Choice ignorance

Proverbs 7:7 (KJV) And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

As I watch a lot of the political theater going on today, one of the things that stands out is the total lack of knowledge in the lives of people who are making big statements.  Much of that is because their teachers deliberately brainwashed them and kept them ignorant.  We can’t over emphasize the damage done by these people.  But there is another aspect and that is the matter of choice.

I would say that a lot of the ignorance we see is the ignorance of choice and the ignorance of sloth.  I see this because in conversations people seem to be totally unaware of what’s happening.  People don’t pay any attention to the news.  Or even worse, they only get their news from sources that are totally untrustworthy.  It is possible to get a feel for truth and for what’s happening but you have to look for it.  You have to think about what you’re reading.  You have to take it and compare it too what you already know.

So?  Don’t ignore your own responsibility for your spiritual knowledge and your spiritual life.  Part of being created in the image of God is having free will and being able to reason and to work with information.  It involves making choices.  God makes it possible it’s up to us to apply it. 

Long term

(Psa 66:12 KJV)  Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

(Proverbs 6 also read)

Here we see both sides of the coin.  On the one side we have those times of life where it seems nothing is going to go right.  Who has not felt at times that they are going through the fire. Who is not felt like the water is over their head.

But always consider the promise.  God is going to bring us out.  It doesn’t matter how dark, dreary, hot, wet.  God will see us through.  It’s possible that he will see us through in eternity, we need to consider that.  That is not a cop out.  That is simply seeing things as they are.

So?  Are you in the fire today or are you on your way out?  Either way, you can know that God is aware of your situation and is in charge. 

Because I Say So

Acts 10:15 (KJV) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

This brings to mind the creation story.  God would produce something new and at the end of the day he would announce that it was good.  Was it good because God created it or was it good because God declared it?  Well, that is a philosophy question for another day.  The point I’m making is that God declared his creation good.  Everything he made was good before sin messed it up.

We need to look at the world around us, and realize that God created it as good.  Part of our job, given during creation, is to subdue the world.  That has even more meaning now, after the fall, than it did before.

So? Get with the program.  Start improving your world.  Start with yourself. 

Pick a Path

(Pro 4:14 KJV)  Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

The Hebrew used here for “path” (734) is used again in verse 18.  It is common in Proverbs.  The difference in this chapter is the type of path you will follow.  Here the warning is against following evil.  In verse 18 it talks about the path of justice.  When you look at a new born baby one of the questions is, which path will they take.  Even at that tender stage of life it seems like different infants are inclined different ways.  If you have two children you have probably noticed that they are individuals from the beginning.  Life will be full of choices.

The similarity in these verses is that your path is a matter of choice.  Although some are inclined toward a more evil path than others the Bible teaches that salvation is open to all.

So?  I assume you have made your choice.  Are you happy with it?  Are you helping the young in your life to make an intelligent and informed choice.  I guess we do so even if we are not aware of it. 

Law of the Heart

Proverbs 3:1 (KJV) My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

I think it’s important for us to consider what David is saying here, actually, it’s Solomon.  He is telling us that the law is important.  He is telling us that the commandments are important.  He is telling us to obey the commandments.  But notice the place that these demands are to be retained, in your heart.

Ultimately God‘s law is to be hidden in our hearts.  It is to reform and renew our hearts.  It is to come from our inner being and not from our outer reading.  God wants to live inside of us and He wants to do that in a way that we can work with him and be obedient to him, and let the glory of His presence shine forth.

One way in which we can witness to a pagan world is to allow the standards of a holy God be real in our lives.

So?  Internalize it.  Let it fill you.  And let it guide you.

Security

(Psa 62:2 KJV)  He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

(Proverbs 2 also read)

Once again, I want to note that in this chapter of Psalms, David does not mention the law.  He does not mention ritual or sacrifice.  Look through the entire chapter.  You see reference after reference about his trust in God, and his faith in God, and the place of God, Himself, in our worship and trust.  You see nothing about the law.

Many people want to make the Old Testament about the law and the New Testament about grace and faith.  I would suggest that they might need to do a little bit more reading in Psalms and find out how David viewed God and salvation.

So? Trust. 

Yard Work

Psalms 72:6 (KJV) He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

Who would’ve ever thought that the Bible would talk about yardwork.  Here it is.  It is equating the blessings of having a righteous ruler.  With refreshing rain.  Coming down upon a newly mowed yard.  I don’t think I’ve seen that before.  It was there.  I just didn’t see it.

I don’t know that this is a command that we are supposed to get out and mow our grass.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see it being used in an advertising campaign for some lawnmower company.  It certainly could be used by your wife.

So?  The Bible really does talk about every area of life.