Today I began a Bible reading challenge. I invite you to join me, because it’s fast and short and personal.
This week we’re looking at the first five chapters of Proverbs. Today (Tuesday) we’re reading Chapter One of Proverbs. Thursday we’ll read Chapter Two, and so on for the next two weeks.
But not necessarily the whole chapter. The challenge is to read until something catches your attention, or jumps out at you, and then stop.
Think about whatever you read that reeled your focus in. Consider that scripture. And let it rattle around in your head the rest of the day.
Why do that? What’s the point? In his letter to the Ephesians the Apostle Paul talks about Christ’s relationship to the church:
Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT
Washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
That’s what diving into scripture will do. It will wash and cleanse us from the inside out, and make us glorious and acceptable to our Savior.
Today I paused early in the first chapter of Proverbs, at verse 3:
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
Proverbs 1:3 NLT
“Their” refers to “the proverbs of Solomon” from the first verse.
And verse three ties together five functions and goals of the proverbs of Solomon:
- To teach people to live disciplined lives.
- To teach people to live successful lives.
- To help people do what is right.
- To help people do what is just.
- To help people do what is fair.
It’s easy to want to be successful. Who doesn’t?
But Proverbs 1:3 ties success to four other elements: Discipline, righteousness, justice, and fair play.
Wanna be successful? Start with those four. And continue with the rest of the proverbs of Solomon.
Today, that’s what struck me first in the reading challenge.
I invite you to join me this week in reading one proverb each day, and in letting the first part that grabs your attention rattle around in your head for that day.
And if you choose, reply back and let me know what grabbed your focus first and your thoughts about it.
That’s worship.
–Pastor Steve.