learning DAILY



Proverbs 4:20-21, My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my 
                             sayings.   Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them 
                             in the midst of your heart.

There was a saying when I was a kid, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”.   The older I got, the more in tune I became to the opinion of others, the more I discovered that saying was false.  Over a lifetime, I have seen the power words hold; they either add life to another or take away life from another.  Very simple statements can encourage or discourage another and even impact decisions far into the future.  That is powerful and has made me wonder about the statements I have made.

Solomon is telling us, admonishing us to continue to read and study the Bible.  Throughout Proverbs, we are being told that the sayings of wisdom (God’s Word) must be the principles that guide our life.  You and I are told to “incline our ear” or receive them willingly and to be diligent about hearing wisdom.  One must never forget that the Bible is God’s words spoken to us through men through the Holy Spirit.

Not only must we read and study the principles of wisdom, we must “not let them depart from our eyes, must keep them in our heart”.  They are to be retained and become the guiding principles by which we live.  They are to be fixed in our hearts.

Why is this important?  Read verse 22, “For they are life to those who find them. And health to all their flesh.”  The “issues of life” speak of the foundation of life which is Jesus, His crucifixion. and resurrection.  Our spiritual life begins with our acceptance of this and is nourished daily by “inclining our ear” to the words of the Bible.  Not only is the Bible nourishment but it is also health to our spiritual life.  Our walk with the Lord is not without problems.  In the words of the Bible, encouragement is found.  Correction is found for wrong thinking and living.  Direction is found when direction is lost.  In the Word of God, remedies for all spiritual problems are found.

One last thing.  Several days ago, I addressed Proverb 4:23.  We pay close attention to God’s Word and put it in our heart.  Why?  Because out of our heart we speak.  As we put the Word of God into our heart, encouragement comes out to those who need it.  Correction comes out in a helpful way.  Healing happens in broken relationships.  Words do not have to hurt, they do not need to be used as a curse word; they need to be used for the glory of God! 

If you would like to get this blog sent to you automatically when new posts are posted please leave your email address with “Follow by email.” Don’t forget to check Follow as well.