#DailyDevotion Your Way May Seem Right But It is Death
June 14th
Read Prov 14:1–27
Pro 14:12 ESV There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Pro 14:26-27 ESV In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. (27) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Jesus said, Mat 15:19 ESV “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” If you listen to the media they have not paid much attention to Prov. 14:12. Every where you turn, every tv show, movie, and song out there is telling people to listen to their hearts. But the heart is the most deceptive thing. Wickedness dwells there. Sure, the thoughts that come out of the center of our being sound good to us, but its advice will lead you to death. For the heart will lead you to sin and the wages of sin is death.
What you rarely hear is to Fear the Lord. To fear the Lord is to hate evil and all its manifestations. To fear the Lord is to love Good. To fear God is to truly love and trust in His Word. It is the pure and clear Word of God that gives life and instructs us in the ways of the Lord. True faith comes from the hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus has come and overcome our hearts and has come to make them His dwelling. Jesus doesn’t wait to be invited. He invites Himself. Remember the account of Zaccheaus.
As faith is created in us through the Word we begin to truly fear, love and trust in God above all things. We live in this Word and live out this Word. When we possess the fear of the Lord we can have a bold confidence that in Jesus the Father is on our side. He will take care of us. He will see us through unto the end.
We also will raise our children in the light of the fear of the Lord. It will be their refuge on the day of temptation. The evil one will never leave us nor them alone. He seeks their and our destruction. He wants us to be separated from the Love of God even has he is separated. He wants us to be caught up in the snares of death.
But the Word of God is living, double edge sword. Using it in prayer with trust in Christ is our best defense and offense in the spiritual realm, the battle field of our hearts. It also is the pure fountain that refreshes us and makes us glad that we may turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and look to him for help in every need. He will never leave us or forsake us. He has promised as much.
Lord Jesus Christ, leave us not to the will of our fallen hearts, but come by your Word and Spirit clear out our hearts and make it your captive that we may truly fear, love and trust in you above all things. Amen.