The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted 

Prayer: Father, I am one or the other. I am either righteous in You or I am wicked without You? Reveal Yourself to me today! Guide my thoughts. Amen. 

Reading: Proverbs 12 key: vs. 1-3 & 13
Whoever loves knowledge loves correction,
but whoever hates reproof is stupid.

A good man obtains favor from Adonai,
but He condemns a person with evil schemes.
No one is made secure by wickedness,
but a righteous root will not be moved.
13 An evil one is ensnared by the sin of lips,
but the righteous one escapes trouble.

Attention: The longer I live and study scripture, there are only two of many things. There is only male and female in any species. There is only righteous and evil. There is only foolish and wise. There are only two masters. Which one do you serve according to Romans 6?  

Today, Solomon contrasts wickedness and righteousness. I mark up my Bible with circles, highlighters, and dated notes to the side of a column. I encourage you to circle every mention in this chapter of the word “wicked.” How many times did you find the word “wicked” repeated in this text?  

Words matter! In our culture, we like to think of people in terms of good or bad, not righteous, and wicked. We like to deceive ourselves because it feels less intrusive and more compassionate. God says it is truth which sets us free (John 8:31-32). What is our true human condition apart from God? What is our human condition in God? Who are we spiritually? The conflict is between spirit and flesh. 

I’m purposely not giving you all the answers. I want to make you think and inspire you to research. This is a lifestyle of daily study on a lifetime journey. Who are we? Are we the haters which the world likes to describe us as? Or are those who shout us down the haters? Or do they become identified by the decibel level of the caustic rhetoric which they shout back at us? Truth exposes.  

We want everyone to love us, and our commission is to “love one another (John 15:17).” Undeniably, we are to “love” full stop. However, we are to “speak(ing) the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).” Are we loving if we do not tell the truth? Are we willing to see telling the truth as a loving thing to do?  

Are we with God and on His side? Or are we taking mankind’s side and standing against God when we do not do all that He has asked us to do?  

Action: I will stand with God and the veracity (truth) of scripture.  

Yield: I surrender when I acquiesce to the entire Word of God.  

Engage: I am engaged with the Holy Spirit when I allow the Word of God to form my thoughts and conform me to His image.  

Relationship: I find relationship in abiding in Adonai and His Word.  

Prayer: Father, how it is easy to get persuaded that You understand, and You dismiss our sin. It is a lie! You intentionally, distinctly share in Your Word that there are consequences to my disobedience. You also tell us that it is love to tell the truth. When You told the truth, people hated You. Religion hated You. Why should we be surprised when we are hated? You told us we would be hated for our association with You. I love You Adonai! Amen.  

Memory Verse: John 15:18-19
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But you are not of the world, since I have chosen you out of the world; therefore the world hates you.

Music Video: Kutless – Identity 

Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today! 
  

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