8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction     and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head     and a chain to adorn your neck.10 My son, if sinful men entice you,     do not give in to them. 11 If they say, “Come along with us;     let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,     let’s ambush some harmless soul; 12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,     and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things     and fill our houses with plunder; 14 cast lots with us;     we will all share the loot”— 15 my son, do not go along with them,     do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into evil,     they are swift to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net     where every bird can see it! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;     they ambush only themselves! 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;     it takes away the life of those who get it.REFLECTIONSWritten by James DavidsonVerses 8 and 9 remind us that the foundational channel for transmitting wisdom is from parent to child. If your parents taught you godly wisdom, thank God for them. If you are a parent, make the most of every opportunity to impart God’s wisdom to your children. It’s the one thing that can make them beautiful on the inside, the place where beauty really counts and lasts.Verses 10 to 19 warn us against the danger of giving in to godless peer group pressure, which people of all ages are susceptible to. The benefits seem enormous (v13,14), our ‘friends’ can sound very persuasive, but the actual result is self-destruction (v18,19). If we follow along with the godless, the end result will be eternal judgement. Jesus said, ‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?’ (Mark 8:34) Here’s good question to ask ourselves: Am I allowing a godless person to influence me in some aspect of my life?Also notice that Jesus was the victim of just the sort of ambush described in this passage (v11,12; Mark 14:43-50). Thank God that he was willing to suffer in that way so we could be forgiven.Prayer: Our Father, give us the strength to resist those who would lead us into sin.ABOUT THE AUTHORJames is an Assistant Minister with our Bossley Park congregation and loves going bush and spending time with his children and grandchildren.