This week’s devotions are based on the Week 7 “Explore God” – Can I Know God Personally? (WATCH HERE)
Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. 11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
Do these words sound like ones your parents would say to you? Perhaps you have words of wisdom that you maybe didn’t appreciate when you were younger, but now looking back, the words carried more weight and wisdom than you ever realized at the time.
A marker of a relationship is that there is care and conversation between the individuals. This is very true of God’s relationship with us. Really the whole Bible are his words that he wants his children to hear, take to heart and put into practice. In these few verses from the book of Proverbs, you see God using the author of Solomon to speak to his sons, and people in general, the words and wisdom of God.
Here’s a few things about the words of God which them so amazing and important in our lives.
- They bring blessing and longevity to our lives. Following God’s word and wisdom certainly bring blessing to our lives as we listen to them and put them into practice. They keep us out of trouble, replace stress and anxiety with peace, foster healthy relationships and much more. The result is not only blessings emotionally and spiritually but also physically.
- God’s Words guide us in ways of wisdom. The world has a lot to offer in the way of wisdom and philosophies and teaching that are easy to buy into, but do not convey accurate and life-giving truth. God’s wisdom guide us along a path that has dangerous ditches on either side. One ditch can lead us away from God’s truth and the other side of the ditch can make God’s Word say something it wasn’t intended to.
- Life has fewer obstacles. Parents have the perspective of life experience and in the sharing of information simply wish to prevent their children from experiencing the same challenges in life they faced. How the child responds is not in their control, but the purpose is to prevent them from getting in trouble and experiencing hardship they could have avoided. So it is with the Word of God. God speaks into our lives with the perspective of eternity and infinite experience to guide us in a way where we will not stumble or face unnecessary obstacles. Life will still have its challenges, but perhaps we can avoid many of them simply by listening and putting into practice the loving words of God.
- The wisdom, teaching and insight it gives is priceless. Social media, the internet and bookshelves are filled with individuals sharing human wisdom. Reading or listening to some of it may provide some value for this life, however, the Word of God communicates both great value for this life, but most importantly the words of God speak into our hearts eternal life. It’s this value that is priceless.
Apply: What aspect of God’s communication to us in his Word is the most significant for you? Which aspect is one you maybe didn’t think about much, but encourages you to put the Word more actively into your life?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for initiating and preserving your relationship with us. As you speak to us in your Word, help us to find the joy and blessing of you taking the time to speak to us. AMEN.