DEVOTIONS

Don’t Cross The Line
September 16, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 22:26-29
 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    How can someone gain the trust of others? You cannot just have, buy, or demand trust. Trust will be earned over time.

    Our society revolves around trust. Property lines between states are drawn on paper, but we must trust that a surveyor has properly surveyed the land to know where those lines are. The same is true for our own private properties. We pay someone respected in the community in their field to come and survey our land, so we know where our property lines are. This tells us within what boundaries we may operate freely.

    In today’s verses, it speaks of “the ancient landmarks.” These landmarks were highly respected among the Jewish people as boundaries for their land. Men who lived long before any of us set those ancient boundaries in Israel, just as others before us set the boundaries of our own properties today.

    To live peaceably with your neighbor, there are rules to follow even when building on your own land. You can’t build too close to another’s property line. You can’t overhang structures over their land. You absolutely cannot cross the bounds of your land when building without facing a penalty and paying a fine.

    Life is much the same. There are also boundaries in life set by God. You must stay within those boundaries set by God to enjoy your life. You cannot live too close to the edge, or even dabble around too close to that line and expect to have real joy in life. In addition, you absolutely cannot cross the bounds into sin without facing a penalty and having a price to pay.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     The best way to live our life today is to remember the ancient landmarks set by our Heavenly Father. Not only will these landmarks keep us from sin, but they will also bring us the greatest joy in our life. Joy in knowing we are pleasing to Him who made us and who created all that we have to enjoy.

Are you living too close to a boundary?

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 16, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Hosea 7-14
  Proverbs 22:26 – 29

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Pro. 20-21
  2 Co. 5

WEEKEND REVIEW
September 14 & 15, 2024

Proverbs 22:9

He that hath a bountiful eye
shall be blessed;
for he giveth of his bread
to the poor.

Work Week Devotions
Through The Book Of Proverbs

     What a joy it has been to be with you this past week. I pray these WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS have been a blessing to you as well. To receive them daily in your e-mail box go to LIHWMinistries Sign-Up Page – Living In His Word Ministries and sign up. Each day these devotions will be delivered directly in your e-mail box.

      As previously mentioned, with WORK WEEK DEVOTIONS, we will only be publishing Devotional Thoughts Monday – Friday.

     On Saturday we suggest you re-read the entire chapter we have been studying this week, and if we will be going into the following chapter the next week, we encourage you to read that chapter as well.     

There are never Devotions on Sunday.

As we Journey through Proverbs, if you have any questions
Please send them to LIHWDEV@LIHWMinistries.org

Also, you would be huge help and blessing if you 
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WEEK 36 – Day 6:

     On Saturday, we suggest you re-read the Proverb we have written from this past week and the week to come.

Proverbs 22-23

WEEK 36 – Day 7:

     Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastor’s heart. Whatever Scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

THROUGH THE BIBLE
OLD & NEW TESTAMENT TODAY AND TOMORROW:

September 14, 2024
Pro. 18-19   
2 Co. 4
September 15, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

September 16, 2024
Hosea 7 – Hosea 14
Proverbs 22:26 – 29
September 17, 2024
Joel 1 – Amos 3
Proverbs 23:1 – 3
September 18, 2024
Amos 4 – Obadiah 1
Proverbs 23:4 – 6
September 19, 2024
Jonah 1 – Micah 4
Proverbs 23:7 – 9
September 20, 2024
Micah 5 – Nahum 3
Proverbs 23:10 – 13
September 21, 2024
Proverbs 22 – 23
September 22, 2024
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

September 16, 2024
Pro. 20-21
2 Co. 5
September 17, 2024
Pro. 22-23
2 Co. 6
September 18, 2024
Pro. 24-25
2 Co. 7
September 19, 2024
Pro. 26-27
2 Co. 8
September 20, 2024
Pro. 28-29
2 Co. 9-10
September 21, 2024
Pro. 30-31
2 Co. 11
September 22, 2024
No Passages Assigned

It Is Catching
September 13, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 22:22-25
 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    AWCHEW!!! That sneezing, coughing, hacking sound usually comes from a person with a cold. No matter how much we try not to, eventually, we catch it. There are all kinds of antibacterial hand sanitizers and special soaps to help us keep our hands clean and free from germs that might cause this sickness. Nevertheless, stay around someone with the cold virus long enough, and you will get it, A COLD!

    Oh, and how bad you feel when you do catch that nasty old cold. You cannot seem to think straight, you feel tired and achy, your head feels stuffy, and you just do not feel right. It makes me somewhat weary just thinking about it.

    Solomon was trying to warn us of very much the same thing, but on a more personal level. I have heard the phrase, “You are who you hang around with.” It means if you want to see the kind of person you are, just look at who your closest friends are, that is you! Crazy people act crazy. Do you know why they act crazy? They act crazy because they have lost their mind! If you hang around with them long enough, you will lose yours too. Anger is the same way. Sit around with angry people long enough, and you will become angry as well.

    Solomon was saying do not hang around with angry, bad-mouthed people. If you do, you will learn their ways, and it will become a habit and a trap in your life. This too will make you tired, achy, and unable to think straight. You will just not feel right.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Maybe you are wondering how to get out of this trap? First, get away from the sickness, the crowd. You cannot get rid of a cold by hanging around people with colds. Next, drink plenty of fluids. The Bible says it is the spring of Living Water. Finally, it is nice to have someone who will comfort you. My friend, you will be safe in the arms of Jesus. There is no greater physician than God.

What is it that you are picking up
from the people you hang around with?

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 13, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Hosea 1 – Hosea 6
  Proverbs 22:22 – 25

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Pro. 16-17
  2 Co. 2-3

A More Sure Word
September 12, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 22:18-21
 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Solomon, in writing to his son, says; “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge.” His statement is one we would do well to think over.

    Are the words of Solomon written in the book of Proverbs truly sound counsel and real knowledge for us all, or are they solely the writings of a father directed to his son? Are they intended for all ages, or are they merely the historical record of a father’s wishes for his family? Interestingly enough, you will find references to the Book of Proverbs used throughout the remainder of the Old Testament. However, is that alone enough to consider them as time-honored truths?

    Consider, if you will, that four of the writers of the New Testament also found them to be of great value and incorporated them into their writings. Paul uses them in Romans 12:19-20. James used these writings in Chapter 4, verse 6 of his book. Peter quoted these time-honored texts in 1 Peter 4:8, 17 & 18 and 2 Peter 2:22. In the book of Jude, verse twelve, these great words of wisdom are again recalled. I guess, most importantly, Jesus Himself referred to Proverbs 25:6-8 when he addressed the Pharisees in Luke 14:7-11.

    We have five witnesses, including Jesus Himself, who affirm that these are indeed valuable words to live by. We can trust that they are just as Solomon described them: words of wisdom, knowledge, and wise counsel to guide us in our lives, even today.  

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     We should never have to prove the Word of God. Nevertheless, it’s comforting to know that we can, and that we have sure words with which to guide our daily lives.

What words do you allow to guide 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 12, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Daniel 8 – Daniel 12
  Proverbs 22:18 – 21

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Pro. 14-15
  2 Co. 1

Give A Penny To A Millionaire
September 11, 2024

 

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 22:15-17
 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    How foolish would it be to watch someone with obvious wealth go up to a man who is clearly homeless and living on the street, and ask him if he had an extra room and bed where they could stay for a few days? Then, when the homeless man replies, “I don’t have a place of my own to stay,” the wealthy person begins to cry and beg, “come on, please, let me stay at your place. It will only be a few days! I just need to save a little more money.” The homeless man might very well point to the sky and say, “Hey buddy, you’re standing in my living room right now!” To watch such a thing would seem ridiculous. Today’s text calls it oppressing the poor to increase riches.

 

    How about if you were to see a limousine pull up to a stoplight next to a man in an old rusty pick-up truck? The driver of the pick-up blows the horn and motions for the limo to roll down the window. When they do, he asks, “Hey, do you need a ride? I have plenty of room in the bed of my truck if you do.” Again, that would be silly, giving to the rich what they do not need.

 

    That is what is meant by “He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.” In both situations, no one is being helped.

 

    Often, people will live their lives, beating their heads against a wall, doing ridiculous things over and over, expecting different results. Then, when someone points out that what they’re doing isn’t helping anyone, they are told to mind their own business. The words of wisdom meant to help are not taken as a gift but rather are seen as an intrusion into an already troubled life.

 

    The same often happens in witnessing. A lost soul will do the same sinful things repeatedly and find no peace in them. Yet, when someone presents them with the gospel, they are told to mind their own business as they continue down a path of no hope. However, occasionally, someone will listen, and God gloriously changes their lives.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    We are not going to win them all to Christ with the gospel. Nevertheless, for the few who will listen, it’s worth repeating.

 

Will you help the truly needy with the life changing Gospel of Christ?

 

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 11, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Daniel 4 – Daniel 7
  Proverbs 22:15 – 17

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Pro. 12-13
  1 Co. 16