OUR DAILY BREAD : THE BARKING LION

[cimi]

September 4
Thursday


THE BARKING
LION

READ:
Proverbs 22:1-5
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A good name is to be
chosen rather than
great riches.
__Proverbs 22:1
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Visitors to a zoo were outraged when the "African lion" started barking instead of roaring. Zoo staff said they had disguised a Tibetan mastiff__a very large dog__as a lion because they could not afford the real thing. Needless to say, the zoo's reputation was sullied and people will think twice before visiting it.

Reputation is fragile; once it's damaged, it's hard to restore. It is not uncommon to sacrifice a good reputation on the altar of power, prestige, or profit. This too could be our story. Scripture encourages us: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches" )Prov. 22:1). God is telling us that true value must be placed not in what we have but in who we are.

Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates said, "The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear." As followers of Jesus, we bear His name. Because of His love for us, we strive to walk worthy of Him, reflecting His likeness in our words and deeds.

When we fail, He picks us up again by His love. By our example, others around us will be led to praise the God who has redeemed and transformed us (Matt. 5:16)__for the name of the Lord is worth of glory, honor, and all praise.
__Poh fang Chia

`````````````````````````Lord, I do want to walk worthy of Your name````````````````````````
`````````````````````````because You have made me Your own. I know```````````````````````
``````````````````````I can't live perfectly, but I want to reflect to others`````````````````````
```````````````````a little of who You are. Please show Yourself through me.```````````````````
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The purest treasure mortal times afford is a spotless
reputation. __Shakespeare

*************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Proverbs 22:1-5*********************************

1 A good name is to be
chosen rather than great
riches, loving favor rather
than silver and gold.

2 The rich and the poor
have this in common, the
LORD is the maker of them
all.

3 A prudent man foresees
evil and hides himself, but
the simple pass on and are
punished.

4 By humility and the fear
of the LORD are riches and
honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in
the way of the perverse; he
who guards his soul will be
far from them.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The book of Proverbs is made up of several collections of wise
sayings, with the majority coming from the pen of wise King
Solomon. Solomon's proverbs of wisdom are contained in 1:8-22;16,
which are then followed by the sayings of other wise men in 22:17-24:34.
More of Solomon's wisdom, written down by Hezekiah's
men, is found in chapters 25-29. The book of wisdom closes with
Agur's wise sayings in chapter 30 and Lemuel's words in chapter 31.
All of this combines to make the book of Proverbs a comprehensive
collection of the wisdom of ancient Israel.