Inspiration Read Proverbs 1:20-33  

   Wisdom Is Not An Afterthought.  

   Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  Galatians 6:7

   When a backslidden Christian repents, God graciously forgives and 
fellowship is restored.  But this fact does not suspend the principle 
of sowing and reaping.  The notion that everything will automatically 
fall into line just because we are forgiven is dangerous and may lead 
to presuming upon God.  All things are not made new again by shedding a 
few tears and turning over what's left to the Lord.  We still have to 
live with the consequences.

   An experience on the New Jersey Turnpike reminded me of this 
sobering truth.  Thinking I would recognize the best route to 
Philadelphia when I would come to it, I paid no attention to the map 
until I saw the right turnoff fading in the distance in my rearview 
mirror.  All my good intentions and regrets at not being more careful 
didn't change the fact that I was on a limited-access toll road.  I had 
no alternative but to put a lot of extra miles between me and the best 
route to Philadelphia.  By the time I finally got there, rush-hour 
traffic and a splitting headache had become painful reminders that 
wisdom is more than an afterthought, even though we can learn from our 
mistakes.

   In the spiritual realm, we often get into similar situations.  We 
disregard the call of wisdom now, all we can do later is ask the Lord's 
grace to overrule our blundering.  Thank God, He will!  But it is often 
accompanied by much pain and heartache.  How much better it is to keep 
the principles of God's Word before us rather than watch them slip by 
in the rearview mirror of regret.  -M.R.D.II

   In every step, in every stride, I'll let the Savior be my guide; His 
Word, His love, I will embrace, And let His wisdom set the pace.

   GOD WILL FORGIVE WHEN WE'VE SOWN AMISS, BUT THE HARVEST OF SORROW WE 
CANNOT MISS......

   This was obtained off the PTL.BBS, Sysop: Wolf Gerhardt.