Proverbs are short, memorable statements in the Bible meant to help us live wisely daily. One of them is Proverbs 26:11: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.” Wow, talk about memorable! What principle is it trying to teach us? We should learn from our mistakes. We should not foolishly … Continue reading As a dog returns to its vomit
God’s loving discipline
Hello! After some vacation time The Up Devotional is back to your email inboxes, social media feeds and podcast platforms five mornings a week! Today let’s look at Proverbs 3:11-12: “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father … Continue reading God’s loving discipline
Envy rots the bones
Before I share today’s devotional let me offer a quick reminder that The Up Devotional is going on pause after today for four weeks. I’m having some vacation time! It returns on August 29th. You can listen to past devotionals as a podcast wherever you subscribe, or you can read text versions at TheUpDevo.com. Here … Continue reading Envy rots the bones
Guard your centre
If you’re looking for a good Bible verse to memorize consider Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” We need to guard our heart. Ray Ortlund explains that “The heart, in biblical terms, is not part of who we are but the centre of who we are.”* … Continue reading Guard your centre
Step 1 to becoming wise
Proverbs 9:10 is quite well known. It appears in different places and in slightly different forms in the Bible: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” First, what does it mean to “fear” the Lord? As Billy Graham once wrote, fearing the Lord … Continue reading Step 1 to becoming wise
The company you keep
We’re spending some time looking at the most famous proverbs. Here’s Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” ‘Walking with the wise’ refers to spending time with people who are wise. In contrast, being ‘a companion of fools’ means spending time with foolish people. The first … Continue reading The company you keep
He will make straight your paths
There are a lot of famous proverbs in the Bible. Proverbs 3:5-6 is probably at the top of that list. Here is what it says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make straight your paths.” But … Continue reading He will make straight your paths
The wise, hard-working ant
In the Bible, Proverbs are short statements to help you live wisely daily. Our society likes things that are short and to-the-point. The proverbs are certainly that! Proverbs 6:6 says: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” See what I mean? Short and to the point! To understand this proverb … Continue reading The wise, hard-working ant
How God’s justice encourages peace
Psalm 139 is one of the most famous psalms. In it we learn about God’s care for us. He enters into relationship with us from the womb. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (verse 14). But the tone changes at verse 19: “Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!” For four verses, the … Continue reading How God’s justice encourages peace
Your soul has a label with three words
This week I’ve been encouraging you to think about how you are valuable. This is no power of positive thinking. This is rooted in Scripture. You are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). When we read our Bibles, or speak to a Christian friend, or read … Continue reading Your soul has a label with three words
