Obedience Street

(Proverbs 17:11 KJV)  An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Which comes first, rebellion or wickedness?  It might not seem to matter and in the end both go against God, but I think it is a matter of whether we are born with free will or whether we are locked into our destiny.

“Rebellion" (rebellious NASB) (4805) is a choice.  We face it every day in some area of our lives.  People are always trying to tell us what to do.  Some have the authority.  Some have the power.  Others are just pushing their luck.  We have a choice in how we respond.

“Evil” (7451b) is a condition of the heart.  All Christian denominations, whether they believe in free will or not, agree that in our natural state we have a sinful nature.  That is evil.  Without the grace of God it is our natural condition.  If we are saved we have entered into a new relationship with almighty God.  We are not longer evil but if we have free the choice to be rebellious is always with us.  God gives us direction in His word.  He speaks to us through preaching and the experiences of life.  The question is, “How will we respond?”

So?  Every day gives us options.  My prayer is that I will take the ones that go down Obedience Street rather than singing, “I did it my way.”