Set befor every young person are many paths of life that can lead to good or evil, life or death. In determining our path of life God observes every decision we make and fashions our path accordingly (Psalm 33:10-15). God will give the humble wisdom and understanding to be able to chose every good path in life and be protected from the dangers ahead. Yet we are to fear Him because if we become proud or arrogant by forsaking our father or mother or His revealed wisdom then He will leave us to our own folly in choosing our own paths and allow destruction and death to come upon us when we encounter it (James 4:6, Proverbs 14:12, Romans 13:2). Therefore we should fear God and submit to HIs will for us in all things so that we can receive grace and mercy for life from Him.

(Preached Sunday Evening, 1-15-2023, by Pastor John Young, at Maranatha Bible Baptist Church, 16990 S 38th St, Mendon, MI 49072, Between Fulton and Menden in Wakeshma Township, Near Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in South West Michigan, https://www.facebook.com/MbbcFulton)

Proverbs 2 - My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. 

6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 

10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16 to deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.