September 19, 2017

A TRUSTWORTHY GPS

Proverbs 4:10–27

Jonathan Pokluda
Tuesday's Devo

September 19, 2017

Tuesday's Devo

September 19, 2017

Central Truth

Be careful what you feed your heart, because it is taking you somewhere.

Key Verse | Proverbs 4:23

Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
(Proverbs 4:23)

Proverbs 4:10–27

10  Hear, my son, and accept my words,
    that the years of your life may be many.
11  I have taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12  When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.
13  Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
14  Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15  Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.
16  For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17  For they eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.
18  But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19  The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble.

20  My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21  Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
22  For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their 1 4:22 Hebrew his flesh.
23  Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.
24  Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
25  Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26  Ponder 2 4:26 Or Make level the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
27  Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

Footnotes

[1] 4:22 Hebrew his
[2] 4:26 Or Make level

Dive Deeper | Proverbs 4:10–27

Growing up in a small town, my parents were terrified of the freeway. They would talk about it like it was this treacherous maze of confusion. They would often express fear of getting on and not being able to get off until they were very lost. I have lived in this city for 14 years now, and this all sounds silly. But here's what I know: roads take you places, so you want to make sure you are moving toward your destination. Now when my parents visit the city, they rely heavily on their GPS to get where they are going.

Path, way, and instructions are themes that are repeated in this passage. It is clearly saying that there is a right way and wrong way to go. This all matters because your path is taking you toward a destination. Then, in verse 23, we see this new command to "keep your heart." The word keep here is how we would describe preserving milk from going bad. Did the milk "keep"?

I think about the heart like our GPS—we have to continue to give it good instructions to preserve it because it is taking us somewhere (life flows from it). How do we preserve our heart? Be careful what you say, what you look at, where you go, and what you get into (verses 24-27). There was a time in my life when my speech was given to filth. Not only that, but I would set evil things before my eyes and enjoy going to places to pursue wickedness. My life was full of pornography, clubbing, bar-hopping, partying, and destruction. These are some of the natural destinations of a corrupt GPS.

Upon trusting in Jesus, I began to feed my heart new instruction from God's Word. Other Christians served as "road signs," continually pointing me down the right path. My heart was learning new ways to go about life. It had a new final destination of eternity with God, and I am getting closer to Him with every step. Be careful what you feed your heart, because it is taking you somewhere.

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to keep (or guard) your heart? 

2. What are some things in your everyday life that are feeding your heart good instructions? What are some things in your everyday life that are feeding your heart bad instructions?

3. How will you eradicate the sources of bad instructions from your life?