(Prov 24:15,16 CEV) Don’t be a cruel person who attacks good people and hurts their families. Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up. But when trouble strikes the wicked, that’s the end of them.
This morning we continue our series, “Unlocking the Power of Proverbs – Walking in the Wisdom of God.” This is the 27th Saying: an Admonition on Violence. Here Solomon, once again, warns us about sowing bad seed. Without question, if we sow bad seed we will reap a bad harvest. Solomon knows that there will always be bad people in the world, but he admonishes us not to be one of them. As a believer you should never be counted among those who spend good time devising evil schemes. These people go out of there way to hurt the innocent and in the latter portion of the passage Solomon differentiates the fate of the wicked, with that of good. Without question, we ALL fall, we all make mistakes, and we all error. The difference is that the good man (who is seeking to live His life in accordance with God and His Word) has the power and the grace to get back up again after he falls. The wicked, however, who live their lives without the power, grace or mercy of God, will fall and one day realize that they have fallen too deep to get up on their own power alone. Hence, they will stay down and that will be the end of them.
You know me, I don’t like to spend too much time on the negative. I think the message is clear concerning what will happen to the wicked, but if you are reading Today’s Word, then you must want to be like the righteous in the text. That being the case, let’s focus on what Solomon said about us. You and I (believers) will fall just like everyone else. I would like to tell you that once you become a follower of Jesus that all your struggles will be over. But if I told you that I would be lying. The truth is that we all face challenges and actually, believers sometimes face more challenges after coming to Christ because satan is not happy about the fact that we switched sides. But the Good News is that WE WIN! No matter what the enemy brings our way, no matter how fierce the attacks, no matter how intense the pressure, and no matter how many stupid mistakes we make (bringing unnecessary pain upon ourselves), the truth is that our God will never leave us nor forsake us. He is ON us, IN us, WITH us, and FOR us! With God on our side, there is no way we can lose. Will we fall? Sure we will. But will we fail? NO WAY! We can fall, and fall, and fall, and fall… but we keep getting right back up again!
So what does this mean to you today? The message is simple: NEVER QUIT! The enemy knows that he cannot defeat you when you operate in faith. When you have your faith switch in the “ON” position and you are believing God to operate in your life, you may have setbacks, but delay does not mean denial for the believer. However, when you allow the pressures of life to cause you to turn your faith switch to the “OFF” position, then satan did not beat you, you beat yourself. In other words, the ONLY way you can lose, as a believer, is if you quit! So settle the issue in your heart right now. If you don’t quit – making a determination to get back up after every fall – you cannot fail!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this reminder this morning. I am a believer and not a doubter. I operate in faith and not fear. I declare, by faith, that I will keep my faith switch in the “ON” position no matter what comes my way. I might fall, but I shall not fail. If I fall seven times I am determined to get up eight! I am not a quitter. I am a fighter and the fight that I fight is the fight of faith. You are ON me, IN me, WITH me, and FOR me! You are on my side. I shall not lose and I shall not quit. I thank You Father for always giving me the victory through my Lord Jesus the Christ (1 Cor 15:57). I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
