January 2, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs - Known by Your Doings
Proverbs 10:6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
There are two descriptions described here in our text, one is the wicked fool who violently perverts his way and the other is the wise walking upright and is blessed.
Which one are you?
When you read the word violence you may only see the vehement, outrageous fierce person who acts without restraint. But, the word also means oppressed, unjust, cruel, false, wrong and unrighteous. These forms of violence can be performed with subtlety and with pleasantry as their cover. God considers the unrighteous to be wicked. The only way to be righteous is through Christ Jesus our Lord. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.”
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Being violent, wicked, etc., is a heart issue. If one’s heart is not changed, that person is capable of any form of wickedness. The unrighteous can be unjust and cruel and wrong without being vehement and outrageous, and still be considered violent in their heart.
The first mention of the word violence and the violent person is covered in the book of Genesis The world was filled with every aspect of the word violent, the vehement and the pleasant cruelty.
Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
In the book of Romans we see another description of the same type of person.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
However, our text allows us to see the others side of the coin as well.
Proverbs 10:6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
The just, the righteous, are blessed; even the memory of that person is blessed. The blessed receive God’s commandments, and walks uprightly.
We also have a wonderful example of how we, as Christians, should be in the sight of the Lord.
1Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
2Corinthians 5:14a For the love of Christ constraineth us;…
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
