June 8th, 2025
Read Proverbs 13:20 NIV
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 13:20 MSG
“Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.”
Proverbs 13:20 AMP
“He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.”
The best public speaking advice I ever heard was: “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them.”
Now of course this advice is in the context of helping an audience remember a message.
Sometimes, reading a passage in multiple translations of the Bible helps me understand and remember a verse more completely.
Kind of like the public speaking advice I heard, reading something in the New International Version, then the Message, and then the Amplified Version helps contextualize the verse and wrap my head around it.
Proverbs 13:20 seems pretty straightforward though, why would I need to chew on it in this way? Because there have been times in my life where, knowing this verse, I chose foolish companionship ANYWAY.
Now why did I ignore and/ or forget this advice? Because _______.
I’m sure you could do as good of a job filling in the blank for me as I could. Because we all have been there.
The GOOD NEWS is that not only can we look back now at the path we’ve taken and see the places where Jesus has carried us along the way, his Holy Spirit dwells with us and helps us make decisions in alignment with His guidance.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 NIV
Something to think and pray about this week:
Who am I choosing to spend my time with now who is encouraging my walk with Jesus?
Who in my life do I consider Godly and wise and why?
How could I spend more time with Godly, wise people? (Hint: small group)
