Daily Bible Devotionals

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly. A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful ambassador brings health. Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored. A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.” Proverbs 13:12-16 (NKJV)

One of the greatest tricks of Satan is to get Christians to believe God has promised them something that He hasn’t.  Then all Satan has to do is sit around and wait for us to become despondent and blame God for not coming thru for us.  We literally get angry with God when, in fact, it is Satan who convinced us that God’s Word said otherwise.  Believe me, it happens to us all of the time.  It is how Satan tempted Eve, and he even tried to tempt Jesus (the Living Word of God) by distorting God’s Word.  Jesus resisted Satan by answering with the correct understanding of the Bible.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”’ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: “He shall give His angels charge over you,” and, “In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”’ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”’ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”  Matthew 4:1-11 (NKJV)

So, after we have chosen to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus and receive salvation, we still have a choice to make every day thereafter.  It is a choice between “hope deferred” and “desire accomplished,” the “fountain of life” and the “snares of death,” “God’s favor,” or the “hard way.”  And the deciding factor is whether you choose to seek God’s Word every day, meditate on it and allow it to govern every aspect of your life.  (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)  Salvation is not only about eternal life.  It is also about living abundantly and joyfully on this earth, despite fierce opposition.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 (NKJV)

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:25-26 (NKJV)

Anxiety and depression are very common in our culture.  Anxiety is a sense of unease or fear about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.  If anxiety is prolonged, a loss of hope sets in and a sense of despondency or dejection presses down on a person’s psyche.  That is what psychologists call depression.  Long before Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis, or modern psychiatric therapy, God had already identified the conditions of anxiety and depression, along with their cure: His Word and Bible-based community.  If there were ever a New Testament example of today’s proverb, it would be the apostle Paul’s prison letter to the church in Philippi.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ [Messiah] Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9 (NKJV)

Paul followed today’s proverb, even down to his community of godly friendships.

“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”  Philippians 4:1-5 (NKJV)

By making God’s Word the compass that guides us all day, every day (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), we will know how to navigate life’s hardships.  And if we remain in Christian community, encouraging one another in our present circumstances, we will spur each other on, keeping our minds focused on the coming Kingdom.  It’s worth it!

“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.” Philippians 1:27-30 (NKJV)

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” Proverbs 11:30-31 (NKJV)

One of the more prominent images in the Bible is that of “bearing fruit.”  Just as an apple tree is known for bearing apples and an orange tree produces oranges, so we are known for bearing fruit that represents the “vine” we are attached to.  Apple trees do not bear oranges, so believers should not bear the fruit of unrighteousness.  “By their fruits you will know them.” (Mathew 7:20)  Today’s proverb reminds us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) to know whether we are truly attached to Jesus, The True Vine.   Here are some New Testament passages that reinforce this statement from today’s proverb.  

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:7-12 (NKJV)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:1-8 (NKJV)

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:12-15 (NKJV)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Proverbs 10. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.  Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it.  Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.  For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:32-36 (NKJV)

From the get-go, it is important to understand that the person speaking in this proverb is not Messiah.  It is “Wisdom.”  In a sense, she (self-described v. 1-3) can be attributed to the Holy Spirit, whose ministry is to reveal the truth of God’s Word.  Also, because “Wisdom” says she was “established from everlasting,” present at creation, and stood beside Messiah (Jesus) as a “master craftsman.” (v. 23-31) Wisdom & Understanding must complement each other, so we must both know God’s Word and how to apply it AND have the resolve to live according to it!

Here is a picture of someone who seeks deliverance.  Even though it is delayed, by faith, that person keeps hoping, not disdaining its (as of yet) unfulfillment.  For the faithful, if God said something would happen a certain way, they believe it as if it has already happened, even though the results of their faith are delayed indefinitely.  

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

We see today’s proverb played out precisely at the beginning of the New Testament book of Acts 3.  A lame man is begging at the temple gate called “Beautiful” and cries out for alms (charity) to the apostles Peter and John.  (Acts 3:1-3) The beggar is in the right place at the right time, and Peter quotes today’s proverb.

“And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”  So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them - walking, leaping, and praising God.” Acts 3:4-8 (NKJV)

“All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them.  They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.  Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.  I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion.  The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.” Proverbs 8:8-14 (NKJV)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.  If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” Proverbs 9:10-12 (NKJV)

Sandwiched between a description of how Wisdom (portrayed as a woman) invites the simple man into her home to forsake foolishness and how the Foolish woman entices simple men into her home to indulge in foolishness, which leads to death, is this short passage about fearing the Lord.  If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, leading to knowledge, understanding, and life, then what does it mean to fear the Lord?  That question was answered in yesterday’s proverb!

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.  By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.  By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth.  I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.” Proverbs 8:13-17 (NKJV)

So, fearing the Lord does not mean we should be afraid of the Lord, forever hiding from His presence.  “Fearing the Lord” is more akin to loving the Lord.

“You who love the Lord, hate evil!  He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10 (NKJV)

Fearing the Lord means hating evil.  When we fear the Lord, we love what He loves and hate what He hates.  When we harbor love for this world (and the evil therein), we are more likely to be wooed by the enticements of the “foolish woman  .”Imagine a man who marries his beautiful, godly bride yet still harbors affection for a past girlfriend.  If that old girlfriend were to call, he would be inclined to re-open that relationship and forsake his vows to his wife.  Now, suppose the same man loved the Lord and his wife, and he hated evil.  He would have absolutely no impulse to return the advances of his past girlfriend, even if his marriage was in a rough season.

Commandment #3 states: “You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain.” Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

Taking the Lord’s Name in vain is like a woman who marries a man yet falls for the charms of another man.  She would have taken her husband’s name in vain because her heart belongs to another!  So, fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, but hating sin is the foundation of fearing the Lord.  

“Jesus answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.’” Mark 7:6 (NKJV)

“My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you.  Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words.” Proverbs 7:1-5 (NKJV)

Beware of distancing personal accountability by wandering alone.  (James 1:14)

“For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding, passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.” Proverbs 7:6-9 (NKJV)

A wandering heart is an easy prey for a predatory spirit.  (1 Peter 5:8)

“And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.  She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home.  At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner.  so she caught him and kissed him; with an impudent face she said to him: ‘I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows.  So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.  I have spread my bed with tapestry, colored coverings of Egyptian linen.  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.  Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love.  For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home on the appointed day.’”  Proverbs 7:10-20 (NKJV)

Wandering hearts, attuned to seduction, commit acts of sin.  (Proverbs 4:23)  

“With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him.  Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, till an arrow struck his liver.  As a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life.” Proverbs 7:21-23 (NKJV)

Sin always over-promises and under-deliverers.  The consequences always outweigh the thrill.

“Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth: Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men.  Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death.” Proverbs 7:24-27 (NKJV)

The only way to avoid sin (and its consequences) is to walk according to God’s Word, the “straight way,” never wandering or straying to the right or left of it.  Don’t be more conservative than it demands or more liberal than it allows.  (Joshua 1:7-8)

“My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.  Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck.  When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you.” Proverbs 6:20-22 (NKJV)

Every Christian parent knows that children do not come from the womb pre-discipled.  We are not given fully mature infant followers of Jesus.  Instead, we get a starter kit containing a tiny human “larvae” and a Bible.  It is up to us to build our children’s value systems and to raise them as God’s Spirit leads.  The last thing any Christian parent needs to do is to throw away the manual and raise kids by the seat of their pants!  And that is exactly what the Bible is: the manual for Christian living and a repair manual for when we stray from the manufacturer’s blueprint.  Even when we have done all that we know to do, our children still grow up and make choices of their own, even choices that everyone knows do not honor the Lord.  We cling to God’s Word when our kids stray off course.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

So, when our children go “roaming” as all mature young adults must eventually do, we hope the Biblical values we endowed them with will override the allure of secular culture.  Only then do we truly understand the great importance of having our children grow up in a home where God’s Word was not just a part of family life; but that the Word dominated and guided our family life.  That is God’s design.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” Deuteronomy 6:6-8 (NKJV)

“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress.  Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids.  For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.” Proverbs 6:23-26 (NKJV)

The “seductress” or “harlot” that Solomon describes is not just a wanton woman.  It is also a metaphor for spiritual adultery.  Only God’s pure Word can keep us pure.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.  I am afflicted very much; revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.  Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your judgments.” Psalm 119:105-108 (NKJV)

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.  His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.  He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” Proverbs 5:21-23 (NKJV)

There is a popular saying, “All paths lead to God.”  In one sense, that saying is true because all men everywhere will have to stand before the Lord in judgment.  The more important question should not consider whether all paths lead to God, but which one of the many paths available will actually lead to Heaven, the GOOD way.

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.  But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” Jeremiah 6:16 (NKJV)

Of all the ways we could go, there is only ONE way that leads to salvation.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6 (NKJV)

While salvation is offered exclusively through Messiah Jesus, it is offered liberally to anyone who would receive it.

“He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them gave the right to become the children of God, to them who believe in his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:11-14 (NKJV)

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30 (NKJV)

Yes, God ponders the paths of men.  He studies our ways as a master chess champion who can wander through a convention hall, playing hundreds of competitors at once, knowing their next moves, yet winning every game.  Jesus won the victory over our sin, yet offers the trophy to us!  (Ephesians 2:8-9)  He calls to us, pleading through His Word and through faithful men and women who share the gospel.  God does not desire that men would perish but that all would have eternal life.  (2 Peter 3:9)  So, mankind must choose to believe the lying enticements of the great “harlot” (Revelation 19:1-2) or to receive eternal life-giving grace from Messiah Jesus.

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:12-13 (NKJV)