Read
11My child, show good sense!
Then I will be happy
and able to answer anyone
who criticizes me.
12Be cautious and hide
when you see danger—
don't be stupid and walk
right into trouble.
Reflect
I needed to pick up my son in Indiana but an early December storm of great magnitude had settled on Ontario. After checking weather maps carefully I believed I could drive into Michigan, and so with some trepidation I set out west on the 401. As I approached London road conditions seemed to worsen and so I began praying about the wisdom of taking the 403 to the northern bridge or staying on the 401 to the Windsor crossing. As I approached London I saw one of those little “pop-up” signs standing on the right side of the road. It said that the 403 bridge was closed. I moved into the left lane and headed for Windsor. If I had swung off onto the 403 I would have been trapped for over a day as many were who did not receive that small warning. Here is a truism: warnings are there to be heeded.
God warns his children, sometimes loudly, sometimes softly, but the warning comes. Do we pay attention and act accordingly? That is the question. If we ignore warnings frequently we can get into the habit of ignoring them. Inattention can lead us not to give them sufficient weight in decision making, and a willful heart can make us stubborn as we insist that we will have our own way no matter what warning God has given. So off we go, trying to cross bridges in life that are in fact closed, and wondering why we have so much trouble.
This takes joy from our God, for he does not rejoice in our lack of diligence or the calamity that so relentlessly follows our refusal to pay attention, our determination to do things our way and not his way. Today make a determination to be a person who brings joy to the Lord because you are listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and you are walking in the path the Father has laid out before you
Respond
Father in heaven, your Word is full of warnings which if heeded keep us from disaster. I confess that so often I try to second guess you because I think I know better. Strengthen my heart to hear and to obey your warnings so that I might avoid disaster and instead walk in righteousness.
Franklin Pyles
Franklin Pyles was a pastor of churches that served inner city neighborhoods, taught theology at Canadian Theological Seminary, and then was a pastor in a medium sized Ontario city. He then served his denomination, The Christian & Missionary Alliance as President for the full time allotted. He has written on C.S. Lewis and on a variety of ministry and church concerns. He continues a preaching and teaching ministry, currently at McMaster Divinity College. Publications: Most electronic and in house for the Alliance.