15Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. — Proverbs 5:15 (KJV)
Now that you have made the decision to lose weight, all is smooth sailing. Well, almost. Like Super Mario from Super Mario Bros, you may face slight obstacles that you must jump over, break through or slide under, but the good news is they are mostly in your mind. We’ll list them and discard them, here we go!
Continue reading “Surprising Obstacles to Losing Weight”
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. — 3 John 2 (KJV)
What is your ideal weight? The philosophical answer is of course the weight that you feel comfortable with, but in order for us to actually motivate ourselves to losing weight, it is better to decide on a definite goal. Choose a pencil, preferably a bright colored one, and write down your desired weight on a piece of paper or a postcard. You do not have to write down your current weight unless you think it’s particularly fun or celebratory to remember it.
Continue reading “How to Lose Weight with Joy and Peace”
12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. — 1 Corinthians 6:12 (KJV)
In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 6, apostle Paul teaches the church of Corinth on the basics of Christian freedom and here eating habits are given some special consideration. “Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial,” Paul explains.
Corinth, like many of the biblical locations, is in Greece by the Mediterranean Sea. It is not surprising that the Mediterranean cuisine with its rich vegetables, olives, figs and fish dishes is renowned for its health benefits. From the Jewish challah, bread that symbolizes the manna that fell from heaven, to the honey-coated baklavas of the more recent times these snacks are good for us in right proportions.
Five loaves and two fish
Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food, but what other foods are especially good for the stomach, according to the Bible? For green health enthusiasts out there I am happy to give you the answer that basically any fruit or vegetable, nut or seed, that you can put into the ground and it will reproduce will do marvels for you.
I am cautious of all kinds of genetic and chemical engineering, and I don’t buy the arguments its proponents make that doing it the new way is the same as the old. Maybe one day we’ll all turn vegetarian in our diet like in the original garden of Eden, but it must be something God, and not some lab or lobbyist, will then bring forth in the next chapter of human life.
Meanwhile, meats such as bison (buffalo), venison (deer) and lamb are something our Lord would eat, and which make appearances in the Bible in positive light. Not pork though, and not in the unsanitary conditions of the desert! Pork and shellfish are nature’s garbage collectors and there’s a warning about them in the Scriptures, which I’m not in the position to downplay so let’s not overindulge on those, shall we.
Then of course it is important not to make any food or drink our idol, and you obviously might like to skip something that’s used for some shady ritual. And please don’t forget table manners!
14 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. — Romans 14:1-3 (KJV)
As the New International Version puts it in Romans, Chapter 14, “The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.” So we as believers indeed have this freedom of conscience, let’s not lose it.
It is good to remember we all live in different circumstances around the world, and even a fellow Christian on the same supermarket aisle may have to opt for the different item for various reasons. Same thing with fasting, which is a good, biblical practice, but may seem a luxury or pose a danger for someone driving to work each morning.
We’ll end with the words of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. — Matthew 15:11 (KJV)
God bless you, Dear Reader.
Chess is a game of universal appeal that everyone can enjoy, but now I want to share some semi-allegorical thoughts from my Christian point of view; the usual drill. I really enjoy writing these as the thoughts are quick to form and I hope you’ll enjoy them too.
The first rule in chess is to allow your king room to move. The king that stays too closely surrounded by its own pieces will get easily trapped and that ends in those the most embarrassing, quick defeats. Even good players can experience them if they let their minds wander or multitask too much.
On the other hand the very idea is to protect your king and go after your opponent’s, so this must be a nuanced approach. By the rule of thumb, to kibosh the aspirations of knight that cannot move straight forward is to step right in front of them, and rook that only moves on its track can get ambushed behind the corner.
Some say chess is a feminist game, and I suppose there’s something to the joke; the pawn, after advancing far enough will likely benefit from becoming queen at the other end of the board, which the rules then allow, but let me tell you something, a good player will usually defeat them before they get that chance. How? By utilizing every piece in attack, including the king, which can be the real game changer you were looking for.
I have seen players who seem to have their strategy together act so timid about moving their king unless directly threatened, I will wreak havoc with mine and brutally destroy them. Like president in republic or captain at sea, king needs a reliable inner circle who will offer help but do not interfere in decision making. Their task is to follow orders or walk the plank.
Read the rules before you enlist
As Christians our King is Jesus Christ. Are you limiting Him? Telling Him you can take care of things, and go visit Him only on occasion? Saying this is something for me to handle, I’ll call when I really need, don’t want to bother. Or maybe you say I’m too far gone, thank you very much. That’s fake humility.
6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
We should always consult God first, and not fret or get weird about it. You know, like in chess, our King of Kings is the only mover and shaker we really should be concerned about. As king He expects protocol if we want to stay close and as good shepherd may ask us to do so for our protection, but we shouldn’t tell Him not to move when He must do something bold to take care of our lives and His Kingdom, of which all of us Christians are part of by His grace and mercy alone.
Chess, not checkers
And finally, let us remember team play with everyone. There’s unity and diversity in one body. Don’t think you can replace someone else just because you want to. You may do that and accomplish some things on your own, yet do horrible damage to your team; like in games and sports, most importantly in our collective Christian life that is also meant to benefit those not yet part of it.
17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. — 1 Corinthians 12:17-18 (KJV)
God knows the best balance of function, and has chosen to reveal it in His Bible. We may not yet fully understand why there are certain qualifications that really must be met, but they are getting clearer each day (there’s an excellent, timeless book called Leadership is Male by David Pawson I’d like to recommend regarding the topic).
4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. — 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 (KJV)
God bless you, Dear Reader.
I would like to be Robinson Crusoe, minus the part how he got on the island. Yes, I would try it for a month… or maybe a day or two. The story of the resourceful castaway having to build his own cabin from scrap, raising crops from a handful of barley and defending himself against all odds is a fine read for sure, read it a couple of times.
Even though the 1719 novel by Daniel Defoe is riveting and chock full of surprises, it is the hero’s willingness, and indeed ability to live in the moment that makes the classic such compelling reading. In the fictive world of antiheroes and superheroes and all kinds of desperados and villains it is refreshing to find a character who is not into navel gazing (or chewing the scenery). Crusoe is plain heroic, understated and overachieving at once.
He is also a Christian, who immerses himself in the Bible. It is the character’s newly built faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that gives him the repentance, the deliverance and the encouragement to go on. There are many pages I could quote, that encapsulate the universal Christian conversion in frank, timeless terms.
July 4.—In the morning I took the Bible; and beginning at the New Testament, I began seriously to read it, and imposed upon myself to read a while every morning and every night; not tying myself to the number of chapters, but long as my thoughts should engage me. It was not long after I set seriously to this work till I found my heart more deeply and sincerely affected with the wickedness of my past life. The impression of my dream revived; and the words, “All these things have not brought thee to repentance,” ran seriously through my thoughts. — The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe By Daniel Defoe
In one sense or the other we as Christians are all “Robinson Crusoes” marooned between the Biblical Egypt and the Promised Land, not all of us crossing the Red Sea as smoothly as the televised testimonies. Some of us get stuck in quicksand for what seems the most of our lives.
The Bible is not an all too solitary book. It accounts historical facts of people who had their times of isolation and reflection, but the emphasis is not on those times; The Bible is all about God’s interaction with His people and His people interacting, sometimes clashing with other people.
Reading something like the Book of Joshua can be a daunting task, but I consolidate myself with the notion it’s probably for the best I don’t prefer the wars; they are not meant to be pleasant reading.
The Psalms are more to my liking, with varying themes. The good news for lonely people and those of us who have failed is our value is never determined by our worth to society, not even by righteous standards, let alone any superficiality associated with highflying.
15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. — Psalm 34:15-16 (KJV)
13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; — 1 Peter 3:13-14 (KJV)
I like how the Amplified Bible clarifies in 1 Peter, Chapter 3, that if we should suffer for the sake of righteousness, though it is not certain that we will, we are still blessed i.e. happy, to be admired and favored by God. This puts to rest two false readings into the verses, that somehow suffering is the proof that we are in the wrong, or that we absolutely must suffer in order to be happy.
God is not schizophrenic. We must learn to be reasonably steady whether the times are good or bad, being thankful for the good times.
Don’t be looking for trouble
People have an amazing ability to adapt to most any circumstance they face. This can be both an asset and a weakness, depending on the situation. I cringe at declarations and prayers on wanting to suffer for the cause, as if Christian life was a game. This makes about as much sense as wanting to drive an ambulance as close to the cliff as possible. Let’s make sure to move toward the right direction in orderly fashion so we won’t have to adapt to anything negative that could be avoided – including shipwrecks.
God bless you, Dear Reader.
43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. — Matthew 5:43-45 (KJV)
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers some astonishing insights to the workings of the Kingdom of Heaven. In the natural, it would seem suicidal to do some of the things He is saying. Are we supposed to endure any hardship from just anyone, because they can quote back to us Jesus said so? Well, no.
Before getting to the message we must consider the recipients, let’s in fact read it from Matthew 4:23-25.
23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. — Matthew 4:23-25 (KJV)
There are two important points I’d like to make. First, Jesus began by healing all who were sick, those suffering with various diseases and pains, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, paralytics. Second, nobody was directly excluded from the Sermon on the Mount that came next, but what was required was a kind of active participation, willingness to walk an extra mile.
Ability and motivation
Did you catch that? If we are to meet a crazy person who demands a shirt off our back, we must first get them healed and then see if they still need it. We do not put these burdens on the sick or the elderly who are already struggling by telling them to give away their rights to invading enemies howling at the gate.
The Amplified Bible explains we are to simply ignore insignificant insults or trivial losses and do not bother to retaliate, maintaining our dignity, our self-respect, our poise. The other people’s attitude, or even our own self image does not dictate our behavior towards others or ourselves. God has a standard for loving-kindness, and it is respect for the rights of ourselves and that of the others. We are not to pluck our or anyone else’s eye, it is an idiom meaning “cut that out!”, stop doing the thing that disturbs you or puts you or someone else in harm’s way.
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
Perfection in Biblical sense means maturity. For instance, in Luke 22:36 Jesus tells those of His disciples who do not already own a sword to buy one. It is not for summer theater, those who carry a sword in dangerous times must be willing to use it if necessary.
Maturity, not conceptional illiteracy
A chapter taken out of context is a pretext, and we must consider even the peaceful Sermon on the Mount as part of the bigger picture the whole Scripture paints. Our Savior was speaking to His followers, those of us who chose and continue to choose to follow Him every day. Therefore it would be foolish to impose the Sermon on the Mount on all people as official, secular or religious law.
Experts who say the Constitution of the United States and several others are compatible with the New Testament reading of the Bible are correct, but they do not mean these Constitutions are the Sermon on the Mount, or even the Ten Commandments – they mean these Constitutions deliberately enable the practise of these Biblical teachings for each Biblically mature and balanced individual who chooses to do so without harassment or intimidation by the secular or religious powers that be.
Our right to meet our accuser and demand for reliable witnesses also rise from the Bible. Even in Old Testament Israeli servitude was contractual and/or limited to a set number of years. That it continued to exist in New Testament times cannot be used to justify slavery; not slavery based on color or creed, and not slavery for the state.
These freedoms are threatened by people with different agenda, by those who cannot – or will not – understand the difference. They demand that we submit our principles at their altar, by taking our verses deliberately out of context or outright denying them. Let’s make sure our individual, rational and collective attitude spells out NOT ON OUR WATCH.
God bless you, Dear Reader.
A word of the Lord came to me. It said to be extra polite. You know, after pondering the significance, I realized it could have come only from the Lord. Maybe He told you something else, but this is what He told me.
There are two kinds of Words in our Christian doctrine, the written and everlasting Logos (as written in the Bible) and the situational, instructive Rhema (for individual).
Before we can consider any wild notion we must see if the notion perfectly aligns with the whole message of the New Testament. Let’s discard every thought that is to the contrary. I am positive Jesus would never ask a follower to do or say anything that the most considerate, wise friend wouldn’t ask.
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. — Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV)
In Matthew 22, Pharisees ask Jesus about the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus gives them two, on which the whole Law and the writings of the Prophets depend. The first is, ”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” The second is, ”You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
These two commandments go together and complement each other like two wings of an airplane. In order for the plane to get off the ground and not crash it must have both.
Mind your own business
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. — Romans 13:10 (KJV)
Love does no wrong to a neighbor, Paul explains in Romans 13:10. Love never hurts anyone. How could this be? This is the Godly form of love, known by the Greek word Agape, which is not an emotion. This very unselfish, considerate and non-intrusive love is the fulfilment of the Law.
There are four words to describe different loves. There is Eros, the romantic love between a man and a woman. There is Storge, the sympathy between family members. There is Phileo, for the brotherhood. Then there is Agape, the highest form of love.
Only Agape is for everyone and does not take special liberties or break the protocol when applied carelessly or for the wrong people. It is the protocol and the marching order for the whole World according to the Word of the Lord.
We could certainly go wrong by adding too much or something extra to the other kind of loves, but we can never have too much Agape. Being polite is indistinguishable from Agape. Being polite is not all there is to Agape, but without being polite, without proper consideration for the protocol of the moment, we are not doing it right.
Chew with your mouth closed. Walk on the right side of the pavement. Open and hold the door for others in close proximity. Be punctual. Respect the elderly. These are the little things in life that make all the difference.
Being extra polite does not mean being a wuss. It is not a warning of any kind, either. There’s a whole lot of things it is not, but I am here to concentrate on the positives.
Samson was a strong man, who even though he was blessed, he did many things wrong even before he met Delilah. If we trace back his steps in Judges 14 we can see a lot of the mistakes had to do with disobeying his parents’ will. There were so many little mistakes, they became a pattern; for instance, as a Nazarite Samson was not supposed to be in contact with corpses or graves, but there he is in Judges 14:8-9 taking honey from a swarm of bees nesting in a lion carcase, and even giving that honey for his parents to eat without telling them where it had come from.
Lucky for Samson, and all of us who have failed in various ways, his name is counted among heroes who had faith in Hebrews 11:31-33. Samson is a friend I would call at time of war to utterly destroy the enemy, but in peace I would rather learn from Solomon. This blog is named in hope to recapture some of that Wisdom!
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. — Proverbs 10:24-25 (KJV)
In Proverbs 10:24, Solomon says that what the wicked fear will come upon them, but the desires of the righteous will be granted. So let us not be motivated by fear. Being perceptive and considerate about the things we do in daily day life is reward in itself. The best part is once we get it down pat, it’s who we are.
God bless you, Dear Reader.
I like to wake up early in the morning before sunrise to walk my dog. I do it each morning at a set time. If it’s a Sunday or a designated Holiday, all the better.
I do it to do it
It is said what we do daily forms a habit. It would be difficult to break a habit after a year. My dog is a good boy, but I’m not sure he’d react kindly if I started to skip the early morning walk all of a sudden. Every morning he awaits patiently as I finish my coffee. As I get up, he joyfully springs to action. We enter the mystical realm of outdoor wonder almost the instance we’re through the front door. The density of air is different. It is different in the fall, and it is different each of the four seasons. We are adventurers.
That the path that I choose is mostly routine is part of the charm, up the alley, down the street and into the woods. Rabbits and hares are the most common sight. I tell my dog, there’s your buddy. Instinct tells buddy rabbit to hop along.
Wild animals of the nature are the most stubborn followers of routine and protocol, but their traffic circles and red lights are mostly invisible to human eye. By scent and slowly built experience they discern and navigate the wide-open spaces by narrow turf paths. Sometimes the knowledge is generational. Early bird gets the worm and those birds who do not show up early for the buffet are not there to teach the future generation of birds anything.
The morning walk I am describing is somewhere between the optimal and the average. By now all the positives outweigh the negatives so much that I am not likely to stop waking up early for the walk with my dog any time soon.
Living life by routine is not something to oppose for the sake of opposing. Let’s not be rebel without a cause.
30 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. — Isaiah 30:1-3 (KJV)
Isaiah Chapter 30 has a strong word against rebels. ”Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord. ”Who carry out a plan, but not Mine…” Woe means judgment is coming. These rebels carry out their own plan without first consulting the Word of the Lord. They take shelter in the shadow of Egypt, which is not such a good idea. It is like rabbit entering foxhole because of storm. The rabbit knows better, but sometimes we, children of the Lord, act as if we do not.
You reap what you sow
Even when something unexpected happens suddenly, or seemingly out of the blue, there’s a good chance it was a result from a logical set of events, of which most were hidden from us, or we failed to grasp the significance of. Yet, had we trusted the original instructions, we would have been just fine.
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. — Luke 6:47-49 (KJV)
In Luke Chapter 6, Jesus talks about a man who built a house. The man dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and yet could not shake it. You know there are houses that are almost hurricane-proof. We cannot control the unexpected but we can control ourselves.
Sometimes we get it completely wrong. Take for example the mason who wants to make his mortar extra strong. What could go wrong, right? He uses too much cement and after drying too quickly because of this, the mortar shrinks and it cracks!
Jesus is a rock in the weary land, like the old hymn says. Let’s not walk in the counsel of the wicked, they’re an accident waiting to happen.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. — Proverbs 4:18 (KJV)
God bless you, Dear Reader.
Let me ask you a question. If you had to go from point A to point B in a rough terrain, would you rather choose a bulldozer, or a children’s tricycle to get there?
This is not a trick question. The bulldozer is inspected and has a full tank, ready to roll. The children’s tricycle is, well, children’s tricycle.
I don’t know about you, but I would choose the bulldozer. Yes, yes I would!
So, what about the environment? No, this isn’t about environment. The question is about moving from point A to point B and it would be pretty darn well impossible to get there with the children’s tricycle. It wouldn’t hold your weight, and you wouldn’t be able to move five feet, let alone five miles.
The bulldozer is you
So, ok, the terrain isn’t that rough. This time it’s regular dirt road. A little bit of uphill and a little bit of downhill, nothing too heavy for a regular bicycle. A good workout, right? No, all you’ve still got is that children’s tricycle. You would need to be a top-class athlete, circus performer and a uniquely determined individual to ride that dirt road on the children’s tricycle, and still it would break down under your weight!
The bulldozer, on the other hand, is still waiting and ready to go. It will drive over smoothly and will make the dirt road better for the next guy. Take the bulldozer, it’s yours.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. — Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
Life isn’t easy, and it certainly doesn’t seem fair, but Jesus promises, if we take his yoke, the burden will be light. If you are experiencing nagging discomfort or pain in your neck, please realize, it isn’t any extra weight the Lord put on you to make you suffer, quite the opposite. We must study and observe how to get back under that yoke, not rebel against it.
When you operate the heavy equipment, it isn’t really about the surface or the terrain or the obstacles on the way. The entrance point to Christianity is for everyone, but to move forward, you need to grow up.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. — Hebrews 5:13-14 (KJV)
This is the time of year we celebrate our Lord and Savior being born as man in Bethlehem, Judea, two thousand years ago. He is not only God, He is still man (yes, we have man in the sky!) who knows and has experienced what you are going through. When you are ready, He is handing you the keys.
God bless you, Dear Reader.
Silence is beautiful. Peace and quiet, what more could we ask?
Money? To build a castle on a tall cliff next to a beach somewhere, waking up to the sound of sea waves. The cold gray walls shielding away from the heat and the rain and the freeze of the winter months, or maybe it is eternal summer where your special tiki hut is located at. No mosquitos, that we can agree on, no?
But do you know what? We already have all that if we manage to find within our heart the small peace of mind the ancient had.
Room for Wisdom
Ah, we are getting there. No matter how crammed the tiny little apartment is, how much the parakeet and the pots and the pans make the noise, you are not truly in a tight spot if you have spare room for a little wisdom. A book. You’re not in a hurry, are you? Ten minutes is all it takes. You are free to take an hour but let’s start with ten minutes.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. — Proverbs 4:7 (KJV)
Sword, Sandals, 40 Years to Prepare
I have a little secret to tell. Once you get older, time starts moving faster. That may be a good thing if you’re in a rut, I don’t know, but please consider, three years in our youth is, was and seems like a long time compared with the thirteen that passed by you just … like … that!
At thirty years old, when Jesus began His ministry on Earth, most of us did not know we would wake up at forty-three and not feel any wiser. We may have learned something but surely we have forgot as much, and the youthful enthusiasm we lost cannot be made up for by knowing now exactly the mistakes that we made. If only they could have been avoided…! How about the next thirteen years? Days? (Gulp.)
Don’t worry (actually, the Bible strongly advices not to worry!) If you would please open Jeremiah, Chapter 7. Jeremiah was the Weeping Prophet who in around 600 BC preached to the remaining tribes of Israel not to follow in the steps of the North, who had previously been taken away by the Assyrian Empire.
Ten tribes are gone. There are two little tribes remaining around Jerusalem, they are the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin. The danger to Judea is now called Babylon, the Babylonian Empire. Seven kings they come and seven kings they go, situation becoming more and more hopeless with each. Yet Jeremiah insists it is not too late even now for the Lord’s people to mend their ways and live in peace in the home they belong.
3 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these. 5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; 6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: 7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. — Jeremiah 7:3-7 (KJV)
Jeremiah speaks with the authority given to him by the Lord, “Change your ways and your behavior, and I will let you live in this place.”
Please notice, there is a condition. The temple alone is not enough to guarantee safety. The status of believer does not bring prosperity.
”Do not trust in the deceptive and lying words,” Jeremiah says. ”For if you thoroughly change your ways and your behavior, if you thoroughly and honestly practice justice between a man and his neighbor…” There is the condition. THEN the Lord will let you live in this place in peace and harmony.
Confused? It basically says you must do all those things you thought you shouldn’t, because you couldn’t, because you have some special condition / predicament that pretty much would prevent you from doing it the way it would make any difference anyhow. God says no, you are not exempt. You have it tougher than others but don’t tell anyone, because they think they have it tougher too.
Jeremiah gives a word of hope and a grave warning.
9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. — Jeremiah 7:9-11 (KJV)
We do not literally burn incense unto Baal (I hope not!) but there is the likelihood any sin practised to perfection or in order to deceive having basically the same effect in both the physical and the spiritual world. Cigarettes smell and bother people. Drugs are much worse. You may be able to have a drink on occasion, but do not cause your brother to stumble.
Always err on the side of politeness. John the Baptist was a known wild man living in the wilderness, but do you know what? If John the Baptist lived in an apartment house and took a bus downtown, he would bathe and brush his teeth regularly to be a good friend and citizen. We do not use bad language to show how edgy we are. Only desperados with nothing of essence to say resort to cuss words.
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. — Matthew 7:12-14 (KJV)
Only when we know how to behave in the village, we may truly enjoy the castle. And then it doesn’t really take a castle to enjoy good, better life.
God bless you, Dear Reader.
Bible Study