Month: June 2023

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Honoring a Parent’s Legacy

2 Chron 2-3, 1 Kings 5-6  Solomon has been anointed king over Israel, and just as we might do, he began to plan how to honor his father’s wishes to build a magnificent temple. His father had planned and organized the materials and now Solomon just had to execute the plan. Solomon calls on his father’s dear friend, Hiram to help with the execution of the building. We all need a true friend who will stand in the gap for us and guide us in our endeavors. Hiram knew David well and he now gets to meet and help David’s son. He gave God praise for David for raising a wise son who has a discerning and keen heart to accomplish the task. Do others see that our parents have raised us to have these characteristics?  

 The temple was to be out of the ordinary; in fact, it was to be spectacular. All was to be covered in gold and the inner court would hold the cherubim images, not to be worshiped, but to be a reminder of God’s glory. Humbly Solomon knew that nothing in the heavens or earth would come close to who God is yet as part of David’s legacy he would fulfill that vision of a temple where people could come to worship. In the NT Paul reminds us that a physical temple is not what God requires, but a temple of a person and their heart; therefore be ye holy as God is holy.

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Parenting is 24/7

Prov 22-24 The Proverbs author continues to instruct his children in wisdom and discernment. In the middle of this dialog, he focuses on parents by saying: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when old, he will not depart from it.[Prov 22:6] By that, the Proverbs author reminds parents that they must study their children as to how they learn best and their interests. Through all twenty-one chapters, He has reminded us of the importance of knowing who we are and our destiny, all with the “fear of the Lord” as the primary objective.

How does your child learn best? Is he/she one who learns best by hearing or one who learns best using his eyes and hands? Just as we often take spiritual gifts tests to determine the best way we learn, you can do the same by studying your child by observing, interpreting, and then teaching the truth to them. It is what we call discipleship, and it begins early so that when you stand before the Lord, you hear well done!

Just as we study the scriptures to know truth from error, we are to study our children’s ways so they become wise. Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, and we reap benefits when we and they know what is best.

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Generations are Like Trees

Prov 16-19 Fruitful “Family Trees”

Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents. [Prov 17:6]

One of the Ten Commandments reads: Ex. 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you. The NT captures this commandment this way: Eph 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, “that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.”

Whether you are a child, grandchild, parent, or grandparent, these verses should warm your heart, encourage you, and motivate you to revere the elderly and honor the parent in your midst. If you are a part of what we call the “sandwich generation” [that is, you have your own parents as well as your own children], take time to show your children how they should honor their grandparents so when it is their turn they will know what to do. As you honor your parent, you show respect and honor for our Heavenly Father. Remember, the most fruitful trees are “family trees.” Take a moment today and show your appreciation for your parent or grandparent. 

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Planning Ahead

be wise

Prov 13:22a Inheritances

A good person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren, so says the Proverbs writer. In Prov 17:6, the Proverbs writer says that grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly. A crown is something that adorns the head as a symbol of honor and respect. Grandchildren are our crown that we wear proudly to show the world and others of our love for them and our joy at being their grandparent.

What am I leaving for my grandchild? Is it riches? Is it honor? What is it? Today’s children have so much materially but what about the spiritual riches we are leaving them? Are we leaving them with wisdom about God and His love for them? Are we leaving them the gift of discernment that will guide them step by step?

Today stop and ponder what gift you are planning for your children’s children. Then plan and follow through on that plan so that you are being a wise executor of your will for when God calls you home.

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Wisdom Precepts

Prov 10 & Isaiah 28:10 “Precept Upon Precept”

Do you find Proverbs a challenge? If I were the author, I would want to include all the verses around wisdom together and the consequences of stupidity in another. But thankfully, I am not the author, and the Holy Spirit did not arrange this chapter or any of the following chapters that way. Instead, perhaps Isaiah’s verse gives us the answer: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.” [Is 28:10 KJV] Thus, we learn best when we take in a bit, meditate upon it, and then find that same tidbit further on, which brings that same truth to light but given differently. For example:

Prov 10:1 says a wise child makes a father rejoice, and Prov 23:15 my child, If your heart is wise, then my heart as well be glad. Same principle but worded in a different way.

Paul reminded Timothy of this wisdom: “all scripture is profitable for gaining wisdom in teaching (doctrine–biblical principles), reproof (rebuke), correction (challenging us to walk uprightly) and training in righteousness (that is the way of God) so that we may be capable and equipped for every good work.” [2Tim 3:16] 

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Tutorial for Kids from Dad!

Prov 7-9 Kids, listen to Dad

In this day and age, it seems that all rules regarding purity are thrown out the window. So, “Father” Solomon continues to instruct his children about how to test purity through a real-life example of Madam Folly’s life and intentions vs. Lady Wisdom, whose life is pure.

 Listen, my son; the wise do not take the road into the part of the city where Madam Folly hangs out. It is only the fool who does not heed the warnings and, in the end, finds the seductiveness of the harlot overpowers him. Her intentions are clear, as well as her ways, so be wise.  

You must avoid the “red light” district at all costs! Lady Wisdom says to set your sets high and knowledge as the choicest gold.

These are lessons children need to hear and heed today. Parents need teaching, modeling, praying, and guiding the naïve. How are you doing, dear parent?  

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Parenting 101

Prov 4-7 Parenting needs wisdom from God. Even King Solomon began his teaching by reminding his children to listen and pay attention so that they would gain discernment. He had learned from his father, David, and now injects knowledge, reasons, and consequences. They say more is caught than taught, yet Scripture teaches that both are vital to a child’s upbringing.

Dear parent, pray for wisdom to know how your child learns so that they will progress through the stages of growth to maturity by discerning both good and evil. [Heb 5:14] Pray for a hedge of protection around yourself and your child remembering greater is He within you than he that is in the world. [1Jn 4:4] Parents, remember children, listen, observe, and will follow in your footsteps.

Be wise, dear parent, today. Follow the example of Deut chapter 6 about disseminating biblical truth. Add this verse to your prayer arsenal: Num. 6:24-26 “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace” Change that to reflect your own voice: Lord bless me and protect me and my child. Lord smile on me and be gracious to me and give me your peace as I parent.

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Fear God, Get Wisdom

Prov 1-3 How are you preparing the next generation to be wise leaders of their homes and our nation? As an author and father, King Solomon took time to write words of wisdom for his children and his children’s children. We are the beneficiaries of these wise sayings. First, there are thirty-one chapters, making it easy to read one chapter a day for an entire month and then repeat it over and over. Then, choosing one principle from your chapter will give you wisdom and discernment for yourself and your family.

Why do we need Proverbs? We need it because we are prideful people lacking in humility. Proverbs of will guide us and lead us away from errors in judgment to discernment and discretion. “Fearing the Lord is the beginning of discernment, but fools have despised wisdom and moral instruction.” [Prov 1:7] King Solomon contrasted the wise with the foolish so we may be discerning. The wise fear the Lord; the foolish are bold and do not fear God or man. The Apostle Paul wrote: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” [Rom 3:18]  Unlike the foolish, men who fear God revere Him because He is holy. We are to “be holy as He is holy.” [1Pet 1:15 paraphrase]

Rom 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways!

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Banner of Love!

Song of Solomon Ch 1-8 His Banner over me is LOVE!

The author, supposedly King Solomon, shares intimate details about his life as king, husband, lover, and friend. He may have recorded this as one would record a day in their diary. Many scholars differ on the intents and purposes of this letter. Whatever the reason, we can trust that God has inspired this for our admonition. “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” [2Tim 3:16] The king or the groom in this letter wasn’t  “Clean the house!” or “Try harder next time!” instead, his banner over her was “LOVE!”

David Colburn summarizes his perspective on this book in his prayer: Lord, your love for those who have accepted Jesus as Lord is beyond any human comparison, but that is the best we can do as we attempt to comprehend it. May I praise you and rest in the encouragement and peace that comes from knowing that you love me with a passion unmatched anywhere in this world.

 Do we have such intense love for Christ?   

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