Walk Of Life – Day 04, January 2022 – Thoughts From The Book Of Proverbs – Enter
Enter in the paths of righteousness
I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. – Proverbs 4:11
As a mother I feel very difficult to tell my son the difference between right and wrong. He sometimes feel so weird to understand why certain things are not allowed in our family while those same things are encouraged a lot by his very good friend’s families. Every time I used to conclude that we are different from them. We are the children of the most high and the Holy God. And our Lord expects us to be in such a way that there should be a difference between us and the people of this world.
In Psalm 5:8, David prayed, “Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make your way straight before me.” As our life guide, the Lord assures us of faultless leading in straight paths. He is the ultimate companion for our journey. Like a professional travel guide, He stakes His name and reputation to guarantee our protection and safe arrival at the promised destination (Psalm 23:6).
The “paths of righteousness” depict the journey that leads to eternal life (Psalm 16:11). Proverbs 12:28 assures, “There is life in the path of righteousness, and in its path there is no death”. The Lord watches over those who walk on these paths (Psalm 1:6). As the proverb says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18).
Believers are made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Ephesians 2:8–9). By faith, we enter into a relationship with the one true God through Jesus Christ, His Son. Through the Holy Spirit, our Good Shepherd leads us on paths of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:7; John 17:3; 1 John 2:25).
Sheep are known to stray from the path, and so are Christians. Yet, even if a believer falls into sin, as David did with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1—12:15), the Lord is committed to leading him back to the right path. The Good Shepherd goes after the one lost sheep (Luke 15:1–7). The Father waits for the prodigal son to return (Luke 15:11–32). The Lord shows us our wandering ways so that we can repent and have our souls refreshed and restored. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The disciple Peter is an excellent example of a straying follower who was pursued by the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord (Luke 22:58–62). After he fell, Peter, like David, was forgiven and restored by the Lord (John 21:15–19).
According to Scripture, paths of righteousness are the safest roads to travel (Proverbs 4:11–12; 10:2, 9). These paths are ultimately avenues of safety, wisdom, justice, right living, integrity, and eternal blessings (Isaiah 42:16; Psalm 119:35; Proverbs 8:20; 11:3). They are “ways of pleasantness” and “paths of peace” (Proverbs 3:17).
Lord, I would clasp thine hand in mine
Nor ever murmur nor repine
Content, whatever lot I see
Since ’tis thine hand that leadeth me
He leadeth me, He leadeth me
By His own hand He leadeth me
His faithful follower I would be
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Let us Enter in the path of righteousness walking in His foot steps and delight the heart of our Lord.
