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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for July 2016
August 1, 2016
Proverbs 8:12 – I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Thought: Wisdom has a shrewdness about it. Its depth of knowledge and ability to challenge that which is foolish, untrue, and evil should never be underestimated. What the “wise” of this world have a tendency to mock and ridicule can easily refute and convict them. It can shut the mouth of the false teacher. It can expose all that oppose God and spiritual things. Divine wisdom should never be underestimated by our opponents.
Titus 1:9-11
August 2, 2016
Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth to I hate.
Thought: As Christians, it seems contradictory to say that we must hate something, but we must. If we truly fear the Lord, we hate all evil. It stands opposed to our God. It conflicts with the truth of God’s Word. It keeps men from being saved. It causes humanity to be lost in the last day. Evil usually begins with pride and arrogancy in the heart. It then manifests itself in evil ways and in corrupt communication. My friends, God hates evil, and so should we.
Psalm 119:128
August 3, 2016
Proverbs 8:14 – Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Thought: There is an old saying that says: “Knowledge is power.” This is abundantly true for the person who possesses divine knowledge. The Word of God possesses hearty counsel, sound wisdom, deep understanding, and abundant strength for all types of situations in life. Worldly wisdom often scoffs at divine wisdom. However, divine wisdom continues when man’s wisdom has been shown to be true foolishness. Dear reader, get wisdom!
I Corinthians 1:19-20
August 4, 2016
Proverbs 8:15 – By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Thought: God is the being who instituted governments throughout the world. He is the one who brings rulers into existence and the one who removes them from power. He expects those in positions of power to honor Him. The way they do this is to make His divine wisdom the center point of their reign. Righteousness should always be in the mind of all magistrates. Christians need to constantly remind our leaders about this fact.
Daniel 2:20-21
August 5, 2016
Proverbs 8:16 – By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
Thought: There have been many rulers who have forsaken their responsibility to rule by the wisdom of God. These rulers have brought their nations into idolatry, immorality, and severe oppression. Those who have ruled in righteousness, like King David, have brought prosperity and divine protection to their domains. Pray that the rulers of our nation will embrace the wisdom that comes from above.
II Chronicles 31:20-21
August 6, 2016
Proverbs 8:17 – I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Thought: When a man gets serious about obtaining divine wisdom, it is not difficult to find. Those who seek it will find it. Those who embrace it will be embraced by it. Those who love it will be loved in return. The benefits of wisdom are beyond comprehension. We implore all of our readers to SEEK WISDOM!
Isaiah 55:6-7
August 7, 2016
Proverbs 8:18 – Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Thought: Wisdom rewards those who seek her. Here, three things are promised: riches, honor, and righteousness. It is interesting that Solomon describes the riches as “durable” riches. These are spiritual riches. They are riches that are “advanced, enduring, and valuable.” These riches will outlast the riches of the earth. They are riches that can be carried into eternity.
Philippians 4:19
August 8, 2016
Proverbs 8:19 – My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
Thought: The truth is that divine wisdom and its fruit are more valuable than gold and silver. Convincing the world of this truth is difficult. Convincing some children of God of this truth is very hard. They are too focused upon carnal and worldly things. It takes a spiritual mindset to understand the true worth of divine wisdom. Which do you prefer? Earthly wealth? Or, the unsearchable riches of Christ?
Philippians 3:7-9
August 9, 2016
Proverbs 8:20 – I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment.
Thought: The wisdom of God directs the course of a man’s life. If accurately followed, he will be led in the paths of righteousness. These are good paths. They are healthy paths. These are paths that lead to happiness and security. These are peaceful paths. These are paths filled with beauty and sunshine. My friend, all others paths are dark and dangerous. They lead to destruction and death. Follow the way of righteousness and be wise!
Revelation 7:17
August 10, 2016
Proverbs 8:21 – That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Thought: An inheritance is a gift from another. It includes the riches and the assets of a beloved family member or a close friend. Those who receive large inheritances are truly blessed in this world. Their lives are made easier by another. Wisdom also has the ability to provide an inheritance to those who accept her. It includes substance and treasures. These treasures are not earthly, but spiritual. They are not connected with this world, but with the world to come. The value of this inheritance is difficult for the human mind to comprehend. It far outweighs any physical inheritance one might receive in this life.
I Peter 1:4
August 11, 2016
Proverbs 8:22 – The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Thought: Divine wisdom is eternal. It is eternal because God is eternal. It has always resided in the mind of God. Because it is eternal, it is lasting. Man’s wisdom will come and go. God’s wisdom will last. It is better to trust in that which is eternal rather than something that is temporal. May God help us to see our foolishness. May He help us to come to understand and appreciate His great wisdom of old.
I Corinthians 3:18-20
August 12, 2016
Proverbs 8:23 – I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
Thought: Again, we are focused upon the fact that wisdom is eternal. The concept of eternity boggles the mind of finite man. We can only think in terms of time. Our minds can only grasp this world. Wisdom, however, existed before time. Wisdom existed before this world was created. Ancient does not describe wisdom. It can only be described as eternal.
I Timothy 1:17
August 13, 2016
Proverbs 8:24 – When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Thought: It is overwhelming to try to comprehend a time when the heavens and earth did not exist. When we think of such a time, we have a tendency to think that nothing existed. Not so! God existed. And, divine wisdom existed with Him. God is a self-existent being. He has always been. This is one of the qualities of the being that we call God.
Genesis 1:2-7
August 14, 2016
Proverbs 8:25 – Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.
Thought: When we go to the mountains, we see majestic rock formations that tower high in the sky. They manifest great strength. They cause us to be awed. But, there was a time when they did not exist. Too, something greater than the mountains themselves formed them. Their Creator was God. And, when he settled the mountains, wisdom was with Him.
Psalm 90:1-2
August 15, 2016
Proverbs 8:26 – While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
Thought: In Genesis 1, we read of God’s creating the heaven and the earth in six, literal, 24-hour days. Over the course of that time, He strategically created each aspect of the world. The sum total, that is, “the highest part of the dust of the world,” was finished the sixth day. Prior to this, only God and His wisdom existed. God was truly before all things.
Colossians 1:15-17
August 16, 2016
Proverbs 8:27 – When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.
Thought: God’s wisdom was present when God formed and fashioned the earth. It was there when He set a compass, that is, a circle around the waters of the earth. Wisdom saw God as He created. Wisdom was there to witness the power of God as it brought wonderful things into existence. Divine wisdom can attest to the greatness and the majesty of the Creation and the Creator.
Psalm 136:5
August 17, 2016
Proverbs 8:28 – When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep.
Thought: God was actively involved in every facet of His creation. He formed the mountains. He established the fields. He prepared the heavens. He made the fountains of the deep. God knows all of the intimate details of this world in which we live. There is so much about our world about which we know so little. God knows it all. And, wisdom was there to witness all that God made and formed with His powerful hands.
Psalm 139:13-16
August 18, 2016
Proverbs 8:29 – When he gave the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth.
Thought: According to water.usgs.gov about 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. 96.5% of this water is found in the oceans. The average depth of the ocean is about 12,500 feet. The amount of water on the earth is unfathomable to man. But, all of this water is contained. God has set the bounds of the water by His commandment, and the water obeys His voice. This point alone reveals the power of the Word of God.
Psalm 104:6-9
August 19, 2016
Proverbs 8:30 – Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.
Thought: Wisdom is here personified as a small child. Just as a child is constantly by his parents, wisdom was close by the Almighty during the creation. He was loved and cherished by God. In turn, wisdom rejoiced as it watched Jehovah God bring forth the heavens and the earth and all that is therein.
Jeremiah 10:11-12
August 20, 2016
Proverbs 8:31 – Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Thought: Wisdom rejoiced in all of God’s creation, but he was overjoyed by the creation of man. To see a being who was made in the image of God inhabiting the world as God created it cause wisdom to sing God’s praise. God had created something very unique. He created a being who could love Him. He created a being who could have fellowship with Him. Truly, wisdom was delighted when he viewed the sons of men.
Genesis 1:26-27
August 21, 2016
Proverbs 8:32 – Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Thought: We are given two reasons as to why we should give heed to divine wisdom. One is because it is eternal and was with God from before the beginning. This is seen in the words, “now therefore.” There is nothing that wisdom has not witnessed both divine and human. A second reason we should attend unto wisdom is because those who keep it will be blessed. Another way of saying it is: “Oh how happy are they that keep wisdom’s ways.” Don’t you desire happiness, dear reader? If so, hearken unto wisdom!
Luke 11:28
August 22, 2016
Proverbs 8:33 – Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Thought: The inspired writer reveals to each of us that we have choices when it comes to divine matters. We are not robots that have been preprogramed by God to act and do certain things. Each of us has the responsibility to hear instruction. If we do, we are wise. However, we can disregard wisdom. The writer of Proverbs urges us not do to this in the words, “refuse it not.” Those who refuse wisdom are the opposite of wise. They are fools.
Matthew 7:24-27
August 23, 2016
Proverbs 8:34 – Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Thought: The image here is that wisdom has a school of learning that can be attended. Some are so eager to hear that they arrive early. Before the gates are opened and before the doors are unlocked, they are waiting, eagerly wanting to hear what wisdom has to say. It is all we can do to get some people at the worship services on time, much less have them come early. Those who are eager, however, will be early. Those early birds will definitely be blessed.
Psalm 27:4
August 24, 2016
Proverbs 8:35 – For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.
Thought: The blessings that flow from divine wisdom are abundant and all of them are needful for mankind. Here, two blessings of wisdom are mentioned: life and the Lord’s favor. The life mentioned involves both the “here and now” and the “there and then.” Being in the favor of God brings huge rewards in the present world and in the world to come. Wisdom is underestimated by most, but it should be man’s most vital pursuit.
Psalm 5:11-12
August 25, 2016
Proverbs 8:36 – But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Thought: Man is free to either hearken unto divine wisdom or to reject it. Those who give heed have positive consequences in their lives. Those that reject wisdom do themselves a great disservice, and disservice is a mild word. The writer of Proverbs says they wrong their own souls. How true! Their souls are stained when they could have been pure. Too, they love death. Ultimately they will experience the second death of fire and brimstone. Again, this is their choice.
Revelation 20:11-15
August 26, 2016
Proverbs 9:1 – Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.
Thought: There is going to be an invitation offered by wisdom in this chapter. Her cry will go out unto all men. Her house is ready to receive them. It is a house of splendor and magnificence. It stands stately with seven pillars. The construction of this house is perfect. It can receive as many as will answer wisdom’s invitation. No one has to be excluded or turned down. All can enter. It is only by a man’s choice that he does not go in.
I Timothy 3:15
August 27, 2016
Proverbs 9:2 – She hath killed her beasts: she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
Thought: Not only has wisdom prepared her house, but she has prepared the meal for her guests. Both food and drink are there. Her table has been beautifully decorated for her guests. Nothing has been omitted. The guests who choose to enter will not be disappointed. They will eat, drink, and be filled to satisfaction and beyond. Wisdom is a marvelous host. Now we must decide. Will we come to the feast?
Matthew 22:4
August 28, 2016
Proverbs 9:3 – She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city.
Thought: The invitation has gone out. The guests have been invited. Now, what will the guests do? Will they come to the feast of wisdom? Will they drop previous plans to attend and receive the benefits from this mighty host? Or, will they despise the invitation? Will they continue their lives as if they did not need this invitation? My friends, all of mankind is faced with this decision. All have been invited to wisdom’s table. What will your choice be?
Matthew 11:28-20
August 29, 2016
Proverbs 9:4 – Whoso is simple let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she said to him.
Thought: Two groups of people are invited to the feast of wisdom, the simple and the ones who are in need of understanding. There are some people who are too accepting. They believe that everything is the truth. Because of this, they can be easily seduced with error. They need divine wisdom. Then, there are some who have never been taught divine wisdom. They are just ignorant. They need to be educated with God’s wisdom. Dear reader, into which group do you place yourself? If you fall into one of these categories, come to the feast!
Psalm 19:7-9
August 30, 2016
Proverbs 9:5 – Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Thought: The divine host, wisdom, has spared no expense. She has provided the most nutritious foods and the most refreshing drinks. Those who come to the feast will be well fed. They will be more than satisfied. It is a perpetual feast. It has no end. The benefits of eating and drinking are constantly manifesting themselves in the lives of wisdom guests. No one who has come has been disappointed. Dear reader, will you not accept the invitation? Bread and wine, the finest, will be served.
John 6:53-58
August 31, 2016
Proverbs 9:6 – Forsake the foolish, and live, and go in the way of understanding.
Thought: There are two ways for men to tread, the foolish way and the way of understanding. The foolish way tries to present itself as the wise and needed way. It wants us to believe that it is the right way. It constantly puts pressure on us to walk down its path. The writer of Proverbs tells us that it must be forsaken. The word “forsake” means “to depart, to leave behind, to abandon, and to desert.” The foolish way leads to death. If individuals can comprehend this, they will seek the way of understanding that leads to life.
Psalm 26:4-5
Read devotionals for September 2016