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 Be not a
witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man
according to his work.
Proverbs 24:28-29 (AMP):
28 Be not a witness against
your neighbor without cause, and deceive not with your lips.
29 Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for
his deed.
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses in Proverbs
warn us not to bear false witness against our neighbor, nor render evil for
evil. One of the Ten Commandments also tells us the same thing in
Exodus 20:16: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." To
bear false witness is to deceive by lying about a person. The Lord knew that
living in close proximity with people would also be conducive to having
disagreements from time to time. Since a neighbor is right next door, this could
lead to problems unless we are willing to maintain unity and extend grace to
them. The Lord tells us that we should try to live in peace with all men.
Hebrews
12:14-15:
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
1 Peter 3:8-12:
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as
brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise
blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a
blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue
from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto
their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Verse 29 of
our study tells us that we are not to return evil for evil, but rather we are to
bless our enemies and do good to them, even as verse 9 of 1 Peter 3
tells us to do. The Bible tells us that when we do this, we then will
receive a blessing from the Lord. God will bless us when we obey His Word, even
if the person we have a problem with does not acknowledge our goodness at the
time. If we try to get back at someone and do something evil to them, we only
alienate them, and bitterness and disunity with a neighbor is not a pleasant
thing to endure. The Bible also tells us that an offended brother is
harder to be won back than it would be to take a strong city.
Proverbs 18:19: A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong
city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
If we are wise, we
will learn to guard our mouths and not to say things that we shall later regret.
Even when we are right about certain situations, we can have a wrong attitude
that will cause discord with people. If we truly want to be a servant of the
Lord, we must not get into strife with others, but be gentle to all men. God
will help us to do this if we ask Him for His goodness to flow through us.
2 Timothy
2:24-25:
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt
to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure
will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
If we try to
vindicate ourselves or render evil for evil, thereby executing vengeance against
someone, this is displeasing to the Lord. He tells us that
vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay. He knows how to deal with
every person in a fair and just manner so we can trust Him to take care of
anyone who has wronged us.
Romans
12:19-21:
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for
it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for
in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I do want to be a person who is not easily offended and also one who trusts You
to deal with those who would seek to do evil against me. I know that I cannot do
this within myself, so I am asking You to fill me with the Spirit so that I can
honestly love my enemies and do good to them. I know this kind of love only
comes from You. Lord, forgive those who plot evil against me and say evil things
about me. Open their eyes to the truth. Give me the grace and patience to
allow You to deal with them, as I truly want to overcome evil with good. I
ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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