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 21:3-4 (AMP):
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Haughtiness of eyes and a
proud heart, even the tillage of the wicked or the lamp of joy to them,
(whatever it may be) is sin (in the eyes of God).
Today's verses from the book of Proverbs
tell us that doing right is more important than sacrificing anything and that man's
pride and life without God is sinful. Verse 3 emphasizes that God is more
interested in a daily life that is integral toward Him and toward his fellowman,
than one who might sacrifice by fasting or giving a large offering or giving up
something that is important to us. In fact, a daily life that is unselfish and
one of uprightness before God and man is the very reason God has us sacrifice.
He wants to lead us into a righteous life style that is steadily maintained
instead of one that is up and down with Him.
Our human nature is one that we tend to coast
at times. We slack off doing the things that we should. It is not
easy to live a disciplined life unto the Lord where we pray, read our Bible,
reach out, and walk in faith in all things. Sometimes we think the outward
things like doing good works and giving our tithes and offerings are sufficient
to please God. However, God is after a relationship with us and a heart attitude
that is one of mercy, and a walk of faith. In the New Testament Jesus
spoke these words to some religious people known as scribes and Pharisees:
Matthew 23:23:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and
anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment,
mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other
undone.
In verse 4
God deals with another thing that He hates and that is "pride." The
definition of pride in this verse is an attitude of haughtiness. When a
man thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think, he is then a prideful
man. Earlier in the book of Proverbs we found a list of seven things that God
hates and pride was at the top of the list.
Proverbs
6:16-19:
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to
mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among
brethren.
The Bible also says in the New Testament
that God resists the proud and exhorts us to humble ourselves to God.
James 4:6-7:
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but
giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you.
Our study verse tells us that not only is pride sin, but even the good
things in this world like food (tillage) and entertainment (lamp of joy),
without God become sin. God made the things of this world for man to
enjoy, but when we seek those things first and leave out God they become sin to
us. He told us to seek Him first and then all those things would be added
unto us.
1 John 2:16-17:
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will
of God abideth for ever.
Matthew 6:31-33:
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.
Dear Heavenly Father, I am thankful
that You have always supplied all of my needs. Help me to always trust You
and not to worry about having a supply of food and clothes and the other things
that I need in this world, but to just seek You and Your will daily in my life.
Lord, I want to be more concerned about having a pure heart in Your sight than
any material thing. Lord, I humble myself in Your sight and ask You to
remove all pride and critical attitudes from my heart. Give me a heart of mercy
and love for others and most of all, I want to always love You and follow You in
all things. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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