2008-01-04
Good Morning Cherished Ones,
We are learning the Hebrew alphabet as we compare Christ's words on mammon in MT 6: 24-34 [a part of the Sermon on the Mount] with the ideal woman [person] from PR 31: 10-31. Remember that mammon is presently defined as the active, "that in which much trust is placed," even through it originally meant the passive, "that which is entrusted to others." This shows how the language gets changed through usage. So far God's ideal person has these traits: valuable-aleph; trustworthy-beit; righteous-gimmel; industrious-dalet; values family-hay; organized-vav; decides wisely prioritizing God's Kingdom first-zayin; hard working, strong-chet; wise and diligent-tet; helps oneself-yod; generous to the poor and needy-kaf; has peace of mind-lamed; productive for self and family-mem; known for right reasons-nun; produces more than family's needs, efficient-samech. Each of these is described in PR 31, verses 10-24. Today, we will look at the next two verses, PR 31: 25-26. "She is strong and respected and not afraid of the future" (25). She speaks with a gentle wisdom" (26).
Ayin: Faith is defined in HE 11: 1 as, "being sure of the things we hope for, being certain of the things we cannot see." Les Feldick simplifies that by saying, "Faith is taking God at His word." To have no fear of the future takes faith in the strongest sense of the word. I remember the first time that I spent any considerable time reading and studying the book of Revelation. I'm almost ashamed to say (but not quite ?) that it was with the help of a comic book on that subject. That comic book served its purpose, which was to pique my curiosity enough to get me to really delve into this last book of the NT, a book full of symbolism and eventually teach it to several classes. One night on one of his stays in our home, Les Feldick, the wonderful Bible teacher and friend who has a TV program called "Through the Bible," was asked a question. "How do you know whether something is symbolic or when it's literal in the Bible?" Tough question? It can be for some people. There has been considerable argument about that. Les' answer was that when it makes sense that something is literal, then it is. I would amend that answer by saying that the Holy Spirit will let a person know when something is literal and when it's symbolic. Many people read Revelation thinking they understand it pretty well. And yet, some of the best minds we have disagree on when the rapture is. They also disagree on whether Revelation is a chronological layout of end times events (with parenthetical interruptions describing decisions being made in heaven), or whether it is symbolic and allegorical. The bottom line is we will find out in God's time which theory is right, or if they are both wrong. What matters is that it's okay to disagree, since this is not a salvation-based issue. Some people read Revelation and are frightened by it. They say, "It's too violent!" People with real faith and understanding see Revelation as the consummation of all prophecy in the Bible, and they don't worry because they take God at His word. REV 7: 3 [takes place just before the seventh seal judgment is leveled], "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we mark the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads." Beforehand there had been many verses reflecting God's promise to protect His people- no matter what. PS 139: 5 is an example. "You are all around me on every side; You protect me with Your power." When we live "in Christ" we have no reason to be afraid of the future. If we live by this powerful Holy Spirit-driven faith, others will respect us, and we are strong. Hence the truth of PR 31: 25.
Peh: When the Holy Spirit is in charge in a person's life, that person has submitted to God's will learned from the Scriptures, prayer, the circumstances of their lives, and others reverent to God in their congregations. Any wisdom we have comes from the Holy Spirit, i.e. from God. We can pray for wisdom, as David did in PS 51: 6, "Sincerity and truth are what You require ; fill my mind with wisdom." It takes wisdom to know that we must ask God for it. It takes courage to listen for God's still soft whisper and obey His words. Elijah had it in 1 K 19: 12 when he listened so hard for it, that after a furious wind, earthquake, and fire, he heard it. Once one is willing to acquire wisdom from God, the next step is to use it. Our ideal person does this speaking the truth in love [EPH 4: 15]. That person heeds Paul's advice in RO 14: 13, "So then, let us stop judging one another. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make your brother stumble or fall into sin." It is Christ Who encourages us when we need to deal with difficult trials and teaches us to be gentle. MT 11: 28-30, "Come to Me, all you who are heavy-laden; and I will give you rest. Take My yoke and put it on you; learn from Me because I am humble and gentle in Spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I give you is easy and the burden is light." My own life is living proof that God is on the job all the time. He has put me in a congregation where I am surrounded by people who are teaching me by their examples and sometimes, by their words, how to be a more obedient and faithful believer. And yes, the Lord has had a hard job to do with me! ? We'll leave it up to Him as to whether I speak [or write] with gentle wisdom, but this message is really about all of us. We are given our ideal person in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who fulfilled every ideal raised in PR 31: 10-31 and in the Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord is no hypocrite! Remember, He suffered and died on the cross for our salvation. What more exacting test of one's word can we find? [JN 3:16; RO 3: 24-25; HE 10: 10].
PRAYER: O Lord, those of us who take You at your word have no reason to be afraid of the future. We can know through Christ's personality and teaching that You will keep Your word about protecting us, if we will be faithful and obedient to You. Every bit of goodness on this earth comes from You [PS 16:2]. Your promise to protect is real and true. PS 31:19, "How wonderful are the good things You keep for those who honor You. Everyone knows how good You are, how securely You protect those who trust You." It has been known for most of human history by the faithful that You are also the Source for all wisdom on this earth. DN 2: 20-21, "Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are His ...He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." One of the first gifts we receive when we are first saved is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If we open our hearts and souls to Him, He provides us with discernment of Your word and help with decisions we must make [JN 14: 16-18]. Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, redeems us and provides the embodiment of Your ideals, so that He can be our Paradigm, the model we should try to follow. When You brought Him to us, our High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, Who had real sympathy for our plight and always will. HE 4: 15, Our High Priest is not One Who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest Who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not once sin." We offer You, Him, and the Holy Spirit our loyalty, hearts open to Your direction, praise, and eternal thanks. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Next week, the Holy Spirit directs me to continue along the path begun- this time with the Hebrew letters, tzaddi and koph, representing PR 31: 27-28. Being efficient isn't always easy, as we all know being organized, learning to make do with what one has, and triaging his time and energy wisely doesn't come naturally. These are learned behaviors, ones which require, in my humble opinion, wisdom coming from God. Maturation is a form of taking things from natural chaos to Holy Spirit-driven orderliness. The same is true not only in what one does with his time, but in the quality and depth of his relationships with God and others around him. Are we sorely tempted by the evil one to speak harshly or even to use foul language? Do we sometimes not take on enough to be useful to God's Kingdom, or take on so much that we are over-committed and thus, don't have the energy to deliver on promises to others? When, we find ourselves in these or other chaotic situations, we can always turn to God and seek His direction. JER 29: 12-13 gives God's attitude toward this. "Then you will call to Me. You will come and pray to Me, and I will answer you. You will seek Me, and you will find Me, because you will seek Me with all your heart." When we are ill, worried, sad, or whatever trial comes our way, God is always there for us. His will is for us to make Him our first line of defense, not our last. He will teach us to speak the truth in love, heal our ailments, give us wisdom on how to deal with difficult challenges, teach us, by Christ's example, and show us how to speak with gentle wisdom in the face of the adversary's dirty work. No matter, no detail of our lives lacks importance to Him. Praise be to God forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn