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.

David had a relationship with GOD

David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead.  “Is the child dead?” he asked.  “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

Then David got up from the ground.  After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped.  Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way?  While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.  I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.’  But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting?  Can I bring him back again?  I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”    2 Samuel 12:19-23 NIV

The understatement of the year award goes to the one who simply says, “David had a relationship with the LORD.”

David knew death.  Even though he was a man after GOD’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14, I Samuel 16:7, Acts 13:22), GOD did not allow David to build the temple because of the blood he had shed (I Chronicles 22:8).

So why do I share this passage as we approach Easter?  It comes to mind when I think of death.  David’s child—a child that he, the king of Israel begged to be spared—and GOD said no.  GOD struck the child ill and then took him (2 Samuel 12).  And how did David react?  With worship to GOD.

David said about his child: I will go to him, but he will not return to me.  Physical death is not the end.  That is the promise.  But GOD will rescue me from the power of death.  Psalm 49:15 CEV.  And my response?  Always, it should be rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NASB.

Yes, David indeed had a relationship with the LORD.

About an odd man who loved his wife

Come, and let us return unto JEHOVAH; for HE hath torn, and HE will heal us; HE hath smitten, and HE will bind us up.  After two days will HE revive us: on the third day HE will raise us up, and we shall live before HIM. Hosea 6:1-2 ASV

Does anyone else think Hosea is an odd book?  Granted, he’s not as nutty as Ezekiel.  On the days when I feel like I’m losing my mind, Ezekiel is an excellent book to read.  “At least I’m not as crazy as he was.”

But Hosea, what about him?  The LORD calls him as a prophet.  He cries out, “Destruction is coming, Destruction is coming!”  And does GOD leave it at that?  Mere words?  A warning?

No.  GOD does what HE always does.  He takes it farther.  “Hosea, let me use you as an object lesson.”  Hmm, sure… okay?

When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.”  Hosea 1:2 NIV

The LORD tells him to marry a ‘worldly’ woman?  And what does Hosea do?  Obeys.  Did he lecture her?  Make her realize the errors of her ways?  Condemn her?  “Only I could love you because GOD told me to.”  No.  Hosea loved his wife—even when she ran away.  He paid for her.  Heartbreak and fifteen pieces of silver along with some grain.  Why would GOD tell Hosea to do this?  Why would Hosea obey?

Come, and let us return unto JEHOVAH; for HE hath torn, and HE will heal us; HE hath smitten, and HE will bind us up.  After two days will HE revive us: on the third day HE will raise us up, and we shall live before HIM. Hosea 6:1-2 ASV

Did Hosea somehow understand the depth of love GOD has for us?  GOD loves HIS people--I preach that all the time.  Even when Israel left HIM, HE still loved them.  And today, when we leave HIM?  HE still loves us.  HIS desire is for all of us to come back.

The LORD is not slow in keeping HIS promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead HE is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9 NIV

As Easter approaches, what can I take from this text?  I take that I will never understand the depth of love GOD has for us.  For me.  But some days, I think I catch a glimpse.

Considering the Cost or Maybe Not

Don’t you know that all who share in CHRIST JESUS by being baptized also share in HIS death?  When we were baptized, we died and were buried with CHRIST.  We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as CHRIST was raised to life by the glory of GOD the Father.  Romans 6:3-4 CEV

My seven year old was baptized Sunday.  A joyous time.  A time to celebrate.  A time of new beginnings because the road she has chosen is long and narrow… few find it, few stay on it.

I hold tight to believer’s baptism.  The choice to follow CHRIST—each person must decide for themselves.  But as I think on believer’s baptism, I wonder, “can a child truly decide to become a disciple of CHRIST?”  The choice is lasting and the stakes are high… so GOD leaves the choice to a child?  How is that possible?

But I would never deny my child, or any child, the choice to love GOD.  The opportunity to tell all, “I have decided to follow JESUS.”  But how much can she understand?  How much does she know?  It is an important decision, can a seven year old even consider the cost?  The cost of discipleship?

And then she hands me a prayer-poem she has written.  She says she forgets to pray and wrote this to hang on her wall as a reminder. 

LORD, I pray forever, even when I am Blue

YOU are my LORD my Savior
YOU’re with me every day
When I’m sad YOU wipe away my tears
When I’m mad you calm me down
When I come up with YOU, I’ll worship YOU FOREVER.
Amen

JESUS said "Permit the children to come to ME; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of GOD belongs to such as these.  Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of GOD like a child shall not enter it at all." (Mark 10:14-15 NASB)