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Day 224 Proverbs 21:4 Proverbs 21:4 A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. Have you ever felt completely convicted without opening your mouth? Someone said something or did something that showed you your true colors, oh he or she might not have been talking to you specifically. You might have been a bystander to the conversation or action, yet it left you feeling like you were missing out, big time. Solomon didn’t pull any punches. He laid it out so everyone could see and once they saw, do something about it. He called sin what it is. He didn’t pussyfoot around it, he nailed it on the head and said, see this! This is sin! He named three areas people have the hardest time with – a high look – thinking you’re someone special and deserve special treatment, a proud heart – boasting about your achievements, plowing of the wicked – people who go around conning people out of their livelihood. It’s all sin. As Christians, you are to let your words and actions speak to the glory of Christ, not glory in self. Early Christians were willing to spend their life’s blood on arena floors at the mercy of lions, rather than make any boast in their accomplishments. They gave their all to the Lord Jesus Christ and didn’t think anything about it. Their lives were wrapped up in Jesus Christ and everyone who saw them knew it. Christians were fed to lions, not just to appease the appetites of those watching them die such horrid deaths, but in the vain hope of assuaging their guilt in the debauchery of their lives. One more dead Christian meant they didn’t need to face the guilt condemning them for their actions towards others. Paul told Christians that in everything they did, they were to do it to the glory of God. For new Christians, this was something completely new, yet they grabbed hold of that new concept and started living for Christ, instead of self. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (KJV) Peter showed Christians that they were even to tone down their appearance so Christ would shine through and their beauty would be the beauty of Christ not the vanity of the world. 1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (KJV) Vanity and pride is the downfall of many people. When they take root in the heart, it is hard to uproot it and put Jesus on the throne of your life instead of yourself. God called these abominations. Solomon called them sin because God called them an abomination. As Christians, your saving-grace is repentance and salvation. You have a do over switch. It’s called prayer and a repentant heart. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV) God’s forgiveness is a guarantee. It’s a promise he has never broken. If you have sinned in any area of your life, including the three Solomon mentioned, it isn’t too late to repent and pray. God will hear and will forgive. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV) Sin is part of everyone’s lives, but it doesn’t need to be. Just a prayer of faith and forgiveness will cleanse you from your sin and bring you into a right relationship with Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord. Let’s pray: Father, keep sin far from me. Do not let me become prey to Satan and his evil schemes to keep me away from you. Help me repent and seek your forgiveness when I do fail and bring me back into a right relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 21 April 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay