“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; but the fool rageth, and is confident.” Prov. 14:6
Today’s Christian Daily Devotional
This verse makes me think of the Kennedy expressway in Chicago at 5:20 p.m. on a Friday. Can you just picture an impatient diver confidently weaving in and out of traffic trying to gain a lead in a race that can’t be won? As his blood pressure skyrockets, he finds himself staggering a car that he stealthy passed a few moments before. He has chosen the wrong lane and now he is stuck waiting just like the rest of the people on the Kennedy. The very people he thought were “suckers” are now in the same position as him. As he looks around at the faces within the cars around him; he sees a woman laughing with her front-seat companion, a man playing air guitar to the tune of his radio, and a child quietly reading a book in the backseat of her ride. Who is the “fool” now? To depart from evil is another way of saying: “Stay away from the attitudes that bring out the worst in you.” Bad behavior starts with a bad attitude. If you are angry and upset about something that you have no control over, what good does it do you to embrace a negative mind set?
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the wisdom of your word. The book of Proverbs is steeped in it. I can admit that I have foolishly not “feared” and given my caution and good sense to the wind. I have embraced evil thinking, and done evil deeds. Many times I felt justified because so many people around me were doing the same thing. But, in my heart, no matter what “spin” I put on the truth, I know that is why I have not reached many goals I have had for my life. I don’t want to be a fool anymore. I want to put my confidence in something that will guide me towards a better life. I know that the Bible is the ultimate guide to a good life. For years, I have avoided it thinking that only “pious” and “self-righteous” hypocrites who held the book in their arms (but not in their hearts) gave it a bad association in my mind. This kind of thinking is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I will investigate your word for myself. I chose today to obey what it says so I will not be one of those hypocrites. Thank you for your patience with me, Lord. I regret that it has taken this long for me to “get” it. From this day forward, I commit to obeying you and heeding the wisdom in your word. Give me the strength to follow through on my promise to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”