DEVOTIONS

What Must I Know To Be Saved?
June 5, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 14:8-11
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    What is it that prompts a person to desire salvation? Is it the longing for a better life? Not exclusively. While it’s true that coming to know Christ as Savior ushers in the joys and blessings of God, the sole desire for a better life is not the primary motivation that leads someone to kneel before God.

    What does someone need to understand before they can receive Christ as their Savior? Do they need to know that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, that His blood washes away all sin, and that He rose again? Yes, they must have this knowledge, but this knowledge alone may not be sufficient to lead someone to accept Christ as their Saviour.

    So, what is it that people need to know in order to receive salvation? They must have a clear understanding of the fact that they are a sinner. They must see the sin in their life as filthy before a Holy God. Our verses today say, “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way” and, “among the righteous there is favour.” Why is there favour or acceptance among the righteous? Because they understand their sinful ways offend God. They know they are sinners, and the ultimate sin would have been to reject Christ’s total payment for that sin.

    Our verse also says, “the folly of fools is deceit. Fools make a mock at sin.” In simpler terms, those who remain in their lost condition often fail to understand the seriousness of their actions. Sin appears to be a way of life for them, and they perceive no need for change. However, in the end, the lives of the foolish will lead to eternal torment, while the upright will flourish in the house of the Lord forever.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     Self and sin frequently hinder people from finding salvation. It’s the pride of not wanting to acknowledge that our sins are gradually eroding our well-being day by day. Confession and embracing Christ bring about contentment. To experience eternal joy, we must know Jesus, who removes all our sins.

Do you know that you are saved?

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: June 5, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Esther 1-5
   Proverbs 14:8-11

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   2 Kings 18-19
   John 13:1-17

Those People Bug Me
June 4, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 14:4-7
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    I once heard a man say, “It’s not really church that I dislike; it’s all those people!” If we all told the truth, there are times when we might all feel the same way, sometimes to the point of not wanting to go to church at all.

    We begin thinking about that one person who always says something that rubs us the wrong way or the one who makes too much noise during the service. Then there are all those babies crying in the nursery, and their cries are audible during the preaching. Oh yes, and the preacher, whom I know has heard something about me again this week and is going to preach right at me. We start thinking, “I’d be better off watching a TV preacher and worshiping by myself.”

    Why does this happen? Because the devil wants to destroy the church. The fact is, you can’t have a church without people. People are the church. It will always be true that where there are people, there are going to be problems. However, it’s also true that where there are people, there are going to be the blessings of God.

    Proverbs 14:4 tells us that without cattle, you can have a clean barn. However, at the time, the oxen produced milk and pulled the plow in the fields. What may seem good for today is often the most destructive for tomorrow. We need people in our lives. Even more importantly, people need you in their lives.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    God wants you in His church. He created you to be a part of His church. So, come on, let’s go to church this week. The crying babies need your love, and you can be a testimony to them. The preacher only delivers what God gives, and it’s the Holy Spirit who speaks to the hearts of people. Perhaps it’s time for you to make some noise and say “Amen” occasionally. Oh yes, and as for the person who annoys you, LOVE THEM. It will drive them crazy!

Where will you be when God’s church meets this week?

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: June 4, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Nehemiah 10-13
    Proverbs 14:4-7

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   2 Kings 16-17
   John 12:23-50

Can We KNOW We Are Saved?
June 3, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 14:1-3
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “How can I be certain of my salvation?” This question has come up countless times over the years. It leads me to believe that many people in the world are living with a “Hope So Salvation.” They hope they are saved; they hope they will go to heaven when they pass away, and they hope that God will overlook their selfishness concerning the time, words, talents, and resources He entrusted to them for His purpose but were not used accordingly. They are hopeful that God won’t take too much issue with the small sins they commit regularly.

    That “hope so” mentality will send many people to hell. The reason is that the Bible says you can have a “Know So Salvation.” Part of our verse for today says, “He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD,” How can you know if you are saved? One thing to check: Do you love the Lord more than yourself? The Bible says you can know if you’re saved by examining your love for God.

    How can you measure your love for God? Well, do you want to know what God has to say about this? If you do, you will read your Bible. You will also have a desire to attend church to hear what God has to say to you through the man of God. Can you genuinely claim to love God if you only seek to communicate with Him when you find yourself in trouble?

    Do you hate the idea of Bible Studies, Prayer Meetings, or going to sit around all those religious fanatics? The same verse talks of that, too. It says, “he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.” The “him” there is the Lord. Therefore, the question is not, CAN I know if I am saved? The question is, ARE YOU saved?    

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     1 John 5:13 says we can know that we have eternal life. I believe God’s Word is reliable. If God says we can know, then we can know. Sin and self-will can keep us from God. Give it all to Him. Salvation is based on faith in Christ, not on feelings. Faith in what He did will produce a love for who He is. Do you have faith? Do you have love? We can know!

Do you enjoy that, KNOW SO SALVATION?

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: June 3, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Nehemiah 6-9
   Proverbs 14:1-3

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   2 Kings 14-15
   John 12:1-22

WEEKEND REVIEW
June 1 & 2, 2024

Proverbs 13:20

He that walketh with wise men
shall be wise:
but a companion of fools shall be
destroyed.

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 
might write a review on these devotions on
Review Work Week Devotions (amazon.com)
or 
Review Work Week Devotions Journal (amazon.com)

WEEK 21 – Day 6:

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

Proverbs 13-14

WEEK 21 – 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:

June 1, 2024
2 Kings 11-13
John 11:38-57

June 2, 2024
No Passages Assigned

NEXT WEEKS UPCOMING SCHEUDLES:

SCHEDULE 1 – Bible In a Year – with Proverbs Study 

June 3, 2024
Nehemiah 6 – Nehemiah 9
Proverbs 14:1-3

June 4, 2024
Nehemiah 10 – Nehemiah 13
Proverbs 14:4-7

June 5, 2024
Esther 1 – Esther 5
Proverbs 14: 8-11

June 6, 2024
Esther 6 – Esther 10
Proverbs 14:12-15

June 7, 2024
Job 1 – 5
Proverbs 14:16-19

June 8, 2024
Proverbs 13-14

June 9, 2024
No Passages Assigned

 

SCHEDULE 2 – Old & New Testament

June 3, 2024
2 Kings 14-15
John 12:1-22

June 4, 2024
2 Kings 16-17
John 12:23-50

June 5, 2024
2 Kings 18-19
John 13:1-17

June 6, 2024
2 Kings 20-22
John 13:18-38

June 7, 2024
2 Kings 23-24
John 14

June 8, 2024
2 Kings 25
John 15

June 9, 2024
No Passages Assigned

Love Or Neglect
May 31, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 13:23-25
Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

      In my library, I have a book written by H. A. Ironside in 1907 called; “Notes On Proverbs.” My copy was published in February of 1946. In it, on page 154, when writing about verse 24 of chapter 13, Dr. Ironside makes the following statement Quote; “It is not love, but the lack of it, that leaves a child to himself; to develop unchecked, tendencies and propensities which shall result in future sorrow. Ours is a day of great laxity on this point. The coming generation will reap the bitter fruit of the absence of restraint and the evident aversion to chastening, so manifest in the majority of homes.” End quote. This statement was made over one hundred years ago. So, if we look around us today, was he right?

    When men and women believe they have a better way to live life than God’s way, they are essentially saying that God is wrong. Today, we have a nation full of “me-first” adults. They have been given their way so much as children that they assume life should always revolve around them. Few are willing to offer constructive criticism for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. When correction is provided, it often results in individuals sulking like a two-year-old who hasn’t learned how to handle reproof.

    God’s ways are inherently right. They always have been and always will be. Any correction administered by God is done out of love and for the benefit of the one being corrected. This is a crucial aspect missing from much of today’s correction. It should be motivated by love for the child and a desire to help them, not to harm them.

     

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    There is a significant difference between correction and child abuse. We should never condone or participate in child abuse. However, frequently, by not ensuring that children behave appropriately, we may inadvertently subject them to more harm. True love can manifest itself in various ways.

 

Do we see correction for God as love and learning?

 

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: May 31, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Nehemiah 1-5
   Proverbs 13:23-25

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   2 Kings 9-10
   John 11:1-37