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Proverbs 15:5 (NLT)“Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.” The Hardened Heart of the Fool In the Bible, a “fool” isn’t just someone who is slow to understand; it refers to a hardened, calculated refusal to learn. This person has made up their mind to dismiss wisdom and ignore…
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Proverbs 14:5 (NLT)“A truthful witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies.” The Fluency of the False There is a chilling emphasis in this verse on the ease of the lie. For the truthful witness—a person of high moral character and unshakeable integrity—a lie is a foreign object. It doesn’t fit in their mouth.…
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Proverbs 13:5 (NLT)“Those who are godly hate lies; the wicked come to shame and disgrace.” The Gravity of the Lie As children of the Most High, we are called to hate what He hates. And make no mistake: God hates lies. Why? Because lies are the primary tools of destruction. They weaken the fabric of…
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Proverbs 12:5 (NLT)“The plans of the godly are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.” The Character of Your Calendar The intent and the outcome of your plans reveal the true contents of your character. A godly plan is built on justice, meaning it seeks what is right, fair, and beneficial for all. As…
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Proverbs 11:5 (NLT)“The godly are directed by their honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.” The Load You Weren’t Meant to Carry Everyone living will face their share of trouble. It comes with the territory of a fallen world. However, there is a massive difference between the “trials of life” and the “load…
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Proverbs 10:4 (NRSV)“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” Intensity vs. Consistency The book of Proverbs is replete with these poignant, contrasting ideas. Stated simply: The undisciplined person will never be successful. A person who is lazy or lacks a work ethic produces nothing but poverty. However, the hand…
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Proverbs 9:6 (NLT)“Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise.” The Constant Motion of Go To truly live is to be in a constant mode of listening, leaving, and learning. Our God is progressive; He is in constant motion. When we read “In the beginning, God…” we must realize…
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Proverbs 8:5 (NLT)“How naive you are! Let me give you common sense. O foolish ones, let me give you understanding.” This or That? The group Black Sheep had it right when they penned the lyrics: “You can get with this, or you can get with that… the choice is yours.” Every single day, you are…
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Proverbs 7:4 (NRSV)“Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call insight your intimate friend.” The Anatomy of Intimacy In the ancient context, “sister” was a term of deep, covenant intimacy—often used to describe a spouse. Solomon isn’t telling you to merely know about Wisdom; he is telling you to marry her. There should be…
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Proverbs 7:25-27 (NLT)“Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. For she has been the ruin of many; numerous men have been her victims. Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.” The Gravity of Distraction Solomon provides a haunting contrast here…