January 7, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
Proverbs 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
The Integrity of the upright, and the righteousness of the upright, and the righteousness of the perfect are all phrases concerning direction in life and eternity.
When you read such phrases you must ask yourself “What guides me in life?”
“Am I righteous?” “How can I be prefect?” “Where do I find righteousness?” “How does being upright and righteous and perfect guide me?”
All these are great questions.
How does one become righteous when God’s word says there is none righteous no not one. (Romans 3:10)
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
How can one be perfect and have perfectness guide them? The word prefect is also translated as upright.
When King David sang his song of deliverance from his enemies he sang of being upright and righteous with God and in that uprightness and righteousness God delivered him.
2Samuel 22:24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. 25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. 26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
Positional righteousness comes from trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as your saviour. Practical righteousness and uprightness is maintained through a close walk with the Lord by faith in His word. Do you read the bible?
Proverbs 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
On the other hand, the wicked, the naughty, and the unjust fall and are taken in their naughtiness and eventually perish.
There are two roads, two paths, two directions given in this text. There are two types of people, the righteous and the wicked, the upright and the naughty, the prefect and the transgressors. Which one are you? What road are you on?
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Jesus is the door, the right way. John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
