“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8:32–36, ESV
In a world that seems to be led by offense and outrage, these words are good guidance. Wisdom seems to be in short supply, and faith in Jesus Christ is the knowledge that leads to wisdom. For those who trust in Jesus, the difficulty often lies in not reacting to the world and letting the things they do guide our reactions. Of course, the ways of the world are an offense to God, but our faith is centered on bringing brothers and sisters into the eternal promises of our Lord. If we allow the world to guide us in our thinking, we may lose sight of the promises of Christ, and the message of Christ may become muddled. As we seek to follow wisdom, our hearts are led closer to God and further from the noise of the world. Yet, there will always be those who will reject God and seek after the things of this world. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, reiterated, and the Apostle Paul warned that the Gospel would make those who think themselves wise into fools. We do not declare this, but it will be revealed in the end. We see throughout history the suffering of people of faith and their faithfulness in sharing the Gospel with those persecuting them. Paul’s witnessing in prison is where much of that inspiration is. All of which are modeled after Christ’s own suffering. We know that all of the Apostles faced great persecution, and all but John were martyred. As we rely on the wisdom given to us by Christ and in the faith that we hold, we can stand firm in the knowledge and truth of the eternal life we have before us.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.