Proverbs 25:4

Beat drossy silver,
And it will be made entirely clean.

Personal Challenge

One of the challenges that many people have when reading the scriptures is not understanding some of the images that are used to explain the lessons that are being taught. This lesson comes from the silversmith and the practice of making silver clean and pristine before it is made into its final form of artwork. As silver goes through its process of refinement and preparation the impurities of the silver will come to the surface. The process of bringing these impurities, or dross, to the surface is pounding it with a hammer, over and over. Why is this here? This is a reminder for us that God allows trials and tribulations in our lives to pound on us and remove the impurities of our lives. This process will cleanse us and make us more like Christ. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 23:18

For if you keep these words, you shall have offspring,
And your hope will not depart from you.

Encouraging Words

As Christians, we put our hope in Jesus Christ, the living God. He is not an idol made of wood or clay. He is the Son of God with no beginning and no end. He is also truly and fully a human being, conceived through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. He lived a life like every one of the rest of us, except He lived His life without committing sin. This is who we put our hope in. That hope is not in vain and it leads us to do good works for God and to keep His words, which then feeds our hope in Him. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 22:20-22 (22:17-19)

Incline your ear to the words of the wise and hear my word,
And establish your heart, that you may know they are good.
And if you apply them to your heart,
They will gladden you and at the same time be upon your lips;
That your hope might be in the Lord,
And His way might be known to you.

Personal Challenge

All through the Scriptures, both Old Testament and New, it is clear that we are not meant to be alone. Even God as the trinity is a community. Unfortunately, we have become a people that think alone, act alone, and live as if we are all that we need. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We need each other. We need to be in community. It is from being involved with others that we gain the opportunity to incline our ears to the words of the wise. It is through others that God teaches and nurtures us. It is through others that we can grow in the image of Christ. If we want to receive wisdom then we need to be in fellowship with others. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 21:20 (21:21)

The way of righteousness and mercy shall find life and glory.

Encouraging Words

We live in an awesome country. We are blessed by much and yes, we have many challenges that are chipping away at that awesomeness. But we do have a way that we can make a difference. If we live our lives according to God’s righteousness and be merciful to those around us, we will find the life that is full of glory. It is not about the pursuit of happiness or the desire for self-satisfaction and self-fulfillment. It is about loving our God and our neighbor and meeting the needs of others. This is how to live, “the life”. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 21:3

To do righteous things and to speak the truth
Are more pleasing before God than the blood of sacrifices.

Personal Challenge

We live in a time and a culture where ritual sacrifices do not happen. There was a time when the sacrifice was a reminder, a foreshadowing, of what Jesus, the Son of God, would do someday for His creation. Sacrifices were done for both the redemption of sins and to show God our love for Him. They were an important part of the law. Even with all of that in place, God consistently told His people that doing righteous things, like loving our neighbor, giving alms to the poor, and taking care of those in need, as well as speaking the truth in love, was far more pleasing to Him than these sacrifices. It is the condition of our hearts and how that drives us that God cares about. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 19:21

There are many thoughts in the heart of a man,
But the counsel of the Lord abides forever.

Personal Challenge

We are surrounded by fake news or lies, talking heads, and opinions. It seems like everyone deems themselves to be, not only an expert but the expert on what they are expounding on. We must be careful to not fall for these thoughts of man for they can very quickly lead us astray. So, where do we get our counsel, our guidance? We need to get it from our Lord, through His teachings, His word, from the saints that have gone before us, and the godly around us. God is our counsel. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 19:20

Hear, my son, the instruction of your father,
That you may become wise in your last days.

Personal Challenge

Wisdom is not something that is easily acquired. If we want to be wise in our later years of life then we need to spend our lives pursuing God and His wisdom. This can start early in our lives by listening to our fathers for they have the experience that surpasses ours. I miss my father but I remember the many things that He taught me as I was growing up. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is of great strength,
And when the righteous run to it, they are exalted.

Encouraging Words

We are not alone in this world or in our journey through life. Our Lord is always with us and always available for us to run to. In Him, we will find great strength to make it through any situation. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 17:30 (17:28)

Wisdom shall be imputed to a man without understanding who asks for wisdom,
And anyone who holds his peace will seem to have discernment.

Personal Challenge

Have you ever received that juicy tidbit of information and have everything within you burn to share it with everyone? In the eyes of our Lord and the saints that have gone before us, it is better to bury that information rather than share it, especially if it will end up hurting someone. This is why holding our peace is showing discernment. We would be in a much better world if we would all hold our opinions and share our love with each other more. Glory be to God!