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 15:8-9(KJV):
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses in Proverbs point out how the ways of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, while the righteous bring delight to Him. Verse 8 tells us that even the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to God. Some people think that if they go to church, sing songs in the worship service and give their tithes, then they should be in favor with God.  They fail to acknowledge the greatest thing that God desires -- that is, that our hearts be right before Him. Certainly, we should do the other things, but without the proper heart attitude, they will not count. God sees every man's heart and it is the condition of the heart that impresses God. When God sent Samuel to anoint the next king to reign over Israel in place of Saul, He sent him to the house of Jesse. Jesse presented one of his sons, Eliab to be anointed. But the Lord refused him and spoke these words to Samuel:

1 Samuel 16:7: "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

True worship is an attitude that comes from the heart.  Men can voice a love for God, but deny Him by their compromised life styles. A man cannot live in two worlds, nor can he serve two masters. Ultimately, he will choose one or the other, even as the scripture declares.

Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Compromising Christians are described in the Bible as being lukewarm, instead of hot or cold.  Here is what the Word of God says about those who have one foot in the world, and one foot in the church.

Revelation 3:15-19: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

The Bible tells us that we need to repent if we are lukewarm, because we are in a condition of spiritual blindness. Many people today, because they are rich in the world's goods, are really blind and naked because they do not have the Lord's eyesight nor His covering of protection. They walk in a day of darkness and cannot see.

Amos 5:20-24:
20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

In these verses we are told that the Lord will not accept the sacrifices of the wicked, nor will He hear their melodies. Their "praise and worship" songs will just be a noise to the Lord because it does not come from the heart. In verse 9 of our study verses, we are told that the Lord loves those who follow after righteousness, while the way of the wicked is an abomination to Him.  We must be totally committed to the will of God if we are to be an overcomer. A compromised life style will only bring judgment upon us. We reap what we sow and those things done in a compromised way will ultimately destroy our relationship with the Lord. However, if we remain steadfast, and daily follow the Lord, we will be blessed and bring joy to God's heart.

Prayer for the Day:

Father God, I am thankful that you give me spiritual eyes to see, so that I do not go astray on the wrong path. I do ask You to forgive me for my sins and shortcomings.  Change those things in my life that are not like You. Help me to be obedient to Your will for my life. Give me the strength to obey all that You require of me.  Lord, I pray for my friends and family, that they too, would follow You and obey Your will. Keep Your hand of protection over us all, and give us light on our path, that we may follow in the way of righteousness. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.