Luke 10:39 - And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
I was out walking the other morning. The thought crossed my mind, Gosh, I wish I was better at doing some things. There are times when you just can't do two things at once. For instance, I have tried on numerous occasions to listen to a sermon while I was doing something else like making supper, baking something or working on a project of some sort, even walking.
I got to thinking there are times, just like in the story of Mary and Martha, where devoting oneself to one thing was the best. Martha fussed over the fact that she was serving Jesus by herself as He visited them while her sister Mary sat at His feet, engrossed in what He spoke. She groused about her circumstance to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
Jesus told her Mary did the right thing. It reminded me of another scripture: In His own words Jesus said, "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) Just like He did not come to redeem us because we think we have been "good" people or have done much serving to gain His approval. He came to serve us...He came and gave His life for us. That's a servant!
Martha was all about the serving. Nothing wrong with that but in this circumstance He wasn't concerned with being served. He came to spend time with them. He wanted to serve them with His words. He has said it's not about the food which perishes...it's about the bread of life which saves. Physical vs. spiritual. He has shown us which is most important. He wants to serve us with His words.
So, He has come that He might bring us life. Mary and Martha had a chance to take in some of His life-giving words. Mary was receiving while Martha was fussing! In order to receive that life we also must sit at His feet and receive the words of life He has to offer. No distractions, just Him, just His Word, words. We sit at His feet and partake in those words of life. He has much to tell us if we just sit and "listen."
I must be in total concentration to what I am reading or what is being preached or I just won't get it! That means stopping what I do...completely. Just an aside here, we must be careful who we listen to; this preacher had better be a solid man of God whose messages are right out of the Word, expressing His truth out of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and spend time with Him, listening to him, learning from just being with Him. Martha didn't take the time to learn At this moment. I presume this was a lesson for her. It should be a lesson for us all.
When we are in relationship with Christ do we find ourselves too distracted to listen to Him? Let's take the time to sit at His feet and learn, take in life-giving, eternal words...preferably from His Word!
John 6:27 - Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Showing posts with label Words of Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Words of Life. Show all posts
Friday, August 21, 2015
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
There is No Reason to Die!
Ezekiel 34:12 - As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.
Pastor Dave Johnson, Community Bible Church in Eagle River: There is no reason for anyone to die if you'd only believe the Word. He was preaching out of Ezekiel 34:11-31.
That's quite a statement. I was looking online for a church I might attend while I'm out of town this coming weekend. I saw this church listed, checked out their website, and determined it could be just the place. Simple church, sing from hymnals, have three services a week. So I listened to part of a sermon from the senior pastor.
Pastor Johnson went on to say: Our life will parallel what has already happened. If we read the Word and believe it we will see, when things happen, as we have studied in Ecclesiastes, that there is nothing new under the sun. Aren't we supposed to learn from our past, from both successes and mistakes? Is there any reason why couldn't apply the same principle to God's Word? It was, after all, written as an example for us. We seem to continue making the same mistakes. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) Jesus, God's own Son, paid the penalty for our sin with His life. BUT...from His death, we can receive life. Hallelujah!
Hah! Success comes from knowing Jesus. Mistakes come from not!
The opening scripture above is in the Old Testament and speaks of Israel. But it can certainly speak of the Good Shepherd and people today. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?" (Matthew 18:12) That's what Jesus would do for anyone.
The Word of God is truth. It is life. It is the bread of life: And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35) We are to seek God for our daily bread. Jesus is that bread; He is the Word...made flesh. This Word of God is the river of life: And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1). It is the living Word: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
While at the time of this writing I hadn't listened to the whole sermon, I got a lot just from his opening statement. If we believe all this Word, there is no reason to die! But...we need Jesus to secure that eternal life. We need to have been born again, as Jesus Himself tells us we must be. Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) We need to be in relationship with Him. If these statements don't make sense, Google them! I'm sure there will be many explanations and even one that might touch your heart. If your church doesn't teach you this thing about being born again...
When we truly begin to believe the Word, our spiritual life changes. Without the Word, without Jesus, we have no life. We have no hope. We might see things in the world that disturb or anger us. If we believe the Word we know these things will happen before Christ returns. We will begin to recognize the intensity of all that is taking place...but we can rejoice knowing that He is returning. This life on earth is always temporary. All of us will die. And one day the world as we know it will die. As in the days of Noah...
If we have Christ we have eternal life. Remember, He was the door to that ark Noah built. It saved Noah's family. It's open now, but some day it will be too late. It will close. It will happen in a twinkling of an eye. This earthly life will fade away but we can have that hope of heaven before us.
The world will deteriorate, already is. The Church will be persecuted, as might be the next step some desire to get God totally out of the way. Like the persecution of the Church, a persecution of the body of believers...if they hold fast to the truth of God's Word...if they don't compromise...if they don't allow society to dictate what it believes should be right. Believers will be scoffed for some of these ideas and this will happen. Some might think life has always gone on, why should anything change? But things will change. It's why the Word needs to be understood.
Know the Word, understand it, believe it and you have gained wisdom. But it comes only from knowing Jesus. He imparts the power of His Holy Spirit for that knowledge. Along with the knowledge you have gained life...you do not need to die! In Christ you have life. Like God did for Israel, took them out of captivity into a new land and new life, so Jesus does for us. Only this life ahead will be eternal.
Ezekiel 34:13 - And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Pastor Dave Johnson, Community Bible Church in Eagle River: There is no reason for anyone to die if you'd only believe the Word. He was preaching out of Ezekiel 34:11-31.
That's quite a statement. I was looking online for a church I might attend while I'm out of town this coming weekend. I saw this church listed, checked out their website, and determined it could be just the place. Simple church, sing from hymnals, have three services a week. So I listened to part of a sermon from the senior pastor.
Pastor Johnson went on to say: Our life will parallel what has already happened. If we read the Word and believe it we will see, when things happen, as we have studied in Ecclesiastes, that there is nothing new under the sun. Aren't we supposed to learn from our past, from both successes and mistakes? Is there any reason why couldn't apply the same principle to God's Word? It was, after all, written as an example for us. We seem to continue making the same mistakes. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) Jesus, God's own Son, paid the penalty for our sin with His life. BUT...from His death, we can receive life. Hallelujah!
Hah! Success comes from knowing Jesus. Mistakes come from not!
The opening scripture above is in the Old Testament and speaks of Israel. But it can certainly speak of the Good Shepherd and people today. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?" (Matthew 18:12) That's what Jesus would do for anyone.
The Word of God is truth. It is life. It is the bread of life: And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35) We are to seek God for our daily bread. Jesus is that bread; He is the Word...made flesh. This Word of God is the river of life: And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1). It is the living Word: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
While at the time of this writing I hadn't listened to the whole sermon, I got a lot just from his opening statement. If we believe all this Word, there is no reason to die! But...we need Jesus to secure that eternal life. We need to have been born again, as Jesus Himself tells us we must be. Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) We need to be in relationship with Him. If these statements don't make sense, Google them! I'm sure there will be many explanations and even one that might touch your heart. If your church doesn't teach you this thing about being born again...
When we truly begin to believe the Word, our spiritual life changes. Without the Word, without Jesus, we have no life. We have no hope. We might see things in the world that disturb or anger us. If we believe the Word we know these things will happen before Christ returns. We will begin to recognize the intensity of all that is taking place...but we can rejoice knowing that He is returning. This life on earth is always temporary. All of us will die. And one day the world as we know it will die. As in the days of Noah...
If we have Christ we have eternal life. Remember, He was the door to that ark Noah built. It saved Noah's family. It's open now, but some day it will be too late. It will close. It will happen in a twinkling of an eye. This earthly life will fade away but we can have that hope of heaven before us.
The world will deteriorate, already is. The Church will be persecuted, as might be the next step some desire to get God totally out of the way. Like the persecution of the Church, a persecution of the body of believers...if they hold fast to the truth of God's Word...if they don't compromise...if they don't allow society to dictate what it believes should be right. Believers will be scoffed for some of these ideas and this will happen. Some might think life has always gone on, why should anything change? But things will change. It's why the Word needs to be understood.
Know the Word, understand it, believe it and you have gained wisdom. But it comes only from knowing Jesus. He imparts the power of His Holy Spirit for that knowledge. Along with the knowledge you have gained life...you do not need to die! In Christ you have life. Like God did for Israel, took them out of captivity into a new land and new life, so Jesus does for us. Only this life ahead will be eternal.
Ezekiel 34:13 - And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Empty Words?
1John 1:1 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--
As I prayed this morning these words were spoken...Let Your words, Lord, not be empty words to those who do not know You.
It prompted me to look up scriptures about the Word of God, what it is, what it does, how it affects our lives, how it IS life. Just sharing several of them today. As usual, I will add that the Word of God is not just the written Word. Jesus is also known as the Word: IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD. (John 1:1) He not only, as God and Jesus, authored the words, but is them.
Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Jesus is the light of the world)
Revelation 12:11 - And they overcame him [satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.
Romans 10:17 - So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Hearing what Jesus has to say)
John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
The thought came to me yesterday: We are all born with souls. These souls live on after we die. There are two places where these souls will forever live after death, heaven or hell. If we do not have a relationship with our Lord, if we have not received the Word, our souls will be subject to eternal death. In heaven is eternal life. The Bible clearly states hell is eternal torment. It is a place for those who think hell is the trials we go through here and now; that it is imaginary; that because any one of us has done enough kind deeds we will avoid it.
The truth is, none of us are good enough to make it to heaven on our own. If I had anything I'd like to put in every blog it's that none of us are ever good enough. If we were God would not have had to send His only Son to die for our sins that we might believe in Him, follow Him, trust in Him only for our lives. Are these empty words? God doesn't think so. It's why He sent His Son, the Word, to become our life and has the written Word as a guide to life. Isaiah 55:11 - So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
These words are not meant to be taken lightly. Receive Christ, the Word. Taste and see that the Lord is good. His Word is the fresh manna that sustains. It is the bread (manna) of life. Like the manna came from above each day to sustain the Israelites in the desert, so Jesus came down from heaven to be our daily bread. His death was not an empty act. His words are not empty promises either.
Lord, I pray that these words would not be vain, empty words to anyone. I ask that You make them life to souls perishing without You. You are THE way, truth and life. We cannot go to the Father (Who is in heaven) without You. I ask these words, Your words, bring life to anyone who needs to know You.
Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
As I prayed this morning these words were spoken...Let Your words, Lord, not be empty words to those who do not know You.
It prompted me to look up scriptures about the Word of God, what it is, what it does, how it affects our lives, how it IS life. Just sharing several of them today. As usual, I will add that the Word of God is not just the written Word. Jesus is also known as the Word: IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD. (John 1:1) He not only, as God and Jesus, authored the words, but is them.
Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Jesus is the light of the world)
Revelation 12:11 - And they overcame him [satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.
Romans 10:17 - So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Hearing what Jesus has to say)
John 6:63 - It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
The thought came to me yesterday: We are all born with souls. These souls live on after we die. There are two places where these souls will forever live after death, heaven or hell. If we do not have a relationship with our Lord, if we have not received the Word, our souls will be subject to eternal death. In heaven is eternal life. The Bible clearly states hell is eternal torment. It is a place for those who think hell is the trials we go through here and now; that it is imaginary; that because any one of us has done enough kind deeds we will avoid it.
The truth is, none of us are good enough to make it to heaven on our own. If I had anything I'd like to put in every blog it's that none of us are ever good enough. If we were God would not have had to send His only Son to die for our sins that we might believe in Him, follow Him, trust in Him only for our lives. Are these empty words? God doesn't think so. It's why He sent His Son, the Word, to become our life and has the written Word as a guide to life. Isaiah 55:11 - So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
These words are not meant to be taken lightly. Receive Christ, the Word. Taste and see that the Lord is good. His Word is the fresh manna that sustains. It is the bread (manna) of life. Like the manna came from above each day to sustain the Israelites in the desert, so Jesus came down from heaven to be our daily bread. His death was not an empty act. His words are not empty promises either.
Lord, I pray that these words would not be vain, empty words to anyone. I ask that You make them life to souls perishing without You. You are THE way, truth and life. We cannot go to the Father (Who is in heaven) without You. I ask these words, Your words, bring life to anyone who needs to know You.
Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
He Who Comes From Heaven
John 3:22-36
After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"
John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Quite the discourse from John the Baptist to the Jews. I'm almost surprised he wasn't arrested then and there but more talk like this is what cost him his life. He explains again that he is not the Christ, that only one who comes from heaven can receive such honor. But he is filled with joy that he has received such a One and has allowed Him to increase while he decreased.
John believed what he heard from Jesus. He believed it unto death. He would not compromise his testimony. And we should not either. Jesus is our testimony. Paul even said, And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (I Corinthians 2:1-2)
Oh people, there are so many references that state that we are fools without Christ. That His words are foolishness to those who do not receive Him, that without Him and them we lack understanding, that He is a stumbling block. Only through the power of God will we understand and we cannot have that power without Jesus. It breaks my heart.
We are all earthly beings. We must all allow Jesus to increase as we decrease. We are to testify only of Jesus. We are to testify of heavenly things. Jesus alone is worthy of all things. He makes Himself known to us that might receive Him and then testify of what HE has done, not what we have done. Jesus increases because only He can speak the true words from God. We decrease because, as believers, we can only speak of what He has said. His words alone are true. We are only the messengers of the Word of God. It's all about Him...because He is worthy to receive all glory and power and praise (Revelation 4:11).
John also point blankly tells them that none, or very few, will receive Jesus and His testimony. The same goes for today. But for those who take Jesus and His heavenly words to heart know in those very hearts He is who He says He is. And isn't it sad that many do not want to know? Sad because of what they will lose, as John goes on to explain...He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Take Jesus at His word. Know Him, receive Him, receive the power of God, His Holy Spirit, that His true words might be understood. Don't let Him become your stumbling block.
John 3:11-12 - Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"
John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Quite the discourse from John the Baptist to the Jews. I'm almost surprised he wasn't arrested then and there but more talk like this is what cost him his life. He explains again that he is not the Christ, that only one who comes from heaven can receive such honor. But he is filled with joy that he has received such a One and has allowed Him to increase while he decreased.
John believed what he heard from Jesus. He believed it unto death. He would not compromise his testimony. And we should not either. Jesus is our testimony. Paul even said, And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (I Corinthians 2:1-2)
Oh people, there are so many references that state that we are fools without Christ. That His words are foolishness to those who do not receive Him, that without Him and them we lack understanding, that He is a stumbling block. Only through the power of God will we understand and we cannot have that power without Jesus. It breaks my heart.
We are all earthly beings. We must all allow Jesus to increase as we decrease. We are to testify only of Jesus. We are to testify of heavenly things. Jesus alone is worthy of all things. He makes Himself known to us that might receive Him and then testify of what HE has done, not what we have done. Jesus increases because only He can speak the true words from God. We decrease because, as believers, we can only speak of what He has said. His words alone are true. We are only the messengers of the Word of God. It's all about Him...because He is worthy to receive all glory and power and praise (Revelation 4:11).
John also point blankly tells them that none, or very few, will receive Jesus and His testimony. The same goes for today. But for those who take Jesus and His heavenly words to heart know in those very hearts He is who He says He is. And isn't it sad that many do not want to know? Sad because of what they will lose, as John goes on to explain...He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Take Jesus at His word. Know Him, receive Him, receive the power of God, His Holy Spirit, that His true words might be understood. Don't let Him become your stumbling block.
John 3:11-12 - Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
Thursday, March 6, 2014
God's Wisdom
Solomon was a wise man. He asked God for wisdom over anything else and God was so pleased with this decision He gave him everything else also. Sadly, in the end Solomon did not heed God's words of wisdom and he fell away from God's favor. What did Solomon do? Against God's command and admonition, Solomon intermarried with women of a different culture, who did not know his God. God told him they would lead him astray and worship other gods. And, as usual, God was right.
This is very similar to believers staying separating themselves from unbelievers. We are called to be in the world, not of it because believers can be lured to the gods of this world. And I believe this happens a lot, even within the Church. I know I can be swayed from time to time also. I think we all can.
Anyway, in this proverb Solomon is admonishing others to listen to those who are wiser. Seek the truth. Know God's laws and commandments. Then you will be as wise as Solomon and be in God's favor. Seek wisdom above all and God will see to it everything else will fall into place. Although it is Solomon speaking, try to imagine it is God. Most of these words can certainly be His words to each of us. It was God who directed Solomon to write them.
I have underlined the phrases that stuck out for me.
PROVERBS 4
1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
2 For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
3 When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
Even after writing these words Solomon stepped off the path. We can all be vulnerable. It's why we must keep our eyes on God and His wisdom.
You see the good wisdom produces when done God's way. We so want to think otherwise though. We want to do it our way. I think of all the different ways we elevate people...in Hollywood, some televangelists, so-called prophets of God today, sports figures, singers. I'm not saying all are bad. I'm thrilled when a sports figure truly proclaims the glory to God, or we see evidence of true dedication to God in whatever arena they are in. I'm thrilled with true humility among these people.
God tells us it's not about us but about what He can do through us if we let Him. The first wise thing is seeking Him above all else. Relying on His wisdom and receiving instruction from Him. Then we will be on the right path. We will have the surest foundation in our life, the only good foundation, not the one that will sink in time.
This is very similar to believers staying separating themselves from unbelievers. We are called to be in the world, not of it because believers can be lured to the gods of this world. And I believe this happens a lot, even within the Church. I know I can be swayed from time to time also. I think we all can.
Anyway, in this proverb Solomon is admonishing others to listen to those who are wiser. Seek the truth. Know God's laws and commandments. Then you will be as wise as Solomon and be in God's favor. Seek wisdom above all and God will see to it everything else will fall into place. Although it is Solomon speaking, try to imagine it is God. Most of these words can certainly be His words to each of us. It was God who directed Solomon to write them.
(Solomon fell from God's graces and never returned to Him. Yet, God gave him wisdom in the beginning...to pass on to us. Like Solomon, we can fall after receiving this knowledge.)
I have underlined the phrases that stuck out for me.
PROVERBS 4
1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
2 For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
3 When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
Even after writing these words Solomon stepped off the path. We can all be vulnerable. It's why we must keep our eyes on God and His wisdom.
You see the good wisdom produces when done God's way. We so want to think otherwise though. We want to do it our way. I think of all the different ways we elevate people...in Hollywood, some televangelists, so-called prophets of God today, sports figures, singers. I'm not saying all are bad. I'm thrilled when a sports figure truly proclaims the glory to God, or we see evidence of true dedication to God in whatever arena they are in. I'm thrilled with true humility among these people.
God tells us it's not about us but about what He can do through us if we let Him. The first wise thing is seeking Him above all else. Relying on His wisdom and receiving instruction from Him. Then we will be on the right path. We will have the surest foundation in our life, the only good foundation, not the one that will sink in time.
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Word Is Near You
Psalm 32:3-5 - When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Nearly every scripture has something to speak to us. Maybe not so much the "begats" or numbering or some chronicling! I've known for a long time, though, that even what we read one day will have another meaning the next time it is read. There is a message even between the lines and words that we don't know until God reveals them to us.
That is the very power of the truth of His Word. And taken into a heart and meditated on they bring life. His Word will not return void if one takes the time to read and take it in. His words are near you. If you hear His Words being spoken today, listen. If they elicit a move of your heart, respond. You are only a step away from the greatest gift given to man...salvation and forgiveness, which bring spiritual life.
In Deuteronomy 6 God tells His people that ...these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way; when you lie down, and when you rise up. Command may seem like a hard word, but when we are obedient it is an easy yoke. In this context command means to appoint, give charge to, send, as with a messenger, put in order. That definition alone speaks to a message between the lines. God appointed His words and those who hear and understand those words are then appointed to be sent as messengers to speak such words, words of life.
And order! His words bring order to our lives. God does not cause confusion; only the devil does with his deception. Things seem to fall into place nicely if we do God's will and do it His way. We can muck things up. He brings the order.
If our words are focused on the Lord, He tells us it is a sweet incense to Him...a form of worship. So our thoughts and our daily communication with Him is worship.
God truly means what He says all throughout His Word. Imagine the peace in this world if everyone believed in this amazingly awesome God, if everyone acknowledged their need for Him and rather than try to hide their sins (which are not hidden from the One who really matters) but confessed their sins, not to a friend, stranger or even a pastor/priest, but to God Himself that He might forgive them. Imagine. Bones growing old, His hand being heavy on us, vitality gone...all signs of life without God.
Life in Christ is a worldly yoke and burden removed. It is peace in a heart. It is freedom, life, joy, peace, contentment, fearlessness in times of trouble. Are we all there 100% of the time? Not necessarily. But the closer we draw to Him, the more His Words penetrate our hearts, the more we meditate on those words, the more we are at peace.
Meditate on His Word. Listen to the voices that speak them. Act on what you hear. His words are like living water, words that never cause thirst. They are like a garden fountain, a well of flowing water...water that comes from the wells of salvation (Song of Solomon 4:15, Isaiah 12:3). Our hearts can be like a well-watered garden, filled with His words.
Romans 10:8-10 - But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Words of Life
John 6:68 - But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Lord, how can I not enjoy reading Your Word? There is so much promise in it even though it was written thousands of years ago to the people of Israel and their nation. It truly is Your love letter to Your children. Open the eyes of the world to this realization. Send Your Spirit that all might see and understand for it is only through Your Spirit that we can fully understand.
Your Word shows Your love, Your strength, Your judgment and Your redemption that leads to life to and for those You call Your children. It becomes Your presence, O God. You speak to us through Your Word. But we must realize ALL the words. We cannot take only the good words and apply them to our lives; we must heed the tough words too.
Despite Your disappointment and judgment for the world who does not seek You, You love and You show us what we need to do to maintain Your love in our lives. You show us the judgment that comes upon us if we do not listen. You have shown us through Your Word where life is, how it is obtained...and what happens if we choose not to listen. Sadly, some do not recognize this.
You sent Your Son Jesus to become our salvation. You couldn't allow us to wallow in our sin. Your Word shows us these things. You get angry like any parent would when a child has done wrong. If we do not accept Your love You leave us to our own devices. It's our choice. I see a world falling to its own devices. Lord, help the world.
Your Word is life. In the midst of the troubles of this world, all we have is You. There is a song I was just made aware of called Pursuit by Kim Walker-Smith. I listened to just the beginning of it and was prompted to write. In this song the words proclaim: I will pursue You, I can't live without Your presence, I'm pressing in to You so do not pass me by, I'm breaking through the boundaries, I will NOT be denied. Yes, You must be pursued. Your presence must be part of our daily lives. It's how we survive in this world and how we enter into Your kingdom at our last breath. I will not be denied!
Heavenly Father, You are all we need. You tell us in Your presence is fullness of joy. You give wisdom, understanding. You never change and that means Your love never changes, either for those who do not seek You nor for those who You call into Your glorious light, who receive Your Son and seek You with all their hearts. Lord, forgive me for times when I have lost my way or have forgotten how to seek You. I thank You, Lord, that even if we don't think we are in Your presence or don't sense it or even think there is something more we need to do, for this is our nature, to be in that place, You are there. No condemnation for those who love You.
Your words are life.
When we experience bad days, we are to praise You. We are to seek You for all things, not just when we need You most. The truth is, we need You most ALL the time. There shouldn't be a step we take that You are not a part of.
Let this child open her voice to show this to those around me. Let Your presence be seen through me. Let her words be life and love, as Yours are to me. Let her devotion to You be noticed.
Thank You for Your words of life, strength, compassion, judgment and promise. Let my pursuit never falter. Let my pursuit be evident.
And thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness. Thank You that even as I wrote this prayer You were putting the words of the part of the video I had not heard yet into my heart and into my words to You. Hearts joined, one heart, one mind, one Spirit, Your desires given to me. Praise You Lord! I will continue in my pursuit of You.
Acts 5:20 - [The angel of the Lord said] “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)