Proverbs 29:22-23
“An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression. A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Anger can be dangerous. Strife is often stirred up when anger resides within the heart. James 3:14-16 “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” It is possible to be angry without sinning, but our foolish flesh rarely allows our spirit to have the victory. Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” We give place to the devil when we allow sinful pride to be stirred within our hearts. The best way to prevent this is by simply trusting in the Lord. Proverbs 28:25 “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.” If we do not humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, our sinful pride will cause us to fall into destruction. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” Bible Reading: Job 9-10 | 1 Peter 1 | Proverbs 11
0 Comments
Proverbs 29:21
“He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.” The master that treats his servant like a son will eventually see that servant change his outlook of what he should or should not be doing. Some things will suddenly seem beneath him as he considers himself too worthy to humble himself. There are some true servants that are an exception to this Truth. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God willingly chose to humble Himself and become a Servant. Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” In the context of this passage, the Apostle Paul was exhorting the church of Philippi to be like Christ. The same applies to us today…”Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. He was not worried about what others thought of Him. He was willing to make Himself the Servant of Servants. He was robed in human flesh just like us. He tempted just like us, yet He did not sin. He humbled Himself far beneath Who He truly was and is. He was obedient, even unto death. He suffered and willingly died on the cross for us. The Servant of Servants is our Ultimate Example of what it means to serve. If we will choose to let the mind of Christ be in us, we too can become a true servant for His glory. Bible Reading: Job 7-8 | James 5 | Proverbs 10 Proverbs 29:19-20
“A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer. Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” An unwise or wicked servant refuses to be corrected by the Word of God. These are those who only hear the Word, never applying the Truth to their lives. James 1:22-24 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” If we choose to hear and never apply, we live under our own wisdom rather than the Wisdom of the Word of God. Proverbs 26:2 “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” Applying the Truth of the Scriptures brings blessings upon our lives. James 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” Within the pages of the Word of God there is direction and satisfaction that can only be found there. Why would we choose to look anywhere else? Hear the Word, and then apply the Word. Bible Reading: Job 5-6 | James 4 | Proverbs 9 Proverbs 29:18
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf, is known for having said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” If we have but little knowledge of the Word of God, we lack both vision and wisdom. Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Our lack of Biblical knowledge is disastrous to our testimony for the Lord. We cannot apply what we do not know or understand. Today, most of the world has the Scriptures available to them, but there will come a day when there will be a famine of the Word of God. Amos 8:11-12 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” We must seek the Lord through the Word of God while there is still time for us to do so. Psalm 119:2 “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” Only when we make the Word a priority in our lives will we truly be happy. A Vision for Wisdom makes all the difference. Bible Reading: Job 3-4 | James 3 | Proverbs 8 Proverbs 29:17
“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” Part of a parent’s responsibility is to correct their children when they do wrong. This is often for the protection of the child, but always for their well-being. The obedience of a child is a testimony of the training they have receiving from their parents. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Obedience brings rest. “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest…” A parent can rest when they are confident that their child will obey what they have taught them. Obedience brings delight. “…yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” A parent has no greater delight than to see that their child is walking in the Truth that they have been taught. 3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Each of us can apply the Truth given through the Word of God of a child obeying his parent. How much more rest and delight does God have when His children obey Him? We are wise to evaluate how much rest and delight we give the Lord by the degree of our obedience. Yet the truth is, partial obedience is disobedience. Bible Reading: Job 1-2 | James 2 | Proverbs 7 Proverbs 29:16
“When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.” It seems that if there were ever day when we could vastly say that sin has increased it would be today. The Truth of the Scriptures shows us the difference between right and wrong, yet so few seem to be reading the Word of God. Many times throughout the Gospel accounts in the New Testament, Jesus Christ calls out those who have not read the Scriptures. “Have ye not read…” “Have ye never read…” “Did ye never read…” What convicting Words to read. They ought to give us a desire to read, search, and study more. Sin abounds all around us, yet God gives us hope within His Word. Romans 5:20-21 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” There is coming a day when sin will no longer have a hold on us. We must now wait on the Lord while following His Way through His Word. Psalm 37:34 “Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” Bible Reading: Esther 9-10 | James 1 | Proverbs 6 Proverbs 29:15
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” There are two instances when we need correction: When we sin against God, we need to be corrected. If we say we have no sin, we are already sinners. There is not a day that passes that we have not sinned. Our deceitful hearts many times get the best of us. Proverbs 22:15 “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” When we neglect to do that which is good, we need to be corrected. If we know what is right, and choose not to do it, we are indeed in sin. James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” A father corrects his child because he loves them. Likewise, our Heavenly Father chastises us because He loves us. Proverbs 3:11-13 “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” When you find yourself in need of correction, embrace the opportunity to feel the love of the Lord and choose to follow His leading. Bible Reading: Esther 7-8 | Hebrews 13 | Proverbs 5 Proverbs 29:14
“The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.” There are kings and then there is the King of kings. He is the Creator that needed not to be created, for He has always been. Psalm 93:2 “Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.” Before He was born as a baby in Bethlehem, His throne was established. Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Luke 1:32-33 “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Before He ascended back into Heaven, His throne was established. Psalm 45:6 “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.” Hebrews 1:8 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” His throne has always been, and ever shall be. He has no beginning and no ending, for He is the beginning and the ending. Lamentations 5:19 “Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.” Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” His throne is established. Bible Reading: Esther 5-6 | Hebrews 12 | Proverbs 4 Proverbs 29:13
“The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.” The Widow of Zarephath had one meal left for her and her son, before Elijah showed up at her house. The Lord sustained her, her son, and Elijah because of her obedience. Matthew and Zacchaeus were both rich deceitful men before they followed Jesus. He gave them much more than they had ever possessed before. Regardless of our monetary or material condition, it is the Lord that sustains His children. He gives good gifts to us all. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” The Lord sustains His children through His blessings and gifts. When we are in despair, He chooses to provide for us in miraculous ways. We need only to make the choice to allow Him to carry our burden for us. Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Casting our burden upon Him strengthens our hearts as we wait for Him to work our situation out for our good and His glory. Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Bible Reading: Esther 3-4 | Hebrews 11 | Proverbs 3 Proverbs 29:12
“If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.” Hearken, here, refers to hear or incline or pay attention. What are we hearkening to on a regular basis? When it comes to lies, we have two choices – to hearken to them or to hate them. If we listen to lies, we will eventually become liars ourselves. Psalm 31:6 “I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.” Choosing to hate lies allows us to decide to trust in the Lord instead. King David decreed that liars were not welcome in his sight, much less his house. He chose separation before compromise. Psalm 101:7 “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.” Choosing to hate lies allows our love for the Word of God to grow. Psalm 119:163 “I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.” Make the choice today to hate lies rather than hearkening to them. Bible Reading: Esther 1-2 | Hebrews 10 | Proverbs 2 |
Archives
January 2021
Philippians 4:17Copyright © 2020
Delight Thyself Design Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. |