In The Beginning
The Book of Provebs The book of Proverbs contains much wisdom applicable to the growth of the New Creation. Extraordinary insight comes from Proverbs 4:23, which ad-monishes the reader to “guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV). This issue considers seven Proverbs that help us bet-ter understand how the Christian may guard the heart, showing how it may be protected, disciplined, and more fully shaped according to the will of God. Guarding the Heart lays the groundwork by […]
Guarding the Heart
Above All Else “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV). — Micah Hess This theme scripture offers an essential insight into human nature. It tells us that the heart stands at the center of our being and exercises great influence over the course of life. It does not merely influence our thoughts, words, and actions; in a profound sense, it often governs them. Jesus makes this connection explicit: “But those things which proceed […]
Accepting Rebuke
Patient Humility “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you” (Proverbs 9:8, scriptures from NASB unless otherwise noted). — Brett Blackwell This proverb is a “hard saying” for several reasons. First, reproof is hard to give sincerely, and in most cases, even harder to receive sincerely. Second, the proverb deals only in extremes. It identifies two distinct subjects of reproof, the scoffer and the wise man. There are two opposing effects of re-proof: […]
Wisdom for Guarding the Heart
The Cruelty of False Mercy “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10). — Todd Alexander The theme of this article, “Wisdom for Guarding the Heart,” calls us to deeper spiritual discernment and a more rigorous examination of the motives and principles that guide our walk. Proverbs 12:10 presents us with an important and challenging paradox. We may easily understand the first clause: a righteous man, reflecting the character of […]