Heeding the Word – Proverbs 17:10
He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.
“What does the Word of God say?”
This question should rise to our minds and fall from our lips as we go through our days striving to honor God and glorify Him through our consecrated lives.
If we would evaluate everything, our thoughts, our desires, and our actions, against the holy, perfect, and true Word of God, we would find our walk along the Highway of Holiness immeasurably less convoluted and burdensome. For God not only gives us the Bible but also His Holy Spirit to teach us how to appropriate the treasures within the Word’s pages.
Regret would not rob our sleep if we held our circumstances to the light of Romans 8:28 and recriminations would not taunt us if we believed that God uses our experiences, the beautiful and the ugly, the gracious and the sinful, for our good.[1] Panic would not cripple us if we dwelled in the Lord’s love, confessing and receiving forgiveness for our sins, accepting the things that are out of our control.[2] Fear would flee if we firmly determined to trust God in everything, knowing that as we commit our ways to Him, He will make our paths straight.[3] Anxiety would gain no painful grip if we entrusted the Lord with each need and prayed for His help and guidance while rejoicing in Him with thanksgiving.[4] Jealousy would not choke off our joy in the blessings of others if we put on a covering of love.[5] Selfish ambition would have no power to twist our thoughts and lead us away from the light of life into darkness if we would consider others as more important than ourselves.[6]
Make the perfect Word of God your
guide and joy, your hope and light. Go
daily to the sacred teachings, and soak in their truths, so they might
strengthen you and give you wisdom for the walk the Lord has ordained for you. Allow the holy Word of God to be a light unto
your path. Heed its instruction; seek
understanding that you might follow its everlasting ordinances.[7] Do these things, and you will walk in safety and
confidence along the roadway leading to life.[8]
[1] Romans 8:28
[2] Romans 5:8, 1 John 1:9, Isaiah 12:2
[3] Proverbs 3:5-6
[4] Philippians 4:4-6
[5] Colossians 3:14
[6] Philippians 2:3
[7] Psalms 119:160
[8] Proverbs 14:26
