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Advice or Truth

Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns. Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip. Guard it well—your life is at stake! Don’t take Wicked Bypass; don’t so much as set foot on that road. Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth. Make a detour and be on your way. (Proverbs 4:10-15)

Is it possible wisdom could add years to our lives? If we believe what God says, then it quite possibly could! When someone tells you something in such a way that it 'lingers' for a while in your thoughts, it might just be the thing they have shared has some significant meaning. It could be a warning to not proceed based on something they have already figured out, or it could be they encourage your next steps because they hear your heart behind the vision you share. When advice comes in the form of a warning, we might not like to heed it, but when it 'settles in' and begins to build up over and over again in our minds, we might just want to hold tight to it!

God's whole intent in giving us his Word was for us to have a 'road map' to show us the way to live life within the boundaries he has established. There are far too many times we treat God's Word as 'good advice', then go our own way without really considering carefully what he has said. This is part of our stubborn human nature - we don't think we need to heed the warnings. Self-willed and self-directed individuals don't want anyone (even God) telling them the way they should live. God may 'deliver' his Word in a bunch of ways, but the more that Word dwells upon our hearts, the more God wants us to heed it. Why? The longer it 'dwells' and the more it 'builds', the greater the chances are that it will break us free from some evil intent that we didn't even know existed within us.

We must never treat God's word as nothing more than 'good advice'. Why? Man's advice is an 'opinion' that is offered to guide our actions, but it can be rejected. God's word is offered as truth and truth does more than offer an opinion - it offers a solid foundation upon which we can stand when all else seems to be crumbling around us. Truth is unchanging - it stands the test of time. Truth is indisputable - it remains valid no matter how many times you test it. Truth is undeniable - the facts are right there for us to discover and hold onto. Advice or truth - which will you choose to heed? The more you heed truth, the less you will find yourself taking 'Wicked Bypass'. The more truth dwells in your heart, the less you will even be tempted to 'detour' from God's best for your life. Just sayin!

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