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Refreshments

I have always liked refreshments. Even the word itself sounds promising, like I am about to receive something that will refresh me and make me feel better. When we hear the word refreshments we are almost always talking about snacks: we go to a meeting, and someone says, "Be sure to help yourself to some refreshments."

The meeting may be boring, but if they have donuts and coffee, things are starting to look up. 

In Proverbs 3 Solomon uses the word refreshment when he promises his son blessings from the Lord. That is the only time we see this word in the entire Bible. This is what the king tells his son in v.7-8 "Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."

The Hebrew word translated as refreshment appears twice more in the Bible, but both times it is translated as drink, as that is the best definition of the word. Sometimes we just need a good drink. Solomon is offering his son a refreshing beverage. This is the morning cup of coffee, the sweet tea, the ice water, the soda, or whatever your drink of choice may be. When your body says, "I gotta have it," this is your pick me up. 

What provides this refreshment Solomon offered his son? Fearing the Lord and turning from evil.  

This self-explanatory instruction is simple: trust in God (be not wise in your own eyes) and repent of your sins (turn from evil). This is a surefire way to earn your refreshments. Maybe right now you are parched, desperate for a glass of cold water. Maybe you need to feel that slight burn from a Coke. Maybe you need that caffeine boost from a cup of Joe. A little repentance will bring a lot of refreshment. 

Turn from any sin that you know shouldn't be in your life, and find the refreshment your soul has been craving. 

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