GOOD MEDICINE

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 16-17

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

These Israeli spices were once used for cooking and medicine. According to our key verse, not only does a merry heart spice up our lives, but it is the true health food!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.

In the synagogue at Nazareth Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah (Luke 4:16-30). This was Jesus’ mission statement as He began three years of public ministry. He declares that “The Spirit of the Lord…has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted…”

When reading this book, it’s difficult to choose which proverb to highlight. These words are dripping with wisdom! Examples — “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established” (16:3) and “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). Consider this, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (16:25). Then there are prescriptions for maintaining good health, our key verse, as well as, “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (16:24). All grandparents need to listen up, particularly grandfathers: “Children’s children are the crown of old men” (17:6a). Who are our true friends? “A friend loves at all times” (17:17a). This works both ways. Each one of us needs to ask ourself, “Am I a true friend?”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m not capable of carrying out the wisdom of the Proverbs on my own. I ask for Your daily grace. (I’m singing as I type, the old hymn written by Joseph Scrivens of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus!”…click here for a rendition of this classic song when Guy Penrod sang it on 100 Huntley Street). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My reaction to the Proverbs is “WOW!” and “OUCH!” I have learned a little wisdom (very little I think sometimes), and I am learning more as I read, mark, remember, and inwardly digest what I’m reading. For example, I need to do better in sticking to my goal of 100 words in each section of this blog. The last verse of Proverbs says, “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips [keeps to 100 words in my case], he is considered perceptive.” That’s it! I’ll stop right now. My original idea in this blog was to be short, so busy people would find time to read the Scriptures daily and complete the entire Bible in two years.

Yours with the intention of dispensing the wisdom of the ages,

David

P.S. I found it hard to resist a few more words, given the topic of our key verse! Please check out this segment from 100 Huntley Street from a couple of years ago, when we featured a DVD offer of our made-for-TV seniors’ series called, Really Good Medicine (click here). I’m not sure if any copies of the DVD are still available, but to find out you could call the Crossroads Order Line during business hours at 1-800-265-3100.