OceanSide church of Christ
Read devotionals for September 2017
October 1, 2017
Proverbs 22:25 – Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy own soul.
Thought: Anger is a contagious emotion. An angry person is able to get others angry. This anger is often manifested in bad attitudes, hateful words, and evil actions. The individual who has “caught” the disease of anger soon finds that he is caught up in something that was never intended. It is best to remember the admonition of the previous verse: “Make no friendship with an angry man.”
Psalm 106:34-40
October 2, 2017
Proverbs 22:26 – Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Thought: Becoming a co-signer for another’s loan is a big responsibility. Not everyone will pay their debts. Thus, the co-signer becomes responsible. Family relationships have been damaged due to this arrangement. Friendships have ended because one became a surety for a friend. If a person cannot acquire a loan on his own merits, it is best for him not to have the loan.
Proverbs 6:1-5
October 3, 2017
Proverbs 22:27 – If thou has nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Thought: Creditors and debt collectors are worried about one thing, payment of the loan. If the debtor cannot pay, the co-signer will be next on the list. The creditor will seek full payment of the loan. He will take all that he can until the loan is paid. He will even take the bed of another. A good rule is to co-sign for very few. In fact, it might be best to co-sign for no one.
II Kings 4:1
October 4, 2017
Proverbs 22:28 – Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Thought: The ancient landmarks in Israel were the boundaries established in Canaan that marked out each tribe’s inheritance and each family’s allotment of land. These landmarks needed to remain firm. They had been established by God. In God’s spiritual kingdom, landmarks have been set by God. Man is not free to move these landmarks either. They need to be held firm or the inheritance of God will be marred. Let us resolve to never remove the ancient landmark.
Deuteronomy 19:14
October 5, 2017
Proverbs 22:29 – Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men.
Thought: Most individuals are trained to labor in various occupations. Some rise high in their calling. Others remain closer to the entry level position. The difference is diligence. Hard work and long hours are part of the life of the diligent. Because of their tenacity they rise. They are given opportunities for advancement. Some will stand in the presence of royalty. They are not found in the presence of the lowly and the obscure. Wise parents will do well to teach their children diligence.
I Kings 11:28
October 6, 2017
Proverbs 23:1 – When thou sittest down to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee.
Thought: Regardless of where we are, we need to give special attention to our circumstances. If we are called to eat with a ruler, we need to consider diligently what is before us. What food is this? Why this food? Is there a cost to eating this food? Will this food nourish or destroy? Why is the king serving me this food? Healthy suspicion and questioning is wise. Sometimes our wisdom is destroyed by our circumstances.
Genesis 43:33-34
October 7, 2017
Proverbs 23:2 – And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
Thought: The intentions of a king are not always easily known. There are times when he puts individuals to a test without their knowing. If the individual fails the test, the king is very quick to discipline. Again, it is important to use caution among those who are in powerful positions. Don’t reveal your weaknesses in their presence. Remember, your life could be on the line.
Proverbs 25:28
October 8, 2017
Proverbs 23:3 – Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
Thought: The cost of eating at the king’s table can be very high. He sees it as a wage. He sees it as obligating you to his service. At some point in time, he may call upon you to do his bidding and it goes against your values and against your conscience. You did not realize that eating has his table had such responsibilities attached to it. At that point, it is too late.
Psalm 141:4
October 9, 2017
Proverbs 23:4 – Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
Thought: Riches and wisdom are what so many people are seeking in our society. They spend countless hours in these pursuits. Some find that these things do not bring happiness. They have wealth. They have knowledge. Still, life is not filled with joy. They have pursued the wrong things. They would have been better served to seek the riches of Christ and the wisdom of God. Sadly, their lives have been spent in folly.
John 6:27
October 10, 2017
Proverbs 23:5 – Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Thought: If one will go back and study the stock market crash of 1929, he will come to understand the truthfulness of the words above. The rich became poor overnight. Many who had put their trust in their riches committed suicide. The foundation of their life was quickly taken away from them. Man needs a foundation that can never be destroyed. That foundation is God, not riches.
Ecclesiastes 5:13-14
October 11, 2017
Proverbs 23:6 – Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats.
Thought: There are so many people who believe that they can associate with evil and never be hurt. Not so! Evil companions always corrupt good morals. There is a price to be paid when a person eats and drinks with those who are evil. Nothing in life is free. At some point in time, those who are evil will want their debt paid. The price will be high. Dear friend, don’t eat with evil men. Yea, don’t even desire his dainty meats.
Ephesians 5:11
October 12, 2017
Proverbs 23:7 – For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Thought: Sometimes the evil man appears to be righteous. He invites you into his home. He is very sociable and hospitable. “Eat and drink, saith he to thee.” However, there are hidden motives within his heart. He has a hidden agenda behind his hospitality. He is seeking to lure you into his trap. He is trying to recruit you to his team. He wants you to do his evil bidding. No, his heart is not with thee. Beware of evil men! They can appear as wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Psalm 55:21
October 13, 2017
Proverbs 23:8 – The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
Thought: Have you ever had a blessing turn into a curse? This can happen when we attach ourselves to ungodly people. We think we finally have made it. We believe that we have a place where we belong. We think that are attached to a group of people who care about us and will have our back. We learn, however, that none of these things is true. They only want to use and abuse us. They cannot be trusted. They are not loyal. They will allow us to take the blame. “The morsel which thou has eaten shalt thou vomit up.”
II Peter 2:18-19
October 14, 2017
Proverbs 23:9 – Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Thought: The Bible tells us that there is time to speak and a time to be silent. Learning when to speak and not to speak can save us a lot of heartache. There are some individuals who are fools. They are proud of heart. They are also dull of hearing when it comes to God’s Word. All of our efforts spent on them are wasted. The only reason they listen is so they can respond with sarcasm and ridicule. Learning and applying truth to their lives is not their intent. Again, our words are wasted on them.
Luke 16:14
October 15, 2017
Proverbs 23:10 – Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless.
Thought: The landmarks of the Old Testament set the boundaries of one’s inheritance. The tribes of Israel had received their portion of the Promised Land. Then, the land of the tribe was divided among families. These boundaries were not to be moved. The less fortunate, such as orphans, were not to be deprived of their inheritance. Those physical landmarks were extremely important. Dear reader, the landmarks of God’s spiritual kingdom are even more important. They do not need to be removed even though they, too, are old.
Job 24:2
October 16, 2017
Proverbs 23:11 – For their Redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
Thought: We are again reminded of the Lord’s concern for those whose circumstances have brought them hardship and poverty. He will plead the cause of these individuals. Some might not think that this is very important, but the wise writer reminds us that “their Redeemer is mighty.” They are not dealing with an amateur or a rookie. They are not dealing with one who is ignorant. No, they are dealing with deity. He is a powerful defender of the downtrodden and less fortunate.
Jeremiah 50:33-34
October 17, 2017
Proverbs 23:12 – Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
Thought: One of the definitions of “apply” is: “to devote or employ diligently or with close attention.” Here, we are told to apply our hearts unto instruction. This involves divine instruction, instruction from the Word of God. To do this, we must first apply our ears to hearing what God has to say. Every individual should be very attentive to the truth of God’s Word. Once it has been heard, the heart needs to ponder and reason upon the truth very carefully. My friend, your soul’s destiny is at stake.
Matthew 13:52
October 18, 2017
Proverbs 23:13 – Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
Thought: Throughout history, man has often believed himself to be smarter than God. In the realm of child rearing this has often been the case. Many affirm that whipping and spankings do no good. In fact, we are told that they are detrimental to a child’s well-being. The wisest man on earth, and one inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, disagrees. He instructs parents, saying: “Withhold not correction from the child.” That correction, he notes, involves beating him with a rod. Shouldn’t the one who created the child know what is best for him?
Proverbs 13:24
October 19, 2017
Proverbs 23:14 – Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Thought: We are living in a society that has neglected to discipline her children correctly. Because of this many live in communities that are filled with vulgarity, drugs, alcohol, hatred, violence, blood-shed, and death. Young people do not live by rules. They live for pleasure and carnal pursuits. Authority is despised. Authority is viewed at the enemy. Authority is often targeted for death. Had these children been properly disciplined early in life, their souls would have been delivered from hell. Their families and neighborhoods would have been delivered as well.
Hebrews 12:11
October 20, 2017
Proverbs 23:15 – My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
Thought: There is no greater joy for a parent than to see his children walking in wisdom. This is not the wisdom of the earth, but the wisdom that comes from above. The child does not have to have a prestigious job. The child does not have to be rich. The child does not have to be in a place of honor, power, or popularity. The fact that the child walks with God is enough. The parent rejoices because his child is wise.
II John 4
October 21, 2017
Proverbs 23:16 – Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
Thought: The previous verse mentioned how a father rejoices when his child’s heart is filled with wisdom. That wisdom is often manifested in the words which the child speaks. His lips speak right things. His conversations are filled with the knowledge of God’s will. The father knows that his son is guided by the law of God. When such words are heard, the reins of the child’s father rejoice.
Ephesians 4:29
October 22, 2017
Proverbs 23:17 – Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
Thought: We often see sinners living a very good life. They have great jobs. They are very prosperous. They have nice homes, nice cars, and money to do just about anything they desire. They are not obligated to anyone but self. They do not have God, but they seem to be doing just fine. It is easy for us to envy such a life. We must remember that sometimes it is an illusion. Too, it is definitely temporary. True joy comes when we live in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
Psalm 73:3-5
October 23, 2017
Proverbs 23:18 – For surely here is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Thought: If we live in the fear of the Lord, we know that there is a future beyond this life that awaits us. We live every day in anticipation of it. If we remain steadfast and faithful, we will not be disappointed when the future finally arrives. All that we did not have here will no longer matter. We will be content and satisfied. We will live in splendor and glory. There will be joy in our hearts that will be unmeasurable. All of this will be eternal. Our end will have no end.
Hebrews 10:35
October 24, 2017
Proverbs 23:19 – Hear thou my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Thought: Each man, woman, and child needs to learn early to be wise. The way to do this is by learning to govern one’s heart. The heart is the control center of all that a man does. Every day the heart must be guided and directed. The rule by which it should be governed is the Word of God. Those who walk by the directions given by God will always be in the path of righteousness and will always lie down in green pastures. Be wise! Guide thine heart in the way.
Psalm 23:1-2
October 25, 2017
Proverbs 23:20 – Be not amongst winebibbers; amongst riotous eaters of the flesh.
Thought: There are individuals who could be described as “party animals” in our world. They love to drink intoxicating beverages on a regular basis. They enjoy eating food to their heart’s content. They engage in their revelry and banqueting as often as possible. A night or two each week and the entire weekend finds them engaging in the “eat, drink, and be merry” mentality. The good father of Proverbs warns his son, saying: “Be not amongst such people.” Their lifestyles are neither healthy nor safe. Be not among them!
Romans 13:13
October 26, 2017
Proverbs 23:21 – For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Thought: Far too often we fail to look beyond our immediate behaviors to the consequences that can result from those behaviors. All we see is the immediate pleasure the behaviors are bringing to us. However, the future often brings anything but pleasure. Such is true for the drunken, the glutton, and the sluggard. They take a man’s strength, reputation, finances, and ultimately his life. My friend, please consider the end of a behavior before engaging in it.
Galatians 6:7-8
October 27, 2017
Proverbs 23:22 – Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
Thought: God designed the home. He put the hierarchal structure of the home in place. He realizes how important both a mother and father are to the home. He knows how important they are in the upbringing of children. Parents, therefore, are to be heard even when children grow up. They are to be loved and honored after children leave the home. Old age does not lessen their wisdom or their position of honor.
Proverbs 30:11
October 28, 2017
Proverbs 23:23 – Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Thought: Truth is a precious commodity. When it has been purchased, it is not to be sold. The same is true of wisdom, instruction, and understanding. Sadly, some will sell these precious items for little or nothing. They fail to realize the treasures that are in their hands when they have them. What is interesting about these things is that all can possess them. Truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding are available to all. Seek truth. Find it. Buy it. Never, never let it go.
Job 28:12-19
October 29, 2017
Proverbs 23:24 – The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
Thought: When a child lives his life by walking with God in the paths of righteousness, a father rejoices greatly. The words “shall greatly rejoice” mean “to spin around.” The father’s joy is so great that he cannot stand still. He spins and jumps for joy because his child is righteous. In like manner, a wise child brings a father joy. This is the child who knows God’s will and always makes application of it in his life. The father of a wise and righteous child knows that his child is both saved and protected.
I Kings 1:48
October 30, 2017
Proverbs 23:25 – Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
Thought: A father and mother are a spiritual team in their home. Both of them work together to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. When their children are righteous and wise both of them rejoice. They are proud of the fruit of their labors. They are happy to see their children make positive decisions that will benefit their lives forever. Good parents have a deep concern for their sons and daughters. When their children are grown and faithful, parents can be at peace.
Luke 2:51-52
October 31, 2017
Proverbs 23:26 – My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
Thought: The heart of a man is the center of reasoning, understanding, thinking, contemplation. It is the place where motives and emotions originate. It is the engine of the will of man. This father asks his son to give him his heart. He wants his son to allow his teachings to sink deep into his mind. The father also asks the son to observe his ways. Not only will the father teach him what to do, he will show him as well. If children would give heed to their parents’ instructions and follow their godly examples, their lives would be much better off.
Psalm 119:9-11
Read devotionals for November 2017
