Daily Manna 19 December
KEY VERSE:
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” – (Proverbs 24:16)
TEXT: Proverbs 24:1-20 (KJV)
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
The reason many fail in life is not because they made mistakes; but because they fail to learn from their mistakes and convert their challenges into stepping stones to a greater height. When you hit the rock bottom of your life, make it a new foundation to build and plan a better future. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers, one of the most innovative organisations in the world, said, “People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
The passage today contains several wise counsels and words of encouragement to those who face challenges in life. It starts by warning the pilgrim against imbibing their ways or staying with wicked people to avoid being enticed. The writer encourages believers to utilise the wisdom given to them by God and the counsel of wise men whose experience can be of help in shaping their future. Should they fail and fall as they run the course of life, he encourages them to be confident, rise and try again. Failing and falling are common to man but those who make it to the end are those who have the courage to rise and continue.
We must expect that days of adversity would come to both believers and unbelievers. This is not strange at all. Life is full of ups and downs, mountains and valleys, days and nights, success and failure. When we fail or fall, we should not be discouraged. We should rather take it as a necessary feedback to improve our lives and give us more experience.
The saints we celebrate today who registered much victory through faith and lived wonderful lives made it because when they fell, they rose up again. The Lord is always ready to accept us back but we must not turn “the grace of our God into lasciviousness”.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Be resilient; learn to bounce back when pressed down.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Zechariah 1-5
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Half-Hearted Change – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 19 December 2021
