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 27:9-10 (KJV):
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

Proverbs 27:9-10 (AMP):
9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart.
10 Your own friend and your father's friend, forsake them not; neither go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near (in spirit) than a brother who is far off (in heart).

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses from Proverbs tell us the value of true friendship, as a good friend will be there for us in our day of calamity, while sometimes our own family will not support us. Verse 9 states that the smelling of oil and perfume is a pleasurable experience, and compares it with the concerned and loving counsel of a dear friend. When oil mixed with the fragrance of a sweet perfume is warmed up, it gives off a wonderful aroma; so it is, when a close friend shares encouraging words coming out of the love in their heart for you. There is just nothing like kind and sweet words of counsel when you need them from a friend who cares for you.

On the other hand, there is nothing as bad as knowing your own natural family is not interested in helping you when you are in trouble. That is why verse 10 tells us that it is better to go to a neighbor who is a true friend in the spirit, than to your own brother who is not close to you in his heart. When we are "born again" into the family of God, we all become spiritual brothers and sisters with the same Father.  People who are not Christians cannot understand the family ties all Christians have in the spirit as brothers and sisters in the Lord. It sounds strange to them when we speak of one another as "brother" and "sister."  Because of Christ we have all been given His love for each other. It is a wonderful blessing of God to have this relationship with people all over the world.  It does not matter what color our skin is, how old we are, or what social status we happen to come from, when we have the Lord, we have that common bond of love for each other as a brother and sister. It is glorious to be a part of the family of God!

Jesus defined who was His real family in the New Testament.  In this story Jesus was inside a building, sharing and ministering to some people, when His mother and natural brothers came to the place and were standing outside desiring to speak to Him. Jesus used this occasion to teach His disciples about His true spiritual family. He told them that all who came to Him and did the will of God were His family. In other words, they would have the same access to Him spiritually as His own mother or brother or sister had in the natural.

Matthew 12:46-50:
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

The whole family of God has been granted special privileges. We are heirs of God and He grants us access to the riches of His glory. We are all saints, and by faith we have been promised His love, His wisdom, His understanding and His knowledge so that we can become like Him.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think!  Praise God!

Ephesians 3:14-21:
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for all the friends You have given me.  What a wonderful blessing!  Lord, I also want to thank You for every brother and sister in the great big family of God throughout the whole world. It is such a blessing to get to meet and fellowship with so many of them and to know them by the spirit. And Lord, I look forward to the day that I will get to meet many others, as I know when we get to heaven, I will get to see them face to face there.  It is wonderful to be a member of the family of God and to know that we are all going to be blessed and enjoy one another's company throughout eternity. Thank You, Lord!  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.