Luke 21:20-34

In the end Jerusalem will be under attack by her enemies and overtaken with non Jews. The odd happenings in the cosmos will distress all of us. There will wars and instability in all parts of the world. When these things are happening....the end of the world as we know it is near! We need to look around us and see the signs and not hide our fear in the distractions of the world but trust in the triune Godhead to deliver us in His mercy and goodness. The Christ is coming! 

Luke 21

²⁰  “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. ²³ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 

²⁵  “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” 

²⁹ Then He spoke to them a parable:  “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. ³¹ So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 

³⁴  “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 

Psalm 104:10-13

It is good to rest in the arms of God who made you and provides all that you need to thrive through His love!

Psalm 104, a wisdom psalm, is also a creation psalm. It is an exuberant poetic recasting of Gen. 1, a joyful celebration of the world as the creation of God. The poetry of the psalmists and the prophets often reflects upon God’s work in creation. The structure of the poem is: (1) praise for God’s great creation; (2) the creation of the heavens; (3) the creation of the earth; (4) the waters of blessing; (5) the fullness of the earth; (6) the patterns of life; (7) praise for God’s great creation; (8) an acknowledgment that all life is dependent upon the Lord; (9) a prayer for God’s glory; (10) a personal response to God.

Psalm 104:10-13

¹⁰ He sends the springs into the valleys; 
They flow among the hills. 
¹¹ They give drink to every beast of the field; 
The wild donkeys quench their thirst. 
¹² By them the birds of the heavens have their home; 
They sing among the branches. 
¹³ He waters the hills from His upper chambers; 
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. 

1 Corinthians 3:9-15

More than a decade ago I was given a very clear vision of the Master Builder and His ongoing plans for man. We were given many personal choices in His plan...the house we lived in, the work we would do, the colors of our world  BUT they would all lie within the parameters of His love for us and for others. He would provide us with the talents and skills we needed and it was up to us to use them for His glory...He loves us so!

I have studied under many Holy Spirit inspired ministers in the 18 years since I was baptized with the Holy Spirit. I was granted a period of about 2 years that He took me through the entire Bible and let me see, smell and hear it in the physical...it was an awesome, life altering experience and it is the singular event that changed me into filtering all people through the lens of His love. It also made me vulnerable...It has taken a long time for me to realize that not all who say they are Christian, in truth are fully matured, we can get burned by them if we don’t use His lens for viewing situations.....but He loves them still and because of Him so do I. We who believe are refined and made into the image of Christ through the fire of the trials and tribulations that mold us in this life. We are all an ongoing work of His love.

Only God draws unbelievers to Himself. It is our responsibility to do our job no matter what the results, for God will reward us for our efforts and the quality of our work. Paul had established the church at Corinth on the foundation of Christ. Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw: These building materials refer to the quality of work done by the Corinthians, and possibly also to their motivations or the kinds of doctrines they taught. Fire proves the quality of gold, but it consumes wood, hay, and stubble. Some “good work” is actually self-centered aggrandizement. The true value of such “service” will become obvious to all in the day of God’s judgment.

1 Corinthians 3:9-15

⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. ¹⁰ According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 

Nahum 1

Some want to make knowing our Father harder than it is. He sent Jesus to the ordinary man with a message simple to understand...love Him with your whole mind, body and spirit and love others as much as you do yourself.  Trust Him with your life, every little part of it, and in His salvation and you will be saved.

Welcome home all you who are weary and heavy laden and He will give you rest.

Because we know that the Lord is good, we can endure the tribulations of life. The Lord promised to break off the yoke that the enemy had placed on His people. There is nothing better for the people of God in any age than to live in obedience to Him and in anticipation of His coming deliverance.

Nahum 1

⁷ The Lord is good, 
A stronghold in the day of trouble; 
And He knows those who trust in Him. 

¹³ For now I will break off his yoke from you, 
And burst your bonds apart.” 

¹⁵ Behold, on the mountains 
The feet of him who brings good tidings, 
Who proclaims peace! 

2 Chronicles 5

2 Chronicles
5 1 So all the work that Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and all the furnishings. And he put them in the treasuries of the house of God. 

13-14 “For He is good, 
For His mercy endures forever,” 

that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, ¹⁴ so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. 

Though David had built a tabernacle on Mt. Zion to house the ark, it was still separate from the original tabernacle at Gibeon and thus was not yet in a permanent location. Completing Solomon’s temple made it possible at last to place the ark in its proper setting.

So the first Temple with the very presence of the Almighty was birthed. David, a friend of God, but a man of violence, was not allowed to build God’s house but his son, Solomon, carried out his desire to build a permanent house for the Ark. 

This reminds me of the Catholic Church in my youth a direct carry over from the Jewish lineage of Peter, the 1st Catholic Pope. God is faithful to carry out His plan for man in spite of man’s fallibilities. In the New Testament through Jesus Christ’s we who believe are the temples made of flesh created by the Almighty in fulfillment of the Scriptures.

Harmonies of the Gospels

Everything in God’s Kingdom works together in harmony. The same is true for the earth.... everything from the beginning of time leads up to Jesus’s return. Our hearing can sometimes be distorted like listening through a thick glass and influenced by our own soul....when He comes then we shall hear and see clearly. We must learn to rely on the Holy Spirit as He directs us.  Even though we may not see events in total clarity when we act in faith that faith is rewarded. Through our faith in Him He works things out for our good and the good of His Church. May God help us to do His will on earth in peace.

1515 εἰρήνη [eirene /i·ray·nay/] n f. Probably from a primary verb eiro (to join); TDNT 2:400; TDNTA 207; GK 1645; 92 occurrences; AV translates as “peace” 89 times, “one” once, “rest” once, and “quietness” once. 1 a state of national tranquillity. 1a exemption from the rage and havoc of war. 2 peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord. 3 security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous). 4 of the Messiah’s peace. 4a the way that leads to peace (salvation). 5 of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. 6 the blessed state of devout and upright men after death.

1517 εἰρηνοποιέω [eirenopoieo /i·ray·nop·oy·eh·o/] v. From 1518; TDNT 2:419; TDNTA 207; GK 1647; AV translates as “make peace” once. 1 to make peace, establish harmony.

peace (Gk. eirēnē) (1:2; 3:15; Eph. 2:17; Phil. 1:2; 4:7) Strong’s #1515; rule (Gk. brabeuō) (3:15) Strong’s #1018: The Greek term eirēnē has a variety of meanings, including “unity,” “tranquility,” and “concord,” and corresponds to the Hebrew word shalom, which primarily means “wholeness.” In the NT, the Greek word is used for a harmonious relationship between people (Rom. 14:19), the order produced by a ruling government (Acts 24:2), and the reconciliation between God and a person through the saving work of Christ (Eph. 2:17). In 3:15, Paul encourages the believers to let “the peace of God rule” in their hearts. The Greek word for rule means “to act as umpire” or “to arbitrate.” The peace of God should act as our umpire when anger, envy, and other such passions arise in our hearts.

Mark 21:1-4
21 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. ³ And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” 
⁴ All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 

Mark 11:1-10
11 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; ² and He said to them,  “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. ³ And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” 

Luke 19:28-31
²⁸ When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, ³⁰ saying,  “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. ³¹ And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ” 

John 12:12
¹² The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: 
“Hosanna! 
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 
The King of Israel!” 
¹⁴ Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 
¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion; 
Behold, your King is coming, 
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.” 

Psalms 89:11-14

When the world overwhelms me I need only look to You...You are my joy and joy in You is my strength! You will never leave nor forsake me.

God is the great Deliverer. His Mercy and truth may be rephrased as “unbreakable loyalty.” 

Psalm 89:11-14

¹¹ The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; 
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. 
¹² The north and the south, You have created them; 
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name. 
¹³ You have a mighty arm; 
Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. 
¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; 
Mercy and truth go before Your face. 

"I am the Light of the World"

John 8:12

¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

Jesus is the light of salvation and the hope of man and without Him nothing would exist. He places this light inside every man born......it is up to us to accept this light or to live in darkness. The Holy Spirit ignites the flame and shows us Christ’s truth! May our light so shine before those around us that they are drawn to Him. 

Jesus is life and light; those who accept Him are “sons of light”. As the creation of light was the beginning of the original creation (Gen. 1:3), so when believers receive the light, they become part of the new creation.

Light-bearers: 
Today’s world is full of pain and bitterness. So many groups feel deep disappointment. So many problems seem to defy solutions. A glance at the daily headlines reveals a tide of distrust, discord, and disharmony sweeping the planet. Can Christians be effective in such an environment? Not unless they recognize the pain and perplexities that abound wherever real people encounter the real struggles of everyday existence. 

God could have used only angels or miracles or numerous other means to announce His message. Instead, He has chosen everyday people to carry His message. Working through ordinary people facing the ordinary issues of day-to-day life, God intends to let the world know that there is hope beyond the problems and frustrations of the here and now.

Are you fulfilling this calling in your life?

5461 φωτίζω [photizo /fo·tid·zo/]  1 to give light, to shine. 2 to enlighten, light up, illumine. 3 to bring to light, render evident. 3a to cause something to exist and thus come to light and become clear to all. 4 to enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge. 4a to instruct, to inform, teach. 4b to give understanding to.

John 1:9-11

⁹ That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 
¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 

Luke 11:33
³³  “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 

Ephesians 5:18-14
⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴ Therefore He says: 
“Awake, you who sleep, 
Arise from the dead, 
And Christ will give you light.” 

Ezekiel 34:27-31

True freedom comes only from the Word of God.....He will set us free! As in the Old Testament God provided the way through external, physical change He also in the New Testament provides the way through internal change in Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the tripartite God, evidenced in His creation, man, complete and made whole.

Thessalonians 5:23

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 

spirit (Gk. pneuma) (5:23; Luke 8:55; 1 Cor. 5:5) Strong’s #4151; soul (Gk. psuchē) (5:23; Eph. 6:6; Phil. 1:27) Strong’s #5590; body (Gk. sōma) (5:23; Matt. 6:22; Heb. 4:12) Strong’s #4983: This is the only place in the NT where the tripartite being of a person is implied. Yet in this passage, all three constitute a person in his or her entirety. The spirit enables a person to contact the divine Spirit and is that part of a person that the Spirit quickens at the time of regeneration (John 3:6; Rom. 8:16). The Greek word psuchē, translated soul, means “life.” The NT writers use this word to speak of a person’s personality or inward, animating essence. Finally the NT writers identify the body, a person’s physical being, as separate from one’s soul or spirit. As this verse indicates, God works from the inside out, sanctifying our entire being so that we can live with Him forever.

Ezekiel 34:27-31

They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. ²⁸ And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. ²⁹ I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. ³⁰ Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’ ” 

³¹ “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God. 

Psalm 146

This is the second day that You have led me to this Psalm...it has been 2 days of seeking answers in my desire to be in right standing with the Catholic faith, the faith that I was born into from my father’s side of the family and practiced up until the dissolution of a 24 year marriage. Yesterday my parents told me that my brothers’ marriage annulment went through and that he was thinking of leaving the church because of it (his ex wife of their 24 marriage started the proceedings)...ironically I had just looked into it that morning. Of my six siblings, 4 of us are divorced, products of a generational, dysfunctional family history on my mother’s side, it is hard to show love when you have been shown little love in your own life. My Mother is my mother.. enough said and I love and accept her just the way she is.

Now my question is do I place my trust in Your mercy alone or do I look to man, the Pope, to forgive my sins? I believe that You have answered my question....I need to trust only in You and not in man....not even the best of men! I praise Your holy name and thank You for the grace given in Jesus to all who accept His salvation. I am totally unworthy BUT You are! Help me to accept Your forgiveness..

Psalm 146, a psalm of descriptive praise, is part of the grand pinnacle of praise in this book of praises. The structure of the poem is as follows: (1) a call for a life of praise to God; (2) a warning against putting one’s trust even in good people; (3) a blessing on the one who finds help in God; (4) a description of the wonderful works of God in the lives of His people; (5) a call to praise God the great King.

Psalm 146

¹ Praise the Lord! 
Praise the Lord, O my soul! 
² While I live I will praise the Lord; 
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 
³ Do not put your trust in princes, 
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. 
⁴ His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; 
In that very day his plans perish. 
⁵ Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, 
Whose hope is in the Lord his God, 
⁶ Who made heaven and earth, 
The sea, and all that is in them; 
Who keeps truth forever, 
⁷ Who executes justice for the oppressed, 
Who gives food to the hungry. 
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. 
⁸ The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; 
The Lord raises those who are bowed down; 
The Lord loves the righteous. 
⁹ The Lord watches over the strangers; 
He relieves the fatherless and widow; 
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. 
¹⁰ The Lord shall reign forever— 
Your God, O Zion, to all generations. 
Praise the Lord! 

Psalm 146:5-10

ALL things work for good for those who love You and place their trust in YOU alone!!

Happy indicates a deep and abiding pleasure, a manifest joy. This is the proper description of one whose help and hope is in God. This Psalm speaks of God’s present and eternal reign rather than specifically of His coming rule at the end of time.

Psalm 146

⁵ Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, 
Whose hope is in the Lord his God, 
⁶ Who made heaven and earth, 
The sea, and all that is in them; 
Who keeps truth forever, 
⁷ Who executes justice for the oppressed, 
Who gives food to the hungry. 
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. 
⁸ The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; 
The Lord raises those who are bowed down; 
The Lord loves the righteous. 
⁹ The Lord watches over the strangers; 
He relieves the fatherless and widow; 
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. 

¹⁰ The Lord shall reign forever— 
Your God, O Zion, to all generations. 
Praise the Lord! 

Jonah 1:1-3

God has ways to show us the folly of ours! As long as we believe, we will never be outside of the learning process with the Holy Spirit....He will teach us the things of Jesus and we will learn, the easy way through the wisdom of the Scriptures OR the hard way through personal experience. He loves us too much to leave us as He found us :) Thank you for Your mercy and Your grace!!

The Book of Jonah challenges God’s people not to exalt themselves over others. The Lord, the great King, is free to bless, to be gracious, and to be patient with all the nations of the earth. More than that, He may show compassion even on the wicked. Indeed, His mercy extends even to animals
.
Jonah’s view of God was too restrictive. Jonah had failed to appreciate that the Lord may be equally forbearing with other nations as He was with Israel. God is sovereign because He is the Creator of everything. His power extends over all creation (the storm, the fish, the vine, the worm). God is free and He can never be bound by human misconceptions.

The self-righteous make the grave mistake of rejoicing only in their own deliverance and in God’s answers to prayer. They miss out by narrowing God’s grace and mercy to themselves. Like Jonah, they cannot share in God’s delight in saving the sailors and the city of Nineveh, including infants and even animals. They confess that God is Creator and King of the whole cosmos, but restrict His involvement to judgment, justice, and retribution. In this manner they do not see His acts of compassion, righteousness, and forbearance. The Lord’s final proclamation to Jonah sums up the prophetic message of the book: God is free to bestow His mercy on anyone and anywhere He wills. His concern and mercy extend to all creation.

Jonah’s story contains a strong warning to all godly people. The elect may miss the blessing of seeing God’s grace extended outside their own sphere because of their imposition of limits on God. While Jonah was praying anxiously for his personal deliverance, the sailors had already been experiencing the love of God for three days. Likewise, the people of Nineveh who repented of their sin rejoiced that the impending judgment had not come. Jonah, however, was miserable. As we laugh at him, we may need to wince at ourselves. Jonah’s silly sin is finally no laughing matter. We are condemned along with him if we share in his provincial folly.

Jonah 1:1-3

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” ³ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 

Nahum 3:10

In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, Jesus the Good Shepherd never leaves us nor forsakes us......we leave Him out of our lives and then wonder why the world is falling apart at the seams. Our churches need to be about their Father’s business gathering in the lost and wounded of this society!

When the shepherds are not alert, the sheep cannot be saved from danger.

 A good leader is concerned that the people’s physical needs are being met and that care is provided for the sick and injured. A true leader looks for those who have fallen away. He leads like a shepherd by providing direction and correction, not with a fist but with a loving hand. A good leader protects those under his care and does not leave them to the wolves—to those who lead them astray. And finally, a good leader gives of himself to those under his charge. He cares about them and their well-being. Jesus’ self-sacrificing life provides the perfect blueprint for making a good shepherd and leader.

Nahum 3:10

¹⁸ Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; 
Your nobles rest in the dust. 
Your people are scattered on the mountains, 
And no one gathers them. 

Proverbs 10:16

We honor the Father when we use what He has given to us, our talents and wages, for our good and to provide for those in need. Squandering His gifts on the evil pleasures of this world has its price.

These verses present the doctrine of the two ways: the righteous is on the way of life, but the wicked wander from it. The phrase wages of the wicked is similar to Paul’s expression in Rom. 6:23: “the wages of sin is death.”

Proverbs 10:16
The labor of the righteous leads to life, 
The wages of the wicked to sin. 

The Story of the Christ

Without the salvation that God provided in Jesus Christ there is no hope! It is not a club for the elite, it is the gift of God to all who will accept Him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we will be changed.....

John 8:12
¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

John 8:21
²¹ Then Jesus said to them again,  “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” 

John 9:4-5
 ⁴ I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

John 10:7-10
⁷ Then Jesus said to them again,  “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

Luke 10:25-28
²⁵ And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 
²⁶ He said to him,  “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 
²⁷ So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” 
²⁸ And He said to him,  “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 

Luke 11:9
⁹ “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 

Luke 11:52
⁵² “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.” 

Luke 12:1
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 

Proverbs 10:12

God’s agape love for man covers all our sins in the blood of His Son. When we accept the salvation of Jesus Christ, which is the gift of God to all who choose to believe, we are redeemed. We should practice this same selfless love in our relationships with others.

 This verse describes interpersonal relationships. When people respond in love to each other, they cover over the sins, or offenses, that would otherwise come between them.

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, 
But love covers all sins. 

Proverbs 8:1-7

How many times have we been the victim of charming words and false flattery? Bound by something created to trap us in lies and deceptions....  it can take years to see the truth and untold misery before its end. When we hear God speak we need to listen even if we don’t understand the totality of the situation.....He does!

Wisdom wants to reach everyone and therefore broadcasts her message publicly, unlike the immoral woman, who uses privacy and deception to achieve her goals. Wisdom’s words can be trusted, and her offers of grace are beneficial. Her words of truth contrast with the lies of wickedness; wisdom will deliver on her promises; she is not a tawdry tease. What wisdom offers is of inestimable worth, far more valuable than silver and gold; no gems or other desirable things may be compared with it.

Proverbs 8:1-7

8 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? 
² She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, 
Beside the way, where the paths meet. 
³ She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, 
At the entrance of the doors: 
⁴ “To you, O men, I call, 
And my voice is to the sons of men. 
⁵ O you simple ones, understand prudence, 
And you fools, be of an understanding heart. 
⁶ Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, 
And from the opening of my lips will come right things; 
⁷ For my mouth will speak truth; 
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.