40 Days Pondering the Fruit of the Spirit
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 28 | LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 28 | LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS
LOVE and FAITHFULNESS
Proverbs 3:3-4
“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 favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” (ESV)
There are many pressures on people today. Our situations and pressures are certainly different than they were 3000 years ago during Solomon’s time, but surprisingly similar in more ways than not.
Thus, when Solomon wrote this Proverb, he was writing something as practical to us as to his son, the original audience.
It’s interesting to see LOVE and FAITHFULNESS tied together in this verse and yet, since God is love and these are the fruit from God the Holy Spirit, seeing them together makes sense.
Throughout Jewish history there was a desire to help children (and adults) NOT FORGET. An example would be Passover which was all about REMEMBERING an event.
The Amplified Bible says it this way: “Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.”
This version says that MERCY and KINDNESS and TRUTH should be qualities that define us. When others think about us, they should feel our mercy and kindness and never doubt our truthfulness.
But then he says to BIND them around our necks and WRITE them on the table of our hearts.
This translates into MORE than just carrying a Bible with you on your smartphone. It means, as the Psalmist reminds us… “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)
Most people today – unlike years ago – seem uninterested in memorizing Scripture… even a little bit. But to do so is to “write them on the tablet of your heart.”
And then the PROMISE: “So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”
Prayer: Lord, I do want ALL that You’ve promised. Please help me to do my part. Amen.
Proverbs 3:3-4
“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 favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” (ESV)
There are many pressures on people today. Our situations and pressures are certainly different than they were 3000 years ago during Solomon’s time, but surprisingly similar in more ways than not.
Thus, when Solomon wrote this Proverb, he was writing something as practical to us as to his son, the original audience.
It’s interesting to see LOVE and FAITHFULNESS tied together in this verse and yet, since God is love and these are the fruit from God the Holy Spirit, seeing them together makes sense.
Throughout Jewish history there was a desire to help children (and adults) NOT FORGET. An example would be Passover which was all about REMEMBERING an event.
The Amplified Bible says it this way: “Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them [securely] around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.”
This version says that MERCY and KINDNESS and TRUTH should be qualities that define us. When others think about us, they should feel our mercy and kindness and never doubt our truthfulness.
But then he says to BIND them around our necks and WRITE them on the table of our hearts.
This translates into MORE than just carrying a Bible with you on your smartphone. It means, as the Psalmist reminds us… “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)
Most people today – unlike years ago – seem uninterested in memorizing Scripture… even a little bit. But to do so is to “write them on the tablet of your heart.”
And then the PROMISE: “So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”
Prayer: Lord, I do want ALL that You’ve promised. Please help me to do my part. Amen.