December 13, 2024 -- Proverbs 13:6 -- Sin overthrows the wicked, righteousness guards the believer

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Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.
Proverbs 13:6 ESV
 
What does sin do? Sin twists the sinner, contorting him to fit its malicious, hell-sent purposes. Acting in step with what is immoral or wrong or contrary to the will of God works death in the one who walks that way. It is a silent killer. Its effects aren’t easily detected early on, but the cumulative layers of evildoing will one day hit like a widow-maker heart attack.
 
Righteousness is a word that is repeated so often in the Bible. It is the attribute of God which reveals He always acts with perfect justice and perfect love. Those who believe in Jesus Christ receive the fruit of righteousness through His accomplished work. Believers are set apart from non-believers by this one critical attribute, the perfect obedience of Jesus is credited to them and sealed to them by the Holy Spirit.
 
Believers have the righteousness of Jesus which prompts them to bring glory and praise to God. Confidence in Jesus prompts the believer to continually pray Father in heaven, take away my character defects, my sins, and my constant inclination to sin and renew a right spirit in me. David prayed, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle” Psalm 56:8. These restless tossings and those fountains of tears are a sign of repentance. Believers who sinned cry out to God, ill at ease with themselves, until God has restored them. Beware of the horrible state of becoming so comfortable with your wickedness that you can commit them and not experience a twinge of conscience. It means you are being overthrown by your own sinfulness, so blind to it that you can’t see how it is killing you.
 
Desiring to walk in the ways of God is clear evidence you are a beloved son or daughter of God the Most High. Confessing to God every time you have stepped from the path of righteousness is a clear sign that the work of Jesus is being applied to your heart. Finding that life in Christ is the only life worth living is evidence that the righteousness of Jesus is guarding you. The Spirit is healing you so that Jesus's righteousness is life and peace and joy as you grow closer to Him..
 
In God, Whose word I praise, in the LORD, Whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
I must perform my vows to You, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.
For You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Amen.
 
Today’s prayer is Psalm 56:10-13 ESV
 
https://youtu.be/ZYkZE8AogDE?si=C153aabXybn7mtMm God of All My Days
 

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