Proverbs 4:18-27

Today we're at Proverbs chapter 4 verses 18 through 27. Why don't we go ahead and have some coffee, we'll pray, and we'll get into God's Word. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this day. What a blessing it is to get to sit at your feet and to hear from you. Lord, we pray that you would teach us the way of wisdom. We pray that we would follow after you and that you might care for us. In Jesus' name, amen. Alright, here we go. Proverbs chapter 4, verses 18 through 27.
Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it. Do not travel on it. Avoid it. Do not travel on it. Turn away from it and pass on, for they do not sleep unless they have done." I'm sorry. That was yesterday's passage. Let's skip down to verse 18. But the path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble.
My son, give attention to my words. Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left. Remove your foot from evil. Well, we need to ask ourselves, A, what is this about? B, what's the best verse to summarize this? And C, what are we called to do in response to this? So, A, what's this about? Well, yesterday, verses 14 through 17, we talked about the path of the unrighteous, and the father was saying, stay away from that way. And here he starts off in 18 through 19 with the path of the righteous, right?
The path of the just or of the righteous, the satakim, is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter into the perfect day. Don't walk in darkness. Don't walk in the path where evil is always awaiting you, but walk in the light. This is what 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 tells us, right? Or chapter 4 tells us. You're not children of darkness, but you're the children of the light. Those who get drunk and drunk at night, and those who sleep at night. But you're not of the night, you're of the day. So walk in the day. Walk in the light of Jesus Christ. It's Jesus Christ who is the light of the world. Walk in his light. Walk in his wisdom. And for the fourth time in this passage, the father is telling the son, hey, listen up. Again, how many times do we have to tell our kids as we're instructing them?
It's not just, all right, listen to me, kids. And then you could go off for a while. But hey, listen. Hey, listen. Hey, listen. Don't stop listening. Listen to the Lord now. Don't let them depart from your eyes. Incline your ears to my saying. Keep them in the midst of your heart. Keep these words in your heart, in the soul of your being, in the middle of your heart. Remember these instructions.
For they are life to those who find them and health to their flesh, to all their flesh. The Lord's instructions are for our good. His commandments are for our sanctification. They conform us more and more to the likeness of Christ. This is God's will for your life, your sanctification.
You want to live a happy life? Live a holy life. You want to have a life full of joy? Fix your eyes upon Jesus Christ and seek to follow Him. Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life. The heart is the wellspring of your soul.
Now Jeremiah tells us, the heart is deceitfully wicked above all else. And so we're given over to folly. We're given over to these things in our lives that are sinful. That's the reality, right? But it doesn't mean that we get to neglect our hearts. No. No. God has given us new hearts. If you believe in Jesus Christ, Jesus says you must be born again to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He takes out our heart of flesh or our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh.
Protect your heart. Guard your heart. Put God's commands in your heart. Guard it. Don't just let everything flow in and pollute your soul. He's given you a new heart. You're working on sanctification. You're working on looking more and more like Christ.
Guard your heart. and put away from you a deceitful mouth and put perverse lips far from you. This reminds me of what the law of Christ is in Ephesians chapter 4. Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth but only what is good for necessary edification that you might impart grace to the hearers. Only speak things that are actually going to build people up, not tear them down.
Let your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left. Remove your feet from evil. Broad is the way that leads to destruction, but narrow is the path of righteousness. Follow the path of Christ. It's not a path of legalism. It's not saying because you walk along this path that you're going to get to the celestial city. No, it's God has called you to this path. He is empowering you. He's given you a heart to desire to be on that path, so walk it. Mr. Antinomian, Mr. Lawlessness is going to be on this side of the road, and Mr. Legalism is going to be on that side of the road, and both sides are ditches.
Plunging into sin or thinking you can earn grace yourself. But instead, bury God's Word in your heart. Fix your eyes upon Jesus Christ. Run the good race. Don't go to the right or to the left. But seek after the Lord. Love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Let's pray. Father, we thank You so much for this day, and we pray that we would walk the straight and narrow, that our eyes would be fixed upon Jesus Christ, that we would finish the race well. Lord, we pray that we would bear your word in our hearts and that you would protect us and guide us even this day. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, may you walk in the path of wisdom. May you fix your eyes upon Jesus Christ. And I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.