Prov 8:33 [ESV] Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
I think that when God speaks to me with direction it usually is something that is connected to my heart issues. Something that I am trying to hold on to, and He wants me to let go off. God has often spoken to me about generosity, and being willing to allow generosity to flow with greater freedom. I, however, am a very logical thinker, and will often base any generosity of my logical thought process, and not on God’s leading.
When I do listen to God and go his way, I am always richer and sense a greater freedom in my internal man. Yet, I struggle against this for long periods, not wanting to let go of things that are weighing me down. I am a slow-change artist I think.
I think as I get older I realise that the more I cooperate with God, the better the outcomes will be, even when they are not the outcomes I have in mind.
KNOWLEDGE – In the culture of our day intellectual wisdom is valued, business wisdom is honoured, and wisdom for success is seen as a commodity of some great worth. But the bible here is focused on corrective wisdom, something that can really grate in our culture. We want the freedom to do what we want to do, in the way we want to do it, we are really keen in being our own source of wisdom, not needing any wisdom from an unseen God. “Did God really say” echoes down through the centuries.
This discipline that God is speaking about is an uncomfortable road, one where we recognise our short comings and are willing to be changed on the inside by a loving God who is shaping us into the image of His son Jesus, using everything at hand to do this amazing work. God’s instruction to us is to be willing to let go of our flesh nature, and in being willing to let go we will actually find something far greater in Him.
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 Neglect in Hebrew is pronounced as “para”, and carries the meaning of “to take the lead; broken loose; unbind; act sinfully, ignored, avoided, cast off restraint, and neglected”
In the LXX the word used is “αποσφραγήτε” [aposphragete] – “[not] seal it up”. This word is not used in the New Testament.
WISDOM
Where in my life would correction and discipline be helpful
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Deliberative as a Gallup Strength is cautious and wants to make great decisions easily seeing what can go wrong before others do. Don’t get stuck in the analytical process, step into corrective action.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – hear and obey correction and discipline and be skilful and show wisdom, and do not try to break loose from it.
Hear – hear and obey
instruction – correction and discipline
and be wise – and be skilful and show wisdom
and do not neglect it – try to break loose from it
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to listen carefully to everything your word says, and to allow it to impact my inner man.
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