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 13:13-16(KJV):

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

Thoughts for the Day:

The book of Proverbs continually emphasizes how those who keep the Word of God will be blessed, while those who despise them will be destroyed. Verse 13 tells us that each of us will reap what we have sown. When we obey God's Word we are rewarded with the blessings that accompany it. However, the opposite is also true; when we break the laws of God, we suffer under the curse and its destruction. God did not give us His commandments to deny us any good thing.   The commandments were given for our good. As natural parents, we tell our children that certain things are harmful and if they pursue them, it will hurt them. If our children obey, they will escape any harm. This is true with God's Word too. Disobedience brings suffering and pain that the Lord wants us to avoid. It is not God punishing us when we suffer under things, but rather our own willfulness to sin with its consequences that causes us harm. 

When a child is old enough to understand, we tell them not to touch the stove because they will get burned. However, if they disobey, and touch the stove anyway, it is not our fault. Even if they disobey, and are hurting from the pain of being burned, as a concerned parent, we would immediately come to the rescue and put medicine and a bandage on the wound.  Yes, we would scold them for not obeying us, but we would not be insensitive to their pain, even though it was self inflicted. God is the same way.  He does not cause the pain of sin, it is simply the result of sin. He does not cause bad things to happen in our lives.  These things are the result of sin. He loves us as His children, and even when we fail and sin, He is there to help us when we cry out to Him.

Verse 14 tells us that the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, so that we may avoid the snares of death. The wisdom in God's Word will bring us life, while the devil will attempt to draw us into the snares and temptations that lead to death. Verse 15 tells us that good understanding will win us favor and things will go easier and more smoothly in our lives.  However, for the transgressors, things are hard and difficult. Yielding to sin will cause people to lead a hard life full of problems and troubles. Obeying God is not hard, rather the way of the sinner is hard.  God empowers us to obey Him by giving us the Holy Spirit so that sin does not have dominion over us.

Romans 6:14: "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Verse 16 in our study, tells us that prudent people will use the knowledge of God in their dealings with others. This is how they gain favor and have good relationships with others.  The fool on the other hand, exposes and flaunts his folly. Law officers many times, can often catch a crook because he had to tell someone what he had done. He boasted of his evil deeds. In doing so, the law was able to find a witness who helped convict him. Fools are not able to keep their mouths shut.  If we are wise we will walk in the knowledge of God and this will keep us from foolish mistakes.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, I do thank You that You have given us Your Word and wisdom.  Help us to walk in Your ways so that we will avoid the traps of the enemy.  Lord, I am thankful that by following Your commandments You have prevented the devil from harming me. I do ask for Your protection over all of Your children. Lord, help me today to walk in love and be a good witness to all that I come in contact with.  Help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit and respond to the things You ask me to do.  Give me the courage and strength to do all that You ask of me.  I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.