September 1.
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“Each man‘s labor brings its own return.” Proverbs 12:14.
The job well planned and carefully completed always helps toward the good of the worker.
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“If anyone loves me, my Father and I will abide in him.” John 14:23.
The mutual enduring love of God and man is an enduring permanent gift.
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September 2.
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“The fool is sure his way is right, the wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 12:15.
Do you ask a question sincerely, seeking the answer, or do you merely want an occasion to air your own views?
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“My peace the world cannot give but I give.” John 14:27.
The world can give cessation from war; Jeus gives creative growth.
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September 3.
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“The fool shows displeasure immediately; the wise man overlooks an insult.” Proverbs 12:16.
Angry words as an insult serve only to broadcast the insult further.
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“My Father is the vinedresser.” John 15:1.
The vine will get superb care.
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September 4.
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“Bitterness fills the heart of the schemer.“ Proverbs 12:20.
The schemer‘s eye is filled with suspicion, jealousy, anger, fear and unrest.
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“The branch that bears fruit is pruned so that it will bear more fruit.” John 15:2
Mediocrity is not acceptable; there must be renewed growth and effort.
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September 5.
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“Joy is the lot of those who counsel peace.” Proverbs 12:20.
The joy of the peacemaker is seen in calmness, harmony, friendship, cooperation and sensitivity.
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“You are pruned already, that is, the words I have spoken to you.” John 15:3.
The words of Jesus are sharp as they cut right to the heart of problems and obstacles.
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September 6.
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“To the diligent hand goes authority: to the slack hand, slave labor.” Proverbs 12:24.
Diligence is composed of the ambition, clear thinking, planning, constancy and courage needed in a leader.
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“A branch cannot bear fruit by itself.” John 15:14.
Cut off from the stalk, a branch is fruitless and withers and dies.
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September 7.
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“Worry makes a person‘s heart heavy; a kind word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25.
Kind words are like magic wands to smooth the worried brow and calm the anxious heart.
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“Whoever remains in me and I in them bears great fruit.” John 15:5.
There is no limit to the greatness we can achieve through sincere effort.
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September 8.
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“An impartial judge is his own best friend.” Proverbs 12:26.
The honest, fair, principled person is always at peace with his conscience.
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“If you remain in me, my words remain in you.” John 15:17.
Unity in Christ is obtained through sincere obedience to his teachings.
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September 9.
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“Diligence is the quality that assures the best use of all one‘s talents.” Proverbs 12:27.
Diligence is needed to develop talent and to complete routine tasks.
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“If you keep my commands, you remain in my love.” John 15:10.
The one condition in Christ’s love is our obedience to his commands.
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September 10.
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“The person who guards his mouth keeps his life.” Proverbs 13:33.
An angry word once spoken cannot be recalled but goes its way of anger and violence.
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“Greater love than this no man has than to give his life for his friends.” John 15:13.
To die for another is noble but to live for another is supreme.
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September 11.
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“The idler yearns but there is no food for him; hard workers get their full.” Proverbs 13:4.
A need, a wish, a plan, and action fill the larder. But idle wishes leave the cupboard bare.
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“You do not choose me; I chose you.” John 15:16.
Christian ideals are handed on by example. This good example is Christ choosing.
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September 12.
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“Some people with nothing pretend to be rich; some wealthy people pretend to be poor.” Proverbs 13:7.
Pretense is a form of sham that bespeaks the pretender’s discontent and maladjustment.
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“Abide in me as I abide in you.” John 15:4.
The teaching of Jesus must be a part of our daily thoughts and plans.
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September 13.
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“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Proverbs 13:312.
Consider all promises carefully...but when made, carry out your promises.
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“I am the vine stalk; you are the branches.” John 15:5.
Life and strength come from God but fruitfulness comes from Jesus.
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September 14.
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“The wise and productive man wins and holds favor” Proverbs 13:13.
Wisdom gives knowledge and insight; prudence guarantees the proper use.
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“Cut off from me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5.
We, the branches, separated from Christ’s ideals, produce not poor fruit but no fruit.
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September 15.
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“The man who rejects discipline will see only poverty and disgrace.” Proverbs 13:18.
Self-knowledge and self-mastery alone give the work habits necessary to live and cooperate with others.
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“It is to the glory of the Father that you bear much fruit.” John 15:8.
Our daily good works, in Christ, establish the brotherhood of man.
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September 16.
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“Be companions of the wise and you grow wise yourself.” Proverbs 13:20.
The habits of knowledge, understanding, and insight are contagious to those who respond.
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“May my joy be in you and your joy be complete.” John 15:11.
A Christian is to lead a joyful life; a sad Christian is a contradiction.
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September 17.
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“In vain the mocker looks for wisdom.” Proverbs 14:6.
Wisdom is to be achieved by sincere interest in understanding and insight.
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“I call you friends because I have made known to you everything I learned from the Father.” John 15:13.
Everything about the Christian ideal is revealed and easily understood by all.
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September 18.
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“The heart knows its own grief best; nor can a stranger share its joy.” Proverbs 14:10.
Friendship must precede, accompany and grow from sharing with others.
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“I commissioned you to go out and bear fruit that will endure.” John 15:16.
Today each action is the opportunity to bear fruit that will last forever.
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September 19.
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“The wise man sees evil coming and avoids it; the fool rushes headlong into it.” Proverbs 14:16.
Wisdom demands the providence to look ahead and the prudence to act cautiously.
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“My command is that you love one another.” John 15:16.
The only command - the new command, Jesus’s personal command - is mutual love.
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September 20.
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“Hard work always yields its profit: idle talk brings only want.” Proverbs 14:23.
Diligence always benefits the worker; idleness spends its time excusing failure.
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“Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24.
True prayer, confidently made, gives rise to satisfaction and joy.
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September 21.
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“A tranquil heart gives life but envy is a cancer to the bone.” Proverbs 14:30.
Envy is not pleased with self and yet continually tears down the neighbor.
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“This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God and Jesus whom you have sent.” John 17:13.
Informed understanding and searching -- such is the faith Jesus offers and asks for.
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September 22.
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“A gentle answer turns away wrath.” Proverbs 15:1.
Like a cool hand on a fevered brow is a gentle word in the face of anger.
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“Holy Father, keep them ... so that they may be one like us.” John 17:11.
Jesus wants a true unity - not a mere uniformity.
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September 23.
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“Sharp retorts fire the anger yet more.” Proverbs 15:1.
Like the breath of the bellows on the smithy’s fire is the angry reply to an angry person.
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“Protect them from evil.” John 17:15.
Every Christian needs help to overcome the evil around him.
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September 24.
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“The tongue that soothes and comforts is the tree of life.” Proverbs 15:3.
A gentle word calms ruffled feelings and then discussion can continue.
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“Father, may they be one in us ... so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.” John 17:21.
True unity among Christians it the only evidence accepted by Christ and his mission.
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September 25.
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“Glad heart means a happy face.” Proverbs 15:13.
Joy is effervescent and shows itself in looks, words and actions.
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“Father, you loved me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24.
Jesus is fully convinced that he fulfills the ideal of the Father’s plan.
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September 26.
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“Where the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13.
Work becomes drudgery unless it is done with a spirit of joy and hope of success.
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“I have told you about the difficulties so that your faith may not be shaken.” John 16:1.
Jesus does not invite us to a false Utopia but to a creative rewarding life.
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September 27.
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“The quick-tempered man stirs up quarrels.” Proverbs 15:18.
A quick temper is a lighted torch ever ready to ignore anything its path.
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“I have conquered the world.” John 16:33.
Jesus faced all opposition squarely and came off the victor.
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September 28.
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“The even-tempered man calms many a troubled heart.” Proverbs 15:18.
The calm collected words, quietly spoken take the sting out of many a remark.
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“For I have given them the teaching you gave me.” John 17:7.
Jesus is firmly convinced his teaching is from God and is the whole plan.
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September 29.
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“The road of the lazy person is strewn with thorns.” Proverbs 15:19.
Even the least exertion seems insurmountable to the lazy person.
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“I am not asking you to remove them from the world.” John 17:15.
The plan of Jesus is viable in the midst of a world that is totally opposited to it.
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September 30.
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“The path of the diligent is a broad highway.” Proverbs 15:19.
Obstacles appear but a diligent person finds a way to overcome them.
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“Consecrate them in truth -- your word is truth.” John 17:17.
The word of god, from the beginning, is a clear picture of his wisdom.
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