Simple Ways & Dark Days
"Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding."
-Proverbs 9:6
Simple- (sim·ple) A.) Not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated B.) Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly.
Well let's look at the word, Simple... Simple...
We have all heard this word many times in our lives, But what did Proverbs 9:6 mean by: "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding"?
Well... lets see,
What do we live with/around EVERYDAY that is so simple, that ultimately... it becomes apart of us?
...Sin
Sin is Simple...
And before long...? The simplicity of rejecting Christ and following the world will become a BIG part of our Ways.
IF WE BECOME FOLLOWERS OF THE WORLD, We become clowns... Someone who pretends to be something that they are not.
Pay attention to this quote...
"...Consequently atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning."-C.S. Lewis
"...If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning..." Wow... So true isn't it?
Even if you have given you life to Christ...
...Why are you still rejecting his teachings to follow the world? You KNOW who Christ is! But still you are more scared of what the world would say... So on Sundays you smile and sing, But you know that you are only kidding yourself.
You might fool the world, But you won't fool everyone... And you DEFIANTLY can't fool God.
When you reject God's commandments, you become the world's clown...
Truth is? Rejecting Christ and following sin is simple... However, If you don't want to be the world's clown...? If you want life...?
You must know and understand, Following Christ is not as simple as it looks. It is actually difficult... But... Only if you let it be difficult...
We as Christians MUST begin to find how we can make following God's commandments easier!
And guess what...?
The bible tells us CLEARLY how to make following less difficult!
How...? ...By gaining prudence
Following Christ requires us to gain Prudence!
Wait... Pause,
Prudence-(pru·dent) A.) Wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discrete or circumspect; sober B.) Careful in providing for the future
What does the bible say about this word...?
"You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding." -Proverbs 8:5
One of the definitions of Simple contained foolish...
And the verse above states that if one is simple, then one must gain prudence... Then it's safe to say,
In order to abandon Simple Ways and have life...WE MUST have prudence and not be foolish!
One way to achieve this? Live like Christ REGARDLESS of how hard the world beats you down... REGARDLESS of how simple sin is!
We must fear the Lord, Because without fear? It is easy to fall into the simplicity of sin...
"To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." -Proverbs 8:13
It's simple to follow the world... It's simple to compromise... It's simple to follow pleasure... It's simple to abandon love for lust... It's simple to forget the Lord... It's simple to give in... It's simple to tear down... It's simple to sin
But does simple make wrong, right? No...
So why are we still living in the simple ways?
Who's clown are you?
You WILL BE HATED for following Christ,
But you MUST STAY FIRM!!!
Only Christ cares enough, that he gave his life, for you...
"Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life." -Luke 21:17-19
We must begin to take our relationship with Christ seriously, For he is the one who gives us life...
You must be SERIOUS about your relationship with the Lord, treat it like a relationship with a significant other. We MUST not compromise!
We will be hated... But not a HAIR on our heads will perish... I rest at night knowing where I am, where I'm going, and where I stand...
When will you take off your makeup and stop being the world's clown? When will you come into the Lord's arms to stay?
A life without reason is a life without purpose. A life without direction is a life lost. A life born again is a life brand NEW! Who you WERE is not who you ARE... Perseverance under pressure pleases God So don't be deceived,
God notices EVERY attempt that you make to praise and honor him!
True freedom requires restraint... Simple Ways, Lead to Dark Days...
We are better than that,
You are NOBODY'S clown!!
So to the world, it seems that you walk alone.. But through the laughter and the pain you WILL FIND peace knowing that:
You are NEVER alone... You have hope... You have purpose... You have a friend that will lever leave or laugh at you... You have life...
Through Jesus
I pray that we never forget this truth...
...Oh what the cross has done!
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“...Let all who are simple come in here!” she says to those who lack judgment. “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave." -Proverbs 9:16-18