DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONALS: OCTOBER 9 KNOW THE WORK OF THE WICKED (2) SCRIPTURE: PROVERBS 11: 18; PSALM 37: 21; JOHN 10: 10
Yesterday’s devotional dealt with both secular and Biblical meanings of the word “wicked” and made it known that whoever acts the meanings as explained does “the works of the wicked” and can be addressed a wicked person. The devotional on the “know the work of the wicked” is focused on what constitutes the work of the wicked specifically. However, it will state the fact that those doing what is defined wicked will be referred to as a wicked person. For instance, Proverbs 11: 18 says: “The wicked man does deceitful work…” (NKJV). Deceptive work is work of deceit, fraudulent acts which connotes criminal acts.
Today’s devotional will be pointing out things which are works of the wicked from the Biblical points of views. These are works that are not upright or righteous. Psalm 37: 1 talks of “evildoers and workers of iniquity’. This is same with those doing the works of the wicked. In Psalm 37: 21, the Bible touches a common practice many engage in, not seeing it as work of the wicked. The practice is “borrowing and never pay back” as put in by Africa Study Bible. Borrowing and never repay harms the economy of the borrower. It causes evil as it can run down the borrower’s business. Many people as well as nations do this. Working the work of the wicked is synonymous with the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10: 10). Anyone who promotes stealing, killing and destroying is doing the works of the wicked. He or she is wicked and a devil Biblically.
As seen in Proverbs 11: 18a, any deceptive work proceeds from wicked heart. The world may see deceptive works as smartness or cleverness. But the Bible sees it a wicked act. Deceptive works are rooted to falsehood, unrighteousness and violates God’s standard. Those in the world perfecting in deceptions should know that they pass for wicked people. Politicians with deceptive promises or project plans knowing cannot be implemented do the works of the wicked. Religious leaders dealing with people deceptively are doing the work of the wicked. Husbands and wives living on deceptions are wicked by the imports of this devotional.
Biblically, anyone who hardens his/her face against others is doing the work of the wicked. Africa Study Bible used the word “bluff” for the word “harden” in New International Bible. Behaving with hardened face or bluffing people is interpreted as wicked in the Bible.
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, thanks for opening my eyes more to the understanding these works of the wicked which I have been ignoring. Help me to drop them from today in the name of Jesus.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
