Today’s verse of wisdom under our consideration speaks of the wicked, whose “iniquities… ensnare him” and who “is held fast in the cords of his sin” (v22). Death is his destiny because he lacks discipline. He lacks because his incredible foolishness leads him astray. Because the wicked fool is not a disciple of Christ, his path can only stray and his end is death. Because he does not know God through Christ, he is “enslaved to those that by nature are not gods” (Gal 4:8). We, on the other hand, are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Christ Jesus we “have come to know God, or rather [are] known by God” (Gal 4:9a), and it is by a disciplined life that we do not “turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world” to be enslaved thereby (Gal 4:9b). When we fail to give place to those disciplines we have applied early in our spiritual growth, viz., prayer, Bible reading, fellowship, devotional meditations, spontaneous praise, preparation in meeting for congregational worship, congregational worship, etc., we put to death the Word of Christ that has been quickened in us by God’s grace. Certainly, we are assured of our salvation and our ultimate end is not death, but life everlasting(1 Jn 5:12); nevertheless, the corruptions in our mortal flesh can cause us to wander. In two days we will read of wisdom’s warning: “Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths” (Prov 7:25). Although the immediate context of this verse is a caution against wayward women, its principle applies to every idolatrous and seductive temptation we encounter in a fallen world. Our remedy is a disciplined life; a crucified life; a life filled with the truth of Christ’s righteous person and His holy sacrifice. When we put the flesh to death (Col 3:5), those areas of our lives are resurrected unto life eternal (Rom 8:13) and transformational joy and gladness (Isa 51:3).

=======

Today's M'Cheyne Reading Schedule: 3/18 - Ex 29; John 7:53-8:59; Prov 5; Gal 4

If you don’t have one, get a free PDF copy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Calendar by Clicking Here.

=======