📖 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.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #proverbs