The Pilgrim Path---Proverbs 12: 20

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.

“DECEIT…EVIL...PEACE…JOY”

One of my minister colleagues years ago had the insurance board call and ask him why his health insurance premiums were three (3) months behind? His shocked response was, “What did you say?” He found out that the church secretary (a deacon’s wife) had been siphoning away money (with her husband) for years. They were not as sharp as they thought. Their crime had amounted to 10 – 15 thousand dollars from various “funds” in the church. “Yikes”---as they used to shout in the Ole Peanuts Cartoons! They were deceitful souls. They looked “nice” on Sunday---but were genuinely misleading others (people in church were amazed and dumbfounded at their behavior). Yet---as the Scotsman McCheyne reminds us, “The seed of every sin is in our breast.”

This Proverbs passage “jumped out” at me because of our Church wide Bible Reading in Genesis. We had to tread in Genesis 27. Jacob and Rebekah couldn’t wait to “pull the wool” over Esau’s eyes (Jacob wore the wool---and played the part of Esau---because Dad had trouble with his sight).Whatever it took---to get the birthright! It’s a sad thing in churches---and in families---when people mislead others to get their way---But ultimately there is no joy or peace from the Holy Spirit. The secret to real happiness: make plans in conformity with King Jesus and HIS paths and know inner peace and true Joy!

From Derek Kidner: Proverbs 12: 20---The plans you shape---shape You…JOY is an unexpected alternative to deceit; the two halves of the proverb make the point that what we pursue for others, and the way we pursue it, leaves its mark on our cast of mind. Peace (AV, RV) includes the idea of general welfare---and to be planning this for other people is to enjoy its by-product ourselves.

From John Duncan: Sin…is a cancer, which, if it could spread itself unchecked, would eat up all being, and dethrone God himself.

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips…Romans 1: 28, 29

“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. I Peter 2: 22 – 25

HE bore our deceit---all our sin---that we might call it what it is---leave it out of Love for HIM---and have Eternal Life! Give Thanks to God for HIM!

PRAYER---“Open Our Eyes LORD”

“May that good Spirit of Jesus Christ open the eyes of our minds, that we may see and approve things that are excellent. May he persuade our hearts to receive the truth in the love of it and direct our steps to walk in the paths of mercy and truth, that we may be saved. Amen. William Ames

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason