Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 28:17-20
Prov 28:17-20
17 If one is burdened with the blood of another, he will be a fugitive until death; let no one help him. 18 Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall. 19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
I don’t know about you but when I read the Proverbs, I tend to think of people whose life fits each of them. People who are hardworking and have plenty or those who tend to be lazy and are in constant need are examples of this. There are those who are proud or those who are just plain crooked and these will be punished for their lifestyles and attitudes. “Get rich quick” doesn’t usually work.
This is also the way that we too often listen to sermons or read articles – we think of others that we think need to hear this or who fit what is being described as bad behaviors or attitudes. When we read, study, or hear lessons from God’s word, we need to think about how it fits me – the one hearing it, not how it fits others around us. When it compliments me, that is wonderful, and it reaffirms what we are doing. When it condemns us or points out what we are doing wrong, we need to listen, think, and change our attitudes and actions.
It does not do any good for me to make application to others because I cannot change them. I must look at the word of God and compare what I see to my life, my heart, my attitude, and then if it doesn’t fit, make changes so that it does. The value in Proverbs (and the rest of the Bible) is to help us become the kind of people that are pleasing to God in all we think, and say, and how we live.
O Lord God, my heavenly Father, please continue to mold me into your image until that final day when I will become like you in a new glorious immortal body, and then be in your presence forever. Thank you for making this possible in Jesus Christ, who redeemed me through his blood, by grace. Thank you for putting so many wonderful people in my life, both family and friends. Keep me from being selfish with what you have put in my care. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Robert
