Day 307 Bible Readings – Proverbs 12: 1 (ESV)

Ezekiel 1-3, Hebrews 4;14-16, Hebrews 5: 1-10, Proverbs 11: 29-31, Proverbs 12: 1-7

Proverbs 12: 1 (ESV)

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

Verse 1 from Proverbs 12 shows Wisdom telling us to keep learning, and to make learning a discipline that we do daily. If we love the discipline of learning, then this means we love knowledge. But then Wisdom also us that sometimes we may get it wrong and, we must therefore love correction. How can you improve in any area of your life if you are not willing to be corrected?

I think this verse applies to every day practical things, but also to our relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We must be willing to constantly seek the knowledge of God and his plans for our life. We must read the Bible daily and learn to accept God’s correction in our life. How would we know we are being obedient to God, if he does not sometimes need to correct us? When I get corrected by the Holy Spirit, my first reaction is the feeling of anger. The little child in me rises and says “I can do anything I want, and no one is going to tell me what to do.” But after a minute, I calm down and realize what a good father-God I have. God cares about me so much that the watches my every move, and if I do something not in keeping with God’s plan for my life, he steps in and corrects me using the Holy Spirit. His swift intervention into my life always keeps me on track and makes my life path smooth. No life is ever trouble free; God did not make that promise to his followers. But with God guiding us, we can always expect that God will do his best to smooth out the path for us as much as possible.

Day 306 Bible Readings – Joel 2: 25 (ESV)

Joel 2: 18-32, Joel 3, Hebrews 4: 1-13, Proverbs 11: 19-28

Joel 2: 25 (ESV)

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.”

I love verse 25 from Joel 2. Joel tells us that God promises restoration after he has punished us. God will restore everything to us that was taken from us even though it might seem we have lost everything. God’s promises tell us that he is not an unkind an unjust God. God will punish us when we fall away from him, but when we repent, he will welcome us back and he will restore everything that we lost. I think God’s restoration also applies when we lose everything due to other circumstances. God is a kind and good father. He will never hold back his love from us. He will take care of us and restore to us everything that life has taken from us.

Day 305 Bible Readings - Joel 2: 12-13 (ESV)

Joel 1, Joel 2: 1-17, Hebrews 3, Proverbs 11: 9-18

Joel 2: 12-13 (ESV)

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”

Verses 12 and 13 from Joel 2 shows Joel telling the southern Kingdom of Judah to repent because we have a gracious God. Joel doesn’t say repent and return to God because if you do not, he will punish you. Instead, Joes tell us God will be merciful and heal us because he is slow to anger and loves us. These verses remind me of the parable of the Prodigal son. When the son returned, the father celebrated his return. God will treat us in the same way. When we realize what we’ve done wrong and repented with action, God will celebrate our return and love us. God may also relent over his judgement over us. Joel reminds us not be afraid of acknowledging when we’ve done wrong and coming back to God. God loves as a father loves a child, and he will celebrate the return of his prodigal child.

Day 304 Bible Readings – Obadiah 1: 15 (ESV)

Obadiah 1, Hebrews 2, Proverbs 10: 31-32, Proverbs 11: 1-8

Obadiah 1: 15 (ESV)

“For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.”

When I read verse 15 from Obadiah 1, I was reminded of Jesus’ words from the sermon on the mount – “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7: 12 (ESV)) Jesus studied the Old Testament and knew it well. I love that the teachings of Christ reflected what he learned from the Old Testament, so when we read the Old Testament we are constantly reminded of what Jesus said in his teachings. Christ unified the Old and New Testament in his teachings and reflected what he tried to do in his life before he was crucified. We can read about the power of God in the Old and New Testament from prophets like Obadiah and in teachings of Christ.