1.- Sufficiency of Scripture
2.- Humility before God
3.- The Fear of the Lord
4.- The Creation Order and Design
5.- The Dominion Mandae
6.- Sovereignty and Sanctity
7.- The Unity of Marriage
8.- The Right use of Medicine
9.- Children are a Blessing
"We apply for curses and reject blessings"
10.- Obedience is the Highest Priority
"It is not life at all costs, it is life according to God's Program."
Showing posts with label Scripture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scripture. Show all posts
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
I'm still here...
Most of you have probably figured out by now that I'm not a consistent blogger!! :) So, I thought I'd just tell you all what I've been doing lately.
We've been doing the Evenings with Victoria Botkin webinar, which has been very good, and we just started the Great Authors Webinar, as well. (see banner above)
But I've also been doing alot of reading. ALOT! Recently I've been reading things as varied as J.C. Ryle, Nutrition books, with a little bit of John Calvin, Louisa May Alcott, and (smile) Driver's Ed thrown in, too!
I've also been busy researching different doctrines of the church. I have learned so much, but I think the most rewarding thing has been discussing different Confessions, Scriptures, and viewpoints with my parents, particularly my Daddy.
I thought I'd share with everyone my family's "Hymn of the Month", too-- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson.
Isn't that a great hymn? It is so convicting when I read that section of the last verse where it says, "Prone to wander- Lord, I feel it- Prone to leave the God I love". What a great reminder that I must daily give my heart to both my fathers- Heavenly and earthly!
Oh, and by the way, I passed the Driver's Permit exam! :D
We've been doing the Evenings with Victoria Botkin webinar, which has been very good, and we just started the Great Authors Webinar, as well. (see banner above)
But I've also been doing alot of reading. ALOT! Recently I've been reading things as varied as J.C. Ryle, Nutrition books, with a little bit of John Calvin, Louisa May Alcott, and (smile) Driver's Ed thrown in, too!
I've also been busy researching different doctrines of the church. I have learned so much, but I think the most rewarding thing has been discussing different Confessions, Scriptures, and viewpoints with my parents, particularly my Daddy.
I thought I'd share with everyone my family's "Hymn of the Month", too-- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson.
Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tounges above;
Praise the mount- I'm fixed upon it-
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise mine Ebenezer-
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand'ring from the fold of God;
He to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee:
Prone to wander- Lord, I feel it-
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart- O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Isn't that a great hymn? It is so convicting when I read that section of the last verse where it says, "Prone to wander- Lord, I feel it- Prone to leave the God I love". What a great reminder that I must daily give my heart to both my fathers- Heavenly and earthly!
Oh, and by the way, I passed the Driver's Permit exam! :D
Saturday, March 13, 2010
What is Prudence?
Last summer a friend encouraged me to read through the Book of Proverbs and take note of characteristics that were repeatedly praised, and to study these characteristics. So after reading through Proverbs, I decided on a characteristic that I really didn't know anything about: Prudence. If you had asked me six months ago what prudence was, I would have guessed that it was synonymous with wisdom. But it's not!
In Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, Prudence is defined as, “Wisdom applied to practice.” And "prudent" is defined as "cautious; circumspect; wise; careful; foreseeing; frugal; intelligent." One verse used by Webster to define this word is Proverbs 19:14- “A prudent wife is from the Lord.”
This intrigued me, since one of the things I desire most is to someday be a wife and mother! So I began to read through Proverbs once more to find out what the Scriptures had to say about prudence. Below are some of the verses in Proverbs that speak of prudence:
“The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Proverbs 18:15
“Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
Proverbs 17:28
“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.”
Proverbs 10:19
“A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor.”
Proverbs12:16
“Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly.”
Proverbs 13:16
“A prudent sees evil and hides himself, but the naïve proceed and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 27:12
What aspects of our person is associated with prudence?
1. The Mind
2. The Lips
3. The Eyes
Did you realize that control of these three aspects of our persons are the ones most contested for by our Lord Jesus Christ and his arch nemesis, Satan? The Scriptures continually address the great pains we should take to control these “organs” for Christ’s Glory.
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
“If anyone thinks himself to be religious,and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart,this man’s religion is worthless.”
James 1:26
“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and cast it from you, for it is far better for you to lose one of the parts of your body,than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Matthew 5:29
While the Book of Proverbs speaks mainly in the “neutral” term of ‘men’, it does specify wife in this instance. It is essential that a wife (or future wife) be prudent! Let’s look one more time at the characteristics of the prudent, and apply it specifically to a wife’s role.
First of all, it says that “The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and …seeks knowledge.” This implies that the prudent are consciously seeking out knowledge. This doesn’t mean that you just lackadaisically “drift” into knowledge-- it means just exactly what it says!!! But why would this be of importance to a godly wife? God does not call us to an idle, blind faith. Rather, we as daughters of the King of Kings, are to “search out a matter.” We are to be careful though; it is not God’s desire or design for us to puff our selves up with knowledge only. God desires women who truly seek after Him and gladly share all they know with others, not women who simply fill their brains with facts that they lord over others! But which do we practice most often in our own lives?(I know I do the latter far more often than the first) Think of it this way, “What is a wife and mother’s role?” A help-meet and teacher! If we are too proud to share our knowledge with others, we will be unable to, Lord willing,someday help our future husbands raise our children in the fear and admonition of our Creator and Savior God.
Second, we must have our priorities and authorities right. If we are consumed with getting a perfect score on the ACT, or becoming the world’s ‘best’ whatever, God is not pleased with the condition of our heart. For it says in Proverbs 1:7- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” We can not succeed if we don’t fear Christ. For if we don’t know and fear Christ, our hearts are in no condition to learn. And guess what? No matter how how widely respected Charles Darwin may be, according to Scripture, he is a fool, simpleton, and scoffer! “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22) What a lesson we should learn! Our authorities should be our God-given ones (our father or husband), and our priorities should be to forward their God-given Vision. That is why it is so important to take “every thought captive”.
Thirdly, in Proverbs 5:2 it says, “That you may observe discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge.” Did you realize that Scripture says that “the power of life and death are in the tongue”? What a powerful statement! It’s no wonder then that both Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 speak of how the godly woman uses her tongue! “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” This little body part called the mouth must be really important! Have you ever seen the influence a woman wields over her father or husband, simply with her tongue? That old rhyme, ‘Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ is simply not true. Words, both written and spoken, are powerful. That perhaps, is why the psalmist asked the Lord to “place a guard over my mouth”. We can either encourage, or discourage; respect, or disparage; bless, or curse; build up, or tear down the authority figures in our life-- simply by the way we speak to or of them! Isn’t that unsettling?
Also, did you realize that one of the characteristics of the 'strange woman' or adulteress that Proverbs notes the most is her speech? That is amazing! We will be known by the way we speak, because our speech is a form of identification, either with the godly, or ungodly.
In Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, Prudence is defined as, “Wisdom applied to practice.” And "prudent" is defined as "cautious; circumspect; wise; careful; foreseeing; frugal; intelligent." One verse used by Webster to define this word is Proverbs 19:14- “A prudent wife is from the Lord.”
This intrigued me, since one of the things I desire most is to someday be a wife and mother! So I began to read through Proverbs once more to find out what the Scriptures had to say about prudence. Below are some of the verses in Proverbs that speak of prudence:
“The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Proverbs 18:15
“Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
Proverbs 17:28
“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.”
Proverbs 10:19
“A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor.”
Proverbs12:16
“Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays folly.”
Proverbs 13:16
“A prudent sees evil and hides himself, but the naïve proceed and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 27:12
What aspects of our person is associated with prudence?
1. The Mind
2. The Lips
3. The Eyes
Did you realize that control of these three aspects of our persons are the ones most contested for by our Lord Jesus Christ and his arch nemesis, Satan? The Scriptures continually address the great pains we should take to control these “organs” for Christ’s Glory.
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5
“If anyone thinks himself to be religious,and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart,this man’s religion is worthless.”
James 1:26
“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and cast it from you, for it is far better for you to lose one of the parts of your body,than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Matthew 5:29
While the Book of Proverbs speaks mainly in the “neutral” term of ‘men’, it does specify wife in this instance. It is essential that a wife (or future wife) be prudent! Let’s look one more time at the characteristics of the prudent, and apply it specifically to a wife’s role.
First of all, it says that “The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and …seeks knowledge.” This implies that the prudent are consciously seeking out knowledge. This doesn’t mean that you just lackadaisically “drift” into knowledge-- it means just exactly what it says!!! But why would this be of importance to a godly wife? God does not call us to an idle, blind faith. Rather, we as daughters of the King of Kings, are to “search out a matter.” We are to be careful though; it is not God’s desire or design for us to puff our selves up with knowledge only. God desires women who truly seek after Him and gladly share all they know with others, not women who simply fill their brains with facts that they lord over others! But which do we practice most often in our own lives?(I know I do the latter far more often than the first) Think of it this way, “What is a wife and mother’s role?” A help-meet and teacher! If we are too proud to share our knowledge with others, we will be unable to, Lord willing,someday help our future husbands raise our children in the fear and admonition of our Creator and Savior God.
Second, we must have our priorities and authorities right. If we are consumed with getting a perfect score on the ACT, or becoming the world’s ‘best’ whatever, God is not pleased with the condition of our heart. For it says in Proverbs 1:7- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” We can not succeed if we don’t fear Christ. For if we don’t know and fear Christ, our hearts are in no condition to learn. And guess what? No matter how how widely respected Charles Darwin may be, according to Scripture, he is a fool, simpleton, and scoffer! “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22) What a lesson we should learn! Our authorities should be our God-given ones (our father or husband), and our priorities should be to forward their God-given Vision. That is why it is so important to take “every thought captive”.
Thirdly, in Proverbs 5:2 it says, “That you may observe discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge.” Did you realize that Scripture says that “the power of life and death are in the tongue”? What a powerful statement! It’s no wonder then that both Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 speak of how the godly woman uses her tongue! “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” This little body part called the mouth must be really important! Have you ever seen the influence a woman wields over her father or husband, simply with her tongue? That old rhyme, ‘Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’ is simply not true. Words, both written and spoken, are powerful. That perhaps, is why the psalmist asked the Lord to “place a guard over my mouth”. We can either encourage, or discourage; respect, or disparage; bless, or curse; build up, or tear down the authority figures in our life-- simply by the way we speak to or of them! Isn’t that unsettling?
Also, did you realize that one of the characteristics of the 'strange woman' or adulteress that Proverbs notes the most is her speech? That is amazing! We will be known by the way we speak, because our speech is a form of identification, either with the godly, or ungodly.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
More Notes...
Earlier this week I shared with you some things I learned from Mrs. Victoria Botkin’s first webinar session, All About Eve, and I wanted to share with you some things I learned from her second session, All About Sarah: Biblical Submission and how Godly Women Do It.
One of the first things Mrs. Botkin addressed was the question, “Is there such a thing as virtuous Christian feminism?” She pointed out that “we are all feminists at heart. Clear back to Eve. It’s just the way we are.” But feminism is a clearly ungodly mindset for women. She quoted Colossians 3:19- “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (This is applicable for the Father-Daughter Relationship, as well)
Mrs. Botkin gave two tips for practicing submission: 1) Taking every thought captive, and 2) Hoping in God to do His Will. My Mamma has said before that it is much easier to develop submission before marriage than after. Mrs. Botkin indicated this as well in the following quote:
“Get on board with your husband’s vision right at the beginning. This is really at the heart of submission…you submit your will and your vision to the will and vision of your husband.”
To be able to someday “get on board” with my future husband’s vision at the beginning of my marriage, I need to practice now, by submitting myself to my Daddy, and furthering his vision, rather than my own. The thing that really pricked my heart while I was listening, though, was this- “God’s will is more important than your will.” (Doesn’t that hurt!?!) Too often, I feel as though I must defend my will, rather than submitting to my God-given authority’s (aka, my daddy) will. When I do that, I sacrifice God’s Will, in an effort to get my way!
One of the first things Mrs. Botkin addressed was the question, “Is there such a thing as virtuous Christian feminism?” She pointed out that “we are all feminists at heart. Clear back to Eve. It’s just the way we are.” But feminism is a clearly ungodly mindset for women. She quoted Colossians 3:19- “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” (This is applicable for the Father-Daughter Relationship, as well)
Mrs. Botkin gave two tips for practicing submission: 1) Taking every thought captive, and 2) Hoping in God to do His Will. My Mamma has said before that it is much easier to develop submission before marriage than after. Mrs. Botkin indicated this as well in the following quote:
“Get on board with your husband’s vision right at the beginning. This is really at the heart of submission…you submit your will and your vision to the will and vision of your husband.”
To be able to someday “get on board” with my future husband’s vision at the beginning of my marriage, I need to practice now, by submitting myself to my Daddy, and furthering his vision, rather than my own. The thing that really pricked my heart while I was listening, though, was this- “God’s will is more important than your will.” (Doesn’t that hurt!?!) Too often, I feel as though I must defend my will, rather than submitting to my God-given authority’s (aka, my daddy) will. When I do that, I sacrifice God’s Will, in an effort to get my way!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
How Do You Want To Be Remembered?
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.”
Psalm 116:15
Perhaps this is a little morbid, but I sometimes wonder, “If I died right now, what would people remember about me and say of me at my funeral?”
(Does anyone else ever ask themselves this question?!?)
- Would they remember that I complained a lot?
-Would they remember my disrespectful attitude?
-Would they remember my self-centered outlook on life?
That’s not what I want! But all those things are true about me...
The week before last one of my Dad’s uncles died, and his funeral was such a blessing. He was a pastor with a real heart for the sick; he and my aunt would spend hours at the hospitals, visiting and praying with the sick and their families. I know, because they often visited my grandparents when they were sick and dying.
But anyway, as I sat at his funeral listening to the minister preach and speak about the impact of Uncle Joe’s life, I thought- “That’s what I want at my funeral!” Another thing I thought of was the story of Michael Billings. Some of you may be familiar with his story, as it is set forth in the book, Life is but a Vapor: The Life and Legacy of Michael G. Billings.
As I read the aforementioned book (which I would list as one of the five most influential books I’ve ever read), I was convicted as I saw the number of people who were touched by Michael’s life, and who genuinely loved and admired him. Would people have any reason to write or speak of me the way they did of Michael Billings?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. I would not want any little girls to travel down the paths I was once on. I have many regrets from my past, as I am sure we all do.
But I want the answer to the above question to be yes. It is my desire to leave a legacy of godliness-- particularly godly womanhood, to the next generation.
Yet my heart is so prone to wander from the God I love, as the hymn says, and from His paths, as well.
Even though when I die I will never know what others will say about me, I want them to bring glory to God. And that’s what matters, I suppose. It’s not what others say about me that matters-- it’ what they say about what God did in my life!
I want to be remembered for being Christlike. But to be remembered that way, I must live that way!!!
Psalm 116:15
Perhaps this is a little morbid, but I sometimes wonder, “If I died right now, what would people remember about me and say of me at my funeral?”
(Does anyone else ever ask themselves this question?!?)
- Would they remember that I complained a lot?
-Would they remember my disrespectful attitude?
-Would they remember my self-centered outlook on life?
That’s not what I want! But all those things are true about me...
The week before last one of my Dad’s uncles died, and his funeral was such a blessing. He was a pastor with a real heart for the sick; he and my aunt would spend hours at the hospitals, visiting and praying with the sick and their families. I know, because they often visited my grandparents when they were sick and dying.
But anyway, as I sat at his funeral listening to the minister preach and speak about the impact of Uncle Joe’s life, I thought- “That’s what I want at my funeral!” Another thing I thought of was the story of Michael Billings. Some of you may be familiar with his story, as it is set forth in the book, Life is but a Vapor: The Life and Legacy of Michael G. Billings.
As I read the aforementioned book (which I would list as one of the five most influential books I’ve ever read), I was convicted as I saw the number of people who were touched by Michael’s life, and who genuinely loved and admired him. Would people have any reason to write or speak of me the way they did of Michael Billings?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. I would not want any little girls to travel down the paths I was once on. I have many regrets from my past, as I am sure we all do.
But I want the answer to the above question to be yes. It is my desire to leave a legacy of godliness-- particularly godly womanhood, to the next generation.
Yet my heart is so prone to wander from the God I love, as the hymn says, and from His paths, as well.
Even though when I die I will never know what others will say about me, I want them to bring glory to God. And that’s what matters, I suppose. It’s not what others say about me that matters-- it’ what they say about what God did in my life!
I want to be remembered for being Christlike. But to be remembered that way, I must live that way!!!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
What do you Love?
This past Sunday Mr. Bruce Rogers spoke, and it was so good, I wanted to share with everyone a little bit of what he said! His main Scripture passage was Psalm 139-
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all...Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me; and lead me in the everlasting way."
I was so convicted because this went along so well with what I have been thinking on since we listened to Mr. Doug Phillips' Identity Theft cd. When we left church, one question Mr. Bruce asked was stuck in my brain, Does God loathe what we love?
This week as I meditated on Psalm 139 and thought back to those messages, I continued to ask myself, What do I delight in? What do I love? Are my priorities in life straight?
Unfortunately, too often I am like the Israelites-- I forget what the Lord has done for me, and I wander back to Egypt, in my words, attitudes, etc.
Something else that pricked my heart was when Mr. Bruce pointed out that nothing we do is hidden from the sight of God. Not even a thought is hidden from God's all-seeing eye. In fact, Scripture says that He is "intimately acquainted" with all our ways! Anytime I slip back to feminist thinking- even just in my heart- God Knows!
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all...Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me; and lead me in the everlasting way."
I was so convicted because this went along so well with what I have been thinking on since we listened to Mr. Doug Phillips' Identity Theft cd. When we left church, one question Mr. Bruce asked was stuck in my brain, Does God loathe what we love?
This week as I meditated on Psalm 139 and thought back to those messages, I continued to ask myself, What do I delight in? What do I love? Are my priorities in life straight?
Unfortunately, too often I am like the Israelites-- I forget what the Lord has done for me, and I wander back to Egypt, in my words, attitudes, etc.
Something else that pricked my heart was when Mr. Bruce pointed out that nothing we do is hidden from the sight of God. Not even a thought is hidden from God's all-seeing eye. In fact, Scripture says that He is "intimately acquainted" with all our ways! Anytime I slip back to feminist thinking- even just in my heart- God Knows!
Monday, February 22, 2010
More on the Tongue
Yesterday at Church my Daddy gave a very interesting talk on the Apostle Paul and his life and work, and Mr. Trent Hendrix gave a wonderful (and very convicting/encouraging) message on how we are supposed to use our Tongues! One of his main Scripture passages was Ezekiel 2:3-8.
"Son of man, I am sending you to...a rebellious people who have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' As for them, whether they listen or not- for they are a rebellious house- they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..."
There were things that stood out to me in this passage:
1.- Several times it mentions "speaking" the Words of the Lord. It made me think, Do I know enough of what God's Word says to incorporate it in my speech?
2.- I realized one part of this passage was very necessary to the rest: "listen to what I am speaking to you". I have to heed what Scripture says! I can't make Scripture say what I want it to-- it can only mean what God wants it to mean!! Even when it's difficult.
3.- Fear Costs! Fear is death wish to anything. And look at what God tells us not to fear! "neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles are with you and you sit on scorpions" How often does fear keep me from being a witness to the Lord with my life?
4.- "Speak My Words to them whether they listen or not" How discouraging this can be! It is so hard to apply this, especially with family members you love. For me, it's hard to keep on keeping on when the person your heart wants to help doesn't seem interested AT ALL!!!
5.- Last of all, it is sooo easy (at least for me) to fall back into old ways of thinking, ways of thinking that are worldly and anti-God. And look at what God says here: "Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..." Rebellion is especially hard for me... I want my way NOW!!! (What a terrible attitude!)
Another Scripture he used was Galatians 4:6- "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
He asked all of us, "Are you "full of grace" or are you a "salt shaker"?" He pointed out that neither are right if not properly balanced with the other! If you are always kind and full of grace in your speech, but you don't share the Truth of God (which sometimes hurts) it's no more right than being "too salty"-- speaking the Truth of God, but with no love or grace towards others! One thing that I noticed was the ending of this verse: "so that you will know how you should respond to each person". That is so true. When we speak God's Word,with Grace, we can answer in a godly way, that points others to Christ.
I hope this encourages all of you as much as it has me! Do any of you have any tips for keeping our tongues in submission to Christ? If you do, I would love to hear them!!
"Son of man, I am sending you to...a rebellious people who have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God.' As for them, whether they listen or not- for they are a rebellious house- they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..."
There were things that stood out to me in this passage:
1.- Several times it mentions "speaking" the Words of the Lord. It made me think, Do I know enough of what God's Word says to incorporate it in my speech?
2.- I realized one part of this passage was very necessary to the rest: "listen to what I am speaking to you". I have to heed what Scripture says! I can't make Scripture say what I want it to-- it can only mean what God wants it to mean!! Even when it's difficult.
3.- Fear Costs! Fear is death wish to anything. And look at what God tells us not to fear! "neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles are with you and you sit on scorpions" How often does fear keep me from being a witness to the Lord with my life?
4.- "Speak My Words to them whether they listen or not" How discouraging this can be! It is so hard to apply this, especially with family members you love. For me, it's hard to keep on keeping on when the person your heart wants to help doesn't seem interested AT ALL!!!
5.- Last of all, it is sooo easy (at least for me) to fall back into old ways of thinking, ways of thinking that are worldly and anti-God. And look at what God says here: "Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house..." Rebellion is especially hard for me... I want my way NOW!!! (What a terrible attitude!)
Another Scripture he used was Galatians 4:6- "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
He asked all of us, "Are you "full of grace" or are you a "salt shaker"?" He pointed out that neither are right if not properly balanced with the other! If you are always kind and full of grace in your speech, but you don't share the Truth of God (which sometimes hurts) it's no more right than being "too salty"-- speaking the Truth of God, but with no love or grace towards others! One thing that I noticed was the ending of this verse: "so that you will know how you should respond to each person". That is so true. When we speak God's Word,with Grace, we can answer in a godly way, that points others to Christ.
I hope this encourages all of you as much as it has me! Do any of you have any tips for keeping our tongues in submission to Christ? If you do, I would love to hear them!!
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