Operate in faith

By Dean Collins

When reading and meditating on scripture, it is important to take time and sit with it. I assume my regular readers know that my writing is always rooted in what I believe God is trying to teach me. I pass my thoughts along to you because I assume that there may be another person who is wrestling with similar opportunities and struggles.

Find instruction and guidance in the word

I will be the first to admit that I do not always take time to sit with every verse of scripture I read. Like you, many verses leave my thoughts as soon as I read them. But other verses, I cut and paste into a document that I review many times as I consider what God wants me to learn. I have been staring at these 2 verses from Proverbs 23 for a couple of weeks.

Here are a few thoughts as I continue to sit with them.

“My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.” (15)

There are various opinions among Bible scholars concerning Solomon’s audience for the book of Proverbs. Solomon often refers to “my son” throughout the book. I don’t think anyone suggests that he didn’t want or hope his son Rehoboam would take his wisdom to heart. But Solomon likely also had the next generation in mind when he wrote “my son.” And certainly, we all find instruction and guidance in the passages of Proverbs.

Ultimately, we know that the Holy Spirit inspired the biblical authors. Since we believe the word of God to be living and active, then the Holy Spirit also speaks to us as we read and consider its teachings.

As I consider this verse, I am reminded of one of the verses that I am focused on all year:

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

When we focus our hearts and minds on the wisdom of God, we receive a clear benefit. God rejoices over us. Just like we receive joy when one of our children follows wise instruction we have given them and have modeled for them, God receives joy when we follow his wisdom. Zephaniah said that God is so joyful that he quiets us by his love while he sings loudly with joy as he observes our obedience. When we take the time to sit with God and absorb his word, he not only smiles, he also celebrates!

God will provide

Here is my second verse I am pondering:

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”
Proverbs 23:18 ESV

I was at a planning retreat recently with another Christian organization. I was asked to share about a specific program that Point University has recently launched. Along with my presentation, I shared the financial need associated with this initiative. After my presentation, everyone in the room confirmed that this was truly a God sized initiative that would change the lives of many people for generations. It was amazing feedback and affirmed that God had clearly led us to develop this program.

During a break at the retreat, two different people approached me individually to share their excitement about the program that I had described. As I shared, I found myself saying something like this, “Yes, this is a God-sized opportunity, and it will change the lives of many students. But we are operating in faith, so if we are going to do this then God will have to lead us to the resources to operate the university while we roll this program out.” I was describing that we had stretched significantly to do this, and that God’s provision was essential.

In both conversations, the other person stopped me and corrected me. They raised their eyebrows at my comment about “if God provides.” They each then said, “when God provides.”

I thought about that this morning as I read these words from Solomon: “Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” I sensed the Holy Spirit challenging me concerning my hesitation to believe that God would provide for our needs. I have no doubt that God can provide, despite my caution about whether he would provide.

Maybe you have experienced something similar. You have a situation, a need, or an opportunity that is bigger than you can solve or achieve with your own resources. It is God sized. You have absolute confidence that God is bigger than your need or opportunity; yet you find yourself wondering if he will provide.

I want to challenge you as I challenge myself today. If we bring joy to God when we surrender to him and when we receive his wisdom in scripture, then why would we doubt that he will deliver us from whatever challenge that lies ahead of us? Solomon’s inspired words clearly say:

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Father, we surrender to you today. We surrender our needs and our plans to you. We thank you that you promise to give us wisdom, and we receive the wisdom you have given us through your word and by your Spirit. We believe that you hold the future and that you have reminded us that in you, we have a future and that our hope will not be cut off. Thank you for these precious promises. By faith, we will move forward trusting you to meet every need. In Jesus name, Amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Proverbs 23:15, 18 ESV

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash
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