Daily Devotional For Saturday, April 25, 2026
Good morning Southside! Today, our devotional comes from Proverbs 25:11-12:
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver, is a word spoken in the right circumstances. (12) Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, Is a wise reprover to a listening ear” (NASB).
One of the necessities in reading Proverbs is to be able to see when something is being referenced as real or metaphorical. “Apples of gold” is not a reference to apples made of gold or apples covered in gold. It is a phrase referencing jewelry or artwork. In the second line of verse 11, the word translated as “word” is uncertain. It is the Hebrew word [דָּ֝בָ֗ר, davar]. Based on Proverbs 15:23, scholars suggest that this may mean “a phrase well turned.”
There is nothing more essential to the listening process than a willingness to learn and change with that learning. So, many people today are “set in their ways” even when it is obvious to them they should change. They are hearing but not listening. They are hearing but not doing. Protestant Reformer John Calvin wrote this:
“Show me, if you can, an individual who, unless he has renounced himself in obedience to the Lord’s command, is disposed to do good for its own sake. The Christian must surely be so disposed and minded that he feels within himself it is with God he has to deal throughout his life” (Source: John Calvin, Institutes, 3.7.2).
The willingness to change is essential to our walk with the Lord. If I were to ask you, “Are you willing to change,” what would your answer be? If you say, “yes,” then let me ask you some follow-up questions:
- When you come to worship, do you sit in the same seat or pew each time? Why?
- Do you typically buy the same kind of vehicle from the same manufacturer?
- Has the furniture in your residence been in the same spot? I have two friends whose wife loves to switch things up all the time. He had to work late one night and when he got home, he wanted to surprise her. So, he left all the lights off. As he entered their master bedroom, he ran to go jump on their bed. Instead of landing on the bed, he landed on their bedroom floor. She had rearranged their bedroom that day while he was at work. I am not suggesting that we change just for change's sake, but for Christ’s sake. That is one litmus test of discipleship.
- If you worked in a place where everyone had a cubicle to do their work and one day you came to work, and all the cubicles were no longer aligned one behind the other, but out in the middle in a circle with the walls on them down, would you welcome that or be fearful of it?
Most people fear change due to its unpredictability. We like to know ahead of time the outcomes. We like stability. Even when we are engaging in a conversation, we want the person to agree with us, not against our opinion. Therefore, we tend to develop friendships and relationships with those who cater to us and agree with us. But for any relationship to have depth, it must have some tension. I often say, “If two people agree on everything, one of them is not needed.” My wife and I do not agree on everything but we do experience the maturing truth of Proverbs 27:17. Most of us do fear the unknown because we fear we might fail at something, especially change. We often let the paralysis of analysis enslave us. This is why we must listen to the Lord, who is always moving us to change to become more like Him.
When we go to Scripture we see that many of God’s leaders and people wrestled with God – Abraham, Moses, Job, Elijah, Jeremiah, David, Hezekiah, Peter, Paul and even Jesus. Yet, all of these pushed through their fears to change and were blessed by God for doing it. American engineer and industrialist Charles Kettering said this: “The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that brought progress” (Source: Charles Kettering). He is right. Can you imagine our lives today without all the progress in science, medicine and education? It was American author Mark Twain, who once said, “The only person who likes change is a wet baby” (Source: Mark Twain). Change is essential and the main way to get there is by listening to the Holy Spirit’s voice and the Word of God.
Reflection Assignment: Where in your life do you need to change physically? Emotionally? Spiritually? Relationally? What from the Lord do you need a listening ear to in your life? Are you a victim of the sickness of “paralysis of analysis”? What Bible verse is God bringing to your mind about an area in your life where you need to change? Are you listening to that still small voice? If you were in God’s classroom and He was giving you a grade on how much change you have done to become more like Him, what grade would He give you and why? What does this say to you today?
Scripture To Meditate On: Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I do not want to be deaf to You and Your Word. I do not just want to hear it, I want to listen to it and obey it. I want to change to be more like You. Lord, forgive me when and where I am stubborn and hardened my heart to listen to Your voice. I want to be still and know that You are God (Ps. 46:10). I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly