Baptist_Bible_Believer

“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee” (Proverbs 7:1 KJV).
Why does the father go over and over this godly instruction in Proverbs? Because he is “training up” his son for the future day when he won’t be there to act as his guide and tutor: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).
There will come a day in every person’s life that only memories will suffice when they need a word of advice from a parent. It is our divine duty as parents to see that those memories are Bible rich and not worldly wise. Oh, friend, this is why we must guard our emotions at all times so that our words are not words of anger and frustration, but words laced “alway with grace, seasoned with salt” which will be repeated countless times in tomorrow’s thought life of our children.
No wonder that we live in a world filled with angry men; for growing up all they knew was anger from those whose duty it was to nurture and prepare them for the coming of adulthood, but as anger was all the parent knew, that was all the parent could bestow. Those families that know the Lord and are blessed to be able to name the name of Christ in their home, are doubly blessed to be able to influence the next generation with a legacy of faith.
Proverbs uses a lot of repetition. The Word takes it for granted that we do not remember everything we hear, so it says it over and over again. That’s one way we learn—through repetition, through association, and experience—so he says again, “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.” In 3:8 it says that if we “keep my commandments, and live” (vs. 2), “It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones” (3:8).
Even for a Christian, this is true, for “if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom 8:13 KJV). Words to the wise is sufficient.
“Bind them upon thy fingers.” A book is bound, and we talk about that being the Bible. “write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman” (Proverbs 7:3-4 KJV). In other words, get as close as you can as you would to your own family. “That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words” (Proverbs 7:5 KJV).
Father, impress upon us the importance of guarding our thoughts and our emotions at all times, understanding that the next generation is more likely to remember the wrong things we say. Let us live in such as way that years from now our children will continue to rise and call us blessed, and the instruction that we gave them will, along with the Word of God, be their anchor in this world. Amen.

I have experienced this first hand. I used to be one of the ones who ridiculed and shunned Christians. But then, once I actually turned to Christ for Salvation I found that those who had been friends before now shunned me.

And didn't God replace that old crowd with some true friends! God is good . . . all the time!

“Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3 KJV).
Yesterday we saw that wisdom cries in the broad way and in the narrow way for any that will hear, today we see that if we would be wise we must cry after wisdom and seek her as one would a hidden treasure. Wisdom initially calls any that would hear and offer to bear their load of guilt and free them from the shackles of sin, but wisdom has so much more to offer, to any that will diligently seek after her.
I remember that when I was about ten years old, we went shopping at our local Eagle grocery store and were given volume one of some encyclopedia set which had, I believer, about 30 volumes. If we wanted to complete the set, we had to return to the store on a weekly basis and pay a modest $4.99 for the next volume. The first was a free gift, but the rest cost $144.71 on the store’s installment-type plan. I even saw that first volume in my parent’s house some years later. We only had the one that was free.
I have often thought of that in relation to salvation. The initial act of accepting God’s gift of eternal life always seemed to me similar to getting that free book. However, if you wanted to grow in faith, it was going to cost something in the area of commitment and faithfulness to spiritual things. Peter writes: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:4-8 KJV).
The promises were ours, and yes, they were exceeding great and precious, but to enjoy them to their fullest it was required of us to give all diligence and to add those promises one by one. As we were faithful to attain one, we would work (yes, I said work, Christian growth is surely a work) to reach the next level, so to speak. If we became stagnate in our life for Christ, we would not grow in our faith. God would not give us something new until we worked out the old. And Peter warned, “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” (II Peter 1:9 KJV).
I believe that we, then, see two characteristics of Divine Wisdom: She is found in her fullest expression only by those that are willing to diligently seek her; and, if rejected, she turns into a most scornful and unforgiving foe.
If the lost reject her, they will hear the mocking laughter of God as they seek for help where none is; for the child of God, they will stand empty of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ where it is written that they “shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (I Corinthians 3:15).
If you are reading this, and not sure where you will spend eternity, come to Jesus Christ now, He is the embodiment of the Wisdom spoken of here, and know for certain that you’ll have a home in heaven. If you know that you are saved but have stopped growing in the Lord, rededicate your life at the Cross and be washed anew by the Blood of cleansing and resolve to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, thank You for Your great love towards us, even when we were yet sinners, You died for us in a most cruel way. Thank You for letting us have a part in Your eternal plans. Amen.

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6 KJV).
The Word of God is eternally true and above man’s comprehension without the indwelling Holy Spirit sent to us to be our Teacher in all things spiritual and holy. How is it that mere man dares to sit as it’s judge and critic? The Word of God is God’s Word on paper. It is sealed with His promise to preserve His Word unto all generations, and He tells us that His Word is even above His name.
I find it utterly amazing that most of the “higher critics” of the Bible are themselves unredeemed men that denied many of the essential doctrines of the Bible. How is it possible that men, devoid of the Holy Spirit, should assume the responsibility to correct and manipulate the Bible to fit into their theological system—when the primary requirement for even understanding John 3:16 is that very same Spirit Whom they know not of?
Man has been playing a dangerous game with God for centuries, but it really become manifest in the 1800’s with the onset of German rationalism and the discovery of Egyptian copies of the Word in St. Catherine’s monastery by Count Tischendorf. Since that time, man has been the final authority over the Final Authority and has threatened man with many woes as a result.
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19 KJV).
In order to ignore these dire warnings from God, the ‘critics’, have deemed the Book of Revelation to be nothing more than parabolic allegory and completely figurative. “There,” they assume, “God can’t touch me now!”
But what about the very next verse in our passage today? Is Proverbs also figurative?
“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (vs. 6).
But, as it is necessary to have two or three witness to a matter, shall we see that Moses had something to say on the issue as well?
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV).
I know the view that the Word of God is perfect and that it is preserved unto all generations is not a popular position, but somehow, I believe that standing with God in this is the better option.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
Father, You have asked us to believe some pretty incredible things in our Christian experience. Why should it seem any more difficult to simply take you at Your word about Your Word? Can we understand it? No more than we can understand all that happened the instant we accepted You as our personal Saviour. But, Lord, all I really have to prove I’m saved is my Bible. If that Book is riddled with error and allegory, as man say, then I have nothing. But I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded! Guide as we stand on the truth of Your Word. Amen.

"That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:19-21 KJV)
In the New Testament we are told that the purpose of the Scriptures are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, all Christians are ministers. All saints have been given the ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18-20).
In Acts 8, an Ethiopian Eunuch did not understand what he read, though it was from the salvation chapter of Isaiah 53. He needed that a man be sent to him that could explain it all to him. That man was Philip.
In Acts 10, Cornelius had a vision of an angel that instructed him to send for Peter to show him the answer of what he sought--he was seeking for God but needed a man to guide him. Notice that the angel could not explain salvation to a man for the angels of God do not know how (I Peter 1:12).
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (I Peter 3:15 KJV).
So, we learn from our passage in Proverbs today that the words of the book were given to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, sort of an Old Testament version of "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV).
Father, equip us so that we also may be able to explain why and how we were saved to whomsoever will may ask us, that we might have children, and even grand-children, in heaven. Amen.

"That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:19-21 KJV)
In the New Testament we are told that the purpose of the Scriptures are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, all Christians are ministers. All saints have been given the ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18-20).
In Acts 8, an Ethiopian Eunuch did not understand what he read, though it was from the salvation chapter of Isaiah 53. He needed that a man be sent to him that could explain it all to him. That man was Philip.
In Acts 10, Cornelius had a vision of an angel that instructed him to send for Peter to show him the answer of what he sought--he was seeking for God but needed a man to guide him. Notice that the angel could not explain salvation to a man for the angels of God do not know how (I Peter 1:12).
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (I Peter 3:15 KJV).
So, we learn from our passage in Proverbs today that the words of the book were given to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, sort of an Old Testament version of "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV).
Father, equip us so that we also may be able to explain why and how we were saved to whomsoever will may ask us, that we might have children, and even grand-children, in heaven. Amen.

"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him" (Proverbs 20:7 KJV).
Nowhere is this more vividly illustrated than in the lives of Jonathan Edwards and Max Jukes.
This anecdote is taken from "America is Too Young to Die by Leonard Ravenhill, Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany Fellowship, 1979, p. 112)
Max Jukes, [an] atheist, lived a godless life. He married an ungodly [woman], and from this union there were 310 who died as paupers, 150 were criminals, 7 were murderers, 100 were drunkards, and more than half of the women were prostitutes. His 540 descendants cost the State one and a quarter million dollars [before inflation].
Then there is a record of a great man of God, Jonathan Edwards. He lived at the same time as Max Jukes, but he married a godly [woman]. An investigation was made of 1,394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards, of which 13 became college presidents, 65 college professors, 3 United States Senators, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, 60 physicians, 75 army and navy officers, 100 preachers and missionaries, 60 authors of prominence, one Vice-President of the United States, 80 public officials in other capacities, 295 college graduates, among whom were governors of states and ministers to foreign countries. Jonathan Edwards' descendants did not cost the state a penny.
Today, in the name of tolerance and multiculturalism, we are told that God must be kept out of public view. It is even wrong to say, "God bless America" or "Merry Christmas," according to these "politically correct" demagogues. Instead of the blessings that came to Jonathan Edwards' progeny, we see a growing multitude like the descendants of Max Jukes! "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).
Lord, let us live our lives not for today, but for the generations that shall follow us, should You tarry Your return. Perhaps, by Your grace, it might be said a couple of hundred years from now that the reason a family is godly and serving Jesus is because of the life of their great, great grandfather. Give us, O Lord, a godly heritage and progeny! Amen!

"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding" (Proverbs 17:28 KJV).
I guess we've all heard the quote, attributed to Abraham Lincoln, but certainly derived from Proverbs, that is: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." Ecclesiastes add to the thought: “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words” (Ecclesiastes 5:3 KJV).
We can almost feel Job’s exasperation when he said, “Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom” (Job_13:5 KJB).
The wise man would do well to heed the Apostle Paul, he had an answer for just about everything thanks to the indwelling Spirit of God that he listened to every moment, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:6 KJV).
How many words will the Devil yet try to steal and change. Today, we must carefully consider our context when we use a word like “gay.” It is sickening and disgusting to take what once meant happy to where it now mean a person that is incredibly sad, and without hope. Even the word “salt” is now “salty,” which means profanity—the total opposite of Paul’s usage. Put it down, if our Saviour owns a word, the Devil will try to steal it: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matthew 5:13 KJV).
Another old saying is that to keep a bird from flying, sprinkle a little salt on his tail. I have not proven this, so I don't know if it is true or not . . . but you can bet that the way to keep the tongue from running off is to use a little "spiritual" salt on it.
A man that possesses the “mind of Christ,” should never be guilty of wicked, stupid speech. We represent the Lord Jesus Christ as ambassadors of heaven. This makes us dignitaries, and that ought to make us sober, grave, temperate in all things. God has no use for court jesters.
Lord, You know we are prone to speak our own opinion and that gets us into trouble, as You did for Job, please do for us . . . "Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred" (Job 6:24). Amen.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24 KJV).
What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged-Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness-Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge-Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee-Thou wilt find a solace there.
-Joseph Scriven, written 1855
Joseph Scriven knew heartache and devastation first hand. As a young man his hopes and dreams vanished on the day before his wedding when he watched in horror as the lifeless body of his beloved was pulled from the water where she had drowned. Sorrow overwhelmed him, yet in the months and years that followed, Scriven turned repeatedly to the only Friend who would never leave him. Although he battled loneliness and depression for the rest of his life, he never let go of the hand of his Savior. Scriven knew that Jesus cared and that He was acquainted with loneliness and sorrow. This man knew that he could take his grief to Jesus and find strength and peace that no one else could give. Years later Scriven took what he had learned through his pain and put it into the words of a poem that we now sing as "What A Friend We Have In Jesus."
Lord, I have had friends in the past that have led me far from Your purpose and will for my life, but I thank You that You have become my personal friend and have led me into all riches and honour and grace through You. You gave all You had in order to give me all that I have, and I thank You. Amen.

"A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape" (Proverbs 19:5 KJV).
"A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish" (Proverbs 19:9 KJV).
Often, in Scripture, when the word "witness" is used it is speaking of a spiritual, or godly, testimony. Of course, that includes lying to others, or bearing a false witness. In this instance I believe it is pointing to the false shepherd assuming to speak for the Lord, giving directions to the people, when he was not sent by God. And I doubt there is anything more loathsome to the Lord than a lying shepherd . . .
"My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace" (Jeremiah 50:6 KJV).
Someone presuming to speak for the Lord and telling lies to the people is forewarned that not only will he not escape [God's righteous judgment] but he shall perish [spend an eternity in hell]. I do not unjustly judge, for if a man preaches another gospel other than the one that Paul delivered of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a salvation of grace and not works - that man is accursed - and cannot possibly be saved himself for that would mean that he knew the true gospel and would teach it.
Lord, help us to always carefully handle Your Word so that we do not allow error to creep in. We know we are saved, but in some areas of the Word we are prone to wonder into error. Help us, dear Lord, to rightly divide the Word of truth which has been delivered to us and preserved unto all generations. Amen.

"A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape" (Proverbs 19:5 KJV).
"A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish" (Proverbs 19:9 KJV).
Often, in Scripture, when the word "witness" is used it is speaking of a spiritual, or godly, testimony. Of course, that includes lying to others, or bearing a false witness. In this instance I believe it is pointing to the false shepherd assuming to speak for the Lord, giving directions to the people, when he was not sent by God. And I doubt there is anything more loathsome to the Lord than a lying shepherd . . .
"My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace" (Jeremiah 50:6 KJV).
Someone presuming to speak for the Lord and telling lies to the people is forewarned that not only will he not escape [God's righteous judgment] but he shall perish [spend an eternity in hell]. I do not unjustly judge, for if a man preaches another gospel other than the one that Paul delivered of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a salvation of grace and not works - that man is accursed - and cannot possibly be saved himself for that would mean that he knew the true gospel and would teach it.
Lord, help us to always carefully handle Your Word so that we do not allow error to creep in. We know we are saved, but in some areas of the Word we are prone to wonder into error. Help us, dear Lord, to rightly divide the Word of truth which has been delivered to us and preserved unto all generations. Amen.

"A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies" (Proverbs 14:25 KJV).
Nowhere does this seem to be truer than in the realm of "religion." A faithful preacher speaking the truth is not very popular in this world, yet those that consider him their undershepherd are blessed and strengthened by his sermons. They know that when they listen to Him they are going to hear the Word of God in such a way that it applies to them personally and results in them becoming fully equipped to live the life that pleases the Lord.
Unfortunately, the multitudes prefer to hear messages that tell them how wonderful they are and how sins are simply mistakes but that God loves them anyway and accepts them just the way they are. They prefer the lies that make them feel good and doesn't convict them of sin and hell, while the Bible-believer prefers the truth that makes them feel bad but points them to the Cross, the Blood, and the Saviour.
After being convinced by the false witness that there is nothing to fear from God, that He is a loving grandfatherly-type being that loves all and accepts all, the lost continue to bear their sin under the false notion that God will excuse them, while the Word of God as a faithful witness says that they are “condemned already” and that they are “without Christ,” “without hope,” and “without God in the world.” The megachurches are filled with those that are wish to feel good in this world, but eternity is a long time to ponder their willful act of letting themselves be deceived, for they are without excuse. The lying and false preacher is only reinforcing what they themselves want to believe for the invisible things from the beginning of the world are clearly seen, but rejected.
The believer clings to the cross where the Blood of Christ cleanses them from all sin and unrighteousness and makes it possible for them to serve the living and true God, as they await the day when their faith will become sight in the very presence of their Saviour.
Paul strengthened many by his epistles, and still does in the written word, yet he had those that hated him and his message. At one point he asked, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16 KJV). Ever will it be true, that, “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:5-6 KJV).
Lord, help us to be honest and tell our friends what they need to hear, and not only what they want to hear. Give us stars for our crown as we share your precious gospel with our lost loved ones and friends. But above all, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14 KJV). Amen!

As we go through the life of Joseph in these devotions, I would like to express to all of you that God was with Joseph in all of the extreme trials that he went through. Joseph, as with all of God's saints, and the favoured nation of Israel, are led through the trials of life in order to know God,  His will, and experience the work of God through our lives for our good and the good of others; Romans 8:28
As we can see in the life of Joseph, and his love for God, and his trust in God, God has been with Joseph and God will work out all things for his good.The Chinese have a saying, a proverb, that may be a blessing to you as it has been to me.
「天理昭彰」Translated into English, it says that, "The law of heaven always prevails."
The will of God will be performed in the life of Joseph as, "... the LORD was with Joseph."
May God richly bless all of you
 

I'm running into a glitch trying to post today's devotional, so I'll add it as a document file.
Proverbs_4_12.docx

“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints” (Proverbs 2:6-8 KJV).
“For the LORD giveth wisdom,” now, when you find the knowledge of God as verse 5 says, then verses 6-8 will be the result. The Lord gives wisdom (James 1:5).
“Out of his mouth,” out of His Book, out of His prophets, out of His preachers, out of His Spirit “cometh knowledge and understanding.” There are three things in that verse of note. Wisdom—Knowledge—Understanding. Wisdom is what you know, knowledge is how you apply it, and understanding is relating it to God. “To depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).
“He layeth up sound wisdom. . .” There are two kinds of wisdom over in the Book of James, godly and worldly. “. . . For the righteous,” “righteous” is a qualification. It is not just talking about somebody that is saved, but somebody that is doing right, and walking right—especially in the sense that it is an Old Testament situation. “He layeth up,” notice that expression. We lay things up for a rainy day. We often hear of folks laying something up for the future when they are going to need it. That is exactly what he is talking about—he ‘reserves” it—puts it away for you. Let’s look at some things about that.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal [Don’t put your heart there, don’t make that your life, because you’ll be disappointed]: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 KJV). Here we see that same expression, “lay up.” Lay up treasures in heaven. There is a bank in heaven. You can put things up there ahead. You can prepare for the next life in this life. We are told in the Book that if we “seek knowledge,” if we’ll “listen,” what that does is to put up in the heavenly bank “wisdom” and “strength” and everything you need for a future day. When will we need it? Look at Matthew 10.
The disciples were following the Lord Jesus Christ—what were they doing? They were listening to Him. What else were they doing? They were learning of Him, He said, “learn of Me.” What else were they doing? They were being like Him. They were walking after Him and doing His will. Notice what He said would happen, when He was getting ready to send them out.
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Matthew 10:16-20 KJV).
Do you know why Jesus could say that to those disciples? Because they had laid up something for the time when they will need it. And when the time came—and it did—there was a treasure of wisdom and knowledge laid up there to handle the situation, or the obstacle, or the hindrance that they would be faced with. So, he says, if you will learn, if you will listen, if you will apply it, if you will seek it; then God will put it up in store for you. And when the trouble comes, when the heartache comes, trials, troubles, disaster—you’ll be able to reach up into the heavenly bank and draw on that supply. And you’ll have wisdom to understand.
How ridiculous is it for someone that never has time for his Bible to try to apply this promise to himself? You have to have something in there to be able to find it when you need it. That is why people end up leaving the church. Something happens in their life and they have no spiritual compass with which to deal with it. Perhaps they hear something from the pulpit, or some brother Christian says something to them that they haven’t the spiritual discernment to understand—and it just bowls them over. At the time of testing, why have they not the spiritual resiliency to bounce back? Because they have nothing laid up in store. They are ignorant of the truth because they aren’t in the Word of God. They are still carnal babes in Christ, even if they have been saved for twenty years.
They haven’t got any wisdom, they haven’t got any understanding, they haven’t any about God and God’s people to be able to handle the situation; so, they get knocked out of the race. It happens all the time. It doesn’t need to. People can lay up in store in that heavenly bank for times such as these. When times of misunderstanding come, and troubles come, so they can draw on that strength, and draw on that reserve of God, to get them through that situation.
“. . .be ye therefore wise as serpents,” we are sheep, there is no doubt about that. That is what God says that we are. But we don’t have to be as dumb as sheep. The sheep has to be the dumbest animal in the world. We don’t have to be dumb! We’ve got a Book that tells us about every issue of life, and how to handle every problem. That is why we are told to be “wise as serpents.”

Lord, I thank you for Your presence in our lives. Truly you have given us richly all things, but especially, thank You for not giving us what we deserve. Cleanse us with You Blood as we confess before you are failures and fill us with Your Spirit for the day’s activities. Lord, make us holy, and let people see You in us. Amen.

"But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:33 KJV).
First of all, who is this “me” referred to in the verse? Verse 20 tells us that it is “wisdom” crying in the streets. Who is this “wisdom?” Paul gives us the answer, "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God . . . But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (I Corinthians 1:24, 30). Now, we all know that the name “Jesus” was unknown when Solomon wrote these words, but they did know the “I AM”, and Jesus clearly identifies Himself with that in the Book of John, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58).
In the first chapter of the Book of Proverbs, where better to see a glimpse of biblical salvation. Until the day when the Lamb of God would become the sacrifice for sins through His death, burial and resurrection, they still had the blood of the sacrifices that spoke of better things to come, and through them the Old Testament saint could enjoy the same deliverance as the New Testament believer, but just not the sealing of the Spirit and His presence.
Proverbs deals with sound judgment and right decisions that would allow those that listened and applied the truths to their lives, to have a safe and peaceful life. The man that walked with God also had God’s hedge of protection about him and his family, and under the special protection of heaven, nothing can ever do us any real harm, as we abide in His will. Only by God’s express permission can our earthly body be harmed, but our spirits are forever indestructible.
And any fear of a future judgement of hell (or, as it was known prior to the cross, prison) is absolutely unknown. Whether in this life, or the next, evil can never harm us.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early” (Psalms 46:1-5 KJV).
Father, we thank You for the promise of eternal life and for our angel of the LORD Who encampeth round about them that fear Him, Jesus Christ, our Saviour.