Devotional Index

July 2010 Devotional

Respecting Life

“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” - Proverbs 12:10.
I have known farmers who treat their animals like they are family members, even giving their cows pet names. The animals usually respond by being gentle and calm. I have also observed those who are rough and mean with their cattle. These animals are often nervous and prone to kick. It is not hard to figure out why one man's herd is calm, but another man's herd is nervous. Our Scripture verse says that a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast. If we regard the life of an animal, certainly we will regard the life of a human being.

Consider the second half of Proverbs 12:10. “The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” Often the pro-abortion people justify their actions by stating that they are concerned about the dilemma of women who find their pregnancies to be a big problem. They think they are being merciful by helping women to end their pregnancies. They think they are saving unwanted children from being mistreated and neglected. Their tender mercies are actually cruel, both to the women and their babies. The Bible categorizes the people whose tender mercies are cruel as wicked.

It seems strange that those who call themselves pro-choice are frequently concerned about cruelty to animals. They are incensed by the slaughter of baby seals, but they are not incensed by the slaughter of human babies.

We who believe in the sanctity of life should have respect for all life. It is God who gives or takes life. (No, I am not a vegetarian.) We should regard the life of our beast, but how much more we should regard human life, made in the image of God. A person who has such respect for life is categorized as righteous in this Scripture verse.

We are not righteous in our own nature or actions, but by being washed from our sins in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have His righteousness imputed to us when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour and place our faith in Him. We should show forth the righteousness that He has given to us by respecting life and helping those who are in distress.

How can we show forth tender mercies? We certainly should care about babies that are being aborted and make every effort to prevent it from happening. We should care about the women who are in distressing pregnancies and help them to find the right answers with the help of God. We should give them hope through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which will result in a changed life, with godly morals. Pray for your local Baptists for Life Pregnancy Center. Support it financially. Volunteer to work in the Center. Donate items that can be given to the women who come in to the Center. Vote for pro-life legislators and be an influence in righteous causes.

“A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” - Proverbs 12:10.

Pastor Robert Johnson, retired
Bible Baptist Church, Beaver Dam, WI
President of the Board of Baptists for Life of Wisconsin