Tuesday, May 24, 2011

May 24th – Proverbs 24: The Righteous Man Falls, the Wicked Are Brought DOWN

“Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house, do not raid his dwelling place; for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” Proverbs 24:15,16

The purpose of hanging out in Proverbs and learning all we can from the wisdom found here is to keep righteous people from making common mistakes and falling into sin, making huge errors that cost us years of our lives and tons of turmoil. But the fact is that good, righteous people make mistakes and even sin. Ultimately, we’re pressing in to be like the Lord:

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48

But righteous people sometimes sin and miss the mark. Our goal is perfection, but it sometimes eludes us. This scripture shows us the difference between the wicked and the righteous. Righteous people may stumble and they may fall, but they get back up! I’ve never claimed before unbelievers (or believers for that matter!) to be perfect and without sin. I’m striving for perfection, but miss the mark on occasion. But I do something the wicked don’t do, I GET BACK UP!

A truly righteous person will get back up. They will acknowledge their sin, repent of it and make it right. Wicked people don’t do this. They go on and on in their sin, it multiplies and grows until it defines them. A righteous person isn’t defined by their sin. Yes, they are capable of sinning, but they aren’t good at it anymore! The Bible talks about those that PRACTICE sin:

“Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who judges; for in that in which you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge do the same things. But know that the judgment of God is according to truth on those who practice such things.” Romans 2:1,2

There is a HUGE difference between those that sin on occasion and those that PRACTICE wickedness. Practicing sin is talking about a habitual, ritualistic commitment to doing wrong. Wicked people PRACTICE sin, the righteous may sin, but quickly dissociates himself from the practice, repenting of their wicked behavior. The mercy and grace of God is there to pick up the righteous person, but not so the wicked! The wicked ultimately fall into calamity, never to get up again.

LIFE LESSON:
Walking in righteousness is much more forgiving than practicing wickedness.

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