283. Walking in Humility - (NT-#9) Paul 2nd of 3 May 3, 2023

Welcome to Wisdom Today with Bill Kelley. Today we will be going over Proverb 3. I will then key in on verses 11 & 12 - My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Friends, if we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He will chasten us. Usually, it is through the reading of His Word (the Bible). However, He will also chastise us through people - either our spouse, or a friend, co-worker, or boss. We simply have to be open to hearing from Him. Today, we will continue on our study of Paul. I began this study on Monday - so if you were unable to listen to Monday's podcast, I would invite you to listen to that podcast prior to listening to this. Today we will read one passage from each of four letters that Paul wrote to the churches (one in Galatians, one in Ephesians, one in Philippians, and one in Colossians). I will begin in Galatians. This letter's theme is that we have now been set free from the law and from the power of sin in our lives (I will read from Chapter 5: verses 16-26). These verses tell us the things that we used to be involved in, and then go over the ways that we should now act when conducting ourselves. I next go to the letter to the church in Ephesus. Paul had begun this church in the year 53 AD, but he came back a year later and lived in this city for three years. (I will read from Chapter 2: verses 1-10). This passage of scripture reminds us again of the way we used to act and reminds us that we no longer have to live that way. Next, I will read from Paul's letter of joy (he actually mentions the word joy 20 times in this short four chapter letter)! I will read from Chapter 4: verses 4-9. These verses tell us that we are always to be joyful! I will close with a passage from Colossians (I will read from Chapter 3: verses 12-17). These verses talk about the New Man - and how we are now to conduct our lives. One of the highlights of this passage is the importance of forgiveness. We need to be quick to forgive. Call to Action - I ask the audience to think about a person that they haven't talked to or seen in awhile and to reach out to them (either in a text or a phone call - and to let them know that God loves them)! Suggested scripture reading: 1. Reread Proverb 3 in its entirety; 2. review the passages I went over today: Galatians - Chapter 5; Ephesians - Chapter 2; Philippians - chapter 4; and Colossians - Chapter 3.