Posted on 01/13/2020 5:36:28 AM PST by Pilgrim's Progress
“A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health” (Proverbs 13:17).
“A wicked messenger falleth into mischief,” there is an example of this in Ahimaaz, found in 2 Samuel 18:28. He was a wicked messenger even though it didn’t appear to be wicked—he just didn’t have the right news. He just got a hold of the wrong information and ran with it. He got ahead of God and he got ahead of himself and didn’t really have a message when he got in front of the king, so it wasn’t really a message to the king at all. It was the fellow that came up after him that told David what really happened. Ahimaaz’ “all is well,” wasn’t well at all. When a messenger is carrying the wrong message, he has fallen into mischief, and is headed for mischief.
“. . . but a faithful ambassador is health,” when a child of God is a faithful witness, we are told that we are “ambassadors for Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador represents his country and his king, and faithfully delivers the message of his king in the matters of court. And that is what we are to do—we are to tell others what God says about sin, salvation, heaven, hell, judgment, etc. We let the citizens of the other country know what God thinks about them.
Faithfulness and integrity are great character traits. You should have them yourself, and you should only associate with those who have them. When others trust you or depend on you, it is your duty and privilege to fulfill their desires and needs as perfectly as possible. This is noble performance that brings God’s approval and blessing and man’s as well.
Faithfulness and integrity are shown here by a messenger or ambassador. Wicked men get in trouble – they are easily waylaid by foolish distractions or pressure to compromise – they are not trustworthy or reliable. A faithful man brings prosperity to those trusting him, for he finishes the job as desired and expected. How often do you get waylaid?
The lost are living in the Devil’s world. The Devil is referred to as “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4), and before we were saved we belonged to that country: “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:2-3). Paul tells us that we no longer belong to that country: “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). In this verse, “conversation” speaks of “citizenship.” We are “ambassadors for Christ.”
If our roots are in heaven, and our affections are on heavenly things, then we ought naturally to be excited about our country and be willing to tell others about our country and our King. Heaven is so fantastic that the streets are not just paved with gold, they are completely made of it.
Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.
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