9
January 11, 2024        Genesis 14 – Genesis 18       Proverbs 1:10 – 14
January 12, 2024        Genesis 19 – Genesis 22       Proverbs 1:15 – 17
January 13, 2024        Proverbs 1 – 2                    
January 14, 2024         No Passages Assigned 

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Traditional Old & New Testament

January 8, 2024               Genesis 18-20             Matthew 6:16-34
January 9, 2024               Genesis 21-23             Matthew 7
January 10, 2024             Genesis 24                 Matthew 8
January 11, 2024             Genesis 25-26             Matthew 9:1-17
January 12, 2024             Genesis 27-28             Matthew 9:18-38
January 13, 2024             Genesis 29-30             Matthew 10
January 14, 2024             No Passages Assigned 

The Divisions of the Proverbs 
January 5, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 13:12-14 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

The book of Proverbs has several main divisions:

• Chapters 1-9 – Wisdom and Folly are contrasted.
• Chapters 10-24 – A collection of Proverbs written and set in order by Solomon himself.
• Chapters 25-29 – Also proverbs of Solomon, however these were copied out by Hezekiah and his men.
• Chapter 30 – A burden or writing or Agur son of Jakeh who is rather unknown.
• Chapter 31 -Instructions given to King Lemuel by his mother. Some believe that this may have been a name given to Solomon when he was young by his mother. This would imply that the description of a virtuous woman was given by Bathsheba, who herself had been led away from the path of virtue.
  
  

     As we delve into the Book of Proverbs, taking it one small segment at a time, day after day, week after week, throughout the coming year, it is my prayer that God will use this to assist you in leading a blessed life and walking with Him. I firmly believe, based on my own experience, that when we follow God’s guidance, life is significantly better.

      

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     As mentioned Before, please set aside a few moments every day to pray for God’s wisdom before you begin reading. The Holy Spirit will assist you in comprehending the book He has authored. For years, I have been offering a heartfelt prayer to God, using His own words, before I delve into His Word. My prayer goes like this:

 

Psalm 119:18
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of thy law.

 

   As well as…

 

Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do thy will;
for thou art my God: thy spirit is good;
lead me into the land of uprightness.

 

      May God bless your studies as you are Living In His Word.

Tomorrow we Give you an outline for Next weeks readings.

GOD TALKING TO ME: JANUARY 5, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   

This week we will:

Sat.      January 6,  Proverbs 1       
Sun.     January 7,  No Passages Assigned

 

If you’re Following the Traditional Reading Schedule,
Today’s Reading will be:

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
 

          Genesis 12-14   /      Matthew 5

 

Solomon, The Main Writer
January 4, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 1:1-4 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        Timeless treasures, waiting to be mined by the hearts of humankind, are the words written in the Book of Proverbs. Penned hundreds of years ago, these proverbs remain relevant and have the potential to be profoundly life-altering if applied. The wisdom contained in this book transcends all cultures, eras, and denominations.

 

        The Book of Proverbs is a collection of sayings drawn from years of experience, both written by King Solomon and compiled by him from others. We find evidence of this in another book authored by this esteemed preacher. In Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, it is mentioned that the preacher sought out and organized many proverbs. It also emphasizes the fact that the ones he wrote were upright and true.

 

        The closing words of Ecclesiastes provide us with a magnificent introduction to the Book of Proverbs.

Ecclesiastes 12:8-14

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

   

      After a life marked by heartbreak and a quest for truth, Solomon concludes that the essence of it all is to fear God. In this context, the word ‘fear’ does not imply being afraid but rather holding reverence or respect for God and to heed His guidance.

 

      In essence, the proverbs collated and organized in this book can be regarded as the divinely inspired words of God, spoken through Solomon for our enlightenment.

 

      Over his lifetime, Solomon gathered many such wise sayings. In fact, what we find in the Book of Proverbs represents just a fraction of what he had imparted in person.

1 Kings 4:32

And he spake three thousand proverbs:
 and his songs were a thousand and five.

 

      It is believed that what we find in this book, which has at times been referred to as the Book of Wisdom, represents the finest pieces of wisdom that Solomon had gathered.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

      In life, there are essentially two ways to learn about how the world will treat you and where sin will lead you. By far, the most common way is through trial and error. By following this path, one will experience the harsh consequences of sin and the perils of life. However, God’s way is always better. It involves heeding His warnings and embracing His wisdom in everything we do.

 

      It is nothing short of amazing to realize that the God who created the entire universe cares so deeply about our day-to-day lives that He has provided us with easily memorable and applicable principles for a good life in this world. He does not regard it as unimportant to guide us in matters of love, family, our interactions in society, or how we conduct ourselves in the marketplace. Everything about us and our well-being is significant to Him.

Tomorrow we will look into the divisions of this wonderful book.

GOD TALKING TO ME: JANUARY 4, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   

This week we will:

Fri.       January 5,  The Divisions of the Proverbs  
Sat.      January 6,  Proverbs 1       
Sun.     January 7,  No Passages Assigned

If you’re Following the Traditional Reading Schedule,
Today’s Reading will be:

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
 

          Genesis 9-11   /      Matthew 4

Introduction to Proverbs
January 3, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 22:17-19 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

        As we delve into the Book of Proverbs, taking it one small segment at a time, day after day, week after week, throughout the coming year, it is my prayer that God will use this to assist you in leading a blessed life and walking with Him. I firmly believe, based on my own experience, that when we follow God’s guidance, life is significantly better.

 

        It is important to understand, that for the believer in Christ, this is not like any other study. Normally, when you read another book, you have to read the words on the page, and then in your mind try to imagine what the author was saying. With God’s Word however, if you know Christ as your Saviour, you then have the Holy Spirit residing in you. Which also means, you have the author of this book Residing in you. We read in:

 

 2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

The same Holy Spirit, who moved the writers of this book to originally write these words,
also resides in your heart today.
You do not have to imagine what the author meant, just ask Him.  

         

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

        Please set aside a few moments every day to pray for God’s wisdom before you begin reading. The Holy Spirit will assist you in comprehending the book He has authored. For years, I have been offering a heartfelt prayer to God, using His own words, before I delve into His Word. My prayer goes like this:

Psalm 119:18
Open thou mine eyes,
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

I have recently begun to add this verse as well.

Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good;
lead me into the land of uprightness.

May God bless your studies as you are Living In His Word.

GOD TALKING TO ME: JANUARY 3, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
   

This week we will:

Thurs.  January 4,  Solomon The Main Writer     
Fri.       January 5,  The Divisions of the Proverbs  
Sat.      January 6,  Proverbs 1       
Sun.     January 7,  No Passages Assigned

 

If you’re Following the Traditional Reading Schedule,
Today’s Reading will be:

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY

    Genesis 6-8      /    Matthew 3