What do You Devise? Evil or Good.

“Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.” (Pro 14:22 NKJ)

In Proverbs 14:22 we learn that what we devise reveals the condition of our heart – what belongs to us. If we devise evil it tells us our heart has gone astray. If good it tells us that mercy and truth belong to us. Without mercy and truth we will go astray; astray from loving God and our neighbor; astray from doing what is right and pleasing to the Lord, according to his word of truth, the Bible. Yet, mercy and truth are two characteristics of man that do not come natural. In fact, we could say that cruelty (hatred) and lies are what come natural for us because of our sin nature. Let’s get real – Who hasn’t hated or lied, or both? No one – not even Monk!

However, there is one man who by nature is Merciful and full of truth and cannot be otherwise; Jesus Christ, who is true man and true God – the incarnate Second Person of the Triune God (see John 1:1-3, 14). Mercy and truth belong to Him and to all who belong to Him. To all who belong to Him these characteristics are gifts given from God, not because of anything in the person or because of him having earned them; but rather are given by grace alone through Jesus Christ our Lord, who suffered the wrath of God on the cross, and being died for our sins, he was buried and on the thrid day rose again from the dead, and is exalted to the right hand of the Faher in heaven, where he ever lives to intercede on behalf of those for whom he died. Only through Him will mercy and truth belong to anyone. Does mercy and truth belong to you?

There is only one way you can know that the gifts of mercy and truth belong to you. It begins first by coming to Jesus Christ by faith alone with a repentant heart; turning away from your walk of devising evil, and turning to Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins, salvation, righteousness and everlasting life. Then by turning to Him daily for grace as you walk by faith in His promises desiring more and more to devise good as you demonstrate His mercy to others just as He did for you; and then, by faith declaring the truth in your walk and in your words, as you proclaim the gospel of truth that is in Jesus Christ alone to glory of God alone – Soli Deo gloria!