Read Pro. 16:26-33
These verses describe 7 different types of people. The first is the laborer. The first part of this verse says that "he who labors labors for himself." If you look up these words in the Hebrew you will find that it means if a man's work is a misery and a wicked work, then his work will be irksome and futile. He will be doing all that toil for himself and not for God. He will be self motivated but never satisfied. His complaining will add to his misery. The next man is the ungodly man: he will breed evil and with the things he says he will kindle destruction. The third man is the froward man. Froward means "perverse or fraudulent". He starts quarrels and loves drama. He or she is a gossiper and will say anything about anyone to get the attention. Forth we have the violent man who is the bully who tries to get everyone to join him in his evil tasks. He is the intimidator and the leader who tells everyone what to do. Fifth, is the old man. He is mature and has experience under his belt. He has chosen righteousness because he has learned it is the only way. And the sixth man is the person who is slow to anger. His patience and gentle spirit makes him powerful beyond physical strength. Last of all is the man who can rule his own spirit. He understands spiritual warfare and proclaiming the Word of God. He can take down a principality with his authority he found in Jesus.
All these people's destinies are put into God's lap and he will determine their verdict.
Lord, you judge righteously and fairly. We trust in your unfailing love.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thurs.'s Devo - The Wise of Heart
Read Pro. 16:20-25
The Bible considers you wise by the way you handle things, the way you instruct or teach, and the way you make decisions. All of these come from the heart. If Jesus is in your heart and you have cultivated that relationship then you are wise. We all make mistakes, but how do we handle our oops? It is better to be humble than to try to cover up a blunder or worse yet, make excuses. Our natural tendency is to be defensive but it is God's nature to be humble and truthful. I am facing this very thing today and so this is for me. I now know what I need to do to make things right and pray that I will receive mercy and not rejection. But I know that if I do what is right then God will be on my side and no matter what the outcome, I have done what is right. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Lord, help us to display your wisdom in all that we do today and help us to choose to be humble.
The Bible considers you wise by the way you handle things, the way you instruct or teach, and the way you make decisions. All of these come from the heart. If Jesus is in your heart and you have cultivated that relationship then you are wise. We all make mistakes, but how do we handle our oops? It is better to be humble than to try to cover up a blunder or worse yet, make excuses. Our natural tendency is to be defensive but it is God's nature to be humble and truthful. I am facing this very thing today and so this is for me. I now know what I need to do to make things right and pray that I will receive mercy and not rejection. But I know that if I do what is right then God will be on my side and no matter what the outcome, I have done what is right. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Lord, help us to display your wisdom in all that we do today and help us to choose to be humble.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Wed.'s Devo -Eternal Value
Read Pro. 16:18, 19
All my life I have heard this saying: "pride goes before destruction." I know what pride is but the word 'destruction' in the Hebrew means a fracture, a bruise, hurt, crashing, breaking, but specifically it means "a solution of a dream". We know what this verse is talking about in the negative but let's look at it in the positive side. One of the definitions of pride is excellency. So one interpretation is that pride and arrogance will always lead you to fail. But the flip side of that verse is that excellency will precede the fulfillment of a dream. That is comforting. The second part of this verse means just what it says: an arrogant spirit will cause you to totter and fall.
Jesus was such an example of an excellent spirit with every reason in the world to be puffed up in pride, but chose humility. He had just what he needed to live and was totally satisfied. He knew there was nothing on earth that was worth having if it meant losing what was ahead. He had his sights on eternity for the whole human race. When we keep the big picture in mind we don't get tripped over the everyday trials and the glitter of the world.
Lord, expand our vision to eternity and what is really of value to you.
All my life I have heard this saying: "pride goes before destruction." I know what pride is but the word 'destruction' in the Hebrew means a fracture, a bruise, hurt, crashing, breaking, but specifically it means "a solution of a dream". We know what this verse is talking about in the negative but let's look at it in the positive side. One of the definitions of pride is excellency. So one interpretation is that pride and arrogance will always lead you to fail. But the flip side of that verse is that excellency will precede the fulfillment of a dream. That is comforting. The second part of this verse means just what it says: an arrogant spirit will cause you to totter and fall.
Jesus was such an example of an excellent spirit with every reason in the world to be puffed up in pride, but chose humility. He had just what he needed to live and was totally satisfied. He knew there was nothing on earth that was worth having if it meant losing what was ahead. He had his sights on eternity for the whole human race. When we keep the big picture in mind we don't get tripped over the everyday trials and the glitter of the world.
Lord, expand our vision to eternity and what is really of value to you.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tue.'s Devo -Silver and Gold
Read Pro. 16:16, 17
All through the Bible gold is used as a symbol of gold. Even in our culture gold is a symbol of wisdom. We have 50 year anniversaries known as the Golden Year. Senior women are called the Golden Girls. Wisdom comes with age. The only way to truly learn something is to experience it so it takes years to gain wisdom but even young people can be wise beyond their years if the meditate and read the Bible. Silver is used as a symbol of understanding. Understanding comes by experience also so it is best when it is aged. Old people have silver hair which is their crown. Joshua and his high priest both wore crowns of silver and gold which tells us that they both were filled with God's wisdom and e. God esteems wisdom and understanding highly so we should too. We gain that by living according to God's Word and by taking God's highway. Verse 17 says that God's highway is righteousness and by keeping your soul from sin.
Lord, change our value system so that we value what you value.
All through the Bible gold is used as a symbol of gold. Even in our culture gold is a symbol of wisdom. We have 50 year anniversaries known as the Golden Year. Senior women are called the Golden Girls. Wisdom comes with age. The only way to truly learn something is to experience it so it takes years to gain wisdom but even young people can be wise beyond their years if the meditate and read the Bible. Silver is used as a symbol of understanding. Understanding comes by experience also so it is best when it is aged. Old people have silver hair which is their crown. Joshua and his high priest both wore crowns of silver and gold which tells us that they both were filled with God's wisdom and e. God esteems wisdom and understanding highly so we should too. We gain that by living according to God's Word and by taking God's highway. Verse 17 says that God's highway is righteousness and by keeping your soul from sin.
Lord, change our value system so that we value what you value.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Mon.'s Devo - King Jesus
Read Pro. 16:10-15
All these verses have to do with the king. Our king is Jesus so let's see what it says about him. When he gives a sentence it is just and fair. He cannot sin and his throne is established in righteousness. He does get angry but we can change his wrath to mercy if we are wise. Time after time in the Old Testament God wanted to destroy people and cities but an intercessor went before God and pleaded with him not to. Usually he honored the intercessor, except for the time with Sodom and Gomorrah. God's desire is to save and not destroy.
"In the light of the king's countenance is life": Moses beheld the glory of God and when he left he came back with the glory of God on his countenance so strongly that the people asked him to veil himself. By being in God's presence Moses was strengthened. It says that when he died his eyes were still good and he still had his strength. We shine when we are in his presence and our youth is renewed. His favor is like the cloud of the latter rain. The cloud brought the hope of the manifestation of the promise. We are living for the latter rain of God's presence to fall down on our nation and world. To see the cloud would be a great encouragement.
Lord, we honor you as our king who is merciful and just. We pray for the latter rain of your spirit it fall on us. May we draw near and shine for you today.
All these verses have to do with the king. Our king is Jesus so let's see what it says about him. When he gives a sentence it is just and fair. He cannot sin and his throne is established in righteousness. He does get angry but we can change his wrath to mercy if we are wise. Time after time in the Old Testament God wanted to destroy people and cities but an intercessor went before God and pleaded with him not to. Usually he honored the intercessor, except for the time with Sodom and Gomorrah. God's desire is to save and not destroy.
"In the light of the king's countenance is life": Moses beheld the glory of God and when he left he came back with the glory of God on his countenance so strongly that the people asked him to veil himself. By being in God's presence Moses was strengthened. It says that when he died his eyes were still good and he still had his strength. We shine when we are in his presence and our youth is renewed. His favor is like the cloud of the latter rain. The cloud brought the hope of the manifestation of the promise. We are living for the latter rain of God's presence to fall down on our nation and world. To see the cloud would be a great encouragement.
Lord, we honor you as our king who is merciful and just. We pray for the latter rain of your spirit it fall on us. May we draw near and shine for you today.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Fri.'s Devo - The Steps of a Righteous Man
Read Prov. 16:8-9
It is better to have less and have a good conscience than to be rich and dishonest. I worked for a person who made a lot of money at the expense of others and now lives in seclusion because they don't want to run into someone who they might have wronged. What a terrible way to live. It would be better to make less and live at peace.
The next verse says that we make many plans but it is God who will direct our steps. God gives us the desires of our heart by directing our paths to fulfill those dreams. He will set us up to meet the right people and be at the right place at the right time. We are here to fulfill HIS plan and he will be sure it happens. The other day I was driving down Mingo and passed a store that was going out of business. God told me to turn around and go back. I obeyed and found some outstanding bargains. But the real reason he sent me was to meet the owner who needed a laugh. She was depressed about having to close down and I came in and before long we were visiting and laughing. I was able to share some of her grief and be a blessing to her and she to me. We are all part of a network of God's family and we need each other. Direct our steps toward your destiny for us.
Lord, thank you for the blessing of a good conscience. May our drive be to you and not to riches.
It is better to have less and have a good conscience than to be rich and dishonest. I worked for a person who made a lot of money at the expense of others and now lives in seclusion because they don't want to run into someone who they might have wronged. What a terrible way to live. It would be better to make less and live at peace.
The next verse says that we make many plans but it is God who will direct our steps. God gives us the desires of our heart by directing our paths to fulfill those dreams. He will set us up to meet the right people and be at the right place at the right time. We are here to fulfill HIS plan and he will be sure it happens. The other day I was driving down Mingo and passed a store that was going out of business. God told me to turn around and go back. I obeyed and found some outstanding bargains. But the real reason he sent me was to meet the owner who needed a laugh. She was depressed about having to close down and I came in and before long we were visiting and laughing. I was able to share some of her grief and be a blessing to her and she to me. We are all part of a network of God's family and we need each other. Direct our steps toward your destiny for us.
Lord, thank you for the blessing of a good conscience. May our drive be to you and not to riches.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thurs.'s Devo - Peace with our Enemies
Read Pro. 16:7
When we please God he makes peace between us and our enemies. That is what he did to Solomon: he gave him peace with his enemies as long as he followed God. Evil can only come in through an opened door and if God closes the door, no one can open it. Proverbs 26:2 says that a curse causeless shall not come. In other words, a curse has to have a cause to light on you. If it has no cause it can't touch you. So how do we please God?: by loving and obeying his Word. We are to love mercy, do justly, and walk humbly with our God. It all boils down to loving God and loving people. Our enemies are not flesh and blood, but principalities and powers and spiritual beings in high places. So God will give us peace from tormenting spirits that try to attack us. That is a huge comfort.
Lord, we want to please you in everything we do. It is you who have defeated our enemy through the blood of Jesus and we are so grateful.
When we please God he makes peace between us and our enemies. That is what he did to Solomon: he gave him peace with his enemies as long as he followed God. Evil can only come in through an opened door and if God closes the door, no one can open it. Proverbs 26:2 says that a curse causeless shall not come. In other words, a curse has to have a cause to light on you. If it has no cause it can't touch you. So how do we please God?: by loving and obeying his Word. We are to love mercy, do justly, and walk humbly with our God. It all boils down to loving God and loving people. Our enemies are not flesh and blood, but principalities and powers and spiritual beings in high places. So God will give us peace from tormenting spirits that try to attack us. That is a huge comfort.
Lord, we want to please you in everything we do. It is you who have defeated our enemy through the blood of Jesus and we are so grateful.
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