Proverbs 6:6-8 - The Marvels and Wonders of Gods Second Book.
Proverbs 6:6-8 (NLT) Take a lesson from the
ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and
become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or
governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor
hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Go to the Ant
God is a masterful Creator. He has
integrated many of His principles into the fabric of
nature so that we can see His handiwork and learn
of Him (Ps. 19:1-6). If you desire to acquire
wisdom, do not neglect to look outdoors for His
lessons.
Now, of course, the outdoors sometimes
comes inside. If youve ever battled ants in
your kitchen or pantry, wisdom probably isnt
the first trait you would attribute to them -
you probably would choose a description more
like determination. But to the lazy person, God
points out these tiny creatures as an example of
wise living. Simply consider how many
characteristics of the ant people would be smart to adopt:
preparation, cooperation, perseverance, diligence, unity,
and the list goes on. So interacting with
righteous men isnt the only way to acquire wisdom.
God also wants us to observe the lowly ant that
He created to work in community.
Theres much to learn from the created
world. By directing attention to the birds, Jesus
challenges His followers to consider the folly of
anxiety (Matt. 6:26). Birds do not reap or gather
grain but rather assume their food will be
supplied as it always has been. The lesson in this
observation of nature is that the Lord who provides for
birds can be trusted to meet His peoples needs
as well.
Our quest for wisdom is to be rooted in
Scripture and covered in prayer. But dont overlook
the many lessons unfolding right outside the
front door. Ask God for eyes to see (Mark
8:18). Then take every chance to grow in
understanding so your capacity to live by His principles
will be strengthened. [In Touch Daily Devotional
by Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org]
COMMENTARY
The heavens declare the glory of God; the
skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after
day they pour forth speech; night after night
they display knowledge. Psalm 19:1, 2 (NIV)
We are surrounded by fantastic displays
of Gods craftsmanship"the heavens give
dramatic evidence of his existence, his power, his
love, his care. To say that the universe happened
by chance is absurd. Its design, intricacy, and
orderliness point to a personally involved Creator. As
you look at Gods handiwork in nature and the
heavens, thank him for such magnificent beauty and
the truth it reveals about the Creator. [Life
Application SB]
Artists are known by their art; musicians
are known by their music. Likewise, God can be
known by the universe he created. Psalm 19:1 tells
us that the heavens declare his glory and the
skies proclaim his work. The apostle Paul notes
that "since the creation of the world God's
invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine
nature - have been clearly seen, being understood
from what has been made" (Romans 1:20). So what
can we know of God from his creation? He is
immensely powerful, extravagantly generous and
brilliantly inventive. And he has an amazing flair for
beauty. [NIV Once A Day Bible]
A good way to commune with God"as this
psalm tells us"is through nature. Take time to
enjoy God's gift of creation. Walk in the woods;
listen to the water rushing in a stream; look at
the stars and moon; smell The flowers. Slow down
and take time to hear what nature tells us about
God. Drive through the country, in the mountains,
or take some scenic route. Watch for sunsets
and sunrises and beautiful cloud formations, and
on rainy days, look for those rainbows.
Experience the power and fury of a thunderstorm. Watch
the birds and animals, and enjoy the beautiful
world our Father created for us. "Barbara
Stephens [Life Recovery Devotional SB]
For ever since the world was created,
people have seen the earth and sky. Through
everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible
qualities"his eternal power and divine nature. So they
have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20
(NLT)
Looking at nature, we learn about God's
invisible attributes - his magnificence, his
intelligence, his eternal power that is enormous enough to
put massive stars in place. We learn about God's
divine nature. We sense that there is a God who is
higher than the visible world. Whenever we look at
the wisdom and beauty of creation and honestly
search our hearts, we can know God is there. And at
that point, we have a choice: Will we seek him?
When we do seek him, he promises that we will
find him. [NIV Once A Day Bible re Rom. 1:18-20]
ILLUSTRATIONS
Last night I looked up at a clear,
high-altitude Colorado sky and was taken aback. My Father
placed every one of those stars in the sky and then
called them all by name! And that is just the
beginning of our Father's handiwork. Beyond the Milky
Way, there are many more galaxies, too many to
count, all created and placed by our Father's hand.
It makes me wonder what there could be in
my life today, next week, or ever that is too
big for my Father in heaven to handle. The great
God who set the stars in place surely wouldn't
have any trouble with the complications in my
life.
As I look up, I am amazed that the one
who did all this loves me. I will never
understand what he saw in my beaten-down, messed-up
life. But I happily accept the mystery of it all.
He has chosen me to be his child. He has
redeemed me with the precious blood of his one,
sinless Son, Jesus. He has invited me to lay all my
troubles at his feet. Words cannot express my
gratitude. I am completely starstruck!
Father, thank you for creating me in your
own image, demonstrating that you care for me
more than you care for all the stars in the
heavens. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery
Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
I was walking out to my car and there it
was - a sky filled with starlight and all the
brilliant color of the universe. I just stood there
and took it all in. What an amazingly creative
God we serve. I realize how easy it is to get
wrapped up in life and overlook his beauty all
around us. Its so important to slow down and
experience his greatness for a few moments each day.
We should ask ourselves, what are those
things that take our breath away? For me it is
watching my grandkids play, seeing my family pray and
laugh together, and listening to my Celebrate
Recovery brothers and sisters share their latest
victories.
I continue to be amazed by my changed
heart that has the ability to see even adversity
as a gift, to love and appreciate all that the
Lord's given me, to see the value in the smallest
things in my life, and especially to cherish the
moment when I see a turning point in the life of a
friend that will lead to healing and freedom.
God's presence in our lives gives us
heightened awareness of his greatness. Let's take a
deep breath and drink it in.
Almighty God, your greatness is beyond my
ability to comprehend. Thank you for being a big God
in my life. More than I could ever need. In
Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily
Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
In his poverty, Nicolas Herman enlisted
in the army to earn a living and fought in the
Thirty Years' War. One winter during his term of
service, he came upon a barren tree. Because it was
winter, the tree had no leaves and no fruit, but in
the spring it would be resurrected and flourish
again. As Herman stared at the tree, he grasped the
gospel with unusual clarity. He realized the
enormity of God's grace and the certainty of
resurrection. And feeling barren like the tree, Herman
knew he could look forward to the change of
seasons that would bring fruitfulness to his life.
God's providence would grant him life.
Perhaps not many people come to Christ
based on a visual picture in nature, but the
message was clear enough for Herman to see the
gospel story: death, resurrection, and the
sovereignty of God. He was profoundly changed. After his
military service, he joined a monastery as a
low-ranking servant and took the name Lawrence of the
Resurrection. We know him today as Brother Lawrence, a man
who practiced the presence of God so profoundly
that even cardinals and bishops came to listen to
his wisdom.
Some people dismiss the idea that God
might speak through nature, but Paul was right
about God's invisible attributes being clearly
visible in the things He has made. His creation is
His expression, so naturally He can speak
through it. Nature is full of parables of God's
story and His purposes, and discerning eyes can
discover them: caterpillars, cocoons, and
butterflies; rainbows; water falling from heaven to
produce fruit; seed sprouting differently according
to the soil it falls in; and many more. Ask
Him. He'll show you a multitude of messages in
the things He has made.
Lord, give me eyes to see Your parables
and promises in the beauty and intricacies of
Your creation. Your glory really does cover the
earth. Speak to me through what You have made. [The
One Year Hearing His Voice Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen]
A man says the view from Looking Glass
Falls helped save his life.
Winter created sights you could dream
about, while the rushing water provides sounds you
could fall asleep to.
Its real soothing. It is, Dan
Dry said, who came from Haywood County.
Under the sun, the ice melts and
refreezes into something otherworldly.
Even in the bitter cold, its
beautiful, Dry said.
People came from all over to take
pictures, hoping to capture a lasting memory.
Dry already has his.
I have a photo of her standing right
here, he said.
Dry showed us a picture of his daughter
Jaden at Looking Glass from 2008. It was taken
during a visit.
When you lose your only child, it
changes your life forever, youre never the same
person, Dry said.
Jaden died in 2010 in a car accident. She
was 17.
You question everything when something
like that hits, you really do, its just so
hard, Dry said.
After his daughters death, Dry
wasnt sure he wanted to keep living. A year ago he
moved to Western Carolina from Louisiana. Looking
Glass is his happy place.
We moved here, because we have nothing
but good memories up here, Dry said.
The views once provided Dry with a
revelation. To him, they are a reminder of Gods
existence, which he questioned after Jadens death.
Youre just so angry when something
like that happens, and now I look back, Im
grateful for the 17 years I had with her, Dry
said.
His photographs dont have negatives,
only proof.
What an amazing thing God has done
with this planet, Dry said while looking at
the waterfall.
He comes here searching for joy without
Jaden.
Its still a journey that I still
travel every day without her, Dry said.
Dry says he is sharing his story because
he wants people in grief to have an outlet.
He has also started a bereavement support
group at the Maggie Valley United Methodist Church
called Hearts for Bereaved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZXKv0pBzyg
CLOSING THOUGHT
I love to think of nature as an unlimited
broadcasting system, through which God speaks to us every
hour, if we will only tune in. [George Washington
Carver]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Psalm 19:1, 2 - The Heavens Declare the
Glory of God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170411-1019.html
Romans 1:18-20 - The Revelation of God in
Creation.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150719-1023.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio:
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
