Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsHighly Recommended! Edifying! Profound! God's Wisdom for our Lives!
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2017
Highly Recommended! I've enjoyed this deep, insightful devotional by Timothy Keller! Each day's devotion is just right, having the right amount of material, being deep enough, full of insight, but not overly long. It is so thought provoking that the reader can meditate on the information and the verses taught all throughout the day. It is set up similar to Keller's amazing and well received devotional Songs of Jesus. I've enjoyed that devotional immensely for the last few years. Songs of Jesus helps the believer meditate through the Psalms! I would recommend that book as well if you do not have it yet! This book is organized a little differently. In Songs of Jesus, Keller breaks up the sections in order systematically, from Psalm 1 all the way to the end of Psalm 150. In this devotional Keller selects a portion of Proverbs to read each day and to medicate on. Then he gives a teaching on that topic, using his own insights, other bible verses, and ends with a prayer!
The sections are not divided as in Songs of Jesus in order by Chapters. It does not begin with proverbs 1 and end with proverbs 31. He divides the sections into topics, such as :
1- Knowing Wisdom: What is Wisdom
2-Knowing Wisdom: What is Foolishness
3- How do we become Wise
4-The Fear of the Lord
5-Knowing the Heart; Understanding the Heart
6-Understanding Emotion
7- Seven Deadly Sins: Anger, Envy, Pride, Gluttony, Sloth, Greed, Lust each having its own section
8-Knowing the Times and Seasons: Guidance, Planning, and Decision Making - This part is very practical and awesome!
9-Insights for Our Age.
10-Marriage
11-Sex
12- Parenting
13- Money
14 Knowing Jesus, The True Wisdom of God.
For example, the reading for November 6, Keller teaches on Proverbs 30: 8-9 "Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread, Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Keller goes on to say "Money can corrupt us not only by its presence but by its absence. He then explains these verses in more detail and how we can apply this verse to our lives, answering questions including what it means by daily bread and should we as Christians divest ourselves of all money beyond a simple lifestyle? Keller continues " What it does mean is at least this: Our homes, clothing, and lifestyle should be modest within our circle and neighborhood so we can be as generous as possible. The Christian community should model to the world as society in which wealth and possessions are seen as tools for serving others and not as a means of personal advancement and fulfillment." He also quotes scriptures outside of Proverbs including 1 Timothy 6 about money and 1 Peter 2: 7 about our Lord Jesus Christ being our true precious treasure! Of course Tim goes deeper into this topic for this day and for the following days!
So far I am really enjoying this devotional! The way it's organized by topics works really well! For this review I've read several days of this month, plus reading over selected topics. I've especially enjoyed the topics about Money and Knowing Jesus, the True Wisdom of God. This devotional goes very deep and is very thought provoking and edifying. It is meant to be read daily. It is saturated with scripture, including many scriptures outside of proverbs. I recommend it to all who love to spend time with the Lord. All of us need God's Wisdom ! As James wrote "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally without reproach, and it will be given to you . But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord." James 1: 5-7
