Posted on 12/12/2022 8:30:20 PM PST by Pilgrim's Progress
“Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:15).
“Good understanding giveth favour,” understanding what it means to sow good seed, understanding what is really of value in this world, understanding what the true priorities of life are given favor—especially with God.
The Bible says that to depart from evil is understanding, and a man that has good understanding has favor with God and with most men.
Even though the disciples were persecuted, they people respected them: “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).
The people knew that there was a power there that they did not have, and it was a subject of much discussion.
“. . . but the way of transgressors is hard,” is a phrase heard in many, many Bible messages because it is a universal truth. Why is it hard? Because of God’s infallible, immutable law of sowing and reaping. No matter what the lost man does, it is going to end up on the junkpile of eternity. The way, or the way they live. We met folks and we visit with them a while and then they tell us their age and we find ourselves astonished by how old they looked and yet how young they are. “The way of transgressors is hard.” Men and women are ravished by drugs, by liquor, by tobacco, by sex, you name it—sin leaves people looking “rode hard and put away wet.”
People get hardened by sin. It gives them wrinkles and worry lines. You can see them walking around on the streets where they look like living mummies. Sin has not been kind to them. The lives they live just take a toll on the countenance of their flesh. The question was asked of Cain, “Why is thy countenance fallen” (Genesis 4:6). It was because of sin.
“. . . but the way of transgressors is hard,” not only because of the law of sowing and reaping, but also because they have no peace. “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). It’s hard to live without peace. They is why they stay drunk. That’s why they stay on dope all the time. They don’t want to think about reality.
“. . . but the way of transgressors is hard,” not only because of the law of sowing and reaping, and because they have no peace, but also because they have no future. What is it they have to look forward to? A graveyard and a burning hell.
And yet, despite it all, what did the Lord Jesus Christ say? “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
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Amen to that! So many of us just grab our phones first thing. Grab your Bible instead! Just give it 15 minutes...you will not regret it!
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