Saturday, January 12, 2008

Right Paths


Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27

This picture brought these verses to my mind. These are verses that I've often written on the greeting cards of young people, especially when they graduate from high school. Have you ever noticed how many times the words "path" or "pathway" appear in the book of Proverbs? Today I counted at least eighteen, all in the first eight chapters. And that's not counting the verses that speak about "walking in the way." Another verse many of us love is the one that says "the path of the just is like the shining sun."

But then there are the warnings. One of the devotionals in my Bright Gems book is devoted to these warnings. I called it "Turn From Evil" and in it I try to explain to children what the Bible means in Proverbs 4:14-19 when Solomon speaks to the young about not entering the "path of the wicked." In the day in which we're living, I'm sure that you'll agree with me that we should be lovingly exhorting our children about these things, especially our teens. And there are so many applications--movies, friendships, TV, books, music, etc.

But we always have to make sure we bring them to the only way that there is to walk in the way of righteousness and avoid the path of evil. It's only through and by Jesus. If we lead our children to Him, He'll lead them in the right paths by and by. Thank God for that.

10 comments:

TO BECOME said...

Maxine such a great post and I know it is very true. Thank God for leading our children down the right path. Thank you, Have a wonderful weekend. connie from Texas

Cathy said...

I enjoyed that excellent post, Maxine.

~~Deby said...

Wonderful post Maxine....it seems to go with one that I read today at Pam's...Good News from a Far Country...she is on my blogroll...(or at least I think it does )
What a great year this has become with wonderful CONVICTING posts...
Deby

Mishel said...

Another great post Maxine! : ) Blessings to you!

Beverly said...

Great post, mumsie!

Susan Skitt said...

Ah yes, lead them to Jesus and He will guide our children. How true. Another great post my friend. May each of us as parents and mentors lead by example :)

Much love,
Susan

Carol said...

Hi,Maxine, I love this photo and what a great example for this thought provoking post..

Anonymous said...

I love this Maxine, it is so true, And such a great picture too!
Have a blessed day,
Patty

sparrow's song said...

you shared,
...we should be lovingly exhorting our children about these things, especially our teens.

But we always have to make sure we bring them to the only way that there is to walk in the way of righteousness and avoid the path of evil. It's only through and by Jesus.


Absolutely. Well said.

I remember a young christian mother saying that she wasn't going to tell her son about God as she knew Him because she didn't want to influence him but wanted her son to find God in his own way. I had news for her, the enemy and the world were more than willing to influence her son away from God in any way they could and without apologies. I'm still wigged out by her statement even years later.

When we, as Christian parents, stand before God we'll be accountable for what we did and didn't say or do to influence our children toward the glory of God.

Mimi said...

Maxine,
this was a wonderful post... and a great thing to remind young people to walk in the way of righteousness and avoid the path of evil...
thanks for the post.
Mimi