Morning, July 11
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And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.  — 1 Peter 5:10
Bible League: Living His Word
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
— Proverbs 28:6 NKJV

What does it mean to walk with integrity? From the Christian perspective, it means to walk in accordance with the will and ways of God. A person with integrity has a certain soundness of moral character that can be counted on for honesty and justice. No one is perfect, but anyone who walks with integrity loves God and can generally be counted on to do what God wants.

Even if it means being poor, it's better to walk with integrity. That is, even if it means not having one of the main blessings of walking with integrity, it's still better to walk that way. God blesses those who love Him and obey Him. The Bible is full of teachings on that point. Nevertheless, the person who walks with integrity does so even if the blessing is withheld for a time. The person who walks with integrity doesn't do it for the blessing, but because it's the right thing to do.

What does it mean to walk in perversity? Again, from the Christian perspective, it means to walk in disobedience to the will and ways of God. A perverse person lacks moral character, despises honesty and justice, and can be counted on to serve only himself and to do the opposite of what God wants.

Sometimes the perverse gain riches, but those with integrity must not envy them. God looks not at the outside, but at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God curses those who hate Him and disobey Him. The Bible is full of teachings on that point. Nevertheless, even if a person gets a pass from the consequences of perversity in this life, he will not ultimately escape.

According to our verse for today, then, what's life about? In the final analysis, it's not about the outward blessings. It's primarily about the integrity of the heart that follows God.
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Psalm 4, 5, 6


Psalm 4 -- Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness.

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Psalm 5 -- Give ear to my words, O Lord. Consider my meditation.

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Psalm 6 -- O Lord, don't rebuke me in your anger

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Acts 16:16-40


Acts 16 -- Timothy Joins Paul and Silas; Paul's Vision of a Macedonian; Lydia; Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.
Insight
Often, Jesus asked those he healed to be quiet about the healing, but he urged this man to return to his family and tell them what God had done for him. Why? (1) Jesus knew the man would be an effective witness to those who knew his previous condition and could attest to the miraculous healing. (2) Jesus wanted to expand his ministry by introducing his message into this Gentile area. (3) Jesus knew that the Gentiles, since they were not expecting a Messiah, would not divert his ministry by trying to crown him king.
Challenge
When God touches your life, don't be afraid to share the wonderful events with your family and friends.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
1 Peter 5:10  After that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

You have seen the arch of heaven as it spans the plain: glorious are its colours, and rare its hues. It is beautiful, but, alas, it passes away, and lo, it is not. The fair colours give way to the fleecy clouds, and the sky is no longer brilliant with the tints of heaven. It is not established. How can it be? A glorious show made up of transitory sun-beams and passing rain-drops, how can it abide? The graces of the Christian character must not resemble the rainbow in its transitory beauty, but, on the contrary, must be stablished, settled, abiding. Seek, O believer, that every good thing you have may be an abiding thing. May your character not be a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock! May your faith be no "baseless fabric of a vision," but may it be builded of material able to endure that awful fire which shall consume the wood, hay, and stubble of the hypocrite. May you be rooted and grounded in love. May your convictions be deep, your love real, your desires earnest. May your whole life be so settled and established, that all the blasts of hell, and all the storms of earth shall never be able to remove you. But notice how this blessing of being "stablished in the faith" is gained. The apostle's words point us to suffering as the means employed--"After that ye have suffered awhile." It is of no use to hope that we shall be well rooted if no rough winds pass over us. Those old gnarlings on the root of the oak tree, and those strange twistings of the branches, all tell of the many storms that have swept over it, and they are also indicators of the depth into which the roots have forced their way. So the Christian is made strong, and firmly rooted by all the trials and storms of life. Shrink not then from the tempestuous winds of trial, but take comfort, believing that by their rough discipline God is fulfilling this benediction to you.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Jeremiah 15:20  "Then I will make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; And though they fight against you, They will not prevail over you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you," declares the LORD.

Isaiah 49:24-26  "Can the prey be taken from the mighty man, Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?" • Surely, thus says the LORD, "Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons. • "I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh, And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine; And all flesh will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

Isaiah 41:10  'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Hebrews 4:15  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 2:18  For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Psalm 37:23,24  The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. • When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Evening July 10
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