June 20, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 25:8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
Strife; most of the time strife can be avoided when one person or the other decides to let an issue go or, let it slide.
Strife is inevitable even if the one side is righteous. Look at our Lord Jesus Christ, he was innocent in all ways and without sin yet strife came to Him.
Mark 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
An example of that is in the book of John. John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (Read the context in John chapter 8.)
I am reminded of the woman taken in adultery and accused before Christ so that they might accuse Him of breaking the law of God. They sought to strive with Him; they were ultimately put to shame.
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (Read the context in John chapter 8.)
I am also reminded of King Josiah who went out to fight a battle that was not his. He meddled in someone else’s affairs and it cost him his life.
2Chronicles 35:20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. 21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. 23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. 24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
Proverbs 25:8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
There are those who will meddle in strife and even cause strife simply for the sake of strife or because they do not like you or what you believe. They will cause strife in an attempt to force you into compliance to their will. When that happens, walk away.
Matthew 6:34b Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
