Category: Bible

Our Righteous Judge

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 7; Proverbs 1:19; John 8

It was interesting today to read Psalm 7. Along with John 8. Psalm 7:8 says” The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, oh Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.” Then verse 11a says, “God is a righteous judge.”

I was thinking about how unrighteous I am. Like my favorite Bible verse, Romans 5:8, says, “God shows his love for us and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And like 1 Peter 3: 18a says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous.”

God is righteous and I am unrighteous and in need of his forgiveness. Yet, as a Christian, I should not just continue in sin because Christ will forgive me. Rather, as Psalm 7 encourages me, I am called to live a life of righteousness and integrity.

So when I got to John eight and read the story of the adulterous woman, I was encouraged in this truth again. On Jesus says in John 8:11b, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on send no more.”

God is completely full of grace and mercy, but god is also holy and righteous. As His children and followers, we must not just “continue in sin that his grace may abound.” (More on this when we get to Romans 6.)

I found it particularly interesting that John 8:7, 9, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her…” “and they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones.”

The older I get, the more I recognize my own sin. As a young believer I thought I was so mature. God had changed me so much and brought me out of darkness and into light, but I still had so much to learn. Now I know the word well, and I know all the more what a terrible sinner I am. So many of my obvious, external sins are gone (by God’s grace!) but those inward sins of pride and malice and covetousness lurk beneath the surface.

And then to jump to the end of John 8, verses 58-59a, “Jesus said to him, ‘ truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. So they picked up stones to throw at him…”

Whoa. Clearly these men thought that Jesus had committed blasphemy, calling himself God, when he said that he was the eternal one who had existed before Abraham. I hope you’ll remember this when we read the stories of Abraham and Moses in Genesis and Exodus. Remember what we read in John 1, Jesus was with God in the beginning and all things were made through Him. He is God in the flesh. The Pharisees knew it and so should we.

Let’s pray together.

Heavenly Father, You are God alone. You are the truth. Every word of God proves true. You are a shield to those who take refuge in You.

Hide us in the shelter of your wings. Help us to “go and sin no more.” Help us to hear You and follow You.

We pray that we would come into the light that our works would be exposed, and we would be laid bare before you – that we would repent, turning away from our sins and turning to Jesus, the eternal god in human flesh.

Help us to recognize our own sin and our own need for a savior. Help us to be among those who do not throw stones at our fellow sinners, but instead point them to the One who came that we would have life to the full.

Satan is indeed a liar. He came to steal and kill and destroy. He is the prince of this world, the king of darkness. Help us to rescue those who are held in his snare.

We pray that the eyes of many would be opened so that they would see You, the author and creator of our faith.

It is in the matchless name of Jesus we pray.

Amen.

Speaking the Truth with Love

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Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 6; Proverbs 1:17-18; John 7

Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. - John 7:2 ESV

The Feast of Booths was a festival celebrated each fall to memorialize when the Lord delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and preserved them for their years in the desert. If you want to learn more about the significance of the Feast of Booths, I suggest this article. The more you understand the Old Testament, the more you’ll understand the New. Not only is it incredibly interesting, but it grows your faith as you better understand the fulfillment of Yeshua, Jesus, the One who Saves, in the foreshadowing and prophecies of the Old Testament.

For not even his brothers believed in him. - John 7:5 ESV

How painful it must have been for Jesus’s own brothers to not believe in Him. It makes me so grateful that my sister, too, came to faith in Christ just a few years after I did. I thank God for saving my sister and opening her eyes. How different my life would be today if she were still an opponent of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. - John 7:7 ESV

We should expect the world to hate us. We should be prepared for the battle that we are in. We need to put on the full armor of God, remembering that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the evil forces of darkness. (Ephesians 6)

In light of this kingdom battle, we need to speak the truth, and we need to believe that the truth is good. We must not be false witnesses, saying “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 8:11). We must not be people pleasers, giving lip-service and eye-service to people who want their itching ears to be scratched. (See Ephesians 6:6, 2 Timothy 4:3) We must not pretend that God won’t judge sin, because this is in fact unloving and untrue.

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. - John 7:18 ESV

Sometimes it’s easier to speak for yourself, to say what you think, what seems right to you, rather than to speak God’s words. But the truth is that there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25)

Let’s pray together,

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving us brothers and sisters in our faith, in our own cities and our own nation, as well as around the world. We pray for those brothers and sisters who are being persecuted and attacked for their faith. Help them to stand firm. Help them to shine brightly and to forgive their enemies.

We pray that we would be people of the truth, believing the truth, obeying the truth, speaking the truth. Make us truth-treasurers and truth-preservers. Protect us from loving our own comfort so much that we would lie and deceive and wander from the truth in how we live or what we speak. Father, help us to speak for Your glory and not ours. Give us strength to hold fast to the truth and to speak the truth with authority and love.

We pray that we would come to You when we are thirsty, rather than forsaking You and digging our own cisterns. We want Your rivers of living water to pour out of us, that You would be glorified in us.

In the Good and Glorious Name of Jesus,

Amen

Of Doing and Believing

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Read through the Bible in Two Years: Psalm 5; Proverbs 1:11-16; John 6:1-71

I have always been one who wanted to achieve, to work hard and succeed. When I got to high school, I quit taking the classes that I enjoyed like choir and art and woodworking, and chose instead to take classes I could get an A in, classes that would look good on my resume like A.P. Biology, A.P. Chemistry, and A.P. Calculus 1 and 2.

So, the words of John 6:28 resonated loud with me.

Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" - John 6:28 ESV

Jesus had just told them not to work for food that perishes, but instead to work for the food that endures to eternal life. So, this is a logical question, right? I can just hear them saying, “Ok, got it, Jesus. So, what should we do?”

And here is His answer:

"Believe in Him whom He has sent."

In fact Jesus said, “This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent,” (John 6:29) which seems to mean that even believing in Jesus is a work of God, not of self-will (look back at John 1:12-13 for more on this) … which Jesus states even more explicitly in verse 44 later in John 6, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”

In pondering this idea, I was reminded of Ephesians 2:1-10

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. " - Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV

Dead men can’t make themselves alive, and sinners will never turn to God by their own will. We need God to pour out His grace on us and draw us to believe and cause us to be born again to eternal life.

Which brings me to the next thing that Jesus said, “I am the bread of life…. I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:48, 51)

The bread of LIFE. So much better than manna which spoiled day after day. The LIVING bread. Eternal life-giving bread. So much better than that manna which sustained the Israelites for their 40 years in the wilderness, but could never give them eternal life.

Jesus is the eternal one, the Alpha and Omega, who was and is and is to come, the living One – so He is the only one who can give eternity to us as children of God. So, we must come to Him and eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, abiding in Him by faith, that we, too, might have eternal life.

We will talk about this more when we get to Romans and Galatians, but what a gift it is to begin our new year remembering the bread of eternal life, Jesus.

Let’s pray together –

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to live among sinful dead men, to give up His own life, that we could receive eternal life by faith in Him. Help us to receive Him with humility and to offer this gift to others. Help us to remember that we are just beggers telling others where they, too, can find bread. Make us like the Samaritan woman who was eager to share this good news with others. Make us like Abraham who believed God and came to You by faith. Thank You for giving us our daily bread. Thank you for reminding us and forcing us to come to You day after day, not eating old, stale, molded bread, but new fresh, life-giving daily bread of Your Word which helps strengthen us to do those works which You have prepared in advance for us to do.

In the lifegiving Name of Jesus we pray.

Amen.

Searching for Signs

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Read Through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 4; Proverbs 1:10; John 6:1-26

"When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" ... Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves."
John 6:14, 26 ESV

Earlier in the book of John we read that Philip told Nathanael, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45) and Jesus himself said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.” (John 5:46)

Additionally, Jesus had done many miraculous signs – turning water into wine, healing the sick and lame, feeding thousands with a few fish and loaves of bread – proving again that He was the Messiah and Emmanuel, God with us. Yet, the people were still drawn to follow Him not because He was the way, the truth, and the life, but because of the wonderful gifts that He gave.

It reminds me of the other passages I read today – Psalm 4:7, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” and Proverbs 1:10, “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” Am I chasing having a full belly and lots of friends, and leaving Jesus in the trail of dust behind me?

Let’s pray together.

Lord Jesus,

I want to come to You because You are the Messiah, the Savior, the true and living God. You are the Creator and Sustainer of life. You have caused all things to exist by Your will. It is Your breath of life that fills my lungs. You are on Your throne, whether I believe You or follow You … or not.

Help me to turn away from sin and turn towards You. Forgive me for all those times that I’ve let sinners entice me. Forgive me for all those times I’ve gone my own way.

Help me to share this good news with others. Help me to WANT everyone to know the joy and peace and freedom that I’ve found in You.

Amen.


Can I Get a Witness?

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 3; Proverbs 1:8-9; John 4:46-5:47

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." 
John 5:39-40 ESV

When the official’s son was healed, the official himself believed, and so did his whole household. How I pray that my whole household will be saved!

Before healing the lame man, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be healed?” What a silly question, and yet how often would we rather return to our vomit and our pigpen. We say we want to be healed, we say we want to forsake our sin, but do we? Father, help us to want to want to follow You!

Jesus wanted these Jewish people to be saved, and He wants us to be saved, too. These Jews searched the scriptures because they wanted to find eternal life in them, yet it was those very scriptures who testified to Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Savior. How many people are sitting in our churches year after year, yet missing the Messiah?

So much testified to the deity of Christ – John the Baptizer who came before Christ to make the way straight for Him, Jesus’s miracles, the Father’s own voice from heaven (Mark 1:11), the scriptures – and yet people still refused to believe and be saved. How much like people today. These people were seeking glory from one another, rather than seeking glory from God. Again, how much like people today.

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father,

What an honor to call You Father. You have created each of us by Your will. You are worthy to receive all glory and honor and power (Revelation 4:11). I am not Your equal. No one is. I am not God and I never will be God. Rather, I have been created in Your likeness and for Your purposes, that You might be glorified in me and through me. Help me to be humble. Help me to search the scriptures faithfully and rightly, with a pure heart and a pure mind.

I want to know You more, that I would love You more and be more like You.

Make me a faithful witness like the Samaritan woman at the well that we read about yesterday, bearing testimony to others of the saving power of Jesus Christ. Help me to be Your faithful servant, doing Your will and Your work.

I pray that my whole household would believe. I pray for each of my children and their spouses and children. I pray for my parents and my sister and her family. I pray that they would see You in me and that they would search the scriptures faithfully for themselves.

Like some people believed after hearing the Samaritan woman’s testimony, but many more believed after hearing Jesus for themselves, I pray that many would listen to Jesus with their own ears and be saved.

In the powerful name of Messiah Jesus I pray,

Amen.

Believing From a Testimony … Believing From the Word

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Psalm 2; Proverbs 1:1-7; John 3:22-4:45

"Many Samaritans from that town believed in him (Jesus) because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."" 
- John 4:39-42 ESV

Heavenly Father,

Make me a faithful disciple, making faithful disciples. Help me to share my testimony and point others to Your testimony, the Word of God which is able to make one wise for salvation.

Lord, make me truly wise. I don’t want to merely read Your Word to grow in knowledge about You like someone researching the life and times of C.S. Lewis or Albert Einstein. I want to know You – personally, deeply, mightily. I want to sit at Your feet and drink deeply of Your lifegiving Word. I want to worship what I know, who I know.

I need insight and understanding and instruction. I need my mind renewed. Here I come.

I want Your springs of living water to flow in me and through me. Help me to decrease, and You to increase, in my life. I want to be about my Father’s business. Make me a true worshiper, worshiping you in spirit and truth and helping other to know You, too.

Help me to be one who welcomes in the outcast, who notices the forgotten and neglected, who has to go through Samaria because there’s someone there that You want me to meet. I pray that my eyes will be open to the people in front of me, and that my ears will be open to Your voice prompting me, “This is the way, walk in it. This is the one, talk to her. These are the words, say them.”

Lord, I’m asking You to encourage my Chinese sisters. Help them to know that you see them and hear them and know them. Help them to dig into Your Word and find pearls of great worth, gold of great price, and diamonds of great value. We want You to be our greatest joy.

Father, help me to help others to sit at Your feet day after day and be transformed by the reading of Your Word. May my food be to do Your will. Send me to accomplish Your Work to the glory of Your Name.

Amen.

My Father’s House

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Reading the Bible in 2 years: John 2:13-3:21

"And he told those who sold the pigeons, 'Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.'"
John 2:16 ESV

In reading through the book of John, pay attention to how many times Jesus talks about God as His Father. In today’s reading, Jesus was angry when He saw His Father’s house being treated as a house of trade. Do I have this same kind of zeal for my father’s honor and name?

It reminded me of the time in Luke 2:49 where Jesus told his parents “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

And how about John 14:2 where Jesus is telling his disciples about heaven, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

Jesus is uniquely the only begotten Son of God – conceived by the Holy Spirit in a virgin’s womb. Fully God and fully man. He was in the beginning with His Father God without beginning or end.

But what an honor it is to be able to call Almighty God our Father as Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9) Let’s pray together with this kind of reverence and humility as well as intimacy and courage.

Heavenly Father,

What a joy and honor it is to call you father. I haven’t earned it. I don’t deserve it. It is not by my will nor is it by my blood or the blood of my earthly parents. But it is by Your will and through the cleansing blood of Jesus, that I have been adopted into Your family. You have brought me into Your house. Truly, Your banner over me is love.

You brought me into your house, though I was Your enemy. I was broken, unworthy, and lame like Mephibosheth (2 Samuel).

You have brought me into your kingdom, the kingdom of God, out of the kingdom of the evil one.

You have caused me to be born again as Your daughter by Your Holy Spirit.

And now, as Your child, I love the light. I once was lost, running away from You with my back to You. I was an enemy of God, loving darkness and hating light.

But You have changed me and made me a child of light. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you

I pray that I would have zeal for Your name and Your kingdom like Jesus did. Help me to love what You love and hate what You hate. Make me pure and holy, that Your light may shine brightly out of me.

In the pure and matchless name of Jesus I pray. Amen

Of Delighting and Prospering

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"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." 
Psalm 1:1-3 ESV

Last night I saw a picture that my sister posted of a huge flock of birds migrating over her frozen hay fields. When one area of the country is too cold or too dry, birds can fly to another place.

But not so with trees. Trees have roots. Trees are planted. They can’t move. They can’t migrate. They have to “bloom (or wither) where they’re planted.”

So what should you do when you find yourself planted somewhere you don’t want to be? How can you prosper when you are in a cold, dry land?

Psalm 1 has the answer. When you find yourself parched, put out some roots and push them deep into the Word of God, meditating on it day and night, day after day. Don’t think the answer is to move to the pasture where you think the grass is greener. Rather, abide in the vine and hold fast to God’s Word. He is the one who causes you to bear fruit. You can trust Him.

I hope you’ll join me this year in meditating on God’s Word day by day for the next 730 days.

Happy New Year 🎇

My Favorite Passage of Scripture

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I love the writings of Peter because he’s so outspoken and quick.

I love the writings of John because he’s so fixed on the mutual importance of truth and love.

But I have a special place in my heart for Paul because he was once a blasphemer and opponent of the gospel like me.

Every time I read Paul’s letter to Timothy, his child in the faith, I am reminded anew of God’s unique calling and purpose for me and how greatly His grace and love have overflowed in my life.

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

1 Timothy 1:12-16 ESV

Does your testimony sound different from mine and Paul’s? Were you never a persecutor of Christians and an opponent of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Great news! God still has a unique purpose and calling for YOU! God still wants to use YOU as an example of His perfect patience.

Whether you grew up from infancy surrounded by Words of Truth whispered over you as you slept, or you walked in utter darkness until adulthood, the light has come for you. Now go and share the good news with others this holiday season. It’s never too late to tell someone about the saving faith available to all through trusting in Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

2 Timothy 2:8-13 ESV

Pondering over Pondering

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My “Words” for 2021 were “look” and “see.” I wanted to remind myself to keep my eyes open to what the Lord was doing and to fix my eyes on things above rather than things on earth.

This year my word is “ponder.” I want to remind myself to spend time thinking, meditating, considering, pondering the Word of God, the Love of God, and the Actions of God.

So, in pondering the word “ponder,” I wanted to LOOK it up in the scriptures and SEE what I could learn.

Psalm 4:4 ESV – Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.

Psalm 4:4 KJV – Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

Psalm 4:4 NLT – Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Psalm 64:5-9 ESV – They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep. But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

Psalm 64:5-9 KJV – They encourage themselves [in] an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward [thought] of every one [of them], and the heart, [is] deep. But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

Psalm 64:5-9 NLT – They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask. As they plot their crimes, they say, “We have devised the perfect plan!” Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning. But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down. Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. Then everyone will be afraid; they will proclaim the mighty acts of God and realize all the amazing things he does.

Psalm 77:12 ESV – I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Psalm 77:12 KJV – I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Psalm 77:12 NLT – They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

Psalm 101:2-4 ESV – I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.

Psalm 101:2-4 KJV – I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; [it] shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked [person].

Psalm 101:2-4 NLT – I will be careful to live a blameless life–when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.

Psalm 143:5 ESV – I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.

Psalm 143:5 KJV – I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

Psalm 143:5 NLT – I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.

Proverbs 4:25-27 ESV – Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27 KJV – Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT – Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

Proverbs 5:1-6 ESV – My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.

Proverbs 5:1-6 KJV – My son, attend unto my wisdom, [and] bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and [that] thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop [as] an honeycomb, and her mouth [is] smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, [that] thou canst not know [them].

Proverbs 5:1-6 NLT – My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel. Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned. For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.

Proverbs 15:28 ESV – The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Proverbs 15:28 KJV – The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Proverbs 15:28 NLT – The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

Proverbs 21:2 ESV – Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

Proverbs 21:2 KJV – Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Proverbs 21:2 NLT – People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.

Proverbs 24:12 ESV – If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

Proverbs 24:12 KJV – If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? and shall [not] he render to [every] man according to his works?

Proverbs 24:12 NLT – Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

Luke 2:19 ESV – But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:19 KJV – But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart.

Acts 10:17-20 ESV – Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

Acts 10:17-20 KJV – Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Acts 10:17-20 NLT – Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

According to http://www.etymonline.com, ponder is a verb from mid-14th century, from ponderen, “to estimate the worth of, to appraise” (a sense now obsolete), from Old French ponderer “to weigh, poise” (14c., Modern French pondérer) and directly from Latin ponderare “ponder, consider, reflect,” literally “to weigh,” from pondus (genitive ponderis) “weight,” from stem of pendere “to hang, cause to hang; weigh” (from PIE root *(s)pen- “to draw, stretch, spin”). Meaning “to judge (a matter or action) mentally, weigh carefully in the mind” is attested from late 14c.

The Latin word “pondus” is the root for both “ponder” and “pound.” Quite weighty. (LOL. We got the game “Pun Intended” for Christmas and we’ve been enjoying some puns around here.)

I think my pondering about pondering shows that pondering is more than just thinking … it also involves weighing and judging, reflection and contemplation, and there’s great wisdom in that.