A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (January 8, 2016)
Wisdom is the principal (preeminent) thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]. (Proverbs 4:7)
Proverbs 4 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. A key reason for that is that God used a verse in this chapter to spark faith in our family at a critical time.
I was working in Dallas, TX when I received a frantic phone call from my wife about our youngest son. We were living in TN at the time and our son Chip had fallen off some monkey bars at a friend’s house. He fell on his right arm and they thought he had broken the growth plate in that arm. They took him to the emergency room and they put a cast on his arm. I was not in a position to fly home so I told my wife I would pray and get back with her.
As I prayed for my son that night God reminded me of a scripture I had memorized in Proverbs 4. That scripture was as follows:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22)
I knew that scripture well. But, I had never thought about it the way God was telling me to think about it. He asked me one question. “Is your son flesh of your flesh”? My answer was “yes Lord.” He didn’t have to say anymore. I got it! This promise was not just for me but for my son also. I called my wife and told her everything was going to be okay. My son grew up to be a great basketball player with absolutely no problems with that arm.
There are two very important things I want you to see here:
1. We are by nature a selfish lot. We are mostly concerned with “ME”. We even read the Bible like that. What does God promise to me? How does this scripture apply to me? I knew immediately this was God speaking to me because I never would have even thought this scripture included my son. I thought it was just talking about me and my flesh.
2. God can only use what you have been diligent enough to put in. We are sort of like big computers. Garbage in, garbage out, or Word in, Word out. If I had never read and memorized that scripture God would not have been able to have me recall it.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
That is why it is so important to have a systematic way to read and study the Word of God. God wants to bring to your remembrance the very Word that you have need of but He cannot do it if you have never put it into your memory bank.
Exalt her, and she (wisdom) shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. (Proverbs 4:8-13)
