Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.

My pastor in Scotland was a humble man with deep convictions. Christianity was not something he did, it was who he was. When I think of John now I am so grateful. Grateful for the man that God made him into. He loved the simple things in life, yet understood the profound.

John modelled manhood well. He was a loving father and husband, a great provider, and an inspired leader. He knew what it was to “do the hard yards”.

I am reminded of his patience, his gentleness, his belief in others and his warm welcome. He was a safe place for many. It’s still shocking to me that he has gone already. I’m not certain that I ever really found the right words to tell him how he had impacted me, and still does.

Sometimes when I am with people who are in desperate situations I sense that John’s ministry still has an ember in me. I hear his words to me echo through the years, his strength for me flow to others. He showed me in so many ways what it really meant to be a man. It had nothing to do with single acts of great sacrifice really [although that may happen], but more to do with laying my life down daily for others.

When my time is near its end, I would like to be known as a humble man with deep convictions too.

KNOWLEDGE

It’s so important to intentionally spend time with God and to be led by God into the other activities of our lives. We will sometimes learn by making mistakes and that’s ok, it’s a human way of doing things.

God would love us to learn from him. Directly from him. That we would spend time each day at his feet, in his word, with his people. That we would see communion as a daily moment of honour and love.

His words living in us shape our future and our children’s futures. His word guiding us protects us, moves us, shapes us, and brings about change in us. His words are the source of life, they made the earth and all that is in it. How can we fulfil our best destiny without his words living in us?

His presence strengthens us, guides us through peace, and positions us to win. We “just happen” to be in the right place and the right time. Again and again. God, working in our everyday circumstances.

His people encourage us, we have life spoken over us, we receive words of prophecy and encouragement, songs of guidance and hope, gifts of strength and provision.

We are to be channels, as we receive from His Word, His presence, and His people, we are no longer reservoirs, now we become rivers, as what He has graciously given to us, flows from us.

UNDERSTANDING

Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?

The word for “lamp”   in Hebrew is pronounced as “niyr”, and this word appears 48 times in the Old Testament. In the ESV the English for this word is translated as “lamp” every time.

The meaning is given as a lamp, or a descendant as in the “of a line” like the burning of a lamp. I love the idea that the commandment is a direct descendant of the teaching.

WISDOM – what does your prescription from the Holy Spirit have written on it today?

STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Developer, adds value to others, mentoring for a moment, creating soft landings when people try and fail. You celebrate the small wins.

Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [these prescriptions and orders [father’s commandments and mother’s teaching] are descendants from the law, bringing brightness and correction, with instruction for ongoing life without death.]

PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to stay focused on the path you are putting before me, with all my strength, heart and soul. Thank you.

I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to encourage me?