Daily Devotionals for July 3
Bible Devotionals: Select a Devotional, Month & Day, then Press Select.
Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living
Devotional Scripture:
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Proverbs 20:2-3 (AMP):
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger or angers himself against him sins against his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife and keep aloof from it, but every fool will be quarreling.
Thought for the Day
Verse 2 - By angering those in authority, we make things difficult for ourselves. The Bible tells us that we are to respect those in authority; whether presidents, governors, or policemen. Granted, not all who fill these offices are godly people; however, the Lord instructs us to be respectful of their position of authority. Daniel, who was deported to Babylon, served several pagan kings during his life. He did not refuse to serve them because they were unbelievers, but honored their authority. He was a witness of God to them by his life and work.
It is prudent to respect those in authority. However, like Daniel, we must choose to honor God above those in positions of human authority, if they desire us to do what dishonors the Lord (Acts 5:21). God is the King of all kings; it is more foolish to risk eternal death by rejecting salvation through Jesus Christ than to rouse the anger of human authorities who pressure us to deny Him. Not to honor (fear) God is indeed to sin against one's own soul. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
In the New Testament, John the Baptist was one who angered the queen (Mark 6:17-28). Perhaps his lack of wisdom in attacking her cost him his life. In spite of his plight, the Lord honored him, calling him a great man of God. We can be sure that even if we do unwise things, the Lord is pleased that we would speak up and serve Him in spite of the persecution that comes when we do. Notice in the scripture below, that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence. We are not to be cowardly when this happens, but should stand in the spirit of prayer, violently attacking the forces of darkness that are arrayed against us. "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:11-12). This does not mean we are to attack people, but rather we are to attack the spirits of darkness that are influencing the people who are bringing evil against us. The Lord gave us the authority to overcome these spirits through prayer and obedience to Him.
Verse 3 - The Bible admonishes us to honor God by avoiding anger and strife. Strife causes breaches in our relationships which can be difficult to mend. Prayer and love will do more to remedy a situation than quarreling. It is a man's honor to avoid strife, for this displays wisdom and strength of character. Any fool can take offense and argue with others. When others attack us, we should not contend with them. Our battle is not against people, but against the spirits of darkness that influence them to bring evil against us. The Lord has given us authority to overcome these spirits through prayer and obedience to Him. We should respond in the manner that God would have us to respond. In the Old Testament, when King David was attacked by enemies, it was recorded that he "inquired of the Lord." We must always inquire of the Lord as to how we are to fight our battles.
Prayer Devotional for the Day
Click Here to listen to the audio Book of Proverbs from the International English™ Bible.

Discuss the Devotional for July 3

Special Price: $19.95
Page Count: 408
Size: 8½" X 11"
Bound Paperback
Millions have read "God's Wisdom for Daily Living" by Betty Miller online. We have many testimonies of how it has changed their lives. It can change yours. You can now purchase this 365 Daily Devotional Bible Study Book in Paperback. This book is a yearly meditation based on the entire Book of Proverbs. This unique book is more than just a daily devotional; it is also a series of mini-teachings, helping you to both study and meditate on the Word of God. Proverbs reveals the Wisdom of God, and helps us know how to deal with the every-day problems that we all face. You can now have the entire book of God’s Wisdom for Daily Living by clicking here to order.