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Day 300 Proverbs 28:15 Proverbs 28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. 16 The prince that wants understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days. 17 A man that does violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him. 18 Whoso walks uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. Integrity is sorely lacking wherever you go, whether it’s in government or the person next door. Everyone wants to work with a person of integrity, yet so few people are honest in their everyday dealings. People believe honest people are easy marks for whatever scheme they have going, and honest people believe everyone is dishonest and don’t trust anyone. How do you get off that merry-go-round? As king, Solomon saw dishonesty wherever he went. He dealt with kings of foreign nations. They ate at his table. They drank his wine. He heard their speech and saw their actions. His remedy for their actions – if they flee to a pit, let him fall in it and no one stop him. King Solomon was also an entrepreneur. He had vineyards and orchards. He made irrigation systems. He was an architect. For those enterprises, he also had people working for him. There again, he saw and heard what people said and did. He saw their dishonest practices. His remedy was the same for them as it was for the rulers of other nations – let them fall in a pit and no one stop them. In other words – their actions would be their undoing. He also saw those who did walk with integrity and knew they walked with God and trusted him in everything they did. As Christians, you see dishonest people every day. Satan puts them deliberately in your path to sidetrack you from your mission. He wants you to fall victim to his many schemes. With all Satan’s schemes, he has not realized he is defeated. He is the one who will fall into the pit, and no one will come to his aid. Does that mean you are to stand idly by and watch your friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and family members fall in the pit of their own destruction? No. It means you are to pray for them. You do not know who is earmarked for destruction and who isn’t. Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. People might see you as an easy mark for their schemes. However, you have the Holy Spirit living in you, and you can discern between good and evil and tell Satan to take a hike. He can’t mess with you. Not today. Let them know your salvation is secure in Jesus Christ. Let’s pray: Father, give me discernment when Satan is coming after me to distract me from the work you called me to do. Let me give those who desire my destruction into your hands. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 6 July 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay