DEVOTIONS

Who Hath Babbling And Sorrow?
September 27, 2024

 

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:29-32
 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    You hear people trying to defend every imaginable sin and using the Bible to do so. I have heard otherwise reasonable people try to defend the drinking of alcohol by saying, “the Bible talks about drinking, so it must be okay.” Well, that is true; the Bible does mention drinking. It also talks about crucifixions – are you interested in one of those? It speaks of being whipped until left for dead – is anyone up for that? Just because the Bible mentions a subject does not mean it endorses its use unless it explicitly states so or the scripture in its entirety supports it.

 

    Some have said, “Well, I am not getting drunk when I drink.” Then why do you drink? The common answer is, “to be sociable.” Are you telling me that the people you hang out with wouldn’t find you sociable if you didn’t have a drink in your hand? Maybe you are hanging out with the wrong crowd then.

 

    The Bible is clear on its stance regarding drinking. It provides an accurate depiction, cautioning us not to look at the wine “when it moveth itself aright.” This happens when juice is fermenting, deliberately being turned into an alcoholic drink by adding certain ingredients.

 

    Now, how does the Bible describe those who ignore this warning? It portrays them as troubled, sorrowful, plagued with problems, incoherent, stumbling, and drunk. Are these the words you’d like people to use when describing you? I certainly hope not!

 

    Alcohol has destructive effects, both physically and spiritually. It tears apart homes, careers, lives, and testimonies. If you want to be sociable, choose to be sociable with God and His Word first.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Finding scripture to justify sin is challenging. To do so, you must be willing to turn a blind eye to the rest of the book. Let’s not attempt to make sin acceptable. Instead, let us strive to live our lives in a way that pleases God.

 

When something hurts God,
shouldn’t we desire to stear clear of it?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: September 27, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Matthew 6 – Matthew 9
  Proverbs 23:29 – 32

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 9-10
  Gal. 3

 

Son, Give Me Your Heart
September 26, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:24-28
 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Solomon cries out to his son, “give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” He then warns him of how the world is like a whore who has no thought for you or your well-being. Society, in general, only wants what it can get from you and will then cast you aside. Following the world and its lifestyle is like wandering into a deep ditch.

    The unsaved world, like the strange woman, will not stand by you to the end. They truly don’t care about you or your future. For them, there is no eternal hope, so they live for today and let eternity worry about itself. However, eternity is also now. Right now, today is one of the days of your eternal life.

    Solomon is saying, son, follow my lead, away from the world and its selfish desires. Give me your heart, my child. I promise not to break it as they will. Son, I love you and will be an example you can watch throughout your life. Watch me, and I will lead you to life everlasting. Son, I will lead you to the one who loves you even more than me. I will lead you to God.

    Oh, that the fathers of today, many of whom are AWOL, would stand up and be the example their young children need. The world today, more than ever before, is calling out to them. With the aid of electronic media and its instant gratification of the senses, it lures them in with physical enticements, riches, and popularity, saying, “We love you, come follow us.” The world is trying to steal their hearts, and when they do, it will cost them their very soul. They will destroy and discard them like yesterday’s rubbish. What these children would really like to hear is a father saying, “Children, I love you more than the world ever can.” Fathers, walk with God and lead your families to a better life.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Men, you don’t need to find a “program” to lead your family. A man who fears the Lord can do a great job by simply following God’s Word. You need to stand up and say, “Son, give me your heart.” Then, treasure that heart like pure gold.

Are you willing to let a child follow your life?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: September 26, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Matthew 1:1 – Matthew 5
  Proverbs 23:24 – 28

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 7-8
  Gal. 2

Who’s Running This Anyway?
September 25, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:20-23
 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    What happens to a ship if the captain lets go of the wheel? What happens in a car if you sit back and do not drive but just press on the gas? How many safe landings do you think a plane would make if the Pilot and Co-Pilots were to go back and sit with the passengers during landing? What happens to a life that is lived with no one directing it and no one in control?

    The answers to all these questions are the same: there is going to be a disaster. The ship will sail off course and end up where it did not want to be. The car will swerve out of control, destroying itself and most likely others around. The plane will take a nosedive, killing everyone aboard. Likewise, a life lived out of control will lead to a certain catastrophe.

    This is a life that says, “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” To some degree, we all feel this statement is true. We are all going to die, right? The answer is NO! We must eat to sustain life, and we must sleep to rest our body. However, we must also obey and surrender our life to God so we will never die.

    Our Christian life is all about control. We need to sleep, but not be lazy and neglect our work. We need to eat, but not to the point of neglecting others at the table or becoming immobile to do the Lord’s work. We should enjoy life, not as those who numb it with alcohol, but as those who love and appreciate the life God has given us. As believers, we never die. Our fleshly bodies may go in the grave, but our souls will live eternally in glory. Living out of control and without God not only puts the body in the grave but also leads to a second death, which is an eternity away from God’s love. At the second death, you have lost all control eternally.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    So, what is the difference? It is control. A life lived in a manner pleasing to God is a life lived in control. The question now is, who is in control? Give your life to Jesus and let Him be in control.

Will you live with God in control today?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: September 25, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Zechariah 11 – Malachi 4
  Proverbs 23:20 – 23

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 5-6
  Gal. 1

The Credit Trap
September 24, 2024

 

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:17-19
  Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    It is easier than ever to get credit cards nowadays. Many credit card companies call, write, text, or in some way entice us, encouraging us to use their cards. Why are they so interested in us using these little pieces of plastic? It is because they know that the average person will run up more bills on these accounts than they can pay back in a month’s time. This is especially true during the holiday seasons. Then, when the accounts are not paid by month’s end, they get to charge you interest.

 

    Many people making payments to credit card companies are barely covering the interest monthly. Some are still paying off last year’s Christmas while charging ahead into this year’s holiday debt. Once someone is caught in this high-interest nightmare, it often seems impossible to get out. However, is that what they tell you in their promotions? Do they say, “Hello, we are offering you credit at an outrageous interest rate so you can buy whatever you want and pay us monthly for it until you die?” Well, of course, they do not say that. They tell you all about the benefits and the low interest for the first three months.

 

    Why do people often get themselves in this situation? Envy! Many times, it is because people see what the world has, and they want it, even if they do not need it. Our verses today refer to this very thing. “Let not thine heart envy sinners… For surely there is an end.” The Answer is in this verse as well. It says, “but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” To fear God is to honor and trust His ways. The rewards in life will be greater than anything purchased on credit can buy. That is when you will really discover your possibilitiese.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    I know some who say Christians should not be in debt at all. For many today, this seems impossible. Nevertheless, being a good steward of what God entrusts us with means, at the very least, keeping our debt to a minimum. Give people your time and love this coming Holiday Season. If that is not enough for someone, should you be buying them expensive gifts? Let’s not owe our life to the world. Why should we since we have given our life to God?

 

Has envy of others caused you to
overextend your life at times?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: September 24, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Zechariah 1 – Zechariah 10
  Proverbs 23:17 – 19

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 3-4
  2 Co. 13

 

Say Something Nice For Once
September 23, 2024

 

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 23:14-16
 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    It seems that as parents and grandparents, we often hear more negative than positive things about our children and grandchildren. When they do or say something wrong, people are quick to point out their faults.

 

    Over the years, I have been accused of getting upset when I hear bad things about my children. In most cases, these people might not realize that I don’t get upset about hearing if my children or grandchildren have misbehaved; rather, I am tired of always hearing negative comments from them. Some individuals never seem to have a good word to say about you or your family, especially if you are part of the Pastor’s Family. People often take pleasure in pointing out all the negatives they can find. Do I defend my children to others more than I should? I don’t believe so. I love them, and I am going to be their greatest cheerleader. I have corrected them as necessary, even now, after they are grown and out of the house. However, I will stand up before the world to defend their honor.

 

    On the other hand, if you want to see an old man beam with joy, come and tell me about a positive thing my children or grandchildren have done. There’s nothing like hearing that they have done something good, which people have noticed.

 

    Solomon was conveying a similar message to his son. He said, my heart would rejoice if you do and say the right things in life. John also expressed this sentiment about his spiritual family in 3 John 3-4 when he said: “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Everyone loves to hear good things about their family. Everyone!.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Would you like to make your pastor happy this week? Find one thing about his family that you can compliment them on and tell him. Would you like to make God, your heavenly Father, happy this week? Do the same thing when talking to others about His children, the church. He is listening, you know!.

 

What might you have to say about God’s Church today?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: September 23, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Habakkuk 1 – Haggai 2
  Proverbs 23:14 – 16

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Ecc. 1-2
  2 Co. 12