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Consider Your steps Carefully

Proverbs 4:26 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
²⁶Make level^[1] the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.

Make level the path of your feet: The Hebrew expression make level (פָּלַס palas) can mean to consider carefully, weigh carefully, and ponder as you choose your steps carefully on the path of life.

Then all your ways will be sure: The Hebrew (כּוּן kun) be sure means to be established, to be firm, to be steadfast, to stand firm. Here the son is conforming his ways of life to the knowledge, wisdom, discernment, understanding, and insight of the father, which is evidence that he trusts (believes) the words and sayings of the father. He is committing his steps carefully, which gives him sure-footedness on the path of life.

We must consider all things carefully in all that we do. When we are about to do anything, ponder if it is biblically grounded. Critically examine whatever it is and your motivation for doing so. We must examine our past, present, and future. Are we sure that we are truly walking in the truth? What kind of self-examination is fitting for servants of God? The Apostle Paul exhorted the Christians at Corinth to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” (2 Cor. 13:5) Why should Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians be of interest to us? We can do the same today. It will protect us from being uncertain as to whether we are walking in the truth. What standard do we have for testing whether we are in the faith, and why is that the perfect standard? If we are going to take a test to see whether we are truly in the faith, namely, truly walking with God, we must measure our conduct in light of the Word of God. William Lane Craig wrote, “Remember that our faith is not based on emotions, but on the truth, and, therefore, you must hold on to it.” What truth? Jesus said to the Father in prayer, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17) By identifying the Scriptures that actually say, “You are my disciples if …,” we can know if we are truly Christian. A test that can actually tell us whether we are walking in the truth should never be based on emotionalism but rather on Scripture. Do our words, thoughts, actions, mind, and heart attitudes harmonize with the Scriptures? Within this publication, we will be able to let the Word of God prove who we really are. Let us follow the Apostle Paul’s counsel by testing ourselves to determine whether we are adhering to God’s Word. We must consider the duties and the difficulties, the benefits, and the hazards of our way to make any changes that are needed. Those who would believe themselves to be wise are the ones who must always be watchful.