Giving our heart to the Lord seems simple enough, it is just accepting that God is who He says He is and that Jesus Christ did come and walk among us, the son of God, crucified and risen from the dead, His blood for our sin. But this simple mental ascent isn’t enough because there is a sin nature in our flesh and it needs discipline and correction. Our primary task is to Proverbs 23:12 (LEB) “Apply your heart to instruction, and your ear to sayings of knowledge”. We are also though, to Proverbs 23:19 (LEB) “You, my child, hear and be wise, and direct your heart on the road” and this direction means exercising discipline and accepting correction as we sometimes need it. It says it this way in Ephesians 4:22–24 (LEB) “that you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires, 23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth”.
Put A Knife to Your Throat
Proverbs 23:1–5
Like Hair in His Throat
Apply Your Heart to Instruction
Proverbs 23:6–11
Somehow instruction, knowledge, discipline, and correction are all wrapped up together in us having a wise heart and in
Proverbs 23:15–16 (LEB) My child, if your heart is wise, my heart will be glad—even me! 16 And my insides will rejoice when your lips speak what is upright.
but this doesn’t just happen, it begins when we
Proverbs 23:12 (LEB) Apply your heart to instruction, and your ear to sayings of knowledge.
and it also requires something we hate and that is any correction in
Hebrews 12:11 (LEB) Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.
so, even though they may not like it, discipline, correction, is necessary and as it says in
Proverbs 23:13 (LEB) Do not withhold discipline from a child, if you will beat him with the rod, he will not die.
Direct Your Heart on the Road
Proverbs 23:17–21
There are moments in time where we experience the tangible presence of God and there are times when the trials of life distract us. We are on the road of life and we are admonished to guard our hearts and in
Proverbs 23:17 (LEB) May your heart not envy the sinners, but live in fear of Yahweh all day.
For us, those that have accepted Jesus Christ, there is a sure promise from God in
Proverbs 23:18 (LEB) Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
So, even though we may face trials and there may be temptations and distractions we are to keep our hearts moving in the right direction as it says in
Proverbs 23:19 (LEB) You, my child, hear and be wise, and direct your heart on the road.
May Your Father and Mother be Glad
Give Your Heart to Me
Proverbs 23:26–30
The Lord offers us the way of life and asks us to give ourselves to him in
Proverbs 23:26 (LEB) My child, may you give your heart to me, and may your eyes delight in my ways.
and if we keep our eyes on His ways, we will prosper. There is though, the other path and if we turn from His ways and there is loss and sorrow and wounds as it says in
Proverbs 23:29 (LEB) To whom is woe? To whom is sorrow? To whom are quarrels? To whom is complaint? To whom are wounds without cause? To whom is redness of the eyes?
Do Not Look at Wine
Proverbs 23:31–35
By Wisdom a House is Built
Proverbs 24:1–6
Study Verses
- Proverbs 23:6–11 Apply Your Heart to Instruction
- Proverbs 23:17–21 Direct Your Heart on the Road
- Proverbs 23:26–30 Give Your Heart to Me
Today’s Reading
- Proverbs 23:1-35
- Proverbs 24:1-6