Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 10:1-23; John 14:1-17 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. (Proverbs 10:1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The book of Proverbs describes active righteousness in great detail. This verse tells us that the wise and the righteous will bring joy to their parents, but the foolish and the wicked will cause their parents great grief. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). Those who fear the Lord listen to His voice. Indeed, the Lord’s voice, His Word, creates godly fear—humility, contrition, and a desire for the Lord's favor. Wise parents will take the proverb to heart and bring their children to the Divine Service, where they can hear the voice of the Lord. Likewise, they will gather their family for daily devotions and teach the Small Catechism to their children while they are young. Active righteousness is important, but there is another kind of righteousness. You see, we cannot hope to make our heavenly Father glad