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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for September 2016
October 1, 2016
Proverbs 10:19 – In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Thought: There are times when we are in situations when are tempted to “speak our mind.” It could be in an argument with a spouse or child. It could be during a heated religious discussion. It could be when tensions rise in a business meeting. In those times, a person is wise to “bite his tongue.” When words pour forth from our lips, especially in anger, sin is usually mixed therein.
Proverbs 17:27-28
October 2, 2016
Proverbs 10:20 – The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
Thought: Human attributes can have values placed upon them. Some of them are very costly. Others are not worth very much, if anything at all. The tongue of a just, righteous man is of high value like pure silver. The heart of an evil man, on the other hand, is as worthless as dross. My friends, the qualities that define our lives make us valuable or worthless. May all of us seek to add value to our lives.
I Peter 3:1-4
October 3, 2016
Proverbs 10:21- The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Thought: The wise man’s life blesses others. He can lead them to pastures of righteousness. The fool, on the other hand, cannot even bring blessings to his own life. His lack of wisdom eventually brings death upon his own head. Most of have seen the fool’s death. It should cause us to desire to be wise.
Jeremiah 10:21
October 4, 2016
Proverbs 10:22 – The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Thought: God’s blessings always bring prosperity to a man’s life. They are intended to bring value to life. Note also that there are no sorrows attached to God’s bounty. The blessings of God are always positive. There are no negatives attached. Yes, God is the perfect giver of perfect gifts.
James 1:17
October 5, 2016
Proverbs 10:23 – It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Thought: The mind of man is the key to his behavior. A fool lacks understanding. He rejects wisdom. Thus, he spends his time pursuing mischief, that is, crime and wickedness. A man of understanding, on the other hand, refrains from evil and conducts himself wisely and in harmony with God’s will. Who will you be today?
Ephesians 5:15-18
October 6, 2016
Proverbs 10:24 – The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
Thought: Man, and, God’s children specifically, often forget who is truly in charge of this world. They forget that God is involved in the affairs of man. He is the one who blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked. Ultimately, good wins and evil loses. When this happens, the wicked will be gripped with fear and the righteous will have the things for which he has longed throughout life.
Psalm 37:4
October 7, 2016
Proverbs 10:25 – As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
Thought: The wicked come and go leaving nothing worthwhile behind them. Often, they leave destruction that others must clean up. The righteous, however, leave strong foundations behind them. Others can build things upon these foundations that will be of great benefit to others for years to come. What are you leaving behind? A trail of destruction? Or, an everlasting foundation?
Proverbs 37:10-11
October 8, 2016
Proverbs 10:26 – As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
Thought: There are some things in life that bring pain, but they are not deadly. They are a major source of irritation. Vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes are two examples. In addition, a sluggard who is hired as a messenger can be a mental irritant. Timeliness, efficiency, and excellence are not in the sluggard’s vocabulary. “If,” “when,” and “maybe” describe his work ethic. There are many sluggards in the work force, Please don’t be one!
Proverbs 25:13
October 9, 2016
Proverbs 10:27 – The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Thought: Our world is consumed with diets and exercise programs. Commercials and infomercials fill our television screens daily. All promise to improve health and give long life. Many purchase hundreds of dollars of these products every year. Sadly, some never learn one simple secret to long life. The secret is having a healthy respect for God. Those who possess this attribute will prolong their days.
Psalm 34:11-12
October 10, 2016
Proverbs 10:28 – The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Thought: Hope and expectation are synonymous. Both the righteous and the wicked have their hopes. The righteous will receive their desires and be filled with gladness. The wicked will not. Their end is perdition. All that they long for will not come to pass. Who would you rather be when expectations come to pass?
Psalm 73:24-26
October 11, 2016
Proverbs 10:29 – The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Thought: When God views the world, He sees only two groups of people: the upright and the workers of iniquity. The upright are those who follow the way that God has provided in His holy Word. The workers of iniquity are those who violate the commands of God. The upright are strengthened because of their steadfastness to God’s teachings. The workers of iniquity are heading for destruction. My friend, in which group do you find yourself?
Romans 2:8-9
October 12, 2016
Proverbs 10:30 – The righteous shall never be moved: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
Thought: To own a possession, especially land, was a valuable thing in the days of the inspired writer. To lose one’s possession was something no man desired. It meant the loss of riches, of security, and identity. The righteous have nothing to fear in this matter. They shall never be moved. The wicked, on the other hand, “shall not inhabit the earth.” In the end, they receive nothing and lose all.
Psalm 37:9-10
October 13, 2016
Proverbs 10:31 – The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the forward tongue shall be cut out.
Thought: The just are those who have been declared innocent by God in His court of law. They honor His law. They know His law. They desire for others to know it. When they speak, heavenly wisdom pours forth from their lips. The forward are those who speak perverse things, things that oppose the will of God. Their words are of no value. It is better for them to be silent. May God “cut out” the tongues of all those who oppose His ways.
Psalm 12:2-4
October 14, 2016
Proverbs 10:32 – The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh forwardness.
Thought: The righteous are those who walk in the ways of God. They know what is acceptable because they follow their loving Father. The wicked reject the teachings of God’s Word. The words they speak are contrary to the truth of God’s Word. Their teachings lead men astray. They bring corruption, immorality, and ultimately death. May each of us seek to be righteous and know what is truly acceptable.
Proverbs 18:6-8
October 15, 2016
Proverbs 11:1 – A false balance is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
Thought: In the days of Solomon, a person would go to the marketplace to buy goods. The things that were purchased were not pre-packaged as they are today. They were measured on scales at the time of purchase. If the vendor used false weights, his customers would be cheated. This was a common practice of that day. This lack of integrity was an abomination to God. What pleases Him is a just weight and an honest vendor. My friend, live honestly today and cheat no one.
Deuteronomy 25:13-16
October 16, 2016
Proverbs 11:2 – When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Thought: Pride rejects God and the wisdom of God. Pride relies on human knowledge and human opinions. Those who are lifted up with pride will ultimately be brought to shame. The lowly, on the other hand, rely upon the wisdom of God. This is true wisdom. It is the foundation of the lives of all who depend upon God. They will not depart from it.
Luke 18:9-14
October 17, 2016
Proverbs 11:3 – The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
Thought: Two kinds of people exist in the world: those who are upright and those who are transgressors. The upright possess integrity. The character of the transgressor is perverse. Those with good and honest hearts are guided safely throughout life by God. The transgressor refuses instruction and is forced to face ruin.
Isaiah 1:28
October 18, 2016
Proverbs 11:4 – Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Thought: As the old hymn says: “There’s a great day coming.” It is the Day of Judgment. All men of all nations will stand before God and give an account of their lives. On that day, riches will mean nothing. They will have perished in the destruction of the earth. The only thing that will matter on that day is whether one is righteous in the sight of God.
Proverbs 12:28
October 19, 2016
Proverbs 11:5 – The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Thought: Two paths exist in the world. One is righteous. The other is wicked. One is directed by God. The other is directed by the evil one. One is safe. The other is dangerous. One leads home. The other leads to hell. Our beliefs and actions determine the path that we are traveling. Which path are you on?
Psalm 1:6
October 20, 2016
Proverbs 11:6 – The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
Thought: Right living leads to rewards. A righteous life delivers one from evils both now and in eternity. Transgressors, on the other hand, have much to fear. Their behaviors are really a trap. One day, they will be taken in their own sinfulness. Haman and Judas are just two who come to mine.
Psalm 7:15-16
October 21, 2016
Proverbs 11:7 – When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perish.
Thought: Even wicked and unjust men have expectations about death and the hereafter. Some believe that God will save them regardless of their actions and their relationship with God here. Others believe that there is no hereafter. They think they will merely cease to exist at death. Whatever their expectations are, they end at death. What the wicked hopes to come to pass will not. In reality, they die without hope.
Job 8:13-14
October 22, 2016
Proverbs 11:8 – The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
Thought: There are times in life when justice is served immediately. The righteous who are oppressed are delivered by the hand of God. In turn, the wicked receive their just payment by God. Israel exited from Egypt and the Egyptians were destroyed. The Jews fought and saved their lives and Haman was hanged upon his own gallows. Peter was delivered from prison and Herod was eaten by worms.
Daniel 6:23-24
October 23, 2016
Proverbs 11:9 – A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Thought: The hypocrite is defined as one who is godless, profaned, and soiled. He may have a façade of good, but his heart is corrupt. His words do not lead to life. If his neighbor accepts his teachings, he will be destroyed. Fortunately, the neighbor possesses divine knowledge from God’s Word. Thus, he is delivered from the destructive words of the hypocrite. Yes, the knowledge of truth can set one free in many ways.
John 8:32
October 24, 2016
Proverbs 11:10 – When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
Thought: In civilizations, there are two things that cause citizens to rejoice. The first is when things go well with the righteous. The city flourishes with good people who are living by Biblical principles. The second thing that brings joy is when the wicked perish. The wicked are taskmasters to the righteous. They defame, punish, and shackle the righteous. When the wicked are removed from power, there is great jubilation by the inhabitants of the city.
Psalm 58:10-11
October 25, 2016
Proverbs 11:11 – By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Thought: When a city contains upright citizens and upright leaders, it is blessed. On the other hand, a city that has wicked rulers and citizens will ultimately be overthrown. The mouths of the wicked are corrupt. They lie. They make false promises. They involve themselves in contracts they never intend to fulfill. Their lips are full of poison. Their words come back to haunt them. The result is the destruction of the city.
Genesis 41:38-42
October 26, 2016
Proverbs 11:12 – He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Thought: Some love to judge and be critical of others. They delight in despising others. Even the smallest character flaws of their neighbor they will expose. “…an intelligent man, on the contrary, keeps silent, keeps his judgment to himself, abstains from arrogant criticisms, for he knows that he is not infallible, that he is not acquainted with the heart, and he possesses too much self-knowledge to raise himself above his neighbour as a judge…” (e-sword, Keil & Delitzsch).
Nehemiah 4:1-4
October 27, 2016
Proverbs 11:13 – A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Thought: One of the most important components of a relationship involves confidentiality. Friends and associates often share very private, intimate things about themselves. The last thing one desires is for that information to be spread abroad to others. Sadly, some love to reveal secrets. They are called talebearers and gossips. What is sadder is that talebearers have friends who love to collect information from their gossiping friend. Both the giver and the receiver of tales are dangerous. Pray that you have friends who are of a faithful spirit.
Leviticus 19:16
October 28, 2016
Proverbs 11:14 – Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Thought: We all need direction. If counsel is not sought, there is the danger of ruin. The best course is to consult many counsellors. There is an old saying that states: “Two heads are better than one.” Wisdom is found the advice of many. They help in leaving no stone unturned in one’s decision-making. When the choice is made, it will be the right one.
Acts 15:1-6
October 29, 2016
Proverbs 11:15 – He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hath suretyship is sure.
Thought: There are usually two sides to every coin. This is the case when it comes to the matter of surety. If a person is a co-signer for another’s debt, he could get the raw end of the deal. He might have to make the payments if the other person fails to pay. On the other side of the coin, the one who has a co-signer has security. If he reneges on his responsibility, another is there to pull his slack. This is definitely a warning to all who will be a surety for another.
Proverbs 22:26
October 30, 2016
Proverbs 11:16 – A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
Thought: Every human being has the ability to possess good qualities. Those who acquire positive attributes will be rewarded. Here, we learn about a positive quality for a woman and a positive quality for a man. The word “gracious” is defined as “kind, pleasant, charm, eloquence.” Women who have grace retain honor. Strength can refer to physical strength and moral stamina. Strong men will be rewarded with riches. My friend, add all the positives to your life you can.
II Peter 1:5-11
October 31, 2016
Proverbs 11:17 – The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
Thought: When the Bible speaks of extending mercy, it usually refers to assisting and helping those who are in need. It involves serving other people. Those who practice mercy bring good to themselves. One of the good things involves one’s conscience. His conscience approves. It says: “You were kind and did a good act.” The cruel man, that is, the one who harms others, troubles his own flesh. He may find that when he needs mercy, no one is there to give it.
Psalm 41:1-3
Read devotionals for November 2016