Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 134 Proverbs 16:17 Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way preserves his soul. 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. You’ve heard the saying, ‘nobody’s perfect’. People like to put themselves in that category than to try to live on the straight and narrow path that keeps them from the path of destruction. Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. Solomon, however, showed it is possible to live an upright life, keeping away from those things that cause people to walk the destructive road. And who better to know than Solomon who walked the destructive road for many years of his life when he built altars to his many wives’ gods and sacrificed offerings on them. It was during that time in Solomon’s life he learned many of the lessons of faithfulness to God and being humble in spirit instead of prideful. Solomon did return to God in the latter years of his life, and gave us an accounting of what is best for man. Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (KJV) People tend to learn life the hard way. Solomon was no exception. He put his life lessons into the various proverbs to help people know it isn’t impossible to follow God’s law and walk in his footsteps. Jesus showed the people how to prepare their hearts and lives for the kingdom of heaven. His Sermon on the Mount gave the people hope that they didn’t need to live in fear as the Pharisees and scribes were wont to put on the people if they didn’t adhere to the law they taught, a law tainted by their interpretation. Matthew 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (KJV) Jesus gave everyone hope that they could live their lives as God instructed in the Law of Moses, and he gives you and I hope to do the same today. Jesus’ gospel is an easy one to follow as he led by example, showing it was possible to live our lives for Jesus. Jesus also showed the people how pride got in the way of a walking the straight path. Matthew 6:5 And when thou pray, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Pride causes the destruction of many lives when they lift themselves to unattainable heights and believe they are indestructible. Solomon told the people they would fall into the pit of destruction and Jesus told the people they had their reward. As Christians, your example is in the life Jesus led, a life that wasn’t hard to follow, and leads to eternal life. Through his example, you see he experienced everything we do, so it is possible to walk the path leading to eternal life and keep out of harm’s way when it comes to pride. Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let’s pray: Father, help me walk the straight path of eternal life and not lift myself up with pride that only leads to destruction. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 20 January 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay