The Plumbline

Have you ever been told you were a little too gullible?  In the most literal sense, we probably all start out a little too gullible, for the meaning of the word is that of being easily cheated or deceived.  We often call someone who is gullible a little too naive - they lack the experience, judgment, or information to make the right or "sound" decision.  Some of us have the experience, but lack the judgment, or even just don't have enough information to make the best decisions in the moment.  So, whenever this happens, we are literally being a little too gullible for our own good.   The gullible believe anything they’re told;   the prudent sift and weigh every word.  (Proverbs 14:15 MSG) The gullible believe anything they are told - why?  It could be because they have never experienced whatever it is they are being roped into, so it seems credible (believable) to them.  It could also be they don't have all the information about the c...

Where is your place of blessing?  Think on that one for just a moment and you might come up with a profound answer.  What I really want us to do is not "over-think" our answer, though.  I want us to respond to that question spontaneously, without having to go too deep into thought.  If we were to be honest with ourselves, some of us would describe an actual "place" - like a cabin in the woods, a quiet corner in the house with a comfortable chair, or maybe even our local church building.  Others would describe a place of relationship, such as that which they have with their spouse, kids, or even a dear friend.  Maybe even a few will say it is a place of rest - such as when they can just shut off all the worries of the day and gently glide into some sense of quiet repose which re-energizes their body and mind.  For the child of God, HE is our place of blessing - physically, emotionally, relationally, and even in our repose. How blessed is God! And w...

The disciples were not a whole lot different than you and I - simple folk, living day-to-day, making a living with the labor of their hands and the skills of the mind.  They asked questions when things didn't make sense and ventured to solve issues which they had no real business getting involved in.  Their needs were similar, ranging from daily bread to new sandals.  They didn't always recognize when greatness was in their midst, and seldom realized scripture was being fulfilled right before their eyes.  When Jesus wanted to get a point across to them, he often had to call attention to what he was saying - simply because they were distracted, only listening half-heartedly, or because they didn't recognize the significance of what he was saying directly to them.  In these ways we are also like the disciples - needing Jesus to tell us plainly when it is REALLY important for us to hear something! Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the grou...