God’s Word For Today

God’s Word for Today 7 Nov, 2024 13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. 14 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice - Prov 12:13-15 ESV THE RIGHTEOUS ESCAPES FROM TROUBLE An evil person because...

God’s Word for Today 6 Nov, 2024 11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. 12 Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit. - Prov 12:11-12 ESV THE VIRTUE OF DILIGENCE Solomon contrasts the value of hard work and worthless pursuits of life. Diligent farmers will grab the opportune time in pl...

Text: Proverbs 12:8-10 (ESV)   8 A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is despised. 9 Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread. 10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.   A GOOD SENSE   A man shall be commended by good men, according to his prudence. His discourses an...

Text: Proverbs 12:5-7 (ESV)   5 The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. 6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them. 7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand.   THE HOUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS WILL STAND   The heart of the issue is the issue of the heart. The righteous...

Text: Prov 12:4 ESV 4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. - Prov 12:4 ESV AN EXCELLENT WIFE Solomon turns his attention to the ‘excellent’ wife. Just as a crown identifies a man is of royalty to others, a good woman does the same by bringing her husband honor and dignity. Simply put, he will make her husband appear like an honore...

Text: Prov 12:1-3 ESV 1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. 2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns. 3 No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved. - Prov 12:1-3 ESV LOVE DISCIPLINE, LOVE LEARNING Solomon establishes the strong correlation between discipline and knowledge. T...

God’s Word for Today 31 Oct, 2024 27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. 28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures s...

God’s Word for Today 30 Oct, 2024 23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath. 24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 26 The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of...

Text: Proverbs 11:22 (ESV)   22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.   BEAUTY AND DISCRETION   What is discretion? This is a person's awareness of what is appropriate, respectable, well-mannered, or dignified. Thus, a woman with "discretion," in this case, is one who acts sensibly and with self-control, as opposed to one who is crude, offensive, or "tacky." Th...

Text: Proverbs 11:19-21 (ESV)   19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die. 20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight. 21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.   THE BLAMELESS ARE HIS DELIGHT   It is an accepted norm that God rewar...

Text: Prov 11:16-18 ESV 16 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. 17 A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. 18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. - Prov 11:16-18 ESV THE BENEFIT OF BEING GRACIOUS In verse 16, Solomon is still making contrasts. Sadly, this verse suffers from translation from one language...

Text: Prov 11:14-15 ESV 14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. 15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure. - Prov 11:14-15 ESV IN AN ABUNDANCE OF COUNSELORS THERE IS SAFETY Solomon continues in explaining the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. We ha...

God’s Word for Today 24 Oct, 2024 12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. 13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. - Prov 11:12-13 ESV TALK LESS, LISTEN MORE The act of belittling others is a foolish idea. ‘Belittling’ implies contempt or a sneering form of spite. A derogatory atti...

God’s Word for Today 23 Oct, 2024 9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. 11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. - Prov 11:9-11 ESV WHEN THE CITY REJOICE...

Text: Proverbs 11:5-8 (ESV)   5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. 7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too. 8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it...

Text: Proverbs 11:1-4 (ESV)   1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.   THE INTEGRITY OF THE UPRIGHT   G...

Text: Prov 10:30-32 ESV 30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse. - Prov 10:30-32 ESV THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NEVER BE REMOVED It is our common observation that those who...

Text: Prov 10:26-29 ESV 26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. 28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. 29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers. - Prov 10:26-29 ESV THE W...

God’s Word for Today 17 Oct, 2024 22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. 23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. 24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. - Prov 10:22-25...

God’s Word for Today 16 Oct, 2024 17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. 18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. 19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of litt...

Text: Proverbs 10:15-16 (ESV)   15 A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. 16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.   THE VALUE OF HAVING WEALTH   We recognize that a wealthy person has an advantage over a poor person. But, we have to remember that his advantage is temporary and unreliable. A rich man's fortune can provide a...

Text: Proverbs 10:12-14 (ESV)   12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. 13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. 14 The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.   LOVE COVERS ALL OFFENSES   We live in a broken world. And, it’s a given fact that others would hurt us as we do to others, ei...

Text: Prov 10:8-11 ESV 8 The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. 10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. - Prov 10:8-1...

Text: Prov 10:6-7 ESV 6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. - Prov 10:6-7 ESV THE GOOD LEGACY The memory of the righteous is a blessing. They exude a good legacy. The righteous out of his good heart brings forth good, and the wicked person out of his evil heart b...

God’s Word for Today 10 Oct, 2024 4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. - Prov 10:4-5 ESV BE DILIGENT The righteous has God the Father who will surely provide his needs. He is more precious than the birds that He feeds. However, this does not mean he could be slack...