The Word for Today with Ray: 2025

Friday, January 3, 2025

Poverty and Shame - Proverbs 13:18

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “A wicked messenger falls into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health”, and in chapter thirteen and verse eighteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction” where we read,

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction:

but he that regards reproof shall be honored.

The verse begins, “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction:” Solomon began with the word, “poverty” or “impoverishment or poorness” “and shame” which means “and disgrace, dishonor, ignominy, reproach and confusion” “shall be to him” or “will exist toward him, the person whether male or female” “that refuses instruction” which means “who lets go of, ignores, avoids and neglects discipline, correction and chastening”. Solomon said the result of a person ignoring and neglecting discipline and correction is impoverishment and disgrace.

The verse continues, “but he that regards reproof shall be honored.” Solomon added the words, “but he that regards reproof” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the person whether male or female who keeps, guards, observes and gives heed to rebuke, correction, punishment and chastisement” “shall be honored” or “will exist as rich, honorable and glorious”. Solomon said the person who observes and gives heed to correction and chastisement will be considered rich and glorious.

When we think through Solomon words in this verse, we learn about the consequence for ignoring and neglecting correction and discipline. Impoverishment, reproach and dishonor await people who do not want to listen to good advice and direction. On the other hand, people who give heed to and observe rebuke and correction will be glorified and considered rich by others. God wants us to have an “honorable” life, and He gives His instruction and guidance to us through His word – the Bible. He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us the value of taking heed to correction and discipline according to His Divine manner and way.

Next time Solomon says, “the desire accomplished is sweet to the soul”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Wicked Messengers Falling Into Mischief - Proverbs 13:17

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “every prudent man deals with knowledge: but a fool lays open his folly”, and in chapter thirteen and verse seventeen of Proverbs Solomon says, “a wicked messenger falls into mischief” where we read,

A wicked messenger falls into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

The verse begins, “A wicked messenger falls into mischief:” Solomon began with the words, “a wicked messenger” or “an angel, envoy or dispatched deputy who is criminal, guilty of crime, evil and hostile to God” “falls into mischief” which means “is cast down, prostrated, settled and wasted away into disagreeableness, unpleasantness, evil, unhappiness and misery”. Solomon shared how an envoy who is criminal, evil and hostile to God becomes cast down and prostrated toward unpleasantness and misery.

The verse goes on to say, “but a faithful ambassador is health.” Solomon continued with the words, “but a faithful ambassador” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover a trusting envoy or one who serves as a herald” “is health” which means “exists as a cure, profit and medicine”. Solomon said a person who serves as a trusting envoy becomes a cure and medicine to others.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how there is a devastatingly miserable consequence to people who act as evil envoys, however, people who are trustworthy heralds become a cure and medicine. God's desires is for everyone to enjoy a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we surrender our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us to be “faithful ambassadors” who become medicine to those around us.

Next time Solomon says, “poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Prudent Men Dealing With Knowledge - Proverbs 13:16

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Good understanding gives favor: but the way of transgressors is hard”, and in chapter thirteen and verse sixteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “every prudent man deals with knowledge” where we read,

Every prudent man deals with knowledge: but a fool lays open his folly.

The verse begins, “Every prudent man deals with knowledge:” Solomon began with the word, “every prudent man” or “each, all, the whole and everyone of the people whether male or female who are skillful, cunning, crafty, sensible and shrewd” “deals with knowledge” which means “fashions, accomplishes, makes and produces perception, skill, discernment and wisdom”. Solomon shared how each and all the people who are sensible and shrewd fashions and produces perception, discernment and wisdom.

The verse continues, “but a fool lays open his folly.” Solomon added the words, “but a fool” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover a stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton and arrogant person” “lays open” which means “spreads out, displays and scatters” “his folly” or “his, the foolish person's, silliness and foolishness”. Solomon said a person who is stupid, arrogant and a simpleton reveals and openly displays their foolishness.

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Solomon how people who are skillful and cunning fashion and produces skill and wisdom, however, a foolish person reveals their silliness. God has a plan for our lives which includes receiving His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins to be our “Savior and Lord”. When we surrender to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us by His Holy Spirit to accomplish discernment and to avoid displaying foolishness like the simpleton and dullard.

Next time Solomon says, “a wicked messenger falls into mischief”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Good Understanding Gives Favor - Proverbs 13:15

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “the law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fifteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “good understanding gives favor” where we read,

Good understanding gives favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.

The verse begins, “Good understanding gives favor:” Solomon began with the words, “good understanding” or “pleasant, agreeable, rich, valuable, appropriate and becoming prudence, insight, cunning, craft and sense” “gives favor” which means “puts, sets, bestows, grants, ascribes, devotes, consecrates and dedicates grace, charm, elegance and acceptance”. Solomon said pleasant and agreeable insight and prudence provide grace and acceptance.

The verse goes on to say, “... but the way of transgressors is hard.” Solomon continued with the words, “but the way” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the path, journey, travels, direction and manner” “of transgressors” which means “belonging to people who are deceitful, offensive and faithless” “is hard” or “exists as perpetual, constant, ever-flowing, permanent and enduring”. Solomon said the path and manner belonging to people who are deceitful and faithless exists as perpetual and permanent.

When we think through Solomon's words in this verse, we learn how people who have valuable insight are provided with grace and acceptance, however, people who are deceitful and faithless have a constant and perpetually difficult life. God wants us to have a good life according to His perfect plan and will, and when we gain His valuable insight concerning our salvation through His Son Jesus, we can receive Him as our personal “Savior and Lord” so our sins will be forgiven, we will inherit everlasting life and be kept away from the difficult permanent and enduring “way of transgressors”.

Next time Solomon says, “every prudent man deals with knowledge”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The Law of the Wise - Proverbs 13:14

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “whosoever despises the word shall be destroyed: but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fourteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “the law of the wise is a fountain of life” where we read,

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The verse begins, “the law of the wise is a fountain of life, ...” Solomon began with the word, “the law of the wise” or “the direction, instruction, custom and manner belonging to people who are skillful, shrewd and prudent” “is a fountain of life” which means “exists as a flowing spring or source of fresh active living”. Solomon said the direction and instruction of people who are skillful and shrewd exists as a spring of fresh active living.

The verse continues, “... to depart from the snares of death.” Solomon added the words, “to depart” or “to turn aside, be removed and taken away” “from the snares” which means “separate and apart from the gin, trap, bin and lure” “of death” or “pertaining to pestilence, ruin and dying”. Solomon said “law of the wise” which exists like a “fountain of life” causes a person to be removed from the trap of destruction and “death”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how the “law of the wise” is extremely important for us to hear and obey. “The law of the wise” not only becomes a source of daily living, but it also keeps us from the path of destruction and dying. God wants us to have His “law” and “wisdom” in our lives, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins. When we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to adhere to “the law of the wise” so we may enjoy our lives and keep us protected from destructive paths.

Next time Solomon says, “good understanding gives favor”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Despising the Word - Proverbs 13:13

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life”, and in chapter thirteen and verse thirteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “whosoever despises the word shall be destroyed” where we read,

Whosoever despises the word shall be destroyed:

but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.

The verse begins, “Whosoever despises the word shall be destroyed:” Solomon began with the word, “whosoever despises the word” or “whatever person whether male or female holds in contempt, insignificant and utterly contemns counsel, advice, speech, utterance, business, acting and manner” “shall be destroyed” which means “will be bound, spoiled, offended, corrupted and ruined”. Solomon shared how the person who holds counsel and advice in contempt will be corrupted and ruined.

The verse goes on to say, “but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.” Solomon continued with the words, “but he that fears” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the person whether male or female who morally reveres, reverences and holds in awe” “the commandment” which means “the law, ordinance, precept and code of wisdom” “shall be rewarded” or “will be completed, restored, recompensed and requited”. Solomon said the person who reveres and has awe toward the ordinance and code of wisdom will be requited and recompensed.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon the importance of listening to and obeying good counsel and advice, and no one gives better advice than Jehovah God. He gave us His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, and when we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us not only the value of observing good advice, but also the reward that comes because we hold His “word” in reverence and awe.

Next time Solomon says, “the law of the wise is a fountain of life”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…