The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (32 page)

April 28

Make Amends

     
Fools mock at making amends for sin,

          
but goodwill is found among the upright.

I once read a sharp remark by an atheist stating, “If a Christian is forgiven for stealing a cow, his neighbor is still left without his cow.”

Wrong! I hope we as Christians don’t really live like this atheist thinks we live. That would be wrong.

I am so thankful that the Lord has forgiven us, paying the penalty for the guilt, presence, and power of sin. But of all people, we are to live above reproach. Whenever and however possible, we are to pay our debts, and we are to make amends.

If you borrow our neighbor’s lawn mower and it breaks, fix it. If you borrow somebody’s car, fill it up with gas when you give it back. If you borrow an egg, pay it back with two. If you hurt someone’s feelings and you know it, don’t just ask God to forgive you, tell them you’re sorry. Ask them to forgive you too. Really, it’s good for you and good for them.

In Texas they call this “mending fences.” In Missouri they call this “making it right.”

In the Bible, Jesus called it, “Whatever you want others to do to you, do also to them” (see Matthew 7:12). And it’s also called “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Because “goodwill is found among the upright.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

All right, let’s really bring this home to roost. The religious leaders in Jesus’ time made religious excuses for not helping their parents. Jesus told them that was wrong. We also can get so caught up in our activities at church or with our kids that we neglect important things like “honor your father and mother.” That’s a command. If your parents are getting older, it is your God-given assignment to help them. I know it’s not easy, but God didn’t say it would be easy; he just taught us that it is right.

One Year Bible Reading

Judges 8:18–9:21; Luke 23:44–24:12; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 14:9-10

April 29

When Wrong Seems Right

     
There is a way that seems right to a man,

     
But its end is the way of death.

This proverb could be the headline of today’s newspaper. We are a society of people who think we can make up the rules as we go. But in reality, because we’re breaking God’s laws, it’s killing us.

But now let’s apply this proverb not just to the external godless world around us, but to our own personal internal worlds. This may surprise you, but I feel that the Lord wants us to apply this principle to bitterness. Yes, bitterness. Bear with me on this.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Somehow (in a distorted way) we sometimes think that retaining anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness is the right way. We think it’s right because it seems to protect our rights.

Here’s how it happens. We get hurt or angry. We then nurse that emotion because someone did wrong, and that
was
wrong. So we relive it over and over. But the Bible warns us that this becomes a root of bitterness that defiles many, and so it does. It affects our thought lives, our personalities, our relationships, and because it’s disobedience to God, it affects our relationships to him.

So the moral of this is be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving just as God for Christ’s sake forgave you (see Ephesians 4:32). This is the right way—right for us and right for others.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Can you say, “Yes, I have allowed bitterness to ruin my life”? Would you like to break free? In Matthew 5: 44 (
NKJV
) Jesus gave an amazing formula. If you truly try it, it is guaranteed to give you victory.

1. Love your enemies.
   
2. Bless those who curse you.
   
3. Do good to those who hate you.
   
4. And pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
   

Now, I find this impossible to do going from one to four. So I work the formula backwards, meaning the first step to victory for me is number four: pray. Once I start praying for the person, the Lord softens my heart. Then he shows me some way to bless the person, and eventually I find the ability to love.

One Year Bible Reading

Judges 9:22–10:18; Luke 24:13-53; Psalm 100:1-5; Proverbs 14:11-12

April 30

Heartache

     
Even in laughter the heart may ache.

I love the tender acknowledgement of heartache in this proverb. We are all very complex, aren’t we, especially us as women? We women multitask even with our emotions. There are many women all around us carrying a world of grief. They may look fine on the outside, but sometimes just one inch below the surface they have a broken heart.

My friend has a son who she fears is living on the streets. Seldom an hour goes by that she doesn’t worry if he’s cold or hungry or in danger. Outwardly she presses on, goes to work, goes to church; yet her heart aches.

Another friend has an alcoholic husband. Life at home is harsh and lonely. She’s worried about the future. She silently slips into church, sits in the back row and sings the songs, but inwardly her heart aches.

When the checker at the store is slow, or you hear yelling in the apartment next door, or your coworker is irritable, don’t just respond with impatience or annoyance. Maybe, just maybe, behind the masks they wear, just one inch deep, their hearts ache.

Isaiah 53:3 tells us that Jesus was “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (
NKJV
). This reminds me that when he looked into the eyes of the hopeless single mom or the struggling teenager, he didn’t just see their pain, he felt it.

“Lord, please give me, give us, eyes to see the pain and to care and to be a source of your sweet comfort and hope.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Does your heart ache? Can any good ever come from suffering? John Kohlenberger, a gifted scholar, was diagnosed with advanced cancer. As a scholar, he had kept himself away from people. But his illness transformed his relationships. Instead of superficial contacts, he developed deep close bonds with others going through cancer. “My only regret,” he said, “is that it took me fifty years to get here and that it took cancer to open my eyes.” Cancer, caring for a handicapped child, or widowhood puts you in a “club” with others going through similar hardship. Will you look around and see who needs you to pray for them and give them words of comfort and hope?

One Year Bible Reading

Judges 11:1–12:15; John 1:1-28; Psalm 101:1-8; Proverbs 14:13-14

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