The Word To Live By: 8-7-26
Phil Waggoner
My son, don’t forget my teaching but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days and years of full life, and well-being. Proverbs 3:1-2
The Word To Live By: I confess that over the last fifty years I have had a slight problem with doing the steps of faith (hearing, confessing what you believe, and doing what the Bible says to do) and grace. I’m beginning to see how the two things mesh. We are saved by the grace of God, through faith in what He did through Jesus Christ on the cross and resurrection. Romans 10:8,9 says “On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Faith without works (plural) is dead (James 2:17). So, the confession is the saying part and the work part that show we believe God raised Jesus from the dead. The grace is God giving us the ability to do this even though we have done nothing to deserve it. Now, how does Proverbs fit into all of this, particularly Proverbs 3:1-2? Living the commands of God (unconditionally loving God and unconditionally loving people) will lead to doing the precepts and doctrines of God which will produce many days and years of a superabundant full life. The precepts are born out of unconditional love. Proverbs 3 gives us a pretty good list of what these are and the results they bring into our lives. Verses 3,4, “Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.” Verses 5,6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.” How many wrong decisions have you made because you were walking by your feelings and intellect? I have made several in my life. Verses 7,8, “Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body[ and strengthening for your bones.” Verses 9,10, “Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Barns are where your excess for a rainy day is stored, and new wine is revelation knowledge of the Word of God.) These are not commands, they are precepts that come from the commands, and they lead to the superabundant life when you put your faith in them.
Read through the Bible in a year: 2 Corinthians 8; 2 Kings 20-21; Nahum 2;
Read through the New Testament and Proverbs: Proverbs 7, Matthew 19:16-30, Romans 10
The sum of Thy Word is Truth Psalm 119:160