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Weekly Devotional

July 14, 2008
 

Proverbs 19:11  ¹¹ Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19:20-23  ²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future.  ²¹ The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established.  ²² What is desirable in a person is loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar.  ²³ The fear of the LORD is life indeed; filled with it one rests secure and suffers no harm.

            This morning’s devotion comes from the book “God’s Word for Couples”.  The title of this devotion is “Cool and Composed”. 

Some people are unflappable.  They remain cool and composed when the rest of us would go into orbit.  Are they totally emotionless, unable to love or hate?  If you are married to such a person (or if you have such a person in your family), the temptation is to try and pick a fight now and then, just to see if anything rattles that person.  (One could argue that this is what brothers do best).

                Yet the Bible tells us that discreet people do have emotions and do get angry.  Yet they “pass over” the transgressions of others, much as God does with ours, and this is to their glory.  Trying to pick a fight with such people will not work.  They will feel hurt, and then they will forgive you—which will only drive you crazy.

                It is in times such as these that we are reminded of many of the words found in the book of Proverbs.  For example, vs. 20-23 above remind us that while our minds are racing constantly, it is only the purpose of the Lord that really counts.  We should live everyday to the purpose of the Lord, rather than the purpose of our minds, which may lead to us “picking fights” with others.  Living everyday to the glory of the Lord means that we are able to overlook another’s offense, and thereby forgive and serve the purpose of the Lord.

In our prayers this week: 

Alma, the mothers of Doris and Gail (Doris’ mom is coming to live with her), and those in the congregation who are traveling.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Judson