[368 words]
As I made my coffee one morning, I noticed the movement of a brown object down on the floor. It was big enough to catch my eye and big enough to make me jump. It was a large (silver dollar-sized) spider that quickly ran and took refuge under a chair. While I told myself it was no big deal, I found myself looking under that chair every couple of minutes, and imagining that I saw movement. As I waited for the spider, in his quest for blood, to come and either end my life or make me scream and run out of the room, I began to ponder this thought: The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion (Prov. 28:1). Consider some thoughts about this verse:
Sin is a liability to living a peaceful life. Some live sinful lives constantly looking over their shoulder to see who is watching, to see who is waiting to catch them. That is not a life that is characterized by peace (cf. Phil. 4:6-7; Gal. 5:22). When we live our lives in reverence of the Lord while despising sin, we will be at peace (cf. Phil. 4:6-8).
Our concerns betray our hearts. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked of those who would worry about what they would eat, drink and wear (Matt. 6:24-34). Worry is evidence of a wrong master, wrong focus, and a little faith. When sin is present in our lives, our concerns will be rooted in, “who knows about me?” and “what will others think?” instead of “how can I make this right with God?”
Integrity gives us power. The righteous are as bold as a lion. There is strength in being innocent when accusations are made. It makes all the more poignant the suffering of Jesus as the only One in history to be able to cry, “NOT GUILTY,” and yet for our sakes, “He opened not His mouth” (Is. 53:7). Our integrity ought to be seen, like Jesus, that we are blameless when we conduct our lives in integrity (cf. Matt. 5:16; I Pet. 3:15-16).
Andy Baker
Graeber Road church of Christ
Rosenberg, TX