2018 Weekly Devotional - Week 31

Week 31

“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. “

    My Grandpa Norwood spent forty-two years working for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad. When I was growing up he was a section foreman responsible for the maintenance of the track that ran parallel to our farm. My Grandpa knew the power of a locomotive and the danger involved at an unprotected crossing such as the one near our home. He often reminded us to stop, listen, and look both ways EVERY time we approached the railroad crossing near our farm. In a scene indelibly etched in my mind, a man tragically lost his life at that crossing. I will never forget the twisted metal and the evidence of a life extinguished. The man had not paid attention to the inherent danger before him. It was not as if he didn’t see the railroad crossing, he simply ignored the danger.
In this week’s reading the writer teaches us that the prudent (one who shows care and thought for the future) perceives danger and takes refuge. He takes evasive action in order to preserve his life. The simple (one who shows little judgment) sees the exact same thing but in spite of the danger keeps going to his own detriment. How foolish it is to recognize something as harmful as a train at speed yet keep going! Most people would never do something as reckless as ignoring a train crossing, yet in regards to sin we ignore all the dangers and keep going. We know alcohol, drugs, and pornography are all highly addictive yet we keep going. We know that an argumentative spirit causes conflict but we keep going. We know that a materialistic greed can ruin us financially yet we keep going. Why? I believe that at the heart of this problem is our pride. We think we will be different, we think that we can handle it. Pride will blind us to the dangers and we will eventually suffer harm if we persist.
The good news for the prudent is that there is refuge, that is, safety in Christ Jesus. The prudent sees the danger of a life lived with unchecked sin and takes refuge in Jesus for salvation. The simple person sees the danger in living a life of sin but because of pride ignores it and suffers harm for eternity. What danger do you see in your life? Will you be prudent or simple?

In Christ,


John