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CRASHING INTO THE MIRE

17 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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bulletin article, crash, mire, pigs wallow

When you read the Psalms, do you put yourself into the writer’s position and try to understand, thus relate, to what was expressed? I do. Psalm 69 is one that I just read and tried to relate to. Much limitation, however, to what I could relate with in the sentiments expressed! This is a Psalm that includes references to the Lord at various times in His life. For instance, the following verses have been used in the Gospels pertaining to something relative to the Lord’s life. Some of them are 69:4, 8 (perhaps), 9, 21, 25. This means the Psalm is Messianic. Yet, the entirety of the Psalm is not Messianic because it is clear that 69:5 would not apply.

In any case, as one reads the Psalm, he (or she) is clearly able to put self into the picture. It might read better when this is done. Consider a few of the following thoughts.

When the troubles of life pile up to such a degree that it is exceedingly difficult to keep one’s head above the water, who can’t relate to the sentiment of verse 1, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck” (ESV)?

Or, what about the aggravations of life because of personal failings? To walk with Christ means that one walks by a standard higher, a great deal higher, than one’s own. Yet, with this recognition, there are times when weakness creeps in and, then, it grabs hold and will not let loose. That weakness has turned into sin (James 1:13-15). So, the immediate high and/or enjoyment brings about a hard crash; but the crash was so painful that one can’t even look up to heaven to ask the Lord to forgive (cf. Luke 18:13). Have you been there? The psalmist had been. “O God, you are aware of my foolish sins; my guilt is not hidden from you. Let none who rely on you be disgraced because of me, O sovereign LORD and king! Let none who seek you be ashamed because of me, O God of Israel (69:5-6, NET)!

The writer of the Psalm appeals to the Lord of heaven to save him from the mire that he is in. Perhaps it was because of his own doing, or the evil doing of someone else. In either case, it is a painful and anguishing matter in one’s life. “Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters” (69:14, ESV).

I suppose we all crash into the mire where the pigs wallow every now and again. Sometimes that crash is the result of bad choices and, sometimes, it is because another has pounded us with their disparagements that we have a hard time even picking ourselves up. Don’t try. Let the Lord pick you up; when He does so, then you can stand firm. When we try on our own, just how firm do you think your legs are when you fight with the forces of evil in this world?  RT

 

 

Confrontation, Interruption and Change

16 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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bulletin article, change, confrontation, interrupt

When I was at CBI in November, Kirk Brothers reminded us that when Jesus was confronted by those who stood in opposition to Him, He did not back down, but stood for the truth. When Jesus was interrupted by those who tore up a roof to see Him, He made the occasion not a matter of aggravation, but an occasion to see in the action the good in the one who presented himself to Him. Jesus made a difference with but a few (though He preached to the many), and it was those few who made the difference with the thousands. It is good to be reminded of such things. Confrontation is not easy and, sometimes, quite hard. Nevertheless, it was (and is) something the godly face continually. Rather than allowing it to be discouraging, think of the positives when standing firm on God’s word. When there is an interruption in life, is your aggravation lashed out on the one who interrupts? Turn that which can be interpreted as a negative into something positive. Perhaps that positive response can change another’s day toward the good. The few in life you can influence for good can change many more. RT

 

 

How to Answer (Word to the Wise)

15 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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answer, bulletin article, rashness, righteous, study, wicked

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil (Proverbs 15:28, NKJV). What does the heart of the righteous study? Do they study the Bible? The newspaper? An English grammar book? Other translations read “ponder” (ESV), “consider” (NET), “meditates” (Brenton; LXX), and “thinks carefully” (NLT). The teaching of the first-half of the proverb is this: in the context of a life lived according to a righteous way of thinking, the righteous person will be slow to answer, making sure that which is said by another is thoughtfully considered (cf. James 1:19-20). On the other hand, as the Contemporary English Version (CEV) reads, “Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking.” Whether or not rashness is in view, the point is that the one who lives according to his wicked ways – what wisdom can come from him? RT

 

 

WWJD

14 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

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bulletin article, DWJD, hearing, obedience, WWJD

The four letters abbreviate “what would Jesus do?” The trendy slogan of years ago was designed to caution people into thinking whether or not their actions are actions that Jesus Himself would be engaged in. Many like (and liked) the bracelet with WWJD on it, but less did they like the actual answer to the question.

As some would ask others (and self) “what would Jesus do?,” He actually asked a question Himself of you and others, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, KJV).

What did Jesus do? one might ask. Jesus knew that when others obeyed Him the reaction would not be as some hope. “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14, ESV).

What would Jesus do? He would not live in accordance with the standards of this world, but He would (and did) live in accordance with the Father’s will. How about you? Will you do what Jesus did? Maybe a new slogan would be good. DWJD (do what Jesus did).   RT

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