There is an old adage that says "the pen is mightier than the sword". The meaning, of course, is that words are the mightiest weapons of all. It was Martin Luther's pen that fueled the flames of the Reformation when he wrote his now famous 95 thesis. Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, Abraham Lincoln credited Harriet Beecher Stowe with starting the civil war by writing Uncle Tom's Cabin. The list goes on ...
Psalm 45:1 likens our tongue to "the pen of a ready writer." Every time we speak we are writing a story. The words that leave our mouths can be used for both good and bad. They can help to heal or they can start wars. Which it will be is up to me. The main thing about words is that they can't be taken back. Once they are spoken, they will forever be engraved in someone's mind and spirit.
Lord, help me today to think before I speak. Let me weight my words with care; I want to build up and not tear down. I want the pen of my tongue to write a love story and not a war novel. Amen.
4/24/13
4/23/13
The Pharisee and the Law
The Pharisees of Jesus' day began with a noble cause. They wanted to keep God in the government. The Sadducees on the other hand wanted a completely secular state without any mention of God. They had adopted, not only the Greek language and culture, but its lewd and lascivious lifestyle as well. It was a life and let live society; if it feels good, do it. The Pharisees arose in opposition to this. They rightly wanted God's word to be observed. The word Pharisee means separatists. They remembered God's command to be a Holy and Separate people.
Their failure was legalism; they made a rule for everything. They expanded the law of Moses with "what-ifs" that made daily life a chore instead of a joy. They called themselves teaching people how to observe God's law but made them dread the law instead. No doubt many where driven to abandon the law altogether because it seemed to be impossible to keep.
The problem with legalism is that one can not anticipate every situation in advance. If I tell someone what to do, instead of teaching him to think, he will always be dependent on me. If I teach him to think, he will eventually become a teacher himself. So it should be in the Christian life.
Jesus told his followers to go and make disciples. Disciples are those who have chosen to discipline themselves to follow the law. Their is nothing wrong with the law. Who would want to live in a society that had no rules? Think about driving down the street without stop lights? What is there were no laws against trespassing or even murder. You get the point.
Observing the law of God is a good thing. It brings the blessings of God on one's life. It keeps the young from folly and gives the old a place of honor and respect in society. It shows us how to live and how to die. So how should this law be enforced? The Muslim answer is to kill those who do not obey. Should this be the Christian answer as well?
As a Christian I must determine to keep the law of God out of love and respect for him. Because I love God, I will obey his word. In doing so, I pray that others will want to follow my example. Hopefully they will see through my joy for life that observing God's law is a blessing and not a curse.
The Pharisees missed the concept of living by example so they lived by law with no grace. As a Christian I must live by grace and let God enforce his law. I will not throw the law out and join the Sadducees but I will seek to live the law without the harshness of the Pharisees. The law is perfected through love.
In Christ's love,
Sullivan Jones
Their failure was legalism; they made a rule for everything. They expanded the law of Moses with "what-ifs" that made daily life a chore instead of a joy. They called themselves teaching people how to observe God's law but made them dread the law instead. No doubt many where driven to abandon the law altogether because it seemed to be impossible to keep.
The problem with legalism is that one can not anticipate every situation in advance. If I tell someone what to do, instead of teaching him to think, he will always be dependent on me. If I teach him to think, he will eventually become a teacher himself. So it should be in the Christian life.
Jesus told his followers to go and make disciples. Disciples are those who have chosen to discipline themselves to follow the law. Their is nothing wrong with the law. Who would want to live in a society that had no rules? Think about driving down the street without stop lights? What is there were no laws against trespassing or even murder. You get the point.
Observing the law of God is a good thing. It brings the blessings of God on one's life. It keeps the young from folly and gives the old a place of honor and respect in society. It shows us how to live and how to die. So how should this law be enforced? The Muslim answer is to kill those who do not obey. Should this be the Christian answer as well?
As a Christian I must determine to keep the law of God out of love and respect for him. Because I love God, I will obey his word. In doing so, I pray that others will want to follow my example. Hopefully they will see through my joy for life that observing God's law is a blessing and not a curse.
The Pharisees missed the concept of living by example so they lived by law with no grace. As a Christian I must live by grace and let God enforce his law. I will not throw the law out and join the Sadducees but I will seek to live the law without the harshness of the Pharisees. The law is perfected through love.
In Christ's love,
Sullivan Jones
4/18/13
The Belly God
I was in the store this afternoon picking up a few things I needed. It was a few hours past lunch and I was getting hungry. I have been trying to eat healthier the last couple of weeks and I guess my body was having withdrawals. I saw something on the shelf I knew I didn't need and started to put it in my shopping cart. Right at that moment a phrase of scripture came to my mind: whose God is their belly. I knew immediately what the Spirit was saying so I put the junk food back and moved on. I passed the test that time. I must admit, however, that it is one of the few times I have.
The scripture here is talking about man's appetites. If there was ever a generation whose God is its appetite, it is this one. The average American spends two or three hours a day watching tv and eating junk food all the while. We are consumed with the newest technology, the latest movie, and the latest fashions. People will stand in line all night to buy a video game for their children. "Whose God is their belly". . .
The scripture goes on to say that they glory in their shame. Without the Spirit of God to help us all of will give into our basest desires. The more we do, the more vile they become. What once was considered shameful is now paraded in the streets as decent and courageous. We wonder how we came to this place; how did America fall so far? It is because our appetites have become our God. We are ruled by what makes us feel good. It is a dangerous place to be because the more we entertain the flesh, the more we want to entertain it and the more evil it becomes.
Do you wonder why you don't desire to pray like you once did? Why is the study of scripture no longer appealing? Maybe you find yourself falling asleep in church but can stay awake all night watching a movie? It may be time to curb your appetite. I am the guiltiest of all. I realize their is a constant battle with the flesh and I must keep it under subjection to the spirit of God daily. If I don't it will win every time.
Lord, help me to remember that my body is the temple of your spirit. I must keep myself holy, both physically and spiritually. I have said that I will serve only you. Don't let me pay homage to the belly God.
Prayerfully,
Sullivan Jones
The scripture here is talking about man's appetites. If there was ever a generation whose God is its appetite, it is this one. The average American spends two or three hours a day watching tv and eating junk food all the while. We are consumed with the newest technology, the latest movie, and the latest fashions. People will stand in line all night to buy a video game for their children. "Whose God is their belly". . .
The scripture goes on to say that they glory in their shame. Without the Spirit of God to help us all of will give into our basest desires. The more we do, the more vile they become. What once was considered shameful is now paraded in the streets as decent and courageous. We wonder how we came to this place; how did America fall so far? It is because our appetites have become our God. We are ruled by what makes us feel good. It is a dangerous place to be because the more we entertain the flesh, the more we want to entertain it and the more evil it becomes.
Do you wonder why you don't desire to pray like you once did? Why is the study of scripture no longer appealing? Maybe you find yourself falling asleep in church but can stay awake all night watching a movie? It may be time to curb your appetite. I am the guiltiest of all. I realize their is a constant battle with the flesh and I must keep it under subjection to the spirit of God daily. If I don't it will win every time.
Lord, help me to remember that my body is the temple of your spirit. I must keep myself holy, both physically and spiritually. I have said that I will serve only you. Don't let me pay homage to the belly God.
Prayerfully,
Sullivan Jones
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