Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Proverbs 28:18 (NIV)
The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
Proverbs 28:18 (MSG)
Walk straight—live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life.
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“He who walks blamelessly and uprightly will be kept safe, but he who is crooked (perverse) will suddenly fall.” -AMPLIFIED
“Jesus went before us on the narrow path along which He beckons us to follow Him.” ~Rose Philippine Duchesne
To walk the straight and narrow is to live a godly, morally upright life before God. It is to do what He says and to do so with the right attitude. Solomon tells us:
“Whoever walks in honesty will be safe, but whoever travels the crooked path will suddenly fall.” -(VOICE)
Solomon draws our attention in today’s proverb to the fact that those who choose to walk the straight and narrow will be kept safe. Those who choose to live a perverse, wicked life will be doomed.
“Good men will be rescued from harm, but cheaters will be destroyed.” -(TLB)
It was Jesus who told us that there are two paths that we each need to choose from as we journey through this life. One path leads to Heaven and the other to Hell. The pathway to Heaven is narrow; the pathway to Hell is wide. Jesus told His followers:
“There are two paths before you; you may take only one path. One doorway is narrow. And one door is wide. Go through the narrow door. For the wide door leads to a wide path, and the wide path is broad; the wide, broad path is easy, and the wide, broad, easy path has many, many people on it; but the wide, broad, easy, crowded path leads to death. Now then that narrow door leads to a narrow road that in turn leads to life. It is hard to find that road. Not many people manage it.” -Matthew 7:13-14 (VOICE)
Jesus also warned more than once that the path we must follow will be narrow.
“Someone asked him, “Sir, are only a few people going to be saved?” He answered, “Try hard to enter through the narrow door. I can guarantee that many will try to enter, but they won’t succeed. After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, it’s too late. You can stand outside, knock at the door, and say, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know who you are.’” -Luke 13:23-25 (GW)
“On the straight and narrow path, there are simply no corners to be cut.”
~Neal A. Maxwell
In Isaiah, we find God speaking to the people of Israel about the “Holy Highway” that leads to Heaven. He reminds them that he will walk the road with them and He will protect them.
“And a main road will go through that once-deserted land; it will be named “The Holy Highway.” No evil-hearted men may walk upon it. God will walk there with you; even the most stupid cannot miss the way. No lion will lurk along its course, nor will there be any other dangers; only the redeemed will travel there. These, the ransomed of the Lord, will go home along that road to Zion, singing the songs of everlasting joy. For them all sorrow and all sighing will be gone forever; only joy and gladness will be there.” -Isaiah 35:8-10 (TLB)
“The moment you begin a serious study of the scriptures, you will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the straight and narrow path…. When you begin to hunger & thirst after those words, you will find life in greater abundance.”
~Ezra Taft Benson
The Scriptures remind us over and over again that we can receive help and guidance from the Almighty One as we travel this straight and narrow pathway. We find David praying:
“The Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray; he will teach the ways that are right and best to those who humbly turn to him. And when we obey him, every path he guides us on is fragrant with his loving-kindness and his truth.” -Psalm 25:8-10 (TLB)
We find in Isaiah these words of hope and comfort:
“And if you leave God’s paths and go astray, you will hear a voice behind you say, “No, this is the way; walk here.” -Isaiah 30:21 (TLB)
And again we find in Isaiah:
“The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)
“If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.” ~Dr. Vance Havner
My friend, we have been called to walk the straight and narrow. The World around us oft times tries to distract us from what our goal should be; journeying through this life on our way to see our Father. Take care that you are not distracted and wander off of the path. Always remember what waits for you on the other side.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” ~Jesus (John 14:6 NCV)
My Prayer:
Father, God, I ask that you help me to always remember that I am just passing through this life, on my way to spend eternity with you. This place is not my home; I am just a traveler. Help me to keep my focus on what is important. And when I am tempted to step off the pathway or when I stumble, remind me that you are there right beside me. Help me to listen to your still, small voice and obediently continue on my journey to see you. Thank you, Father.
Growing with God 