Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 13:24 (day one)
Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Danny Panter, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Proverbs 13:24 in our Spring Re:Verse Series: Proverbs – “The Way of Wisdom.”
Sponge
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 9:1-18 (day seven)
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you. vs 8
What comes out of you when you are squeezed? How do you handle critique and confrontation?
We are all sponges. We are constantly taking in new things and absorbing information. We can be very good at hiding what we absorbed, but once we are squeezed, what is inside will come out. If you find yourself getting defensive and angry when approached with critique, it is possible your sponge has been soaking in a pot of dirty water. If you want to be able to handle critique and confrontation well, you need to be absorbing the right things. That begins with Jesus. On the cross looking down at his scoffers, He cries out, “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” When Jesus was squeezed, love came out.
How can you absorb more of Jesus this week so that He will be what comes out when you are squeezed?
Personal
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 9:1-18 (day six)
Wisdom is personal, which is why Solomon describes it as a person. It is part of God’s eternal nature and woven into the very fabric of creation. Therefore, it is not up for grabs or debate.
To reject wisdom is to reject God himself, a choice that carries significant consequences.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. -Paul, Romans 1:21-22
You know that, of course. Our struggle isn’t knowing; it is consistently doing. That’s precisely why we need Jesus, the Wisdom of God. Be thankful today.
Wisdom and Relationships
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 9:1-18 (day five) When you think about the banquet spoken of in the first few verses of chapter 9, can you picture others at the table and in the room with you? It describes community. At the banquet there is conversation and interaction- instruction, encouragement, confrontation, correction. All are necessary. All are invaluable. All require humility and honesty. Where do those kind of interpersonal relationships begin and come from? Answer- A relationship with the Lord (fear of the Lord, trust in the Lord, loving the Lord and His commands) creates a humility and hunger for wisdom (among other things) that can only be found first in our relationship with Him, and then in our relationships with other believers. A lack of wisdom is not a character flaw, it is a spiritual problem.
Rubber Meets the Road
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 9:1-18 (day four)
I love that the invitation to wisdom is open to all. There’s not a screening to prove your aptitude. Wisdom calls openly, allowing all who are confused, naive, or struggling to freely enter. This reminds me of the words of Jesus saying to the crowd, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Wisdom, the very Spirit of God, calls openly for all to enter, all to gain insight, all to find rest. No application necessary.
However, this same proverb does show us one of the ways we know if we’re growing in wisdom. It shows us where the rubber meets the road, if you will. It tells us that those who are wise will receive correction gladly. A wise person will love the one who rebukes them, because it allows them to grow in wisdom all the more.
How well do you take rebuke? How do you handle it when you receive correction? I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not great at it – I become defensive and put my hands over my ears. This is the first sign that I still have much growing to do when it comes to wisdom. The wise are teachable, and teachability requires humility. Are you willing to walk humbly with God and others? It’s the first step to growing in wisdom.
Everlasting
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 9:1-18 (day three)
“Come, eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
“Forsake your folly and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding.”
Why doesn’t the entirety of the Old and New Testaments consist solely of Genesis 15:6 – “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” – and John 3:16? What’s all this extra content about wisdom and understanding and encouraging one another and living in peace with each other? The reason is that it’s not extra; it’s essential. The way of God is not a verse to memorize. It’s not even a system to accept. It’s an eternal kind of life. There is no way of living eternally other than the way of wisdom and generosity and peace and love. If you’re going to live eternally, the Bible’s got to teach you to live eternally.
Correct Those Who Understand
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 9:1-18 (day two) Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. Vs. 9
Any John Bunyan fan’s out there? Pilgrim’s Progress is a rite of passage for many who love classic Christian literature. In the spirit of full disclosure, it’s not my favorite, but I do have an appreciation for its place in teaching generations about the journey each person makes in their faith. When I re-read Psalm 9, I was struck by how Bunyan-esque it felt. Wisdom and Folly become personified and have interactions with all who walk past.
I was struck by verses seven through twelve. How we teach and talk to people must be directly proportional to their ability to understand. Truth doesn’t change, but the method of delivery is not the same for someone who follows Jesus, and one who has yet to follow. We must take great care when using wisdom as a weapon. Let him who has ears to hear, hear. This is another instance where we can pray for discernment as we love people where they are.
Re:Verse Blog – 4/1/24
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 9:1-18 (day one)
Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Executive Pastor Scott Lane, and Associate Pastor Bryan Richardson walk us through Proverbs 9:1-18 in our Spring Re:Verse Series: Proverbs – “The Way of Wisdom.”
Firstfruit
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 3:9-10 (day seven)
Honor the Lord… from the first of all your produce. Proverbs 3:9
He is Risen.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20
Did you know that the Feast of Firstfruits was held the day after the Sabbath of Passover? It was a day of thanksgiving and of promise. By giving the firstfruit to the Lord, even if it meant giving everything that had been produced up to that point, it showed that the people trusted in God’s promise that a plentiful harvest was coming.
What day did Jesus conquer death and rise from the grave? The day after the Sabbath of Passover. Christ fulfilled the firstfruit. This was a promise that His resurrection was only the beginning. A plentiful harvest was yet to come; the resurrection of you and me.
He is Risen Indeed.
Honor
Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 3:9-10 (six)
“Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;”
How do we honor the Lord with our wealth when he does not need it? We honor the Lord when we enjoy what he has given us and reinvest it into the Kingdom.
God doesn’t give to us so we can hoard; he intends for us to enjoy what he has given. A father is not honored when the son does not enjoy the gifts he has been given. Nor does He give so we can keep it to ourselves; he expects us to be generous as he is generous.
And enjoying what God has given and generosity is not mutually exclusive; after all, it is more blessed to give than to receive.