December 12, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 12
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2. A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
3. A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5. The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7. The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8. A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9. He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
10. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12. The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13. The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
14. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
16. A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
17. He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
18. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
19. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20. Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21. There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22. Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
23. A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
24. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
25. Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
27. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28. In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Today's Pathway:
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"The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble." - Proverbs 12:13

When a man tells a lie, it almost always gets him into a bigger problem than he had originally. When Richard Nixon was forced to resign over the Watergate incident, the major issue was not the break-in; it was the cover-up that followed it. Had the President admitted what had happened immediately, he probably would have continued in office. However, once he transgressed with his lips, he was trapped, and it cost him the most powerful political position on earth.

Lies will snare a man, but so will gossip and boasting. A man may think evil of someone, but he doesn't get in trouble publicly until he voices his thoughts. Many a criminal has been captured, not because of evidence that he left at the crime scene, but because of his bragging about it to others. Of course, the root problem was not his speech, but rather his actions. If he had not done wrong in the first place, he would not have had anything sinful to talk about! He was a wicked man, he transgressed with his actions and his words, and he was caught in their web.

By way of contrast, the just man is not entrapped, because he does right and speaks right. If he does come in to any trouble, he is freed from it because his actions and words have been pure. No one can make a legitimate accusation against him because he has done nothing amiss, and he will eventually be declared innocent.

Watch what you say. Evil speech can only get you into trouble.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery