October 11, 2017
PLANNING FOR PEACE
Proverbs 12:14-28
Holly Thames
Central Truth
Planning for peace, which leads to joy, is active. Peace doesn't just accidentally happen to you. The entire Bible is God's plan to restore peace with humankind through Jesus. A proper response to that is not passivity. It's a daily decision to jump in on God's continuing plan!
Key Verse | Proverbs 12:20
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
(Proverbs 12:20)
Proverbs 12:14-28
14
From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.
15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16
The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17
Whoever speaks
1
12:17
Hebrew breathes out
the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
18
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19
Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21
No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23
A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24
The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
26
One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
2
12:26
Or The righteous chooses his friends carefully
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27
Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.
3
12:27
Or but diligence is precious wealth
28
In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
Dive Deeper | Proverbs 12:14-28
By this time of year, my grandmother would have all her Christmas shopping complete, menus for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve dinner set, and decorations unpacked and ready to be hung. She planned ahead carefully because it brought her great joy to make sure everyone had a special holiday season. I have great intentions to be like my grandmother, but each year I still seem to find myself frantically shopping just days before Christmas. But that’s what happens when we don’t plan ahead, isn’t it? Just like it takes work to be ready for the holidays at such an early date, it takes purpose and aim to reap a harvest of discipline, joy, and peace in our lives.
God is the best pre-planner of all time. The entire Bible is the story of God executing His plan to restore peace with humankind. The plan for Jesus’ life was to provide us with an option for peace and relationship with God through the free gift of Jesus' death and resurrection (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:19-20; Ephesians 2:14). God took deliberate and planned-out action to reconcile us to Himself; it didn’t fall into place by accident.
The Holy Spirit allows us access to wonderful things that we can’t truly obtain on our own strength like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit of the Spirit lets our lives be marked by things like healing of broken relationships, endurance and comfort during trials, and joy that isn't dependent on circumstances.
We have a part to play in this, too. We don’t just stumble upon joy or patience or reconciliation or peace. We must purposefully invite God to develop these things in our lives. We need to know His Word and what it instructs us to do. We need to train ourselves to go to the Father in prayer first when we’re met with tough situations. We need to consciously work to uproot sin in our lives. When we plan for God’s peace to set up camp in our lives, we will experience His joy.
Discussion Questions
1. What is your plan for peace in your life? What is a deliberate, intentional step you can take to allow God’s Spirit to develop His fruit more abundantly in your life?
2. Who needs to hear from you about God’s plan to restore peace with the world and with each individual person? Ask God for wisdom in developing a plan and courage to tell that person the Good News!
3. Ask God to reveal to you your part in a broken relationship in your life and to increase your desire for peace and restoration with that person. Make a plan to take the next step toward peace.