August 28, 2024 – The Outside And The Inside

The Outside And The Inside
August 28, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 21:11-13
 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Punishment should never be enjoyable for either party involved. I believe that there are times when children mistakenly believe that parents enjoy punishing them.

    I once read a story about a little girl who was standing up in her car seat next to her dad. The father said, “Sweetheart, please sit down.” The little girl replied, “I don’t want to sit down, Daddy.” The father, with a bit more firmness, said, “Honey, you have to sit down while I am driving; it is not safe for you to stand up.” The little girl, becoming more insistent, said, “But, Daddy, I can’t see out the window when I am sitting down. I don’t want to sit down.” The father, determined to have his little girl follow his instructions, said, “You sit down right now, and I won’t tell you again.” The little girl slid down into the seat and sat there for a while. The father eventually looked over and saw her smiling with her eyes closed. He asked, “What are you smiling about?” She replied, “I am sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside.”

    Punishing wrongdoers, especially when they are adults, should neither be enjoyable nor effortless. The Bible teaches that the punishment of the scornful benefits not only the scornful individuals themselves but also imparts valuable lessons to the willing learners and the wise, showing them how to address issues and what behaviors to avoid.

    Who is the scorner? They are individuals who refuse to “sit down” on the inside. They are scoffers who neither listen nor learn. They insist on having their own way, even at the expense of following God’s path.

      

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

 

     We should never find administering discipline enjoyable. However, we should find peace in it. Peace comes from knowing that if done correctly, God is honored. We should also continue to pray for and reach out to those who are being disciplined. It’s important for us to be obedient to God’s Word both outwardly and inwardly.

 

Are you “Standing Up On The Inside” today,
or obeying God completely?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: August 28, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
  Ezekiel 12 – Ezekiel 16
  Proverbs 21:11 – 13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 114-118
  1 Co. 4