Tag: Proverbs 18:21
Week 14–Day 1– A Fountain of Life?
Scripture reading for March 30: Proverbs 10:11-13 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences. On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.”
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Matthew 12:34-35 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.”
For years I read a chapter of proverbs each day as a spiritual discipline to learn wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to take knowledge and apply it to living successfully. God gave wisdom to Solomon because he asked Him for it. This wisdom was written down to pass on to Solomon’s sons and God’s people. We would do well to listen and learn these simple statements and apply them to our daily lives.
Man’s mouth and the tongue are a source of either blessing or trouble. Solomon taught that the mouth of a righteous person was a fountain of life and a source of wisdom for sound and gracious living. Love in the heart and mouth would cover offenses. But the mouth of evil people, on the other hand, would stir up violence, hatred and strife. Truly life and death were found in the power of the tongue.
Jesus taught that from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Whatever your heart is filled with spills out of your mouth. The human heart contains a treasure–either of good or evil. First responders must watch their mouths and according to these words of wisdom, they must guard their heart for preserving good treasure. Part of our response to the needs of hurting people is using life-giving words and sharing wisdom. What treasure is flowing from your heart?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing to us these truths about our mouths and the power we have to speak life or death to those You send us to. Fill my heart with Your love and wisdom and help me to guard it as treasure. Amen.
Confess and believe
Scripture reading for June 26: Romans 10
“But what does it say? “The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the Word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For “everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”” Romans 10:8-13
Scripture teaches us that our words have power. What we believe in our hearts will flow out of us in the words that we speak. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) This is how we were made by God in His image. God’s Word has power of death and life as well. The ‘Word” of faith in Jesus is meant to bring eternal life. When rejected, God’s Word becomes our judge at the final judgment, producing the penalty of the second death. (the Lake of Fire)
God has chosen that by the preaching of His Gospel message, sinners would be saved when they believe. (Romans 10:14-17) He sends His people, believers, to go into all the world and preach to everyone. When we hear the Gospel message, it has power from God to produce salvation if we choose to believe in our hearts. When we truly believe God’s Word in Jesus, we will then confess with our mouths that “Jesus is Lord!” We will believe that God raised Him from the dead and that He is King and Lord of His kingdom forever. This understanding by faith produces eternal life in us. God promises that everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved! Amen!
How was the Word of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, presented to you? Do you know that you believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, raised from the dead? Have you confessed publicly that “Jesus Christ is Lord?” Have you been baptized in water after believing? (a public confession)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending believers to preach the Gospel message to me. I received that message in my heart and believed that Your raised Jesus from the dead. I confess again today that “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior! Send me to preach the Gospel today that all may believe and confess. Amen!
Taking a courageous stand!
Scripture reading for March 7: Joshua 22-24
Its been said that “if you don’t stand for something, then you will fall for anything.” I am not ashamed to tell people publicly that I love Jesus Christ! I have repeatedly told our children that our family serves the Lord and we are known as followers of Christ. I don’t want the Lord to be ashamed of me because I have been ashamed of Him! (Luke 9:26)
Joshua was giving his farewell address to the people God had allowed him the privilege of leading into their inheritance. He had lived a hundred and ten years and understood their propensity for stubbornness. As he was ready to die, he made a strong declaration of faith to provoke them to serve the Lord. Life and death are in the power of our tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)
The closing chapter records the famous confession of Joshua:”. . .but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) This confession has stood over the years as a beacon to fathers, pastors, and those who fear the Lord. Joshua’s confession brought a positive statement from the Israelites as well! (Joshua 24:16-18) Despite their positive response, Joshua stated: “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end to you, after He has been good to you.” (Joshua 24:19-20)
God knew His people well. He gave Moses a song and God’s prophetic word that told of Israel’s future unfaithfulness. (Deuteronomy 32:15-22) God had warned these leaders so that they could do what they could to preach and prepare the people to avoid the temptations of idolatry and unfaithfulness. Joshua also knew God’s holiness and his jealous nature! (Exodus 34:14) God would not put up with these sins. . Prophesy was God’s way of helping His people and showing them love and care!
Have you made a bold confession of faith in Jesus Christ and received God’s promise of salvation? As a believer, have you been baptized in water to declare your faith? Today is the time to act on God’s Word!
Fulfilled prophesy in pouring out the Spirit!
Scripture reading for January 25th: Acts 2, Psalm 18, Proverbs 18
Acts 2:14-18 “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this was what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on My male servants and female servants in those days I will our out My Spirit and they shall prophesy.”
God speaks to His people and His Word never returns void. As the Jews who were present on this first Pentecost listened to the people who had received the gift of the Holy Spirit speak in other tongues, they assumed, wrongly, that they were drunk with wine. But Peter, now bold with the Holy Spirit, stands to explain and preach the Gospel to all who were present. He pointed them to Scripture in the Book of Joel. Joel had, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, foretold how in the last days God would ‘pour out’ the Holy Spirit on all flesh. Men and women, young and old, servants and slaves; all would have access and this would result in prophesy and the gift of prayer and worship in tongues. God was empowering His people to speak His Gospel Good News to the whole world.
Psalm 18:31-32 “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a Rock, except our God?–the God Who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.”
Prayer: Father God, thank Your for Your gift to those who trust in Jesus of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for pouring it out generously on all those who believe, great or small, man or woman, young or old. Use me today prophetically, to speak in power Your Words of Scripture and tell forth the Good News that will bring eternal life to those who hear and receive. Let the ‘bubbling brook’ of the Holy Spirit flow in me.
Proverbs 18:4 “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Life-giving speech and attitudes!
Scripture reading for August 28th: Ephesians 4, Psalm 22, Proverbs 18
Key Scriptures: Ephesians 4:29-32 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
The Holy Spirit from the Father marks each believer as a redeemed child of God. As God’s children, we are being shaped inside to reflect His love and character to those around us. Our actions and attitudes must begin to line up with the Word. The fruit of the Holy Spirit and Christ living in us will affect our speech and how we treat others made in God’s image. Our speech should now be life-giving, reflecting kindness and grace to our neighbors.
Faith Confession: Father, thank You for marking me as Your redeemed child. Help me to reflect this truth in my attitudes, speech and behavior today.
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Break-through faith!
Scripture reading for March 8: Luke 5, Psalm 49, Proverbs 18
Key Scriptures: Luke 5:17-20 “On one of those days, as He was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the roof. And when He saw their faith, He said, “Man your sins are forgiven you.”
Luke records the story of the paralyzed man who was brought to Jesus by friends on his bed. They could find no way through the crowd, so they went up on the roof and removed some covering and let the man down in front of where Jesus was teaching. Their faith moved Jesus to declare that the man was forgiven of his sin! He was also healed at Jesus’ command.
Faith Confession: Lord, I believe that You are able to heal any sickness or disease. Give me faith and boldness like the friends of the paralytic to break through to You for healing! (Action Step: Pray for someone today for a miracle of healing.)
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
All will give account!
Scripture reading for January 18th: Matthew 12
Key Scriptures: Matthew 12:36-37 “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Words can be spoken easily and carelessly. Words are powerful and penetrate deeply into the souls and hearts of those who receive them. Words can give life and hope or words can condemn and destroy. Words set the course of our lives and the wise are careful to use words because they understand that they must answer to God!
Jesus warned His disciples about their careless use of words. He told us all that we will one day give an account for “every careless word” we have spoken! This should give us cause to stop and think before we speak! James, Jesus’ half brother, tells us, “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger”. (James 1:19) Our words will either bring us reward before the Lord’s judgment seat or cause us to be condemned and suffer great loss!
Observations for over-comers: God gave us two ears and one mouth so we should use each in proportion! “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21