Bible Reading:
Proverbs 18:14-24
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Devotional:
Spirits! The spirit of man is tough but tender. It carries him through times of illness. It sustains him during difficult seasons. On the other hand, it can easily be bruised. A brother who is offended is alienated. If a man's spirit is wounded he is a broken man. The wisdom and understanding of the Lord cause us to recognize our need to respect others and to treat them with dignity. We need as parents especially to pray that God will help us not to wound the spirit of a child! We must be alert, for example, to the degree of awareness a child has to the casual comments which, although not even directed to him, find their way into his inner consciousness and rankle and wound.
Wives! God gave man a great favor when He made woman to be his helper. This is true in a general way for all mankind, because marriage is given to all for the orderly managing of society. God, in His common grace, has granted much joy to men through marriage. How special, though, is the Christian wife who seeks for her husband good and not ill all his days. Men, never take for granted this favor God has given you!
Friends! Friends, too, are a blessing from God. Friendships are reciprocal. Each man reaches out and the hands touch. A relationship that grows up from mutual interests and ideals and purposes can be a relationship that is even closer than some family relationships where there are differences of belief and interests. Abraham was called a friend of God (James 2:23). And Jesus told His disciples that they were His friends (John 15:15).
Spirits, wives and friends! These verses seem to deal with different subjects, but they are all concerned with interpersonal relationships. How good God is not only to give us people in our lives to assuage the loneliness of the human heart, but also to give us directions for improving the relationships we sustain with them!
We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."
Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.
Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.
© 2024 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church