Tag Archives: Life

It Takes Passion

Proverbs 4:20-22

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

An intellectual gets great joy from learning and is invigorated by knowledge and good debate.

An avid reader gets great joy from a good book and has his or her spirit lifted by a great story.

A social person gets great joy from social interaction and is sustained by spending time with others.

A private person gets great joy from some quiet time and is refreshed by personal alone time.

God gives these desires … and uses them for His glory.

Nicodemus sought knowledge from the Teacher, and he was born again (see John 3:1-21, for example).

The Bereans found new life by reading the Scriptures foretelling the Messiah (see Acts 17:10-12).

Mary discovered everlasting life by talking with (and listening to) Jesus (see Luke 10:38-42).

Anna beheld her salvation after decades in prayerful solitude (see Luke 2:36-38).

These were all people who listened to the teachings of those who came before and especially of God. They kept God’s word within themselves and studied it fervently.

Do you?

It is not enough to just read books, talk with people, or seclude yourself from society. It is not enough to go to church services and functions or to do good things.

It takes a disciplined heart and a passion for God to truly live a godly life. And the best possibility for a long, healthy life this side of heaven comes from living a godly life (see verse 22).

Dear Lord, give us that passion for Your truth. Help us to cherish Your word and to live out Your commands.


Wisdom Is Life

Proverbs 4:13

“Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.”

As I finish my degree in Christian Leadership, I am beginning to focus on working toward eventually getting a Masters in Secondary Education for Math. I have had both memories of hearing others (and thinking myself) while in high school “Why do I need to know this?” as well as heard current classmates working toward teaching degrees and students at the elementary school where I work asking the same question.

Come to think of it, as children (and even adults) we ask more than anything:

Why?

Why do I have to do this? Why do I need this? Why is this important? Why should I care?

Asking these questions is not bad, but we should be willing to learn from the answers.

Why?

Because, those answers just might be “thy life.”

Jesus famously said “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) so that qualifies Him for authority. We should listen to what He says.

But beyond that …

We want to know as children why, because we want to know how things work. Some of us never grow out of that.

Parents share what they have learned from others and from experience what a child needs to know about how this world works so that they might have a better life, or at the very least that they might be able to live this life.

God the Father wants us to live life.

He sent prophets. He sent His Son. He sent His Church.

God has given us instruction for life, even to the point of coming in person to teach us.

Just as the things we learn as children help prepare us to be adults, the things we learn from God’s word – written, spoken, and lived out – help prepare us for eternity.

As Jesus said:

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
John 6:63

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:21

The only way to eternal life is to believe and follow Jesus’ instructions, His commands. Read your Bible, learn His ways, and put them into practice.

Lord Jesus, give us a passion for your words. Give us ears to hear, minds to understand, wisdom to implement, and the strength to live.