Thursday Reading: Proverbs 18:20-21
Key Verse: Proverbs 18:20
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; he shall be satisfied with the product of his lips.
Devotion:
Have you ever noticed how good some people (politicians or other leaders) sound when they talk. They seem to say all the right things and make many people stand up and take notice or even make them happy. But all it takes is a single sentence that goes against what they say to bring the whole countenance of that person down. Once that damaging sentence is known the favour of that person is lost and everything they say suddenly sounds very hollow or worse it may sound like a bunch of lies.
How we live our lives suddenly becomes very important. We may be able to tell others of the good things and tell them of what should be done; but unless we too are willing to do those things then we may well have to face up to this sort of situation. Our own words may well become those sour or bitter words that we think come out of another person of no reputation – our own reputation is on the line. But it is not just our own reputation that we put on the line because if we are confessing Christians then are we not carrying Christ’s reputation with us? Do we not lift Him up in our stead? If we are doing that and we trip up and fall in the mire that we have created then we are bringing down Christ into that same mire in other people’s eyes.
What we say and what we do are so very important – it is the very food by which we are going to survive by. If we are going to spread mire around then we should not expect anything else other than to wallow in that same mire for the rest of our time. So much can be built up and destroyed by what we say and do – that is why we need to focus on those two things and make sure that we allow Christ to guide us in our daily walk, life and speech. If you want to help others then you first have to help yourself by listening to God...
Points to Ponder:
What is your conversation like?
What does God think of your life?
Key Verse: Proverbs 18:20
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; he shall be satisfied with the product of his lips.
Devotion:
Have you ever noticed how good some people (politicians or other leaders) sound when they talk. They seem to say all the right things and make many people stand up and take notice or even make them happy. But all it takes is a single sentence that goes against what they say to bring the whole countenance of that person down. Once that damaging sentence is known the favour of that person is lost and everything they say suddenly sounds very hollow or worse it may sound like a bunch of lies.
How we live our lives suddenly becomes very important. We may be able to tell others of the good things and tell them of what should be done; but unless we too are willing to do those things then we may well have to face up to this sort of situation. Our own words may well become those sour or bitter words that we think come out of another person of no reputation – our own reputation is on the line. But it is not just our own reputation that we put on the line because if we are confessing Christians then are we not carrying Christ’s reputation with us? Do we not lift Him up in our stead? If we are doing that and we trip up and fall in the mire that we have created then we are bringing down Christ into that same mire in other people’s eyes.
What we say and what we do are so very important – it is the very food by which we are going to survive by. If we are going to spread mire around then we should not expect anything else other than to wallow in that same mire for the rest of our time. So much can be built up and destroyed by what we say and do – that is why we need to focus on those two things and make sure that we allow Christ to guide us in our daily walk, life and speech. If you want to help others then you first have to help yourself by listening to God...
Points to Ponder:
What is your conversation like?
What does God think of your life?