Slices
Prepare
Pray this verse as you settle your heart today: ‘Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me’ (Psalm 25:4,5).
Bible passage
Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
Explore
A friend and I recently saw a play set in 1930s Germany. The main character was an academic who was approached by some Nazi leaders and asked to write a paper for them. Flattered, he agreed. Yet this seemingly small act started him on a path which got harder and harder to leave. Eventually, this generally good man became a Nazi agent, simply by taking dozens of tiny steps away from his principles. Each one caused him to hesitate, but each time he moved forward.
That is the danger Solomon is warning against here. Once you set a single foot on the road that wicked people follow, you will quickly find yourself walking along it (vs 14,15). Turn away while you have the chance.
Verses 16 and 17 depict wickedness almost like an addiction: evildoers can’t get any rest until they have done evil. It’s a compulsion, driving them further and further down the path. The ‘first steps’ become like a ‘gateway drug’ – something that seems mild, but that quickly leads to experimentation with more, and more deadly, things. As the old anti-drug adverts used to say, ‘Just say no!’
Respond
To stay on the path of wisdom, we have to fix our eyes on the destination and choose to walk towards it. Ask God to help you set your eyes on him and walk steadfastly in his ways.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 17,18; Romans 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Mission Enabler Chris Eales as he supports an increasing number of Faith Guides, asking that the Holy Spirit will guide his conversations with Faith Guides and children and young people. Pray too for the development and use of Go Wild in year-round ministry as well as residentials.
