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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for March 2016
April 1, 2016
Proverbs 4:2 - For I will give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Thought: There are two types of doctrine in the world, good doctrine and false doctrine. The Lord provides good teaching in His holy Word. Man perverts, manipulates, adds to, and takes from God’s Word causing it to be corrupt. It is our duty to hold to the good and combat that which is false.
Titus 1:9
April 2, 2016
Proverbs 4:3 – For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Thought: Solomon here acknowledges the relationship he shared with his parents. His father was David. David made Solomon the heir to his throne. His mother was Bathsheba. She loved Solomon dearly. He was the son she received after the death of her firstborn. Parents and children share a special relationship with each other. It is our hope that the relationships you share with your parents and children are dear and precious.
II Samuel 2:24-25
April 3, 2016
Proverbs 4:4 – He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
Thought: In this verse, we learn that David was diligent in teaching his son about the commandments of God. For some fathers, this is a forgotten responsibility. We also learn that Solomon was keenly aware of his father’s teachings. He knew exactly what his father had taught him. Giving and receiving are the essentials of good instruction.
II Timothy 3:15
April 4, 2016
Proverbs 4:5 – Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Thought: David urged Solomon to get wisdom and understanding. He then tells him not to do two things: do not forget and do not decline from the instruction he had received. Humans are very forgetful creatures. This is why repetition is essential. Too, humans have a tendency to decline from, that is, “bend away,” from the statutes of God. Diligence is needed to keep one’s self in the wisdom of God.
Job 23:11
April 5, 2016
Proverbs 4:6 – Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
Thought: Those who embrace wisdom will reap her blessings. “She shall preserve thee.” The word “preserve” means “to hedge about, protect, and guard.” She will also “keep thee.” To keep involves having a watchman on duty to guard against dangers. The spiritual real can be as evil as the physical realm. Having a constant security system around our souls is a comforting thought.
Psalm 119:117
April 6, 2016
Proverbs 4:7 – Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Thought: Ordering things in the number of their importance is essential in life. It keeps one focused on the important things of life instead of the trivial. Solomon tells us that wisdom is the first thing. The word “principal” also means “best” and “chief.” Of all the things we seek on a daily basis, wisdom should be paramount. When we rise, we should have as our number one goal to “get wisdom!”
Philippians 3:8
April 7, 2016
Proverbs 4:8 – Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
Thought: Wisdom needs to be exalted and embraced in our lives. She needs to be lifted up and highly esteemed in our minds. We are to clasp her with a frim embrace. Our embrace involves both fondness and a desire to hold her tight so she is always with us. If we will do these things to wisdom, she will promote us and bring us honor.
I Kings 3:11-13
April 8, 2016
Proverbs 4:9 – She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory she shall deliver to thee.
Thought: We enjoy spending time decorating the outer man. Necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and tiaras are common for women. Men like their rings, necklaces, and watches. This outer adornment makes us glow with great worth. To adorn the inner man, one must seek wisdom. When wisdom is worn one will glow with grace and honor.
Acts 18:24-25
April 9, 2016
Proverbs 4:10 – Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
Thought: Three times in Proverbs, Solomon specifically exhorts his son to hear his words. Hearing is a difficult task. There are many barriers and obstacles to overcome if one is going to hear well. Parents must remind their children to hear their instructions. As children of God, we, too, need to be exhorted to give ear to our heavenly Father.
I Thessalonians 2:13
April 10, 2016
Proverbs 4:11 – I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Thought: The world is filled with all kinds of paths. Many of them lead to hurt, destruction, and death. It is essential for parents to lead their children in the right paths. Right paths can only be determined by understanding the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God’s holy Word is the only true spiritual navigation device available to man.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-10
April 11, 2016
Proverbs 4:12 – When thou goest thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Thought: When we make a journey, we like our way to be free from as many encumbrances as possible. Wrecks, construction, narrow roads, and lanes filled with traffic make our travels difficult and less enjoyable. On our spiritual journey, our way can be unencumbered and we will never falter, if we pay close attention to the way of God found in the Bible. Running wide open toward our eternal destiny with no stops and problems is a wonderful thought.
John 11:9-10
April 12, 2016
Proverbs 4:13 – Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Thought: The instructions of God’s Word are very important. They are so important that it is difficult to stress man’s need for them. This verse helps us to understand the importance of instruction. Take fast hold of her. Let her not go. Keep her. She is thy life. The repetition is intended to stress how essential instruction really is to man. Once he has her, he should never, never let her go. He must hold her tight.
II Timothy 1:13
April 13, 2016
Proverbs 4:14 – Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Thought: One would think that this precept is a given. However, many have entered the path of the wicked for numerous reasons: acceptance, wealth, power, etc. Many youth have gone in the way of evil men only to have their youth taken from them. Wickedness and evil DO pay, but their dividends are never positive.
Psalm 26:4-5
April 14, 2016
Proverbs 4:15 – Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Thought: In Proverbs 4:14, the wise man warned about the paths and ways of evil men. The warning not to enter therein continues in this verse. The repetition is loud and clear. When it comes to evil: let it alone, don’t go near it, turn away from it, and get past it as quickly as possible. If not, a person can be burned, scarred, or even killed. Do not get near it!!!
Nehemiah 6:2-4
April 15, 2016
Proverbs 4:16 – For they sleep not, except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Thought: For wicked men, bringing harm to others is more important that precious sleep. The wicked will not sleep until ruin and destruction can be brought upon others. Selfishness, evil, greed, and a lack of conscience are qualities that make a deadly combination. For such individuals, the innocent must constantly be on guard.
Isaiah 57:20
April 16, 2016
Proverbs 4:17 – For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Thought: Bread and wine are essentials of life. One must eat and drink to sustain the body. An ungodly man must be fueled. His bread is wickedness and his wine is violence. Every day his mind and body craves things that are evil. He seeks evil until his hunger and thirst have been satisfied.
Acts 23:21
April 17, 2016
Proverbs 4:18 – But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Thought: The righteous man’s life shines brightly before others. At first, his light is like the dawning of the sun. As individuals get to know him/her, they see that he/she shines more and more unto the perfect day, that is, the day at high noon. What they really see is the light of Jesus Christ shining through the person. Brilliant and bright is that reflection.
John 8:12
April 18, 2016
Proverbs 4:19 – The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Thought: Evil men walk in complete darkness. Because their path is not illuminated, they eventually stumble and fall. We see it all the time in the news. Divorces, addictions, criminal behavior, and even, death are reported about those who have chosen the dark paths of sin. Their ultimate fall will be in the Last Day.
John 11:9-10
April 19, 2016
Proverbs 4:20 – My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Thought: One of the most important requirements of learning is listening. Here, the concerned father exhorts his son to listen two times. He first tells him to “pay attention” to his words. He, then, exhorts him to “bend his ear” towards his instructions. To learn, one must be fully engaged in the skill of listening. May all of us learn to pay close attention to and bend our ears to hear the teachings of God’s Word.
Matthew 17:5
April 20, 2016
Proverbs 4:21 – Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Thought: There are some things in life about which we must be very intentional. The wise father tells his son to constantly keep his heart wrapped around his words. He wants his son to think upon his words as he makes his decisions. In like manner, they are to be before his eyes to direct him in the right paths. One’s choices in life and the paths taken lead either to happiness or anguish.
II Chronicles 17:3-5
April 21, 2016
Proverbs 4:22 – For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Thought: The teachings we choose to follow have a correlation with our destinies in life and the life to come. Life is governed by laws. If a person follows the laws, his life will be full, rewarding, and rich. If a person violates the laws, he will suffer punishment.
Psalm 112:1-3
April 22, 2016
Proverbs 4:23 – Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Thought: The heart of man is the control center of all his actions. Solomon exhorts us to guard our hearts. The word “heart” stands between the words “keep” and “diligence.” “Keep” means “to put in prison.” The word “diligence” means “to place a watchman over.” The writer instructs us to guard our hearts securely. We must take all precautions to keep evil away from them.
Matthew 12:35
April 23, 2016
Proverbs 4:24 – Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Thought: If the heart is not carefully guarded, it will express itself in wicked, ungodly ways. One of the exit points is the mouth. To put away the evils of the tongue, one must first cast away evil things from his heart. This will involve a conscious decision and an act of will. Solomon simply commands: “Put away from thee…”
Colossians 3:8
April 24, 2016
Proverbs 4:25 – Let thine eyes look right on, and thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Thought: The way of truth is a straight and narrow path. Along the way, Satan seeks to divert us from our course. He places all types of temptations at various exits to draw us off the highway of holiness. We must not be deterred. We must keep our eyes fastened upon our ultimate destination. Yes, we must stay homeward bound!
Psalm 119:37
April 25, 2016
Proverbs 4:26 – Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all they ways be established.
Thought: The word “ponder” involves thinking and reasoning, but it also involves action. Thayer says it means “to roll flat, that is, prepare (a road).” So often we fail to realize that we are responsible for making our way in this world. We choose the roads we will travel. We must make certain that they are solid, firmly established roads that will bring us to our destination. God has the plans and the material for the road. Let us choose to built it!
Psalm 37:23
April 26, 2016
Proverbs 4:27 – Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Thought: Deviations from the way of truth always lead to heartache and ruin. Bible characters bear witness to this time and time again. Adam, Moses, David, Peter, Ananias and Sapphira, all chose to deviate from God’s path at one point in their lives. Not once did their taking the wrong path bring happiness to their lives. Dear readers, go straight on and turn not to the right or to the left.
Joshua 1:7
April 27, 2016
Proverbs 5:1 – My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine year to my understanding.
Thought: Parents are given to children for many reasons. One of them is to teach and train them in the Word of God. Many parents fail to take this responsibility seriously. Those who do are to be commended. Children, if your parents are seeking to train you in the ways of God, do as Solomon instructs: “Attend” to their knowledge and “bow thine ear” to their understanding.
Malachi 2:2
April 28, 2016
Proverbs 5:2 – That thou mayest regard discretion, and that they lips may keep knowledge.
Thought: Once truth and wisdom and the ways of God have been taught, the one receiving the truth is then under obligation. The words “regard” and “keep” are two different Hebrew terms, but mean the same thing. They involve both guarding and obeying the instructions given. God holds all those who hear the truth responsible for making sure the truth continues. In this case, it was the younger generation, Solomon’s son.
Malachi 2:6-7
April 29, 2016
Proverbs 5:3 – For the lips of a strange woman drip as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil.
Thought: The strange woman could encompass several different women: the heathen woman, the woman married to another man, or a prostitute. All are dangerous and forbidden. Beyond their looks, strange women entice with their words. They flatter the young man. They speak kind and gentle words to him. Their sweet, soothing talk lures the young man into their devilish den.
Judges 14:7
April 30, 2016
Proverbs 5:4 – But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
Thought: Solomon had warned his son to beware of the sweet, smooth words of the strange woman. They tempt. They lure. They welcome. This is the beginning. The end, however, must also be considered. Two dangerous and deadly things describe the end of this relationship: bitterness or poison, and, a two-edged sword designed to kill. Would that all could consider the end of their actions from the beginning.
Ecclesiastes 7:26
Read devotionals for May 2016