Pam Padgett ... teacher
Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go
not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn
from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have
done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause
some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink
the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is as the
shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what
they stumble. 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear
unto my sayings.
Proverbs 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine
eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy
feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the
right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
As I read what we're told in Proverbs 4 about the path we are to go
on, I was reminded of Jesus telling us to enter in at the strait
(restricted and confined) gate and go in the narrow (limited) way which leads to life.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the
gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the
gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it.
As we go in the ways of God, we go through the strait gate and in a
narrow way. The boundaries of what we do are set by the word of God.
We don't go in ways that fulfill lusts of the flesh or which cause us to
win approval from those of this world. We keep our eyes on what God
has said,
meditating in those things (pondering the path of our feet) so that we stay in His ways. Our way is defined and limited by the word of God.
The truth we're given shines as a light, showing us the way. And as we
live according to truth from God, the light becomes brighter, shining
more and more. The way becomes even clearer as we continue walking in
truth.
But
we need to stay on the narrow way, the way that is according to the
word of God. Not turning aside to the ways of this world, just
keeping our eyes on what God has told us. The ways of wickedness
... that which is not of God and against the ways of God ... are outside the path
defined by the word of God. Evil men are all around us in the world,
going in the ways of wickedness. I'm reminded of the parable Jesus told
about tares and wheat ...
Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The
kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his
field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the
wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and
brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of
the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good
seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them,
An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then
that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather
up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow
together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the
reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles
to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
We aren't isolated from those of this world. We see them as we go about our daily lives. But we stay on the narrow path without turning to the right or to the
left, even in the midst of evil men, as we hold fast and conform our
lives to the word of God.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.