Day 289 Bible Readings – Proverbs 6: 16-19 (ESV)

Jeremiah 32: 26-44, Jeremiah 33-34, 1 Timothy 1, Proverbs 6: 12-19

Proverbs 6: 16-19 (ESV)

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

Verses 16 through 19 from Proverbs 6 list seven (7) things that Solomon tells us that God hates and/or are an abomination to him. The seven things seem to be very common-sense things not to do if you want to lead a peaceful and prosperous life, and they all relate to something we do with our body and/or how we treat others. The first is haughty eyes or a having a proud look, which for me translates to looking down on other people and thinking you are better than them. The second is a lying tongue which is not telling or withholding the truth from someone, which doesn’t seem that bad but why would you not want to tell the truth to someone. Lying to someone, even if it’s a white lie, always ends up hurting the other person when they find out the truth.  The third is the shedding of innocent blood which comes from the ten commandments of thou shall not kill. The fourth is the heart that devises wicked schemes, which is planning evil against someone. The fifth is having feet that make haste to run to evil or the willingness to always to evil things. The sixth is a false witness who breathes out lies, which is again one of the ten commandments about bearing false witness against your neighbor. The final one is to not sow discord among others. Everyone I think has a person in their lives who does nothing but stir up trouble, and while this person is tolerated, wouldn’t it better to have people in our lives who want the best for us and who does not constantly cause problems. If everyone tried to not do these things, I think we would have all have a more peaceful and trouble-free life.

Day 288 Bible Readings – Proverbs 6: 9-11 (ESV)

Jeremiah 31: 15-40, Jeremiah 32: 1-25, 2 Thessalonians 3, Proverbs 6: 1-11

Proverbs 6: 9-11 (ESV)

“How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

I love verses 9 through 11 from Proverbs 6 because it’s about laziness and sleeping too much. I love laying in bed all day but I know if I do that too much, I feel so lazy. It’s not that I don’t get anything done in bed because I do, but there is something about getting out of bed that makes me feel productive and not lazy. Solomon knew that laziness was not good for people so he warned that if you are lazy and don’t get out of bed, you will end up in poverty.

Because I like working in bed, I make sure I get up and make the bed. Then I wash and get dressed for the day and get back in bed and do my work. I am up and awake and not sleeping, but I am in bed and working. But I know I can’t stay in bed for a long time because it’s too tempting to take a nap, especially in the afternoon. So Solomon was right. Sleeping in for too long is not a good thing, and I love that Solomon knew this thousands of years ago.

Day 287 Bible Readings – 2 Thessalonians 2: 13 (ESV)

Jeremiah 29: 24-32, Jeremiah 30, Jeremiah 31: 1-14, 2 Thessalonians 2, Proverbs 15: 15-23

2 Thessalonians 2: 13 (ESV)

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

In verse 13 from 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul wrote to the Church of the Thessalonians that he gives thanks to God for the church members because God chose them to be saved from the beginning. In the same way, we can know that God also chose us to be saved in the beginning because of our belief and faith in Jesus Christ. God also chose and the members of the Church of the Thessalonians to be saved through sanctification. The word “sanctification” means we are “separated from the world and separated unto God.” I was listening to sermon by Pastor David Guzik on what the word sanctification, and he says there are three (3) categories of sanctification. Here’s the link to the sermon: 

The first category of sanctification is positional sanctification, which means we are automatically sanctified because of our faith in Jesus Christ. The second category of sanctification is decisive sanctification, which means we are fully surrendered to God and we choose to be set apart from the world. Pastor Guzik said we are on “Team Jesus”, but not a part of the world. Some would say we have evidence of sanctification because of our behavior and how we choose to live. And the third category of sanctification is progressive sanctification, which is the continual renewal and the growing of our surrender to God.

I like these different categories of sanctification especially the last one because in my case, surrender to God has been a continual process. I am more surrendered to God now than I have ever been in my whole life. I read the Bible daily and at the request of the Holy Spirit, I write and blog about what I’ve read so I can immerse myself more fully in God’s words. Does this mean I am saved? I don’t know because that decision will only come from the grace of God, but what I do know is that I have a deeper relationship with God that I expect to grow and deepen until the day I die. And right now, this is enough for me.

Day 286 Bible Readings – Jeremiah 29: 11 (ESV)

Jeremiah 27-28, Jeremiah 29: 1-23, 2 Thessalonians 1, Proverbs 5: 1-14

Jeremiah 29: 11 (ESV)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

In verse 11 from Jeremiah 29, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah to tell the Hebrews in exile that he has plans for them even in their long season of affliction in exile in Babylon. God wanted to let his people know that his plans were for the welfare of his people and not evil. God wants to give his people a future and a hope. I love that we have assurance that God is always thinking of us even in our season of trouble. God has not forgotten us, even though in a season of trouble it often feels like God has forgotten us and will punish us even further. Our God is a good God. He has plans for our welfare so he can give us a future and a hope. God has not forgotten us, but is always drawing us closer to him in good and bad seasons of our lives.