Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 11:14-18
Prov 11:14-18
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure. A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
Col 3:12-14
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
When Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, he was talking about the religious leaders of his day. These were the teachers and the elders, and they made up about half of the supreme council of the Jews. They held themselves up as the example for others to follow. This statement was a shock to the common people and a “slap in the face” to the religious elite!
The Pharisees had the theology all figured out, so they believed all the right things (at least they thought so – even though they often disagreed among themselves on many topics and applications). They had even come up with a lot of rules that kept them from doing things wrong or getting too close to the edge of sin (and they enforced these rules as though they were from God – after all, they would help everyone do what was right!). They really believed they were right.
Jesus said that the people should do what they said but do not do what they did. He said they followed all the rules but missed the point of the rules. It is the point of the rules and laws of God to help us become more like him and like Jesus. We are to love God above all else and then love each other as we love ourselves. Be kind. Have compassion. Be humble and patient. Forgive each other, even those who don’t deserve it, ask for it, want it, or even admit they have done wrong.
O Lord, give me a pure heart like Jesus. Fill me with your Spirit so I will love as you love. Let others see your love in my kindness and compassion. Help me show Jesus to the world by being humble in heart and by being forgiving. As I depend on your grace in my life, remind me to show grace to others (and to know what that really means – undeserved favor). Be with my family and my friends, guard them from evil and give them good physical health. Be with our nation and the upcoming elections and help me trust you. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Robert
