Open the Bible UK Daily

Colin Smith
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3 minute daily Bible reflections from Open the Bible UK, authored by Colin Smith, read by Sue McLeish.

  1. 23h ago

    “The Fear of the Lord” Is Not Fear of Punishment

    With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.Psalm 130:4To “fear the Lord” means to love Him so much that His frown would be your greatest dread and His smile would be your greatest delight. There is a fear that love removes, and there is a fear that love brings. The fear that love removes is the fear of punishment. There is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). The fear that love brings is fear of wounding the One we love. Theologian Charles Bridges says, “The child of God has only one dread—to offend His Father; only one desire—to please and delight in Him.” Where do you get this fear of the Lord? David says to God, “With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (Ps. 130:4). You might expect David to say, “With you there is forgiveness, that you may no longer be feared.” But that is not what he says. “Lord, Your forgiveness came at such a cost that I would tremble to sin against this kind of love.” The fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom is birthed at the cross when as a forgiven sinner, knowing the grace and mercy that are yours in Christ, you say, “How could I ever resist a love like this?” Make a fresh commitment to walk in the way of wisdom, to follow hard after the Lord Jesus Christ, so to love Him that His frown will be your greatest dread, and His smile your greatest delight. Take in afresh that the Son of God loves you and gave Himself for you: that with Him there is forgiveness.

    3 min

  2. 1d ago

    What Is Your First Reaction to “the Fear of the Lord”?

    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.Proverbs 9:10What is your first reaction to “the fear of the LORD”? If you have endured a religion based on fear, you may say, “I had enough of that when I was young; I don’t want anything to do with it now.” If that is what you feel, look at the good that is promised here, and see if you may discover something wonderfully new. Where wisdom beginsThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (9:10). The fear of the Lord is the beginning place of following Jesus Christ. And all the blessings of wisdom—life, health, trust, and peace—have their beginning in the fear of the Lord.Where strength beginsBy the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil (16:6). In the book of Proverbs, God is speaking to His own children. If you are a child of God, you will have a desire to turn away from evil. When you see a sin in your life, you will say, “How can I get rid of this?”You know that time won’t do it. Experience tells you that your own effort won’t do it. And fear won’t do it either. Fear can restrain sin, but it cannot overcome the pull of sin in your heart. But here we are being told that the fear of the Lord makes it possible for you to overcome the power of particular sins. Where life beginsThe fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death (Prov. 14:27). Whatever this “fear of the Lord” is, it is something to get more of, not something to get rid of, because it is the beginning of wisdom, it will give you strength in your struggle to overcome sin, and it is a fountain of life!What is your reaction to “the fear of the LORD”? Are you ready to discover something wonderfully new?

    3 min

  3. 2d ago

    Three Benefits of Wisdom

    Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.Proverbs 3:16–17Here are three things that wisdom brings to us: 1. Long lifeLong life is in her right hand (3:16). If you eat a proper diet, you will enjoy better health than if you live on junk food. That doesn’t guarantee you will never have cancer, but the general principle is true. The same is true for your soul. Peter says, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it” (1 Pet. 3:10-11). There is a healthy and an unhealthy way to live. Wisdom will show you how to live a healthy life. 2. Riches and honourIn her left hand are riches and honour (3:16). This is a proverb, not a promise. It is not saying, “Give money to God and He will make you rich.” But would it surprise you that when a person honours God with their money, God often trusts them with more? Matthew Henry says, “Those who do good with what they have shall have more to do good with.” 3. Joy and peaceHer ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace (3:17). If you pursue wisdom, you will have greater joy and greater peace. Are you looking for greater joy and peace? Study the book of Proverbs. You will gain wisdom as you walk with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Long life. Riches and honour. Joy and peace. No wonder Proverbs says, “Get wisdom. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed” (3:18). Which of these benefits of wisdom are you most longing for today?

    3 min

  4. 3d ago

    What’s in It (Wisdom) for Me?

    The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.Matthew 7:14Proverbs describes what it looks like to follow Jesus Christ. It lays out the life to which wisdom calls us, the life of a disciple of Jesus. We are going to look at what it means to follow Jesus, what it means to follow the way of wisdom in regard to your friendships, your family, your words, your work, and your wealth. Now, you may be asking, “What’s in this for me? Why should I be interested in this?” That’s a good question. The Bible makes it clear that the path of following Jesus (that is, the path of pursuing wisdom) is often costly. It tells us that “the gate is narrow and the way is hard… and those who find it are few” (Mat. 7:14). But then it also gives us an incentive—this way does lead to life. We often understand these words to mean that living a godly life in this world is hard, but the payoff is that there will be great reward in heaven. And, of course, that is wonderfully true. But, the book of Proverbs draws out another truth that we need to grasp: Those who walk the path of godly wisdom will be blessed in this life, as well as in the life to come (see Mark 10:29-30). Remember, these are proverbs, not promises, but look at the normal pattern that prevails in this world: “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Prov. 3:13-15). Why? We will see three blessings that wisdom brings. Think of three blessings you have already experienced by following the way of wisdom.

    3 min

  5. 4d ago

    The Point of the Proverbs

    Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?Proverbs 8:1In Proverbs 8, wisdom speaks, but whose voice is this? The answer is found in the New Testament. Jesus is described as the wisdom of God: “You are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God” (1 Cor. 1:30). “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2-3). So, when we read in Proverbs that wisdom calls, we are to understand that the voice of the Son of God is calling out to us. Notice where wisdom can be found, standing “at the crossroads” and “beside the gates in front of the town” (Prov. 8:2-3). That’s the shopping retail park and the workplace. You arrive at the shops, and you hear a voice calling out to you, “Before you go in there, come over here. I have something that you will need.” You get on the train to head into work, and a voice calls out to you, “Before you get into all that you have to do, I have something you will need at work today.” Wisdom is presented as a person who calls out to us, offering something of great value. “Wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her” (8:11). God has given us more than wisdom in a book. He has given us His Son, who is wisdom in the flesh. And to all who are in Christ, God gives the Spirit of wisdom, the Holy Spirit, so that through the Spirit of wisdom, we may come to know the Lord better (Eph. 1:17). So, we gain wisdom through the Word, as we walk with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. To follow Jesus is to pursue wisdom. To pursue wisdom is to follow Jesus. Have you heard the voice of wisdom calling out to you?

    3 min

  6. 5d ago

    How to Read the Book of Proverbs

    Blessed is the one who finds wisdom.Proverbs 3:13Wisdom is the skill you need for putting together a successful life—or to put it another way—wisdom is “life skills.” Over these next days, we’re going to look together at what the Bible has to say on practical issues like friends, family, words, work, and wealth. We will be talking here about the skills of building friendships, raising children, and managing money. We will be considering how to speak in a way that builds others up and about being more effective in your work. So this series will be very practical. We begin with two observations about the book of Proverbs that will help you if you keep them in mind as you read them. 1. The Proverbs are proverbs Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it (22:6). This does not mean that good parenting guarantees godly children. The proverbs are not promises. They describe a normal pattern that prevails in this world. They do not promise a particular outcome. 2. The Proverbs assume a relationship My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments (3:1). The words “my son” occur 23 times in Proverbs. Many of these proverbs would have been spoken first by Solomon (1:1) to his son Rehoboam. “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” (1:8). But this book is more than the wisdom of Solomon. The book of Proverbs is in Holy Scripture because it is the Word of God. God breathed out these proverbs through Solomon as He breathed out the Psalms through David, or the book of Romans through the Apostle Paul. So, what we have here is God speaking to His own children. A relationship is assumed. Our loving Father is calling His children to walk in the paths of wisdom. In what area of life do you most need to hear the words of the loving Father to you as His child?

    3 min

  7. 6d ago

    The Kind of Sorrow God Wants You to Experience

    Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.2 Corinthians 7:10There are two kinds of grief (or sorrow). Worldly sorrow brings death. You can be full of regret and never change; you can be sorry without repenting. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. Godly sorrow leads to real and lasting change. Godly sorrow is the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience. Let’s see how these two sorrows work out in the lives of David and Saul. After Saul is confronted about his disobedience to God, he offers some lame excuses, but then finally admits, “I have sinned; yet honour me now before the elders of my people and before Israel” (1 Sam. 15:30). Saul is sorry about what happened, but he wants to put all the unpleasantness behind him so he can still look good. That’s worldly sorrow—no ownership of his actions. Follow the story and you’ll see that Saul never really changed. But David, after being confronted with his disobedience to God, says, “Have mercy on me, O God… For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Psa. 51:1, 3). This man is facing his sin—no hiding. He doesn’t minimise it or cast blame on others—no excuses. This sorrow is painful, but it brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret! You don’t want to be a person who falls over the same stumbling block again and again. Say to God, Don’t let me stumble without seeing what needs to change in my life. I see that in Saul. Don’t let me be like that. Let your Word be a lamp for my feet and a light to my path. Do you feel like you are stumbling over the same sins again and again?

    3 min

  8. May 30

    Where You Will Find the Courage to Repent

    ‘He arose and came to his father.’Luke 15:20The prodigal son was absolutely miserable. But it takes courage to go back home. How do you find the courage to begin the long journey home? You find the courage when you believe that there will be a welcome. And this is the promise of the gospel. The father in Jesus’ story is more generous than the son would ever have dared to imagine. The father, filled with compassion, throws his arms around his son and kisses him (that’s forgiveness). The father brings out the robe. He will not have his son clothed in rags (that’s covering his shame). This is what God does for us in Jesus Christ. He clothes us in His righteousness. The father calls for the ring (that’s the mark of sonship), and places it on his son’s finger, so he can face the world as a new man. Jesus tells this story so that we will know how God the Father will receive those who come to Him in repentance and faith. If you come to God today, through His Son Jesus Christ, He will welcome you as the father welcomed the prodigal in Jesus’ story. Believe this and you will find the courage to repent. The stories of the two sons teach us a great irony: Those who seem far away from God may actually be near, and those who seem near to God may actually be far away. You may feel you are far from God, but God is ready to forgive and welcome you back. That’s the promise of the gospel. When you believe it, you will find the courage to repent. What is your reaction to this story?

    3 min
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About

3 minute daily Bible reflections from Open the Bible UK, authored by Colin Smith, read by Sue McLeish.

Information

  • Creator
    Colin Smith
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.1K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Colin Smith
  • Show Website
    Open the Bible UK Daily

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