Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 10:18-23
Prov 10:18-23
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
James 1:19-21
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
We often think that the “rich and famous” automatically have the good life, without any problems. The truth is that these people face the same problems that the common and modest people face every day. In fact, the rich and famous part of their lives often adds more difficulties. I once had a friend who had made a lot of money at a very young age who told me that he had to keep an attorney on retainer all the time because someone was always suing him, trying to get money.
The answer to a full, meaningful, and rewarding life can be boiled down to just two things. But it is not easy for us, as people, to do either of them. First, we must submit our will to the will of God. That means we need to study his word, learn what it means and how to apply it, and then live it. The second is that we accept the fact that we are accountable to God, and we will stand in judgment before him when this life is over.
But earthly wisdom says these things are bad for us, taking away our freedom and therefore destroying our happiness and peace of mind. The world would have us believe that religion makes us miserable. What makes us miserable is submitting to manmade religion. Following God brings joy. But perverted religion with all the rules, restrictions, and laws that people add to God’s word is what takes away our freedom, our joy, our peace of mind, and our sense of fulfillment.
O Lord God, give me a greater desire every day to want to know your will for me and then to actually live it daily. Give me wisdom that leads to the love that you have shown to me in Jesus and then fill my heart and my life with grace toward others, even as you have shown grace to me. But too often, I know what I need to do (or not do) but I find myself doing just the opposite. Fill me with your Spirit who is the source of power to live for you. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
