Daily Devotional for September 30

God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture

Proverbs 25:18 (KJV):
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

Proverbs 25:18 (AMP):
18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a heavy sledgehammer and a sword and a sharp arrow.

Thought for the Day

Today's proverb emphasizes how hurtful a false testimony can be. This form of lying under formal witness is forbidden in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16). A false witness damages you and your reputation or career. One can do as much damage to your intangible possessions by lying about you as he can do to your car with a sledgehammer. He also wounds your soul with a gash as real as a stab to the body. To hear a neighbor bear false witness, you feel just as much attacked as if he had come at you with a drawn sword. If you are not present when he speaks, its affect is like an arrow fired without your knowing. Suddenly, without warning, it strikes and injures you deeply.

We all know it is a crime to give false testimony in court, but we should be aware that in a sense we give a positive or negative "witness" every time we say something about a person. Repeating damaging rumors or negative gossip is akin to bearing false witness. People are always judging each other. When we talk about someone, it is like testifying in an informal, social courtroom. The informal judgments that society makes, whether that society is the populace of a large city, small town, or a circle of friends, can be just as damaging to someone as the formal judgments of a court of law. God will not hold us guiltless for this. David's cry to God regarding his enemies is very insightful: "My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword" (Psalm 57:4).

When the Holy Spirit comes in our heart, He begins to cleanse us from unrighteousness and remove those things in us that do not look like Jesus. Years ago, when I made a total commitment and surrender to God, the first thing He dealt within my life was the sin of gossip. He revealed that my critical words were bringing destruction to my life, as well as others. Scripture makes many references to the tongue. Because the power of life and death is in the tongue, we are to guard them very carefully. Our words will make or break us; give us victory or destroy us according to Proverbs 18:20-21: "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." When we lie or gossip, our negative words go out into the spiritual dimension to unleash destructive power. We must learn to speak what is good and pray for everyone, even our enemies, so that our words release blessing.

Prayer Devotional for the Day

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for forgiving me of all the things that I have said that have not agreed with Your Word. Father, please cancel all of the negative words that I have spoken against anyone. Lord, I truly want to use my tongue in a godly manner by speaking those things that will bless and edify others. Teach me how to pray correctly and may my lips now speak Your Word. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Click Here to listen to the audio Book of Proverbs from the International English™ Bible.

The fruit of the Spirit is temperance.

Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess: but be filled with the Spirit.

If any man will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Let us not sleep, as do others: but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober. Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world: looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27; Ephesians 5:18; Matthew 16:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; Titus 2:12-13;

Grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

They measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

The body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head from which all the body by joints and bands, having nourishment ministered and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:15; Mark 4:28; Ephesians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 10:17-18; Colossians 2:17-19; 2 Peter 3:18