Proverbs 23:17-18 — Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD. For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
We are tempted to envy sinners who seem to prosper and live happily despite their sins. How can sinners feel no guilt, shame, or remorse when they live as they do? We are tempted to think that maybe sin is not as serious as the Bible says it is, since sinners do not appear to be reaping the consequences for their sinful ways.
But the Bible is very clear: The evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished (Proverbs 24:20). Notice that the evil man has no future, but the man who fears God surely has a future. The lamp of the wicked will be extinguished, but the hope of the righteous man will not be cut off.
Paul says it this way: The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). A life of sin leads to a dead end, but a life of obedience and faith in God leads to a glorious eternal life both now and in the future.
The old sin nature craves for us to cast off restraint and indulge every one of its earthly desires for pleasure, power, popularity, money, and material things. The old sin nature gives no thought to eternity and eternal consequences.
But we believers have another voice that we listen to, which is the voice of the Spirit who speaks to us the truth of God’s Word. The voice of truth helps keep us in the love of Christ instead of gratifying the lusts of the flesh. We know there is no future, no hope, no life in living to please ourselves. In Christ, we are satisfied and have no need to envy or covet. Only Jesus can satisfy our souls!
03/07/2025 Devotional
"We believers have another voice that we listen to, which is the voice of the Spirit who speaks to us the truth of God’s Word. The voice of truth helps keep us in the love of Christ instead of gratifying the lusts of the flesh."
Mark 13:31 NLT
[31] Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
2025년 3월 7일 묵상
"우리 믿는 자에게는 우리가 듣는 또 다른 음성이 있습니다. 그것은 우리에게 하나님의 말씀의 진리를 말씀하시는 성령의 음성입니다.
진리의 음성은 우리가 육신의 정욕을 만족시키는 것 대신에 그리스도의 사랑 안에 있도록 도와줍니다."
마가복음서 13:31 RNKSV
[31] 하늘과 땅은 없어질지라도, 나의 말은 절대로 없어지지 않을 것이다.”