Proverbs 16:24

Verse of the Day Devotion: Proverbs 16:24 

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” – Proverbs 16:24    

Have you ever gone through tough times?  I can assure you I have.  I can recall many instances in my life where things have not gone in any way like I wanted.  It can be brutal.  I can remember a time which particularly changed me.  I started attending a new church in Homestead, Florida.  The message that Wednesday evening caused me to go through much reflection of my past.  After church was dismissed I was just sitting there with my head down praying.  After a period of time, a man and his wife came up to me and asked if everything was OK.  I was honest and told them I was going through a difficult time.  I was at the time an extreme introvert which made it difficult for me to open up.  I also had trouble with making new friends because of how my parents raise me.

I was unsure how this would go, but they did not rush me at all while we sat and talked.  They were extremely kind and spent much time with me.  They listened and then helped me to work through my issues.  Then, after they prayed for me, they invited me to their home that weekend for a time of fellowship with them and other people from the church.  I did go and made several new friends that helped me going forward to move beyond my childhood and on to a new way of life.

And this blessing happened because they took the time to just be with me, encouraging me to open up and understand they wanted to be my friends.  These people at The Rock Church of Homestead did more for me than anyone else had up to this point.  I made so many friends on the base who also attended the Rock Church. There were others as well who opened their homes to me and said I was welcome there any time.  The couple eventually offered me a room to stay at once I left the Air Force.

This was made possible by God who brought us all together through their kind and loving words which brought a wonderful change in my life.  This shows the impact kindness can have on someone.  As our focus  verse says, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24.  Their words and actions did much to heal my spirit from the harshness I grew up with as a child.  Their words were so sweet and did much to heal the sores in my heart.  We ended up parting ways after I got married and moved away.  But I will never forget all the wonderful people I met for the love they showed me and the healing I am sure they had no idea they were a part of.

This was a difficult devotion to write, however, I want to encourage us all to speak kind and pleasant words to everyone God brings our way.  We do not know what many people have endured and/or are currently going through.  They may exhibit anger and hurt because of things inside them, or they hide their feelings so we cannot see the hurt. This is why we need to always speak kind and loving words and refrain from angry and negative speech.  As we also read in proverbs, “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” Proverbs 18:4. Let us strive for all our words to be as bubbling brooks and sweet honey which brings healing to the hearts and bones of all we meet.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Psalm 133:1

Verse of the Day Devotion: Psalm 133:1

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” – Psalm 133:1   

David here is declaring that it is a very good thing that we live together in unity.  Throughout history, unity is a pleasant and beautiful thing.  That we are in unity with our brothers and sisters brings peace and satisfaction.  For through unity we have peace and contentment.  It is good in itself, not just bringing about good results.  It is pleasing to God and consistent with His will for us.  Notice that it is both good and pleasant.  Joseph Benson in his commentary on the psalms has the following observation.  “Many things are good which are not pleasant, and many pleasant which are not good. But unity among brethren, whether civil or religious, is productive both of profit and pleasure.”  I believe we can all think of situations that are either one or the other, but not both.  However, it is living together in unity that brings both good and pleasant conditions which is a wonderful way of life.

So, who are the brethren?  In the time of David it was Israel, for they were all descendants of Abraham.   And I believe that the proselytes, those who were not Abraham’s descendants but became followers of God and the law by denying their former lives along with their gods, are included in this as well.  For, in essence they were adopted into Judaism.  Today, it is the corporate Church, the Body of Christ.  It is all the people of God, all the followers of Christ our Redeemer, for we are all a part of the Body of Christ and have the same Father.  We should all be unified in God’s Word.  What He has spoken to us, we all should live by, and not attempt to put our own interpretation based on modern culture.  Paul appealed to the church in Corinth regarding this.  “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10.  Paul understood that though we may not exactly agree on every subject, but we must strive to present a unified message.  We may disagree on some minor points, but we should not allow these differences to create divisions within the body. 

And this is accomplished by us loving each other at all times.  “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colossians 3:12-14.  Notice the last part.  We must all put on love, because love perfectly bonds us together in unity.  Lack of love can be a recipe for arguments and division.  And there is a very specific reason why this is so important, especially in this modern age. 

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-23.  Jesus is saying hear that we are to be one in Christ because He and the Father reside in us.  And because of this, we, being in unity with them can be in unity with each other.  And why is that important?  Note the last part of verse 23.  “so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” In essence, so that the world will see our unity and love, and thus believe themselves that this word must be true and accept it.  And is that not our calling in this world?

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.