Today's Reading September 15

This morning we look at Proverbs 28 and 29
Everywhere you look here you find good words to live by

28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

and leading

22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

When we began this brief survey of the Proverbs, I said that there are those who make it part of their regular study, to look at one chapter of Proverbs every day, month after month. The first of every month, to look at Proverbs 1, the third of the month Proverbs 3, and so on. Year after year. To make these part of their lives, part of their world view. I can thing of worse practices, we see them every day.

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This evening's reading is 2nd Corinthians chapter 7.
Paul is reviewing a bit of history here, as recalling some exchanges between the church in Corinth and him, exchanges on issues that required some painful changes in individuals and in that body of believers. Yet he takes pains to present these as ultimately beneficial and part of a growing process, and so they are.

1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Leading to

16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Would you not be happy if that were said of you?