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:
28 Remove not the
ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Proverbs 22:28 (AMP):
28 Remove not the ancient
landmark which your fathers have set.
Thoughts for the Day:
This verse in Proverbs
tells us that we are to respect the boundaries that our fathers have set.
This verse has several implications in the natural, as well as the spiritual.
Landmarks in Bible times were boundary markers. Sometimes these were rows
of stones or double furrows so that people would have their property rights
established for others to see. These were to keep people from infringing
on the property rights of others. Certain other landmarks were used on roads to
guide people so that they would not get lost. Sometimes these were large
trees, or a pile of stones and a board marker.
Keeping this in
mind, we see this word in Proverbs is telling us to respect the property
rights of others, plus to honor the hereditary rights that our fathers have set
in the past. We should also not tear down a marker that others use to guide
them. This causes confusion and can get people lost. I know from
experience when I have gone back to my home town and they have changed the
streets and torn down old buildings, I cannot find my way around. I must
go and get a new map or ask a local person for directions. This does not mean we
can not change things for the better, but with the change, we need to consider
those who look for the old landmarks, and with that consideration, identify the
old streets by leaving the old names or restoring the old buildings.
This verse also
has a spiritual application, and that is for younger Christians to respect their
elder's boundaries, and for children to respect their father's boundaries. There
is a reason the boundaries are there, and it would be wisdom for the younger
generation to honor them. In fact, one of the "Ten Commandments" has to do with
honoring our fathers and mothers so that we will live long in the earth.
We will live longer if we heed their godly and wise advice, that they have
learned from experience. The devil is trying to get our nation to get rid of the
"Ten Commandments" because he knows without these standards in the earth, he
will be able to destroy society. Without respect for elders and authority, our
world will be reduced to anarchy and chaos.
Exodus 20:12: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which
the LORD thy God giveth thee."
Sometimes the
younger generation, in their desire to be free and independent or acceptable to
their peers, will disregard their elder's advice, to their own detriment. Many
of the fads of the younger generation are traps of the devil to lead our young
people into things that will destroy them. The wisdom of the fathers could
spare them trouble, if they would listen to it. This also can apply to
teachings. Some of the "so-called" new teachings are really not new at
all, but old erroneous ones that lead to heresy, and they are just another "wind
of doctrine" that is tossing people around. In the Bible, the younger are told
to submit to the elders. The Lord gave the "five-fold" ministry of apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to help us find the right way so
that we can grow up in Christ. It would be wisdom to listen to our godly church
elders.
1 Peter 5:5-6:
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be
subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the
proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time.
Ephesians
4:11-14:
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and
some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is
the head, even Christ.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You for the elders in my family, and also the church elders before me,
who have paved the way for my life to be blessed. Even though I qualify
for this office myself,
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