Righteous Guard

For Thursday, October 6, 2005
Proverbs 13:6

Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.

Righteousness is not only a standard to meet, but armor to wear and protect us from the enemy who would destroy our souls. A garment of sin not only doesn't protect us from the evils of life, but strengthens the power of evil to harm us.

The Christian has failed already, who, thinking it necessary to survive in the world, compromises Christian ethics. God will not honor such thinking and behavior, and thus the Christian sacrifices his one true Guard. All the more likely then will he be overthrown.

Is your job threatened? Are you in danger of losing what seems necessary for living? Are you in danger of losing someone you love? Then for your sake, do what is right in the eyes of the Lord only. Do what Scripture teaches is right. It certainly is simpler to follow the clear teaching of Scripture than to figure out alone what is the cleverest action to take. And what can be safer than to walk along the path of the Lord under his protection?

But always remember that it is not our righteousness that provides security, but Christ's. Here is the proverb in the light of Christ: The righteousness of Christ guards him who follows his Lord, but to remain under the bondage of sin is our downfall.