Mar 20, 2022 – Proverbs 4:14-17 – Following wicked people leads to wicked actions.
Daily Word
Proverbs 4:14-17 (New Living Translation) [A thought for thought translation]
14 Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!
Proverbs 4:14-17 (New American Standard Bible) [A word for word translation]
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
Pastor’s Thoughts
There are evil people in this world. They literally get their fill in life by committing evil acts and getting others to do those acts with them.
Disciples of Jesus Christ should not expect to be led by God’s Word and Holy Spirit if they are going back and forth between the path of wisdom and the path of sin. This passage tells us that we should run as far from these paths as possible.
Of course, we need to witness to unsaved people that God puts before us. But we must not adopt these lost people’s lifestyles or mimic the way they behave. If we do then we will find ourselves looking more and more like those evil people.
That is the problem with American Christians today. There are far too many people claiming Christ as their Lord and Savior living as if He is not. They love the way of the world far more than they love the ways of God.
When we are walking in the ways of godliness then we will find ourselves becoming more and more like Christ. And when we are walking in the ways of wickedness then we will find ourselves becoming less and less like Christ.
The Bible says we can’t serve two masters. It says we will love one and hate the other.
I’m sure it seems exciting to participate in wickedness, but the simple truth is that it will lead you to the most miserable life you could ever live. Trust me, I have been there.
Have a blessed Sunday everyone. I pray that you will avoid evil today and the day after that. That you will purposefully put Godly people in your life who love Jesus. Spend as much time with those kind of people as you can. You will all help one another be sharpened and shaped into the image of Jesus Christ.
Make it a priority to worship Jesus at your local church this morning.
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