Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 23:29-35
Prov 23:29-35
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. 31 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. 32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. 34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. 35 “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.”
Titus 1:7-8
For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
There is no way to measure all of the damage that has been done over the years because of use and overuse of alcoholic drinks. Lives have been destroyed and many have died. Families have been abused, neglected and torn apart because of drunkenness and addiction. Jobs have been lost, crimes have been committed, and people have become homeless and now are living on the streets.
Inhibitions are lost, so some people want to do things that they would never do when they were thinking clearly. About two o’clock one morning, a lady called me to go to a bar and get her husband who was usually a very peaceful man. She had received a phone call saying that he was drunk and was about to get in a fight. On another occasion, a young man called me and asked if I could come and meet him because he was drunk and had been involved in some things that he knew was wrong and wanted some advice on what to do. Some get happy and want to sing while others who are usually grumpy, get nice and unusually kind.
Drunkenness and addiction are both clearly condemned in God’s word. The best way to avoid both of these is to stay away from the use of alcohol completely. It offers no real value or true benefit but may have all kinds of evil effects.
O God, my heavenly Father, holy and reverend is your name in all the earth. You have created all things, and you have blessed me abundantly, in more ways than I can possibly count. Thank you for giving your Son to die in my place, for my sin, and to offer me forgiveness and salvation in him. As we face elections in our nation, I ask you to give us leaders who will respect you and your word and who will acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Help all of us as citizens to be loving and peaceful, especially I ask that your people show the love of Jesus. In his name I pray.
Robert
