Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 14:11-15
Prov 14:11-15
The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
Acts 17:11-12
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
There seems to be no end to what people believe in the name of religion. Almost daily I see articles on the internet about what is wrong with religion in America or how the common beliefs of the Bible are wrong. Most of what is read that is wrong is based on misunderstanding of the Word of God or just traditions and myths that have been passed on by people that have no understanding.
Jesus faced the same thing in his day with the Jews who had been led by their teachers and elders to believe their traditions. Then when Jesus went to Samaria and encountered the woman at the well, he found they had their set of beliefs that were false too. Many of these were based on scripture, or at least what people thought scripture was teaching. Some of them were based on how the teachers felt the scripture should be applied to their everyday lives.
We are not to just believe everything we hear or read. Like the Bereans, we are to have an open mind and be willing to listen to what others are saying, even if we think we know it is wrong or if it is different from what we have always believed and been taught. But we are not to just accept it because someone said it. We must examine the scriptures for ourselves and weigh all teaching (new or old) on what God has said in his word. Peter said that there were false prophets in the ages past, and there will be false teachers today.
O Lord God, give me an open mind and heart to hear, to listen, to consider, but also to measure it all by your word. Give me wisdom to know what is right and how to apply it in my life. Keep me from being judgmental toward those who differ with me, whatever the subject may be. Help me know how to disagree without being disagreeable. Be with me Lord, I cannot live without you. I dare not take one step alone. I cannot bear the loads of life unaided; I need your strength to lean myself upon. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus my Lord.
Robert
