Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 8:12-21
Prov 8:12-21
I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth, and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
1 Cor 1:30-31
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. This is fear in the sense of reverence and awe because of his majesty as God. Because he is God and because of his greatness, it also involves fear in the sense that we are accountable to him for the way we live our lives. “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.” This means that when we have true wisdom, we respect God as God and then we become like him so that we hate evil and love that which is righteous and good.
For many, the journey of living with Jesus begins because of a fear of punishment in hell. As one matures spiritually, this grows into a service of love because we come to know the love of God better and realize that he always wants what is best for us. This is the same principle that guides godly parenting when we punish our small child for doing wrong but show them that we are doing it because we love them and want the best for them. Fear is then replaced with love.
John tells us that there is no fear in love because fear involves punishment. When we live for the Lord, our sins are continually forgiven by the blood of Jesus. So, Paul says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Because of this we are able to go to bed at night with an assurance of our salvation in Jesus.
O Lord, God of hope and peace, thank you for giving me a way of knowing that I am yours and as your child I have the promise of eternal life with you. Keep me from ever turning your grace into an excuse for sin. Give me your wisdom so that I will hate every evil thing and love you and love righteousness more each day. Use me to show others your love and your grace by my demeanor and by my actions. Be with your people, especially those who are in places where they face danger daily because of their faith. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
