Read Pro. 11:7-8
Our hope is in the Lord and the resurrection of Jesus. Because he was the firstfruit to rise from the dead, we know that when we die we will be resurrected to new life. But, what do the unbelievers have to hope for? What they long for just dies. What they expect to find when they die is probably rest and peace or maybe a harem of women, or heaven. But that is not what he will receive. Hell is a real place and if we went there and came back, I bet we would be willing to talk about it and try to convince people they don't want to go there. We seem to skirt the issue because it sounds so bad. How could a loving God send anyone to hell? He doesn't - they choose on their own to go there. God does everything he can to show them truth but it is their decision.
The righteous will be delivered out of all his troubles both here and in death but the wicked will end up on the bottom both here and in death. The wicked may appear to be happy and blessed but there is no peace, joy or love apart from God so they are empty and tormented inside. Would you rather spend a few short years or struggle and eternity in heaven, or spend a luxurious life here and eternity in hell. Jesus came that we might have abundant life both here and in eternity.
Thank you, Lord that you went to the cross and conquered death and the grave that we might live abundantly here on earth and eternally with you in heaven.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wed.'s Devo - Just Weight
Read Pro. 11:1-6
In the Old Testament they use to have scales that they used to weigh grain or gold or whatever they were selling. They would put the grain in one side and a weighted stone on the other side. If they wanted to cheat they would use a lighter or heavier weight depending on what they were weighing. They would keep two weights marked the same and if they were buying the wheat they would use the lighter weight and if they were selling they would use the heavier stone. In this way, they would make more money and cheat the other person. God hates cheating in business but he delights when we are fair. The humble and righteous will be given God's wisdom and guidance. They will profit and be delivered from God's wrath on the ungodly. This means that when the earth is experiencing hard times and judgment, the redeemed of God will be exempt. The ungodly may become rich, but their riches won't be able to save their soul. They will inherit shame, God's wrath, and retribution.
Thanks you Lord, that you have the power to lift us up above the circumstances.
In the Old Testament they use to have scales that they used to weigh grain or gold or whatever they were selling. They would put the grain in one side and a weighted stone on the other side. If they wanted to cheat they would use a lighter or heavier weight depending on what they were weighing. They would keep two weights marked the same and if they were buying the wheat they would use the lighter weight and if they were selling they would use the heavier stone. In this way, they would make more money and cheat the other person. God hates cheating in business but he delights when we are fair. The humble and righteous will be given God's wisdom and guidance. They will profit and be delivered from God's wrath on the ungodly. This means that when the earth is experiencing hard times and judgment, the redeemed of God will be exempt. The ungodly may become rich, but their riches won't be able to save their soul. They will inherit shame, God's wrath, and retribution.
Thanks you Lord, that you have the power to lift us up above the circumstances.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tues.'s Devo - It is a Choice
Read Pro. 10:26-32
I'm not sure what vinegar does to your teeth except maybe take the enamel off but I know what smoke does to your eyes: it is very irritating. That is how an employer feels about a lazy employee. The next few verses contrast the life of the wicked with the life of the godly. The wicked will have a short life-span, his dreams will die, destruction will follow him, and he will not have an inheritance that will last, his voice will not be heard, and what he does say will be lies. The righteous, however, will have a prolonged life-span, they will hope with joy, God's way is their strength, their inheritance will possess the land, when they speak it will be the words of God, and they will understand what pleases God. What a contrast! Who would choose not to follow God? It is a mystery that people can not seem to see the folly of sin and the reward of righteousness, but their eyes have been closed and they cannot believe the truth because they can't understand it. That is why Jesus said, blessed are your eyes because you do see and your ears because they do hear.
Thank you Lord, for revealing yourself to us so that we can choose rightly.
I'm not sure what vinegar does to your teeth except maybe take the enamel off but I know what smoke does to your eyes: it is very irritating. That is how an employer feels about a lazy employee. The next few verses contrast the life of the wicked with the life of the godly. The wicked will have a short life-span, his dreams will die, destruction will follow him, and he will not have an inheritance that will last, his voice will not be heard, and what he does say will be lies. The righteous, however, will have a prolonged life-span, they will hope with joy, God's way is their strength, their inheritance will possess the land, when they speak it will be the words of God, and they will understand what pleases God. What a contrast! Who would choose not to follow God? It is a mystery that people can not seem to see the folly of sin and the reward of righteousness, but their eyes have been closed and they cannot believe the truth because they can't understand it. That is why Jesus said, blessed are your eyes because you do see and your ears because they do hear.
Thank you Lord, for revealing yourself to us so that we can choose rightly.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Mon.'s Devo. - A Firm Foundation
Read Pro. 10:23-25
Fools look for a way to break the law. I was watching a Bruce Willis movie the other night and this young kid had hacked into the government computer and scrambled the network just to see if he could. He caused all kind of chaos and almost lost his life because he just wanted to do mischief for the heck of it. If he had been a man of wisdom he would have used his talent for writing a security system that would have kept our government records safe.
People without God live in fear because it is them against the world or better said, them against Satan and they don't stand a chance. So whatever they imagine and speak comes upon them. They speak fear and violence; they reap fear and violence. But the things God has placed in the heart of the godly will come to pass. That is why it is so important to speak of hope and faith. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Pro. 18:21. Do you want to eat the fruit of death or life?
The wicked are blow over by the smallest puff of wind but the godly stand on a foundation that cannot be shaken.
Lord, we stand on your foundation speaking your words of life and truth. We choose to eat the fruit from the tree of life.
Fools look for a way to break the law. I was watching a Bruce Willis movie the other night and this young kid had hacked into the government computer and scrambled the network just to see if he could. He caused all kind of chaos and almost lost his life because he just wanted to do mischief for the heck of it. If he had been a man of wisdom he would have used his talent for writing a security system that would have kept our government records safe.
People without God live in fear because it is them against the world or better said, them against Satan and they don't stand a chance. So whatever they imagine and speak comes upon them. They speak fear and violence; they reap fear and violence. But the things God has placed in the heart of the godly will come to pass. That is why it is so important to speak of hope and faith. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Pro. 18:21. Do you want to eat the fruit of death or life?
The wicked are blow over by the smallest puff of wind but the godly stand on a foundation that cannot be shaken.
Lord, we stand on your foundation speaking your words of life and truth. We choose to eat the fruit from the tree of life.
Thurs.'s Devo - The Contrast of Good and Evil
Read Pro. 11:16-21
The next few scriptures are full of contrasts. A kind woman will be honored but a tyrant will only get riches. When a person is merciful to others it benefits his own soul but a cruel person hurts his self. The wicked have to make their living scamming people, but the righteous are rewarded for their honesty. The life of the righteous brings life but the life of the wicked brings death. The person with a distorted heart is hated by God but the ways of the godly are his delight. Even when the wicked join together they will be destroyed and the children of the righteous will be saved. It just makes sense to follow God. Those who chose to follow their own passions are deceived. They don't realize that God created them with a purpose and he will help them achieve that goal. How sad for them and how sad for us when we fight God and don't just surrender to his will. God's will is the only place we will find the joy and peace that we all seek.
Lord, we chose to follow you and make your will ours.
The next few scriptures are full of contrasts. A kind woman will be honored but a tyrant will only get riches. When a person is merciful to others it benefits his own soul but a cruel person hurts his self. The wicked have to make their living scamming people, but the righteous are rewarded for their honesty. The life of the righteous brings life but the life of the wicked brings death. The person with a distorted heart is hated by God but the ways of the godly are his delight. Even when the wicked join together they will be destroyed and the children of the righteous will be saved. It just makes sense to follow God. Those who chose to follow their own passions are deceived. They don't realize that God created them with a purpose and he will help them achieve that goal. How sad for them and how sad for us when we fight God and don't just surrender to his will. God's will is the only place we will find the joy and peace that we all seek.
Lord, we chose to follow you and make your will ours.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Fri.'s Devo - The Secret of Success
Read Pro. 10:22
It is the blessing of God to give us abundance. It is ashamed that Christians think it is godly to be poor. When Jesus multiplied the fish and bread he had more than enough every time. He wants to not only meet our needs but give us more than enough so we can enjoy his blessings and turn around and meet someone else's needs. His riches add no sorrow with them. To have an abundance of money without God's wisdom is sorrowful. The love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself. God is looking for a people he can pour money into their coffers so they can use it for the kingdom. God is the wealthiest being on the planet and we are his children. He loves to share with us and bless us but he loves us too much to give us something that is going to destroy us. The secret of wealth is your heart. If you realize that nothing on this earth is ours and God and his kingdom are the only thing worth seeking then you will seek him above everything else. Then God can trust you with everything else. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Mat. 6:33
It is the blessing of God to give us abundance. It is ashamed that Christians think it is godly to be poor. When Jesus multiplied the fish and bread he had more than enough every time. He wants to not only meet our needs but give us more than enough so we can enjoy his blessings and turn around and meet someone else's needs. His riches add no sorrow with them. To have an abundance of money without God's wisdom is sorrowful. The love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself. God is looking for a people he can pour money into their coffers so they can use it for the kingdom. God is the wealthiest being on the planet and we are his children. He loves to share with us and bless us but he loves us too much to give us something that is going to destroy us. The secret of wealth is your heart. If you realize that nothing on this earth is ours and God and his kingdom are the only thing worth seeking then you will seek him above everything else. Then God can trust you with everything else. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Mat. 6:33
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thurs.'s Devo - Words of Life
Read Pro. 10:18-21
These verses have to do with our words. James says that the tongue is a little member but it can kindle a fire and burn the course of nature. Our words are so important. I know that women need to talk. Study has shown that we say about 10,000 more words a day than men because we have the need to express ourselves through conversation. I started meeting a friend for breakfast every Thurs. morning over a year ago. I realized early-on that we needed a purpose and a guide for our conversation or it would be idle talk and gossip so I bought us both a little book for us to write our prayer requests on and pray about during the week. If we thought of something we wanted to remember to bring up we could write it in the book. That has been a real boundary. Then, I realized that she had the same love for studying the Bible that I did, so I suggested we bring our Bibles and share with each other what God had been showing us. We have had so many meaningful conversations and it has been a real guide for our mouths so that we don't fall into idle talking. Verse 20 says that the tongue of the just is as choice silver. That is what I want my tongue to be. What comes out of our mouths should feed people just like the Word of God feeds our spirit.
These verses have to do with our words. James says that the tongue is a little member but it can kindle a fire and burn the course of nature. Our words are so important. I know that women need to talk. Study has shown that we say about 10,000 more words a day than men because we have the need to express ourselves through conversation. I started meeting a friend for breakfast every Thurs. morning over a year ago. I realized early-on that we needed a purpose and a guide for our conversation or it would be idle talk and gossip so I bought us both a little book for us to write our prayer requests on and pray about during the week. If we thought of something we wanted to remember to bring up we could write it in the book. That has been a real boundary. Then, I realized that she had the same love for studying the Bible that I did, so I suggested we bring our Bibles and share with each other what God had been showing us. We have had so many meaningful conversations and it has been a real guide for our mouths so that we don't fall into idle talking. Verse 20 says that the tongue of the just is as choice silver. That is what I want my tongue to be. What comes out of our mouths should feed people just like the Word of God feeds our spirit.
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