Back in the day when I took cruises, there was one man who will stick in mind because of the importance of what he did for all the passengers on board. You may think it was the Captain, since he steered us clear of all kinds of seas which would upset our stomach due to the waves, or kept us on course just by keeping us out of certain currents. The man was a meek, mild mannered individual stationed outside the doors of the buffet each meal. His words were the same: "Washy, washy! Happy, happy!" His mission: All passengers dining within would wash their hands prior to entering. Why? To ensure the journey of all traveling on the ship would be safe, enjoy their trip and avoid the exposure to unwanted food-borne diseases. Now, that is an important job, is it not?
God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. (Psalm 19:11-13)
Each day God stands in front of us simply saying: "Washy, Washy!" He knows the "dirt" we acquire as we go through our days - taking in this influence and the next without realizing the potential for damage they cause if allowed to take "hold" of us. He stands there to direct us to the hidden treasures he has prepared for us. The gentleman at the door of the buffet could not tell us where the hidden treasures were that meal, but he prepared us to dine. God prepares us and he brings us to the hidden treasures that await. Our part is to dine.
We get all confused with what to do next because we cannot sort things out quite as well as we'd like to think we can. God cleans the slate - giving us a fresh day to start. Then he keeps us from "stupid sins" we'd like to pick up along the way! Lest we think God doesn't know our folly, he is the one who created us with the ability to choose! He knows we will not always choose wisely, so he prepares a way for us to wash away the grime caused when we have not! This is what we call grace. God keeps us from totally "fouling" our lives for good - providing a means for our protection and our provision.
The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. (vs. 7-9) The Word of God - pulls us together and makes us whole. His Word is the way to see clearly when circumstances befuddle our minds and cloud our thoughts. It opens us up to clarity quicker than any other source of "wisdom" or "advice". How? Because it is alive and breathing, sharper than any two-edged sword, knowing right were to get at the root of what is bothering us and causing us such turmoil.
His Word points out the right path to take much as a signpost does for the driver of an automobile. In this day and age of GPS to help us travel from one point to another, we find ourselves reliant upon technology instead of the good old foldable maps of days gone by. There was something to be said about studying that map though. The main thing I see with the map versus GPS is the ability to see where we have come from and where we are headed. It gives us perspective. We can clearly see the journey - marked out for us. His Word points out the places of joy along the way. The journey may be riddled with all kinds of difficult places, but interspersed in the journey will be places of joy and healing. God provides "physical" places of joy for us along the way - just as carefully as he prepares the spiritual!
His directions should not be burdensome for us. He may not take us the quickest route, but he takes us by the one that will produce the greatest opportunities for our "intake". His directions are never burdensome, my friends. They bring us to places we need to be and times we need to enjoy. As we close this morning, let us not skip over the insight of "chewing on God's Word all through the day". It is important to mull-over these words again and again, allowing them to sink in deeply, washing over us with freshness each time we do. God's Word never gets old. His signposts are often needed more than once in the journey. Just sayin!
God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. (Psalm 19:11-13)
Each day God stands in front of us simply saying: "Washy, Washy!" He knows the "dirt" we acquire as we go through our days - taking in this influence and the next without realizing the potential for damage they cause if allowed to take "hold" of us. He stands there to direct us to the hidden treasures he has prepared for us. The gentleman at the door of the buffet could not tell us where the hidden treasures were that meal, but he prepared us to dine. God prepares us and he brings us to the hidden treasures that await. Our part is to dine.
We get all confused with what to do next because we cannot sort things out quite as well as we'd like to think we can. God cleans the slate - giving us a fresh day to start. Then he keeps us from "stupid sins" we'd like to pick up along the way! Lest we think God doesn't know our folly, he is the one who created us with the ability to choose! He knows we will not always choose wisely, so he prepares a way for us to wash away the grime caused when we have not! This is what we call grace. God keeps us from totally "fouling" our lives for good - providing a means for our protection and our provision.
The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. (vs. 7-9) The Word of God - pulls us together and makes us whole. His Word is the way to see clearly when circumstances befuddle our minds and cloud our thoughts. It opens us up to clarity quicker than any other source of "wisdom" or "advice". How? Because it is alive and breathing, sharper than any two-edged sword, knowing right were to get at the root of what is bothering us and causing us such turmoil.
His Word points out the right path to take much as a signpost does for the driver of an automobile. In this day and age of GPS to help us travel from one point to another, we find ourselves reliant upon technology instead of the good old foldable maps of days gone by. There was something to be said about studying that map though. The main thing I see with the map versus GPS is the ability to see where we have come from and where we are headed. It gives us perspective. We can clearly see the journey - marked out for us. His Word points out the places of joy along the way. The journey may be riddled with all kinds of difficult places, but interspersed in the journey will be places of joy and healing. God provides "physical" places of joy for us along the way - just as carefully as he prepares the spiritual!
His directions should not be burdensome for us. He may not take us the quickest route, but he takes us by the one that will produce the greatest opportunities for our "intake". His directions are never burdensome, my friends. They bring us to places we need to be and times we need to enjoy. As we close this morning, let us not skip over the insight of "chewing on God's Word all through the day". It is important to mull-over these words again and again, allowing them to sink in deeply, washing over us with freshness each time we do. God's Word never gets old. His signposts are often needed more than once in the journey. Just sayin!
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