The Proverbs

I love the Proverbs. I realized how much I love them because I haven't been able to spend a lot of time in God's word this week, I just turn to a proverb and read one after the other. I love them because there is such density to them. One proverb can really make you think about it, and understand where the philosopher is coming from, and then once you figure it out you see how it applies to your own life. I know one proverb that I just discovered is, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 I love that one, it is one of my new favorites because I see it in my own life. God has put some significant people in my life that I didn't even seek out and my relationship with them is just what that verse says. We sharpen each other intellectually and from there God uses it to speak to our own hearts. There are a couple of people like that in my life and it is such a blessing. I am also extremely thankful for the godly friendships that I have, who I know I can talk to and won't gossip about me or anyone else, who truly care and have concern and give substantial advice that calms me and gives me peace. God really provides those things, and I am so completely grateful for it.

Well this week has been interesting and since I was in the Proverbs one really stuck out to me for the week,

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."

"Who would prefer a friend's wounds to an enemy's kisses? Anyone who considers the source. A friend who has your best interests at heart may have to give you unpleasant advice at times, but you know it is for your own good. An enemy, by contrast, may whisper sweet words and happily send you on your way to ruin. We tend to hear what we want to hear, even if an enemy is the only one who will say it. A friend's advice, no matter how painful, is much more valuable" -Zondervan's NIV Life Application Study Bible

God really brought this verse to my attention this past week. I put this verse on my penguin chalk board (thanks Tara :-) ) on Monday, and I've read it every time I'm in my room and it has been on my heart. I realized something new that God is teaching me and that is to rebuke. I hate it. There are times where I use to not speak up and just let things slide where now I can't let things slide, I have to speak up or I don't get peace. God doesn't grant me peace because I know what the right thing to do is. Today, before I went to this really awesome church with my mom, I opened up The Word, and this verse is what I saw when I opened my Bible,

"There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins."

Ecclesiastes 7:20

and then it referenced to,

"Who can say, 'I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin'?" Proverbs 20:9

That brought me to remember that even when I do the right thing, sin is still there. I cannot see how great of a person I am, because I am not. I am so wretched and I make mistakes all the time. I am so corrupted in sin that there's nothing that I can do, right or wrong, that does not have sin in it. Before the Almighty God, I am a sinner. So even when I do what I know is right, there is still sin in my life and sin can easily show in that as well. I know recently when I did something that I knew was right, but extremely hard to deal with, even though I know I did what God called me to do, I still messed up and sinned and I made things worse because of my own human defense. It continues to remind me how messed up we are as human beings and even after we do the right thing we still can make things worse because sin can get in the way of that.

It also reminds me of how gracious and patient God is towards us. He uses us even though we mess up things all the time. I find it so encouraging because God is so cool in that way. He chooses to use us for His kingdom, to do GREAT things for His kingdom, even though we are soooooooooooooo unworthy and unstable, and He guides us along His side to teach us and instruct us and grow us in knowledge creating such love for Him.

God is awesome. I am not. Yet I am made to be because of my Savior's sacrifice for me.

Amen. :-)

In Christ,

Amber