Novembers 28, 2022 -- Journey to Christmas through the Proverbs -- Proverbs 1:8

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:8 ESV

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
Proverbs 8:12-13 ESV

Will you get wisdom? Do you want to know the LORD? The instruction from the Proverbs is clear. Hate evil. This will immediately put you at odds with the world around you. Murder mystery shows explore the depravities of human nature which lead people to kill others. Movies celebrate wickedness and catechize the viewer in the seductive ways of the world which is ruled by the Devil (John 14:30 and Ephesians 6:12). The Devil is the master of disguise and seems to appear as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14).

The Gospel of Luke was written as instruction to Theophilus. Luke researched the life of Jesus and spoke with many eyewitnesses, and he compiled “an orderly account” (Luke 1:3) so that Theophilus could be confident that the material he was reading was accurate and portrayed Jesus. Getting to know Jesus, Who is the world's True Light (John 8:12), and studying Who He is, this will expose the Devil's disguises and keep the believer on the path of all that is wise.

It takes work to get yourself back into reading the Bible. Not just reading about the Bible. Not just devotionals, like this one, but actually taking the Bible into your hands and reading. The Word of God has been given by the Father to reveal Jesus, the True Wisdom from on High (I Corinthians 2:2-5). It is the Spirit of God Who reveals the wisdom of God to those who seek to know Jesus Christ. As you journey to Christmas, through the reading of Proverbs and the Gospel of Luke (17 minutes a day of reading, a tithe of average Canadian’s off-work screen time) pray that God the Father will give you wisdom to know Jesus Christ. This is the most important Christmas present you could give yourself and your family and co-workers and friends.

O Come, O Wisdom from on high, Who ordered all things mightily;
to us the paths of knowledge show, and teach us in its ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
Text: Latin, 12th Century, translation is composite
 

https://youtu.be/UH7asSGxAxA
Chris Tomlin “O Come Emmanuel”

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