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“What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.”Matthew 15:18The Proverbs encourage us to speak in certain ways, and to avoid speaking in other ways. Let’s frame four prayers from the book of Proverbs, asking for God’s help with our words.Lord, help me to speak with restraintThe heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things (15:28).Words pour out of the mouth of the wicked, but the heart of the righteous ponders how to answer. Self-expression is a leading idol in our culture. “I must say what I think. I must say what I feel!” Must you? “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back” (29:11).Lord, help me to speak with humilityLet another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips (27:2).Lord, help me to speak with wisdomTo make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! (15:23). What you say may be right, but if the way you say it is harsh, it will do no good. The right word spoken at the right time in the right way is a thing of great beauty.Lord, help me to speak with graceGracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body (16:24). Don’t ever fall for the idea that soft, gentle, or gracious means weak. “With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone” (25:15).Try to take this in: A soft tongue, a gentle tongue, a gracious tongue, is stronger than bone! Grace can change a heart of stone. How did God change your heart? Was it not His grace that won you? Was it not His kindness that led you to repentance (Rom. 2:4)?Lord, help us speak with restraint, humility, wisdom, and grace.Which of these prayers would be most helpful to you today?

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.Proverbs 18:21What you say comes out of you, but it also goes down inside you. It goes to the stomach (18:20). Your own cursing will go deep down into your own soul. They are bitter fruits, and they will make your soul sick. You will eat your own words.The tongue is the means by which we bring great help or harm to others and to ourselves. Speaking life words or death words will have a profound effect on others, but it will also have a profound effect on you.We all eat our own words, and what we eat will either be sweet or bitter. What brings help to others will bring help to us. What brings harm to others will bring harm to us.Consider this: “On the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Mat. 12:36). God will hold us accountable not only for what we did but also for what we said. Freedom of speech is a wonderful gift and an awesome responsibility. One day, we will have to give an account for every careless word that has come from our lips.God hears and knows every word that you have ever spoken (Ps. 139:4). He knows every word you say in private, and every word you write online is known and weighed by Almighty God.God holds us accountable not only for what we do but also for what we say, and when you see this, you will know how much you need a Saviour.When have your words to others tasted sweet to you? When have your words to others tasted bitter down into your soul?

Death and life are in the power of the tongue.Proverbs 18:21We have looked at the way of wisdom in relation to friends and family, and today we come to wisdom in our words. There are more proverbs on what we say than on any other subject. The tongue is the means by which we bring the greatest help or harm to others.There is death in the power of the tongueThere is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts (12:18). The tongue is a weapon that can wound another person deeply. If you carry a weapon that can wound, you have to carry it with great care. Words that burst out can bring deep wounds. You may have felt the power of this: “You’ll never amount to anything.” Death is in the power of the tongue.There is also life in the power of the tongueThe tongue of the wise brings healing (12:18). Christian counsellor Larry Crabb says that as a youngster, he developed a humiliating problem with stuttering. One Sunday Larry found the courage to lead a public prayer for the first time.“Stuttering throughout, I finally thought of the word Amen… said it and sat down… solemnly vowing never again to pray or speak aloud in front of a group.“When the service was over I darted for the door… An older Christian man named Jim Dunbar intercepted me… ‘Larry,’ he said… ‘Whatever you do for the Lord, I’m behind you one thousand percent.’“Even as I write these words, my eyes fill with tears… Those words were life words. They had power. They reached deep into my being. My resolve never again to speak in public weakened instantly.”Can you think of a time when someone’s words brought healing to you? Look for opportunities to bring life to others through your words.

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live.Proverbs 7:1-2The only commands that are life-giving are the words and commands of God. But here is a father who has made God’s words his own: “My teaching. My words. My commandments.” What he commends to his son is what he pursues himself. That is the power of example.If you are a parent, a great motivation for living a godly life is to give your children a credible example to follow. “God’s words are the words I believe. God’s way is the way that I follow.”How are you going to do that? The way to walk in obedience is to walk by faith. A life-giving relationship with God is based on trust. Solomon says, to his son, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (3:5).You can’t say that to your children unless you are doing it yourself. So, trust in the Lord with all your heart, especially when it comes to your children!Scottish pastor William Still never had the joy of being a father, yet he gave this wise counsel to parents: Bring your children up in faith, not fear. Trust God with your children. You fear what sin can do to them. Trust what God can do in them. You fear the pressure of school, media, and culture. Trust what God can do through His Spirit and His Word.Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Give your children reason to think, “My father and mother trust God, even when it comes to me!”Who can you be an example for in the next generation?

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.Proverbs 22:6Remember that the Proverbs are not promises. Still, this is a stunning statement: Your influence in the lives of your children goes deeper than you may think. It will still be with them, even when they are old!The thief on the cross lived his life in rebellion against God, yet he said to the thief on the other side of Jesus: “Do you not fear God?” (Lk. 23:40). Where did that come from? Some awareness of a God to whom we must give account had been planted in his soul.So, if you have a rebel son or daughter, don’t despair. The living seed of God’s Word has been planted. Who knows what God may yet do with it?Your children need restraint as well as affirmation. “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). Parents who believe that folly is deeply rooted in the human heart will focus, not only on affirmation but also on restraint.Is the Bible telling us to beat our children with sticks? No! Bible scholar Christopher Wright points to Psalm 23:4: “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Why would David say that the rod was a comfort to him?The shepherd used the rod to fend off wild animals. The sheep had the comfort of knowing that they would not be left at the mercy of enemies that would destroy them. You will bring your children great comfort if they know that you will not allow them to follow destructive impulses.If you have children, ask the Lord to help you bring them up in faith, not in fear. If they are far from God, ask Him to bring them back.

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.Proverbs 10:1You might be surprised to hear that the largest number of proverbs relating to family life are addressed to parents and to children. Let’s begin with God’s wisdom for children.Always seek to bring joy to your parentsHonour your father and your mother (Ex. 20:12). The word honour means “give weight to” or “regard as heavy.” So, to honour your parents means to give weight to what they say.If someone asked you to name the sins on which Romans 1 says the wrath of God will come, would you say “disobedience to parents”? It’s there (1:30). Paul says that in the last days people will be lovers of self and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, and one of the signs of this is that they will be “disobedient to their parents” (2 Tim. 3:2-4).Always be willing to learnA wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke (13:1). When you are young, you can easily feel that you know it all. But as you grow older you realise that you don’t know as much as you thought you did.Solomon says, “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (26:12). Why is there more hope for a fool? Because the fool knows that he needs to learn.This is why the Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (9:10). Wisdom begins when I see that I don’t have it and I need to receive it from the Lord through His Word.Recognise that you need to learn, and listen to those God has placed around you, starting with your parents.How would you rate yourself on a scale of (1) “I have all the wisdom I need” to (10) “I still have plenty to learn”?

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord.Proverbs 18:22Your spouse is a gift from the Lord. These are the words of Solomon to his son Rehoboam, and this wise father commends marriage to his son as a good thing. Marriage is a good gift from the Lord.We live in a culture that flaunts freedom. “Who wants to be tied down?” The Bible has a very different view of marriage. Solomon says to his son, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband” (12:4).The book of Proverbs ends with a poem in praise of a good wife: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all” (31:29). The wise husband appreciates his wife. He tells her where she excels.Ray Ortlund points out that when the word “husband” is used as a verb, it means “to cultivate.” When we talk about “husbandry” we are talking about care and cultivation.If God has trusted you with the gift of a wife, your job as a husband is to create the conditions in which she can flourish. That’s what it means to be a husband. “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25).Likewise, Solomon speaks of a wife’s responsibility to her husband: “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life” (Prov. 31:11-12).“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favour and good success in the sight of God and man” (Prov. 3:3-4).If you are married, how could you help your spouse flourish?

A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.Proverbs 18:19If you have a good relationship with your brother or sister, cherish it and guard it, because Proverbs reminds us that close relationships are vulnerable to deep wounds that don’t heal easily. “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city.” You see this in the Old Testament. The first children born into the world were two boys, Cain and Abel. One was jealous of the other and, in the end, he killed him. Then you have the story of Joseph and his jealous brothers, who sold him into slavery.And in the New Testament, two brothers came to Jesus because they were quarrelling over an inheritance (Lk. 12:13). We are also told that the family of Jesus—that is, His brothers and sisters—said that He was out of His mind (Mk. 3:21; also see Mk. 6:3). So, if the jealousy of a brother or sister is a trial in your life, Jesus has been there. He knows what this is like. “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle” (Prov. 18:19).The closer the relationship, the stronger the bars that keep you apart when it has been strained. Here’s why: When a close relationship breaks down, the offended brother will say, “Well, if something that seemed so good proved hollow, what is the point of trying to restore it?”Close relationships are vulnerable to deep wounds, so handle them with special care. Another proverb says, “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out” (17:14).If there are “bars of a castle” in your heart right now, ask God to take them down. If they are in your sibling’s heart, ask God to help you do what you can to make things better.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.Proverbs 18:24The Lord Jesus Christ is the best friend you can ever have.1. Jesus will always be with youHe says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:4). No one else can say this to you. In every adversity, in life and in death, Jesus is the friend who will always be with you.2. The words of Jesus are sweetWhen others were abandoning Jesus, He asked His disciples, “Do you want to go away as well?” Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:67-68). The words of Jesus make the heart glad. They are sweeter than honey (Ps. 19:10).3. The love of Jesus will never let you goHe loved you before the world began, and He will love you forever. “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3). Consider what a friend the Son of God can be to you!It was love that caused Him to come into the world and stand with us in adversity. He came near to us to make us His friends.It was love that led Him to take on flesh, to experience the heavy heart for Himself, and even to lay down His life. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13-15).Now Jesus is in heaven, where in love He intercedes for you. In Him you have unrestricted access to the Father. His love will cover all your sins. And you will never wear out your welcome with God.So, open your life most fully to the friend you can trust most deeply. There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and His name is Jesus.Are you holding back from Jesus? Or are you opening more and more of your life to Him?

Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbour who is near than a brother who is far away.Proverbs 27:10What are the qualities of a true friend? How can you be a better friend? Proverbs gives us a profile of a true friend.1. A true friend is presentDo not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbour who is near. (27:10). When calamity comes you can’t show up at your brother’s house if you only have a distant relationship. Cultivate friends who are nearby. These are the people who will be there for you when trouble comes. A true friend will be present in times of trouble.2. A true friend brings sweet counselOil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel (27:9). A true friend speaks into your life in a way that always does you good. Because the true friend has deep access to your life, he or she is able to tell you things that others would not. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (27:6).3. A true friend loves at all timesA friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (17:17). When Jesus came to Gethsemane, the friends who loved Him forsook Him. When Paul first stood trial, no one stood with him. But he says, “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me” (2 Tim. 4:17).How can you be a true friend? By your presence, your words, and your love. To become that kind of friend, you need to walk with someone who can be that kind of friend to you.In which of these three areas could you become a better friend?

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbour’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.Proverbs 25:17Proverbs gives us two ways to guard our friendships:First, by being considerateThe easiest way to kill a good friendship is to become demanding. Here is a person who becomes friends with his neighbour, but then he overdoes it! Eventually the neighbour has had enough.Be considerate not only of your friend’s time but also of his or her mood. “Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda” (Prov. 25:20).Here we have a person who is insensitive to the feelings of others. It’s like taking off a garment on a cold day. It will have a chilling effect on the friendship. And more than that, it can produce an explosive reaction like vinegar on soda. Your singing can make your friend’s sorrow worse.How wonderful then that our Lord Jesus Christ knows us completely. He knows what it is to have a heavy heart. He was once in a garden when his heart was sorrowful to the point of death. He is able to “sympathise with our weaknesses” (Heb. 4:15).Second, by being discreetWhoever covers an offence seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends (Prov. 17:9).A close friend is someone who trusts you enough to open up his or her life to you. If you have been given that trust, you must honour it. Nothing kills a friendship more quickly than repeating to others what was trusted in private conversation to you.How can you have good friends? Seek friends intentionally. Choose your friends wisely. Guard your friendships carefully.Thank God for a friend who has been considerate of your needs or discreet with a trusted secret.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.Proverbs 13:20The people with whom you are closest will have the greatest influence in your life. The character of the friends you choose will rub off on you. And the deeper a friendship becomes, the more like your friend you will become. Friendship can bring you great good or do you great harm, depending on the friends you choose.God says, “The companion of fools will suffer harm.” That’s the normal pattern that prevails in this world: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33). And it would be naive for you to think that this does not apply to you.When you grasp the principle that the people to whom you give deepest access in your life will have the greatest influence upon you, you will see that good friends can be a wonderful gift and blessing. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise”! So get close to the kind of people you want to be like.Proverbs says, “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man” (22:24). Notice the reference here is to people who are habitually angry. Don’t make them your friend. You may have to work with such a person, but don’t give them deep access into your life.Choose your friends wisely. Let friendship develop slowly. Good friendships are like fruit: they take time to grow and time to ripen. The true character of a person will become evident over time, and you will be able to discern if this is a friendship that should go deeper or not.Consider the influence of your friendships on your life. Do you need to make any changes?

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgement.Proverbs 18:1In Proverbs we are looking at what it means to follow the way of wisdom in five areas: friends, family, words, work, and wealth. Today, we begin by looking at friendship.“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire” (18:1). That is, he is concerned about himself. And if you are only concerned about yourself, you break out against all sound judgement.Why? Because you are made in the image of God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God enjoys relationship within the tri-unity of His own nature. In his excellent book Made for Friendship, Drew Hunter says “To be made in God’s image… means that we… are wired for relationships.”He points out that the first human problem was not sin but solitude. When God looked at what He had made, He said it was “good.” But when God created Adam, He said, for the first time, something was “not good.” “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18).God did not intend you to live in isolation, so seek friends intentionally. How do you do that? By taking an active interest in others. “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon… I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare” (Phil. 2:19-20).How many friends should you have? It is possible to have a wide circle of acquaintances, but no real friends. So, focus on depth rather than breadth.You see this modelled in the life of Jesus. He ministers to the crowd (hundreds), and there is also a smaller group of 70 that He sends out (Lk. 10:1). Then there are the twelve, but Jesus gives more access to Peter, James, and John. There is an important principle here—open your life most fully to the friends you can trust most deeply.What steps could you take to focus on depth rather than breadth in your friendships?

With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.Psalm 130:4To “fear the Lord” means to love Him so much that His frown would be your greatest dread and His smile would be your greatest delight.There is a fear that love removes, and there is a fear that love brings.The fear that love removes is the fear of punishment. There is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).The fear that love brings is fear of wounding the One we love. Theologian Charles Bridges says, “The child of God has only one dread—to offend His Father; only one desire—to please and delight in Him.”Where do you get this fear of the Lord? David says to God, “With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (Ps. 130:4).You might expect David to say, “With you there is forgiveness, that you may no longer be feared.” But that is not what he says. “Lord, Your forgiveness came at such a cost that I would tremble to sin against this kind of love.”The fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom is birthed at the cross when as a forgiven sinner, knowing the grace and mercy that are yours in Christ, you say, “How could I ever resist a love like this?”Make a fresh commitment to walk in the way of wisdom, to follow hard after the Lord Jesus Christ, so to love Him that His frown will be your greatest dread, and His smile your greatest delight.Take in afresh that the Son of God loves you and gave Himself for you: that with Him there is forgiveness.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.Proverbs 9:10What is your first reaction to “the fear of the LORD”? If you have endured a religion based on fear, you may say, “I had enough of that when I was young; I don’t want anything to do with it now.”If that is what you feel, look at the good that is promised here, and see if you may discover something wonderfully new.Where wisdom beginsThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (9:10). The fear of the Lord is the beginning place of following Jesus Christ. And all the blessings of wisdom—life, health, trust, and peace—have their beginning in the fear of the Lord.Where strength beginsBy the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil (16:6). In the book of Proverbs, God is speaking to His own children. If you are a child of God, you will have a desire to turn away from evil. When you see a sin in your life, you will say, “How can I get rid of this?”You know that time won’t do it. Experience tells you that your own effort won’t do it. And fear won’t do it either. Fear can restrain sin, but it cannot overcome the pull of sin in your heart. But here we are being told that the fear of the Lord makes it possible for you to overcome the power of particular sins.Where life beginsThe fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death (Prov. 14:27). Whatever this “fear of the Lord” is, it is something to get more of, not something to get rid of, because it is the beginning of wisdom, it will give you strength in your struggle to overcome sin, and it is a fountain of life!What is your reaction to “the fear of the LORD”? Are you ready to discover something wonderfully new?

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.Proverbs 3:16–17Here are three things that wisdom brings to us:1. Long lifeLong life is in her right hand (3:16). If you eat a proper diet, you will enjoy better health than if you live on junk food. That doesn’t guarantee you will never have cancer, but the general principle is true.The same is true for your soul. Peter says, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it” (1 Pet. 3:10-11). There is a healthy and an unhealthy way to live. Wisdom will show you how to live a healthy life.2. Riches and honourIn her left hand are riches and honour (3:16). This is a proverb, not a promise. It is not saying, “Give money to God and He will make you rich.” But would it surprise you that when a person honours God with their money, God often trusts them with more? Matthew Henry says, “Those who do good with what they have shall have more to do good with.”3. Joy and peaceHer ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace (3:17). If you pursue wisdom, you will have greater joy and greater peace. Are you looking for greater joy and peace? Study the book of Proverbs. You will gain wisdom as you walk with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.Long life. Riches and honour. Joy and peace. No wonder Proverbs says, “Get wisdom. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed” (3:18).Which of these benefits of wisdom are you most longing for today?

The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.Matthew 7:14Proverbs describes what it looks like to follow Jesus Christ. It lays out the life to which wisdom calls us, the life of a disciple of Jesus.We are going to look at what it means to follow Jesus, what it means to follow the way of wisdom in regard to your friendships, your family, your words, your work, and your wealth.Now, you may be asking, “What’s in this for me? Why should I be interested in this?” That’s a good question.The Bible makes it clear that the path of following Jesus (that is, the path of pursuing wisdom) is often costly. It tells us that “the gate is narrow and the way is hard… and those who find it are few” (Mat. 7:14). But then it also gives us an incentive—this way does lead to life.We often understand these words to mean that living a godly life in this world is hard, but the payoff is that there will be great reward in heaven. And, of course, that is wonderfully true.But, the book of Proverbs draws out another truth that we need to grasp: Those who walk the path of godly wisdom will be blessed in this life, as well as in the life to come (see Mark 10:29-30).Remember, these are proverbs, not promises, but look at the normal pattern that prevails in this world:“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Prov. 3:13-15).Why? We will see three blessings that wisdom brings.Think of three blessings you have already experienced by following the way of wisdom.

Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?Proverbs 8:1In Proverbs 8, wisdom speaks, but whose voice is this? The answer is found in the New Testament.Jesus is described as the wisdom of God: “You are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God” (1 Cor. 1:30). “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2-3).So, when we read in Proverbs that wisdom calls, we are to understand that the voice of the Son of God is calling out to us.Notice where wisdom can be found, standing “at the crossroads” and “beside the gates in front of the town” (Prov. 8:2-3). That’s the shopping retail park and the workplace.You arrive at the shops, and you hear a voice calling out to you, “Before you go in there, come over here. I have something that you will need.”You get on the train to head into work, and a voice calls out to you, “Before you get into all that you have to do, I have something you will need at work today.”Wisdom is presented as a person who calls out to us, offering something of great value. “Wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her” (8:11). God has given us more than wisdom in a book. He has given us His Son, who is wisdom in the flesh. And to all who are in Christ, God gives the Spirit of wisdom, the Holy Spirit, so that through the Spirit of wisdom, we may come to know the Lord better (Eph. 1:17).So, we gain wisdom through the Word, as we walk with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. To follow Jesus is to pursue wisdom. To pursue wisdom is to follow Jesus.Have you heard the voice of wisdom calling out to you?

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom.Proverbs 3:13Wisdom is the skill you need for putting together a successful life—or to put it another way—wisdom is “life skills.” Over these next days, we’re going to look together at what the Bible has to say on practical issues like friends, family, words, work, and wealth.We will be talking here about the skills of building friendships, raising children, and managing money. We will be considering how to speak in a way that builds others up and about being more effective in your work. So this series will be very practical.We begin with two observations about the book of Proverbs that will help you if you keep them in mind as you read them.1. The Proverbs are proverbsTrain up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it (22:6). This does not mean that good parenting guarantees godly children. The proverbs are not promises. They describe a normal pattern that prevails in this world. They do not promise a particular outcome.2. The Proverbs assume a relationshipMy son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments (3:1). The words “my son” occur 23 times in Proverbs. Many of these proverbs would have been spoken first by Solomon (1:1) to his son Rehoboam. “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” (1:8).But this book is more than the wisdom of Solomon. The book of Proverbs is in Holy Scripture because it is the Word of God. God breathed out these proverbs through Solomon as He breathed out the Psalms through David, or the book of Romans through the Apostle Paul.So, what we have here is God speaking to His own children. A relationship is assumed. Our loving Father is calling His children to walk in the paths of wisdom.In what area of life do you most need to hear the words of the loving Father to you as His child?

Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.2 Corinthians 7:10There are two kinds of grief (or sorrow). Worldly sorrow brings death. You can be full of regret and never change; you can be sorry without repenting. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. Godly sorrow leads to real and lasting change.Godly sorrow is the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience. Let’s see how these two sorrows work out in the lives of David and Saul.After Saul is confronted about his disobedience to God, he offers some lame excuses, but then finally admits, “I have sinned; yet honour me now before the elders of my people and before Israel” (1 Sam. 15:30). Saul is sorry about what happened, but he wants to put all the unpleasantness behind him so he can still look good. That’s worldly sorrow—no ownership of his actions. Follow the story and you’ll see that Saul never really changed.But David, after being confronted with his disobedience to God, says, “Have mercy on me, O God… For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psa. 51:1, 3). This man is facing his sin—no hiding. He doesn’t minimise it or cast blame on others—no excuses. This sorrow is painful, but it brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret!You don’t want to be a person who falls over the same stumbling block again and again. Say to God, Don’t let me stumble without seeing what needs to change in my life. I see that in Saul. Don’t let me be like that. Let your Word be a lamp for my feet and a light to my path.Do you feel like you are stumbling over the same sins again and again?

‘He arose and came to his father.’Luke 15:20The prodigal son was absolutely miserable. But it takes courage to go back home. How do you find the courage to begin the long journey home? You find the courage when you believe that there will be a welcome. And this is the promise of the gospel.The father in Jesus’ story is more generous than the son would ever have dared to imagine. The father, filled with compassion, throws his arms around his son and kisses him (that’s forgiveness). The father brings out the robe. He will not have his son clothed in rags (that’s covering his shame). This is what God does for us in Jesus Christ. He clothes us in His righteousness. The father calls for the ring (that’s the mark of sonship), and places it on his son’s finger, so he can face the world as a new man.Jesus tells this story so that we will know how God the Father will receive those who come to Him in repentance and faith. If you come to God today, through His Son Jesus Christ, He will welcome you as the father welcomed the prodigal in Jesus’ story. Believe this and you will find the courage to repent.The stories of the two sons teach us a great irony: Those who seem far away from God may actually be near, and those who seem near to God may actually be far away. You may feel you are far from God, but God is ready to forgive and welcome you back. That’s the promise of the gospel. When you believe it, you will find the courage to repent.What is your reaction to this story?

“The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’”Luke 15:12In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, the younger son gets his money and goes to live as far away from his father as he can. But he squanders his money, and then Jesus says, “A severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need” (15:14).So, he got a job feeding pigs, and the pigs were fed, but he was hungry. Then Jesus says, “He came to himself.” The son reasoned, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants’” (15:17-19).The son said, “Just give me my money! Let me live my own life!” There was real hostility there. Apart from God’s grace, this is our natural condition: “The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God” (Rom. 8:7). We shake our fists at God. It’s been like this ever since the Garden of Eden.But then the son came to his senses, and he thought again about his father, My father’s hired servants have more than enough bread. And he thought again about himself, Here I am starving to death (15:17). This is a moment of great honesty, This isn’t working. I’m starving to death, while my father’s men have food to spare. What am I thinking?That’s where repentance begins: Why am I living at a distance from God? Why am I fighting Him? What am I trying to prove? He changed his mind and then he was able to move, “And he arose and came to his father” (15:20). Repentance is a change of behaviour that flows from a change of mind about God and about yourself.Do you need to think again about God the Father? About yourself?

And he answered, “I will not.”Matthew 21:29What an obnoxious son! His father asked him to go work in his vineyard, and he said to his face, “I will not.” There’s hostility, rebellion, and defiance! “You’re not going to tell me what to do.”The grandmothers would be saying, “Oh, what a shame! What a pity he isn’t like his brother.” Then Jesus tells us about a remarkable change: “But afterward he changed his mind and went” (21:29).What the two sons actually did shows what they thought of their father. The son who said, “Yes sir,” but then did not go, showed that he did not care much for his father. The father’s word didn’t carry weight in his life. He was happy to do what the father said when it was convenient. But if something more interesting came along, then he wanted to keep his options open.The other son said, “I will not,” but later he went into the vineyard. He couldn’t be at peace while he was in conflict with his father. When he thought about the way he had responded to his father, he was disturbed.Choosing repentance shows what you think of God. It shows that you think of Him so highly that you will freely choose to obey Him, even though your first instinct was to refuse.You show what you think of Jesus by the way you respond to His commands: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If you love Him, your commandment-keeping will not be from guilt but from gratitude. It will not be an obligation. It will be worship.What does your obedience tell you about your love for Jesus?

“A man had two sons.”Matthew 21:28Jesus told a parable about a father who asked his two sons to go work in his vineyard. One son said, “I will not,” but later he changed his mind (repented) and went. The other son said, “I will, sir,” but he didn’t.The second son’s response was immediate, positive, and polite! Grandmothers who saw this clean-cut lad would be very impressed, “He’s such a good boy! Any father would be proud to have a son like that.”But Jesus quickly punctured that balloon: “But [he] did not go” (21:30). He said he would go. He intended to go. But he didn’t. Then Jesus asked, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” (21:31). The answer is obvious. This is the danger of an empty profession.If you profess faith, but knowingly continue in sin, you’re in the same position as the son who said, “I will, sir,” but then did not do what his father wanted. Where do you find, in the Bible, people who are saved without it making any difference to their lives? That’s not the gospel.Saying “yes” to God is of no value if it doesn’t lead to doing what He commands: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him” (Isa. 55:6-7). You cannot pursue wickedness and turn to the Lord. Turning to the Lord is forsaking wickedness.Are you telling yourself that you are a Christian even though you have sins in your life that you’re unwilling to forsake?

Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.Romans 6:13Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the German Christian leaders who stood against the Nazi regime. Bonhoeffer was an inspiration to many. But when he looked into his own heart he wasn’t so sure. He expressed this conflict in a poem called “Who Am I?”, written from his prison cell shortly before he was martyred.“Who am I?...Am I then really all that which other men tell of? Or am I only what I know of myself, restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage, struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat, yearning for colours, for flowers, for the voices of birds, thirsting for words of kindness, for neighbourliness, trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation, tossing in expectation of great events, powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance, weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making, faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?Who am I? This or the other?Am I one person today, and tomorrow another? Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others, and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling? Or is something within me still like a beaten army, fleeing in disorder from a victory already achieved?Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Whoever I am, thou knowest, O God, I am Thine.”You may have all kinds of struggles and fears, but you belong to Christ. His resurrection life is in you by the Holy Spirit. So, offer yourself as you are, because you belong to Christ.Do you have some struggles and fears? Do you belong to Christ? Will you offer yourself to Him as you are now?

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.1 Corinthians 10:31Suppose you spent 8 hours a day sleeping, 8 hours working, 3 hours eating, and 2 hours travelling to and from work. You would have 3 hours leftover. Now, if you gave 2 of those to your family, then you would have just 1 hour left!Many people think “offering yourself to God” means doing some ministry. That’s a great thing to do. But if that’s all “offering yourself to God” means, then you will only offer Him a very tiny part of your life.1 Corinthians 10:31 prompted John Piper to write an article called “How to Drink Orange Juice to the Glory of God.” Drink with thanksgiving. Then commit to using the strength of the next hours in ways that honour the Lord. If you are drinking the orange juice with others, let your conversation be an expression of love so that they’ll be edified.Or if you play football, your calling is to offer your football to God in the way you train, the way you play, and in the way you interact with others—your team (someone who’s not playing well), the other team (someone who fouls you), and the referee (when he or she makes a “bad” call).Jesus spent three years in public ministry, but before that He was a carpenter for about 20 years. He cared for His mother. He offered Himself to God, as much in His carpentry and in caring for His mother as in preaching the gospel and in performing the miracles.We are talking here about a pattern of faithfulness and obedience that honours the Lord in the ordinary routines of life. You can honour Jesus Christ in everything you do.Reflect on how you’re offering yourself to God.

Present yourselves to God...Romans 6:13God showed Joseph in a vision the great purposes that He had for him. But his brothers sold him to slave traders who took him to Egypt, and he ended up in prison.Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes: Why am I here? What use can a man be to God in a prison? But Joseph exercised faith, pursued integrity, and ministered to the men God placed next to him. Then God stepped in and Joseph was used to save his entire family.God gave Moses a vision for his people who were languishing in slavery. What happened to Moses? He found himself looking after sheep in the desert (Ex. 3:1). Put yourself in Moses’ shoes: Why am I here? What kind of ministry can a man have in the desert? But Moses honoured God as a shepherd. Then God stepped in and made Moses the shepherd of His people.John was called to be an apostle, but he ended up in prison. What kind of ministry can you have to the church when you are in prison? Then God gave him a revelation of heaven. It became a book of the Bible that has brought blessing and hope to the worldwide church for 2,000 years.There’s great danger in thinking, I could be useful to God if only I didn’t have this illness, if only I had a believing partner, if only I lived in another place. But the only life you have to offer to God is the life God has given to you. So, offer yourself to God in your present circumstances. God knows what He will do with you in the future.Are you offering yourself to God now? If not, why not?

Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.Romans 6:13Notice what the apostle Paul says just before this: “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness” (6:13). Paul is talking here about the possibility of offering yourself to sin—your capacities, what you can do with the skill of your hands, the creativity of your mind, and so on.This is the negative dimension of repentance, and now Paul is going to state the positive. You might expect him to say: “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness. But rather present your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” But that is not what he says.There is something else that you have to do first: “Present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” Why? Because before you can offer your gifts, you have to offer yourself.Offering yourself to God means putting yourself at His disposal and leaving Him to assign the task. The use He makes of your gifts is up to Him. There is a wonderful freedom that comes from saying, “I offer myself to You. How You use me, I leave in your hands.” That’s freedom.What do you know of this kind of freedom?

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.1 Thessalonians 1:9This is a great description of repentance! Notice the negative and the positive: “You turned… from idols”—that’s the negative. These people stopped doing certain things that were displeasing to God. More than that, they started doing other things that are pleasing to God. “You turned to God… to serve the living and true God”—that’s the positive.Some of us were brought up with a Christianity that majored on what you shouldn’t do. What about living in a way that pleases God and makes a difference in the world? Repentance cannot be confined to certain things you no longer do.The rich young ruler wanted to know how to have eternal life (Mt. 19:16). So, Jesus engaged him with the Ten Commandments: Don’t lie. Don’t steal. Don’t commit adultery. The man said, “All these I have kept” (19:20). He felt that he had avoided the things God said a person shouldn’t do. So, Jesus turned to the positive: “Sell what you possess and give to the poor… and come, follow me” (19:21).Jesus is saying, “You have avoided certain sins, yes, but what good are you doing? What are you doing to alleviate others’ suffering?” That’s where the rich young ruler parted company with Jesus. He was comfortable with a moral life. He wasn’t ready for a sacrificial life.Morality is about avoiding certain things that are wrong. Christianity is about the pursuit of what is right. It is about leaving sin in order to pursue righteousness.Are you comfortable with a moral life?Or ready for a sacrificial life?

If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.Romans 8:13John Owen says that putting your sin to death involves the following:1. A habitual weakening of sinEvery time you say “no” to the flesh you weaken its power.2. Constant fighting and contending against sinSin’s root remains in us, so don’t expect an end to your struggle with sin in this life.3. Frequent success over sinSin’s activity is less frequent and weaker, and it doesn’t hinder or interrupt your duty or peace.This is work that God calls you to do, but you do it by the Spirit who lives in you. Owen lists six ways in which the Spirit is at work in killing sin. The Holy Spirit: Convinces your heart of the sin to fight against. Reveals the provision of Christ for your relief. Establishes your heart in the expectation of relief from Christ. Brings the cross of Christ into your heart with its sin-killing power. Begins and will complete your sanctification. Supports all your soul’s prayers to God.Paul says, “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (8:13). This is not salvation by works. He is telling us that the mark of a true Christian is that he or she is fighting against sin. You will have many failures, but you’re walking on the path.Those who kill sin do it because they’re led by the Spirit. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (8:14). This is the narrow path. Few people find it, but those who do, find life!Evaluate yourself against each of the 3 things involved in killing your sin.

“Sin is crouching at the door.”Genesis 4:7Sin is a power. It has life and vigour in it. That means you have to track it down and deal with it, or it will destroy you.In the story of Cain and Abel, Abel brought God an acceptable sacrifice, but Cain did not. So Cain became angry. God said, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door” (4:6-7). Sin is like a wild animal crouching at the door of your life, ready to pounce. The Lord said to Cain: “Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it” (4:7).Imagine you are in a primitive jungle village. One day you hear that a leopard has come into the village and killed one of the children. Now that the leopard has the taste of blood, you know he’ll be back for more. So, you have no choice but to hunt and kill the leopard.The village chief asks for volunteers, and a group steps forward. Spear in hand, you move out from the village, looking for signs of the leopard. You look for tracks or carcasses. You listen for the sounds of a large animal on the move. And you walk very slowly, because you know that while you are stalking the leopard, the leopard is stalking you.You are the hunter, but you are also the hunted. That’s how it is with sin. An encounter is inevitable, and when it happens, either you will kill the leopard or the leopard will kill you.How do you view sin? Like a wild animal? Why or why not?

My sin is ever before me.Psalm 51:3Once you have identified an area of sin that you need to deal with, start watching for its movements in your life. Suppose you are stalking pride, lust, laziness, or unbelief. Ask yourself, “When am I most vulnerable to this? In what ways do I see it being expressed?” John Owen wrote extensively on this subject in the 17th century, and his most famous book is called The Mortification of Sin. It has never been equalled, and although it’s not an easy read, you will find it profitable. Owen wrote: “Every unclean thought or glance would be adultery if it could. Every covetous desire would be oppression and every unbelieving thought would be atheism. Sin’s expression is modest in the beginning, but, once it has gained a foothold, it continues to take further ground.” Owen goes on to say, “This is how men deal with their enemies. They search out their plans, ponder their goals, and consider how, and by what means they have prevailed over them in the past. Then they can be defeated. We need to trace this serpent in all of its turning and windings, and to bring its most secret tricks out into the open. We must learn to say—‘This is your usual method; I know what you are up to.’” Stalking sin means getting into a position where you can see sin’s movement in your life. Then you can take action against it. Don’t underestimate the importance of this. If there is a particular area of sin in your life and you do not move in on it, it will grow. The more your sin grows, the more difficult your battle will be, so it is all the more urgent that you begin your warfare now.What sin do you need to begin stalking?

Examine yourselves.2 Corinthians 13:5Using the Bible as a tool for self-examination is good to do on a regular basis. It is also good to set aside some particular times for self-examination.On a regular basisWhen you read the Bible ask yourself, Is there a promise to believe, a command to obey, or a sin to avoid? Try to see if what you are reading points to a sin that could be lurking in your life.You may know the story about four men who wanted to bring their paralysed friend to Jesus, but they couldn’t get near to him because of the crowd. Instead of giving up, they climbed on top of the house where Jesus was teaching, broke through the roof, and lowered their paralysed friend on his bed, right at the feet of Jesus!What’s the sin to avoid? The sin of giving up too quickly. The sin of saying, “It’s too difficult.” The sin of saying, “I’m too busy, I can’t be bothered.” When you read the Bible, ask, “Is there a sin to avoid?” The entrance of God’s Word will give you light. You will start seeing where sin lurks within your own soul, and once you see it, you will be in a position to deal with it.At particular timesIt’s also good to have particular times of self-examination where you take an honest look at your own heart. Use the Scriptures as a grid for examining yourself. You could begin with the Ten Commandments. Write down what each command requires and ask God to show you where your heart is out of line with His purpose. You can use many passages of Scripture this way, like 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 or Matthew 5:1-12.Are you examining yourself regularly? Are you setting aside particular times?

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin.James 1:15James is using a picture here—desire conceives. The point about conception is that it is a hidden thing. Nobody knows when it actually happens, and it only becomes evident later on.When the impulse to sin remains hidden, undetected, and unchallenged, sin will grow. James speaks about sin, “when it is fully grown” (1:15). Sin grows, and once it takes root, it will gain strength in your life. Like a weed that is growing, it becomes harder and harder to pull out.When it is fully grown, sin “brings forth death” (1:15). So, there are three steps to destruction: Sin hidden, sin growing, and sin bringing death. We do not want to go down this road. We want to follow the way of repentance—the hidden path to a transformed life.We find that path when, instead of our sinful desires being hidden, they are revealed. How does God reveal the hidden sins of our hearts? God does His revealing work through His Word: “The unfolding of your words gives light” (Psa. 119:130).That’s what happened to David. He was a believer, but he had been successful in hiding his sin, even from himself. God sent the prophet Nathan, who told him a story about a rich man with many sheep who stole the only lamb a poor man owned.David didn’t even recognise that the story was about him. He burned with anger: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die” (2 Sam. 12:5). Then Nathan said, “You are the man!,” and God’s Word, through the prophet, showed David what was hidden in his heart.When was the last time God revealed a sin in your life through His Word?

Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.James 1:14It is clear that we will all be tempted. There is no if here: “Each person is tempted when…” Every Christian will be tempted throughout the entire course of his or her life.James is talking to Christian believers, and he is reminding us that sin is not out there in the world, it is in here in each of our lives.When you become a Christian, the guilt of your sin is forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus. Your condemnation is removed because Christ bore your punishment on the cross. The rule or reign of sin in your life is broken. You are no longer sin’s prisoner, you are now under grace.But the root of sin remains in the life of a Christian believer, and that is why the Christian life is always a struggle: “The desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other” (Gal. 5:17). Your flesh will be drawn to various kinds of sin, depending on your temperament, background, past experiences, and so forth. But the reality for all of us is that our flesh is drawn to sin.What James calls “desire” can refer to the drawing power of impulses that are offensive to God – pride, greed, envy, anger, laziness, lust, and gluttony. None of these are actions. They are all impulses. Sin is not just about actions that are offensive to God. It includes the impulses that lead to these actions, and this is where our greatest battles are fought.Do you expect to be tempted or does temptation catch you by surprise? Why?

“Please show me your glory.”Exodus 33:18This is how people pray when they see that lasting change begins with knowing God.Think about the difference between Job and Esau: Esau wanted to change, but he couldn’t because he was far from God. Job changed because in all his pain he just kept on seeking after God.The way you see the glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ: God “has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Job had a theophany when God spoke to him. You have the Incarnation—when the Son of God took on human flesh.Look at Jesus Christ in His compassion—embracing children, weeping with a family at the grave, touching a leper.Look at Jesus in His authority—confronting those who abused power in His temple, casting out demons from a distraught man, giving the Holy Spirit to His disciples.Look at Jesus in His greatest work—dying on the cross for your sins, rising for your everlasting life, and ascending into heaven to represent you before the Father.This is your God! What is there about Him that you cannot trust? What is there in Him that you cannot love? Come to worship in that spirit… Please show me your glory! Read the Bible in this spirit… Help me to see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ.If this becomes the pattern of your prayer, it will soon permeate your thinking and your conversations. God’s glory will begin to captivate your mind and your heart, and you will change. You will find yourself on the hidden path to a transformed life.Have you ever prayed like this?

Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.Genesis 24:67The word comforted is the same word Job used when he said, “I repent.” There is a wonderful comfort in repentance. You could translate Job 42:6: “I repent and comfort myself in dust.”What comfort could there possibly be for Job in the dust? He has finally resolved his conflict with God. Being out of sorts with God is a terrible thing for a Christian believer.If your experiences of life have raised unresolved questions, it may be that like Job, you have become preoccupied with yourself. You are still attending church, but instead of worshipping God you spend most of your time questioning Him. As long as you are out of sorts with God about why He has allowed certain things to happen in your life, you cannot have peace.Sometimes people in the Old Testament covered themselves with dust as a visible sign of repentance. Why dust? Because we were made from dust (Gen. 2:7), we will return to dust (Gen. 3:19), and God remembers that we are dust (Psa. 103:14). Sometimes we forget that.We think we ought to understand and be able to control all things. But there is great comfort that comes from saying, “No, that is for God.” Trying to be God tears you apart. Submitting yourself to God brings comfort and peace.It is enough for us to know that God made us, He knows us, and when our bodies have returned to dust, we will see Him, we will be with Him, and we will rejoice in His glory. What a relief… to stop questioning, resenting, and struggling with God. It happened when Job saw God’s glory.Where are you looking for comfort today?

“I lay my hand on my mouth.”Job 40:4In a nutshell, this is how Job responded to his encounter with Almighty God. It is very different than his attitude toward God beforehand!What is your prevailing attitude toward God right now? Is it one of complaining? Is it questioning? Or is it resenting?What would your prevailing attitude be if you saw God’s glory? You would have complete confidence in Him for the future. You would be able to trust Him in what you do not understand now. You would love Him for who He is, not just for what He does.If you saw His glory, your prevailing attitude toward God would be faith, hope, and love. That would make you a different person. Your attitude toward God is the deepest thing about you. It goes all the way to the core of your being.If your prevailing attitude toward God is one of questioning, complaining, and resenting, that will spill over into your relationships with your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, and your colleagues at work. People will feel that resentment bubbling up from within you. The mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart.Your attitude toward God is the most important thing about you. If you are to change from the inside out, this is the thing that must change first. Lasting change must change first. Lasting change doesn’t come by trying to change. Lasting change comes by growing in the knowledge of God. Holiness grows through our knowledge of the Holy One.How would you describe your prevailing attitude toward God right now?

“I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”Job 42:3The breakthrough in Job’s life came through a fresh glimpse of the greatness and glory of God. The encounter was devastating. God asked Job nearly 40 questions:“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (38:4)“Who determined its measurements?” (38:5)“Who laid its cornerstone” while the angels sang for joy? (38:6-7)Have you ever “commanded the morning?” (38:12)“Have the gates of death been revealed to you?” (38:17)“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow?” (38:22)Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you? (38:35)Job cannot answer a single question. He’d been a worshipper of God all his life, but now he sees that God is far greater and more glorious than he had ever grasped before. He realises that all of the questions he has about his life are just a tiny fraction of what he does not know. There are more mysteries in God’s vast universe than he could begin to comprehend.Job had been trying to make sense of the mystery of suffering. But when he saw the glory of God, he found that he was able to live with his pain and his unanswered questions. Job’s friends turned him inward. God turned him upward, and that was when things changed.Job asked why without ever losing faith, but he was close to the edge. When he saw the glory of God, he realised just how close to the edge he had been, and he said, “I uttered things I did not understand. Therefore, I repent.”Where are you looking to find your breakthrough?

“I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.”Job 10:1Job was a man of faith, a strong believer. But his faith had been stretched to the limits. He believed in God, but he struggled with God, so he poured out his questions and complaints.Job wasn’t the only believer to complain like this. Some of the Psalms express similar questions and complaints to God. Look at Psalm 10, 13, 55, 64, 69, 77, 102, and 142. All these psalms express the struggle of a believer in great pain. They are the words of the godly in distress.Psalm 64 begins with these words: “Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint.” But it ends with, “Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!” David was a man of faith who loved God, but he had a complaint.That’s what we find in the book of Job, and God tells us that Job did not say anything wrong when he complained. Most believers will come, at some point in their life, to a place where they have more questions than answers, and they have a complaint that they would like to make to God. They love the Lord, and their faith has been stretched to the limit.Most Christians have been there. No Christian wants to stay there. It’s like a marriage in which there is unresolved tension. Most couples have been there, but nobody wants to stay there.Have you been to this place with God Are you there right now?

“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”Job 42:5-6Job got what he asked for – a clear, direct, audible encounter with God. But afterwards Job said, “I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” What did Job repent of?God doesn’t accuse Job of any sins. Instead, He vindicates Job and is angry with his friends, who “have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (42:7).The book of Job doesn’t end with Job discovering some secret sin in his life. If that had happened, his friends would have been right. In the end, God says, “Job was right, the friends were wrong.” So, the friends end up asking Job to pray for them that they will be forgiven by God. But if Job was vindicated, then what does he mean when he says, “I repent”?Repentance is turning from as much as you know of your sin, to give as much as you know of yourself, to as much as you know of your God. So, what changed for Job was that he saw God’s glory as never before. And if you could see more of the glory of God, you’d be changed too.If you know God a little, there will be a little repentance, a little change in your life. As you get to know God more, there will be more repentance, and more change in your life. When you know God much, there will be much repentance, and much change in your life.How much repentance and change are you seeing in your own life right now?

When Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place… to show him sympathy and comfort him.Job 2:11Job had some friends who were worried about his spiritual condition, and so they came to comfort him in his loss. They should be commended for that.These friends felt quite sure that Job’s suffering must be a direct consequence of some sin in his life, and they wanted him to come clean and tell them what it was.But Job maintained his innocence. In Job 31, he goes through a catalogue of sins and calls down judgements on himself if he has been guilty of any of them:“If I have walked with falsehood (31:5), if my step has turned aside from the way (31:7), if my heart has been enticed toward a woman (31:9), if I have withheld anything that the poor desired (31:16), if I have… eaten my morsel alone (31:16-17), if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing (31:19), if I have raised my hand against the fatherless (31:21), if I have made gold my trust (31:24), if I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me (31:29), if I have concealed my transgressions” (31:33)… But I didn’t do any of these things!If any of these things are true of me, “let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley” (31:40). The words of Job are ended. The defence rests its case. What Job really wants is an audience with God. He’d like to ask God some questions.Would you tend to agree with Job or his friends? Why?

“There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.”Job 1:8Job was one of the finest men who ever lived. Listen to what God said about him: “There is none like him on the earth.” Imagine having God say that about you!The story of Job is about how he became the target for a focused attack from Satan, and God allowed it. One day, the bottom fell out of Job’s life: His servants and animals were attacked and taken by a gang called the Sabeans (1:14-15). There was some kind of lightning strike (fire fell from heaven), burning up the sheep and another group of servants (1:16). The Chaldeans came with three raiding parties, took the camels, and put another group of servants to the sword (1:17). Then, most devastating of all, a strong wind caused the house where Job’s sons and daughters were at (for a party) to collapse, and they all died (1:18-19).It is hard to imagine a greater disaster happening to one man in a single day. It seemed as if all hell was let loose, and in some sense that is exactly what happened. So, this book is about a man who experienced unspeakable suffering. It tells us about his struggle with himself, with his friends, and most of all, with God.All of us have suffered, and when pain comes into your life, you will struggle with questions for God. You may find yourself complaining. You may find yourself wishing you were no longer alive. God has given us the book of Job, and it deals directly with these experiences.How could God let this happen to a man like Job?

God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.Acts 5:31God says that He “gives” repentance. You say, “Isn’t repentance our responsibility?” Yes, but it is God’s grace that makes it possible.That’s why David says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart!… See if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psa. 139:23-24). Lord, you have to show me what’s wrong in my life, otherwise I won’t even see it. Lord, you have to lead me in the way everlasting, otherwise I won’t even find it. It’s God’s grace that makes repentance possible.There is a deep-seated rebellion toward God in the human heart that only grace can heal. The inclination to repent comes when the Holy Spirit shows you the extent of your own sin. The courage to repent comes when the Holy Spirit shows you the extent of Christ’s love.You cannot repent if you harden your heart against God. The prodigal son will never return home as long as he is filled with resentment toward the father. That’s the thing that has to change. When the son came to his senses he said, “I will… go to my father” (Lk. 15:18). That’s where repentance begins, not with seeking repentance, but with seeking God.Esau never found repentance, but you could make a different choice today. Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God the Father that He might give repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Come to Him today: “Father, thank you for making real and lasting change possible for me. Thank you for placing this desire in my heart. Thank you for your love in Christ that draws me on this path.”*Are you willing to make this prayer your own today?*

When he [Esau] desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.Hebrews 12:17Why was Esau unable to repent? Hebrews gives us two answers:1. Esau was godlessSee to it that… no one is… unholy like Esau (12:15-16).Esau believed in God and wanted the blessing of God. He burst out with a bitter cry when the blessing he wanted was given to Jacob. To Esau, God was a means to an end, but he had no place for God in his life. Esau was an unholy man (literally, a “godless” man), and a godless man cannot repent. Real change begins, not with seeking repentance, but with seeking God.2. Esau missed the grace of GodSee to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble (12:15).Esau allowed a bitter root to grow in him. He held a grudge and consoled himself with the thought of revenge. He shed plenty of tears, but they were godless tears, so they didn’t lead to change! Why not? Because he missed the grace of God.John Calvin says, “God’s mercy is never sought in vain, for to him who knocks it shall be opened, but… the ungodly, however they may deplore their lot, complain, and howl, do not yet knock at God’s door for mercy, for this cannot be done but by faith.”Repentance begins when we have faith to believe that God’s mercy will forgive us, and God’s power can change us. That’s what Esau missed. He felt sorry for himself, he was angry with his brother, and he resented God. But he missed the grace of God, so he could not find repentance.When was the last time you knocked at God’s door for mercy?

For you know that afterward, when he [Esau] desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.Hebrews 12:17Maybe you’ve been a Christian for some time. You’ve tried to get free from certain sins, but you haven’t been able to, so you’re convinced that real, lasting change is no longer possible for you. When you hear the word repentance, you say to yourself, I would if I could, but I can’t.Repentance is the hidden path to a transformed life. The reason it is a hidden path is that many people never find it. There are many who would love to be free from bitterness, pornography, or alcohol. They may have deep regrets. They may shed many tears. But they do not change.Hebrews 12 tells us about a man just like this. His name is Esau. “See… that no one is… unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal” (12:15-16). This refers to the Old Testament story about two brothers, Jacob and Esau.One day Esau came home from hunting, and he found his brother Jacob cooking stew. Jacob said to Esau, “I’ll give you some stew if you sell me your birthright.” Esau was desperate, so he sold his birthright for one meal.But later on, when Esau wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could not change what he had done (12:17). Esau was the man who could not repent.If you find yourself saying, “I cannot change,” you’re identifying with Esau. Repentance is a hidden path to you. You would like to travel on this path, but you cannot find it.Have you recently thought something like this: I’d like to change, but I can’t?

“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”Matthew 3:8Here is a good definition of repentance from J. I. Packer: “Repentance is turning from as much as you know of your sin, to give as much as you know of yourself, to as much as you know of your God.” Once you’ve grasped this definition, you won’t be thinking: Been there, done that when you hear the word repentance.1. Repentance is turning from as much as you know of your sin. As the Holy Spirit shines the light of God’s truth into your life more brightly, you will see things you never saw before that need to change in your life. If you are growing as a Christian, you will be more conscious of sin in your life now than you used to be. Many older Christians can vouch for this. That’s not a reason for fear, but for thanksgiving. It’s a sign of growth.2. Repentance is giving God as much as you know of yourself. When you became a Christian, you were probably certain that you offered your whole self to Christ. But as you grow in faith, you keep finding areas of your life that need to be surrendered more fully to Him.3. Repentance is giving yourself to as much as you know of our God. As you grow in the knowledge of God, you will find that repentance deepens in your life.As you learn more about your sin, yourself, and God, your repentance will deepen. You will be increasingly transformed into the likeness of Christ—from one degree of glory to another.Which part of Packer’s definition do you find most encouraging? Why?

“The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”Mark 1:15Some Christians hear the word repentance and immediately think: Been there, done that! It’s easy to see why.Imagine you were brought up under teaching that emphasised repentance at the beginning of the Christian life. Sermons ended by calling sinners to repent and believe, inviting them to come to the front of the church or raise their hands if they wanted to receive Christ.You grew up on the ABC’s of the gospel: Admit that you are a sinner. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Commit to following Him. But you’ve already done these things. And over the years you’ve seen many others do the same, so when you hear the word repent, it’s natural for you to say, “Oh, I’ve already done that.”But when you say, “I made a commitment to Christ,” how long does that commitment last? A lifetime—it’s a continuing thing. When you say, “I believe in Christ,” how long does the believing last? It lasts a lifetime—it’s ongoing. And when you say, “I repented,” how long does the repenting last? It lasts a lifetime—it’s a continuing thing.Martin Luther (and others) rediscovered this great truth in the Bible back in the sixteenth century. Luther wrote, “When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said ‘Repent,’ he called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”Now at this point all the beating yourself up Christians will be saying, “A lifetime of beating myself up? You cannot be serious!” Not a lifetime of beating yourself up, a lifetime of continual growth into the likeness of Jesus Christ.Does repentance sound more like the ABC’s of the Christian life, or do you see it as part of the lifestyle of a mature believer too?

“The younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.”Luke 15:13Jesus told a wonderful story about repentance: A son takes his inheritance, goes into a distant country, and wastes everything he has on riotous living. But eventually the bottom falls out of his life, and he ends up scratching out a living on a pig farm. Then he comes to his senses, and says, “I will arise and go to my father” (15:18).So he begins the long journey home. When he sees the house on the horizon, he notices someone running toward him. It is his father, who has been watching every day, longing for the boy’s return. The father hugs and kisses him, and he places a robe on his back and a ring on his finger. He calls his servants to kill the fattened calf and orders a celebration. Why? Because of his joy.If there’s joy in it for the father, there must be joy in it for the son. He may feel unworthy. He may feel embarrassed, but think about the change in his life. A short time ago he was eating with the pigs, now he is feasting on a calf! Repentance is the hidden path to a transformed life.That’s good news! Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. What is the good news? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mat. 3:2). Repentance is good news! Real, lasting change is possible because God has come near to you in Jesus Christ.When was the last time you experienced joy and repentance together?

“There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”Luke 15:10What is your reaction to the word repentance? We come from many different backgrounds, and your reaction will tell you a great deal about what you think repentance is.For some of us repentance sounds heavy! If that’s your reaction, it probably means that you think of repentance as beating yourself up. A lot of people have that idea.If that’s what you think about repentance, a month of devotions on this theme is probably not very inspiring: I feel bad enough about myself already! But, if you continue to think of repentance as beating yourself up, you won’t be able to hear what Christ says to you about the change He wants to bring in your life.You have to get rid of that baggage, and the place to start is with a question: If repentance is beating yourself up, then why did Jesus say that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents? If repentance is beating yourself up, how could the angels have joy in it? If the angels found joy in human misery, they would not be angels, but devils.So, when Jesus tells us that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, He makes it clear that whatever repentance is, it is not beating yourself up. It is not a journey of sustained misery. It is not an odyssey into self condemnation or regret. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, and if there is joy in it for heaven, there is joy in it for you.Do you think it is possible that God intends joy for you in repentance?