THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE
Today’s 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 placed written prayers given to me by blog readers there. 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 of just how we would react if we were about to get hit in the eye. 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. 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 and all who take their stand on the top of the high hill (TV transmitters, satellite uplinks, and the worldwide 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 I turned 18. 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 into 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. Parts of my face were burned to the extent that I had to spend several days in hospital having burned skin peeled off. Miraculously, my eyes were not damaged. The doctor said that my split second reaction to bring my gloved hands in front of my eyes saved them. To me it was obvious that God had a plan for my life and my time was not up yet! 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
Here are some of my friends at the ruins of Bet She’an (or Beth Shan), the city where King Saul’s body was hung on the wall by the Philistines after Israel’s defeat (1 Samuel 31:10). Saul was not careful to keep God’s commands and he brought disaster upon himself and his sons.
Dear Father, it is amazing how your Spirit in us yearns for purity, truth, wisdom, and goodness. Amazing also how Proverbs 8 points out the joy inherent in wisdom.
Father, please help all your people stop beating themselves up over falling short of perfection. You are the One who is perfect, not us. And yet You love us and invite us to come, taste and see that You are good. You bid us come, weary and heavy-laden, and find rest in You. You tell us to come and cast our cares on You, for You care for us.
Thank You, Lord, for your invitation. We come to You, just as we are, and ask for your wisdom, love, peace, and joy to permeate us and make us into the people You made us to be, loved and loving. In Jesus’s good name, amen
Amen!
Amen
Amen!
Amen
Amen Rob
Thank you ,Rob.Good ‘wisdom’.Jesus came because we were so imperfect.He knew His children had to ‘grow’ while still fighting our desires and the enemy.As a loving parent loves a child;that is how He loves us only His love is much,much more powerful.We should not beat ourselves up when we fall but we must get right back on our feet and resume the battle in repentance.We must accept we are imperfect and yet not use His forgiveness as an excuse for further sin.Thank you,Father.If only we could go back….
Back To The Garden
I want to go back to the garden,
Back to before sin knew its name;
Before hearts of stone would harden,
For then,Lord,our hearts were the same.
Father take me back,if only in dreams,
To Your world where love was to blossom,
Where birds sang beside mountain streams,
And the beauty that grew was so awesome.
Show me this secret garden of Yours,
Where I can be free from my sin,
Where the angels keep open doors
And time was not free to begin.
Show me the way to the garden path,
For too long my garden sprouts sin,
So let Your fire burn free your wrath
To make a new heart from within.
G W(Bill) Marshall / 21 Feb, 2014
Amen
Amen William
Amen Rob and William.
Amen
Praise God for giving those attending to David; the healing of his burn; thank for posting included in David’s PERSONAL WORDS
TY Lord for this blog and all the blessed people who post! I so enjoy reading the comments, blessings to all.
Please pray for a financial breakthrough for me, need to clear debts, help others and help my family,
Lord I thank You for my home,car, swimming,bless me with good physical health;help me to be a blessing to others who deal with mental illness, depressions;reactions to shorter days;colder weather, Lord bless Canada, keep the leaders safe, give them good wisdom,
Thank You Lord for this day in Jesus Name we Pray amen