Sunday 4 Feb 2018

February 4: Proverbs 29:12

Key Verse: Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.

Devotion:
How often do you put up with lies? How often do you long for the truth? Do you ever stop to think what the lies are doing to you? I know there are times when I have just put up with the lies in order to keep the peace, but having to put up with them for too long wears away at the soul. When we keep brushing them off we are conditioning ourselves to accept lies instead of seeking the truth.

God is always seeking the truth in all situations because He cannot and will not abide lies. When we lie to Him, He pulls us up in one way or another; we have to admit to our lies and bring out the truth. This is because He is just and holy. We, however, are far from being just and holy so we do tend to put up with many things in our lives. The problem is the longer we put up with those things the more we will tend to ignore them in our own lives as well as in the lives of others. The more we put up with all manner of things, the more they too will grow in our own lives.

The hardest part comes when we try to serve God in places where the people do not yet know Him. The more we mix with the local people, the more we seem willing to put up with the things they say and do and then the more likely we are to repeat them. We see this pattern echoed again and again in the bible as people have gone into different countries; unless they are depending on God for strength and guidance, they fall into the same lifestyles as the local people and lose sight of God. This angers God! It always has and always will!

We are servants of the most high God. He is always watching and listening to the things we are doing, trying to guide us to do the right things for Him. If we act like Jonah and run the other way, He will put a stop to the things we are doing one way or another. When He does that, we will not be pleased! But if we listen to Him and obey Him, we will be able to rise above the lies and deceit around us and His light will then be able to shine through us. He wants us to make a difference to the people who are around us. When we show we are different, they will be more willing to listen to His words.

Points to Ponder:
How often do you listen to lies?

How often do you lie?