Discernment of Diet

(Proverbs 9:5 KJV)  Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Proverbs calls us to be upright, to walk in righteousness.  It contains the call of holy living just like the New Testament does.  One of the difficulties of holiness is that it requires a discerning and engaged mind.  Jesus was not just concerned with our souls.  Perhaps that is why when He quoted the law He felt free to add the need for our minds.

(Matthew 22:37 KJV)  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.

What that has in common with this verse is that while certain things such as adultery and lying are always wrong, there are many acts which will be sinful or righteous depending on the context and company.  Christmas is also the season of Jewish Hanukkah.  You are not being a hypocrite if you do not serve ham when you have a Jewish friend over for dinner.  It is called being considerate and discerning.  It might be a sin to serve it at that time.

So?  There is a time to eat and a time to drink.  There is a time to abstain from both or either.  Live upright.  That puts your mind at the top in control of the feet at the bottom. 

Baby Bear Strikes Again

(Proverbs 21:21 KJV)  He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Most of us have a feel for “righteousness” (6666) but “loyalty” (2617a) [chesed] lives under a smokescreen.  It has many translations with a wide range of meaning.  Just at this point you see how the KJV uses “mercy” and the NASB uses “loyalty.”  The only translation I have that gets bolder is the International Standard Bible which says “gracious love.”  That is closest to the way I think it should be translated:  lovingkindness. 

We are to pursue holy living.  We are to demonstrate lovingkindness.  Only the first leads to rigid legalism.  Only the second leads to insipid emotionalism.  Together, mixed and modified by the Holy Spirit we get Baby Bear Spirituality:  Just right.

So?  The middle road of holiness is the hardest to walk because I requires totality.

(Matthew 22:37 KJV)  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.

Most of us like to leave one of those out.  Beware of the trap. 

On Keeping Your Soul

(Proverbs 19:16 KJV)  He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

In a reread of this verse I notice that “commandment” (4687) is singular, not plural.  I wonder if that is significant.  The obvious answer is “Yes.”  Everything God does in transmitting His word to us is significant.  Many of you will automatically know how Jesus dealt with this.  He was asked what was the greatest commandment.  His answer was twofold.

(Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)  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.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

These are really two sides of the same coin.  Our culture tries to define love without the love of God as a foundation.  Culture is falling apart.  Too often the church ignores their neighbor.  The church becomes weak.  Blessings come from keeping the commandment.

So?  It goes against everything you see and hear in the world around you but focus on God, let it overflow into your neighborhood and keep your soul.  Sounds like a good deal to me.