TRUST

The more we know of God, the more unreservedly we will trust Him; the greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more childlike will be our faith. ---- J. Gresham Machen

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandment with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding... (Proverbs 2:1-6)

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting (Jean Sophia Pigott, 1876).

WILL

 It should be the aim of every Christian to have his will directed by the will of God as revealed in Scripture. -- Sinclair Ferguson

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:5-8).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Whate'er My God Ordains is Right. --Samuel Rodgast, 1675.

HEART

The keeping and right managing of the heart in every condition is the great business of the Christian's life. ---- John Flavel

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart (Deuteronomy 6:5-6).

The LORD is nigh unto those who are of a broken heart; and saves those who are of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18).

Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise (Psalm 112:7)

 

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

 

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart (George Croly, 1854).

WICKED

The wickedest enemies of God are only axes and saws and hammers in His hands, and are ignorantly His instruments for doing His work in the world. -- J. C. Ryle

 

The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble (Proverbs 16:4).

 

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then He has mercy upon whomever He wills, and hardens whomever He wills (Romans 9:17-18).

WISDOM

Wisdom and the will of God are intimately related...Nothing is more vital for practical knowledge of the purpose of God than wisdom. -- Sinclair Ferguson

 

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair --- every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant in your soul (Proverbs 2:1-6, 9-10).

SELF-DENIAL

The first lesson in Christ's school is self-denial. Matthew Henry (English pastor. 1662-1714).

....put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. (Proverbs 23:2).

"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me", but I must not be enslaved by anything (I Corinthians 6:12).

See also John 12:15.

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken. (Henry F. Lite, 1824)

PEACE

The peace of God. Peace is the deliberate adjustment of my life to the will of God. -- Anonymous.

 

Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble (Psalm 119:165).

 

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet(Proverbs 3:24).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Now the Day Is Over (Sabine Baring Gould, 1865).

Suffering

Afflictions are sent for this end, to bring us to the throne of grace, to teach us to pray and to make the word of God more precious to us. ---- Matthew Henry

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes (Proverbs 119:67, 71). 

Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:2).

For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh (II Corinthians 4:11). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Sweet Hour of Prayer. 

Death

Death puts us all in our place. Heaven, or hell. ---- pgs (after John Blanchard)

The light of the righteous* rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out (Proverbs 13:9).

The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing but the righteous* finds refuge in his death(Proverbs 14:32). 

Hymns to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me. 

Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending. 

Conceit

Conceited men are a harmless kind of creatures, who by their overweening self-respect, relieve others from the duty of respecting them at all. Henry Beecher.

Be not wise in your own eyes... (Proverbs 3:7).

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him(Proverbs 12).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.

Yielding to God's Will

Good morning!

I dare not choose my lot; I would not if I might; Choose Thou for me, my God, So shall I walk aright. Horatius Bonar.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: SAVIOR, LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US, Trinity Hymnal, 599. 

2008 Bethany University Spring Concert performed at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz, CA

Tongue

Good morning!

Learn to hold your tongue; five words cost Zacharias forty weeks of silence. ---- Richard Fuller.

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble (Proverbs 21:23). 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ...a time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: LORD SPEAK TO ME THAT I MAY SPEAK. 

Wisdom

Good morning!

WISDOM.  Knowledge is the foundation of wisdom. Stephen Charnock

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding(Proverbs 2:1-6).

A hymn to read or sing aloud to the glory of God: MAY THE MIND OF CHRIST MY SAVIOR. 

Generosity

GENEROSITY. A man there was, and they called him mad; the more he gave the more he had. ---- John Bunyan.

Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse(Proverbs 28:27).

...give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you(Luke 6:38).

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (II Corinthians 9:6).

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A hymn to read or sing aloud to the glory of God: LORD, THOU LOV'ST THE CHEERFUL GIVER

2012.10.9 "Wisdom"

Good Morning!

True wisdom is a divine revelation. George Barlow.

For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6).
A hymn to be read or sung aloud to the glory of God: BREAK THOU THE BREAD OF LIFE

Paul Settle