Good morning! It’s Monday, May 26, 2025. This week, we celebrate my wife Anna’s birthday! She said she’s turning 39. (The best way to stay young is to fake your age.) That’s one of the best lessons I’ve learned in all my 51 years of living. Speaking of wisdom (and creative aging), we’re launching into one of my all-time favorite books — Proverbs. This isn’t just a book; it’s a map. Grab your coffee, and let’s do a road trip together. Read on …
Today's Reading:
Proverbs 1,2,3; Romans 7
Scripture
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13)
Observation
Wisdom and understanding are like spiritual peanut butter and jelly—you really shouldn’t have one without the other. Wisdom isn’t just knowing facts and figures; it’s applying what you know when it counts. Anyone can collect Bible trivia, but if it doesn’t show up in the fruit of your life, it’s just data on delay.
Wisdom comes from understanding, and understanding encourages application. These two virtues are the ingredients of an unpretentious character and a bright future.
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“You will know them by their fruits.” —Mt. 7:16
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“So that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold …” —1 Pt. 1:7
There are Christians who are knowledgeable but not necessarily wise. The knowledge they gained seems to seep out their toes when push comes to shove. Proof is in the fruit of their life, not their statements about life. Knowledge may fill your head, but wisdom fills your life.
Application
Here’s the gut-check: Am I gaining wisdom, or just collecting verses like baseball cards? At the bottom of every Life Journal entry is this question: “How will I be different today because of what I’ve just read?”
That line isn’t a footnote—it’s the whole point.
James tells it straight: “Do not merely listen to the word… do what it says!” —James 1:22. Otherwise, it’s like looking in the mirror, walking away, and forgetting you’ve got spinach in your teeth.
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your Word. Don’t let it just bounce off me—sink it deep. Help me not just read wisdom but live it. In moments of pressure, don’t let me knee-jerk—teach me to be knee-wise instead. I want to be the kind of person who doesn’t just quote Scripture, but lives like my life depends on it … because it does!
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