Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

Proverbs 23:29-30
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
The abuse of alcohol is clearly not a new problem. These verses reveal a deep understanding of a challenge which continues to test our modern world. It is amazing to see these proverbs written so long ago addressing the issue with such power.
Some people might think of the writer of Proverbs as a killjoy, but his purpose was exactly the opposite. His intention was to kill misery, because he could see that alcohol could so easily ruin people’s lives. In the following verses he talks about how wine can, when drunk to excess, bite like a poisonous snake. He mocked the sheer stupidity of drinking to excess. It makes the drinker look crazy and causes nothing but brokenness and sadness.
The writer has a list of things which need to be avoided at all costs: overeating, idleness, prostitutes, arrogance and bad company, as well as drinking to excess. He isn’t willing to negotiate. This might sound harsh, but when we recognise that these are words of wisdom, and that they come from the heart of a God who loves us, we can follow them in the knowledge that they will be a blessing not only to us but to all those around us as well.
Question
What could you do to help those in your area who have a problem with alcohol?
Prayer
Lord God, I pray for those who are struggling with alcohol abuse in my own community. Please show me ways in which I could be a blessing to them. Amen

Proverbs 23:17-18
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
The writer of Proverbs tells us here that we shouldn’t envy sinners. The tenth commandment goes further and tells us that we shouldn’t covet our neighbour’s house, wife, servant, ox, donkey or anything else that they own (Exodus 20:17). All envy or covetousness is wrong.
Envy is a potential problem for all of us because it has the ability to creep up on us subtly. It doesn’t announce itself with a fanfare but slowly worms its way into our thinking. We see our neighbour’s beautiful house, lovely family and fabulous garden and start to wish that all those things were ours. Very quickly our envy can be destructive.
The writer of the Proverbs has the answer. He tells us to look up and to look forward. Firstly, [itals]look up[end itals] to God. Remember that everything we own is a gift. We have no right to expect anything from Him, so we should spend our time fearing Him and putting Him at the centre of our lives. And secondly, we should [itals]look forward[end itals], knowing that there is a rich reward for anyone who trusts God.
Envy only ever has the ability to rob us of life, so it is important to have a strategy to confront it. So remember, when you are tempted to be envious, and we all will be, [itals]look up[end itals] and [itals]look forward[end itals].
Question
When were you last envious and why? How did you respond?
Prayer
Lord God, thank You that You are always seeking to protect me from those thoughts which could spoil my life. Amen

Proverbs 22:13
The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”
I love the book of Proverbs. There is so much blunt truth, and here the writer laughs his socks off at the sluggard or lazy person who has always got an excuse for doing nothing. On this particular day, he fears that there may be a lion outside and is concerned that he may get killed. He considers that he’s got the perfect excuse for staying at home and doing nothing.
The writer of these Proverbs spent a lot of time reflecting on lazy people because he was so fearful of the disease of laziness. He saw that it led to poverty and distress and was keen for everyone to focus their attention on ants, who were the exact opposite. In Proverbs 6:6, he wrote: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” Ants are always busy and effective in their work, and we can all learn from them.
I’m not accusing you of laziness! I’ll leave you to reflect on the issue, although I’m inclined to think that we all have areas of our lives where we can let laziness creep in – but maybe that’s just me! However, it’s good for us to recognise that God has got work for us all to do, and His blessings will only pour into our lives as we fully commit ourselves to working for Him. It’s no wonder that the writer is so anxious that people shouldn’t waste their lives on being lazy!
Question
Are you ever lazy, and if so what do you learn from the book of Proverbs?
Prayer
Lord God, help me to learn from the example of the ants, and to work effectively for You. Amen

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
On the face of it, it seems really surprising that Jesus should be describing His followers as the light of the world. Surely that was His role? But Jesus was recognising that the only way in which people can see His light is if His followers reflect it into their communities.
How then will people see this light shining from our lives? Jesus says that it happens as people see our good deeds. I have seen this happening time and again through Christians getting involved with the work of food banks, street pastoring, homeless projects and neighbourhood befriending schemes, to name but a few. It is important that our actions are complemented by talking about Jesus, but it is so often the actions that show our message has credibility.
We all have very different opportunities to shine the light of Christ. Your unique network of relationships will enable you to bring the light to places which may not be reached by anyone else. So, however minor and insignificant your good deeds might seem to you, keep them up and thank God that His light will shine through you.
Question
How has God enabled you to share His light with others?
Prayer
Dear Lord, strengthen me each day so that I will live in such a way that others will see Your light. Amen

Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
I have often heard people say that they are happy for individuals to have a Christian faith so long as it’s a private matter. For Jesus, it was unthinkable that following Him could be kept private. It can’t be done, because those who live close to God will be fundamentally affected by their faith, and this will inevitably exhibit itself in the way they conduct themselves. Like salt, their influence will have an impact on all those who come into contact with them.
Salt is very different from the foods that it accompanies. It is useful and tasty precisely because it is different. So too as Christians we are encouraged to be different from the society in which we live. Our morality and standards are not shaped by our society but by God, so it should never be a surprise when we stand out from the people around us.
One of the key characteristics of salt is that it is a preservative. With refrigeration, we are hardly aware of this function of salt, but until recent history it was of crucial importance. Jesus calls on His followers to get deeply involved in the life of society in order to uphold high standards.
It is high praise when someone is described as ‘the salt of the earth’, and we should all aim to be precisely that.
Question
In what way are you able to be salt in your community?
Prayer
Lord God, help me to live so close to You that Your loving, gracious influence touches those around me. Amen