📖 When you read the book of Proverbs as a Lutheran, it’s important to keep Jesus at the center of the conversation.
⚖️ The law in Proverbs can make you uncomfortable as it shows how things are supposed to be, and we may feel like we don’t measure up.
✝️ But remember, the law is never the only word, and it has no bearing on your salvation in Christ.
The law is a gift in two ways – 🎁
👑 It paints a picture of Jesus (Not you. The gospel describes you.)
💗 It shows you’re a sinner in need of a savior.
⚡ The crucial thing to remember is that the law should NEVER burden your conscience about your salvation.
🌟 Your identity isn’t defined by how well you follow these rules — it’s defined by the gospel.
❤️ You are someone Christ died for, someone who is baptized.
🌙 When you feel that midnight self-hatred creeping in about how you’ve failed to measure up, remember: you’re not supposed to be God. You’re supposed to be the one God died for.
🦁 Think of the law like a lion. You wouldn’t want to get close to a lion in the wild — it would kill you! But when the lion is safely in its cage at the zoo, you can appreciate its beauty and power.
🔒 Similarly, when the gospel “cages” the law through Christ’s work on the cross, you can appreciate the wisdom in Proverbs without being threatened by it.
📚 So yes, read Proverbs! It’s full of good gifts.
🙏 But whenever you see words like “wisdom” or read about fulfilling the law, make sure you’re thinking about your God, not yourself.
✨ When you approach Proverbs this way — through the lens of Christ’s perfect fulfillment and your salvation through Him — it becomes a gift instead of a burden.
🌈 You can appreciate God’s beautiful design for life while resting secure in His grace.
Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.
Contributor Amelia is a college student and HT’s assistant webmaster.
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