This devotional series examines a verse or two from each chapter of Proverbs each day of January 2017.
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. ~Proverbs 4:25-27
Solomon urged his son to be careful of the way he walked. The metaphor of a path or a journey is used throughout scripture to speak to the Christian’s life. Psalm 1tells us not to walk in the counsel of the wicked. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5 to be careful how we walk. Jesus said in John 14, “I am the way.”
Life presents us many paths and many obstacles. As we make our journey, we need to look ahead with wisdom and make sure we stay on the right path. When we look forward, we can see what lay ahead. We can map out our steps to not trip over rocks or branches and not turn down a path that will lead us away from our desired destination.
Temptations are like sirens’ calls, seeking to lead us down a path that might look more desirable in the moment but will surely trip us and cause us and those around us pain and hurt. Earlier in this chapter, Solomon strongly warned his son to not set foot on the path of the wicked (4:14-15).
The good thing about our path as Christians is that Jesus blazed the trail for us. He walked ahead and illuminates the way. So, Hebrews 12 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author of our faith. Again, it is what we do as we keep our gaze forward.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, keep seeking wisdom, and it will lead you down the good path toward God and away from evil.
First Baptist Church 