Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 18:16-20
Prov 18:16-20
16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. 17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. 18 The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders. 19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle. 20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
Matt 5:43-46
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Too often we get offended about things and let them make us bitter. We turn our back on friends and on people that we have loved for years. After this, every time their name comes up, our hair bristles, and our mind is blocked from all rational reasoning. We become stubborn, and remain that way, just for the sake of being stubborn, even when we know we would benefit from changing our minds.
But life is fickle and what seems so important today, may not make any difference in just a few years. In my years on earth, I have heard so many predictions made about what is going to happen in the near future, only to find that they never came to pass. People have spent months or years worrying about what might happen, millions of dollars have been spent to prepare, and then nothing.
This is why Jesus taught so often that we are to love God and his righteousness above all else and treat other people the way we want to be treated. Having done this, we realize that each day has enough trouble of its own, so we do not worry about what might be tomorrow, instead we pray and trust God. Treating others the way we want to be treated, loving our enemies and praying for them includes those with whom we disagree, both in politics and religion. Love as God loves.
O Lord God, please give us peace among our citizens and heal the divisions in our land. Help me, along with all of your people to wear the badge of Christianity that you have given to each of us, the badge of your love. Remind me to think carefully before I say anything and then only say that which is wholesome and will help the situation. I do ask you to give us leaders that will allow us to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness. Increase my faith so that I do not worry about anything. Use me to do your will in my corner of the world. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Robert
