IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Pursue Righteousness and Love

Date: Feb. 8, 2024

Passage

Proverbs 21:20-31 (ESV)

20   Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,
    but a foolish man devours it.
21   Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22   A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23   Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    keeps himself out of trouble.
24   “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.
25   The desire of the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26   All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27   The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
28   A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29   A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright gives thought to his ways.
30   No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the LORD.
31   The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but the victory belongs to the LORD.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 21:21

  Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.

What are your pursuits in life? People pursue education, honor, money, wealth, family, popularity, and fame. These things have some merit. But they cannot be the true purpose of our lives. Those who pursue righteousness and love can find true life, prosperity, and honor (21).

The best pursuit is to seek God’s wisdom for our lives. Wisdom enables one to pull down the strongholds of wickedness (22). Wisdom helps us to choose our words carefully (23). There is no human wisdom or way that can succeed against God (20). The wise trust in God and experience victory in the Lord (21).

On the other hand, those who reject wisdom follow wickedness. And, whatever they do, the wicked are foiled. Also, the wicked are full of folly and fury (24). The wicked are lazy and bear its bad fruits (25-26). The wicked are detestable in all their ways and their sacrifices are detestable. They are deceitful and full of pretense. But the wise listen carefully, give thought to their ways, and the Lord helps them (31). Let’s repent our wicked ways and seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me victory when I seek your wisdom. Protect me from following wicked and foolish ways.

One Word: One Word: Seek God’s wisdom and experience his victory?

Daily Bread

Worthy is Jesus the Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14

Key Verse: 5:12

saying with a loud voice,

  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
  to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
  and honor and glory and blessing!”

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