July 25, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
In this world of which we live today, it seems many take offence over the slightest hint of correction. To be open and direct concerning error is challenged and even contested and in some cases brought to litigation. After all we don’t want to offend anyones tender conscience.
It seems our young and middle aged people have and are being groomed by the philosophies and ideologies of the world making it hard to error and to accept correction.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Compare everything you hear and see and experience with the word of God, namely the King James Bible.
A true friend will not let you continue in error saying silly things like, “I got your back”, or “I’m with you” or “I support you”, while you wallow (whether joyfully or painfully) in sin.
A true friend will rebuke you and tell you what you're doing is wrong and help you out of error and help you recover to righteousness. A true friend may even be so direct as to cause you to be offended wounding your tender mind and heart.
An enemy, on the other hand, will encourage you, kiss you, and promote you to continue through his words of deceit.
David said he would rather have a friend wound him and tell him the truth. He would count that like excellent oil. In fact David said he would pray for such person when they are in need.
Psalms 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
How one receives such instruction is key to recovery. You can become angry and fight it or you can accept it and find truth, righteousness and forgiveness.
Proverbs 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
My friend, God’s word is filled with instruction in righteousness and reproof and rebuke. How you receive it is always up to you.
2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
You have a friend in Jesus, would you listen to Him? Would you read His word and give yourself to prayer?
Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
