1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,551 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,161 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:15,441 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:18,441 --> 00:01:28,570 Speaker 2: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 14 00:01:29,450 --> 00:01:34,670 Speaker 2: a calming, scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 15 00:01:34,851 --> 00:01:38,601 Speaker 2: each day with God's word in your mind and on 16 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,781 Speaker 2: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 17 00:01:43,261 --> 00:01:58,191 Speaker 2: we'll reflect on tonight's scripture, Proverbs 28. Tonight's scripture reflection 18 00:01:58,661 --> 00:02:02,421 Speaker 2: is written by Greg Grandchamp and read by Leah Gerard. 19 00:02:03,341 --> 00:02:10,951 Speaker 2: Proverbs 28. The wicked flee, though no one pursues, but 20 00:02:10,990 --> 00:02:14,590 Speaker 2: the righteous are as bold as a lion. When a 21 00:02:14,631 --> 00:02:18,581 Speaker 2: country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler 22 00:02:19,021 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 2: with discernment and knowledge maintains order. A ruler who oppresses 23 00:02:24,321 --> 00:02:28,401 Speaker 2: the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. 24 00:02:29,101 --> 00:02:33,540 Speaker 2: Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who 25 00:02:33,601 --> 00:02:39,241 Speaker 2: heed it resist them. Evildoers do not understand what is right, 26 00:02:39,781 --> 00:02:44,761 Speaker 2: but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. Better 27 00:02:44,841 --> 00:02:49,141 Speaker 2: the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose 28 00:02:49,231 --> 00:02:54,930 Speaker 2: ways are perverse. A discerning son heeds instruction, but a 29 00:02:54,990 --> 00:03:01,511 Speaker 2: companion of gluttons disgraces his father. Whoever increases wealth by 30 00:03:01,591 --> 00:03:05,291 Speaker 2: taking interest or profit from the poor will amasses it 31 00:03:05,371 --> 00:03:09,031 Speaker 2: for another who will be kind to the poor. If 32 00:03:09,191 --> 00:03:13,601 Speaker 2: anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their 33 00:03:13,691 --> 00:03:18,821 Speaker 2: prayers are detestable. Whoever leads the upright along an evil 34 00:03:18,901 --> 00:03:23,261 Speaker 2: path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless 35 00:03:23,701 --> 00:03:27,801 Speaker 2: will receive a good inheritance. The rich are wise in 36 00:03:27,841 --> 00:03:33,050 Speaker 2: their own eyes. One who is poor and discerning sees 37 00:03:33,131 --> 00:03:38,011 Speaker 2: how deluded they are. When the righteous triumph, there is 38 00:03:38,111 --> 00:03:42,471 Speaker 2: great elation, but when the wicked rise to power, people 39 00:03:42,541 --> 00:03:47,761 Speaker 2: go into hiding. Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, 40 00:03:48,281 --> 00:03:51,981 Speaker 2: but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 41 00:03:53,681 --> 00:03:57,221 Speaker 2: Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but 42 00:03:57,261 --> 00:04:01,801 Speaker 2: whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble, like a roaring 43 00:04:01,941 --> 00:04:05,781 Speaker 2: lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over 44 00:04:05,841 --> 00:04:12,391 Speaker 2: a helpless people. A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one 45 00:04:12,451 --> 00:04:18,351 Speaker 2: who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign. Anyone 46 00:04:18,431 --> 00:04:22,391 Speaker 2: tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in 47 00:04:22,431 --> 00:04:26,411 Speaker 2: the grave, let no one hold them back. The one 48 00:04:26,451 --> 00:04:30,071 Speaker 2: whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one 49 00:04:30,130 --> 00:04:35,660 Speaker 2: whose ways are perverse... will fall into the pit. Those 50 00:04:35,791 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: who work their land will have abundant food but those 51 00:04:39,541 --> 00:04:45,621 Speaker 2: who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. A 52 00:04:45,721 --> 00:04:50,090 Speaker 2: faithful person will be richly blessed but one eager to 53 00:04:50,161 --> 00:04:55,151 Speaker 2: get rich will not go unpunished. To show partiality is 54 00:04:55,231 --> 00:04:57,711 Speaker 2: not good yet a person will do wrong for a 55 00:04:57,751 --> 00:05:01,491 Speaker 2: piece of bread. The stingy are eager to get rich 56 00:05:02,181 --> 00:05:08,231 Speaker 2: and are unaware that poverty awaits them. Whoever rebukes a 57 00:05:08,271 --> 00:05:11,770 Speaker 2: person will, in the end, gain favor rather than one 58 00:05:12,151 --> 00:05:16,770 Speaker 2: who has a flattering tongue. Whoever robs their father or 59 00:05:16,811 --> 00:05:20,570 Speaker 2: mother and says, it's not wrong, is partner to one 60 00:05:20,611 --> 00:05:25,451 Speaker 2: who destroys. The greedy stir up conflict, but those who 61 00:05:25,491 --> 00:05:29,351 Speaker 2: trust in the Lord will prosper. Those who trust in 62 00:05:29,391 --> 00:05:33,541 Speaker 2: themselves are fools. but those who walk in wisdom are 63 00:05:33,581 --> 00:05:38,421 Speaker 2: kept safe. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, 64 00:05:38,911 --> 00:05:42,130 Speaker 2: but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. 65 00:05:43,611 --> 00:05:46,851 Speaker 2: When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding, 66 00:05:47,571 --> 00:05:56,151 Speaker 2: but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive. Jesus found 67 00:05:56,190 --> 00:06:02,761 Speaker 2: it important to warn us about temptations. We're bombarded every 68 00:06:02,821 --> 00:06:08,011 Speaker 2: day with messages and images that tantalize and provoke us. 69 00:06:09,331 --> 00:06:14,091 Speaker 2: Sexual and material lusts and the pride of life can 70 00:06:14,111 --> 00:06:20,541 Speaker 2: be strong forces. Jesus told Peter in Matthew 26, 41 71 00:06:20,541 --> 00:06:25,781 Speaker 2: to watch and pray that you may not enter into temptations. 72 00:06:27,821 --> 00:06:31,001 Speaker 2: Even in the Lord's Prayer, we're taught to pray about temptation. 73 00:06:32,561 --> 00:06:37,171 Speaker 2: Yet despite our very best efforts, every one of us 74 00:06:37,271 --> 00:06:43,031 Speaker 2: experiences temptation. Let's face it, if Jesus could be tempted, 75 00:06:43,091 --> 00:06:48,201 Speaker 2: we certainly know we can and will be. But what 76 00:06:48,321 --> 00:06:53,900 Speaker 2: happens when we are? Certainly some temptations are much stronger. 77 00:06:54,591 --> 00:06:57,171 Speaker 2: and more difficult to resist than others, but what about 78 00:06:57,211 --> 00:07:01,971 Speaker 2: those times we are leaning into them, ready to give in? 79 00:07:03,711 --> 00:07:08,461 Speaker 2: When the evil one attacks, we respond by following Jesus' example. 80 00:07:09,541 --> 00:07:14,041 Speaker 2: Psalm 119.11 tells us, I have hidden your word in 81 00:07:14,081 --> 00:07:18,541 Speaker 2: my heart that I might not sin against you. While 82 00:07:18,561 --> 00:07:22,511 Speaker 2: we may not memorize scripture word for word, we know 83 00:07:22,611 --> 00:07:26,651 Speaker 2: in our hearts what it tells us. We know what 84 00:07:26,711 --> 00:07:30,151 Speaker 2: we can lean into because his word is buried in 85 00:07:30,231 --> 00:07:35,451 Speaker 2: our hearts. Armed with his spirit and the truth of 86 00:07:35,511 --> 00:07:40,821 Speaker 2: his word, we are equipped to handle whatever temptations may 87 00:07:40,881 --> 00:07:46,441 Speaker 2: come our way. Paul promises that no matter what trials 88 00:07:46,901 --> 00:07:51,181 Speaker 2: and temptations may come our way, God will never allow 89 00:07:51,281 --> 00:07:54,201 Speaker 2: us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, and 90 00:07:54,241 --> 00:08:02,041 Speaker 2: He will always provide a way out. See 1 Corinthians 10.13. 91 00:08:02,181 --> 00:08:08,021 Speaker 2: Proverbs 28 tells us the importance of integrity and of 92 00:08:08,081 --> 00:08:13,661 Speaker 2: righteousness when we resist temptation. And it warns that those 93 00:08:13,771 --> 00:08:18,131 Speaker 2: who are wicked will face consequences. It teaches us to 94 00:08:18,211 --> 00:08:21,961 Speaker 2: seek wisdom from the Lord and guidance to help us 95 00:08:22,101 --> 00:08:27,121 Speaker 2: travel through what will assuredly come our way. When we 96 00:08:27,221 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 2: find ourselves overwhelmed by temptation, we can turn to God 97 00:08:32,501 --> 00:08:35,910 Speaker 2: in prayer, and He will be there for us because 98 00:08:36,421 --> 00:08:43,611 Speaker 2: He is faithful. Amazing Grace's daily devotional recently stated that 99 00:08:44,851 --> 00:08:50,351 Speaker 2: sin is makes us stupid. Victory over the power of 100 00:08:50,431 --> 00:08:54,371 Speaker 2: sin will come only as we lean on the strength 101 00:08:54,831 --> 00:09:02,111 Speaker 2: and wisdom of Christ. Oh God, I know you are 102 00:09:02,231 --> 00:09:06,431 Speaker 2: always there for me. I know you see the temptations 103 00:09:06,471 --> 00:09:12,061 Speaker 2: I'm facing. Remove this temptation from me, Lord. But if 104 00:09:12,101 --> 00:09:15,171 Speaker 2: you do not, please let your spirit Do His work 105 00:09:15,251 --> 00:09:22,691 Speaker 2: in me and help see me through it. Amen. How 106 00:09:22,731 --> 00:09:26,631 Speaker 2: did tonight's scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts in 107 00:09:26,651 --> 00:09:38,961 Speaker 2: the Your Nightly Scripture Forum discussion. Thank you for listening 108 00:09:39,381 --> 00:09:44,991 Speaker 2: to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture was read From the 109 00:09:45,061 --> 00:09:51,941 Speaker 2: New International Version by Biblica, all rights reserved. If tonight's 110 00:09:52,061 --> 00:09:56,281 Speaker 2: episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show on 111 00:09:56,401 --> 00:10:01,701 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts so your next nightly scripture is ready when 112 00:10:01,741 --> 00:10:07,231 Speaker 2: you are. Your nightly scripture is a production of Life 113 00:10:07,331 --> 00:10:12,851 Speaker 2: Audio and Salem Media. Thank you, and we'll see you 114 00:10:13,391 --> 00:10:27,971 Speaker 2: tomorrow night. Thank you.