My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. – Proverbs 3:1-2
Anna Baldwen was married to a dairy farmer in New Jersey in the middle-to-late 1800s. Alongside her husband, she engaged in the tedious, consistent, day-in-and-day-out milking of the cows. It was a never-ending chore, essential to the health of the herd and the economy of the family. Not content with the centuries-old, three-legged stool methodology, she put her mind to work, and between 1860 and the late 1870s, she filed for a total of five patents that had a high impact on dairy farming. One patent, the Hygienic Glove Machine, patented in February 1879, created a vacuum-based milking machine. By the equipment’s minimizing the strain on farmers, dairy herds increased, along with milk production and the safety of their product. She would doubtless be surprised to see how her inventions led to the milking robots that dairymen use today.
The consistency of tending to the milking of cows led to rewards for Anna Baldwen. In today’s verse, King Solomon is exhorting his son to be consistent in keeping the commands of the Lord. How would you grade your consistency quotient? God yearns for consistency in the lives of His children. He longs to see the character of Jesus reflected in your words and behavior. He calls you to be faithful and consistently obedient to His Word. The Lord’s goal is for your light to shine into this dark world. Engaged in spiritual warfare, He directs you to uphold the truth and make peace.
Theologian Dr. Wayne Barber said, “Spirituality is not perfection. It is consistency! If you are not in the Word of God, you are not consistently seeking to let Him control your life.” He suggests that the power for a consistent and righteous lifestyle is putting on your armor. Your consistency does not come from your own power, but through God’s power and the strength of His might (Ephesians 6:10). Pray for Christians serving in government to be consistent in their witness for Christ in their lives, and not falter under the perplexities the world hands them.
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 3:1-2
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
