Proverbs chapter 18 on the 18^th; I die daily devotionals.

¹ He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

Good-morning, Readers. I love you people, and I mean it. That first verse of our chapter today describes Ander from our post yesterday—evil in the flesh. However, just as Ander was capable of such evil how much more are we capable of good; I pray for Ander. I pray that even though the man is in a cell and will experience justice; that he will not live in that jail the devil calls… home.

2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt
also comes, And with dishonor comes scorn.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 To show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.

“Is jail my home?“

These proverbs are teaching me that every soul is in a jail cell, yours and mine, but the significance of my learning is how our personal beliefs and faith expresses the nature of that cell. Is jail my home, or is it freedom? Will freedom be my home, or will jail? Wisdom would have me know—and I think you as well—that my belief and faith—in light of the book of prophecy—convicts me of present sin all the while providing my release to those “cuffs” if-you-will, its grasp to hold me in that state of which is presently convicting me.

6 A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty
morsels, And they go down into the 
innermost parts of the body.
9 He also who is slack in his work
Is brother to him who destroys.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is safe.

So because I have the capacity for all sorts of evil, and good, my present condition contains the essence of law. The essence of law is alive in me to define the nature of my being, and with it the identity of my spirit and where I belong. So right now my conscience is stable in that my focus is writing out this devotional, but as soon as I take my focus off writing and think about the state of my surrounding—my room, where my “office” is—I can see responsibilities I’ve neglected, such as taking out the trash and vacuuming the carpet. At which point the nature of my conscience shifts to that essence of law that inspires me to respond or not respond, to which then consequences soon reveal the state of my room in reflection to the condition of my soul.

11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Before destruction the heart of man
is haughty, But humility goes before honor.
13 He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
15 The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

You be the judge

You being the judge—in light of the information I’ve given—would my soul be healthy or unhealthy; if I just left my room in the condition it’s in? It might not be severe at this time, but as days become years of neglecting my responsibilities will then result to a person who’s made their home into a jail—the devil’s home. And not just for me, mind you, but my wife also.

16 A man’s gift makes room for him
And brings him before great men.
17 The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him.
18 The cast lot puts an end to strife
And decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won 
than a strong city, And contentions are
like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his
stomach will be satisfied; He will be
satisfied with the product of his lips.

essence of law

Today’s I die daily devotional is a life changing one for me as I think about what all this means, and I pray you’ll see the results of the Spirit of God at work in me… a fellow believer and brother of the faith. My questions to you, my reader, are…

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
²² He who finds a wife finds a good thing
And obtains favor from the LORD.
²³ The poor man utters supplications,
But the rich man answers roughly.
²⁴ A man of too many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

• What is the essence of law telling you about your soul?
• How should you respond in light of the Word of God?
• When will you respond?
• Who might you be affecting?

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Recourses

Uhhh,,, well, none today.