Proverbs 15 Select Verses
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3 ESV)
God, who created all of us, is completely sovereign over all that he has made. He knows the end from the beginning. All the days ordained for us were written in his book before any of them came into being. And for us who believe in him to be our Lord and Savior, he also predestined us to be conformed to the image (likeness) of his Son (Jesus Christ). For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. And we are to be holy in all our conduct.
[Jer 1:1-19; Psalms 139:13-16; Acts 26:18; Rom 1:6-7,18-23; Rom 6:15-21; Rom 8:28-29; 1 Co 1:9; 1 Co 12:1-31; Gal 5:13; Eph 1:3-4; 1 Thess 4:1-8; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 10:26-31; 1 Pet 1:14-16; 1 Pet 2:9; 2 Pet 1:3]
“In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.
There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.” (Proverbs 15:6-10 ESV)
So, what is “the way” this is talking about here? It is the way of the Lord which he designed and purposed that we should all follow, which is the way of death to sin and living to righteousness in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands, whether in the Old Testament or in the New Testament. Since Jesus Christ gave himself up for us on that cross to put our sins to death with him, by faith in him we are now crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised to walk in newness of life in him in obedience to him.
But a profession of faith in Jesus Christ alone does not naturally result in us dying with Christ to sin and us now walking in obedience to his commands. By God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in the Lord Jesus we willingly give up our old lives of living in sin and for self so that, by the grace of God, we can now live holy lives, pleasing to God, in walks of obedience to his commands. We have to yield to God and to his will and purpose for our lives. And we have to cooperate with his work of grace, by the Spirit, in his power.
So, there is a huge difference between those who make professions of faith in Jesus Christ with their lips only and those who walk by the faith gifted to us by God, in the power of God, in dying to sin daily and in walking in obedience to his commands. For genuine biblical faith results in us denying self, dying daily to sin, and walking in obedience to our Lord’s commands, by the Spirit. And many who give lip service only continue in walks of sin and in disobedience to our Lord and to his commands, and they are the wicked.
So, a wicked person who is still walking in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord Jesus can make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, thinking that his sins are now all forgiven and that heaven is secured him. But that is a lie of Satan. Such a “sacrifice” to God is an abomination to the Lord. But the prayer, devotion, and obedience of the upright in heart is acceptable to God. For God loves those who pursue righteousness. But for him who forsakes “the way,” there is severe discipline. He will die, not have life with God.
“The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones.
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:29-33 ESV)
This is not just Old Testament teaching. This is the spirit of what the New Testament teaches, as well, regarding what it looks like to be someone of genuine faith in the Lord Jesus. You cannot continue walking in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord and then presume upon the Lord that you have salvation from all sin and that heaven is now guaranteed you at death. For “the wicked” are all who still make sin their practice and for whom righteousness and obedience to God are not what they practice.
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he does hear the prayer of the righteous (those who make righteousness their practice). Those who listen to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise, because they not only listen, but they respond in submission to God in walks of obedience to his commands, in practice. So, whoever ignores God’s instructions despises himself because he willingly chooses eternity in hell over eternity in heaven, because he loves his sin more. Those who fear the Lord surrender to his instructions.
[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]
For Our Nation
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
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