The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn. – Proverbs 4:18
Have you ever driven through a long tunnel? It gets dark the instant you enter, but as you move through the tunnel toward the other side, you can start to see light. As you get closer to the other end, the light gets bigger and the tunnel brightens. It’s almost a feeling of relief when you finally exit, able to see light and sky and the world around you once again. This is the picture of righteousness present in Proverbs 4.
The writer of this chapter does quite a bit of contrasting the ways of the wicked with the ways of the righteous. In verses 16-17, he discusses how the sinful men are committed to their sin. They sacrifice sleep, money, dignity, freedom, whatever they need to in order to do what is evil – he almost goes so far as to say that they are addicted to their sin. By contrast, the path of the righteous – the one who is just and wise – grows brighter and brighter. This is not just a momentary light or the feeble light of a candle. This is heavenly light that will continue to push out darkness until Jesus returns.
What path are you traveling? Are you stuck in a cave, moving toward more darkness, or are you in a tunnel, traveling ever closer to light? “Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure” (Proverbs 4:26). Reach out to God and ask Him to guide you as you walk each day. Ask Him to bless our country with people that strive to walk the path of righteousness, that His light will grow stronger each day.
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 3:2-10
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
