The Calamity of the Manipulator

Pastor teaches his family a selection from "the Proverb of the day." In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that assimilating the Word, and trusting the God of the Word, protects us from becoming manipulators who will be suddenly destroyed. The devotional draws a stark contrast between the life shaped by God's Word and the wicked deceit of a manipulative person whose actions and speech are rooted in a crooked heart. Proverbs 6:12–15 exposes such a person by his subtle, deceptive gestures—winking, shuffling feet, pointing fingers—to manipulate others by his schemes, thus sowing discord. The passage warns that, since God hates the one who sows discord among the brethren, the manipulator will be suddenly, calamitously destroyed. The central call is to reject manipulation by embracing the Word of God with humility and trust, trusting the Spirit to transform hearts rather than relying on persuasive tactics. True speech, the devotional insists, must be governed by Scripture, shaped by godly affect, and rooted in confidence that God, not human effort, brings transformation.