Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
Observation
This scripture goes along with Philippians 3:9-10, when Paul say's "not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law". There is incredible humility in this verse. We are not wise, any wisdom we have come's from the Father of Lights and He both gives and takes away. Instead of dwelling on your own works or righteousness, or even others works or righteousness, instead Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
When I think of Fearing the LORD, I associate being thankful. Understanding His sovereignty and power to turn me to dust, but because of HIs love and compassion He doesn't. Everyday that I wake up and I am breathing I should be thankful, every person I talk to, I should be thankful. Everything I suffer, I should be thankful. Not because I'm scared what will happen if I'm not (however, there is something to be said about respect), but because His loving hands always hold me. He wants what is best for me. This passage is proof of that. He wants us to turn away from evil. He wants us to dispel pride from our lives, and in doing so we will have healing for our bodies and refreshment for our bones.
Pride is the worst of sins to me, because it as the root of so many other sins and it is terribly sneaky. You don't even know you are sick with it because it is a slow fade. But when it is removed, you realize that you had been slowly rotting away from pride.
Application
I have experienced pride in my own life, and still struggle with it. I absolutely hate that sin. I remember being physically sick so long and I know that it was pride that was causing it. My bones truly ached, it is remarkable how close this passage hits home for me. I will continue to struggle with pride though if I don't make a concise effort to seek the LORD throughout each day; praising Him and thanking Him for what He has done and is doing. Also, praising Him for who He is. He owes me nothing, I am entitled to nothing. He gives because He is generous, not because I deserve it. He loves because He is love, not because I perform better than others.
Prayer
Father thank You for being who You are. You are so gracious and so merciful. You are truth. You are Love. You are Light. You are Good. You are the ONE! Thank You for pursuing me and for instructing me. Help me to always turn from evil and seek Your face and Your will. Help me Father, to live a life of praise unto You. May my life be a song of Your beauty and majesty. Father give me wisdom this day and every day to see evil and flee from it. I specifically ask that You instruct me heart of the sin of pride. Please make the trap clear to me and help me not walk into the temptation to make it all about me, but instead choose to bring glory and honor to You. Do not let me look at my motives as benign, but allow You to always examine my heart and reveal to me the evil that is there, so that Your good Spirit can lead me in paths of righteousness. I love You Daddy.
No comments:
Post a Comment