DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY JULY 12:
WORD OF WISDOM
If you really want to do something healthy today, read the Word of God. It
will refresh and restore your heart, soul, mind and body.
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DAILY DEVOTION
The Abolition of Death
"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am
appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."
2 Timothy 2:9-11
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation: "On the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within
any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in
rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and
forever free." The intention of the proclamation was to end slavery in the
Southern states, but because those states were still fighting against the
government in Washington, they did not recognize the proclamation as
legitimate and binding. It would not be until the war ended and the
Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was adopted that slavery would be
officially abolished.
There is a spiritual war taking place in our world today. Satan continues
his rebellion against God, and although, through Christ's death and
resurrection Jesus has already defeated Satan, the full freedom purchased
through His blood has not yet been realized. It will not be until the war
has ended that the complete victory will be obvious. "The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:26). Yet the continuing war
should not discourage or dishearten us. It is real, but the final outcome
has already been determined. We have the power and ability through Jesus
Christ to experience victory not just at some point in the future, but day
after day in this present world.
Though the battle continues, we can rest in confident assurance that the
victory has already been won.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Proverbs 25-27New King James Version (NKJV)
Further Wise Sayings of Solomon
25 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of
Judah copied:
2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4
Take away the dross from silver,
And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.
5
Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
6
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of the great;
7
For it is better that he say to you,
"Come up here,"
Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.
8
Do not go hastily to court;
For what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor has put you to shame?
9
Debate your case with your neighbor,
And do not disclose the secret to another;
10
Lest he who hears it expose your shame,
And your reputation be ruined.
11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.
12
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.
13
Like the cold of snow in time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14
Whoever falsely boasts of giving
Is like clouds and wind without rain.
15
By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.
16
Have you found honey?
Eat only as much as you need,
Lest you be filled with it and vomit.
17
Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house,
Lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.
20
Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
And like vinegar on soda,
Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22
For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.
23
The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24
It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25
As cold water to a weary soul,
So is good news from a far country.
26
A righteous man who falters before the wicked
Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.
27
It is not good to eat much honey;
So to seek one's own glory is not glory.
28
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls.
26 As snow in summer and rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2
Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So a curse without cause shall not alight.
3
A whip for the horse,
A bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the fool's back.
4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
5
Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
6
He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7
Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8
Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool.
9
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10
The great God who formed everything
Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.[a]
11
As a dog returns to his own vomit,
So a fool repeats his folly.
12
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13
The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the streets!"
14
As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.
15
The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl;[b]
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16
The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17
He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18
Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19
Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, "I was only joking!"
20
Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
21
As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22
The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,
And they go down into the inmost body.
23
Fervent lips with a wicked heart
Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24
He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
And lays up deceit within himself;
25
When he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart;
26
Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28
A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.
27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
3
A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
But a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
4
Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent,
But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5
Open rebuke is better
Than love carefully concealed.
6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7
A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb,
But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8
Like a bird that wanders from its nest
Is a man who wanders from his place.
9
Ointment and perfume delight the heart,
And the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel.
10
Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend,
Nor go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may answer him who reproaches me.
12
A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself;
The simple pass on and are punished.
13
Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.
14
He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
It will be counted a curse to him.
15
A continual dripping on a very rainy day
And a contentious woman are alike;
16
Whoever restrains her restrains the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.
17
As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18
Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
So he who waits on his master will be honored.
19
As in water face reflects face,
So a man's heart reveals the man.
20
Hell[c] and Destruction[d] are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And a man is valued by what others say of him.
22
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;
24
For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
25
When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
26
The lambs will provide your clothing,
And the goats the price of a field;
27
You shall have enough goats' milk for your food,
For the food of your household,
And the nourishment of your maidservants.
Footnotes:
a.Proverbs 26:10 The Hebrew is difficult; ancient and modern translators
differ greatly.
b.Proverbs 26:15 Compare 19:24
c.Proverbs 27:20 Or Sheol
d.Proverbs 27:20 Hebrew Abaddon
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
