Daily Devotional for August 1
God's Wisdom for Daily Living
Devotional Scripture
Proverbs 21:28-29 (KJV):28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
Proverbs 21:28-29 (AMP):
28 A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears attentively will endure andgo unchallenged.
29 A wicked man puts on the bold, unfeeling face (of guilt), but as for the upright, he considers, directs, and establishes his way (with the confidence of integrity).
Thought for the Day
Verse 28 - A man that listens to the wisdom of God attentively will endure, since God's Word is the final authority. False witnesses lie under oath and are punished when found out. A man who listens attentively to God's Word understands and obeys it and will not lie. An honest man respects others enough to pay attention to what they say and so can accurately relate what he hears. His testimony is dependable and stands up in court.
Since the book of Proverbs is about wisdom, one of the main things it stresses is to give thought to what we speak and what we listen to. Most of us have probably seen the portrayal of three monkeys, each with its hands over a different part of its head. One has his hands over his ears, another covers his eyes, while the last one covers his mouth. The caption beneath the picture says, "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, and Speak No Evil." This little analogy is actually proclaiming Biblical advice. If we practiced this admonishment, it would keep us out of a lot of trouble. Honesty is a virtue that we all should walk in. "Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have" (Luke 8:18).
Verse 29 - The wicked man has hardened himself against his conscience and trained himself to remain expressionless when doing evil. His frozen face betrays no twinge of guilt. A righteous man, on the other hand, directs his way by heeding God's Word. He has nothing to hide and his face reflects that. Years ago, I heard an interview with an old-time political figure. The reporter commented on his good memory and asked him how he was able to remember the promises he had made, and to whom he had made them, without contradicting himself concerning what he had told different people. He replied, "That's easy! When you tell the truth, you never have to remember any lies you told, that would require additional lies to cover them." Walking in truth, and maintaining integrity, should be the goal of every Christian.
Prayer Devotional for the Day
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving us Your Word in the Bible. Help me to read and study it more. Lord, I not only want to hear what You have to say, but I also want to do the things You have instructed us to do in the Word of God. Give me Your grace to be obedient to the Word. Lord, I also ask You to help me not to listen to things that I should not hear. Lord, give me grace to turn my eyes away from those things that hinder my growth in You. I know if I see and listen to Your Words, then I will be able to speak the things I need to say. I ask this is the name of Jesus. Amen.By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Without faith it is impossible to please him. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Faith worketh by love. Faith without works is dead.
We walk by faith, not by sight. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:6; John 3:18; Mark 9:24; 1 John 2:5; Galatians 5:6; James 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 1:8-9
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He will ever be mindful of his covenant.
He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. The same yesterday, and today, and forever.
The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Fear ye not therefore.
James 5:11; Psalm 103:13; Psalm 111:4-5; Psalm 121:3-4; Deuteronomy 32:11-12; Lamentations 3:22-23; Matthew 14:14; Hebrews 13:8; Matthew 10:29-30
