A Way That Seems Right

Most people hesitate to follow God. They shun Godly advice. They are afraid that God’s commandments and His plan for them are too restrictive. They see hypocrisy in people who are Christian in name only, and they judge all Christians by the behavior of these few deceived individuals.

The few who care about Godly things often follow after false teachers and preachers rather than the true prophets of God.

The Word of God is swift and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It divides our soul’s desires from our spiritual ones. It warns us of the deceitful comments that Satan whispers in our mind, masquerading as words of light. Too often we ignore God’s “red flags” in our spirit and end up in deception. Many children forsake the teaching of their parents and pursue the course of least resistance, following the crowd and ignoring the straight and narrow path.

Here are a few time-worthy verses that describe this place of deception, which many people wander into as adults. People turn their ears from God’s truth and are turned aside, because they end up believing fables (2 Timothy 4:4). They follow their own thoughts, opinions, ideas and convictions, which are contrary to God’s advice (Isaiah 53:6). They go along in life on a fairly bumpy road, following their heart and listening to the proponents that agree with their philosophy.

Eventually, we all come to a crossroads. We are given a choice to do things God’s way or to continue on the godless path we chose. God used Solomon to write the book of Proverbs in order to share with us the advantage of the great wisdom God gifted him with in his lifetime. In three places in this beneficial book, he wrote these exact words: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25). If God took the time to write these same words repeatedly, I think they are worthy of our attention!

It is so easy for people to succumb to the deception of humanism and carnal appetites and to walk in ways that will bring them to ultimate destruction – both in this life and in the next. Solomon admonishes these foolish people who think they are right in their own eyes. Some erupt in anger if corrected or opposed, or cautioned to wake up before it is too late. The wicked friends they choose lead them astray (Proverbs 12:26; Proverbs 16:29). The sad ending to this drama is that the ones who wander away from Godly understanding will wind up in the company of the spiritually dead (Proverbs 21:16) not only in this life, but also in the next.

Then Solomon contrasts these deceived individuals with the wise who heed Godly counsel. They take the narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14), which leads to life. The righteous carefully choose their friends (Proverbs 12:26). They find life, because in the pathway they choose, there is no spiritual or physical death (Proverbs 12:28). These Godly people will avoid the resulting shame, which will follow the fool (Proverbs 12:15-16). Born Again Saints pass from this mortal life into eternal life (Philippians 3:20), because the experience of death is swallowed up by Christ’s life within us (1 Corinthians 15:54).  

Choose wisely what road you will take when you come to the crossroads of life. Follow the Spirit of God in making your decision. Even though the road is narrow and steep in many places, the Holy Spirit within you will guide your steps (John 16:13) and the Word of God will be a light to your path (Psalm 119:105).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, there is no temptation that any of us fall victim to that is not a common problem for everyone (1 Corinthians 10:13). However, You are faithful. You will not allow any of us to be tempted beyond what we are able to withstand. At the same time, with the temptation, You also gives us a way to escape it and to stand strong against it (1 Corinthians 10:13). We just have to avail ourselves to Your Word and grace, and call upon You as our Savior and Lord (2 Peter 3:18).

Thought for the Day:

What benefit did you obtain from doing things you are now ashamed of? Those actions result in eternal death! – Romans 6:21

Worldly Wisdom

Read:
1 Corinthians 1: 20-24

"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God."
- 1 Corinthians 1:18

It makes me giggle when I see people on TV who speak as if they are experts on some subject. They pontificate their brand
of philosophy as if they have a market on the truth. However, wise men, scholars and debaters are all proven foolish when their brand of truth is held up against the standard of God’s Word. The Bible trumps the wisdom of the world every time. 

God calls everyone, regardless of their nationality, religion, economic or social status, or financial position, to have a personal relationship with Him and to share with the Saints the glory of heaven. He provides us all with the power and wisdom of God through Jesus Christ. The message of the cross makes no sense to most people, though. They cannot accept that their worldly wisdom is foolishness and that they need the Spirit of God in their lives (1 Corinthians 1:18). 

It is because of God that I am in Christ Jesus. He called me and saved me and redeemed me for eternity. He offers this same opportunity to anyone who will humble him/herself and repent of their sins and allow Him to convert their lives from a sin-filled one to a righteous one. Everyone has an equal opportunity to choose His wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). 

When I gaze into the sky at the sun, moon and stars, which He set into place in such perfect order; when I see His handiwork in the woods and streams and mountains and plains; when I consider that He numbers the hairs of our head and that He knew us before we were even formed in our mother’s womb, I shed tears of joy and fall on my face in worship of Him.

Prayer:

Lord, the majority of people in the world do not receive Your wisdom, because they consider them fairy tales and myths. They cannot understand them, because Your words must be discerned by Your Spirit. Help us to share Your truth so that others may share your blessing with us, and so that Your Spirit may instruct them and give them the mind of Christ.

Thought for the Day:

My faith does not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:5

The God of Balance

Read: Isaiah 55:5-9

“May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.” -Romans 15:13

Some of my friends and family are afraid to rely on God for their needs, because they see Him as an angry Being ready to pounce on our smallest mistake. I understand how they feel, because I used to view God as a wrathful ruler, extracting a great price from His followers. I imagined him like the perceived Wizard of Oz…with smoke and fire and angry words and faces. What I did not understand at that time is that God’s people fear Him, not because of His fury, but because of His love.

During my first year of college, God revealed to me that He is not a punisher, but a provider for those who trust in Him. He is not wrathful, but graceful. He is not hateful, but loving. He does not extort, but gives liberally to all who will ask of Him. God constantly reaches out to those who do not know Him. And when we take the chance and trust Him with our life, we feel His divine forgiveness pouring over our soul like a waterfall (Psalm 130:4). We can readily forgive the harm others inflict upon us, because we have been forgiven much as well (Luke 12:48). 

Another reason people do not trust in God as their Savior is because of Satanic lies that they believe. They worship the creature rather than the creator (Romans 1:25). They follow humanistic reasoning and worldly perceptions rather than asking God for true wisdom from above (James 3:17). They allow science and history revisionists to overrule the principles they learned at their mother’s knee. They reject the Gospel and cling to fables instead of to the Truth (2 Timothy 4:4; John 14:6).

Unbelievers say that we are misinformed, brainwashed, deceived, unenlightened, narrow minded, misled and bigoted. They cling to the flotsam and jetsam of their shipwrecked lives, not realizing that they are inches away from sinking into eternal damnation. All it takes for them to be saved is for them to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to allow Him to lead them by His Spirit into all truth (John 16:13).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, shower those who do not know You with Your loving kindness. Cause them to desire the fullness of a life found in You. Give them a vision of Your mercy and grace. Open the eyes of their understanding and trouble their dreams until they reach out and allow You to enfold them in Your sacred heart.

Thought for the Day:

God is not constantly watching out for you to sin, but He is always watching out for you.

Knowledge Based in Truth

Read: 2 Timothy 4: 3-5

"Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God." - Proverbs 2:3-5 (NIV)

My cousin read a book, which opposed the Bible, but had no support or evidence in truth. She believed this fictional work, however, and completely turned away from her faith in Biblical truths. I hardly recognize her anymore. This caused me to ask, “What truths form my life view? Are they based on facts or supposition?”

Historians in Jesus’ day confirmed much of what the Bible relates to us about His life. Archeology and science constantly produce overwhelming evidence for the veracity of the Bible. Many people who set out to prove that the Bible is a book of fables are so overwhelmed by the amount of truth backing it’s claims, that they end up believing in God instead.

God’s Word gives us undeniable truths, such as the virgin birth, the resurrection of Christ from the dead, the Divine inspiration of the Bible, the sovereignty of God, the penalty of sin and the facts about our eternal destination. Christ was slain before the foundation of the world, and we continue to exist because of His grace. 

If we believe what the world’s experts tell us, we will focus on their fables and turn away from God’s Biblical truths. However, I love you enough to tell you that to believe anything contrary to Biblical truth is to believe a lie.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for the capacity to learn, the capability to search for truth and the free will to choose what we believe. Expose worldly fables for what they are, open the eyes of those who seek You with all of their heart, and help us to find our truth in your Word.

Thought for the Day:
Line up your worldview with God's Word, so it will last for eternity.