What's the difference? Ps 37:31-3

What’s The Difference? Psalm 37:31-3

Father,
As we look at this passage today, open our eyes. Most of us probably do not know this passage well, as it is not the section that most people are familiar with. Help us to be the Faithful Lovers the first part of this passage describes. Help us to be those whom you defend because we love you. Help us to stand undaunted because we have done nothing wrong, even when we are accused. Thank you that you are faithful even when we fail. Thank you that we can be at peace even when we stand wrongfully accused, when we are being spied on.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Psalm 37:31-3 (TPT)
The ways of God are in their hearts
and they won’t swerve from the paths of steadfast righteousness.
Evil ones spy on the godly ones, stalking them
to find something they could use to accuse them.
They’re out for the kill!
But God will foil all their plots.
The godly will not stand condemned when brought to trial.

How different are you? Do you stick out like a sore thumb? Do you shine like a star in the universe? Do people know to leave you a wide berth because you savage anyone within reach? Are you the “saint” and just love God and others with all that you are? Are you a Faithful Lover of God, or are you a wicked one who seeks to destroy faithful ones? In all likelihood, if you are watching this, you are probably the former more than the latter. We all have our moments, though, where we allow jealousy and similar negative patterns to overtake our more heavenly orientations, and we engage in mudslinging or slandering another human made in the image of God. Or, perhaps you are a wicked one, (yes, the binary is that strong that there really is no grey area, here) and perhaps you seek to curse me or others who are blessed by these weekly thoughts. I don’t know. But you do, and the Lord does. To be clear, I have not seen any blowback (yet) for one of my devotions or memesplanations. As far as I know, I have not faced anything more than the usual antics from the enemy due to my existing as I do. I am grateful for these realities, and I do not take them for granted.

Are you one who holds the ways of God in your heart? Are you steadfast in righteousness? Then you are the kind of person that God desires to be near to, He will protect you from those evil ones who are jealous of your Light. Those who spy on you to try to find some obscure thing to nail you on, some small aspect of your walk that they think they can spin to the point where you will get into trouble. Like Potiphar’s wife, or Daniel’s coworkers, or Shadrach, and Abednego’s fellow officials, who did did all they could to first corrupt, then to destroy these biblical exemplars. They stayed faithful, keeping God’s ways in their hearts. They did not swerve from steadfast righteousness, even when it could have cost them their lives. Be encouraged, and stand fast. God will not allow your adversaries to wreck you in court in the end. They may win for a time, but ultimately, they will be shown to be the liars and shiesters that they are.

Have you been one who envies others who are upright and do well in life, seeking for some skeleton in their closet, or pile of detrius swept under the rug, which might explain how they got where they are? Have you sought to destroy another, even in little ways? Have you seen God protect His faithful ones? Ever seen your best laid plans to bring down a righteous person blow up in your face? Perhaps it is time to rethink your life, and possibly join those whom you’ve ridiculed and sought to destroy. There is grace for you. Forgiveness, too. Repent. Change your mind, and allow God to change your heart away from that orientation toward destruction and toward one of blessing instead.