Several uses of the tongue are an abomination to God.

Proverbs 6:16-19 tells about seven things that are an abomination to God. Three of these seven things concern the use of our tongue. If we love the Lord we will not want to displease Him. Let's use our tongues in a way that will bless both God and people.

Proverbs 6:16-19

16 There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.

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Speaking with wicked lips or even listening to them - Both can be sin

Proverbs 17:4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

We all know that using our lips in a wicked or destructive way is sin. But this verse shows that listening and/or paying attention to those who use their lips sinfully can be sin on the part of the hearer. It reveals sinful character flaws when a person wants to hear wrong usage of the tongue. 

We should prayerfully examine ourselves and see if there is any area of our life where we actually incline our ear to someone who uses their tongue sinfully.


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Have you shown kindness to your neighbor lately?

Do we get so focused on serving God in this way or that way that we neglect to show kindness to our neighbors? If showing kindness to our neighbors is off the radar and not in our thoughts then we are missing the broad side of the barn. This is a major teaching in the Bible and setting it aside is neglecting His will for us.

If you have let this teaching slip through the cracks then why not make a plan today to correct it.  Think about an idea as to how you will bring your neighbor good in the near future. And then do it. And in bringing them good do it with pure motives.  Bring them good without any expectation of receiving something  in return. Not only will you bless your neighbor but you will cause God to smile as well.

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Small ability level or great, both can please God equally

As you read the passage from Matthew 25: below take notice of the following. In verse 15 we see that those entrusted with the talents did not all have the same ability level. They were given responsibilities base on their own individual ability. God knowing their ability level did not expect them to accomplish equally. Instead of equal accomplishments God was looking for equal faithfulness.

Perhaps this is not the best example but lets pretend you are on the same basketball team as Michael Jordan. You can give your team a 100% and Michael can give his team a 100%. At the end of the game, in-spite of equal effort, Michael scores twice as many points as you. You were not equally productive but you both gave your best effort. 

In this world the one with greater ability may be favored more. But not so with God. In verses 19-23 carefully compare, word for word, the praise that the master gave to the one who gained 5 talents to the one that gained 2 talents. The praise is the same. Word for word the praise is the same. God was equally pleased with both. Why? God was not equally pleased because of equal accomplishments but because they both were faithful. 

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Eve's temptation

Take a look at these Old and New Testament verses and see if you think there are any parallels to the temptation of Eve in the garden.

1 John 2:15-16
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Genesis 3

5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate

Compare the wording between the 1 John and Genesis.

Lust of the flesh / saw that the tree was good for food

Lust of the eyes / it was a delight to the eyes

Boastful pride of life / the tree was desirable to make one wise (tempted that she would be like God, knowing good and evil)


Based on this comparison do you think the three things mentioned in 1 John are the same worldly temptations that led Eve into sin?

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Anxious about the United States fiscal cliff, the European debt crisis or even Wall Street?

No matter what happens in the economy or how much gasoline cost, God is still able to provide for His children. He created the moon and the stars and hung the earth on nothing. He made the land and the seas and all that swims in it. He causes the eagle to soar and gave it skill to hunt from on high. 

God power is great. God ability to provide for His children is not limited by what happens on earth. Make it your first priority to seek after His righteousness and His kingdom and your needs will be met. (if you want to become God's child right now go to this link. http://nasb-audio-bible-in-a-year.blogspot.com/p/salvation-how-can-i-be-saved-and-go-to.html )

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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David - Gaining hope when alone and afraid

In 1 Samuel 21 David had such a time. David was alone.  He was alone  and fleeing from King Saul with no one to help him. He was at his wits end. He must have been desperate since he fled to Gath. David in the past had killed Goliath. And Gath was the town where Goliath had lived. He ran the risk of being recognized by the Philistines in Gath as a great warrior. And someone did recognize him. 

1 Samuel 21

10 Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying,

‘Saul has slain his thousands,

And David his ten thousands’?”

12 David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath.

Great fear gripped David. He was alone. He had no brother or sister in the Lord to encourage and strengthen him. But David encouraged himself. David speaks about at least two things he did to encourage himself in this situation. David mentions this time in his life in Psalm 56. 

Psalm 56

When I am afraid,

I will put my trust in You.

4 In God, whose word I praise,

In God I have put my trust;

I shall not be afraid.

What can mere man do to me?

One thing David did to encourage himself was to put his trust in God. Another was to remind himself how excellent and trustworthy is the word of God. At the beginning of verse 4 he starts out fearful. He then puts his trust in God and His excellent word and gains confidence.

There are several ways for us to deal with fear. In this devotion we only addressed trusting God and trusting His word. But look at how powerful they can be. They are two dynamic resources for changing our mind from fear to confidence.

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