February 9-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:16-17, A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. 17 Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
Observe what it is saying.
In a culture that elevated men and diminished women, this tells the remarkable truth that kindhearted women outshine unkind men all day long. Honor comes to those who are kind. The ruthless may gain wealth in their evil dealings but that is all they gain. As it is worded, wealth is not the highest virtue or reward that is given. They gain only wealth. Nothing more. Nothing better. But those who are kind gain what is most important. They receive honor from others. They are held in highest esteem. They are viewed as the most emotionally intelligent. That is why when kindness is extended to others, it always benefits the one who offers it. Blessings come to those who have the heart of God and do the acts of God. Have you ever said, “I was blessed more in the doing and giving of the gracious act than those who received my kindness?” This is the law of God’s kingdom. So is the fact, that those who are cruel to others will eventually find judgment coming down on them. Let’s choose the better way of kindness.
Relate it to your life.
When I choose kindness, the world will be better off and so will I.
Do something.
Father, by the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit within me, make Your kindness shine through me at all times and in all places to be a light of Your love to all I interact with today. Amen.
February 10-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:18-21, A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. 19 Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death. 20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. 21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon likes to compare and contrast the righteous and the wicked. The wicked are the unredeemed. They do not have an abiding relationship with Jesus. The righteous have been redeemed and are being transformed into a new creation by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work within them. The wicked may earn an illicit paycheck but the one who goes about life sowing what is right and good will receive the biggest payday of all. The fruit of our hearts reveal if we want the Lord to delight in us or to detest us. There will be a judgment day when the wicked will be punished but those who are righteous will be set free from all punishment. It is rather simple that the two choices of living ultimately end either in death or life. So it really does not make any sense that anyone would want to go the way of unrighteousness which leads to a death sentence both in this life and the life to come. Instead, if we really want to live abundantly, both now and for all eternity, why would we not choose to walk daily in God’s holy love and be a blessing to all we meet?
Relate it to your life.
There are only two options to choose to experience the quality of life I can live now and for all eternity.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, You alone make me righteous by Your great gift on the cross. I choose You. I choose the way of life and blessing. I choose to pick up my cross and follow after You each and every day as the Lord of my life. May there be no doubt that I belong to You and fully engage in Your kingdom priorities. Amen.
February 11-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:22-23, Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon had a creative imagination as he conveyed this instruction. Of course, pigs were considered unclean and off limits to Jews for meat so that made this animal all the more detestable to them. Therefore, to attach a gold ring to their snout would be ridiculous looking. In the same way is an attractive woman who does not demonstrate good judgment in her decision-making. The beauty of her appearance does not match the ugliness of her character. In fact, her lack of good character darkens her physical beauty. The most attractive people are those who exhibit Godliness by living His holy loving way. Such people desire the righteousness of God to be their righteousness. Their desires lead to good outcomes because they are fueled by God’s pure word. In contrast, those who choose to go against God, their hope can only end in judgment. Whether we choose the way that is right and good or evil and dark will determine the eternal outcomes of our lives.
Relate it to your life.
By God’s grace in Jesus Christ, we have a tremendous future if we choose His way for our lives.
Do something.
Lord, I want the true beauty that comes from a well-lived life in You. I ask that You transform me into Your likeness so that I can be an attractive witness for You. Amen.
February 12-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:24-26, One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 26 People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
Observe what it is saying.
These verses are called divine mathematics. Human math says 2 + 1 = 3. Divine math says 2 - 1 = 3. When we give generously, we receive more than we give. If we excessively hoard stuff for ourselves, then we end up losing more. This does not make logical sense, yet, it is the way God counts. Remember when the boy gave up his lunch to feed the crowd? Andrew said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Andrew was using human math. The boy gave all he had to Jesus, and Jesus took it, blessed it, and then the miracle of multiplication occurred so that 5,000 men plus women and children were fed with 12 baskets of leftovers. The most generous people recorded in the gospels are this boy and the widow who put in the two small coins, all she had, in the Temple offering plate. We are still talking about them today! They were willing to refresh others through their extravagant giving. We can only imagine how much God’s blessings came into their lives as a result of their willingness to do so. It is much safer to use human math, but it is more exciting and rewarding to use divine math. Which math are we using in our giving?
Relate it to your life.
I will not experience the full blessings of God until I start applying divine mathematics into my living and giving.
Do something.
Lord, give me such faith to live by heaven’s math so that I can refresh others and bring glory to You. Remind me often of Your generosity to me so that I will not be stingy or be a hoarder of all You have given to me. I choose to freely offer back an offering that pleases You and is a blessing to others. Amen.
February 13-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:27-29, Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. 28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. 29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon says it over and over, there is tremendous benefit in doing what is right and good. From living this way, come favor and blessing. However, those who go after evil will find it, and it will destroy them. Even if we believe God’s blessings have come in the form of wealth, it is not an invitation for us to trust in such materialism. Such a decision leads to a false sense of security where we will find ourselves falling without a safety net. Paul wrote to Timothy to reveal what this fall entails, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Instead, we are to focus on being the righteous people of the Lord who thrive in every possible way. Their faith is in the Lord’s salvation. They trust the Lord to sustain them day by day. They do not hold on to wealth as though it is theirs to keep. Once again Paul says it this way, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) Such right living includes caring for our families. The righteous life must be first known and experienced in the family. If we do not do good to those closest to us, then we have revealed that we do not have an authentic righteousness.
Relate it to your life.
My kind of righteousness will be seen in how I view and handle money and my family.
Do something.
Oh Lord, may my faith in Jesus Christ lead to authentic transformation where Your righteousness is found throughout my life in all my relationships and in the handling of Your gifts to me. Amen.
February 14-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:30-31, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. 31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Observe what it is saying.
Life is what God is and does. God created it, sustains it, and one day will redeem and make it brand new. Jesus is life. He offers abundant life. Authentic believers have the hope and promise of eternal life. So, it is no surprise that the wise promote life and do not take it away. In our fallen world, we find the unredeemed often choose death through abortion, assisted suicide, and unjust war. We were never meant to play God. As Christ’s righteous followers, we work as life-savers. We are God’s first responders to a world who is hurting and dying. We have the cure that will bring healing and wholeness. We cannot keep it to ourselves. Imagine if first responders refused to go to the emergency to which they have been called, for that which they trained and were sworn to serve, they would be fired and charged with derelict of duty. We must see ourselves as God’s first responders, as disciple-makers of Jesus Christ who have been sworn-in to go to the alarm of those who are perishing and offer the life-saving message of the gospel. Every believer is called to save lives from death and danger. Putting our life on the line is the most loving thing we can do for one another. We cannot abdicate our responsibility for verse 31 makes it clear that the Day of just rewards is coming for the righteous and the unrighteous.
Relate it to your life.
I must view myself as serving on God’s first-responder department, ready to be used to save lives in a moment’s notice, through the witness of my life and lips.
Do something.
Lord, help me to be prepared to courageously share the reason of the hope that I have in You. Amen.
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:16-17, A kindhearted woman gains honor, but ruthless men gain only wealth. 17 Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
Observe what it is saying.
In a culture that elevated men and diminished women, this tells the remarkable truth that kindhearted women outshine unkind men all day long. Honor comes to those who are kind. The ruthless may gain wealth in their evil dealings but that is all they gain. As it is worded, wealth is not the highest virtue or reward that is given. They gain only wealth. Nothing more. Nothing better. But those who are kind gain what is most important. They receive honor from others. They are held in highest esteem. They are viewed as the most emotionally intelligent. That is why when kindness is extended to others, it always benefits the one who offers it. Blessings come to those who have the heart of God and do the acts of God. Have you ever said, “I was blessed more in the doing and giving of the gracious act than those who received my kindness?” This is the law of God’s kingdom. So is the fact, that those who are cruel to others will eventually find judgment coming down on them. Let’s choose the better way of kindness.
Relate it to your life.
When I choose kindness, the world will be better off and so will I.
Do something.
Father, by the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit within me, make Your kindness shine through me at all times and in all places to be a light of Your love to all I interact with today. Amen.
February 10-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:18-21, A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. 19 Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death. 20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. 21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon likes to compare and contrast the righteous and the wicked. The wicked are the unredeemed. They do not have an abiding relationship with Jesus. The righteous have been redeemed and are being transformed into a new creation by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work within them. The wicked may earn an illicit paycheck but the one who goes about life sowing what is right and good will receive the biggest payday of all. The fruit of our hearts reveal if we want the Lord to delight in us or to detest us. There will be a judgment day when the wicked will be punished but those who are righteous will be set free from all punishment. It is rather simple that the two choices of living ultimately end either in death or life. So it really does not make any sense that anyone would want to go the way of unrighteousness which leads to a death sentence both in this life and the life to come. Instead, if we really want to live abundantly, both now and for all eternity, why would we not choose to walk daily in God’s holy love and be a blessing to all we meet?
Relate it to your life.
There are only two options to choose to experience the quality of life I can live now and for all eternity.
Do something.
Lord Jesus, You alone make me righteous by Your great gift on the cross. I choose You. I choose the way of life and blessing. I choose to pick up my cross and follow after You each and every day as the Lord of my life. May there be no doubt that I belong to You and fully engage in Your kingdom priorities. Amen.
February 11-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:22-23, Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon had a creative imagination as he conveyed this instruction. Of course, pigs were considered unclean and off limits to Jews for meat so that made this animal all the more detestable to them. Therefore, to attach a gold ring to their snout would be ridiculous looking. In the same way is an attractive woman who does not demonstrate good judgment in her decision-making. The beauty of her appearance does not match the ugliness of her character. In fact, her lack of good character darkens her physical beauty. The most attractive people are those who exhibit Godliness by living His holy loving way. Such people desire the righteousness of God to be their righteousness. Their desires lead to good outcomes because they are fueled by God’s pure word. In contrast, those who choose to go against God, their hope can only end in judgment. Whether we choose the way that is right and good or evil and dark will determine the eternal outcomes of our lives.
Relate it to your life.
By God’s grace in Jesus Christ, we have a tremendous future if we choose His way for our lives.
Do something.
Lord, I want the true beauty that comes from a well-lived life in You. I ask that You transform me into Your likeness so that I can be an attractive witness for You. Amen.
February 12-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:24-26, One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 26 People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
Observe what it is saying.
These verses are called divine mathematics. Human math says 2 + 1 = 3. Divine math says 2 - 1 = 3. When we give generously, we receive more than we give. If we excessively hoard stuff for ourselves, then we end up losing more. This does not make logical sense, yet, it is the way God counts. Remember when the boy gave up his lunch to feed the crowd? Andrew said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Andrew was using human math. The boy gave all he had to Jesus, and Jesus took it, blessed it, and then the miracle of multiplication occurred so that 5,000 men plus women and children were fed with 12 baskets of leftovers. The most generous people recorded in the gospels are this boy and the widow who put in the two small coins, all she had, in the Temple offering plate. We are still talking about them today! They were willing to refresh others through their extravagant giving. We can only imagine how much God’s blessings came into their lives as a result of their willingness to do so. It is much safer to use human math, but it is more exciting and rewarding to use divine math. Which math are we using in our giving?
Relate it to your life.
I will not experience the full blessings of God until I start applying divine mathematics into my living and giving.
Do something.
Lord, give me such faith to live by heaven’s math so that I can refresh others and bring glory to You. Remind me often of Your generosity to me so that I will not be stingy or be a hoarder of all You have given to me. I choose to freely offer back an offering that pleases You and is a blessing to others. Amen.
February 13-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:27-29, Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. 28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. 29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.
Observe what it is saying.
Solomon says it over and over, there is tremendous benefit in doing what is right and good. From living this way, come favor and blessing. However, those who go after evil will find it, and it will destroy them. Even if we believe God’s blessings have come in the form of wealth, it is not an invitation for us to trust in such materialism. Such a decision leads to a false sense of security where we will find ourselves falling without a safety net. Paul wrote to Timothy to reveal what this fall entails, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Instead, we are to focus on being the righteous people of the Lord who thrive in every possible way. Their faith is in the Lord’s salvation. They trust the Lord to sustain them day by day. They do not hold on to wealth as though it is theirs to keep. Once again Paul says it this way, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) Such right living includes caring for our families. The righteous life must be first known and experienced in the family. If we do not do good to those closest to us, then we have revealed that we do not have an authentic righteousness.
Relate it to your life.
My kind of righteousness will be seen in how I view and handle money and my family.
Do something.
Oh Lord, may my faith in Jesus Christ lead to authentic transformation where Your righteousness is found throughout my life in all my relationships and in the handling of Your gifts to me. Amen.
February 14-Wisdom
Write out the Scripture.
Proverbs 11:30-31, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. 31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Observe what it is saying.
Life is what God is and does. God created it, sustains it, and one day will redeem and make it brand new. Jesus is life. He offers abundant life. Authentic believers have the hope and promise of eternal life. So, it is no surprise that the wise promote life and do not take it away. In our fallen world, we find the unredeemed often choose death through abortion, assisted suicide, and unjust war. We were never meant to play God. As Christ’s righteous followers, we work as life-savers. We are God’s first responders to a world who is hurting and dying. We have the cure that will bring healing and wholeness. We cannot keep it to ourselves. Imagine if first responders refused to go to the emergency to which they have been called, for that which they trained and were sworn to serve, they would be fired and charged with derelict of duty. We must see ourselves as God’s first responders, as disciple-makers of Jesus Christ who have been sworn-in to go to the alarm of those who are perishing and offer the life-saving message of the gospel. Every believer is called to save lives from death and danger. Putting our life on the line is the most loving thing we can do for one another. We cannot abdicate our responsibility for verse 31 makes it clear that the Day of just rewards is coming for the righteous and the unrighteous.
Relate it to your life.
I must view myself as serving on God’s first-responder department, ready to be used to save lives in a moment’s notice, through the witness of my life and lips.
Do something.
Lord, help me to be prepared to courageously share the reason of the hope that I have in You. Amen.
Posted in Daily Devotionals