“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” Proverbs 19:20
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“It’s really important for your heart that you eat a balanced diet. I’m going to recommend a good dietician for you.” Searching her pockets, she found her college’s card.
“Dr. Feinstein is the best nutritionist our hospital has. You’re in good hands with him.” Linda patted Mr. Burrow’s back while she leading him into the hallway towards the front desk.
The swishing sound of brushing thighs echoed off the walls as they both walked together in silence.
Linda slipped into the break room to grab a quick lunch. Heading towards the vending machine for her favorite powdered donuts; she thought about the mild scolding she just gave Mr. Burrows, the patient who just left.
The fifty three year old man came to see her because he was having pain in his chest and difficulty breathing; Mr. Burrows was also a good hundred pounds overweight.
But, Mr. Burrows wasn’t the only one who walked down that hallway with a concerted effort. In fact, for the last couple of months Linda had been suffering from the exact same symptoms as her patient. Since graduating from medical school, she had also accumulated a few dress sizes along with her degree.
Linda attempted to push down her angst by plopping a mini donut down her throat. Heart issues plagued her medical family history. And Linda’s grandfather’s death from un-diagnosed heart disease is what motivated her to enter this field of medicine to begin with.
Proverbs 19:20 reminds us of the simple truth that knowledge doesn’t do any of us much good if there isn’t any action applied to what we know.
A cardiac surgeon can die of heart failure just as quickly as her patient if she doesn’t properly take care of her life-giving organ. Those thousands of hours of study, practice and vast degrees of accomplishment can’t help if that doctor doesn’t do what she knows to do.
Sadly, many people are also well versed when it comes to the Bible. But, there’s a greater risk for those ‘experts’ to take what they know for granted. The sad truth is that familiarity can truly breed complacency.
When it comes to the things that really matter, it’s not just what you know, it’s what you do with what you know.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Please forgive my spiritual pride. Many times I have spouted verses thinking that I had that issue down pat. In reality, I will never have any sin-issue down pat. My own human nature will rear it’s ugly head every chance that it can get. I can’t really be much help to others with that spirit of pride, anyway.
Lord, I humbly submit my heart and mind to today.
There’s so much instruction in your word, sometimes it can be overwhelming for me. Many times I give up before I even begin to tackle the issues you want to fix in me.
This is the wrong way to go about things. Instead of being overwhelmed by my perfectionism, I should relax in the truth that I will never be perfect, only God is perfect.
Knowing this shouldn’t stop me from acting on what I know to be right.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I’m asking you to help me feel energized by the changes that are happening from my obedience to you.
In Jesus’ precious name, I am a work in progress and the journey can be exciting if I choose to work with you. Today, choose to do just that. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: Proverbs 19:20
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan