THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE
Suggested Reading: Proverbs 7-8
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Jewish men and women pray at the Western Wall, the retaining wall of the Temple platform from Jesus' time in the Old City of Jerusalem. In yesterday's and today's reading, we find the words, "Bind them on your heart and your fingers," referring to your father's words and God's commands. This Orthodox Jew in the photo takes this literally and wraps a binding around his arm and fingers to emphasize his commitment. Notice the paper under the man's hand. He has a written prayer that he will leave in the cracks between the stones. I have written prayers given to me by blog readers with me here in Jerusalem which I will place there this coming Sabbath, God willing! This is not a shortcut to God, but it does emphasize the fervency of the prayers offered.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Proverbs 7:1-3
My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Think just how we would react if we were about to get hit in the eye. That’s wisdom as to how we should respond to temptation to sin! Immediately, we must learn to put up our protective guard! The foolish young man described in our reading did not protect himself and the result is that he goes, “as an ox to the slaughter” (7:22a). What a graphic description of the end result of sin. There is physical pleasure that passes quickly, and there are severe and lasting consequences, even death! A New Testament reading is James 1:14-16.
Proverbs 8 speaks to us of wisdom personified. The lens through which we see with insight is the Person of Jesus! Jesus referred to Himself as, “the wisdom of God” (Luke 11:49). The Apostle Paul also refers to Jesus as “the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). Unlike the seductive voice in the darkness, wisdom’s voice speaks out in the daylight in public places (for Crossroads it’s through various media outlets), because God does not want any to perish. God has given us the job of proclaiming Wisdom. He longs to fill our “treasuries.” The Word says that “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also!” (Luke 12:34 – Jesus, our Treasure).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray for the Crossroads Family of Ministries, Dr. John Hull, Rev. Ron Mainse, Moira Brown, Dr. Jerry Johnston, and all who take their stand on the top of the high hill (TV transmitters, satellite uplinks, and the world wide web). Lord Jesus, they are representing You at the place where the paths meet, the “crossroads” (Proverbs 8:2). Help me to support them with my prayers, with my finances, and by my words of encouragement! In the Name of the One who is front and centre at “Crossroads,” the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
It was the Summer of 1954 and I was employed in the research lab at the Magnesium mine located at Haley’s Station, Ontario. A part of my job was to dispose of a red-hot core of thorium metal in the barrel marked for that purpose. As I did so the barrel exploded into my face. Someone had put titanium primary powder in the wrong barrel and it ignited. My eyebrows were burned off as was the front part of my hair. My gloves were blown off and my hands burned. My face was burned to the extent that I had to spend several days in hospital having burned skin peeled off my face and hands. My eyes, miraculously people agreed, were not damaged. The doctor said that my reaction to bring my hands in front of my eyes in a split second saved them. To me it was obvious that God had a plan for my life and my time was not up yet! I had just turned 18 a few days before the explosion. This experience comes to mind every time I read Proverbs 7:2!! I also pray often to the Lord to “Keep me as the apple of Your eye” (Psalm 17:8a).
Yours for being as quick and careful to obey God’s Word as we are to protect the apple of our eyes,
David
As I type this I’m at the Dead Sea in Israel. Yesterday, we visited the ruins of Bet She’an, the city where King Saul’s body was hung on the wall by the Philistines after Israel’s defeat. Saul was not careful to keep God’s commands and he paid the price for going his way instead of God’s way. In the photo below are eleven members of our family of pilgrims. From left to right…Foster and Jeannette of Aurora, Ontario – Catherine of Toronto – Vicky and Bryan of Toronto – Wendy of Cranbrook, British Columbia – Hilde of Unionville, Ontario – Maryke and Piebe of Chesterville, Ontario – Syd of Grand Prairie, Alberta – Elaine of Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Hallelujah and amen.
Lord give us teachable hearts, to have wisdom and a willingness to do what is right in Your sight this day. Help us to be ever aware of the snares before us, for they are many. Bless this new day, and give us an opportunity to be a shining light for You in this dark world. Bless those who are are on the Israel tour and keep them safe. Encourage and comfort all blog-buddies and all who may need a special Word from You today. Holy Spirit, be with the workers and suffering people of disaster ridden Philippines as they work fervently to recover. Continue to work a miracle of healing and restoration in David’s life, that He may continue giving a testimony to You wherever he goes. Lord God, we dedicate ourselves and our lives to You, shape us and form us into the people You would have us become for the furtherance of your Kingdom. We pray this in Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen.
Amen & Amen Scott!
Well said & Amen, Scott!!
Yes, AMEN Scott!
Amen Scott! Praying your prayer with you.
To hear the Lord to call us his son is so precious to me its a term of endearmemt
I am the apple ofHis eye only through what Jesus
Has done for us and to keep His word written on tne tablet of our heart that we may not sin against Him many ofus read the Word and forget what wehave read before we have finished the chapter we need wisdom to live the Word
It was nice to see all the happy faces
Thank hou father God for protecting our family in
The holy land and thamk you gor givinb David strength and healing in Jesus name Amen
God bless all the bloggers and keep themsafe
Have a blessed day everyone 😉
amen Scott
Praise God for answering prayer for your sister, Laurie, Carol. I have been busy the last two days watching the Mayor Rob Ford proceedings and watching my new neighbour move in two houses up from me here. He is a retired military man from Trenton, On. Please pray he will be a blessing and likewise. His name is Tim. Am enjoying the blog on Proverbs and the vicarious trip through the Holy Land. Would you place my family’s name in the cracks of the Wailing Wall for household salvation, David. Thanks. God bless all of you, including, the Tour Group!
God Bless you David for taking our prayers and putting them in the Wailing Wall in Israel. I thank you for doing this for all who wrote to you. Thank you for the lovely pictures your taking while on your trip as well. God willing maybe one year I will make it to Israel myself. It looks very interesting indeed. God Bless you and come home safely. Daily blog reader, Vicky
Dear David Mainse,
Yes, thank you so much for having offered to place our prayer requests into the wailing wall. I sent you one concerning my 4 yr. old grandson William who was diagnosed with autism last spring. Now they are suspecting that his 2 yr. old brother Nicky may also be autistic. Please pray.
What a blessing it is to be able to follow you David and your group through the Holy Land. Praying for your safety as you travel to the many places. Asking that on Sunday as you place prayers in the Wailing Wall that you place those in my family that need salvation and for my son to return to the Lord. Thank you so much.
Keeping all the blog followers in prayer for God’s blessings on your lives.
Dear Rev. David M.
Thank you Lord for keeping David M. all his family and all the group under Your Protection . May all the team of Crossroad Ministry be stengthened supernaturally by You in the name of the one and only Jesus Christ , Amen .
May I also add my family for household salvation when you go to the Wailing Wall.
Have a blessed day everyone .
xxxx Carole Pony Meunier.
Dear David .M. I also ask prayer for the members of my family who are not saved
espesecilly my grand daughters and 5 gr. grandsons, thankyou so much for all your work and all your prayers David…..R…
I enjoy reading daily blog…may God continue to bless you and your great work!
Please add my name for prayer for healing from cancer.. I took my 28th chemotherapy treatment today..