Proverbs 21:10
“The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.” Sin is natural to us because it is ingrained into our very being. We were conceived in sin, and that desire only grows until we come to realization that we are indeed sinners in need of a Saviour. Until we find ourselves convicted by the Holy Spirit, we will remain dead into our sins. It is the Spirit that brings us alive by the power of the Word of God. John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” His Word gives us life and not just any life, eternal life; life that never ends. We did not realize our need for eternal life until we heard the Word, and had faith to believe in Him. Ephesians 2:4-9 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” How did you hear the Truth of the Gospel? Someone had to be bold enough to share the Good News with you. Consider the difference that person made in your life today. John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” When we receive Jesus Christ our desires change. When we were dead in our sin, we craved evil; but He gives the desire for things that are good, right and true. Ephesians 2:12-13 “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” What a difference Christ makes! Bible Reading: Leviticus 7-8 | Matthew 28 | Proverbs 18
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Proverbs 21:9
“It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” Contention is never a good thing, especially within a home. When conflict exists, what God intended the flesh has flawed. Matthew 19:5-6 “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” God created the beautiful institution of marriage as a picture of Christ’s love for His church. When we allow our flesh to construct a different portrait within our homes, we miss out on one of God’s greatest blessings. Ephesians 5:21-24 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” When a husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church, the godly wife will have no difficulty with submitting to him. Ephesians 5:25,28-29,31 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it… So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church… For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” What an opportunity God has provided us to portray Wisdom within our homes. If only we are willing to seek His Wisdom in order for marriage to be what He intended. Bible Reading: Leviticus 5-6 | Matthew 27 | Proverbs 17 Proverbs 21:8
“The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.” Those who do not know the Way find their way crooked and corrupt. Before we received Christ, we were out of the way and unprofitable. No goodness can be found in us outside of what He has done within us. Romans 3:10-12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Through Christ, we find our way; for He and He alone is the Way. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Without Christ, we are without hope. With Christ, we can be filled with hope. Psalm 38:15 “For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.” Psalm 39:7 “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” Without Christ, we are filled with fear. With Christ, we can be fearless. Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” We can have hope and remain fearless by resting in the Way of Wisdom today. Bible Reading: Leviticus 3-4 | Matthew 26 | Proverbs 16 Proverbs 21:6
“The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.” If we must lie to obtain something, do we really gain anything at all? By doing so, we own that which is not truly ours and become labeled as a fraud. Jeremiah 22:13 “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;” God desires honesty from His children, for we cannot contribute to His kingdom while harboring untruthfulness. Proverbs 21:7 “The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.” When we lie to get more than we earned or deserve, we are thieves. God desires that we work diligently so that He may provide for our every need. Ephesians 4:28 “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Walk honestly while working diligently for His glory. The time is drawing near when it will be too late to do more for Him. Bible Reading: Leviticus 1-2 | Matthew 25 | Proverbs 15 Proverbs 21:5
“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.” It has been said before that the Christian life is not a sprint, but rather a marathon. The Lord has given us a purpose to walk with Him every day according to the race that He has set before us. Each of us has a different race to run for His glory, but we are all on the same journey toward Heaven. Proverbs 19:1-2 “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.” We have the choice to either run hastily through life and miss out on the opportunities that God gives us every day to do something for Him, or to walk along side of Him as He leads the way. Joshua 22:5 “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Walk Honestly. Paul wrote of walking honestly toward others who are without the Truth, and while doing so our needs will be supplied. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” Walk Wisely. Paul also wrote of walking in the Wisdom that the Lord has provided for us. We can only do that if we are walking in His Word each day. Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” Our time is short, and we have much to do for the cause of Christ before it is eternally too late for those who walk without Him. Ephesians 5:15-16 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Bible Reading: Exodus 39-40 | Matthew 24 | Proverbs 14 Proverbs 21:4
“An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.” God gives us three things to watch out for as we strive to walk in Wisdom. These are simple and obvious behaviors that we should avoid and reject in order to maintain our fellowship with the Lord. An High Look Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” The first on the list of six things the Lord hates, when we our look is conceited it is because of our pride. A Proud Heart Psalm 101:5 “Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.” If our eyesight is arrogant, pride resides within our hearts. God disowns those who are prideful. The Plowing Of The Wicked Psalm 37:12 “The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.” Sin causes us to plot out our next move in order to continue with the deception that has consumed us. Sin appeals and entices just before it consumes and destroys. God has given us the equipment for the conflict, but it is up to us to daily put on the whole armour. All that we need to defend ourselves is provided and waiting for us to use each day. Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Bible Reading: Exodus 37-38 | Matthew 23 | Proverbs 13 Proverbs 21:3
“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” Many of us can deceive ourselves into thinking that if we sacrifice it excuses us from justice. We are masters of convincing ourselves that our way seems right. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” If it only seems right, there is no guarantee that it actually is. Is almost worth putting our fellowship with the Lord at risk? Are we willing to place our eternity on chance? The important things of life must not be settled on chance or possibility, but rather on the Facts and Truths of the Word of God. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” The works or sacrifices we make will not determine our fellowship or eternity. We have the choice to obey, accept and believe the Word of the Lord and the Truth of the Gospel. Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” What is more acceptable? Bible Reading: Exodus 35-36 | Matthew 22 | Proverbs 12 Proverbs 21:2
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” Every one of us is born in sin and full of pride, which often blinds us from seeing the wrongness of ourselves. Our wicked hearts often believe that we are right and even humble, deceiving us from the Truth. Galatians 6:3 “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” We often blame deception on the devil, yet so often we deceive our own selves into thinking we are something we are not. Because of our pride, the power of deception lies within us; therefore, we must seek help from another Source. Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” God has given us His Word to lead us to the Truth. James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” God has given us His people to lead us to the Truth. Proverbs 27:9 “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.” God sees our hearts and need for direction; He has provided the Wisdom we need to live for His glory. Allow His Word and His people to show you the Truth today. Bible Reading: Exodus 33-34 | Matthew 21 | Proverbs 11 Proverbs 21:1
“The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” No matter who holds the highest governmental position in the land, they are still at the footstool of the King of Kings. Matthew 5:34-35 “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.” No matter how many votes are cast, God in His Wisdom chooses who is elected. They may hold a position, but it is God Who controls what will or will not occur for they are in His hand. Daniel 2:20-22 “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” God controls everything by His Wisdom, yet offers to give us Wisdom if only we would ask. James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Proverbs 2:6-7 “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.” Thank Him today for all He has given you, and remember that He is in control. Daniel 2:23 “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.” Bible Reading: Exodus 31-32 | Matthew 20 | Proverbs 10 Proverbs 20:29
“The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.” What are you glorying in today? In other words, what do you consider beautiful and meaningful? Each season of life brings our focus on something different; but no matter our experience, we choose where our attention is given. If we truly examine ourselves in light of what the Word of God has to say about us, we have but only one choice in what to glory in. Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:31 “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Sometimes, the Lord uses pain in our lives to bring Himself glory. Proverbs 20:30 “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.” When we are wronged, we have to choose how we will react to the affliction. Our choice will determine how much glory we take from or give to Him. Matthew 5:38-39 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” When we choose to turn the other cheek, it may allow the opportunity for another hit, but more than that it allows Christ to fight the battle for us. Our wounds do not compare to what He endured for us or to the glory that will be revealed in us when we suffer willingly for Him. Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Bible Reading: Exodus 29-30 | Matthew 19 | Proverbs 9 |
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