Today’s blog post is a continuation of yesterday’s discussion about how God has given us a very special “map” – the Bible – to show us the way to life-forever in Heaven.
Yesterday’s post discussed different aspects of the map:
* Swamps
* Southern Barrier Mountains
* Danger Island
* The Great Forest
* Lake of refreshing
* Wild Islands of the North
* Deserts
Perhaps you might be wondering: “What does this look like practically?? In real, day-to-day life what does this practically look like??”
For today’s post, I wanted to focus on each of the different aspects of God’s “map” and share verses from the Bible, which show what this practically looks like in real, day-to-day life.
“Swamps”
* Our tongue can become a “swamp” which bogs us down in our life’s journey.
“Keep a tight rein on your tongue.” – James 1:26
“Reckless words pierce like a sword.” – Proverbs 12:18
“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” – James 1:19
* Greed & chasing after wealth can become a “swamp” which bogs us down in our life’s journey.
“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires which plunge them into ruin and destruction.” – 1 Timothy 6:9
“A greedy person brings trouble on themselves and their family.” – Proverbs 15:27
* ‘People-pleasing’ can become a “swamp” which bogs us down in our life’s journey.
“The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” – Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.” – Proverbs 14:27
“Southern Barrier Mountains” (these act as a barrier of protection to help guard and protect us from the devastating dangers of sin)
“A person’s wisdom gives them patience; it is to their glory to overlook an offense.” – Proverbs 19:11
“It is to a person’s honor to avoid strife.” – Proverbs 20:3
“Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.” – Proverbs 20:22
“A prudent person sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” – Proverbs 22:3
“Listen and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.” – Proverbs 23:19
“Keep your path far from an adulterous person, do not go near.” – Proverbs 5:8
“Do not lust in your heart after an immoral person. … Can a person scoop fire into their lap without being burned?” – Proverbs 6:25, 27
“Danger Island”
“Do not have sex of any sort outside of marriage.” – Exodus 20:14 / James 2:11
“Do not murder.” – Exodus 20:13 / James 2:11
“The LORD hates murder!” – Proverbs 6:16-17
“Do not be jealous or envious against others.” – Exodus 20:17
“Do not lie.” – Exodus 20:16
“The LORD hates lying!” – Proverbs 6:16-17
“The LORD hates a false witness who pours out lies.” – Proverbs 6:19
“The LORD detests lying lips.” – Proverbs 12:22
“The LORD hates pride.” – Proverbs 6:16-17
“The LORD tears down the proud person’s house.” – Proverbs 15:25
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” – Proverbs 16:18
“The LORD hates a person who stirs up dissension among people.” – Proverbs 6:19
“An angry person stirs up dissension; and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.” – Proverbs 29:22
“A perverse person stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.” – Proverbs 16:28
“Each one is tempted when, by their own evil desire, they are dragged away and enticed.” It starts with desire … which then leads to committing the act of sin … which then results in death. – James 1:14-15
“Stern discipline awaits the person who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die.” – Proverbs 15:10
“The Great Forest”
“God guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” – Proverbs 2:8
“I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered.” – Proverbs 4:11-12
“The man of integrity walks securely.” – Proverbs 10:9
“The integrity of the uprights guides them.” – Proverbs 11:3
“Righteousness guards the person of integrity.” – Proverbs 13:6
“The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.” – Proverbs 16:17
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Lake of refreshing
“A generous person will prosper; the one who refreshes others will themself be refreshed.” – Proverbs 11:25
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 11:30
“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 15:4
“An anxious heart weighs a person down, but a kind word cheers them up.” – Proverbs 12:25
“How good is a timely word!” – Proverbs 15:23
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” – Proverbs 16:24
“Wild Islands of the North”
“The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” – Proverbs 4:19
“In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares.” – Proverbs 22:5
“Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil.” – Proverbs 2:12-14
“Those who plot evil go astray.” – Proverbs 14:22
“A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.” – Proverbs 16:27
“A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good.” – Proverbs 16:29
“Deserts”
“A person’s spirit sustains them in sickness.” – Proverbs 18:14
“If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!” – Proverbs 24:10
“For though a righteous person falls seven times, they rise again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” – Proverbs 24:16
“Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” – James 1:2-3
For further study and reflection on “following God’s map,” you can take a look at Ephesians 4:17-32 … continuing on in Ephesians 5:1-14. Also, Colossians chapter 3 offers much wisdom on how to follow God’s path.
God has given us a very special map! This “map” – the Bible – shows us the way to life-forever in Heaven!
