March 5, 2017 (Proverbs 24:16)

” For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity” (Prov 24:16). Last week we noted that believers must be strong in the Lord lest one falter in times of trial. Nonetheless, believers will stumble on occasion despite sincere efforts to live righteously in the eyes of the Lord. And while the righteous may fall seven times and rise again, it is never to be an excuse for repeatedly falling into the identical snare of the enemy time after time. Spiritual failure is meant to be cause for repentance, implying genuine contrition followed by earnest intention to not repeat a similar if not same transgression. All of us are prone to stumble, but any sin we begin to tolerate will eventually in all likelihood begin to dominate our lives, result in destructive calamity.