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 12:20-22(KJV):
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is
joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses in the book of Proverbs clearly show us the
pattern of deceit versus truth. Notice that the first half of verse 20 points
out that in the heart of an evil man is deceit. Deceit is all too prevalent today in our
society. Webster's Dictionary gives us the following definition of the word
deceit: 1.The act of representing as true what is known to be false; a deceiving or
lying 2. a dishonest action or trick; fraud or lie. People who use deceit have
a wicked heart and evil imaginings. There are many fraudulent schemes today that are
robbing people of their money. The Bible says, “You must not associate with
anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a
slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” (1 Corinthians
5:11). Swindlers take advantage of other people's weaknesses to make money for
themselves. Greedy people are motivated by a desire for personal gain at others' expense.
Covetousness is a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5). We should flee such
unrighteousness.
“Those who do not work should not eat.” (2 Thessalonians
3:10). The desire to make money without working for it is an unrighteous desire.
People who use schemes to take advantage of others are using a form of deceit. God uses
work to build and shape our character. He delights in providing for those who put His
Kingdom and His Righteousness first. God's Kingdom is not promoted by unrighteousness. It
is promoted through the loving sacrifice of those who are obedient to the Lord Jesus
Christ.
The last half of Proverbs 12:20 tells us that those who
promote peace shall have joy. The Lord tells us in verse 9 of the
"Beatitudes" listed in Matthew 5, " Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called the children of God." We are blessed when we
pursue peace and counsel others to walk in peace.
Verse 21 in Proverbs 12 tells us that
ultimately no evil nor misfortune nor calamity shall come upon the righteous, while the
wicked will be filled with evil, misfortune and calamity. You may
think this is not true, as perhaps, you or other Christians you know, have
gone through some evil, misfortune or calamity in this world. In this world, we may
suffer some of the things that people who do not know the Lord suffer; however, the
difference is that we go through them, but we are not destroyed by them. Our eternal state
in Christ causes us to overcome all evil that the devil may try to bring our way. We are
more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me
ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world."
Isaiah 54:17a: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall
prosper..."
Romans 8:37-39: "Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The fate of the wicked is different, as their own wicked deeds bring them
down. They are ultimately destroyed in this life and face hell in the life to come. The
wicked are filled with mischief and deceit. Verse 22 says that the lying
lips of the wicked are extremely disgusting and hateful to the Lord, but those that
deal truly are His delight. In fact, lying is in the list of the six things that God hates
(Proverbs 6:17). Since God cannot lie and hates lying, we should guard
against this sin too.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love
and goodness to me. You have been very patient and merciful to me. Lord, I
need that same love and mercy towards others. Father, I ask You to remove all deceit from
my heart and cleanse me so that I might have a pure heart before You. Lord, deliver
our nation of deceit and lying. Help us all to keep our word, when we give it to someone.
Restore truth to our land. We desire truth to abide in our homes and our businesses.
Lord, I also ask that You give me faith and an overcoming spirit so that I will not walk
in fear. Help me to trust You, even when my circumstances cause me doubt at times.
Deliver me from doubt and unbelief in every area of my life. I ask this in the name of
Jesus. Amen.
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