Silence

The more we talk, the less sense we make, so what good does it do to talk? Ecclesiastes 6:11 CEV

To listen to someone else speak takes work.  I must put aside my desire and force myself to concentrate on another.  I must die to self while placing another before me.

The writer of Ecclesiastes says, the more we talk, the less sense we make, so what good does it do to talk? Talking… am I providing information?  Compassion?  Love?  Or is it control?  Do I want to control another with my words?

Impressions.  I’ll admit there are times when I am rather impressed with my verbosity.  My knowledge.  My keen sense of wit.  And then I stop talking long enough to see the faces around me… I know the truth.  I make no sense.

Silence.  Do we fear it or embrace it?  Encourage it as a way to listen to others around us?  The world at work, speaking.  GOD.  GOD leading us and guiding us in HIS still small voice?

LORD give me ears to hear.

Fear Whom?

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before GOD. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:5-6 ESV

What are you afraid of?  Me?  Okay, I’ll admit it.  I like scary movies (much to the consternation of my husband).  Classic horror.  The horror where the bump in the night is a monster.  Or the chase—running like a mad woman trying to escape fate.  My love of horror might also explain why I have to sleep with a nightlight.

But in real life, what am I afraid of?  Many things. But the top of the list are certain Bible verses.  There are Bible verses I don’t understand.  They teach me something different than I’m used to or comfortable with.  They call me out of my comfort zone.  And call me to a life that I’m not ready to live, yet.

Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.  Matthew 7:13-14 ESV

And I fear that the narrow gate is far narrower and harder than I ever could have possibly imagined.  It is so easy to take my eyes off the mark—the LORD.  I rail again the rising tide, crying that evil is gaining ground.  But besides crying against it, do I do anything to stem the tide?

Yes, evil gains ground.  But that has been true for years.  I’m not the first to notice or experience it.  Yet, I’m focusing on the wrong thing.  My eyes once again have wandered.  JESUS.  By HIM the Victory has already been won.  Evil may gain ground, temporarily.  But JESUS has won us the victory.  HE who can cast us into hell, provided a way—a way from the darkness into the light.  HE calls.  Do I answer?  Am I afraid?  Or will I answer and keep my eyes on the ONE?

The Law of the LORD

They [the Gentiles] show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, GOD judges the secrets of men by CHRIST JESUS. Romans 2:15-16 ESV

I heard a great line in church Sunday.  Paraphrasing the pastor, “how can we expect children to follow a bunch of rules if the LORD isn’t in their heart?”  Said another way, the law of the LORD needs to be written upon their heart so their actions flow from within (their heart) versus outward activity but no inward anchor.

But how does one write the law of the LORD upon their heart?  And what is the law of the LORD?  Or is it The Law? The first five books of the Old Testament are normally called The Law.  So obeying The Law, is that what Romans is talking about?  The Law is a summation of how our actions should be towards GOD and towards one another?  It's a lot of stuff to be writing upon my heart.  I can barely remember my passwords and alarm codes.  How can I remember all that?

The first five books list a bunch of “thou shalls” and “thou shall nots.”  But it’s more than that.  Paul says in Romans 13 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (verse 8 ESV)… Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (verse 10 ESV).

Love.  Love?  Love is the fulfillment of the law?  Or The Law?  JESUS—GOD’s beloved SON.  The GLORY of GOD.  HE came.  HE died.  He rose again.  Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of CHRIST, so that you may belong to another, to HIM who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for GOD (Romans 7:4 ESV).

How do I teach my children to live a life with the law of GOD written upon their heart?  Living it?  That is an action.  Loving others?  Another action.  Loving those who hate me?  Who wrong me?  Once again actions—ones I do not instinctively do.  Actions I would rather not do.  But JESUS in dying on a cross forgave those who put HIM there, forgave out of love.  Forgiving those who wrong me?  Maybe it’s a start, down a road of loving those who hate me.  A start of having GOD’s law written upon my heart.

What is Sin?

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. I John 3:4 ESV

I have great respect for the law.  Not just GOD’s law but the agreed-upon rules set forth by society.  If we are to live with together then we need guidelines on how to act and how to treat one another.  We chose to live in society and getting along with others in a civilized manner is essential.

But lately I look around and see the rules in society as a bludgeoning tool—one where the savviest can get away with more and the less knowledgeable one is punished and kept down.

I shouldn’t be surprised.  It wasn’t much different in JESUS’s day.  The religious leaders of the time knew the ins and outs of their created laws in order to be “more righteous” than the regular person. 

And in the hearing of all the people HE [JESUS] said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widow’s houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  They will receive the greater condemnation.”  Luke 20:45-47 ESV

The scribes were religious lawyers.  They knew the law.  And they knew the best way to make the law work for them.  Instead of helping others, the ones who needed help, they helped themselves.  Praying in public while lining their pockets with gain from the most needy--widows.  Once again, I find that bludgeoning tool used to knock down.  Instead of using their knowledge for good and helping the ones who needed it the most, they increased their wealth.  And they have a greater condemnation from above.

 
LORD I pray we practice true religion.  I pray we are on the side of widows and orphans.  I pray we use our knowledge to help, not to devour.  I pray we help widows and orphans in their time of need and we keep ourselves unstained from the world.