Proverbs 17 Devotion Revisited

S: Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. -v. 3
A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper! -v. 8
A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. -v. 27

O: A disturbing thought occurred to me that made me really upset! It involved a dear friend and a traumatic experience. I was angry, felt so bad for my friend, and would have wanted to hurt the person responsible not too long ago. Yet, I was more even-tempered. Before, I would have easily lost my temper and done something I would deeply regret. But as "the Lord tests the heart" so was I shown that I would have been in a dark place.

The responsible person may have "prospered" from their "bribe", but the consequences were absolutely devastating. It had far-reaching effects many, many years later, and things can never go back to the way it was beforehand. It terrifies me how a moment that may have only occurred in the heat of the moment can have such impact.

A: That is why we need to be careful with our actions. That is why we need to be so diligent to fight against sin, aka unrighteousness, aka evil. Doing something heinous can easily cause more destruction in return, and a horrible cycle is born. The world needs to truly understand how broken it is, and how much we need something bigger than ourselves to overcome it.

P: Holy and Exalted One,

This broken, unrighteous world needs You. Not each other. Not more fancy-sounding ideas. Just the only One who is pure, righteousness, and without blemish. This world full of so much sin needs something bigger than itself that can overcome it so we can be healed from our trauma. Only You can free us from our pain, our struggles, and our deepest regrets. Only You can give us the love we so desperately seek. Heal us Lord. Set us free. Then may we worship You as only You deserve.

Amen

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