And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:3-4

Is it possible that Jesus was familiar with Proverbs even as a boy?

I don't mean He read read once or twice, but maybe...that He KNEW it.

If we believe Scripture is flawless, God-breathed, divinely given for life and godliness...

could this be the reason Jesus grew in favor with God and men.

Could we also grow in favor with God and men by studying even the Old Testament?

May God bless you today with wisdom, discipline, and understanding words of insight...

Sayings of Agur

I am the most ignorant of men;

I do not have a man’s understanding.

I have not learned wisdom,

nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?

Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and the name of his son?

Tell me if you know!

Proverbs 30:2-4

Isn't it interesting that one who claims to be the "most ignorant of men" has an inclination toward the Son of God?

How is it, then, that we today, who claim to be so educated and intelligent, are so inwardly focused that we can't even mention that there IS a God,

let alone a Son of God?

His Name is Wonderful!

The Name of the Lord is a strong and mighty tower;

the righteous run into it and are safe.

His Son is none other than Jesus Christ.

I am blessed to know, though I am also ignorant among men.

May the Lord bless you with His protection and grace!

PROVOKED??

Stone is heavy and sand a burden,

but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

Proverbs 27:3

Sometimes it is much better to just keep your mouth shut and move on.

Why do I find this hard? Pride.

I need to set him straight...I need to be "right."

I really need to remember that other Proverb...

"A wise man keeps himself ynder control." 29:11

and that other Proverb...

"When words are many, sin is not absent,

but he who holds his tongue is wise." 10:19

May the Lord bless you today and make your tongue wise!

the Blessing

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3

God calls Abram and makes promises. These promises come to us because Abraham believed God. The word "bless" comes from a Hebrew word which literally means "to kneel."

The picture is a camel kneeling down to be loaded up.

The implication is if we would kneel, then God can load us up.

The charge is unload what God gives us to others, and kneel again...repeat process.

Thus, you will be a blessing.

The reason you would kneel is because you are empty before God.

May you be blessed by the Most High God and be a blessing to others!

Valentine's Scripture?

The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 15:33

Paul tells us love your wives and give yourselves as Christ loved the church.

Peter tells us to "dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife."

Wisdom is something revealed by the Lord. How many agree that it takes wisdom of God to understand your wife? And humility comes before honor.

Man-show humility; give your wife the honor.

Do this daily, and you won't need to remember Valentine's Day.

May the Lord bless you and show you love, wisdom, and honor!

Wisdom calls out...

"Now then, my sons, blessed are those who keep my ways."

Proverbs 8:32

We like to say, "The Old Testament is all about the Law, but we are no longer under the Law. Therefore, we don't need to know it or understand it."

"The Old Testament is full of rules that just don't apply to the New Tesament church."

Who thinks that the Law of the Old Testament ever saved anyone in the first place?

It has always been God's mercy!

Even in the Old Testament, that is made clear.

See Abraham. See Jacob. See Jonah.

But wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Nothing.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

May the Lord bless you with wisdom!

understanding the fear of the Lord

Does anyone really understand the fear of the Lord?

Sure, we can quote the verses...

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10)

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7)

if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God (James 1:5)

BUT, do we understand the fer of the Lord?

Sometimes it means respect.

Sometimes it means obey.

Sometimes it means FEAR!

And sometimes it means learn from.

Could it mean follow...I mean, the way we follow facebook or twitter?

The Old Testament over and over tells us to "observe and obey these words which I command you" (Deut 12:28, for example).

In fact, I found the word "observe" 35 times just in the books of the Law!

Just my thoughts of the moment.

May God Almighty bless you today as you observe His ways!