Proverbs 2:1-5 Expanded Bible
Rewards of Wisdom
2 My ·child [or son], ·listen to [grasp] what I say
and ·remember [L store up] what I command you.
2 ·Listen carefully [L Bend your ear] to wisdom;
·set your mind on [L stretch your heart to] understanding.
3 Cry out for wisdom,
and ·beg [shout out loud] for understanding.
4 ·Search [Seek] for it like silver,
and ·hunt [search] for it like hidden treasure.
5 Then you will understand ·respect [fear; awe; 1:7] for the Lord,
and you will find ·that you know God [the knowledge of God].
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
A subtle, amusing illustration of a group of church elders, and Rabbi’s tired and weary from a lengthy two day discussion; Joshua before the Walls of Jericho.
Finally, one of them throws his arms into the air and suggests, “I don’t care how the walls of Jericho crumbled down. I move we have it rebuilt stone by stone and just make a resolution to take the funds from the facilities budget.
Most Sunday school students know who “broke the wall of Jericho” and what God said about it (see Joshua 6).
Yet, considering its subtle point, the illustration reminds us that our biblical knowledge is declining today even where church attendance may be booming.
Who is still curious enough to plumb the depths of the Word of God? Storing up God’s commands, turning both of our ears to his wisdom does not, nor will not, come naturally.
It takes a disciplined program of regular prayer, Bible reading and reflection.
Living as disciples of Jesus Christ, we must make an authentic effort to learn, learn from God’s Word—its context, his words and its covenant commands.
Wise living in our technologically complex, internet, AI, social media driven “no God allowed” education systems calls for serious reading of Scripture.
It requires our learning details about the life of Jesus as told in the gospels.
Learning what Jesus said and did will make us appreciate his ultimate sacrifice.
It will encourage us to imitate his life, devoted to obeying his Father’s will.
A wise and curious heart and a knowledgeable walk are pleasant to the soul and will truly yield eternal blessings.
Can a true disciple in 2026 desire anything less?
Do we?
Human beings are naturally curious, but that God-given sense of curiosity does get cast off along the way to our adulthood when those responsibilities pile up.
As an adult, it may seem like you don’t have enough time to be curious – even though you do wonder about a lot of things.
But God never meant for you to stop being curious.
Proverbs 2 describes that someone who cries out for insight and searches for understanding, like a person seeking hidden treasure.
That shows the power of a curious mind at work as it seeks God.
Knowing God better only happens when you want to learn because you’re curious. Curiosity inspires you to ask questions instead of settling for easy answers, so you can keep right on learning more about God.
A curious mind can strengthen your faith.
God invites you to seek, to search, and to discover.
He isn’t threatened by your questions, offended by your desire to understand.
When you wonder about God and his work in the world, you’re responding to an invitation God has already given you.
God wants you to keep seeking him, keep asking, no matter how long you’ve been in a relationship with him.
He encourages you to seek him, and promises that you’ll find him.
Jeremiah 29:10-14 Expanded Bible
10 This is what the Lord says: “·Babylon will be powerful for seventy years. After that time I will come to [L Only after the seventy years of Babylon are filled will I visit; 25:11] you, and I will ·keep my promise [L confirm my good word] to ·bring [restore] you back to ·Jerusalem [L this place]. 11 I say this because I know ·what [L the plans] I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have ·good plans for you [L plans for your peace/security], not plans ·to hurt you [L for your harm]. I will give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call ·my name [L me]. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me [Dan. 9:4–19]! 14 I will let you find me,” says the Lord. “And I will ·bring you back from your captivity [restore your fortunes]. I ·forced you to leave [drove you from] this place, but I will gather you from all the nations, from the places I have ·sent you as captives [exiled you],” says the Lord. “And I will ·bring you back [restore you] to this place.”
You can never stop being amazed by who God is!
So, keep your mind curious as you go through each day.
Read the Bible with a sense of curiosity, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what each passage means for you, and how to apply it to your life.
Pay attention to the world around you and notice the evidence you see of God’s creativity, order, and care.
Every time you find something that points you to the reality of God at work in your life – His love spread by faithful people, or something inspiring in nature such as a sunset or fish swimming, birds singing, butterflies fluttering around your backyard – let that motivate you to stay curious and to keep seeking God.
The more you seek God with an ever more curious mind and a devoted heart, the more you’ll be able to find him.
Proverbs 2:3-5 also reminds you that seeking wisdom takes time and effort.
The passage tells you to call out for insight, to cry aloud for understanding, and to search for knowledge of God like hidden treasure.
Curiosity is active, not passive.
You have to choose to open your Bible instead of reading something that’s a lot less valuable.
You have to choose to listen to new information rather than assume you already know everything there is to know about something.
You also have to choose to reflect on what God might be teaching you through all of your daily experiences, and to keep asking God’s Spirit your unanswered questions until he answers them, in his timing.
But all of your effort is worthwhile.
God promises that when you seek to learn more about him like you’re seeking treasure, you will find the knowledge of him.
You’ll find more than just facts about God, but a deeper understanding of who God is.
You’ll start to see God’s character more clearly and notice his faithfulness in new ways.
A curious mind also keeps your faith alive when you’re dealing with challenges.
When a situation you’re going through doesn’t make sense, curiosity helps you ask better questions.
Instead of just asking why the situation is happening, you can ask what God is revealing about himself through it, and what you can learn through it that will help you grow spiritually.
Seeking God day by day with a curious mind will always lead you to learn something new about him.
Even while you do, though, you’ll also learn how much there still is to discover.
God’s wisdom is infinite, so you’ll never reach the end of it.
There is always more to learn about God!
Well, isn’t there?
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying ….
Praying …..
Psalm 19 Expanded Bible
God’s Works and Word
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
19 The heavens ·declare [recount; narrate] the glory [C the manifest presence] of God,
and the ·skies [firmament; dome; Gen. 1:6] ·announce [speak out] ·what his hands have made [L the works of his hands].
2 Day after day they ·tell the story [L bubble/pour forth speech];
night after night they ·tell it again [L declare knowledge].
3 They have no speech or words;
they have no voice to be heard.
4 But their ·message [L line] goes out through all the world;
their words go ·everywhere on [L to the ends of the] earth.
·The sky [Heaven; L In them] is like a ·home [L tent] for the sun.
5 The sun comes out like a bridegroom from his ·bedroom [L wedding chamber].
It rejoices like an ·athlete [strong man] eager to run a race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the ·sky [heavens]
and ·follows its path [L its circuit is] to the other end.
Nothing hides from its heat.
7 The ·teachings [laws; instructions] of the Lord are perfect;
they ·give new strength [T revive the soul].
The ·rules [testimonies] of the Lord ·can be trusted [are faithful/sure];
they make ·plain [simpleminded; immature] people wise [Prov. 1:4].
8 The orders of the Lord are ·right [virtuous];
·they make people happy [L rejoicing the heart].
The commands of the Lord are pure;
·they light up the way [L giving light to the eyes].
9 ·Respect [Fear] for the Lord [Prov. 1:7] is ·good [pure];
it will ·last [endure] forever.
The judgments of the Lord are true;
they are ·completely [altogether] ·right [righteous].
10 They are ·worth [desired; coveted] more than gold,
even ·the purest [fine] gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even the ·finest honey [L droppings of the honeycomb].
11 By them your servant is warned.
·Keeping [Observing] them brings great reward.
12 ·People cannot [L Who can…?] ·see [detect; L understand] their own ·mistakes [errors].
·Forgive [Clear] me for my ·secret [hidden] sins.
13 ·Keep me [L Restrain your servant] from ·the sins of pride [proud thoughts];
don’t let them ·rule [dominate] me.
Then I can be pure
and innocent of the greatest of sins.
14 ·I hope my ·words [L The words of my mouth] and ·thoughts [meditations of my heart] ·please [L be before] you.
Lord, you are my Rock, ·the one who saves me [L and my redeemer].
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 