Today I’m reminded of the dangers of the company we keep. I’ve started reading through Proverbs and Psalms again every day. One chapter of Proverbs per day (today is the 22nd, so I read chapter 22), and 5 Psalms today (today is the 22nd, so 106-110). Allow me to share a few of the words of wisdom that struck me this morning.
“Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.” – Prov 22:10
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.” – Prov 22:24-25
“Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what’s right.” – Psalm 106:3
“He loved to pronounce a curse—may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing—may it be far from him.” – Psalm 109:17
Over and over again in today’s reading, it contrasted the ways of the Lord with those of the world, and what stood out to me was eye-opening.
The way of the Lord is to bless others, and in doing this they will be blessed.
The way of the evil one is to curse others, and in doing this they will be cursed.
The way of the Lord is to sing praises to him.
The way of the evil one is to mock others.
The way of the Lord is to seek justice.
The way of the evil one is cover up, deception, and depriving others of justice.
The way of the Lord is peace, driving away those who are divisive and cause endless arguments.
The way of the evil one is mocking and insulting others, constantly looking for an argument.
I could continue on and on from just the 6 chapters I read this morning. But those 6 chapters were a good reminder. Now let’s take this one step further.
In your family, do you speak more blessings on others, or curses? Are your mouths filled with praises of God, or mocking and insults of others? Does you work to pursue justice in all things no matter the cost, or are you ok with depriving others of justice so long as things work out the way you want? Do you strive for peace, or is there always an argument to be had?
How about in your circle of friends?
How about in the media and entertainment you consume?
How about in your social media feed?
Do people see the way of the Lord, or the way of the evil one in how you speak and interact with the world?
Perhaps there’s some conversations I need to have in a different way. Perhaps there’s some “friends” I need to remove from my feed. Perhaps there are some voices I need to stop listening to, and some influencers I need to stop allowing to influence me.
Just some thoughts that have been floating through my mind this morning.
“With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him. For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.” – Psalm 109:30-31
Living in the Word 