Advent Devotional, December 11

Proverbs 3:31-32

 

"Do not envy the violent and do not choose any of their ways;
for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are in his confidence."

                                (Proverbs 3:31-32)

 

Anger and fear have the potential to transform otherwise decent people into the monsters that threaten them.  The wise writer of Proverbs understands this and encourages his listeners to consider a better path. The Amplified Bible challenges the reader, in its translation of this text, to resist choosing the ways of the wicked, and instead, live with spiritual integrity and moral courage.  In the heat of the moment, retaliation seems to vindicate, but in the end, it satisfies little.

 

Spiritual integrity and moral courage may not satisfy the angry in the midst of life's cruel realities, but they position one to be taken into the confidence of God, or as the Common English Bible says, to become a close friend of God.  Given the choice of a momentary rush of retaliation or the eternal hope of friendship with the Almighty, we would do well to choose the latter. That is perhaps a good thing to keep in mind as the angry rhetoric ebbs and flows in our nation these days.

 

Prayer: Gracious God, may your wisdom rule within our hearts, that we may value friendship with you more than angry words and actions. This we pray in the name of Him who is known to us as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...Jesus, the Christ. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy