Proclaiming God's Word To The Nations
 
 
Bible Daily Devotional from Proverbs
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Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:

Proverbs 12:20-22(KJV): 
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Thoughts for the Day:

These verses in the book of Proverbs clearly show us the pattern of deceit versus truth. Notice that the first half of verse 20 points out that in the heart of an evil man is deceit. Deceit is all too prevalent today in our society. Webster's Dictionary gives us the following definition of the word deceit: 1.The act of representing as true what is known to be false; a deceiving or lying 2. a dishonest action or trick; fraud or lie.  People who use deceit have a wicked heart and evil imaginings. There are many fraudulent schemes today that are robbing people of their money. The Bible says, “You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” (1 Corinthians 5:11). Swindlers take advantage of other people's weaknesses to make money for themselves. Greedy people are motivated by a desire for personal gain at others' expense. Covetousness is a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5). We should flee such unrighteousness.

“Those who do not work should not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The desire to make money without working for it is an unrighteous desire. People who use schemes to take advantage of others are using a form of deceit. God uses work to build and shape our character. He delights in providing for those who put His Kingdom and His Righteousness first. God's Kingdom is not promoted by unrighteousness. It is promoted through the loving sacrifice of those who are obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The last half of Proverbs 12:20 tells us that those who promote peace shall have joy.  The Lord tells us in verse 9 of the "Beatitudes" listed in Matthew 5, " Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."  We are blessed when we pursue peace and counsel others to walk in peace.

Verse 21 in Proverbs 12  tells us that ultimately no evil nor misfortune nor calamity shall come upon the righteous, while the wicked will be filled with evil, misfortune and calamity.  You may think this is not true, as perhaps, you or other Christians you know, have gone through some evil, misfortune or calamity in this world.  In this world, we may suffer some of the things that people who do not know the Lord suffer; however, the difference is that we go through them, but we are not destroyed by them. Our eternal state in Christ causes us to overcome all evil that the devil may try to bring our way. We are more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 16:33: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Isaiah 54:17a: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper..."

Romans 8:37-39: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The fate of the wicked is different, as their own wicked deeds bring them down. They are ultimately destroyed in this life and face hell in the life to come. The wicked are filled with mischief and deceit. Verse 22 says that the lying lips of the wicked are extremely disgusting  and hateful to the Lord, but those that deal truly are His delight. In fact, lying is in the list of the six things that God hates (Proverbs 6:17). Since God cannot lie and hates lying, we should guard against this sin too.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your love and goodness to me.  You have been very patient and merciful to me.  Lord, I need that same love and mercy towards others. Father, I ask You to remove all deceit from my heart and cleanse me so that I might have a pure heart before You.  Lord, deliver our nation of deceit and lying. Help us all to keep our word, when we give it to someone. Restore truth to our land.  We desire truth to abide in our homes and our businesses. Lord, I also ask that You give me faith and an overcoming spirit so that I will not walk in fear.  Help me to trust You, even when my circumstances cause me doubt at times. Deliver me from doubt and unbelief in every area of my life. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.