26: This is not to say that the agrarian lifestyle is evil. It is not wrong to sow and reap, and gather into barns. However, the birds of the air are fed by God Almighty as they stay busy about their daily tasks. In other words, they do not trust in a storehouse of provisions, but in the storehouse of God’s provision. It is not wrong, then, for us to gather in harvest so that we may have food in the winter. The ant, who is given to us as an example in Proverbs, does store up food. Instead Jesus is telling us that we are worth more than the birds. So, if God takes care of the birds, he will take care of us too. Like the birds, we must stay busy taking advantage of his daily provisions. If the crops fail, the barn burns, and our money is stolen, we are in no less a straight than that bird any day of the week.
Daily Bible Reading: Proverbs 22:1-24:34
Daily Memory Verse: Jude 1:10 “But these speak evil of things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.“
Daily Tidbit: Proverbs 22:14 offers some sound advice for men. It is here shown that men will be far more likely to fall prey to sexual lust-related sin if they already have ongoing sin in their lives. The verse states that those who are already an object of God’s wrath will fall prey to this kind of sin very easily. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament, adds a couple of lines which likely were not in the Hebrew. It says: “Evil ways are before a man, and he does not like to turn away from them; but it is needful to turn aside from a perverse and bad way.” Sound advice!
Praise Journal: Heavenly Father, keep us from evil. May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be always focused upon You. You are worthy of our loyalty, worship, and service. Thank You for making Your ministry such a joy! You are wonderful! Thank you for family and friends. Thank You for the encouragement that they bring to our lives. You are the Source of all the best things in our lives. You are worthy to be praised! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.
Prayer Journal Highlights: Pray for a lady’s unspoken request. Pray for a man who has just been diagnosed with melanoma. Pray for a lady having trouble with gout. Pray for a lady having trouble breathing.
Personal Journal Entry #12201