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
25:21-22 (KJV):
21 If thine enemy be hungry,
give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward
thee.
Proverbs
25:21-22 (AMP):
21 If your enemy is hungry,
give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will
reward you.
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses
from Proverbs tell us the way to overcome evil from an
enemy is to reach out and help them and by doing this, the Lord will then pay us
back with a reward. One of God's provisions is the impartation of His type of
love into our lives. This is the kind of love that it takes to reach out and do
good to our enemies. Jesus demonstrated this kind of love when He went to the
cross and died, an innocent man for the sins of all men. He then was raised from
the dead by Father God. However, as He hung dying on that cross, some of the
words that He uttered were, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do."
Luke 23:33-34:
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they
crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the
left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And
they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
We are called to
follow in the steps of Jesus and demonstrate the same kind of love to those who
persecute us and do all manner of evil against us.
1 Peter
2:21-24:
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened
not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being
dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Our Father in
heaven will reward us when we are obedient to reach out to our enemies when they
are in need of the basics -- food, water and heat. When they are thirsty, we are
to give them drink. When they are hungry, we are to give them food, and when
they need warmth, we are to meet that need also.
I often wondered
what the expression, "heaping coals of fire on their head" meant, as this sounds
like something bad instead of good. However, I read in one of my Bible
dictionaries, that this was referring to the way they started fires in Bible
times. The general populace heated their homes and cooked by burning wood
or bits of charcoal in small clay stoves. Most of the stoves were easily
portable and women would even carry them on their heads. Most people would
attempt to stoke their stoves at night so that there would be coals left in the
morning in order to stir them up and start a fire for breakfast. If the fire had
gone out, the practice was to find a neighbor who had some coals and borrow from
them to start their own fire. They would put their small clay stove on
their head (they also carried their water pots in the same manner), and would go
looking for some coals. Therefore, when the reference is made about
"heaping coals of fire on their head," this would be a good thing, as giving
them live coals to start their fire for the day would be another way to help
them.
As children of
God, we are called to overcome evil with good, go the second mile, bless those
who persecute us and do good to our enemies. By doing these things, we will not
only please God, our Father, but our acts of goodness will demonstrate the love
of our Father, and evil will be conquered.
Romans
12:17-21:
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all
men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
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.
Matthew
5:44-48:
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh
his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on
the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even
the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Lord, I now need Your love for the
sinners that touch my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I might love
them the way You love them. Jesus, show me how to reach out to those that
are coming against me in an evil way. May I demonstrate Your love in such a way
that they will want to know You, the One who gives us love for our enemies.
Fill me daily with Your love and grace so that I am a good example of what it
means to be a Christian. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
|