Bible League: Living His Word One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.— Proverbs 14:16 ESV Sin and evil don't always announce themselves as such. That is, they don't always appear to be as they really are. Sometimes, sin and evil disguise themselves, making themselves out to be something good. This should not surprise us, for the Bible tells us that even Satan "disguises himself as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). He does it to deceive us and trick us into falling for the evil intentions he has for us. He couldn't care less if it is an unfair tactic. It is also less than surprising that his servants "disguise themselves as servants of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:15). Those disguises will not be effective with the wise man from our verse today. He recognizes evil for what it is and turns away. In contrast, a fool, as our verse points out, is reckless and careless. What does it mean to be reckless and careless? It means that someone is simply not concerned with the consequences of what he believes or what he does. Reckless and careless people do not pay enough attention to what confronts them, taking no thought to the possibility that a wolf in sheep's clothing may be in front of them. They do not consider the possibility that what seems good to them is actually evil. Wise people are just the opposite. They are aware that there is evil in the world and that it doesn't play fair. Instead of being reckless and careless, they are cautious. What does it look like to be cautious? It means that someone is alert and prudent. Cautious people are wary, Recognizing that there are wolves in sheep's clothing out there. Hence, they pay attention to what confronts them in life and won't open themselves up to exploitation. It is very difficult for Satan and his servants to play the wise for fools. Being ready to turn away from evil takes wisdom that comes from knowing God and His Word. Continue in prayer for this wisdom, friends, so that you will not be in the company of the careless fools. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEcclesiastes 1, 2, 3 Ecclesiastes 1 -- "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ecclesiastes 2 -- "Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;" NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ecclesiastes 3 -- For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Corinthians 9 2 Corinthians 9 -- Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift; Those who Sow Generously will Reap Generously NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.Insight As a believer, you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when you don't know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and God answers. With God helping you pray, you don't need to be afraid to come before him. Challenge Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you “in harmony with God's own will.” Then, when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Mark 9:19 Bring him unto me.Despairingly the poor disappointed father turned away from the disciples to their Master. His son was in the worst possible condition, and all means had failed, but the miserable child was soon delivered from the evil one when the parent in faith obeyed the Lord Jesus' word, "Bring him unto me." Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them. They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents; they may be filled with the Spirit of God, or possessed with the spirit of evil. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one receipt for the curing of all their ills, "Bring him unto me." O for more agonizing prayer on their behalf while they are yet babes! Sin is there, let our prayers begin to attack it. Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries which betoken their actual advent into a world of sin. In the days of their youth we shall see sad tokens of that dumb and deaf spirit which will neither pray aright, nor hear the voice of God in the soul, but Jesus still commands, "Bring them unto me." When they are grown up they may wallow in sin and foam with enmity against God; then when our hearts are breaking we should remember the great Physician's words, "Bring them unto me." Never must we cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No case is hopeless while Jesus lives. The Lord sometimes suffers his people to be driven into a corner that they may experimentally know how necessary he is to them. Ungodly children, when they show us our own powerlessness against the depravity of their hearts, drive us to flee to the strong for strength, and this is a great blessing to us. Whatever our morning's need may be, let it like a strong current bear us to the ocean of divine love. Jesus can soon remove our sorrow. He delights to comfort us. Let us hasten to him while he waits to meet us. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 12:20 "A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Isaiah 57:15,16 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. • "For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made. Ezekiel 34:16 "I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. Hebrews 12:12,13 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, • and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Isaiah 35:4 Say to those with anxious heart, "Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you." 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. |
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