My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ~ Proverbs 3:21-24 (NIV)
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Some time ago, I asked my VOTD readers to share with me their story of how Jesus was working in their lives. And one woman did. I knew nothing about her previously, but found out that God has not only ministered to her through serious life issues, but has also prompted her to delve into a very atypical, yet critical, ministry, called PARTY (Prevent alcohol and risk-related activities to youth). Additionally, the message of grace through Jesus Christ is made known through the active testimony of how one father forgave the man who killed his son through drunk driving, which is a key reason my new friend has spent her time and money on this ministry -- to expose teens to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She sent me the DVD that is shown to teens as part of a 4-6 hour education program in a hospital setting (called, "DUI -- Dead in 5 seconds"), and it's painful to watch! This is, of course, the point for teens who often don't understand the consequences of their actions and the dire risks of foolish behavior. (Please let me know if you are interested in contributing to this worthwhile ministry, saving people's lives physically through teen education and offering them a taste of Jesus in the process, and I will put you in touch with her. Thanks!)
Sound judgment and discernment. Those attributes were sorely lacking when the guy on the DVD who was interviewed from prison drove into the back of another car and killed a teenager. He painfully looks back at his life and realizes now how blind he was to sound judgment and discernment, though he doesn't use those exact words. The people he hung around with, the partying, the idea that driving afterward wasn't dangerous, the idea that all the things that the drunk driving videos he saw in school didn't apply to him, the stress he put his mom through with his behavior as he was growing up. In retrospect, it all became painfully clear how wrong he was. Unfortunately, it took a prison sentence of 17-to-life and the blood of a dead teenager to wake him from his foolish slumber.
God is the giver of wisdom, and wisdom gives birth to sound judgment and discernment. I ask you to take a sober look at your life and see if you have been living foolishly. Analyze your behavior from the standpoint of God's word. Look down the road at potential consequences from all angles. If you've been walking the slippery path of foolishness, I urge you to turn around and ask God for forgiveness and help. Because, although some choices are incidental, others are horribly life-altering.
Listening to God and choosing His wisdom will always keep you on the right path.
Love,
Joelene
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