Path of the righteous
Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Proverbs 16:17(NLT) The path of the upright leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.
Proverbs 16:17(MSG) The road of right living bypasses evil;watch your step and save your life.
Introduction: Let us with a gladsome mind and praise the Lord for He is good. Welcome to another week at the feet of Jesus Christ.
I pray that we shall not depart from His presence in Jesus name for God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”
This first week we are looking at the “Path of the Righteous“
A path is a long strip of ground which people walk along to get from one place to another.
Path of the righteous therefore is the Holy Road of God’s people which Jesus Christ described as narrow for few.
Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT) “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.
This righteous path is the Holy Road for the redeemed of the Lord.
Isaiah 35:8 (MSG) There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It’s for GOD’s people exclusively– impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it.
This righteous path is exclusively for the redeemed of the Lord who knows where he/she is going without distractions.
Proverbs 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
The instructions God gave Israelite the Chosen ones among nations of the world, are the same instructions to the redeemed of the Lord who live in this sinful world. Deuteronomy 5:32-33 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.
As we continue this Christian journey, we must keep His commandments with determination not to despise His words come what may.
Proverbs 19:16 (AMP) He who keeps the commandment [of the Lord] keeps his own life, but he who despises His ways shall die.
Any Christian who despises God’s way shall die. Anytime we hear about death, we often first think about physical death. It is not so, spiritual death is the first thing that occurs to Christians who despise God’s way.
Remember when God told Adam that he shall surely die if he eats the forbidden fruit. Adam and Eve died spiritual when God’s glory departed and they were naked.
Whenever a Christian commits sin and no physical death, such Christian will likely continue just like a thief that escapes being caught.
Spiritual death is deadly because when physical death comes for a spiritually dead person, eternal death is inevitable. That is why we must be intentional to take the path of the righteous, whether someone is watching or not, God sees everything, anywhere and everywhere.
We are secured when we walk uprightly or take the path of the righteous and NOT crooked way.
Proverbs 10:9 He who walks uprightly walks securely, but he who takes a crooked way shall be found out and punished.
The path of the righteous is hard for those that are perishing and follow human nature. Also because many disciples find God’s word to be a hard sayings to be adhered to. John 6:60 (AMP) When His disciples heard this, many of them said, This is a hard and difficult and strange saying (an offensive and unbearable message). Who can stand to hear it? [Who can be expected to listen to such teaching?]
This same hard word brings blessings with everlasting joy for those who hear and keep it.
Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Hear God’s recommendation to Joshua
Joshua 1:8 (AMP) This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
Hear again the Message version of our text today
Proverbs 16:17(MSG) The road of right living bypasses evil; watch your step and save your life.
Finally brethren, as we continue our Christian journey; let us take studying and meditating of God’s word more serious than ever before, as Christian living becomes more difficult in this perverse generation, ONLY the word of God can keep us on the right path and surely NOT the enticing words of men.
Hear the letter of Jesus Christ to faithful Church
Revelation 3:8, 10 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
✋ Maranatha
