A Great Understanding

Devotion for Thursday November 23, 2017

Topic: A Great Understanding

Text: Proverbs 14:29

The greatest gift to ask from God is discretion or wisdom. With wisdom, one can achieve so many things in life; it can make you rich, save you from danger; it gives you understanding, protects you against the enemies, guide you in path of righteousness, etc. There are principally two things we should note in this text.

1) Meekness is part of wisdom. Someone who is meek rightly understands and controls himself; his duties and interests, the infirmities of human nature, and the society. Someone who is patient is really to be counted as intelligent; one that learns of Christ in everything, who is Himself (Christ) wisdom.

2) Unbridled passion is proclamation of foolishness. He that has hasty of spirit, whose heart is tinder to every spark of provocation, always thinks to magnify himself and make those around stand in awe of him, whereas really he exalts his own folly. He makes his folly known to all through his foolish and hasty acts and words. Such person lacks understanding.

This exhortation of James in James 1:19 should be our yardstick for measuring one who is wise and truly a child of God. How wise are you? How do you control your anger? An understanding fellow shows wisdom and one who lacks wisdom acts foolishly.

Food for Thought: James 1:19 – 20

Memory verse: James 1:19

Prayer: God, grant me the grace to moderate what I see with my eyes and how I react to them.

Price Of Godliness (Self Exile)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday April 3, 2017

Topic: Price Of Godliness (Self Exile)

Text: I Samuel 27:1 – 7

Some commentators interpret David’s action as lack of faith but I don’t belong to such group. Staying in Israel at that time with the level of threat from Saul would have amounted to tempting God or committing suicide. It was God’s leading because it wouldn’t have worked. Again, David went to the greatest enemies of Israel at that time and was welcomed. They would have killed David, a man that killed their champion Goliath but that was not to be as they befriended him and gave him a choice place to stay (see Prov. 16:7).

He fled from Israel to preserve his life. Saul as the king of Israel had authority over all the land and would have gotten David. The sin of David was his desire to live a godly life or else when he had the opportunity, he would have killed Saul and all his problems would have ended but he left everything in God’s hand. The choice of Ziklag by David was a smart one. Apparently he had won a large degree of trust from Achish one of the co-rulers of the five cities of Philistine. Being out of the king’s eye would free him from the risks of exposure as a double-dealer, or of jealousy on the part of Achish, or of becoming a burden on the king’s hospitality.

Jesus Christ told His disciples to flee from cities where they are not welcomed (Lk 10:10 – 12). What Jesus suggested here was right use of wisdom and discretion in time of crisis and uncertainties. We should be wise enough to understand when to stay and when to flee when our lives are being threatened by the enemies.

Food for Thought: If David had stayed put in the land of Israel, do you think he would have escaped from Saul’s desire to kill him?

Memory verse: 1 Samuel 27 verse 2

Prayer: When persecution arises due to godly living, grant me the grace O Lord to know when to flee and when to stay in Jesus name. Amen

BE TRAINED IN THE WAYS OF WISDOM: Devotion for Tuesday May 24, 2016

BE TRAINED IN THE WAYS OF WISDOM: Devotion for Tuesday May 24, 2016

Text: Proverbs 1:1 – 6    Memory verse: v 3

This book of Proverbs according to Max Lucado is a book for weekdays (Monday – Saturday). It treats the importance of wisdom, piety towards God, instructions and moral discipline; understanding wise and prudent counsels. It states too that wisdom is to be shown in the conduct of our lives, which consist in righteousness with regard to other creatures. What we have in our text, is the essence of this book, Proverbs. Living Bible stated in verses 2 and 3 that Solomon wrote Proverbs “To teach his people how to live, how to act in every circumstance, for he wanted them to be understanding, just and fair in everything they did.” If people take heed to wisdom, according to Solomon's Proverbs, they will gain knowledge and discretion which are indispensable in our present age.

How can someone be trained in the ways of wisdom? This training comes from the fear of the Lord (1:7), sticking to moral instructions from parents and elderly ones in our neighbourhood. We can only fear the Lord when we know Him and His expectations from us. It takes a heart that has the fear of God to abstain from evil. This fear comes when we hide God’s words and commandments in our hearts (Ps 119:11). How much do you train yourself in the ways of wisdom by meditating on God’s word (Prov. 2:6)? This will grant us the needed wisdom to live righteously in our present age.      

Food for Thought: Proverbs 2:6 – 9

Prayer: Lord, train me in the ways of wisdom as I meditate daily on your word.