Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 12-27-21

December 27, 2021

Today’s passage helps us to remember our need for God’s divine wisdom within our lives and warns us of the dangers of rejecting His wisdom. Our passage is from Solomon’s Book of Proverbs, which is often referred to as one of the Books of Wisdom. We are looking at the last five verses of chapter 8. However, let’s remember that chapter 7 ended with a description of a woman, which Solomon did back in chapter 1. He personified wisdom as a woman. We see this continue in chapter 8 and through chapter 9. Let’s recall the verses that preceded today’s passage:

Verses 1-5: She (wisdom) cries out for all to listen to her message. You and I need godly wisdom at all times. When we think that wisdom is hard to find, we need to remember that God’s wisdom is readily available all of the time, it’s constantly calling out to you and me…we just need to listen, submit, and obey.

Verses 6-11: Wisdom speaks the Truth and detests evil. Her advice is wholesome and nothing about her is crooked. Wisdom is more valuable than any precious stone, silver, and gold. Friends, we must remember that the things of this world are temporal, but the treasures of Heaven are eternal. Wisdom is a Heavenly gift that we get to treasure now, it is our direct connection to Christ, Himself, as He is made wisdom for us. What are you grabbing on to and storing up…earthly treasures or Heavenly treasures?

Verses 12-13: Wisdom lives with good judgement, knowledge, and discernment. She hates evil, and all who hate evil with her fear the Lord. When we are truly living in reverence and awe of Almighty God and His power in and through us, we are allowing His wisdom to operate in our lives and we are no longer prideful, and we are quick to turn away from arrogance, and corruption.

Verses 14-21: Wisdom reminds us that she loves all who love her, and rewards all who seek her, even rulers and leaders. Leaders are to hate evil too and are to fear the Lord. She expresses, again, that the value of godly wisdom is greater than the finest gold. Friends, I don’t know about you, but I want to inherit the wealth that the Lord offers, not that anyone, or this world, offers, and so I pray that He grows His wisdom within my life every day.

Verses 22-31: In these 10 verses, wisdom speaks about how she existed from the beginning, before all of creation, and how she rejoices in all of creation. I can’t help but to be reminded of John 1:1, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We know that this was Jesus, He existed from the beginning, before creation. Jesus is wisdom. He wants to be our wisdom, our guide, our love for all eternity. When you call on God’s wisdom, remember you are asking Jesus for His Almighty guidance.

In today’s verses, wisdom encourages us to follow her ways because they are joyful. She reminds us that whoever finds her receives favor with the Lord, eternal life, not death. Don’t miss it friends, Solomon wrote this almost 1,000 years before the Apostle Paul, who walked with Wisdom Himself, JESUS, would teaches us this: “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Proverbs 8:32-36 (NLT)

32 “And so, my children, listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”

Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for Your wisdom. Please impart Your wisdom to me daily and help me to quickly turn back to You when I am not walking in Your wisdom. I see so much of our world that needs Your wisdom. Please use me as a vessel to help others see, hear, and know You. I ask all of this in Your Precious and Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

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