Scripture Graphics #99

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?...They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Proverbs 8:1, 9

Sometimes, what makes God’s Word so hard to understand is our attitude. We don’t *truly* want to find knowledge, so we explain away verses instead of accepting them to be right. Is this our attitude toward God’s Word?

Spiritual maturity isn’t how much about the Bible that we know, but how we use it in our daily lives. One could quote whole books of the Bible, yet have animosity toward others and no love, peace, long suffering. Are we striving to just have a knowledge of God’s Word—or live it?

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5

We are not called to be judges amongst ourselves based in our preferences and opinions. So often, when we do, we judge only external issues that we see—ignorant of the hidden roots. These verses are a good reminder for me to rest the case in God’s hands—Who sees all details and knows all things.
(Note: this is not the same as turning a blind eye to Biblically-defined sin, but rather applying to things in life where we have formed an opinion or conviction extra-Biblical)

It is kind of a “cool thing” to speak violently. We use violent words in jest and exaggeration... but it is still proceeding from our mouth. This is not how a child of God (i.e. righteous man) should speak—even in teasing. Are we giving heed to the words of our mouth and judging them Biblically?

What Proverbs have you recently read?