Read | Proverbs 8:1–36
Doesn’t wisdom call out?
Doesn’t understanding make her voice heard?
At the heights overlooking the road,
at the crossroads, she takes her stand.
Beside the gates leading into the city,
at the main entrance, she cries out:
“People, I call out to you;
my cry is to the children of Adam.
Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.
Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.
For my mouth tells the truth,
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
All the words from my mouth are righteous;
none of them are deceptive or perverse.
All of them are clear to the perceptive,
and right to those who discover knowledge.
Accept my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
For wisdom is better than jewels,
and nothing desirable can equal it.
I, wisdom, share a home with shrewdness
and have knowledge and discretion.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil.
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.
I possess good advice and sound wisdom;
I have understanding and strength.
It is by me that kings reign
and rulers enact just law;
by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.
I love those who love me,
and those who search for me find me.
With me are riches and honor,
lasting wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than solid gold,
and my harvest than pure silver.
I walk in the ways of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
“The LORD acquired me
at the beginning of his creation,
before his works of long ago.
I was formed before ancient times,
from the beginning, before the earth began.
I was born
when there were no watery depths
and no springs filled with water.
Before the mountains were established,
prior to the hills, I was given birth—
before he made the land, the fields,
or the first soil on earth.
I was there when he established the heavens,
when he laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
when he placed the skies above,
when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,
when he set a limit for the sea
so that the waters would not violate his command,
when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
I was a skilled craftsman beside him.
I was his delight every day,
always rejoicing before him.
I was rejoicing in his inhabited world,
delighting in the children of Adam.
“And now, sons, listen to me;
those who keep my ways are happy.
Listen to instruction and be wise;
don’t ignore it.
Anyone who listens to me is happy,
watching at my doors every day,
waiting by the posts of my doorway.
For the one who finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the LORD,
but the one who misses me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”
Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV.
How does this proverb’s personification of wisdom challenge the way you view wisdom? How does the Proverbs 8 depiction of wisdom echo the creation account in Genesis?
How can you specifically apply wisdom in your walk with God and your daily interactions?
Focus
Read this devotional about the upcoming Sunday sermon’s passage’s connection to the whole story of Scripture from Kraig McNutt, a Story of Scripture team member. Would you like to learn more about how to see the whole Bible as one story? Join us on January 30 and 31 for the Story of Scripture at the Olathe Campus. Sign up HERE.
Devotional on Creation - Genesis 1:1–2:3 by Kraig McNutt
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
The story of Scripture opens not with human effort but with divine speech. Before there was matter or material, there was God—speaking light into darkness and order into what was formless. Genesis 1 invites us to slow down and listen. Creation is not a backdrop to the biblical story; it is the first revelation of God’s character. Each day unfolds with deliberate intention: God forms, fills, blesses, and declares, “It was good.” Nothing appears by accident. Every detail bears the imprint of a Creator who is both powerful and purposeful. When humanity arrives on the sixth day, the tone shifts. Made in his image, men and women are called to reflect his character and steward his world. Creation’s climax is not human achievement but human identity—receiving life and purpose from God.
As we absorb this opening chapter, we begin to learn how God’s world is meant to function. His rest on the seventh day is not withdrawal but enthronement. The Creator is not fatigued; he is satisfied. His rest reveals his rule—everything operating in harmony under his care. Genesis 1 teaches us how to see ourselves, our labor, our rest, and our world. We are not adrift in chaos. We inhabit a reality ordered by a God who delights to bring structure, meaning, and goodness out of whatever seems empty or confusing. Let’s allow Genesis 1 to challenge our assumptions about work, identity, and what it means to be human. We are imagers—imagers created to reflect God’s wisdom, creativity, and compassion.
And this truth leads to action. When we trust the rhythm God reveals—work shaped by purpose, rest rooted in his sovereignty—we begin to flourish. The God who brought order to creation still brings order to the inner lives of his people. Where we feel overwhelmed, he speaks peace. When we feel in the dark, he illuminates. Where our lives seem empty, he fills. Genesis 1 calls us to live confidently, knowing that the One who created all things still sustains all things, including us. Whenever we encounter confusion or exhaustion, we can remember: God is here, God is good, and God is still working.
Pray
Ask God to reorder your inner life according to his good design.
Creator God, you spoke light into darkness and order into chaos. Speak into my life where things feel formless or overwhelming. Teach me to receive my identity as your image bearer, not something I achieve but something you give. Shape my work, my rest, and my rhythms so they reflect your wisdom and goodness.
Going Deeper
Throughout this year-long series in theFormed.life, the daily Scripture reading will take you through the whole story of Scripture in manageable chunks, allowing time for other study, reflection, and prayer, rather than including every verse and chapter in the Bible. If you would like to go deeper and read through the entire Bible, use this whole Bible reading plan from the BibleProject. Print it off and use it as a checklist to track your progress!
