By Pastor Mark Hiehle

Pastor

First Church of the Nazarene



Have you ever run a red light or stop sign? If you have, it was probably not something you meant to do or want to repeat. You didn?t mean to, but maybe you were distracted or focused elsewhere. Then, you realized your error, and your heart skipped a beat. Hopefully, an accident did not occur.

Red lights and stop signs are for our protection and others. We respect them and know their importance and authority. The placement of these traffic signs and signals were not by chance, but each had forethought and intention. The traffic lights are placed so that we cannot miss them.

They are meant to be seen and obeyed. The same is true of God?s truth.

God wants us to know truth, and He has placed it before us so that we cannot miss it. Listen to the imagery that is used in the book of Proverbs chapter one, verses 20 and 21 in relation to wisdom that comes from God.

Wisdom calls aloud in the streets, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech

As we continue in this weekly series of gleaning wisdom from the Book of Proverbs, let me encourage you to read a portion every day. Ask God to help you be alert and sensitive to His voice as you read. God wants us to know what is wise, and He wants us to have wisdom. But just like our traffic signs, we can miss vital instruction, if we are distracted, insensitive, or we choose to outright reject their message. For our protection and the protection of others, red means stop, green means go and yellow means caution, not hurry up. Even the red pedestrian signal means to stop, not look and then run. These warnings are for our safety and well-being. The same is true of the wisdom and instruction of the Bible.

God has given us warnings to heed and principles to follow ? all for our good.

Because God loves us, He has given us instruction. However, He will never force us to obey - the choice is ours. The beginning of Proverbs chapter two clearly sets forth this truth. Again and again, Solomon the author, says to his son, if you accept my words if then God?s wisdom is conditional. We need to listen with the desire to obey. If we desire to have insight and understanding that is found in God?s Word, the Bible, then we need to do our part. We need to take the time to read, study and listen to what God has to say to us from the Bible. Jesus said it this way, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open unto you. As we do, God wants to not only reveal truth to us that will make us wise, but He also wants to reveal Himself to us. The instruction found in the Bible, and the insight within the Book of Proverbs will keep you from harm, bring about success and guide you, but there is a greater benefit. As you travel down the road of life, God does not want you to miss Him.



Pastor Mark Hiehle is the Senior Pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene Church at 1300 S. 29th St. in Chickasha, OK. www.chickashanaz.com