Tag: Devotional

¹⁰ You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. ~ Habakkuk 2:10

This word cutting off is the Hebrew word (qā·ṣā(h)). It means to scrape, i.e., destroy an object, as a figurative extension of scraping an object. The word is used in Leviticus to scrape the plaster off so as to remove mold or mildew. In other words, it’s not removing the whole thing, only the part that is infected. In other words, removing or destroying the offending part of something.

Our Scripture said, “You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples.”

Please notice that it did not say by killing or murdering, but by scraping many people. Could this be applied to free speech? Free speech is being targeted. All speech is not censored; only the offending part is scraped off and destroyed. And it’s not only here in America but all around the world, including Europe.

Our freedoms (freedom of speech, religion, etc.) are being cut off. They’re being scraped away. They are being targeted. Once we have no more freedom, what will be left of us? Fight for your freedoms. Don’t just give them up blindly. Stand up for your rights because when they are gone, then it will be almost impossible to get them back.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pay Attention.

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⁸ Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them. ~ Habakkuk 2:8

Why were they plundered? For The Blood Of Man. In other words, they have shed innocent blood. This word man is the Hebrew word, ʾā·ḏām, meaning human, male or female regardless of age. It is simply referring to the whole human race.

Habakkuk said that the thieves who plundered many nations will also be plundered because of all of the bloodshed and violence that they have caused upon the earth and in the cities and to all who dwell in them.

In other words, what they sowed, that shall they reap. The wicked may seem to be thriving right now. They may seem to be winning in life, but spiritually, they are dying of starvation. Spiritually, they are poor without hope.

Oftentimes, we look at the world through our temporary lenses. We see them as only what they physically have and not what they spiritually lack. They may have much on this earth, but in eternity, they won’t even have a drop of water to quench their thirst. How devastating of an eternity they will face, all because they thought they were too big to reap the evil they have sowed.

It’s very easy to say they’ll one day get their just rewards, but that’s not the desire of God. God’s desire is that all come to repentance in Christ Jesus. He doesn’t take pleasure in punishing the wicked, so why should we feel pleasure or comfort in their punishment? The only difference between us and the wicked is that we’ve accepted Christ. That’s the only difference. Otherwise, we’d be right next to them in Hell, away from God for all eternity. Without Christ, we’d reap exactly what we’ve sowed, which is evil. All have fallen astray, and not one of us is good.

Therefore, don’t rejoice in their downfall, nor take pleasure or comfort in their punishment. Instead, pray for their souls that they might repent and escape the punishment that is to come. Pray that their hearts might be softened and they turn from their evil ways. Not only would their souls be saved, but if the wicked who plunder the nations are saved, then there would be no one left plundering the nations, and our world would be a better place.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pray For The Plunderers.

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¹ The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: ² To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, ³ to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; ⁴ to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— ~ Proverbs 1:1-4

Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, began his proverbs with these verses. He starts by saying doing what is right, just, and fair. The Scriptures say that a three-strand cord is not easily broken, and this three-strand cord should stand the test of time if we live our lives by it. Have you ever had to deal with a Christian at work that you just couldn’t trust? I know it’s an oxymoron to say something like that, but sometimes it is true.

Years ago, my wife had to deal with a certain man who professed to be a Christian, and he was high up in his church. The problem, however, was she could not trust his word. He would say one thing in the meetings and say something totally and completely opposite when he left. It was so bad that she began to get everything and every request from him in writing. That is terrible.

King Solomon said to do what is right. Speaking truth is always the right thing to do. People should always be able to depend on and trust your word. If you lose your good name, what do you have left?

Solomon also said to do what is just. Again, that means doing things correctly. We don’t take questionable shortcuts. We don’t do things on the sly. We act correctly and always seek perfection. We do things the correct and right way, not trying to get over on people. That is not the Christian way.

And finally, Solomon said to do what is fair. Not only fair for you but what is fair for both parties. People you interact with or do business with should always feel comfortable that you are not just looking out for your own self, and so they must scrutinize everything you say and do. There was a time when men were gentlemen. And you could conduct business with their word and a handshake. But these days, it seems like everyone is trying to get ahead at the expense of everyone else, and it does not matter who gets hurt or who loses.

Solomon indicated that if we followed these three things, we would gain understanding and insight because these are words of wisdom.
So, today, let us Christians seek to do what is right, no matter what, and do what is just, no matter what, and do what is fair, no matter what.

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that You always do what is Right, Just, and Fair, no matter what. You are holy, loving, and kind. Help me to endeavor to be like You in Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ~ Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken, or in other words, a word spoken at the right time and in the right context is like apples of gold in settings of silver. In other words, it’s beautiful. The right word at the right time will work wonders. It will turn a bad situation into a good outcome. It will smooth over those rough words that proceed.

Why add fuel to the fire? Why not douse the flames with water and out the fire? Words can be smooth as silk, while others are sharp and abrasive and can cut to the bone. Those are the words that we want to keep away from, and instead, use the smooth as silk ones.

Words are triggers. Just one word can change the whole atmosphere from something beautiful to something ugly. Just one word can bring about division, hard feelings, and insults. Remember that our enemy is the prince of the power of the air. If he is the prince of the power of the air, and our words travel across airwaves, would it not be reasonable to believe that he has the power to manipulate words?

I believe that is the reason why so many arguments break out for no apparent reason. Maybe he somehow manipulates the airwaves, and it comes across as excessively aggressive when it was really intended for the opposite. That is why one of the first reactions is to say, “That’s not what I said.” Or, “That is not want I meant.”

Facial expressions, I suppose, have a lot to do with it as well. Smile when you talk, and the smile will reflect in your voice and in your words. Endeavor to present a pleasant face at all times in all situations. Train yourself in these things because the Scriptures say that it’s by practice that we develop our gifts. And if we develop our gifts by practice, would it not be reasonable to say the fruits of the Spirit are the same? Yes, it would be the same. So, if joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and it is, should we not make an effort to cultivate that fruit? Surely, the fruits of the Spirit does not just appear, they must be cultivated. For just like a physical fruit does not appear in someone’s garden, neither does the fruit of the Spirit just appear in someone’s life; it has to be cultivated.

So, let us strive to cultivate harmony with each other and live in peace with both God and man.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Son Jesus, who died for me, and thank You for Your Holy Spirit that sows the seeds of the Spirit in my soul for me to water, cultivate, and grow. Help me to nurture and grow these gifts so that I might be pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ~ Philippians 2:3

Wow! I would say that is a hard teaching to grasp. To consider others more significant than ourselves, meaning that other people are more important and we are less important; who thinks like that? Well, true Christ followers do. Paul was instructing the Philippians how to gain even more traction in their Christian walk. He said, first of all, don’t have selfish ambitions because selfish ambitions lead to disregard for your fellow humans. It will become all about you no matter the cost to others. When selfish ambitions play the main role, people get hurt because they are used as stepping stones to achieve that person’s goal or objective.

Conceit is the same because it is driven by pride, and Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction…” Those are very strong words. Not just a mishap, mind you, but Proverbs says destruction. Pride will tear a family apart, divide close friends, and ruin even the most close of relationships. That is why Paul was encouraging the Philippians to stay away from self-ambition and conceit. Then, he advised them to act in humility. We are to do everything in humility, so much so that we even count or value others as more significant than our own selves.

When you measure that against eternity, it is not as hard of a concept as it first appeared. This life is only a very short term when compared to eternity. Nothing that is done here on this earth can even compare to what God has in store for those who love Him. We don’t need to look out for number one, God Himself will look out for us, and will reward us accordingly.

So, let us start today by refusing to do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but to value others more significantly than ourselves, which means that we don’t always have to be right. We don’t always have to win the argument. We don’t always have to be the one who comes out on top. We don’t always have to dredge up past hurts or other’s past failures. Leave the past in the past and press on toward the goal that is in front of us. And you know what? You will be the happier for it.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to think like this. Help me to consider others better than myself. Help me to resist selfish ambition or vain conceit. Help me to live a selfless life for You, in Jesus’ mighty name, I pray, amen.

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