KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, June 08, 2018
Chapters: Proverbs 16-18
Message: Saved By His Marvelous Grace
Hello My Friend,
I am a lousy Christian. Yes, I said that. I may pray, but can go days without really speaking to God, I may read my Bible, but can forget what I read the next day, I may follow His commandments, but can neglect making God my first priority. You know, when we stop to think about our shortcomings we really do discover that we come short of the glory of God, and that without Jesus we would never make it in this life or the one yet to come. It is only by the grace of God that we are saved from the fiery pits of hell, not by our works, but by our faith in Christ alone. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” – Romans 3:23-24,28.
I have always been a person who loves things in order, I like knowing the plan, preparing for it, and seeing it through. When people come along and do things their own way or change up the plan, I get uneasy, and kind of get obsessive-compulsive about it, I want them doing it my way or leave. So, I can see how God feels when He has a plan for me, gives me the instructions, and yet I try to do it my own way. Of course, after some difficulties I start to figure it out and then go back to His ways. It is what is in our heart that brings us to do the things we do, but it is the Holy Spirit that guides and directs every soul it possesses back to the ways of God. We may get off track sometimes, but by His grace He will put us back because it is His grace that keeps us.
“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him. An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.” – Proverbs 16:1-6,9,25-29.
“A man’s heart deviseth his way:” The second we are born we are born with the knowledge of God in us, it is man who distorts that and changes the heart. God uses everything to His advantage, if He has to allow evil to take place, it will be to punish the wicked. Who are the wicked? Those who are pure evil all the way, and have no intention of turning to God. An example of this is, of course, the devil, he is pure evil, God allows him to afflict, influence, and destroy, but he will not allow Him to touch one soul that belongs to His Son. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” – John 10:28-30.
God knows the way that we take, and if we are walking with Him, He will direct our path. Will we hit bumps in the road on the way? Of course. Life has a great way of placing bumps in the road, but with Jesus walking by our side, He helps us jump over the bumps. The key to jumping over the bumps is listening to God in the first place and doing what He says. Since we are sinners saved by grace we are going to fail sometimes, but we ought to be learning, not repeating the same mistakes over and over again.
“The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.” – Proverbs 17:3-11.
“but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” God has lots of mercy, grace, and patience with us to remove sin from our lives, but there does come a time when enough is enough, if we are not willing to listen to Him and keep doing the same thing over and over again, we will face a lot of heartache in this life. While God will never leave nor forsake a soul that has the blood of His Son applied to it, He will pull back and let them fend for themselves until they turn to Him. There are just some people in this world that no matter how much you try to get them to do right, they will rebel. It is a waste of time and efforts to convince someone to follow Christ who has no intention of doing so, all we can do is give that over to God, and perhaps He will soften their heart.
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” – Proverbs 18:10-15,20-21.
“but that his heart may discover itself.” It is amazing what one would do when their heart is not right, and it is usually within themselves that it is not right. Think about the countless people who leave their homes, families, jobs, businesses because they must find themselves. Those who not only receive Christ, but accept Him into their lives, depend on Him more then for their salvation, He is their lifeline, the one who gets their heart right. Christ is our hope beyond what this world has to offer, He is our refuge when we find danger, He is our safety when walking in unfamiliar territory, He is our grace when we mess up. We do have a way out of any situation, and by the way, God knows how far to let you go before He pulls you back, one way or another.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” – James 1:12-15,25.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” – Proverbs 18:10.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your amazing grace to save a sinner like me the second I received Your Son as my Saviour. You have a perfect plan for each and everyone of us, whether we are here to love You or be an example of what happens when wickedness has hardened our hearts toward You, it is Your plan, and only You have the power to change it. If we want things to change in our lives, we must follow Your plan, Your way, and that begins by accepting Your Sons innocent death, burial, and resurrection as our only means of salvation, and walking with Him daily. Lord, lead us and guide us, show us Your path, get us on it, and if we get off track, help us find the way back quickly. Let us be a Godly example and not one that is wicked and corrupt, and let Your Son shine through us to give hope and safety to those who are lost in the midst of them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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