DEVOTIONS

Do You Smell Like Smoke?
November 1, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 26:23-28
 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    How many of you are campers? You just love to get out there, set up a tent, or drag your RV or trailer out and go camping. I will have to admit that my idea of roughing it is being booked into the sixth floor of a motel and finding out that the elevator has quit working. The great outdoorsman I am not.

 

    I do love to sit by a campfire and visit with others, though. I have one problem. Whenever I get near enough to the fire to melt chocolate and marshmallows together on a graham cracker, no matter how hard I try to find which way the wind is blowing, I always seem to attract the smoke from the fire. If I move, it follows me. My eyes burn and water, and I cannot see a thing. What started out sounding like fun ends up more like torture.

 

    Our verses today give several comparisons of what being around a deceitful person is like. Verse 23 says, “Like a potsherd covered with silver dross.” A potsherd is a cheap clay or earthen vessel. The silver dross is the scum that forms on the surface of the molten metal pot. It may appear silver, but it is as phony and worthless as the pot it covers. Verse 25 says, “When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.” Simply stated, there are more lies where that one came from. However, as I come to verse 27, it reminded me of the smoke that follows you at a campfire when it said, “he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” Just like the smoke that follows you, burns your eyes, and causes discomfort, so is a friendship with a dishonest person. They are just not a joy to be around. You can never be sure of anything they say. Most others know of their lying ways and do not want to be around them either. It is just like that smoke; you just do not want to be there.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Friendships are important. However, a bad friendship can do more harm than good. It becomes like the stone rolling back to crush us, or the smoke that follows us around. Pray for them, love them, witness to them, but do not hang around them. If you hang around the fire too long, soon you smell like smoke.

 

Where would be a good place to begin to form good friendships?

 

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: November 1, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  John 6 – John 7
  Proverbs 26:23 – 28

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Jeremiah 26-29
  Titus 1

 

Do They Need Your Help?
October 31, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 26:17-22
 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “Keep to yourself and mind your own business.” I can recall my dad telling me those words time and time again. I guess he had to keep reminding me because I didn’t seem to listen well the first time. Most often, I would find him telling me this for the umpteenth time right after I had stuck my nose into yet one more situation in which I really had no business.

    It just seems to me that all too often, when trying to help two people out of a tense situation with each other, before long, they are both friends again, but for some reason, one or both of them have turned on you! Why? Could it be that they never asked for any help? Could it be that a nose once again was somewhere it did not have any business? Well, probably.

    That is what our verses today are saying. They are not saying we should not help if asked to help. However, sticking our nose in where it does not belong is wrong.

    Solomon said it like this. “He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.” In other words, it will usually come back to bite you. I always wondered how my dad got so smart. Maybe he remembered these verses from Proverbs. Watch out where you stick your nose; you might get it bitten off!

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    The Bible tells us as Christians to help one another, and if possible, to keep a brother or sister from falling into sin. However, it also says to do so in truth and in love. Before we get involved in a problem, we should be sure to get God involved. It just might be that with a little patience and prayer, God will handle it alone. If He needs our help, He will let us know.

How often do yu pray about a matter
before getting involved?

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: October 31, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  John 4 – John 5
  Proverbs 26:17 – 22

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Jeremiah 23-25
  2 Timothy 3-4

Groundhog Day
October 30, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 26:14-16
 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    I once watched a movie called “Groundhog Day.” In this movie, what seemed to be the worst day of an Anchorman’s life started over every single day. The alarm would go off at the same time, the same song played on the radio, and everything was the same. However, he was the only one who knew it.

    After a few days of this repetition, with no one believing or remembering the next day what had happened, he decided to make the best of it. He asked a certain girl questions one day and then used the information to impress her the next day. He used every bit of yesterday to help him have a better tomorrow. What seemed to be the worst day of his life turned out to be a day he looked forward to because every morning for him began brand new. However, not one other person changed a thing unless he was involved in their life and made a change happen. The following day, those people would go back to doing what happened on the first day if he did not get involved again.

    We all know people just like that. They live the same life day after day, never changing anything. They keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Why do they do that?

    The Bible says these people continually go back to their old ways. “As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.” Nevertheless, we do not have to live that way. God can change our lives and make all things new. We also know people who take their yesterdays and use what they have learned to create a better tomorrow. They are excited to see what tomorrow may bring and are eagerly waiting to see how God will use them the next day. The question is, into which group do you fall?.     

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

     For those of us who know Christ, every day should be a new day filled with anticipation of what God will do with us today. It is a brand-new day given to us by God. Let’s use what we have learned in the past to live a better life for Him today.

What have you learned and done today
that will help you
in your life tomorrow?

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: October 30, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  John 1 – John 3
  Proverbs 26:14 – 16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Jeremiah 20-22
  2 Timothy 1-2

Sitting In The Garage
October 29, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 26:11-13
 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    One of the saddest phenomena in the world today is the revolving door of the church. As I have been blessed with the opportunity to speak in several churches over the years, I am often saddened to hear about people who once appeared to be on fire for God but have now returned to living in the world.

    In the church I pastor, and in churches all across America, we find the same thing happening repeatedly. You’ll see someone come to the church, become enthusiastic about being there with so many loving people, join every available group, and engage in various meaningful activities within the church. They speak passionately about their faith and attend every church function. However, at some point, they encounter a minor issue within the church or an external influence, and off they go back into the world, reverting to their previous way of life.

 

    When you ask them if they are saved, they might respond, “Oh yes, I’m saved. I remember the date.” However, salvation is not merely a date, nor is it a set of magic words once uttered. Salvation is a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Once you have that relationship with Him, the sinfulness of the world will lose its appeal.

 

    The Bible says a dog returns to his vomit and a fool to his folly. The lost will always long for the world, but when a person is saved, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Some say the people who return to the world have lost their salvation. Friend, you cannot lose what you most likely never had.

 

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Enjoying church fellowship does not save you any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car. True Christianity is not about fellowship; it’s about relationship. A genuine relationship with Jesus will naturally lead you to desire church fellowship. 

 

 

Do you have a relationship with Jesus,
or do you simply hold church membership?

 

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: October 29, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 23 – Luke 24
  Proverbs 26:11 – 13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Jeremiah 16-19
  1 Timothy 6

 

Does The Bible Really Say That?
October 28, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 26:6-10
 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Have you ever heard someone attempting to use the Bible to justify their own selfish purposes? For instance, those who defend their daily consumption of alcohol by claiming that Jesus drank or even made alcohol for others. In truth, there is no indication in any verse that Jesus ever consumed alcohol. Furthermore, He would never engage in something that might lead someone to sin. The wine mentioned at the wedding feast was, in fact, more akin to modern-day grape juice, the fruit of the vine.

    Recently, I have come across the argument that it is acceptable for someone to be homosexual because, since God creates all things, God must have made them that way. Once again, someone is attempting to manipulate the Word of God. While God did create all things, He did not create individuals to be gay, just as He did not create anyone to go to hell. He created them to love Him. Homosexuality is regarded as a sin, and God abhors all sin. Therefore, He did not create individuals to engage in actions or be a certain way that He would despise. They are making a choice to live that way. God never hates people; He hates our sin.

    The verses we encounter today explain why people sometimes misuse God’s Word in this manner. For instance, why would it be nonsensical to bind a stone in a sling? Because a stone is meant to be launched out of the sling, not secured within it. When it is bound in the sling, it becomes useless. Often, a parable or a section of the Bible is taken out of context to serve selfish desires, teaching a half-truth or a principle unintended by the scripture.

    A significant issue arises when those who misuse the Bible genuinely believe their misunderstandings to be unequivocally true. Ultimately, this leads to suffering for them and many others as well.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    The Bible holds a consistent and true message throughout its entirety. It does not convey one thing in one place and something else in another. God and His Word remain consistent forever. You can rely on it.

Why would anyone want to make the Bible
claim anything but the absolute truth when we
rely on it to be our final truth?

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: October 28, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Luke 21 – Luke 22
  Proverbs 26:6 – 10

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Jeremiah 13-15
  1 Timothy 5