June 13, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. 26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
This portion of scripture, at least until the end of the chapter is more or less a rehearsal of what has already been said in Proverbs. Repetition is a wonderful tool for learning.
Many times in scripture we find the admonition concerning undue respect with people. How often do people hand out respect to others simply because of their station or wealth or some attribute they bear.
Deuteronomy 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
Our Lord has respect to His covenant, and to the lowly of heart and to righteousness. He has no respect to wickedness and sin. Just because a person is rich or has a position in authority or is beautiful or handsome or talented does not merit respect from God.
Remember, God looks on the heart not the outward appearance. Pharaoh had a hard heart. He was everything one would have respect to in this day and age. He had position, and wealth, and ruled an entire country. Yet the Lord saw something else, He saw his heart.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 24:23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. 26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
What belongs to the wise is the ability to see what is righteous and to rebuke what is not. Those who are of the same mind, namely the born again believer, will bless and kiss the lips of those who act in such a manner.
There is one to whom great respect an honour belongs, He is Jesus.
While the heathen rage without wisdom, those who kiss the king do so in righteousness.
Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
We should respect people, but hand out respect in righteousness.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
