Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 15:19-23
Prov 15:19-23
The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
1 John 5:19-21
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
The Proverbs are about wisdom and understanding. This begins with God because all true wisdom comes from him. Understanding life begins with understanding Jesus, who he is and what he has done for us. Any other explanation of life is futile, being without purpose or true meaning. Jesus is eternal life but all the things of this world are temporary and will pass away.
Without realizing it, we too often put our trust in the material things, in people, and in pleasures of this world. This leaves us depressed and without hope when things go wrong or when we cannot explain or control what is happening to us or to those we love. In the words that Jesus often spoke: “O you of little faith!”
In life we have two choices: we can trust God and trust Jesus as the Son of God, or we can trust the things of this world. Or, as Paul put it, we can trust the creation, or we can trust the creator. Since the creator has revealed himself to us and since he has told us how to live for him, it only makes sense for us to follow his will. He only wants what is best for us because he loves us.
On one occasion Jesus was teaching his disciple to pray and told them not to give up on God but to be persistent in prayer. God hears us and he will answer us with what is best for us. He concludes this discussion by saying that we are to ask him to give us his Holy Spirit, who he describes as the good gift from above.
O Lord God, thank you for the assurance that I can have eternal life. Thank you for the assurance that in this life you will always be with me and watch over me. It is such a joy to know that you are in control, and you will always do what is best for me, even when I don’t know how to ask for it. Increase my faith so I will not think that somehow I know more than you about my life. Give me a greater portion of your Spirit so that your joy and your peace will flood my soul. I humbly pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord and my Savior.
Robert
