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 28:23-24 (KJV): 23 He that rebuketh a man
afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression;
the same is the companion of a destroyer.
Proverbs 28:23-24 (AMP): 23 He who rebukes a man
shall afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, This is no sin -- he is in
the same class as (an open, lawless robber and) a destroyer.
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses
from Proverbs tell us that a man who is honest and
rebukes someone will find more favor than a deceitful flatterer. Also, children
who rob their parents and then try to say that it is not sinful are in the same
class as a destroyer. There are other scriptures that support verse 23 in
reference to speaking the truth in love, instead of using flattery as a
manipulative ploy. The virtue of honesty is one that all of God's children need
to practice.
Ephesians 4:15:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ.
A news organization
recently did a survey here in America and asked people several questions
to determine the percentage of people who lied or were dishonest about
things. Some of the questions were:
Do you cheat on your
Income Tax Return?
Do you compliment people when you really don’t mean it?
Do you tell your spouse to tell callers you are not at home when you
there?
Do you tell "little white lies" if it will keep you out of trouble?
Do you tell creditors that "the check is in the mail" when you have
not yet mailed it?
Do you exaggerate in repeating things you have heard?
The results of this
survey determined that 90% of Americans are not truthful under certain
circumstances. This is understandable when we look at the morals of our
society, but what about Christians? Have they fallen into the habit of
lying also? Also, what constitutes a lie according to the Bible?
Anything that is not the truth is a lie and God’s Word, the Bible, tells
us what is truth. The Bible is the standard or measuring rod we must use
in determining truth. Sadly, Christians are also succumbing to this
epidemic of lying. Lying to each other has now become so commonplace,
Christians too, have become liars. Each of us have had our trust
in people undermined, or in some cases even destroyed, because of lies.
We would all agree that lying is an ugly evil. The Bible tells us
that lying began with the devil and that he is the father of lies.
John 8:43-47
says, "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot
hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not
in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie,
he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And
because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth
me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is
of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are
not of God."
The Bible is filled
with admonitions against being dishonest and lying. One of the Ten
Commandmentsstates:
"Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbour." Exodus 20:16
Jesus always kept His
Word. God still keeps His Word and is faithful to keep every promise He
makes in the Bible. That is why He is reliable and we can trust Him. We
are called to be like Him. The Bible says that out of a man’s mouth
proceeds what is in His heart. If we tell lies or fib, then it means
that we need a heart cleansing.
Matthew 15:18-20a
says, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth
from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed
evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man..."
We need to ask God to
cleanse our hearts and begin reading and studying the Bible, so that His
Word resides in our hearts. As we keep His Word and water it with prayer,
it will produce good fruit in our lives. Lying is not only speaking an
untruth; another form of lying is not keeping our word to others. We can
be overcomers through the power of the Holy Spirit as we seek to be like
Jesus. We not only do not want to lie, but we also want to keep our word,
so that people know we are honest and trustworthy. As Christians, we
want to represent our Father well in this life and be honest and free
from fabrication and fibbing.
Proverbs 28:24
also tells us those that steal from their parents are just as bad as those
who are destroyers. Stealing from parents and then trying to justify the sin is
a terrible evil. Lying and stealing are evils that we must ask the Lord to
deliver us from, if we are to become overcomers.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am thankful that You are faithful and that You always keep Your Word.
Lord, do a work in the hearts of all Your children and deliver us from lying.
May the words that we speak always be the truth. Lord, help us not to make
promises that we are unable to keep. We want our words to be like Your
words. You not only never lie, but every promise that You have made in the Word
of God You will keep. You are not a man that You should lie. Lord, cleanse
our hearts so that we will speak the truth in love instead of ignoring
confrontations. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
