Pay Close Attention!

Surprised to find another posting?
Me too, but I find I have something to share and actually have a few minutes to myself to do so!

Today is the fourth of January so you know what chapter of Proverbs I read this morning.

The very first word of this Proverb is Hear. 
The word fairly leapt off the page at me!
Papa's Spirit was shouting to my spirit.

To really hear you have to pay close attention.
So I did.

The message, once again, was to value wisdom and understanding above whatever the world tries to entice you with in an effort to distract you from your pursuit.
The contrast between the righteous and the wicked is made.

It culminated with the verse that has encouraged me over the past thirty years or so.
Papa wanted to draw my focus to it afresh.
It was verse eighteen.

"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day."

What a glorious picture!
I love the comparison with the dawning of a new day...

The sun gradually rises and with it a greater degree of light.
For it to be fully day the sun must be up and shining.
Oh there might be clouds, but above those clouds the sun is shining.
Anyway, the day that is referred to in this verse is a cloudless one!

As we walk with Jesus and seek His way..
The way of wisdom and understanding..
Motivated by the fear of the LORD...

You receive more light along the path...
And then when the time comes that you are face-to-face with Papa...
Oh Glory!  It will be all light!

The following verse speaks of the wicked.
Those who choose not to fear God and pursue wisdom.

It is a sad picture.

"The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble."

We've all stumbled in the darkness, literally and figuratively.
We wander around in that darkness unable to tell what is tripping us up.
Because we do not have the light needed to see clearly.

The Living God longs for each one of us to walk in the Light.
He sent His Light, whose Name is Jesus.

this is the One who said,

"I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Earlier in the gospel of John Jesus said that there are those who hate the light because they love to do evil deeds.  Selfish deeds.  Deeds that do not reflect a reverence for the LORD.

Papa was reminding me today of not only the importance of paying close attention, but the benefits that come with this pursuit.

Psalm Thirty-Four, verse eight calls to us,

"O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

Though the path is not often an easy one the beauty and goodness of the LORD makes it the best and most glorious.
It is the only path with a happy ending.
And what a Light filled, glorious one it will be!