Cherubim and Seraphim New Life Gospel Church

23/06/2025

WISDOM FOR DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Proverbs 2:21
For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

Good men live best. Your future is best served by wisdom. Security and confidence are results of godly living. Establish your life on solid ground today. Good men also die best.
This proverb is part of a long paragraph (Pr 2:10-22). A person obtaining wisdom and knowledge (Pr 2:10) will have discretion and understanding (Pr 2:11). This foundation will keep him from evil men (Pr 2:12-15) and women (Pr 2:16-19), and it will lead to the lifestyle of good men (Pr 2:20), who are rewarded, but the evil are punished (Pr 2:21-22).
Wisdom has rewards (Is 58:1-11). God promises longevity, peace, and safety to good men. They will be established and live happily. They will remain long after others have been removed. The result is very different from how the wicked are judged (Pr 2:22). And eternity magnifies this contrast even further with the difference of heaven and hell.
The context warns about the danger of wicked men (Pr 2:10-15) and whorish women (Pr 2:16-19). Solomon taught his son to save him from evil companions and to guide him into the way of righteous men (Pr 2:20). In the proverb before you, the reward of good men is described as having a secure future, but God will destroy the lives of wicked men.
Jehovah delivered His chosen people Israel out of Egypt, and He gave them the land of Canaan for an inheritance, rooting all their enemies out of the land before them (Gen 15:18-21; Deut 7:1-3). But the Promised Land was given to them on the condition of their obedience. Rebellion and sin would cause Him to take it away (Lev 26:1-46; Deut 28:1-68). Any Israelite understood this proverb in a very profound and powerful way.
Longevity, peace, prosperity, and safety are the blessings of God upon the righteous. These rewards are mentioned often in Proverbs by Solomon and as well by David in the Psalms (Pr 1:33; 3:2,13-18; 4:10; 9:11; 16:7; 28:2; Ps 37:3,9,11,22,29). A happy life with good days is obtained by obeying the Lord, especially by ruling your speech and treating others kindly (Ps 34:12-16; I Pet 3:10-12). Righteousness brings blessings (Is 3:10)!
Consider God’s first commandment with an attached promise. He demands that children honor their parents, which is much broader than mere obedience. It means to exalt parents and treat them with special reverence at all times, even in thoughts, speech, facial expressions, and support (Pr 20:20; 30:17; Deut 27:16; I Tim 5:4,8). But look at the reward for honoring them – a good life and a long life (Eph 6:2-3)! Believe this today!
The “Midas touch” refers to a foolish legend. But the story of Job is inspired history! God put a hedge around Job to bless all that he did and had, because he was a righteous man that feared God (Job 1:1-5,10). And even though God tested Job severely, He blessed him with more in the end – there is truly a reward for the righteous (Job 42:10-17; Jas 5:11).
But the greatest reward is in the future – living forever in heaven with God, Jesus Christ, the elect angels, and all the just men that have gone there before (Heb 11:8-16). Jesus Christ forsook evil men and women during His life, following the perfect path of God in every aspect of living, and He is now on the throne of God forever and ever. Have you confessed Him to be Lord of the universe and confirmed it by baptism and good works?

19/06/2025

WISDOM FOR DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

You need good friends, and you need to be a good friend. Iron can sharpen iron, and a good friend can sharpen a friend. The iron of a file can make a blade sharper, and a good friend can make his friend better. Are you a good friend? Do you have good friends?
A knife is not sharpened by cloth, bread, wood, plastic, or even gold. A knife may cut and shape these things for them to be more useful, but these things will only dull the knife. Sharpening a knife requires iron or a substitute for iron at least as hard as the knife. Once sharpened, a knife is much more productive with less effort on such things (Ec 10:10).
This proverb is about good friends – they will make you better (Pr 27:9). A good friend will make you brighter, sharper, and more useful. But not any friend will do. Only wise friends make you wiser (Pr 13:20), so good men love other good men (Tit 1:8). Foolish friends will dull and corrupt your life (Pr 13:20; I Cor 15:33). If your father had or has a noble and wise friend, it is wise for you to keep him as your friend (Pr 27:10).
Two are better than one. Solomon taught this in his great book of philosophy, because they sharpen and improve each other in at least four ways (Eccl 4:9-12). They can share successes of labor together, help each other up when they fall, combine complementary abilities for greater accomplishments, and defend against mutual enemies. A good friend is a great blessing. The solitary life is foolish and sacrifices these great advantages.
The noun countenance here may mean a person’s face and appearance (Pr 25:23; I Sam 16:7,12; Dan 1:13-15; Matt 6:16); it may mean the expression of feeling toward another person (Pr 16:15; Gen 31:2; Ps 4:6; 44:3; Acts 2:28); and it may mean the spirit, demeanor, behavior, or conduct of a man (Pr 15:13; Deut 28:50; Ps 10:4; Eccl 7:3; Dan 5:6,9). What is the spirit, demeanor, behavior, and conduct of a man? It is his character.
This proverb deals with the character of a man – a very precious thing indeed. Character is by far the most important measure of a man or woman. Limiting countenance to improving a man’s facial expressions mocks Solomon’s wisdom. A file does not merely make a knife look better; it makes the knife better in its usefulness. Limiting countenance to showing feelings makes little sense, for friends already express approval of each other.
Loners never amount to very much, for they cannot grow (a knife cannot sharpen itself). They become dull and rusty with ignorance, poor habits, and depressed spirits. Loners are always the weakest members of any group, for they continue to rust and decay without the sharpening steel of noble friends. The proverb’s wisdom cannot be overthrown.
Loners waste life. Their lives are a waste. They never sharpen anyone. The few at their funerals are there only out of duty; they feel no real loss, because the loner in the coffin never did anything to improve their lives when he or she was alive. This is a wasted life, and it is in direct violation of God’s command to love others (Mark 12:31; Gal 5:13-14).
Let loners spend more time with good men, and they could be sharpened into useful men, but lazy habits of self-indulgence are hard to break. Selfishness, laziness, and pride keep a man from seeking friends: he is happy rusting by himself. Foolishness, ignorance, and bad habits hinder a man from keeping friends: for he drives them away (Pr 18:24).
Successful athletic training requires competition and/or training with those better than you, otherwise your skills are never tested, you never learn the best techniques, your maximum effort is not called into action, and you deceive yourself regarding your ability. Being a loner and limiting your friends is like preparing for Wimbledon by playing tennis on a computer. Such a choice is guaranteed to result in failure.
God declared in Eden that mankind is social (Gen 2:18). A wife and children provide valuable society, but they are not enough. Rarely do wives sharpen a man like another good man, for that is trying to sharpen iron with a weaker metal (I Pet 3:7). Women may be sharpened by men and in turn sharpen one another, but seldom do they provide the collision of equal or superior metals that results in a bright, shiny, sharp edge on a man.
David described the love of Jonathan as exceeding that of women, though married at the time to the very wise Abigail (I Sam 25:3; II Sam 1:26). Jonathan sharpened David by strengthening his hand in the LORD with spiritual provoking and covenant promises of loyalty and service a woman could not and would not make (I Sam 23:16). These two great friends together, sharpening each other, formed one powerful team for God’s glory.
Job was this kind of sharpening influence among his companions (Job 4:3-4). The brethren from Rome sharpened even the great apostle Paul (Acts 28:15), for there is mutual comfort in believing brethren (Rom 1:12; 15:24). Paul loved Timothy for this effect (II Tim 1:3-5), and he was always thankful for the fellowship of the saints at Philippi (Phil 1:3-5). And our Lord sent teachers out two-by-two (Luke 10:1; Acts 13:2).
Jesus Christ had the tongue of the learned, and He knew how to speak a word in season to those who needed it (Is 50:4). He could and did sharpen many. The hearts of two burned within them when they were with Him only a short time (Luke 24:32). Look at the glorious work He did sharpening Saul of Tarsus to be the apostle Paul (Gal 1:11-24).
For this reason, Jesus Christ ordained churches of saints, where they can help, support, exhort, warn, and rebuke each other to their mutual profit (I Thess 5:14; Heb 3:12-13; 10:23-25). Church members are to bear one another’s burdens and convert one another from errors (Gal 6:1-2; James 5:19-20), which is the sharpening purpose of the church. It is for this reason that Paul warned about those forsaking assemblies (Heb 10:23-25).
The first church, under the Holy Spirit’s powerful influence, showed great zeal toward their fellowship and society of saints (Acts 2:42-47). Look at the close relationship of the members and be convicted to make greater efforts to this goal yourself. Is your church like this church in perfecting one another? If not, why not? If not, what will you do?
There are two direct and important lessons here. You need noble and godly friends to maximize your growth, and you need to be such a friend to others to maximize theirs. Rather than worry why others do not do more for you, or why they do what they do toward you, choose instead to be a sharpening influence in the lives of others, and to charitably look for the best intentions and the desired effect of what they do to you.
If the proverb is true, there are implied lessons you should not overlook. If good friends improve a person’s character, a wise husband will help his wife have time with good friends to be a better wife. This is nourishing his wife (Eph 5:28-29). A wise wife will do the same, knowing her husband will be better for being with good men. And parents will be proactive to promote friendships for their children with other wise and noble children.
A file takes small shavings from the knife blade to make it better, so true friends will sometimes correct, instruct, rebuke, or warn you. Are you willing to take their criticisms to be better? David said he counted it a kindness when the righteous would hit him (Ps 141:5), as beautiful and wise Abigail did when he was too angry (I Sam 25:21-35). Solomon declared the wounds of a friend better than the kisses of an enemy (Pr 27:6,9).
Do you diligently fulfill your role to improve others’ lives (Pr 10:21; 11:30)? Are you a sharpening influence to make them more useful and productive? Do you value and promote relationships with other good men for your own perfection, even if their corrections and exhortations at times might hurt or sting? Let the righteous and wise in the earth be helpful companions for their mutual perfection (Ps 16:3; 101:6; 119:63,79).

13/06/2025

WISDOM FOR DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Proverbs 15:30
The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

Your Creator gave you eyes and ears. He also created and ordained many things for your pleasure by both senses. Are you thankful? Do you make full use of them as He intended, and do you help others do the same? A healthy life and prospering soul require good inputs through eyes and ears. What can you do to lift your spirit and those of others?
Your eyes use light to see the things around you. Blind men wish they could see, and seeing men should thank God for their sight. A dark room needs artificial light and a dark night needs a sunrise to rejoice the heart by renewed vision. Cloudy days and long winters depress the soul, but bright days and spring bring gladness to the heart.
Solomon wrote, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun” (Ec 11:7). Sunrises and sunsets rejoice every heart, and so do all the wonders of creation that can be seen everywhere during the day and in the sky at night. His lesson was to enjoy life while you have it, for there is only darkness in the grave. Young men should follow their hearts and eyes within God-approved limits (Ec 11:9-10).
Great joy filled Jacob’s heart when he saw wagons of gifts from Joseph (Gen 45:25-28). The married lovers in Solomon’s Song were filled with joy as they looked at each other’s bodies. Wisdom teaches us to enjoy the relationships we have and to provide a pleasant view as well. Are you satisfied with spouse and children? Could you please them more?
But better yet is an enlightened view of the gospel, where the glory of God shines forth in the face of Jesus Christ (II Cor 4:6). David prayed that he might behold wondrous things out of God’s word (Ps 119:18). Job knew he would see his Redeemer with resurrected eyes some day (Job 19:25-27), and so shall all of God’s children (I John 3:2). Glory!
It is also true that a kind and pleasant look from a friend or ruler can rejoice your heart by their affection or approval. Such looks between lovers can turn the stomach in a good way. The loving favor of others should be more important than silver and gold (Pr 22:1), and a king’s approving countenance and favor are precious indeed (Pr 16:15; 19:12).
Loving approval in another’s eyes is one of the most pleasant things you can see. The heart rejoices to see acceptance and favor in the windows of the soul of another person. Likewise, a good report is one of the most pleasant things you can hear. It energizes and strengthens the body. Do you cause hearts to rejoice and bones to grow fat?
Your ears are for hearing pleasant sounds and interpreting profitable speech. Fat bones, a metaphor for pleasure and prosperity, are the result. The deaf wish they could hear. Are you thankful for working ears? What do you take in through your ears? What do you provide for others to hear? Do you make others’ bones fat, or do you grind them?
A good report is news that cheers the heart, enlightens the mind, and lifts the spirit. Good news from a far country is like cold water to a thirsty soul (Pr 25:25). Jacob’s heart first fainted when hearing that Joseph was alive in Egypt, but when the report was confirmed, his spirit revived (Gen 45:25-28). A good word can make a heavy heart glad (Pr 12:25).
Do your lips feed others (Pr 10:2,32)? Do others rejoice at the kind and profitable things you say to them? Is your tongue the source of health by wise words you speak to others (Pr 12:18)? Are you a tree of life (Pr 15:4)? Do you praise good conduct? A kind thought not expressed is worthless. Whose bones could you fatten today by a good report?
The best use of your mouth is to praise God, teach wisdom, and spread truth. Do you have the certain words of truth in your mouth to answer others (Pr 22:17-21; I Pet 3:15)? Are you one among a thousand that can show a convicted man his ransom (Job 33:19-26)? Do you boast in the LORD in such a way to give gladness to the humble (Ps 34:2)?
The most blessed ears are those who hear the gospel and keep it (Luke 11:28). Jesus honored them above His mother Mary. They hear the joyful sound and walk in the light of God’s countenance (Ps 89:15). They are no less privileged than the shepherds who saw and heard the angels announce the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord (Luke 2:8-14).
Some say music is the language of the soul. What kind do you listen to? Does it lift your heart to noble and virtuous thoughts and conduct? Or fill it with lustful thoughts while moving your body in sexual rhythms? For true Christians, since their body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, the music entering their sound gates, or ears, should glorify God.
What lessons are here? God created both your eyes and ears, and you should be thankful for the pleasure and profit they provide. He also created and ordained things to see and hear, some natural and some spiritual, but all good. Do you emphasize these godly inputs? How do you influence others? Do you help them see and hear good things?
“The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them” (Pr 20:12). This applies naturally and spiritually. If you can see the beauty of creation, and you can hear its varied noises and sounds, you are blessed. But if you can see and hear the mysteries of Christ’s gospel with understanding, you are more blessed (Matt 13:16).

10/06/2025

WISDOM FOR DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Proverbs 14:19
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Good guys finish first. Sinners finish last. The righteous are rewarded, often in this world, and always in the next. God does not miss a thing, and He rewards men for their deeds. He honors and promotes good men, and He humbles and destroys evil men. He exalts the righteous man, so that the wicked must come to him for counsel, help, mercy, or prayer.
The lesson is not literal bowing, though that does occur at times. The lesson is that God makes a difference in men’s lives based on how they live. He will exalt and promote good men, and He will crush and humble wicked men, so that they are reduced to begging or envying the blessed estates and lives of the righteous. Good guys finish first!
But the Bible teaches there is none good, no, not one (Ps 14:1-3; Matt 19:17; Rom 3:12). Yes, it does teach that, but it also teaches this proverb, so you must rightly divide the word of truth (II Tim 2:15). No man is inherently good in himself, for all are naturally depraved. However, by the grace of God in regeneration, some are given a new nature, and by that new nature they can do much good (Eph 2:1-10; 4:24; Heb 13:16; Jas 4:17).
Grasp the lesson. Men often reason that being good does not pay, for evil men seem successful (Mal 3:14-15). This thinking is dangerous and wrong (Pr 24:19-20; Ps 37:1-40; 73:1-28). Wisdom looks beyond temporary appearances and measures success by broad rules and permanent results. This view shows good guys always finish first. Do not worry about a colleague getting ahead while sinning. He may be at your doorstep soon.
You may say, what about Cain and Abel? The good man had to bow before the evil man and beg for his life. Reader, consider. Abel went to heaven. Cain’s life was hard. The Bible and history despise Cain and honor Abel. Cain will bow before Abel at the great Day of Judgment before being cast into the lake of fire. And the same could be said for the rich man and Lazarus (Lu 16:20). Wisdom does not judge by temporary appearances.
There is a reward for the righteous, often in this world, and always in the next (Ps 58:1-11; 49:14; Mal 4:1-3; I Cor 6:2). The proverb is not a universal rule now, but it certainly will be later. Yet, it is often fulfilled literally in this life. Never fret about the prosperity of evil men, for God can and will reverse things now and/or later. His eyes see the evil and the good, and He shows Himself strong on behalf of the good (Pr 15:3; II Chr 16:9).
Haman thought he was on the political fast track in the Persian Empire, but he was soon bowing – and then hanging – before Mordecai and Esther. Eli was not a good father, so his descendant Abiathar ended up bowing and begging from righteous Zadok. Joseph had his day when both Egypt and his wicked brothers bowed before him in fear. Sisera bowed at the feet of Jael. Job’s three friends had to beg him to pray for their forgiveness.
Young David was ignored and mocked by his older brothers, but they were soon reduced to mere princes in his kingdom. King Saul bowed before him as well. Pharaoh ended his life paying Moses to leave Egypt and begging for breath in the Red Sea. Daniel’s conspiring competitors were eaten by the lions they had planned for him. The Philippian jailor bowed before Paul and Silas, and the city rulers gently begged them to leave town.
Reader, learn the wisdom here. Do not fret about the apparent success of wicked persons around you. God will most certainly bring them to bow before your feet in the great Day of Judgment, but He may also do it now as well. Keep your heart with all diligence, remembering that there is a reward for righteousness (Mal 3:16-18). If circumstances seem contrary to this rule, it is only for other purposes, and it is only for a short time.
If you honor God with your life, He will honor you (I Sam 2:30). Believe it! God will reward you according to the way you live (Ps 18:19-27). Promotion comes from the Lord, and it eventually comes to the righteous (Ps 76:6-10). Do not worry about the corporate ladder. God is able to take you past those above you, if you live righteously before Him.
The Lord Jesus Christ comforted Gentile believers in Asia with the knowledge that He would cause the Jews to bow before them and know He had truly loved them (Rev 3:9). But greater than this, every knee shall bow before the Lord Jesus Christ, even all His enemies and those who blaspheme Him in word and deed every day (Phil 2:9-11). Humble yourself before Him, repent of your sins, and beg for mercy today (Matt 21:44).

05/06/2025

WISDOM FOR DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Proverbs 28:6
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

What is real success? Are you successful? If you trust this inspired proverb, you learn that success is living right regardless of assets and failure is living foolishly regardless of assets. Accept this godly wisdom, and reject the world’s lying ideas of success.
Will you believe these words? The Creator God inspired them, and the world’s most successful man wrote them – the king with the most wisdom and wealth. What hinders you from believing these words of truth? Do you think you are smarter than Solomon?
“Better” indicates a priority for life from God and Solomon, which is a way of teaching wisdom in this book. Do you fear God and crave wisdom enough to believe it? Can you easily put more emphasis on walking uprightly than making money, and keep it there?
Can you be content in poverty? Or must you achieve middle class distinction to be content with uprightness? Please note that the Preacher exalted a poor man in this proverb. David and Solomon taught that a very little with godliness is better than great riches without it (Ps 27:4; 37:16; 84:10; Pr 15:16; 16:8,19; 19:1,22). Embrace this truth.
Walking in uprightness is choosing a lifestyle that keeps your integrity before God and men by always doing what is holy, righteous, just, and noble. Is this your passion? Having God pleased with you and good men rejoicing in you should be your ambition.
Most men live perverse lives, by choosing a lifestyle that disregards and violates the word of God and His precepts. Their choices in life are selfish and wicked, not righteous. This is what the vast majority of all men choose, and it makes God their enemy (Jas 4:4).
This choice between an upright life and a perverse life will lead to your blessing or to your fall, depending on your choice (Matt 7:13-14,21-27; I Tim 6:17-19). No amount of money can save your soul from trouble here or hereafter, so it is of little value to success.
The world measures success by satisfying your eyes, body, and pride (I John 2:15-17). And the devil uses fiery darts to promote it (Luke 4:5-8). Can you reject both influences by faith in God’s word? You choose daily which inputs will lead to your decisions.
Paul confirmed this proverb by writing, “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (I Tim 6:6). And he condemned financial ambition (I Tim 6:7-10). A poor man, living a godly life, and choosing contentment with his position and income, is the true measure of success. God approves him, and he is happy with what he has. What a blessed situation!
Are you thankful for the true success God has given you? If you desire to live a godly life in uprightness and are content with your life, God has blessed you by His grace to have these desires and to have pursued them (Phil 2:12-13). And if you have a source for learning the way of righteousness, a Bible church and pastor, you have all that you need.

04/06/2025

WISDOM FOR DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Are you a peacemaker? God loves peacemakers. Good men love peacemakers. Do you do all you can to end fights, overlook offences, forgive sinners, reunite enemies, and live peaceably with all men? God blesses peacemakers, and it is a large part of godly wisdom.
Where there is fighting, there is hatred. Conflict cannot exist without hatred. Unless love wins, the strife will get worse. Love does not fight – it covers offences and sins. It seeks peace and pursues it. It cannot tolerate strife; it tries to end fights as soon as possible.
Strife, a word not used as much today, means antagonism, enmity, discord, contention, or dispute. It is fighting and conflict. While it is godly to contend for truth against sin and error, this is personal strife caused by the hatred of those who do not practice love.
Where there is envy, strife, enmity, conflict, or tension, all you need do is look a little deeper to find one or both parties guilty of hatred. Fighting and antagonism do not and cannot exist where each person is practicing Christian charity, or the love of the Bible.
But there are wicked persons, with hearts full of malice and hatred, which all men have by nature (Tit 3:3), who delight in stirring up contentions and quarrels by talebearing, whispering, evil surmising, and cursing. These profane persons have no conscience or compassion, like Saul and Shimei, and they will receive a similar fate from the holy and just God and from noble men (Gen 9:20-27; II Sam 16:5-14; I Kgs 2:8-9; Is 29:20-21).
Charity forgives sins and forgets sins, just as God forgives and forgets them. Love hides and conceals sins under the same forgiving cover that Jesus Christ shows every believer. This is covering sin, and it is a rule of life for real Christians (Pr 17:9; Jas 5:20; I Pet 4:8). But hatred, flowing from anger and pride, loves to dig up evil, spread evil information, and create strife and trouble (Pr 15:18; 16:27-28; 26:21; 28:25; 29:22; Jas 4:1).
Can you cover sins like Joseph, whose brothers could not believe his forgiveness, even after many gifts, favors, and passage of time (Gen 45:1-15; 50:15-21)? He put the best perspective on their horrible crime and wept over all of them. How did the Lord reward this one son of Jacob? He gave him a double blessing of two tribes in Israel (Josh 14:4).
Here is a golden opportunity for child training by good parents. Children must be trained and corrected strictly in this matter of hatred and love, strife and peace, covering sins or exposing them. The natural antagonism and competitiveness of children creates a perfect setting for teaching godly traits of love, graciousness, forgiveness, and peacemaking.
Love has many facets (I Cor 13:4-7), but this proverb emphasizes one of them – covering sins. Love overlooks offences against it; hatred gets offended, holds bitterness, or plots revenge. Love forgets and hides the sins of the repentant; hatred remembers them or spreads them to others. Love hears rumors, or even factual news of others’ sins, but never repeats them; hatred craves private information and spreads it to any listeners.
Can you cover all sins, as Solomon taught here? Peter once asked for a limit of seven offences for covering sins, but Jesus pressed him to seventy times seven (Matt 18:21-22). How can you fight others over a few pence, when Almighty God has forgiven you ten thousand talents (Mat 18:23-35)? These things should never occur among those who are Christians, and the severe judgment of the wicked servant was just and appropriate.
Covering sins is not compromise. It is not withholding Scriptural judgment, whether in the family, church, business, or nation. The rightful authority should speedily execute judgment, where God has ordained it. But covering sins should occur when the offences are against you, where there is repentance, or you are not in direct authority.
Hatred of sin is holy and good (Pr 6:16-19; Ps 45:7). But hatred of others, shown by anger at personal offences, ignoring repentance, whispering about sins, and talebearing is murder in God’s judgment (Matt 5:21-26). It proves a person to be without eternal life and living for the devil with a spirit from hell (John 8:44; James 3:14-16; I John 3:15).
What if a person says, “Oh, how I love Jesus,” but they stir up trouble, do not forgive personal offences, ignore repentance by sinners, and reveal sins to others? They are lying hypocrites, for the Bible says they are murdering descendants of Cain (I John 3:10-15). One of the best measures of a Christian is how well they love and forgive (I John 2:9-11).
Look at the character of Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners. He had no respect for the self-loving “righteous,” for He knew the blackness of their hearts (Mark 2:15-17). Choose today to forgive and cover sins in love, so that you might easily and honestly pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matt 6:12).
The lesson here is the basis for true peace – love. Where there is strife, contention, and tension, there is hatred behind the false handshakes and lying words of murderers. It is your wisdom to live this lesson yourself, avoid wicked persons that hate, and train such evil out of your children. Be the greatest peacemaker in the world by practicing the wisdom of this proverb. May the Lord Jesus grant you the grace and wisdom for the task.
The lesson here is also the great gulf between the wise and foolish, between the righteous and wicked, between the sons of God and the sons of Belial. When Jesus met repentant sinners, He freely forgave them; when self-righteous Pharisees observe sinners, they despise them and hate God’s free and full forgiveness of them (Luke 7:36-50; 15:25-32).
Love is the greatest evidence of eternal life. Do you live peaceably with all men, especially other Christians (Rom 12:18; Gal 6:10)? If you believe God loves you, prove it by loving others; if you claim to love God, prove it also by loving others. Since God is love, those that are truly God’s will love others (Jn 13:34-35; I Jn 3:10-24; 4:7-21; 5:1-2).

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