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OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for November 2017
December 1, 2017
Proverbs 24:22 – For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
Thought: When men oppose authority and desire change, dark clouds arise quickly on the horizon. Trouble is brewing. These individuals soon find that their rebellion is not pleasing to God. Calamity come upon the leaders of the change and upon those who follow their rebellion. Their ultimate end is ruin. Lord, help us remember your admonition: “…meddle not with them that are given to change.”
Numbers 16:31-33
December 2, 2017
Proverbs 24:23 – These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Thought: The Bible teaches that there is a wise and a foolish way to live. One lives wisely by living by the teachings of the all-wise God. One of the ways of wisdom is to not have respect of persons in judgment. To do so, perverts the entire justice system and destroys the law. “Justice,” if can be called that, is based upon friendships, money, and power. Those who operate in this manner may find that one day the tables are turned upon them when they are no longer a favorite of the ones in charge.
I Timothy 5:20-21
December 3, 2017
Proverbs 24:24 – He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him.
Thought: Wickedness needs to be called wickedness. It does not need to be paraded as righteousness. Some believe that people are ignorant. They believe they can be easily deceived. Such, however, is not true of everyone. Some are able to discern evil regardless of what it is called. When one calls evil good, the people will curse that person. Righteous nations will abhor him. Dressing a harlot in the attire of a princess does not change her occupation.
Ezekiel 13:22
December 4, 2017
Proverb 24:25 – But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Thought: When men commit evil actions, they need to be held accountable. It often takes courage to call out the wicked. Those who manifest such courage are righteous. They uphold the principles of justice. These are the kind of people who are sought out by others. They are the ones who are known in the gates. They often reach positions of much power. Yes, good blessings come upon them because they are individuals of truth and justice.
Titus 2:15
December 5, 2017
Proverbs 24:26 – Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
Thought: Often it is very difficult to get a right answer from another person. People have a tendency to dodge and reflect when it comes time to give an answer. When a person is both honest and forthright, he is a blessing. His words are right. His words can be trusted. This man is held in high esteem by others. The hearts of others go out to him. His answers may not always be pleasant, but they are always right. Thus, “every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.”
Daniel 2:46-48
December 6, 2017
Proverbs 24:27 – Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Thought: In life, the things that we do have a natural, common sense order to them. Man, however, tends to get the cart before the horse. He tends to do things in the wrong order. When this happens, confusion ensues. Too, problems develop. Before building a home, a man must be able to provide for that home. He needs to make sure that his fields are profitable. A home, a wife, and children carry some heavy expenses. Plan wisely. Execute the plan when it can be carried out. This saves a person from much hardship and from many headaches.
Luke 14:28-30
December 7, 2017
Proverbs 24:28 – Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Thought: Some people like to meddle in things in which they should not. For some reason they are curious. They want to be involved in “the mess” of others. There are times when we need to keep to ourselves and mind our own business. If there is no ground for us to be part of another’s affairs, we should keep out. We certainly do not want to be involved and give false information about another.
I Samuel 22:9-10
December 8, 2017
Proverbs 24:29 – Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Thought: Here we find what some consider to be a New Testament principle in the Old Testament. This passage teaches against getting revenge against another who has done us evil. Revenge seems like such a common sense approach. A person hurts me. Therefore, I should hurt him back. Revenge, however, springs from a heart of hatred. It produces evil instead of good. Many times it is out of proportion to the evil that created it. It is better to allow God to handle revenge. We need to give ourselves to doing good at all times.
Romans 12:19-21
December 9, 2017
Proverbs 24:30 – I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
Thought: None of us live our lives in a vacuum. We do not live on an island by ourselves. We intermingle with others in the world, and others are watching us. They make judgments about us based upon the things they see and hear. Even our residence tells others a lot about us. We need to ask ourselves: “What do I want others to know about me?” Look at your house and yard. When others see it, what do they think about you? Dear reader, these things say a lot and usually tell the truth.
Job 15:17
December 10, 2017
Proverbs 24:31 – And lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Thought: The evidence of a man’s being slothful is plainly seen. He refuses to exert the amount of effort needed to keep his possessions clean and orderly. He allows what he has to deteriorate, to fall apart, and to become useless. All who see it know why. He is lazy. He is slothful. They pity him and are angry with him at the same time. They know that just a little effort could make things better. The indolent, however, just does not care.
Ecclesiastes 10:18
December 11, 2017
Proverbs 24:32 – Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Thought: All of us can learn very important lessons from others. We can learn lessons from both the good and the bad. Here, the writer tells us that he looked upon the field of a slothful man and received instruction. The lessons are there. All we have to do is look for them. If we learn the lessons, we will be benefited. If we fail to learn the lessons, we may suffer the consequences of our neglect.
I Corinthians 10:6-11
December 12, 2017
Proverbs 24:33 – Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.
Thought: Everyone enjoys rest. In fact, rest is an essential to living a healthy life. Too much rest, however, can be detrimental. Too much rest makes a person lazy. Their laziness becomes a lifestyle. The bed, the couch, the recliner, and the outdoor chair are used too much. Their lives are filled with inactivity. Their talents and potential go to waste. There is no production. When they are encouraged by others to move, they will say: “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.
Proverbs 6:4-5
December 13, 2017
Proverbs 24:34 – So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Thought: All behavior has consequences. Here, we learn about the consequences of a person’s being lazy and slothful. He eventually finds himself in poverty and in want. It is not due to circumstances beyond his control. It is because of the choices he made. He was too lazy to work and toil. He loved his sleep. He made excuses for not working. Now, his inactivity has caught up with him. He is truly reaping what he sowed.
Proverbs 13:4
December 14, 2017
Proverbs 25:1 – These are also the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Thought: God through Solomon recorded many wise sayings, proverbs. We thank God who inspired this wise king to put his wisdom in writing. We are also grateful that God preserved his Word through the years. His Word has been tediously copied and accurately translated into many languages. We give sincere thanks that we have the divine message to guide us through this dark world. We are grateful for people like the men of Hezekiah who copied God’s Word and passed it on to others.
Ecclesiastes 12:9
December 15, 2017
Proverbs 25:2 – It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Thought: Some have confined the application of this verse to the Word of God. God has concealed deep, important truths in His Word. This fact brings God much glory. Kings, on the other hand, are supposed to search out the truths found in God’s Word and make application of them to their lives and in their reigns. Those who do this will find honor, especially from God. The application might also be made to this natural world. God has hidden many things within it. It is man’s honor to search those things out.
Deuteronomy 29:29
December 16, 2017
Proverbs 25:3 – The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of the king are unsearchable.
Thought: There are some things that are unsearchable. They can never, never be fathomed by man. Man will never discover the far reaches of space. Man will never accumulate all the knowledge that is contained in the depths of the earth. Too, man will never be able to search out the hearts of other men. God, however, knows all of these things. It is one of the many things that distinguish Him from His creation.
Job 38:1-3
December 17, 2017
Proverbs 25:4 – Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Thought: Silver will tarnish over time. Its shine will be diminished because of the dross that covers it. To bring back its luster requires time, effort, and a cleaner. The one who polishes it may have to rub extremely hard to make it shine again. Once it is clean, all comment about its luster and glow. The same can happen with human lives. They become dark and dingy. Time, effort, and a powerful cleaner can bring back the shine, however. Some of the brightest lives were covered with much dross in the past. The blood of Christ removed the stains and now the person is light in the Lord.
Isaiah 1:25
December 18, 2017
Proverbs 25:5 – Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Thought: When a king begins to reign, he needs to consider the state of his cabinet and advisors. All who are wicked need to be removed. If just one wicked person remains, he can hinder the king’s desire to reign in righteousness. The influence of evil cannot be underestimated. The inspired writer was right when he said: “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” May God help all rulers to purge out the old leaven in their administrations.
Psalm 101:7-8
December 19, 2017
Proverbs 25:6 – Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men.
Thought: We must be very careful how we present ourselves to others. We should not have the desire to be put first and foremost. We should not seek to be elevated to the high places. We should not long for the chief seats. Regardless of our titles, our knowledge, and ability, there should be humility deep within us. If we receive honor, let it come from another and not ourselves.
Luke 14:8-10
December 20, 2017
Proverbs 25:7 – For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
Thought: The humble do not seek to glorify themselves. If honor comes, it comes from another. It is almost humorous to watch an individual lift himself up only to be put back in his place by a superior. In the story of Esther, Haman was a man who thought far too highly of himself. When he thought he was going to be honored, he soon found that the honor was going to his enemy. Few truly deserve the chief seats. Remember, if you find yourself in one, you are there by the grace of God.
Matthew 23:5-6
December 21, 2017
Proverbs 25:8 – Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
Thought: Some people seem to love a “good fight.” They do not mind entering into contention with others over the smallest matters. Seldom do they think about the outcomes of their actions. There are times when their actions turn upon them. Their hope for victory ends in defeat. When their shame has come upon them, it is too late. May all of us learn to “go not forth hastily to strive.”
Esther 7:3-6
December 22, 2017
Proverbs 25:9 – Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another.
Thought: When we are in conflict with another, it is best to keep the matter confidential. The issues should be debated only between the two parties that are in disagreement. In such matters, we often believe that we are right. We sometimes feel that others should know. There is danger is revealing a personal debate to others. When others hear of the matter, they may not see it as we do. Then, we wish we would have keep the matter private, but it is too late.
Matthew 18:15
December 23, 2017
Proverbs 25:10 – Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Thought: When we are in conflict with another person, we sometimes like to try to justify ourselves to others. At first our story seems plausible to them. They feel for us. They show us sympathy. They comfort us. They will encourage us to keep fighting. Then, they learn the other side. The real truth comes to the surface. They are no longer in our corner. We are shamed because the facts do not justify us. My friends, it is better to keep personal struggles between yourself and the other person.
Jeremiah 50:36
December 24, 2017
Proverbs 25:11 – A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Thought: Kings were often brought very expensive gifts made of expensive materials. To see them brought pleasure to one’s eyes. Solomon may have had one of these in mind when he wrote this verse. It could have been a picture of golden apples set in a frame of silver. It could have been apples of gold set upon a tray of silver. Solomon knew, however, that some behaviors of man are just as precious as such a gift. One of these is a word fitly spoken. Words expressed at the right time with the right temperament to the right person are valuable indeed. My friend, speak golden words today.
Isaiah 50:4
December 25, 2017
Proverbs 25:12 – As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Thought: There are things that people wear that accent their looks. Earrings and necklaces are two accessories that compliment a person’s appearance. In like manner, there are non-tangible things that a person can wear that looks good as well. One of these is “a wise reprove upon an obedient ear.” Not everyone receives a rebuke very well. Those who will listen change the course of their lives. They humble themselves to the words of another. They honestly investigate their life. They make positive changes. They become a better person. They are complimented by a wise reprove.
I Samuel 25:32-33
December 26, 2017
Proverbs 25:13 – As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Thought: Those who lived in Palestine developed unique ways to preserve the snow for later use. When the harvest time came, work was strenuous and difficult. The snow was used to make their drinks ice cold. Thus, they would be refreshed by them. In like manner, a faithful messenger was refreshing to his master. He would be sent upon a mission and would faithfully return and report his findings to his lord. His words would refresh their souls, especially when the message was positive.
Philippians 4:18
December 27, 2017
Proverbs 25:14 – Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
Thought: In the summer, we often wish for rain. When a black cloud forms in the sky, we are very hopeful. Then, the cloud passes without a sprinkle. Those who wished for rain are extremely disappointed. The same happens when a person boasts of a gift or talent that he does not have. He is hired for a job, but does not produce. Those who put their trust in him are deeply disappointed.
Romans 12:3
December 28, 2017
Proverbs 25:15 – By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Thought: In this verse we learn two secrets of negotiation. The first involves patience. A saying of old states: “Patience breaks iron.” Patience is much better than being pushy and demanding. The second secret of negotiation is to have a soft tongue. Gentleness and kindness break bones which are exceedingly strong. They can enter a hard heart and work wonders. When a person does not immediately get what he desires, these qualities are hard to manifest, but those who use them will often get the desires of their heart.
I Thessalonians 2:11-12
December 29, 2017
Proverbs 25:16 – Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Thought: The Bible teaches the concept of moderation. Note, this does not apply to sinful activities such as drinking alcohol. When a person eats, he should eat until he is satisfied. Over indulgence makes a person sick. The same is true in other things we do. We can work too much. We can over indulge in watching television and playing video games. We can spend too much time watching sports, playing sports, and shopping. Too much of any good thing will have negative consequences.
Luke 21:34
December 30, 2017
Proverbs 25:17 – Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
Thought: An important element of any friendship is proper boundaries. Too much distance and too much closeness can cause problems. Here, the writer warns us of becoming too close. We can spend far too much time with another. We can “wear our welcome out.” Instead of being glad to see us, the friend hates seeing us. We intrude on his time and his privacy too much. Be aware of your neighbor’s face and voice tones when you visit. They will indicate if you are causing him to “be weary of thee.”
Genesis 19:1-3
December 31, 2017
Proverbs 25:18 – A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Thought: The objects mentioned by the wise man can inflict great bodily harm to another. They can also be instruments of death. The false witness is likened unto them. A false witness can bring great harm to another person. He can destroy his character, cause him to be charged with guilt when he is innocent, and bring death to the one witnessed against. A false witness is a very evil individual.
Psalm 55:21
Read devotionals for January 2018