OCTOBER 9 - Handle with Care
3-Year-Bible Reading: Proverbs 25:17–18; John 9
//
3-Year Bible Devotional Book Available on Amazon
//
________________________________________
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. — Proverbs 25:17–18
Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” — John 9:3
________________________________________
Have you ever had a friend who just... doesn't know boundaries? Maybe they text you non-stop, or show up at your place uninvited a little too often. At first, it's fine. But over time, it gets exhausting. That’s kind of what Proverbs 25:17–18 is talking about. Respect and truth go hand-in-hand when it comes to our relationships.
Meanwhile, in John 9, Jesus heals a blind man—not to gain attention, but to show God's power. The people around the man are quick to assume and judge, but Jesus sees a deeper purpose. These two passages may seem totally different, but both teach us how to treat others with wisdom, grace, and intention.
________________________________________
THINK ABOUT IT
1. Respect Boundaries: Do you give people space, or do you sometimes push past their comfort zones without realizing it? Relationships thrive when we respect others' time, space, and emotional energy.
2. Words Have Power: Proverbs says lying about someone is like swinging a weapon at them. Are your words building people up or cutting them down?
3. See with Compassion: In John 9, people assumed the blind man’s condition was a punishment. Jesus corrected them. Do you make quick judgments, or do you pause to see people as God does?
________________________________________
BOTTOM LINE
Be the kind of person who respects others, speaks truth, and sees people through the lens of God’s love—not assumptions.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us how to treat others with wisdom and love. Help us to be thoughtful in how we speak and act, respecting others’ boundaries and seeing them as You do. Teach us to lead with compassion and truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
