Walking

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

WALKING

Prov 22:5

5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.

NIV

There are thorns and snares all throughout the course of life. But this saying is that the wicked walk among them on their own free will. They choose to walk among the various difficulties, trials and sufferings. It is the association with the world, the intermarrying with it in a sense which brings about all the thorns and snares in a person’s life. It could be possible that a believer could experience these thorns and snares through this intermarrying with the world. That is trying to live as a believer while still trying to live according to the ways of the world. Being the bride of Christ, but also having an affair with the world.

Josh 23:12-13

12 "But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, 13 then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.

NIV

It would be wise for us to guard our souls well within Christ. He is our refuge, our strong tower, our help in time of trouble. How can we mingle with the world when all we need is in Christ? He is our all sufficiency. Sure we need the things of living. We need a place to live, a place to work, a place to shop for food and clothes. Yes, in our culture it would seem we need a means of transportation to get to work to have the income to buy the stuff. But the point is, do we make all that our priority while adding Jesus to the mix? If we are living in and for the stuff then perhaps we are also wallowing around in the snares and thorns. Not so much of our free will, as the wicked do, but because we are not guarding our soul in Christ as we should. Let us find the secret place in the Rock of our Salvation. Let us allow Jesus to live fully in us. If we are hidden with Christ, if our souls are guarded by Jesus, then there are no snares or traps and thorns that will harm our journey, our path, our walk as long as we are walking with/in Jesus.