Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Proverbs 29
Set – Proverbs 29; Romans 16
Go! – Proverbs 28-29; Psalms 60; Romans 16
Proverbs 29
1 The one who remains defiant after repeated reprimands
will suddenly be shattered, and there will be no remedy for him.
2 When just leaders are in power, the citizens celebrate;
but when evil people gain control, their joys become moans.
3 An adult who loves wisdom and follows its ways gives his parents joy,
but one who hangs out with women of the street will lose everything.
4 A king brings stability to a land with his justice,
but one who makes unjust demands brings it to ruin.
5 The one who flatters his friend
is laying a trap that will catch his friend’s feet.
6 An evil person is sure to be trapped by his sin,
but a man who lives right is free to sing and be glad.
7 The just get involved with the poor and know their issues,
but the wicked cannot comprehend such concerns.
8 Mockers stir up a city and inflame passions,
but the wise know how to put out the fire and ease tensions.
9 When the wise go to court against a fool,
there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.
10 Bloodthirsty men despise those who are honest,
but the just find a way to help them.
11 A fool does not think before he unleashes his temper,
but a wise man holds back and remains quiet.
12 When it is known that a ruler listens to the words of liars,
soon he will have only scoundrels for advisors.
13 A poor man and his oppressor have this in common:
the Eternal created them and provides both with light and life.
14 The king who is fair in his treatment of the poor
will see his dynasty continue forever.
15 Corporal punishment and correction produce wisdom,
but a child left to follow his own willful way shames his mother.
16 When evil people are free to flourish, sin is on the rise,
but the just will surely see their destruction.
17 If you discipline your children, they will make your life easier
and refresh your soul.
18 Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild,
but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness.
19 Words are not enough to correct a servant;
even if he understands, he will not respond.
20 Have you ever met someone who is overly eager to talk?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If you indulge your servant from early in life,
in the end it won’t go well for either of you.
22 A hot-head provokes quarrels,
and one mastered by anger commits all kinds of sins.
23 A person’s pride brings him down,
but one of humble spirit has a firm hold on honor and respect.
24 Anyone who teams up with a thief must despise his own life,
for he is bound by an oath to tell the truth and yet refuses.
25 If you fear other people, you are walking into a dangerous trap;
but if you trust in the Eternal, you will be safe.
26 Many people vie for special treatment from a ruler,
yet genuine justice proceeds from the Eternal.
27 The right-living are disgusted by the actions of the unjust;
likewise, the wicked are disgusted by the ways of the righteous.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
I’ve given you in these words, more tidbits of wisdom to live by. They are so simple, yet so profound. These are worth teaching to your children early in life and helping them live them daily by living them yourself as an example.
Take for instance the proverb, “A fool does not think before he unleashes his temper, but a wise man holds back and remains quiet.” If you can hold back you temper and teach your children to do the same, they will be much more likely to succeed in the world. Those who rant and let their rage rule their voice will not get ahead in life. Their attempts to intimidate by their volume will not go far.
Or how about, “If you discipline your children, they will make your life easier and refresh your soul.” Have you ever watched the parents who failed to discipline their children from an early age? By the time they’re toddlers it’s almost too late. If children haven’t learned self-discipline before their teenage years, trying to start then is almost impossible for you. It can only happen with My intervention and few teenagers want My intervention at that point.
And here’s one you see lived out every day. “The right-living are disgusted by the actions of the unjust; likewise, the wicked are disgusted by the ways of the righteous.” That explains the growing divide you see between the righteous and the religious today. It explains the riff that grows between those who abide by My commandments and those who try to dismiss them to suit their own pleasures.
This last proverb explains the chasm only the cross can bridge as people finally see their sinful life against the purity of My spotless sacrifice. But when you see it and reach out to Me, I bridge the gap and forgive. I bring you into a renewed relationship with Me so you can live a righteous life as I created you to live.
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