Devotions ~ Wednesday 5/3

Proverbs 29:15-21
v15 A smack teaches wisdom. A mother must teach discipline to her child. Otherwise, the child’s behavior will cause shame to her.
v16 When wicked people succeed, there is more evil behavior. But, in time, this evil situation will end.
v17 Correct your son! Then he will bring relief to you. You will be glad, because of your son.
v18 People do evil things when they do not know God’s message. But God is pleased with the person who obeys God’s law.
v19 You cannot teach your servant with mere words. He can understand your words, but he will not obey you.
v20 Even a fool is better than a man who speaks without thought.
v21 If you give special luxuries to your servant, he will cause you trouble in the end.

Verse 15
See Proverbs 22:15. This mother is upset because her child is evil. She should punish her child. Then her child will learn good behavior. Otherwise, the child will continue to do evil things, even when the child becomes old.
Verse 16
Wicked people will not always succeed. In time, God will punish them. Then good people will rule the country.
We see that some people are very evil. Perhaps there always seems to be some evil rulers. But, in the end, God will punish evil people. Even the countries that we know in this world last only for a short time. But God’s rule in heaven never ends. So he is always king. (Daniel 4:3).
God rules from heaven. In heaven, nobody is evil. In heaven, nobody suffers. In heaven, there is no pain. See Revelation 21:4.
Verse 17
See verse 15. When your child learns to do the right things, you will be glad.
Verse 18
If someone does evil things, then tell God’s message to that person. Tell that person about Jesus. Tell that person about God’s love. And tell that person that he must invite God into his life.
Some people will obey your advice. They will invite God into their lives. They will learn to do the right things. And they will serve God, because they accepted God’s message.
Verse 19
Sometimes people cannot understand our words. They need to see our actions.
This servant might be a child. So the master must punish his servant as a child. The servant’s punishment should be fair. Then he will learn right behavior.
Verse 20
Think before you speak! Perhaps you need to obtain advice from wise people. Make a good decision! Then, when you speak, your words will be wise.
Verse 21
This servant might be a child. Be sensible when you give gifts to your children. Give gifts that will help them.
This verse is difficult to translate. Other possible meanings are:
· If you give your child only luxuries, he will become a servant. And he will suffer in the end.
· If you give honor to your servant boy, in the end he will become your son.