May 31st, 20

MAY 31,   AN RX FOR THE SOUL

Our readings today are Proverbs 16 – 18, and Romans 12.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

Wisdom’s warnings are  a prescription for our soul.  Wisdom comes to us and warns us.  Sometimes wisdom’s word is “don’t”.  At the beginning of Romans we’re told,  

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Rm 12:2)

Don’t be a facsimile, a fake copy, a false front pasted on an old person.  Instead, let God birth something new and authentic, inside your soul, making you new from the inside out.  Wisdom’s warnings can be a prescription for your soul.  Wisdom warns us against copying and invites us into a life of deep transformation, from the inside out.Romans 12 ends with a further word of wisdom:  

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.  

You can do that, Christian.  You have the power to resist evil.  You have the power to overcome evil because the power of Christ resides in you!  The copying, pasting, and covering over that the world offers, has no lasting power.  But the deep-seated transformation of the human heart, brought about by the power of Christ in you, is powerful and can enable you to overcome whatever evil is pressing in on your heart.  Maybe that evil is resentment, pride, the need to be recognized, or unforgiveness. Whatever that evil is, don’t let it conquer you.  Don’t!  Instead, let the power of Christ in you, empower you to conquer evil, by doing good.

It’s not just “Don’t”.  It’s also “Do”.  It’s letting God transform you from the inside out, by changing the way you think –renewing your mind through His Word.   So let us “Do” that.  Let’s allow our minds to be transformed with his word each day.  This will enable us to overcome evil, by the good that‘s born out in our souls.  

Let’s listen to him and do what he tells us to do. Then we can experience the change that he alone can bring about in our lives.  Is he telling you to forgive someone?  Then do that.  Is he telling you to have a right view of yourself?  Then do that.

Heed wisdom’s warnings and see it as a prescription for your soul.  It’s not just “Don’t”.  It’s also “Do”.  Seek out all that God has for you, and do it.

You are loved!