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Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. ⁶The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? ⁷The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. ⁸It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. —Psalm 118:5-8 Where do your go when you're in distress? When hardships come our way we need someone stronger to intervene for us. We have no strength within ourselves, so we must call upon our Lord. Charles Spurgeon said, Prayers which come out of distress generally come out of the heart, and therefore they go to the heart of God. It is sweet to recollect our prayers, and often profitable to tell others of them after they are heard. Prayer may be bitter in the offering, but it will be sweet in the answering. The man of God had called upon the Lord when he was not in distress, and therefore he found it natural and easy to call upon him when he was in distress. He worshipped, he praised, he prayed: for all this is included in calling upon God, even when he was in a straitened condition ( The Treasury of David ). God is always attentive and active on behalf of His children even though we are so undeserving. The psalmist cried out to God and God answered him! A God That Protects God helps and protects us so that we may carry out His desires. We may suffer at times, but we should not fear. The psalmist asks rhetorically, What can man do to me when the Lord is on my side? How can we be afraid of mere men when we have such an Almighty God? Man can do no more to us than what God permits. Recently I was able to send some funds to a friend in India to help his family buy food during the Covid shutdown. While buying for his own family he was burdened to help another family nearby that was in greater need, with half of the funds. God not only supplied his family’s needs when they were in great distress, He also provided for the needs of those around them. A God That Helps The psalmist says, “The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.” Man’s desire is to secure great allies in any conflict that may arise. Without God, our allies will fail. Only God can strengthen those who help us. And there is no greater ally than God Himself. As for those who hate us, they shall flee before our God. Christ triumphed over all on the cross. A God That Shelters Man will always fail us, but God will always follow through on His Word. God does far more than we ask or even think. At Calvary, Christ was not a victim, but victorious over Satan and sin. Therefore, he is our refuge. Indeed, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” For Reflection What have you learned about God in the midst of hardship? Have you suffered for the Lord without fear? Ask Him to help you take refuge in Him.

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? ¹⁴You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. —Psalm 77:13-14 In our passage, the psalmist is crying out to God in his time of trouble. We aren’t told the cause of his trouble, but we know it is extreme in that he refuses to be comforted (v. 2) and cannot even speak (v. 4). Clearly, he is under great duress. It's a help to consider how he works through his deep sadness. Asking himself if the Lord will spurn him forever, the psalmist begins to meditate on God and His amazing works as a means of turning his sadness into hope and his sorrow into joy (v. 12). Acknowledging God’s perfect holiness, the psalmist asks if there is a god like our God (v. 13). Not needing to answer that question, he begins to describe God as one who works wonders, who has made His might known among the peoples (v. 14). For the balance of the chapter, then, he recounts what God has faithfully done in the past for His people. Like the psalmist, in our times of sadness and despair, we can look at what God has done in the past in order to renew our hope in Him. But unlike the psalmist, we have the single greatest event in all of redemptive history to recount. God’s might was most manifest in the power of Jesus Christ and His atoning death and resurrection. Jesus accomplished the culmination of redemptive history on the cross. Now we have the privilege of living in a time when we can look back on what has already been done. Like the psalmist before us, we can look back. But our gaze is even better as we consider what our wonder-working God has done through Christ in saving a people for His glory and for their joy. May our hope and confidence in God be like that of Abraham, whose faith grew strong as he was convinced that God was able to do what He had promised (Romans 4:21). It's instructive to note that at the end of this psalm of lament there is no resolution. For those who are followers of Jesus Christ, we do know what the ultimate resolution will be. Regardless of the plight that God may have ordained for us while on earth, we know that one day we will be in His presence where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). Until that day, may we all continue to look back upon the mighty and wonderful works of our holy God! For Reflection How might meditating on God's leading His people like a flock (v. 20) have comforted the psalmist? How does meditating on what God has done in the past serve to comfort us for the future? Are you experiencing sadness or lack of hope? What works of God from the past most encourage you? Patrick Dirrim helped to   start Grace Fellowship church, with his wife Barbara 22, years ago. They have worshipped there ever since, outside of the two years when they served as missionaries in Guatemala. They've been married for 30 years and have seven childre and two grandchildren. Grace Fellowship, Cumming, GA has been using  Truth78 curriculum  from the start and the Dirrims have introduced it to many other churches, as well as trained others how to use it.

[ For] you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. —2 Corinthians 8:9 When it comes to negotiating, the first rule is be willing to walk away . You never want to be taken advantage of, and you especially don’t want to spend more than what something is worth — you must come out on top. In the world’s economy this makes perfect sense, but God’s economy is not like the world’s. God pays more than we can imagine and gives more than we deserve. The rich became poor We see how much God paid when we consider the riches Jesus gave up. From eternity past God the Son was in perfect, personal community with God the Father and God the Spirit (Genesis 1:1-2, John 1:1). He enjoyed the eternal glory of God the Father (John 17:5). He enjoyed the love of the Father constantly pouring out on him (John 17:24). He received the honor as the Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos (Colossians 1:15-17). These were His riches—the honor and glory of the Triune God. Yet, “though he was rich…he became poor.” God the Son in all His splendor laid aside His rightful riches to take on man’s poverty. In Philippians Paul says, "Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:6-7). Becoming a man was Jesus’ first step into poverty. When God the Son was conceived by the Spirit in the Virgin Mary, He instantly became poor. He took off the crown, jewels, and robe of a King to be swaddled in a manger as the child of a poor, outcast couple. In His coming He embraced poverty. The pinnacle of His poverty, though, came at Calvary where Jesus paid the ultimate price, giving up His life. In taking on our human nature and all our weaknesses, Jesus emptied much more than His pockets. On the cross He emptied Himself. What is stunning about this is that He did it for  us. Don’t miss that in the text: “though he was rich, yet for your sake   he became poor…” (emphasis added). Jesus wasn’t simply setting an example. He wasn’t paying for sins generally. He gave up His glory and poured out His blood for us . He paid every penny we owe for our sin, personally. God’s economy defies our categories. In the world’s economy we never want to overspend. We have to be willing to walk away from a deal if it costs us too much. But He wasn’t willing to walk away despite the infinite cost. He paid for us . God the Father gave His beloved Son to pay the ransom for ungodly rebels (Romans 5:6-8). For our sake He became poor. This should cause us to sing out like Charles Wesley did in his hymn, And Can it Be?: And can it be that I should gain An int’rest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain– For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?   The poor became rich What should thrill our hearts even more is when we consider not just what He paid for us but what He has caused us to become. “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that   you by His poverty might become rich.” The richest became the poorest so that the poor would become rich. Jesus emptied Himself to fill us. He became poor so that we would receive His riches, including adoption as children of God (Ephesians 1:4-5); righteousness so we can worship before His throne (Revelation 7:13-15); and the imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance due to heirs of the King (1 Peter 1:3-4). Ultimately, however, the greatest treasure we have been given is Jesus himself. He is ours and we are His, always and forever, world without end. This is God’s economy of glorious grace. He paid it all so that in Christ we might have it all (Romans 8:31-39). May we daily remember that we who were once poor have been made truly, eternally rich because our Lord Jesus Christ became poor for us. For Reflection What does it mean that Jesus became poor for you? How might being rich in Jesus help you fight discontentment? How can being rich in Jesus change your stewardship of worldly treasures (i.e., time, talents, and treasures)? Ben James  is the Associate Pastor of Chapelwood Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN. He has served Chapelwood since 2020, beginning as an elder and going on staff in 2022 following his graduation from Indianapolis Theological Seminary in 2022. He also serves on the Administrative Team of Plant Indy which works alongside churches in the central Indiana area to plant and revitalize churches. He is married to Brentyn, and they have three wonderful children.

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? ¹⁴You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. —Psalm 77:13-14 I love reading the Psalms. They're beautiful with all of their poetry, crying out to God, awe and wonder, and raw vulnerability of God’s people laid bare. They are a comfort to me, an encouragement that offers transcendent hope. In Psalm 77, the psalmist is in anguish. He begins by calling out to God, begging God to remember him and pleading for God’s favor. He talks about his soul refusing to be comforted. Have you ever felt that kind of pain? Have you called out to the Lord, asking if He’s forgotten you? What anguish he must have known and felt to respond in this way. The psalmist asks a difficult question—has the steadfast love of the Lord ceased? Can you imagine feeling as if the Lord’s love for you has stopped? Have you ever felt so much pain that you asked, “Where are you Lord?” After asking that despairing question, the psalmist steps back and reminds himself of who God is. This week’s passage is the beginning of that reminder. And what a precious remembrance it is. When we feel overwhelmed and alone, we must do what the psalmist does— remember . Remember the good things that the Lord has done throughout human history and in your life. Remember the good the Lord has done, and is now doing, for you. The psalmist reminds us who our God is. He is a holy God. We can trust Him and His ways. Our God is uniquely great. He is greater than we are. He is greater than this world. We can rely on Him. He is the God who performs miracles. Yes, nothing is impossible for our God. Remind yourself of this! These aren’t fairy tales we cling to, but truths of His power and goodness. God can do the impossible and He has done the impossible in making a way for sinners to be counted righteous. God is powerful. He is not weak or absent in our storms. He is ever-present and He is able to overcome. You can trust the Lord with today, and with your future, in spite of your circumstances, because of who He is. 2020 taught us very clearly that we don’t know what the future holds. Every moment of human history has also taught us that our God is sovereign—He holds the future. He is a great God, a God of miracles, and He is very present. Follow after Him, cling to Him, and remember what He’s done. Remember how He was with the psalmist, even through the darkest valleys. Believer, His steadfast love never ceased for him, and it won’t cease for you. For Reflection Remind yourself of the Lord's works. List some of the ways that God was present in hard times for His people in the Bible, in your life, and in the lives of your friends and family members. How have you witnessed God’s work? Does He feel near to you now, or far away? Spend some time praying through what you’ve seen God do in the Bible and in your own life. Confess your fears and doubts and cling to Him. How can you encourage someone else? Is there someone you should pray for or check in on? Ask God to use you to be a blessing to someone else.

[For] you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. —2 Corinthians 8:9 A few verses before our passage, Paul combines two seemingly opposed descriptions. The believers in Macedonia live in “extreme poverty” and yet they have an abundance of joy. Their pockets and houses might be empty but their hearts are overflowing. This is possible only when our heart’s happiness isn’t gauged by our worldly assets but by our blessings in Christ. Paul used the Macedonians as an example of how every personal lack is eclipsed by God’s provision. As he continues down this line of thought, he leads us into an even greater argument in verse 9. What the church in Corinth possesses can’t be seen with physical eyes but must be envisioned with the eyes of faith: the eternal Son of God who is the joy of heaven, who reigns and rules all things here below, and who owns and oversees every resource in both realms, is their supreme treasure and the Lord overseeing their resources. We are helped by drinking deeply of a theological diet rich in the glory of Jesus as King and equally rich in the grace that drove Him to give up such glory to rescue us. We must fill our minds with lofty biblical thoughts of Jesus as the Son of God from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things. And then we must fill our minds with equally amazing thoughts of Jesus as the God man who loves His people enough to not only take on their flesh but also to take on their sin. We must follow Paul’s example in fixing our gaze on what belongs to us in Christ. When we remember Jesus is ours and we are His, then we have a hope more secure than our bank account and well-laid plans. If Jesus is an endless storehouse for all wisdom, love, and grace then there has to be more rest in him than in vacations and weekends off. When we tally our treasures, not by earthly resources, but by the presence and promises of God to us, then we will be caught up in joy. This is how it's possible for believers to be in “extreme poverty” and yet overflow with joy (8:2). It’s how we are made rich in him who became poor (8:9). When confronted by our weakness and lack, these truths will remind us that in Christ, we lack nothing. If you are united with God's Son, then you have everything you do need and will need in and through Christ. For Reflection What seems missing, lacking, or empty in your life? What do you have in Christ that will supply or supersede what’s lacking? How has God faithfully provided through his presence or provision throughout your life?

[For] you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. —2 Corinthians 8:9 As I record these thoughts, we remain under pandemic restrictions and face a national election that leaves our future tinged with uncertainty. We do not know how or when our church here will be allowed to gather again. We do not know what philosophies will prevail in the cultural context moving forward. We do not know whether the local economy will recover and stabilize, or if we are in the beginning of an inevitable, unstoppable decline. There is much we just don’t know. But (I just love that little word, don’t you), there are some things we do know. In the midst of uncertainty there are some things we can know with absolute certainty. Paul records one of those certainties in this week's passage: “ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ” Contextually, Paul uses this affirmation of certainty within a discussion of generosity to encourage the Corinthian believers to complete a benevolent offering they had started the year before. His intent is to motivate their generosity to the poor saints in Jerusalem by reminding them of Christ’s gracious generosity to them. It is a lesson every believer should take to heart when we consider how to steward the resources of this world that God entrusts to us. Specifically, though, for this exercise, I’d like to invite you to focus on the assertion Paul makes regarding the general spiritual condition of his audience, which, at the moment, is you! Paul bases his call to grace and generosity on what we know . “ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus" Christian, do you have ears to hear what the Spirit says? For you know. There is more than one way to talk about the topic of knowledge in the Greek language. Paul uses a word for know that means to understand and embrace things as they really are. It is a word that signifies being confidently equipped with truth. This an understanding of reality that derives from personal experience, whether good experiences or bad, pleasant or difficult, convenient or challenging. And beyond being merely a knowledge gained through experience, this “knowing” Paul writes of comes to have the sense of “to verify.” It is verifiable knowledge that comes primarily through personal observation, experience, and affirmation. There is an expression that says, “A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.” That’s not always true, but it does illustrate the kind of knowing of the grace of the Lord Jesus that Paul says each believer has. How do we come to know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Corinthian Christians did, an experiential certainty in a cultural context of uncertainty? Three means come to mind. They knew the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ from experience because a credible witness to that grace made it known to them personally. They knew it because the Holy Spirit affirmed that grace within them. They knew it because of the personal transformation they each experienced when they believed the gospel they heard from a credible witness—the gospel that was affirmed by the Spirit within them as they put their faith in Jesus. I am reminded this morning not only of Paul, but of an earlier witness to experiential knowledge of God’s grace: a shepherd boy named David. David fought the giant Goliath, overcoming his massive opponent with a slingshot and a small stone. Well, that’s what the record states. David’s victory was not so much in the weapon in his hand as much as the knowledge in his heart. He knew from experience the power and work and majesty and glory of God. On the day of battle, David focused not on the uncertainties that surrounded him, but on the certainty that supported him. He did not focus on the giant, nor the weapons in the giant’s hands. He focused instead on the certainty within his own heart, certainty in the grace of God, and he won the day. Christian, in the midst of uncertainty, David knew with certainty the grace of God and acted accordingly. Paul reminded the Corinthians, in their Roman, pagan world, of uncertainty, that they knew the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and should act with certainty, completing the ministry of mercy they started. I offer to you, dear one who through faith now knows with certainty the grace of the Lord Jesus, act in your private life and in your public life as one who knows with certainty amid uncertainty. You know. Act accordingly. For Reflection Review how you came to know the grace of the Lord Jesus? Who taught you? How did the Spirit affirm the gospel? What transformation occurred? What uncertainties plague your thinking today? What do you know about Jesus that directly confronts and negates these uncertainties? What action can you take to act with certainty amongst these uncertainties? Some spiritual activities, like worship and praise, prayer, and Bible memory affirm the certainty of the grace we have come to know. Is there an area of faithful practice you’ve neglected that you need to reinstate, that would develop your confidence in what you know and your ability to interact with your world as one who knows the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ?

...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. —James 1:19-20 There is much in the world to be angry about. Frankly, if you are a follower of Jesus, you should be angry and hate evil: "O you who love the Lord, hate evil!" (Psalm 97:10). You should be angry about abortion, sex trafficking, exploitation of the poor, racism, sexual immorality, gossip, slander, murder, lying, stealing, and all the belittling of the glory of God. But more than that, you should be angry about your own sin—like your own sinful anger. Anger becomes sinful anytime it causes you to fail to love the Lord with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and when you fail to love your neighbor as yourself. If your anger causes you to disobey God in any way, then it is sinful—it does not produce the righteousness God requires. The harsh, unloving word against your husband or wife is sinful. Disciplining your children from a heart filled with impatience or rage is sinful. Tearing down your coworkers or roommates with your words—words that have the power of death (Proverbs 18:21)—is sinful. There is great wisdom in the Holy Spirit’s command: “Be quick to hear, slow to speak.” Being more angry about the sin of others than your own sin may reveal pride and hypocrisy in your heart. Ask God to show you the root of your anger. How to fight sinful anger First, know the utter wickedness of sinful anger. Jesus equates anger with murder. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment" (Matthew 5:21-22). Ungodly anger reveals you are a murderer at heart, deserving of hell. Repent, grieve, and plead with God to forgive you and free you from it. Second, know that you have a great Savior. Jesus got very angry, but He never sinned. He got so angry that He made a whip and drove everyone out of the temple (John 2:13-25). Know that your anger sent the perfect, sinless Savior to the cross. Know that He loved you while you were yet a murderer at heart. Know that He died to save you from God’s wrath. Know that He was raised and is alive forevermore. He dwells in those who trust in Him, freeing them from sinful anger as He makes them more and more like Himself. What a Savior! What a gospel! For Reflection What makes you most angry, why? Seek the Lord to show you the deep roots of your anger. In what ways does your anger cause you to sin? Are there people you have sinned against out of anger that you need to reconcile with? How can you better rest in the finished work of Christ in order to be set free from anger?

...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. — James 1:19-20 Many of us are trying to figure out how to live in a culture that so flagrantly violates God’s commands. And yet many of us are tempted to take up the same weapons the culture uses to “fight fire with fire.” As Christians, we should want to be countercultural. But what would that even look like? We live in an era when social media and 24-hour news encourage the hot take and the quick response. This environment rewards the loudest voices, the biggest self-promoters, and the most inflammatory statements. We Christians can slide into this way of communicating as well if we let ourselves be washed with the world instead of the Word. James shows us a better way. He says, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” “Quick to hear” stands in contrast to our instincts. How often have we thought that we have someone pegged by their words, their associations, or the side they’re on, and used that as an excuse to believe the worst about them? Instead, Scripture calls us to assume that we don’t have all the information (Proverbs 18:17) and to take the posture of a learner. Doing so shows that we consider the other person to be an image-bearer and reflects the same gracious posture God has shown toward us. “Slow to speak” is the other side of listening quickly. When we are quick to hear, we are necessarily slow to speak (Proverbs 18:13). Being slow to speak does not mean never speaking. Rather, it means refraining from defending ourselves and making judgments until we have heard the other party out. This takes humility and self-control. But when we are patient to gain all the information, then we can discern and respond rightly. “Slow to anger” is not as obviously related to the previous two. But when we are slow to hear and quick to speak, we are more inclined to make rash judgments (Proverbs 14:29). How many times have you said something in anger that you later regretted? How many times could you have avoided that if you had simply asked more questions or waited to respond? This is indeed a better way. But it is a hard way! These commands are not simply addressed to our current cultural issues; rather, they are aimed at timeless problems with our hearts. Verse 20 tells us why we are to be slow to anger: it “does not produce the righteousness of God.” The sinful response of anger cannot lead to a godly outcome. Nor does it come from a godly source: quick triggers and short fuses are products of self-righteousness and, ultimately, foolishness (Proverbs 11:12; 17:28). Do you want to be countercultural? Work out your salvation through your tongue. A Christian with a quick tongue may win an argument. But a slow tongue will win hearts (Proverbs 16:32). For Reflection When was the last time you got angry? What were you wanting? (James 4:1-2) What could you have done differently to avoid reacting sinfully? What practices can you put in place to be quick to listen and slow to speak? Greg Palys  is a pastor at College Park Church in Indianapolis, IN, primarily overseeing ministry to children and their families. He and Sarah have five children: Ruth, Ezekiel, James, Eden, and Luke.

...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. —James 1:19-20 I’m so glad that God gives clear guidance for relationships in His Word. James is full of practical wisdom, and He tells us to ask for it (James 1:5). James wanted his readers to know what to do when temptations come. One guiding principle is: be ready to listen. What would the world be like if we all were quick to hear instead of being quick to react? Too often we jump to conclusions or immediately try to defend ourselves. Anger can blind us to reasonable thought and action. It can often be a response borne out of fear. Discovering why we get angry can help us to deal with it better. When tempted to lash out at someone, we can take a moment to think about what we're doing. Words once spoken can never be taken back. Pausing to figure out why we're reacting in anger can prompt us to appeal to God for help. Actually taking time to think before speaking could prevent a lot of hurt in this world. As Solomon said, "Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 19:11). And praying before responding is a good preemptive practice. James offers a key to battling anger in the verses that follow our passage: " Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (vv. 21-22). Memorizing and meditating on the Word of God plants it in our hearts, so we are better prepared to face the temptation to get angry. Paul also gave relational instructions in many of his letters including: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord (Romans 12:17-19). Jesus’ teachings are full of admonitions to love, do good to, and pray for our enemies (Luke 6:27-36). We don’t ever know the whole story, but God sees the heart of all involved in any and every situation. He is perfect judge (James 4:12) and we can trust Him to judge justly (Isaiah 30:18). He alone gets it right. If anyone could have been justified in retaliation, it might have been Joseph. His brothers hated him so much that they sold him into slavery in a foreign land. Joseph was surely tempted to feel fear, despair, and anger. Instead, he trusted God. He recognized that he was not “in the place of God” to do his brothers harm (Genesis 50:19). He learned that God had a larger plan—what his brothers intended for evil, God meant for good for the saving of many. May I encourage you to have faith in who God is; trust Him when you are tempted to react impulsively. Pause and think before you speak. Consider how your tone and volume might come across. Be patient and pray, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3). You may be amazed at how much better your relationships become. After all, God gave each of us one mouth, but two ears. Let’s use them for His glory and the good of others. For Reflection When have you spoken too quickly and regretted the damage your words have caused, whether written or spoken? Consider strategies for being slower to speak and quicker to listen: take a deep breath before speaking, silently ask God for His wisdom, memorize verses that you can then call to mind in tempting situations, pause and think before you speak, instead of reacting, rephrase what the other person has said as a question. Ask God to help you be more eager to understand, than to be understood.

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil. —Psalm 141:3-4 Words are a means to much sinning. James, the brother of Jesus, says, “How great a forest is set a blaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness… For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:5-8). How can we suppress this plague of sinning with our lips? More importantly, how do we root it out? First we must understand that our lips are a doorway. The doorway of the heart Our minds and hearts are constantly busy with thoughts, judgments, intentions, delights, hopes, musings, meditations, dreams, and strategies. Our lips are a doorway for the expression of these internal movements. We learn this not only from David, in Psalm 141:3, but also from Jesus, in Luke 6:45: “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” The problem, as we have already seen, is that many of these internal movements are sinful and not God honoring. Our lips bear witness to the shameful reality of our sinful hearts. What's more, our words don’t only reveal our sin, they multiply our sin. Our lips add an evil expression to the already existing evil intention. The first line of defense against a sinning tongue is to close the door of our lips. But the tongue is not easily tamed and the door of our lips is too heavy to shut on our own. We are desperate for God to shut the door for us. God must keep our words pure and supply us with the necessary self-control. This self-control is not self-generated, it is a gift from God. God is the great tongue tamer! New inclinations Praise God for the grace He gives in progressive sanctification. He shuts immoveable doors and tames untamable tongues. He fixes mouths so that the unkind or imprudent words are not given a voice! But even if the doorway is shut and the darker intentions of our heart are not revealed by our lips, we are still defiled by the evil inclination of our hearts. Though it is mute, it is not dead. Here we come against our greatest problem. If the door of our lips is immoveable and if our tongue is untamable, then the inclination of our heart cannot be shackled by even the strongest legion. Inclinations are not simple actions that can be modified or corrected. Inclinations are the natural impulse of our desire—a reflex as natural as breathing. How can a heart inclined towards evil ever be changed? It can't—apart from the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Through His work on the cross, God not only tames tongues but He guides hearts . He kills sinful desires and creates godly ones. He changes our natural impulse. He enlarges our hearts so that we can run in the way of His commandments (Psalm 119:32).

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. ²⁶Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. ²⁷Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. —Proverbs 4:25-27 As we consider the wisdom in this passage, let’s recall also these words from Jesus: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14). The parallels in these two passages are striking. Only one good way Notice first that what is commanded of us is fundamentally the same in both passages. The sage of Proverbs presents five commands in these two short verses: “Let your eyes look directly forward,” let “your gaze be straight before you,” “ponder the path of your feet,” “do not swerve to the right or to the left,” and “turn your foot away from evil.” His point could not be clearer: there is a pathway that leads to life, joy, goodness, and fulfillment, but we must always remember that this pathway of life is solitary. Our gaze must remain fixed on this one path. We must recall regularly the importance of remaining faithful to walk only on this path. And we must avoid veering to the right or left resulting in departing from this path that alone leads to success in life. Jesus’ admonition is amazingly similar—only the narrow gate will lead us to life. And since only this narrow gate grants what is best for us, we dare not consider taking instead the wide and easy way. There is one path to life, and this is the one we must resolve to take and remain always on. Beware the good-looking evil way Second, notice both passages indicate some enticement or temptation not to take the path of life. In Proverbs, this enticement is suggested by the warning to “turn your foot away from evil.” Of course, if evil were not alluring, this warning would not be necessary. But the sage of Proverbs knows the truth—evil appeals to the darkened hearts we possess due to sin, and so we face the reality that evil often acts to entice us off the path of life. But calling it evil helps us see that what it promises to us is a lie. What evil lures us toward will only bring harm. Instead, only by following the path of life will we experience all of our ways being “sure.” In Jesus’ words, the enticement of the wide gate and path is seen in the sheer number of people who seem to think this is the best and correct path to take. If those who enter the wide gate “are many,” they must be right! We, too, like to follow the crowd; we like participating in what everyone else is doing. But once again, we must recognize that the popular path, though enticing, leads to destruction. Only the narrow path will actually lead us to life, goodness, and joy. The hard, good path Last, both passages indicate that there is something hard about walking the path of life, and yet despite this, it is greatly worth taking. For the sage of Proverbs, the difficulty is found in the repeated emphasis on keeping one’s gaze focused on the straight path. Don’t swerve to the right or left, He urges. This indicates that it is hard to stay on this path and, indeed, it may be easy to drift leftward or rightward if we are not vigilant. Jesus' description is more direct: the wide and popular path toward destruction is easy, whereas the narrow and solitary path toward life is hard. Though this narrow path surely brings life and blessing, it nonetheless requires vigilance and determination in light of the difficulties encountered along the way. Here we have, then, wisdom from the sage of Proverbs and parallel wisdom from our Savior. We must resist the attitudes of our culture that despise receiving commands from another. God’s ways are always  best, His wisdom is always  perfect, and we only  find true joy in life when we follow, not resist, His good and gracious commands. May God grant us wisdom to see the goodness and joy of always taking the narrow path, keeping our eyes fixed on it, shunning the enticement of others in their evil, and experiencing the fulfillment we will know when we enter everlasting life through Christ.  For Reflection Are you grateful for commands from God in His Word? Or do you chafe at all such commands thinking that you would rather live life your own way? Do you struggle with wanting to follow the popular crowd? Do you like being in step with the culture around you? Have you seen evidence in your life that veering from the straight path, or taking the wide path along with many others leads to destruction? If so, why do you think God allowed you to have this experience in your life? Bruce A. Ware  is professor of Christian Theology and chairman of the Department of Christian Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He has written several books, including his theology book for children, Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God . Bruce and his wife, Jodi, have two daughters and three grandchildren. The Wares love drives in the country, hikes in the woods, walks on the beach, and time with their daughters and son-in-law and grandchildren, along with reading and good music.

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. ²⁶Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. ²⁷Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. —Proverbs 4:25-27 It was impending doom! I knew it, but couldn’t stop. My first day on a two-wheeler, I was concentrating completely on the ground ahead of me when I heard my Dad call out, “Look out for the tree!” I jerked my head up and there—straight in front of me—was the tree. Of course, I wanted to not hit the tree so I knew I had to turn the handle bars. But I kept looking at the tree I shouldn’t hit, and my bicycle went where my eyes led! The bike and tree collided and sent me face first into the bark. I learned something that day, but didn’t really get it until I connected it with what I learned later from baseball. Dad was coaching me on how to hit a ball. From the sidelines he would yell, “Keep your eye on the ball! Keep your eye on the ball.” So I did, and learned how to pop a ball with gusto and accuracy. My big lesson from those early days: If you want to hit something, keep your eyes on it, and don’t lose your focus! My Dad could have written the first line of our verses for this week. “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze straight before you.” Our Fighter Verse is saying, “Keep your eyes on the ball! Don’t be diverted!” But on what—or on whom—should we set such an unflinching gaze? The writer of Hebrews says we should run our race, “looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus tells us in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  Jesus is the One we must focus on if He is the One we want to follow. This walk requires commitment and concentration. What might divert our attention or prevent us from following Him? Certainly all things that are evil…let not lying, nor blasphemous talk, nor filthy joking, nor adultery, nor theft, nor murder, nor cheating, nor gossip be named once among us. We must turn our feet from evil—as well as our eyes, our ears and our hearts. We want to be holy, for our great Lord Jesus is holy. But swerving to the right and left? What is the author of this passage cautioning us about? Perhaps things that are not sin in themselves could cause us to swerve; perhaps amusements or diversions could steal our affections from spiritual things. There are countless options for play and pleasure available to us in this generation. If we fill our days with them, we risk being not merely diverted, but dissipated. If we set our eyes on them, we may follow them until they capture our attention, our time, our money and our desires. We need to ponder our paths here. Do we spend more money and time on temporal pursuits than we do on our Bible study and memorization, our prayer, or in concerns for missions and mercy to the needy? 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 reminds us, “For the love of Christ controls us…He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.” The Word instructs us: Keep your eyes on Jesus! Follow hard after Him, and He will make all your paths sure and straight. Fellow believer, choose Christ daily. Ignore the siren songs of pleasure. Let’s spend our time doing the good works He has ordained for us to do and in seeking the face of our God. For Reflection What do you do first thing in the morning? Through prayer and Bible reading, seek God’s presence and help with every event, every encounter, every decision that will come to you. Throughout the day, pray for grace to choose activities and relationships that will delight God’s heart and build His kingdom. At the end of each day, give praise to God for His constant help, His abiding love, and His leading.