Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the
Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 14:12(KJV):
"There is a way which seemeth right
unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
Proverbs 14:12(Amp):
"There is a way which seems right to a
man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it are the ways of death."
Thoughts for the Day:
Proverbs, called the
book of wisdom in the Bible, is also a book that warns people to be
careful about their choices as deception can lead one in the wrong way. Verse12 points
out that what may look like the right way on the surface, can lead a man in the ways of
death. In Matthew 24 there is a similar warning about deception.
When Jesus was asked about the sign of the end of the world, the first thing he
replied with was a warning to let no man deceive them. Deception occurs when people think
that what they are doing is right when actually they are believing a lie.
Matthew 24:4-8:
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man
deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be
famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
We are now living in the time of sorrows, so this should also be the time
that we heed our Lord's warning to beware of deception. Many men today are preaching
a false gospel, and thus many are led down a path they sincerely believe to be the right
way. However, it is the wrong way. One of the most deadly lies that many believe today is
the lie that it does not matter which religion you believe in, they all ultimately will
get you to heaven. This deadly false teaching tells us that no matter which God you serve:
whether
Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist or Christian, they are all the same God. This is a lie, as the
Bible tells us there is only one way to heaven and that is to believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, the only begotten son of the true and living God. All other gods and religions are
false.
John 14:6-7: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know
him, and have seen him."
Satan, by acting as an angel of light, has tried to devise a spiritual counterfeit for
all of God's real workings. One of Satan's favorite frauds is to have a "false
religion" preach a "counterfeit gospel." Satan loves religion and has many
people practicing false ones all around the world. Many of them even mention Jesus. Satan
does not mind a little truth mixed into false religions as long as The Truth,
(Jesus), is not taught. In fact, most counterfeit religions have a thread of truth running
through them with the devil's lies woven around it. Otherwise Satan could not ensnare
people into them. Satan even takes man's craving for the supernatural and creates
religions that performs Satanic supernatural feats. Many precious Christians have been
deceived and become totally or partially involved with one or more of these religions.
Since these religions have their origin from the devil, they produce many needless
problems and sicknesses for the person involved because they are forms of idolatry.
What is idolatry? It is worship of any god outside of the true and living God. Worship
is not confined to prayer in a church service, but is having an intense love or admiration
for anything. This includes the reverence of any deity. False religions do not preach the
true gospel message which includes the atoning blood of Jesus, His second coming to this
earth, a literal fiery hell that is eternal, and the one way to heaven through Jesus
Christ alone. False religions show us many paths to heaven and subsequent escape from
eternal hell, or they discount hell altogether. One evil deception that has crept into the
church is an evil doctrine known as "Ultimate Reconciliation." This teaching
says that even the devil himself will eventually be saved, as it questions how a
loving God could condemn anyone. Yes, God is a God of love, but a part of His nature is He
is also a God of justice. Justice demands punishment for evil.
There are not many different ways to reach heaven
-- there
is only one way and that way is through Jesus. When any sinner repents and accepts
Jesus as His savior, He is assured that eternal life is his. However, those who reject
Jesus are lost and will end up in hell unless they repent of their sins and accept Christ by faith.
Participation in false religions represent the earnest attempt of millions of people to
fulfill deep and legitimate needs of the human spirit, which many seem not to have found
in the established churches. God loves all these people and desires that they come to the
knowledge of the truth. The Holy Spirit will always attempt to lead them out from under
the bondage these sects have brought them into if their hearts are right. The way of the
masses is not the pathway Jesus speaks of in the Bible.
Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it."
Satan seeks to lead men down any path except the one that leads to life in Christ. True
religion is not a particular church or denomination, but a state of our hearts and a
relationship with Jesus Christ. We are the church; our body becomes the temple of the Holy
Spirit when we are "born again." The Lord does lead us to fellowship with other
members of the body of Christ and those local gatherings have come to be known as the
church. However, all true believers make up the true church, and the true kingdom is
within. If we know any people that are involved in any false religion, we should love
them, pray for them, and seek the Lord as to how we can minister the truth to them. We
should not condemn them because Satan has them blinded; they need our love and prayers.
Any one can be set free by seeking the Lord and asking God to reveal if Jesus Christ is
truly the son of God. He will answer the prayer of any honest seeker of truth.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You that my name is
written in the Book of Life. Lord, I pray for all who do not know You as the true
and living God. Reveal Yourself to them so that they too, might have eternal life.
Lord, deliver those who are in any form of deception that keeps them from knowing
You. Father, I also ask that You keep me free from error. Deliver me from all pride
and deception. Lord, reveal Yourself to all those who sincerely desire to know the true
God. Lord, bless and keep my family and friends in the path of truth. I ask this in the
name of Jesus. Amen.
|