Selah:
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“The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
- Ecc 12:10-14
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Selah, in the Psalms, is usually an indication of a silent pause, for reflection, to consider, to think upon what has been said….
…. and we took a beat last week to sit down and think through the implications of the revelations we have documented in the two posts preceding this one.
What do we do with this information? Is it of any PRACTICAL day to day use? Is there anything humanity, or just us, (as individuals) can or should do with this knowledge? ….. or is it just a divine FYI /an answered FAQ for us….?
There —-is—- a very practical application … but before we go there, let’s play a little game…
To those reading this, that also self-identify as Christians … we want to ask you this …
How would you react if someone were to say, “I think you don’t really believe in Jesus and are not a Christian.”
Typical responses might be anger, laughter or outrage … “How can you tell what i really believe? That is between God & me/Jesus & me/Holy Spirit & me …. and nobody else’s business …. “
That is TRUE.
But what if the questioner responds …
“ Well… i know what the Christian religion says you should be like, and say and do, but you don’t seem to act any different than everybody else!!! In fact, it’s not your beliefs i have a problem with, it’s your actions that have injured and hurt ME over the time i have known you….
You chase the same things ( money, prestige, position ) as every one else, do the same boneheaded things as every one else …. and behave JUST LIKE the people you condemn ….. yet we are supposed to believe that somehow you have Gods favor, and every one else is going to hell! “
So-called Christians have done more damage to the message and cause of Christ then any one else!!! And this is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what we are called to be, and do … and this has led to a complete erosion of faith and belief in Christianity and Christians altogether,
So much so, that a nonprofit ( the Servant Christian Foundation, backed by anonymous mega-donors) , is launching a $100 million marketing push for Jesus … to “rebrand” Him …. because of the “damage” done to His “brand”, and “misconceptions” abounding. To make Him more “relatable” with ads that say “Jesus’ mother was a teen mom”, or “ Jesus had issues with religion too” etc.
Hmmmm….. if Christians don’t believe or follow what their God tells them to do ( or are really really dumb about what He wants and how to serve Him )….. —- why would anyone in their right mind even consider the truth-claims of Christianity as offering a solution to the problem of our individual existences?
“Be not deceived; God is —-not—- mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore —-opportunity, let us —do good— unto —-all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” — Galatians 6:7-10
That was the Apostle Paul, who, while speaking to liberate the church in Galatia from the oppressiveness of the Law, nevertheless makes it a point to remind his audience … God is NOT a fool!
Here is ORIGINAL Jesus ( no rebranding )…
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth ——good for nothing—- , but to be —-cast out, and to be ——-trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” - Matt 5:13-16
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” - John 15:6
“ Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” - Matt 12:36-37
“ Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ‘ Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. “ - Mark 7:6,7
That doesn’t sound like ANYBODY is going to skate !!!
What do we do then?
A. RECOGNIZE THE GIFT OF LIFE : It’s not about money or achievements or even survival.
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. ——-Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? ——-
B. RECOGNIZE THAT GOD HAS YOUR BACK
From what was just quoted , we don’t have to WORRY about surviving, we just have to WORK for it, TRUSTING GOD TO PROVIDE.
C. DONT CHASE THINGS THAT DONT SATISFY (MONEY, POWER )… LIFE ISNT ABOUT THESE THINGS
It’s about growing up. We want our kids to mature and do the right things … why…. ?? So that THEY can be happy !!!! God has the same goals for each and every human life.
D. CHASE THE THINGS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL
The human story is about relationship. A relationship between a creator and His beloved creation. A relationship that He wishes could be reflected in the acts of His people towards each other, and to those that do not know Him!
WISDOM helps us distinguish between Good & Evil, and we should cherish and cultivate this gift most earnestly. However …. CHARACTER is what defines our —-CHOICES and actions, and we desperately need the indwelling of the Spirit of God to guide and empower us there.
That is it… it is REALLY as simple as that.
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As the preacher writes, there can be an infinite number of books that can be written to make us wise, and there is no end to learning ….. but only this is NEEDFUL…. actually doing what God commands!!!
“Fear God, and —-keep his commandments: for this is the —-whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
—-And this is his commandment, ——That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, ——and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” :- 1 John 3:18-24
“Howbeit we speak wisdom among ——them that are perfect——: yet —not the —wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the ——hidden wisdom, which God ordained —-before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
——But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.——
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for —-they are —foolishness unto him: neither —can he know them, —because they are ——spiritually discerned.
But he that is —— spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:6-16
Hallelujah!!!