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“Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateway of the city she makes her speech” (Proverbs 1:20-21).

I have never known what to do with the book of Proverbs. How do you teach a book that is mostly a disjointed grouping of short sayings? Also, in the passage above, why is wisdom personified as being alive and calling to people? Why is wisdom out in the street and in the public square? What is God trying to say?

Here is what I have come up with: Wisdom is on the streets and in the marketplaces because God’s teaching is to be lived every day!

Over the years, the church has made a big deal about hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), but that is not enough. From beginning to end, Proverbs teaches that God’s wisdom is to be put into action. It is supposed to shape how we treat one another, how we conduct business, how we spend money and every other part of everyday life. Wisdom is not something to discuss. Rather, it is something to do!

Not surprisingly, the New Testament continues that theme. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of God is living and active”. The word lives because it is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) and Spirit inspired (2 Peter 1:21), but also because it is lived out in the lives of God’s people.

Unfortunately, for too many Christians, there is virtually no overlap between their church life and their every day life. These are two completely separate worlds made up of two separate groups of people who never meet or cross paths with one another!

We must create the overlap! We cannot sit in our church buildings and wait for our friends to come to us. Instead, we must learn to live our teaching in such an attractive way that, as Jesus said, “They will see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We must deliver the love of God to those around us so that they can see it and be changed by it too.

After all, that is what Jesus did.

“The word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

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