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Proverbs 14: SEEMS Right vs IS Right


A digital image of an AI scene in knitting yarn and stitches. The scene compares a woman in black tearing down her own home and pulling threads of destruction with a woman in white standing outside a nice home with sunshine and doves above it.
AI (Wombo) Tearing Down vs Building by Crystal A Murray (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Whenever I’ve read verse 12 in Proverbs Chapter 14, I’ve always thought about it in terms I could relate to; my way of life before committing to walk with The Lord. It reads…

Proverbs 14:12 WEBUS
[12] There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.14.12.WEBUS

When I wasn’t living FOR God, I was not purposely living against Him. And I imagine there are many people out there who really think their ways are right, but they have no idea what kind of path they’re on. Of course, when God calls their attention to it, they will need to decide if they will accept or reject Him, but until their eyes are opened to see the end of their road, how can they know? That’s where believers come in.

We see these fruits, like a woman tearing down her family and her home, or a mocker refusing to take responsibility for his own behaviors and never trying to make things right by atoning for bad decisions. We get frustrated with these people because their destructive behaviors often hurt us or those we love. And it’s hard to feel compassion and love in our hearts for them. Even worse if they are arrogant as they pull the strings of destruction and act like they enjoy it.

But if those fruits of destruction are not waking up those who are causing them, should we just let them keep walking toward eternal death? No, we are given open eyes to see the paths when they cannot see for themselves. But, we are not given these eyes to condemn them, so we can feel better about ourselves. And we are not seeing those fruits, so we can take them away to make people feel better on their walk toward death. Instead, we see the truth, the way things really are, so we can warn them. And by our own testimonies, we can show them a better way.

We’re told in verse 25…

Proverbs 14:25 WEBUS
[25] A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.

https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.14.25.WEBUS

Again, it may not be easy when we share the truth because, even if we’re not judging, those stuck in their own ideas of what SEEMS right may feel judged and be angry with us. But it doesn’t mean they haven’t heard what we’ve shared. Verse 33 says ..

Proverbs 14:33 WEBUS
[33] Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.

https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.14.33.WEBUS

Somewhere, deep inside, they know the truth that can set them free. In the best case scenario, we will share The Lord with them, and that inward part will be stirred to wake them up to salvation. And the icing on the cake is to be with them as they let go of their sins and accept The Lord.

But if you don’t see any change right away, don’t give up sharing, building, or praying. Remember, the enemy of our souls comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10), so with the strength of YahShua (Jesus) who came to bring abundant life, we can do the opposite. We can restore, bring life, and rebuild. That IS wisdom, and that is The Way that IS right.

And now, here’s a song by one of my favorite Cowboy Christian artists. It perfectly supports the message to never stop ministering to the lost with the line, “Everything you thought I never heard, I hung on to every single word.” It’s called Daddy, I Met a Friend of Yours Today

Daddy, I Met a Friend of Yours Today by Ken Holloway

March 14, 2026 Posted by | AI Image Creations, Bible, Christianity, Proverbs & Wisdom, Proverbs Series, testimony, Thoughts and Articles | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Heart for Rescue


AI (Wombo) Heart Rescue by Crystal A Murray (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

I tried to get the AI to make a heart rescuing a heart because the risk and care taken by real-life rescuers really takes a lot of heart. It got close, anyway. This is for the 85th birthday of the Coast Guard on Feb 19th.

And, I cannot think of anything Coast Guard without thinking of my uncle who went to Vietnam on a CG cutter called the Minnetonka. Here’s a shot of the day he got home and the big welcome banner my dad painted for him…

Dale Robertson Home from Vietnam with a Family Welcome

I was little, but I think he’s holding my little sister. I love seeing all the family there to “rescue” him from his long term at sea. There were many families waiting for returns that day, and what a celebration it is to bring a soldier or sailor back home.

While we humans celebrate safe returns of those we love, imagine our Creator who doesn’t want ANYONE to perish waiting with open arms to bring us into our forever home with Him. His Word is filled with glimpses and promises to show just how important that reunion will be. We get just a tiny taste of it each time we share God’s joy by lifting Him up and seeing Him draw a new soul to His kingdom life. The truth is, He could go out and just rescue souls by Himself, but He invites us to participate with Him because He wants to share that intense joy with us. If you’ve ever reached out to a lost soul and then got to be there in that joyous moment when they decide to turn their life around, you know what a privilege it is to be part of that big rescue.

God’s Holy Scriptures give us a number of invitations to be that giant heart performing rescues from the choppy waves of sin that threaten to drown many souls. Here are a few of them…

Psalms 82:4 WEBUS
[4] Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”

https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.82.4.WEBUS

Proverbs 24:11 WEBUS
[11] Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!

https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.24.11.WEBUS

Psalms 37:40 WEBUS
[40] Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.

https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.37.40.WEBUS

And then the praise of the Psalmist who knew from what God rescued him…

Psalms 40:2 WEBUS
[2] He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.

https://bible.com/bible/206/psa.40.2.WEBUS

I remember my rescue, and sometimes, when life gets hard, that memory helps keep me going. Join me in worship for your own rescue as you listen to this lyric video of “He Brought me Out”…

So Happy 85th Birthday to the sailors and rescuers of the US Coast Guard, and happy seeking to rescue the perishing and care for the dying to all believers who know we have a gift worth sharing with those who are still lost and without Christ. May God lead you to know when to sow and when to reap, and may He give you abundant joy as you watch Him give the increase of rescued souls.

February 19, 2026 Posted by | Bible, Christianity, Current Events, Nonfiction, special days, Walking With The Lord | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

   

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