December 19 Daily Devotional

Bible Readings:

Proverbs 20:1, King James Version:
¹Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:20-21, King James Version:
²⁰Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
²¹For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Proverbs 23:29-32, KJV:
²⁹Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
³¹Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
³²At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Romans 8:5-8, KJV:
⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
⁸So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Ephesians 5:8-11, KJV:
⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
⁹(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
¹⁰Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Ephesians 5:18-21, KJV:
¹⁸And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
¹⁹Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
²⁰Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
²¹Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 6:9-11, KJV:
⁹Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
¹⁰Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
¹¹And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Devotional:

No one may fail to see the effects of man's sin in the condition of the world today. On every hand there is the transgression of the moral law with the dread consequences following. One of the greatest sins of our own land is drunkenness. Homes are ruined, bodies broken, and hearts torn by this abuse of the gifts of God.

And this condition, though recognized by some to be quite serious and attacked by Alcoholics Anonymous and psychiatrists, is laughed at by the general public until intoxication occurs in the home of a particular member of the community and there takes its toli in sorrow and heartache. Is it surprising that men take so lightly this sin and make it the subject of cartoons and glorify it in moving pictures? It is not at all strange when you consider that drunkenness is not chiefly an illness of the body but evidence of the sickness of the sou!. It is primarily a moral problem. God commands that we love him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. He requires that we use all our powers for His glory, including physical appetites with which He has endowed us. He has said that we should eat and drink to His glory, not for self-gratification. He has said that drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:10). So if men look upon this sin in a light manner they are doing what is their custom with every commandment of God. "The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7).

How may Christian people battle this evil? First, by becoming aware of the sinfulness of human nature. Noah was uncirimspect, became drunken, gave occasion to his son to sin, and weakly fell prey to Satan's temptation. Let no one say that he is too strong to fall into sin. Recognize that snake coiled within your bosorn ready to strike at an opportune moment; subdue and control appetites by that power which alone is effective, God's Spirit and Word. Secondly, refuse to join in mockery of God's law, refuse to laugh at sin, refuse to listen to that which disdains Christian conduct. "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11)

We are very happy to make available to you this month these devotionals by the late Rev. LeRoy B. Oliver. They originally appeared in The Presbyerian Guardian during the late 1940's.

The description of his "Your Family Altar" page in The Presbyterian Guardian also fits this Web page: "The page is designed for both private and family use, whichever is most convenient in your case. If you do not have family worship in your home, we hope you will begin, and suggest using these readings. They should not, however, take the place of reading books of the Bible, or the Bible itself, through in regular course." It is those who abide (continue) in the Word who are truly Christ's disciples, who know the truth, and who experience freedom in Him (John 8:31-32). May these devotionals be used for the building up of God's people and to the glory of God.