Read Pr. 27:22
Pro. 22:15 says that foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. But today's scripture is talking about what happens if that child is not corrected by the rod. No amount of beating or physical pain is going to work on changing his behavior once he grows to be a man; he is going to need a heart change. That is where salvation comes in; it makes a new person out of the man. 2 Co. 5:17 says,"therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." It is a scientific fact that psychopaths do not have the ability to feel human emotions that we feel like remorse or compassion so they can easily kill and torture their victims. But, they can be saved. Son of Sam was one of New York's worse serial killers. He was finally caught and came to repentance and salvation in jail. He has totally changed and now has a ministry to help people. Only the blood of Jesus can do that.
This verse also means that loving discipline is not always the way to change a person. Sometimes the only thing that will work is love and understanding. Some people are scarred too deeply and they need to heal before they can be shown the right way to live. Jesus said to clean the inside of the cup first then the outside will be clean.
Lord, show us how to relate to each person we meet individually. Grant us discernment.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mon.'s Devo - Refined by Fire
Read Pr. 27:21
I had to read this verse over and over before I finally got what it was saying. It gives us 3 word pictures that are comparable. The first is the fining pot for silver. The second is the furnace for gold. The fining pot and the furnace are both processes of removing impurities from the silver and gold so that it will be pure and shine brighter. That is what man is to God's glory. We are made in the image of God and everything about our human bodies glorifies God. Even an ungodly man gives God glory in his created body because God created it wondrously, but just think of what a godly man does to glorify God. If we are made in his image and give ourselves to walk in his ways and use the things he has given us for his glory, then how much more do we glorify God. We can submit ourselves to the fining pot and the furnace of God to let him burn away our impurities and let his glory shine brighter and brighter through us. Pro. 17:3 says, "the fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord tries the hearts."
So Lord, try our hearts in the furnace of your love. Burn away the chaff and make us pure vessels that are usable in your service.
I had to read this verse over and over before I finally got what it was saying. It gives us 3 word pictures that are comparable. The first is the fining pot for silver. The second is the furnace for gold. The fining pot and the furnace are both processes of removing impurities from the silver and gold so that it will be pure and shine brighter. That is what man is to God's glory. We are made in the image of God and everything about our human bodies glorifies God. Even an ungodly man gives God glory in his created body because God created it wondrously, but just think of what a godly man does to glorify God. If we are made in his image and give ourselves to walk in his ways and use the things he has given us for his glory, then how much more do we glorify God. We can submit ourselves to the fining pot and the furnace of God to let him burn away our impurities and let his glory shine brighter and brighter through us. Pro. 17:3 says, "the fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord tries the hearts."
So Lord, try our hearts in the furnace of your love. Burn away the chaff and make us pure vessels that are usable in your service.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Fri.'s Devo - Hungry
Read Pr. 27:20
People will always be dieing and choosing to be separated from God. Hell is enlarging just as heaven is enlarging. It will never be full. In the same way our appetite for more will never decrease. If we are separated from God and living in the world we will lust for more evil. It will never satisfy us till we sink deeper and deeper into the mire. If we are hungry for God we will thirst and thirst for more and never say it is enough. God promised to give the hungry food but that food just makes us hungrier for more. Luke 1:53 says. "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He only gives good things to those who are not satisfied with what this earth gives. The rich have what they need and don't have to lean on God for their every meal. The poor are humbled and need God to survive. We don't have to be physically poor to hunger after God. We just have to understand our spiritual need.
Lord, increase our dependency and hunger for you. You alone can satisfy the need of our soul.
People will always be dieing and choosing to be separated from God. Hell is enlarging just as heaven is enlarging. It will never be full. In the same way our appetite for more will never decrease. If we are separated from God and living in the world we will lust for more evil. It will never satisfy us till we sink deeper and deeper into the mire. If we are hungry for God we will thirst and thirst for more and never say it is enough. God promised to give the hungry food but that food just makes us hungrier for more. Luke 1:53 says. "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He only gives good things to those who are not satisfied with what this earth gives. The rich have what they need and don't have to lean on God for their every meal. The poor are humbled and need God to survive. We don't have to be physically poor to hunger after God. We just have to understand our spiritual need.
Lord, increase our dependency and hunger for you. You alone can satisfy the need of our soul.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thur.s' Devo -Face to face
Read Pr. 27:19
Before everyone had a mirror they used water to see their reflection. I can't imagine putting on my eye liner looking into a bowl of water. There is one thing to say about the mirror: it doesn't lie. It reveals your face. Our heart is the same way; it reveals to us what is in it. Yesterday I had my heart revealed to me. I was in Hobby Lobby and there was an older lady checking out ahead of me. She had a tupperware container with coins in it and had given the cashier some bills and was counting out some coins to her. She asked the lady if she had enough and she said, no. I was about to ask how much she needed and help out but first I looked at the cash register to see how much the total was. It was over $20 and all I saw her give the cashier was $5 so I kept my mouth shut. She left without getting what she wanted, what ever that was. When she left I asked the cashier how much she needed and she said over $5. I felt horrible. I would have been glad to give her $5 but missed my opportunity. Then I realized the test that I had failed was not that I didn't pay the $5 but that I wasn't willing to pay the $15. When I got to my car I couldn't get over my pettiness and repented, so I went back into the store with my money in hand to give it to her because I thought she had stayed shopping. I went down every aisle looking for her. I couldn't find her but I know God is going to give me another opportunity. I saw my heart face to face yesterday and was not proud of what I saw. But I saw my repentence and am grateful that God's mercies are new every morning. I'm going to be ready next time.
Lord, reveal to us our hearts that we may align our hearts with yours.
Before everyone had a mirror they used water to see their reflection. I can't imagine putting on my eye liner looking into a bowl of water. There is one thing to say about the mirror: it doesn't lie. It reveals your face. Our heart is the same way; it reveals to us what is in it. Yesterday I had my heart revealed to me. I was in Hobby Lobby and there was an older lady checking out ahead of me. She had a tupperware container with coins in it and had given the cashier some bills and was counting out some coins to her. She asked the lady if she had enough and she said, no. I was about to ask how much she needed and help out but first I looked at the cash register to see how much the total was. It was over $20 and all I saw her give the cashier was $5 so I kept my mouth shut. She left without getting what she wanted, what ever that was. When she left I asked the cashier how much she needed and she said over $5. I felt horrible. I would have been glad to give her $5 but missed my opportunity. Then I realized the test that I had failed was not that I didn't pay the $5 but that I wasn't willing to pay the $15. When I got to my car I couldn't get over my pettiness and repented, so I went back into the store with my money in hand to give it to her because I thought she had stayed shopping. I went down every aisle looking for her. I couldn't find her but I know God is going to give me another opportunity. I saw my heart face to face yesterday and was not proud of what I saw. But I saw my repentence and am grateful that God's mercies are new every morning. I'm going to be ready next time.
Lord, reveal to us our hearts that we may align our hearts with yours.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wed.'s Devo - Producing Figs
Read Pr. 27:18
The fig tree in the Bible is symbolic of Israel. If we guard and befriend Israel it will go well with us. As a nation we have always done that until this presidential term. Turning against Israel is the most dangerous thing we could do. This verse compares watching over the fig tree to guarding the master. So, to love Israel is to love Jesus and to turn on Israel is to turn on Jesus. Honor and blessing come to those who guard the truth. Keeping a fig tree takes patience and time. There are months where there is no fruit and no benefit but if you take care of it in its off season it will bear much when it is in season. Jesus cursed the fig tree because it had no figs. It was not the season for figs but because Jesus was there it should have produced fruit. It was a picture of a person who has the seed of God in them but they missed their visitation with God because it wasn't a Sunday or they weren't looking for it. We are to be ready in and out of season. The fig tree should have produced out of season for the Messiah. The Jews as a nation didn't know the time of their visitation even though they had been waiting for a Messiah for years. They missed it because the soil in their hearts had not been prepared to receive the seed of salvation.
Lord, may our hearts be fertile soil for the seed of your word.
The fig tree in the Bible is symbolic of Israel. If we guard and befriend Israel it will go well with us. As a nation we have always done that until this presidential term. Turning against Israel is the most dangerous thing we could do. This verse compares watching over the fig tree to guarding the master. So, to love Israel is to love Jesus and to turn on Israel is to turn on Jesus. Honor and blessing come to those who guard the truth. Keeping a fig tree takes patience and time. There are months where there is no fruit and no benefit but if you take care of it in its off season it will bear much when it is in season. Jesus cursed the fig tree because it had no figs. It was not the season for figs but because Jesus was there it should have produced fruit. It was a picture of a person who has the seed of God in them but they missed their visitation with God because it wasn't a Sunday or they weren't looking for it. We are to be ready in and out of season. The fig tree should have produced out of season for the Messiah. The Jews as a nation didn't know the time of their visitation even though they had been waiting for a Messiah for years. They missed it because the soil in their hearts had not been prepared to receive the seed of salvation.
Lord, may our hearts be fertile soil for the seed of your word.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tues.'s Devo - Your Countenance
Read Pr. 27:17
Countenance means a whole lot more than just the front of your face. When they talked about countenance in the Bible it had to do with your whole outlook on life and your character. It was the emotional indicator of what we going on inside. People mold our countenance. When Cain's offering was not accepted of God his countenance fell. Jacob could tell by Laban's countenance that he had lost his favor. David and Abigail both had beautiful countenances which spoke of their heart also. God uses men to sharpen our countenances. They can rebuke us and give us wisdom. They can love us and make us tender. They can hate us and give us patience. Most of our trials involve other people and make us stronger if we choose to follow God through it. In a negative sense men can cause your countenance to be sad, bitter, hard, or angry to name a few. Only with the Holy Spirit and a heart to forgive and cover can we maintain a godly countenance. Everything is revealed on our faces. We can get caught in a lie by our countenance. That is why most professional poker players wear sun glasses or hats to hide their emotions about their cards. If we allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us and give us his spirit then our countenances with reveal God's glory. Moses's did. So much so that he had to hide it.
Lord, may our countenance shine your glory and sharpen our fellow men for the good.
Countenance means a whole lot more than just the front of your face. When they talked about countenance in the Bible it had to do with your whole outlook on life and your character. It was the emotional indicator of what we going on inside. People mold our countenance. When Cain's offering was not accepted of God his countenance fell. Jacob could tell by Laban's countenance that he had lost his favor. David and Abigail both had beautiful countenances which spoke of their heart also. God uses men to sharpen our countenances. They can rebuke us and give us wisdom. They can love us and make us tender. They can hate us and give us patience. Most of our trials involve other people and make us stronger if we choose to follow God through it. In a negative sense men can cause your countenance to be sad, bitter, hard, or angry to name a few. Only with the Holy Spirit and a heart to forgive and cover can we maintain a godly countenance. Everything is revealed on our faces. We can get caught in a lie by our countenance. That is why most professional poker players wear sun glasses or hats to hide their emotions about their cards. If we allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us and give us his spirit then our countenances with reveal God's glory. Moses's did. So much so that he had to hide it.
Lord, may our countenance shine your glory and sharpen our fellow men for the good.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Mon.'s Devo -Drip, Drip, Drip
Read Pr. 27:14-16
There are some things that irritate us so much we lose any good that was suppose to come from them. One of them is given in verse 14. A blessing given early in the morning with a loud voice becomes a curse. That could be said of other things we do out of their timing. To witness to a person that is not ready is like that. Sometimes our best intentions can be mistrewd as bad if given in the wrong timing or setting. God has entrusted us with the greatest treasure on earth but we are to be wise when and where to share it. But a word spoken in the right season is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
The next two verses talk about the contentious woman. A contentious woman is anyone who is always picking a fight or correcting what you say. They are like the continual dropping of water that drives you crazy. They are predictable but irritating. To try to change her would be like trying to stop the wind or hide anointing oil on your hand. They both are stronger and obvious. I have found that people who have a contentious spirit don't even realize what they are doing. They think they are helping when they are really destroying.
Lord, show us when we are being pretentious and out of your timing. Let us be as the sons of Issachar who could discern the times.
There are some things that irritate us so much we lose any good that was suppose to come from them. One of them is given in verse 14. A blessing given early in the morning with a loud voice becomes a curse. That could be said of other things we do out of their timing. To witness to a person that is not ready is like that. Sometimes our best intentions can be mistrewd as bad if given in the wrong timing or setting. God has entrusted us with the greatest treasure on earth but we are to be wise when and where to share it. But a word spoken in the right season is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
The next two verses talk about the contentious woman. A contentious woman is anyone who is always picking a fight or correcting what you say. They are like the continual dropping of water that drives you crazy. They are predictable but irritating. To try to change her would be like trying to stop the wind or hide anointing oil on your hand. They both are stronger and obvious. I have found that people who have a contentious spirit don't even realize what they are doing. They think they are helping when they are really destroying.
Lord, show us when we are being pretentious and out of your timing. Let us be as the sons of Issachar who could discern the times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)