Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 14:1-5
Prov 14:1-5
The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
It is the nature of the devil to tell lies, to deceive. In contrast to this, Jesus is the truth and truth emanates from him. The power of Satan is in his ability to convince people of his lies. He has nothing good to offer anyone, but he will make what he has look attractive, fun, and profitable so that we will want to follow his ideas rather than doing what God has said. There is no truth in him.
It is said that Moses chose to serve the Lord rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. We all must make the choice to serve God or follow the lies of Satan. Sin has pleasure. Sin can be fun. Sin can make us feel good. Sin can be very attractive or else there would be no temptation for us to do it.
Sin often misplaces a word that is bad for a word that is good, such as lust instead of love. It places the emphasis on now instead of eternity or even tomorrow. Sin ignores what God has told us is best for us and for our lives and instead tells us that God is the liar and we are foolish to believe him. Sin is filled with temporary pleasure but always has the morning after and awakening to reality.
We are to be honest and truthful in all we do and all we say. This means we are to never be intentionally deceptive. This includes what we call “partial” truth that is told for the purpose of deception. A lie is a lie, and it is from the devil, no matter what “color” we call it, white or black or if we classify it big or little. A lie is a lie!
O Lord God, giver of truth and all that is good, right, and wholesome, I thank you for your Son who came to earth to reveal you to all of mankind. Thank you for his love for you that took him to the cross for my sin. Help me always obey you, even when it is painful or when it seems the wrong thing to do at the moment. Thank you for the freedoms I enjoy in this nation, and I ask you to give us leaders that will preserve it for me and those who come after me by following your wisdom and your will for us all. In the name of Jesus my Lord I pray.
Robert
