Archived Verse Of the Week

- BsL

Learning is the process by which knowledge is obtained. Everything we need to know, we must learn. Everything that is right or wrong must be understood. When we make mistakes, we must be corrected and taught the truth. As a result, it is best to save the knowledge gained for future reference.

We cannot learn anything unless taught, which requires us to humble ourselves before God, our parents, and our teachers. The proverb teaches us to pay attention to instructions. We must grip it tightly and not let go. We must remember what we have learned. We must keep it in our hearts. We can avoid life's problems and perils by following God's wisdom in His word.

If we want to live as God intended, we must accept how God gives us life. Initially, He does this by grace through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Following this new life that God bestows us, there are ways for us to experience and take pleasure in the life God gives us through Jesus.

God continues to bless us in life in part because we follow His instructions in our daily lives. This instruction and discipline are primarily provided by our fathers and mothers, as seen throughout the proverbs. They come as teachers to their children, providing instruction through teaching and, sometimes, the rod. Some people may squirm when we talk about discipline, but the Bible is clear that God disciplines us because He loves us. Read Hebrews 12:5-11. It is an excellent passage to help us see how we receive life through God's instructive discipline.

God's instructive discipline accomplishes a variety of tasks. It first serves as a reminder of God's love for us as His sons. Second, we are aware that God corrects us for our benefit and not out of wrath. Thirdly, we discover that God's correction is for our good so that we can share in His holiness. Without discipline, we would rebel against Him; discipline is a constant reminder that we are being made into His likeness, which also entails being made into His holiness. Last but not least, His unyielding discipline will bring us peace. God adds tremendous blessing and wonderful peace to our lives as we are conformed to His likeness and made just as He is.

God's instructions are not just for disciplining us. They are also often instructive in that they point us in the direction of God, directing us on what to say and to whom we should minister. But to fully benefit from it, we must do as Solomon directs us in this passage. This directive must be "taken hold of" and "don't let go." Taking hold of a piece of advice entails grasping it firmly. The idea behind this word is to capture something firmly and hold onto it. We are instructed to pay close attention and obey. Here, we are also being told this differently. We tend to hear things only partially or to hear them without intending to obey or make them a significant part of our lives. Whatever the Holy Spirit teaches us, we must grasp with a death grip to prevent it from eluding us.

The proverb instructs us to "guard" the guidance, instruction, and discipline we receive from God. It has the idea of stationing a guard - a watchman - a sentry over God's instruction. He is warning us NOT to forget something, NOT to let it go, and NOT to let it slip away as we think of other things. Our Lord understands how easily we get distracted and forget things. If we want to live, we must resist by firmly grasping God's teachings. Wisdom is taking what God teaches us seriously and His discipline seriously. We will fully embrace the life He desires to pour into our lives if we do this.

Jesus defined good hearers as those who took His words and built their lives around them (Matt 7:24-27). He described two men, one of whom built his house on a rock and the other on the sand. The storms completely destroyed the house built on sand, but the house built on rock easily survived it. How do you handle instruction?

Over the years, how much have your parents taught you? How much have you managed to retain? Do you need to hear it again, or is it mostly lost? Do you consistently commit the same errors? Can you quickly apply the previous lesson to real-world situations? Can you support your beliefs? The lesson is this: you must remember what you are taught and put it into practice if you want to live how God intended. Be a good student! Do you demonstrate, evaluate, and meditate on God's word? Do you believe it earnestly and ponder it until it becomes ingrained in your being and soul? If not, why not? 

The Bible is a divine library of 66 books that God inspired to provide you with all the knowledge you'll require for all of time and eternity. How much importance do you place on learning and obeying the Bible because your life depends on it?

What are you going to do with the Bible today?