JULY 11 - Wake Up and Wise Up
3-Year-Bible Reading: Proverbs 19:24–25; Luke 11
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“The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.” — Proverbs 19:24–25
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” — Luke 11:28
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Ever feel like doing nothing? Like zoning out on your phone instead of doing homework—or ignoring advice because you just don’t feel like hearing it? You're not alone. In Proverbs 19, we meet a lazy person who won’t even lift his hand to feed himself. That’s extreme, but it makes a point: laziness and ignoring wisdom don't just waste time—they lead us nowhere.
And in Luke 11, Jesus calls out people who hear God’s Word but don’t actually live it out. It's one thing to hear truth; it’s another to let it change you. Being wise and growing in faith means being alert, teachable, and willing to act.
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THINK ABOUT IT
1. Are You Just Listening? Jesus says the blessing isn’t just in hearing God’s Word but in keeping it. Do you read the Bible or hear sermons but then forget them by lunch? What’s one way you can live out something you’ve recently learned?
2. How Do You Handle Correction? Proverbs says that wise people gain knowledge when corrected. It’s not fun being called out, but do you take advice seriously—or get defensive and tune out?
3. Laziness or Action: The image of the sluggard with his hand in the dish is a funny but powerful warning. What area of your life needs a little more effort or discipline—school, friendships, your relationship with God?
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BOTTOM LINE
God’s Word is meant to change us, not just fill our heads. Wisdom means being awake to what God is saying and brave enough to follow through.
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PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking through Your Word. Help me not to be lazy with my time, my choices, or my faith. Give me a heart that listens to You—and actually lives out what You say. Teach me to receive correction with humility and to grow wiser every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
