Balance

Prov 25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor. NIV
Look how it is translated in The Message:   It's not smart to stuff yourself with sweets, nor is glory piled on glory good for you

Live a life of balance.  You notice it is indicating not to OVERINDULGE in sweets.  I believe self-control is the key here.  It is not telling you NOT to eat it.  God gave us honey for our enjoyment, but TOO much is not good for you.  This applies to everything in your life.  Anything can become OUT OF BALANCE.  If you have accepted Christ as your savior, you have the fruit of the spirit in you to include self-control.  You just have to USE it and EXERCISE it.  Just like you have to exercise/use your muscles in order to strengthen them. 


Proverbs 25:28 MSG  A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

So let's use MODERATION and BALANCE in all areas of our lives.

Returning to the body

I was talking last night regarding those who know Christ yet are living as if they do not.  For those who have fallen into a deep pit of sin where the consequences of their sin affects those around them deeply.  I began to discuss how I pray against these people.  But what I didn't have time to explain is why.  You see, it is for their good and for God's glory that they turn from their sin.  Perhaps we do not fully realize the detrimental effects of sin.  Maybe we don't accept fully what God says about sin.  He says that sin leads to death! 

If we could REALLY look at sin for what it is, we would be praying harder for those wandering sheep to be returned to the fold no matter the cost.  I know these things seem harsh and unloving.  But honestly it may be the MOST loving thing we  can do for them.  Suffering for a little while for the sake of freedom and relationship with our Lord.  (no suffering can compare to the surpassing glory)  It was mentioned that we would really need to search ourselves when doing this.  I totally agree.  But also feel it is important for me to mention that I am in NO WAY above falling.  I know that I too could give way to a sinful life.  I know this because I did early in my walk with the Lord.  I lived in darkness for almost a decade.  So as much as I am aware of my own fragile state, I know my redeemer lives.  I know that I have been bought by a price and that He can keep me if I will submit to being kept.  I am part of His beloved and I am His child.  I am a victor and I am serving a mighty and awesome God.

Of course I pray for God's mercy on them as I pray that God would do what it takes to return them back and restore them.  I wait with open arms for a loved one who has wandered far away from God.  My biggest prayer for her is that she will respond to His prompting quickly.  I pray that God will open the eyes of her understanding and heart to see how far away she is.  I pray that she will run back into the arms of her savior.

Sin not only tarnishes our ability to reflect Christ it also blocks our ability to see God around us, hear Him and see His perspective. 

So my prayer is for the Lord to get their attention in whatever manner necessary, for them to confess their sin, and to repent*.  Then my prayer is that the broken relationships both earthly and divinely would be restored.  That the land that the locust ate would be restored.
Regarding confession, and repentance (*more simple stated:  God breaks them from turning to the world, they agree with God about their sin, they turn from it and walk in righteousness in Christ)

Delays, delays, delays

Well I have had a sick computer.  Then I have been busy with my girls, work and my bible study with little time to write here.  I have been saturated with various thoughts and insights.  I am going to try to get them down and see if I can make any sense out of them.

First is the verse Psalm 37:4   Delight yourself in the LORD ; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

I heard this a different way when I read this scripture this time.  Basically saying that the desires of my heart will not be my own worldly desires, but that the desires I have will be the desires that the LORD gives me if I will delight myself in HIM.  Totally changed the way I read that verse.

The second verse on my heart is the command for us to GO!  Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  (The translation referring to GO- "as you go".)

And then; Deut 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up

So put these last two together.  As you go, make disciples of every nation baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  (Baptizing - original greek word is baptizo  - to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe to overwhelm)

Revelation 19:13 …his name is the Word of God. (Referring to Jesus)

So get this, as you go making disciples, overwhelm them, bathe them, cleanse them, immerse and repeatedly dip them in the NAME of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.  So we are to TALK about who He is as we go thru out our day (as we ride down the road, as we sit, we need to impress them upon our children).  We are to talk to the nations about the WORD of God.   

So we need to delight ourselves in the LORD, and He will create in us the "DESIRE of our heart" to be for His Word and the people of the world to know Him (to make Him famous - bring Him glory).  He will begin to burn in us a desire for others to be BAPTIZED in the WORD of God.  That they would KNOW Him and that they too would be immersed in His Word as we are. 

How can we hunger for God and His word if we are full of EVERYTHING else in this world.  A man who is full will never seek after food.  A man who is not thirsty will not seek water.  But if we delight in the Lord, I believe He will create in us a HUNGER for His word and an insatiable thirst for His living water.

So as you go about your day, immerse those around you in the Word of God as you sit with them, ride with them or whatever it is your doing.  Not that you get out the bible and begin to read to everyone.  BE a living example, a living epistle of the Word of God.  Not by your own strength but by spending time with the Father thru Christ by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.

Be blessed today.