PROVERBS
20:1-30 – ‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; whoever
is led astray by it is not wise’ (1). We need to learn the truth of
these words – before it’s too late! There is a better way than the way
of drunkenness. It is the way of being filled with the Holy Spirit:
‘Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled
with the Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18). We must not ‘live according to the
flesh’. God calls us to ‘live according to the Spirit’. He warns us
against making the wrong choice: ‘To set the mind on the flesh is
death’. He shows us the way of blessing: ‘To set the mind on the Spirit
is life and peace’. ‘Set your minds on things that are above, not on
things that are on earth’. May God help us to turn from ‘the works of
the flesh’ and seek ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ (Romans 8:5-6; Colossians
3:2; Galatians 5:19-23).
21:1-31 – ‘The victory belongs to the Lord’ (31). When
defeat seems inevitable, God comes to us with His Word of encouragement:
‘The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save, a Warrior who
gives victory. He will take great delight in you. He will renew you in
His love. He will rejoice over you with singing’ (Zephaniah 3:17). God’s
Word shows us the way of victory. It is the way of faith in our
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ‘This is the victory that overcomes the
world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?’ (1 John 5:4). God ‘gives victory’ to us.
We must receive His victory by ‘faith’. Living for Christ is never easy
– ‘In this world you will have trouble’. Don’t let this get you down.
Jesus says, ‘Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33).
22:1-29 – ‘So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach
you today, even you’ (19). Many people say, ‘It’s not for me’. They know
that others have been greatly blessed through reading God’s Word.
Still, they do not take the trouble to read God’s Word for themselves.
They can’t be bothered. Receiving God’s blessing doesn’t really matter
that much to them. Don’t miss out on God’s blessing. God’s Word is for ‘you’. It’s not just for somebody else. It’s for you – ‘even you’.
Some people say, ‘I’ll read God’s Word tomorrow’. When ‘tomorrow’ comes
around, they’re still saying the same thing – ‘I’ll read God’s Word
tomorrow’! Sadly, their ‘tomorrow’ never comes. They never get round to
reading God’s Word. They’re missing out on so much. Don’t say, ‘I’ll
leave it till tomorrow’. Read God’s Word ‘today’.
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