Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 26:23-28
Prov 26:23-28
23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. 24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; 26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
1 John 3:16-18
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Many have been reminded recently, because of the hurricanes and flooding in so many places, that as Christians we need to help those in need. This is good and as we have opportunity; we need to be doing good for these people who have lost so much in the storms. It thrills my heart to see so many people respond by giving and others going and working to help personally. This is the love of Jesus.
But the truth is that there are always people in need, in our communities, in our nation and all around the world. There are those in other places who have no food to eat today because of drought and famine. Disasters happen, and help is needed. As the children of God, we need to keep our eyes open and be aware of those in need and do what we can to help them.
It is easier for us to be like the “religious” men who saw that poor man laying in the road but didn’t want to get involved, so they just passed by and left him laying in his blood. Maybe they had a good reason. If they touched him, it would make them unclean so they would not be able to serve in the synagogue. It would cost them extra to offer the sacrifices to be made clean. Perhaps they just didn’t like the sight of blood. Whatever excuses they made for not helping, one thing is for sure; they did not show the love of God to that man in the road. Use today to help at least one person. Money, time, hands-on help, a kind word, listen. Show love.
O Lord God, use me to help someone in some way today. Help me to be like Barnabas and be an encourager but who also sold some of his land and graciously gave the money to help others who were in need. Keep me from being selfish and from making excuses instead of opening my heart and helping. Lord, as our nation approaches election time, help me show love to others by being godly in what I say. Guide the elections according to your will. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
