Coming to the Still Waters

Today's verses are Proverbs 20:9-12, which read, v.9 - Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin"? The obvious answer to the question is that no one can say this. Job 14:4 says, "Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!" Romans 3:10 and 23 says, "...as it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one;' ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,..." 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." Your heart can be cleansed and you can be made pure but it is not of your own doing or under your effort. God is the heart cleanser and has provided the Purifier for our sin, the Lord Jesus Christ. So many verses come to mind but let's stay with Psalm 51:1, 2, 9, and 10, which read, "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blo...

Today's verses are chapter 20:5-8, which read, v.5 - A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out. This is another word picture for us to ponder from Solomon.  In our hearts are plans, many plans.  Some will come to light but others will just swim around in the deep waters.  Some will be out of reach of easy grasp and float around with all those other plans.  The wise person, the man of understanding in this proverb, draws out the plan that needs to be put in place.  He draws it out with the tools given him by the God that he is in fear of or in awe of and follows after.  God will give the tools to scoop it out to the wise that have been spoken of all through this book and that plan will be in accordance to God's will to put in place. v.6 - Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? This proverb is talking about a bragger.  This is a person who uses the pronoun...

Today's verses are Proverbs 20:1-4, which read, v.1 - Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. Solomon is going to address the issue of those things that can cloud our senses and therefore our decisions on following after God.  Alcohol is one of those things when it is not controlled very closely.  Alcohol is not the only thing that can do this.  We can be intoxicated by many different things other than being intoxicated of God and His wisdom.  The point is that being intoxicated by something else changes us and we can go from it being unwise to actually physically and mentally hurting others.  To be intoxicated is to go astray with something and therefore if we go astray from the wisdom of God it is not wise.   v.2 - The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. What are other ways that we can go astray?  One that Solomon has brou...