“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

Proverbs 14:12
At age 11, a friend and I  decided to take a new shortcut home. This unexplored route meant crossing Yellow Breeches Creek as well as an outlet from a water processing plant that merged with the main stream.

I was looking downward at  the current when I heard my friend yell. She was ahead and midway across the outlet, stuck in muddy silt, steadily sinking. Reaching the outlet, I shot forward in a horizontal dive to skim the surface of the shallow water. When my momentum slowed, I went limp into a float, gingerly propelling myself so my limbs wouldn’t drop into the quicksand. I managed to snatch a fallen tree branch and hold it out to her. She grabbed on, and we battled the powerful suction until she broke free.

Our shortcut idea sobered us greatly about making a foolish move like that again. But years later, it also provides a fitting metaphor for how we often in life try to go our own way. We ignore the danger that veering off into sin presents. We get sucked in. But Jesus Himself reaches down to us and rescues us.



Scripture Focus

2 Samuel 5:17-24

Insight

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

Bible In A Year

  • Genesis 18-19
  • Psalm 9
  • Matthew 14-15

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