“Don’t consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:7-8‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil reminds me of the knowledge given in James.

“But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4:6-10‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/72/jas.4.7-10.HCSB

Draw near to God and resist the devil. This is not easy or a once-and-done process, but it is a daily, hourly thing we must do. We cannot draw near to God once and expect God to draw near to us forever and always. We cannot resist the devil once and expect He will leave us alone. Look at Jesus he resisted the devil at least three times in the wilderness and he continually sought God in prayer.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. 

Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 

But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” 

Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 

Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” 

Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.” 

Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.” 

Then the Devil left Him, and immediately angels came and began to serve Him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:1-11‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/72/mat.4.1-10.HCSB

He went out and made His way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. When He reached the place, He told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Then He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me — nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He got up from prayer and came to the disciples, He found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. “Why are you sleeping? ” He asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:39-46‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/72/luk.22.39-46.HCSB

So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:12-13‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/72/1co.10.12-13.HCSB

When we resist the devil and draw near to God in a humble attitude then we get healing in our bodies and strengthening in our bones. 

The Hebrew word that is translated for strengthening is only used twice in the Old Testament and it is referring to strength given by wine or a refreshing to our bones. I think about milk and how it is to helps our bones with calcium. This is the help that God gives to our bodies and bones when we are humble and turn away from evil. 

Comments

Popular Posts