- The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. Proverbs 14:14 – I’ve never had the chance yet in my life to see an ocean, certainly not go out on a boat sailing within the ocean. Yet even though I’ve never done such things yet, I’m wise enough to know that it would not be smart of me to just turn the boat off and hope the boat stays right where I stopped it. I know there are strong currents that will take the boat far from where I stopped. I don’t have to use any fuel or expend any energy, but I’ll find myself drifting far away. Such is the one who “stops” in their walk with the Lord. The backslider may not be someone who is actively pursuing sinful things, just the person who has put a pause on their pursuit of God. Not praying, not reading scripture, not going to church…just doing life like everybody else. What we see in scripture being taught to us is such a life does not fill you with the good things of God, but it is a drifting into sin and the fruit that sin offers. Things like grief, loss, depression, worry, and pain. The message then is to understand that if we aren’t actively pursuing the Lord, we are actively drifting into sin. Both paths offer their fruit to us, we just must choose which fruit we want our ways to be filled with. Love, joy, peace, patience, etc.? Those are found on the path of actively pursuing the Lord. The life of a backsliding, lukewarm believer is saddening to the Lord and lacking of any good thing for the believer. Choose the path of a good, faithful walk after the Lord. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2922
- A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. Proverbs 14:30 – I wonder if this verse was part of Paul’s mindset when he wrote that he had learned the secret of being content in every situation. That being at peace about your life and the circumstances you are in is better than always longing for the life of someone else. Where you begin to trust that God has a reason for giving you what He has and what He hasn’t. Otherwise the life you’re looking at according to this verse is one where envy begins to rot away at your life eating its way through your peace and joy. Even if it means a drastic mindset change, begin pursing a contentment with what God has chosen to give you. Trust He really does know what He is doing in your life. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 685
- Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. Proverbs 14:9 – I wrote this note in my Bible a few years ago and I still just love the message of it. “Until you have become wise to your brokenness you won’t see the value of an offering and the acceptance it brings.” If you don’t believe you’re broken, then why give anything to God if He’s done nothing for you? The upright and wise though see their story differently. They know the brokenness they were once in and they see clearly all that God has done for them. They can look in a mirror and they know it’s only because of God they are standing there breathing. That’s why their reaction to an offering to God is so different than a fool’s, they know the One they are giving back to has saved their life. If then your story has been changed because of Jesus, does your attitude towards giving back to Him need a change as well? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1696
Daily DEVO 