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Day 297 (Proverbs 28:14) Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. There are people who always seem to have trouble following them wherever they go. Nothing goes right for them. Their demeanor is hard and cynical about everything. They look at life with an attitude of what they can extract from it. Then there are the happy people. People who look at life with an attitude of what they can give. They are always grateful for everything they have. Solomon knew happiness was not dependent on the accumulation of wealth but on reverence for God. He knew the reverential fear of God brought joy, not heartache. No matter what happened, God would make a way. He knew that when a person hardened their heart to God, trouble followed them. As Christians, you know the joy and happiness of a reverential life in service to God. You see life with all the trouble it brings and depend on God to see you through. You also know people who don’t trust God but themselves. They’re cynical about everything and scoff at your faith. Their end has one outcome if they don’t turn their lives over to God, an eternity in Hell. Jesus gave His followers a commission to preach the gospel to everyone. (Matthew 28:19-20) “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Paul told the people how they were to fulfill Jesus’ commission. (Romans 10:12-15) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” You have a duty to pray for and tell everyone about Jesus’ love for them. Only prayer and the Holy Spirit can change a hardened heart and make it soft for Jesus Christ. You weren’t always a Christian. Someone prayed for you. Now, you need to pray for the people in your life who are on the wide road to destruction. Then they too will have the reverential fear Solomon spoke about and calamity will no longer follow them. Let’s pray: Father, open my mouth to preach the gospel to everyone. Soften hardened hearts and bring salvation to those who condemned You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 7 May 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay