wise words about sex

proverbs 5:1-23 (New International Version)

1My son, pay attention to my wisdom,

turn your ear to my words of insight,

2that you may maintain discretion

and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,

and her speech is smoother than oil;

4but in the end she is bitter as gall,

sharp as a double-edged sword.

5Her feet go down to death;

her steps lead straight to the grave.

6She gives no thought to the way of life;

her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.

7Now then, my sons, listen to me;

do not turn aside from what I say.

8Keep to a path far from her,

do not go near the door of her house,

9lest you lose your honor to others

and your dignity to one who is cruel,

10lest strangers feast on your wealth

and your toil enrich the house of another.

11At the end of your life you will groan,

when your flesh and body are spent.

12You will say, “How I hated discipline!

How my heart spurned correction!

13I would not obey my teachers

or turn my ear to my instructors.

14And I was soon in serious trouble

in the assembly of God’s people.”

15Drink water from your own cistern,

running water from your own well.

16Should your springs overflow in the streets,

your streams of water in the public squares?

17Let them be yours alone,

never to be shared with strangers.

18May your fountain be blessed,

and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19A loving doe, a graceful deer—

may her breasts satisfy you always,

may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

20Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?

Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

21For your ways are in full view of the Lord,

and he examines all your paths.

22The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;

the cords of their sins hold them fast.

23For lack of discipline they will die,

led astray by their own great folly.

The difference between lust and love

The  lips  of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,  and her mouth is smoother than oil. But the result is as bitter as poison, leading to the  grave. This is exactly the way of lust. Whereas rejoicing  with  the ones own  wife is like drinking water  from  your  own  well. It is  a fountain of  blessings.  She is a loving  doe, a graceful deer.  God  wants those who  fear Him to avoid  every  illegitimate  sex. But  holds the bed honorable, only  when the  gift of  sex is used  legitimately  within the  wedlock. That is  the  way of  love.  God  wants  us to  stay  faithful to  each other  in  true companionship  even beyond  sex . What  would you  choose today ? Your wild dreams of the  flesh or the  lasting  love? The end  results  will be  accordingly.

Wise words about life

Proverbs 4:1-27 (New International Version)

1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;

pay attention and gain understanding.

2I give you sound learning,

so do not forsake my teaching.

3For I too was a son to my father,

still tender, and cherished by my mother.

4Then he taught me, and he said to me,

“Take hold of my words with all your heart;

keep my commands, and you will live.

5Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or turn away from them.

6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

7The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

8Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.

9She will give you a garland to grace your head

and present you with a glorious crown.”

10Listen, my son, accept what I say,

and the years of your life will be many.

11I instruct you in the way of wisdom

and lead you along straight paths.

12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

guard it well, for it is your life.

14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

or walk in the way of evildoers.

15Avoid it, do not travel on it;

turn from it and go on your way.

16For they cannot rest until they do evil;

they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

17They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

18The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

19But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know what makes them stumble.

20My son, pay attention to what I say;

turn your ear to my words.

21Do not let them out of your sight,

keep them within your heart;

22for they are life to those who find them

and health to one’s whole body.

23Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

24Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25Let your eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

26Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

and be steadfast in all your ways.

27Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.

The  path of  wisdom  and  wickedness

 Your  choice  will  determine  your  destination. Choosing the  path of  wisdom  is not a one day  act, It needs constant denial of  the ways of  folly and  choosing  the ways of  wisdom. The  difference is like  that of the dawn  from the  darkness. It means  guarding  the heart from wickedness,  the lips from the perverse talk, the eyes from distractions, and the foot from sidetrack. What is your  destiny? Decide today in utter dependence on God’s grace.

God for all people and time

Psalm 145:1-21 (New International Version)

1I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2Every day I will praise you

and extol your name for ever and ever.

3Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

4One generation commends your works to another;

they tell of your mighty acts.

5They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

6They tell of the power of your awesome works—

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

7They celebrate your abundant goodness

and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and rich in love.

9The Lord is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made.

10All your works praise you, Lord;

your faithful people extol you.

11They tell of the glory of your kingdom

and speak of your might,

12so that all people may know of your mighty acts

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises

and faithful in all he does.

14The Lord upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.

16You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17The Lord is righteous in all his ways

and faithful in all he does.

18The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

19He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

20The Lord watches over all who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

21My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.

Let every creature praise his holy name

for ever and ever.

Which of God's qualities do you most need today?

Sometimes our burdens seem more than we can bear, and we wonder how we can go on. David stands at this bleak interesection of life's road and points towards the Lord, the great burden-bearer. God is able to lifet us up because: (1) His greatness is unsearchable (v.3). (2) He does mighty acts across many generations (v.4). (3) He is full of glorious splendor and majesty (v.5). (4) He does wonderful and awesome acts (v5-6). (5) He is righteous (v.7). (6) He is gracious, compassionate, patient and merciful (v8-9). (7) He rules over an everlasting kingdom (v.13). (8)He is our source of all our daily needs (v.15-16). (9) He is righteous and gracious in all His dealings (v.17). (10) He remains near to those who call on Him (v.18). (11) He hears our cries and saves us (v19-20). If you are bending under a burden and feel that you are about to fall, turn to God for help. He is ready to lift you up and bear your burden.  

What God is like 

Psalm 103:1-22 ( New International Version)

1Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

3who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

4who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

5who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

7He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

8The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

9He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

12as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

14for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

15The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

16the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

17But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

18with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

19The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

20Praise the Lord, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

21Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

22Praise the Lord, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

How do you feel when you read this psalm ?

God's character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God's spirit is ready and willing to work within you to make your character all God meant it to be. God thinks of you constantly (v 17-18). We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us. 

A confession 

Psalm 51:1-19 (New International Version)

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot out my transgressions.

2Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

4Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

5Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be r than snow.

8Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

10Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

so that sinners will turn back to you.

14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

you who are God my Savior,

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15Open my lips, Lord,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

16You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17My sacrifice, O God, is  a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart

you, God, will not despise.

18May it please you to prosper Zion,

to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,

in burnt offerings offered whole;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

What examples of repentance have been part of your life ?

Because we are born as sinners (v. 5), Our natural inclination is to please ourselves rather than God. David followed that inclination when he took another man's wife. We also follow it when we sin in any way, acting according to our own selfish desires. Like David, we must ask God to cleanse us from within (v. 7), clearing our heart and mind for new thoughts and desires. Right conduct can come only from a clean heart and mind. Ask God to create in you a clean heart and mind.  

A sheep's song

Psalm 23:1-6 (New International Version)

1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

What is the most comforting phrase to you in this psalm?

When we allow God our shepherd to guide us, we have the contentment. When we choose to sin, however, we are choosing to go our own way, and we cannot blame God for the environment in which we find ourselves. Our shepherd knows the "green meadows" and "peaceful streams" that will restore us. We will reach these places only by following him obediently. Rebelling against the shepherd's leading is actually rebelling against our own interests for the future. We must remember this the next time we are tempted to go our own way rather than the shepherd's way.

The value of humans

1Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

in the heavens.

2Through the praise of children and infants

you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

3When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

4what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?

5You have made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor.

6You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their feet:

7all flocks and herds,

and the animals of the wild,

8the birds in the sky,

and the fish in the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

9Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

How do you know you have worth ?

When we look at the marvels of creation, we wonder how God could be concerned for people who constantly disappoint Him. Yet God created us only a little lower than the angels. The next time you question your worth as a person or feel down about yourself, remember that God considered you to be highly valuable. We have great worth because we bear the stamp of the creator. Because God has already declared how valuable you are to Him, you can be set free from feelings of worthlessness.

Two kinds of lives 

Psalm 1:1-6 (New International Version)

1Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

4Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

What kind of person do you really want to be ?

God doesn't judge people on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. He judges them on the basis of their faith in Him and their response to His revealed will. Those who diligently try to obey God are blessed. They are like healthy, fruit-bearing trees with strong roots, and God promises to watch over them. God's wisdom guides their guides their lives. In contrast, those who don't trust and obey God have meaningless lives that blow away like dust. There are only two paths life before you — God's way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction. Be sure to choose God's path because the path you choose determines how you will spend eternity.  

The rest of Job's story 

Job 42:1-17 (New International Version)

1Then Job replied to the Lord:

2“I know that you can do all things;

no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.

4“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.’

5My ears had heard of you

but now my eyes have seen you.

6Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

7After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what theLordtold them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

10After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. 11All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble theLordhad brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

12The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. 15Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

16After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

What difference does it make to know and remember that God always has the last word?

Job's friends had persistently asked to admit his sin and ask for forgiveness, and eventually Job did repent. Ironically, Job's repentance was not the kind called for by his friends. He did not ask for forgiveness for secret sins but forgiveness for questioning God's sovereignty and justice. Job repented of his attitude and acknowledged God's great power and perfect justice . We sin when we angrily ask, "If God is in control, how could he let this happen?" Since we are locked into time, unable to see beyond today, we cannot know the reasons for everything that happens. Thus , we must often choose between anger and trust. Will you trust God with your unanswered questions?