Proverbs 4:10-13
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
NIV
Was meditating on "our steps" we take everyday. It was something I thought of in hearing of all the chaos in France right now. And then for some reason, I thought on the OCCUPY that was part of the news back five + years ago.
In Proverbs 4, we are told that God's wisdom will guide us along straight paths, and when we walk, our steps will not be hampered ( hindered ). We are also told that when we run, we will not stumble for when we hold on to instruction, and do not let go, that instruction, that Wisdom from God will guard our life when we guard the instruction.
GOD has a place for us. I know I write on this a lot, but I have gotten some more insight on it in the last few days. Thinking of our grand-daughter and her activities, her parents saw the steps she took to possess where she lived. If you remember, her father, showed her as a baby and then a toddler what was hers as her parents provided a healthy home for them all. She already owned it, it was hers, and it is where she lived as a small child. Then as she started walking and talking, she went into soccer and swimming lessons. That is a place that she now possesses! Every place she has marked out with her foot is hers and no one can take that from her. She was instructed in soccer and in swimming and she can do both. Is she the expert? No, not yet, but she has the opportunity to grow in a greater skill in these if she continues in them. They are both good and health to her body in the form of exercise!
We too, can gain greater skill in taking instruction from our Father in heaven. We too, can possess that place where our steps take us. But will they be for the fruitful, life-giving instruction of God or will it be of the devil kind of instruction, who desires to kill, steal and destroy?
Acts 5:25-42
"Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God." 40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
NKJV
In obeying God and His instructions we walk in a place that may mean much adversity like we see for Peter and the other apostles in chapter 5 of the book of Acts. Please read it for yourself, especially to see how God cares for His own. It was noted by Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law, that "if what ( Peter and the others ) were doing was of God, you cannot overthrow it......lest you be found fighting against God."
What is of God will continue! It may mean much adversity and much intentional harm, but God is greater. And if He really lives in us........then He should be ruling this body by His Word of truth.
Where do we occupy today? Can it be the safe place or is that which we are determined to stay just because we like the notoriety? Is where we occupying bringing glory to God or to ourselves? Of late, you see some men or even women lose their jobs, and in the light of their dismissal you find them so lost, for their identity was in that job. Sad but true, and many truly lose sight of what is truth and right by ending up in despair and such depression they can no longer make right decisions for their god was the job!
I remember my husband had the desire to learn as much as he could as in a trade occupation. He had opportunities open to him to not only weld but also operate many machines, like cranes, and see how the cold weather as well as the hot temps might hinder production in coal mines. He had many opportunities to take extra classes and he seized all that he could back in those early days to manage a dam site today. He took steps to possess a place. Was not sure where he was headed with it, but he knew was to master them!
Proverbs 16:9
9 A man's heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
NKJV
God is bound by His Word. He cannot lie, and He will not go against what He has already placed for us to come to. That place we are to possess is by His Word. In His plan, it has nothing to do with wickedness, but in grace, truth, and love. But wanting our own way, and doing our own thing causes us much harm, and even death.
People like the avenues of communicating today. Yet in all those I see, there is much danger. There is not the formal eye to eye and face to face communication of decades ago. Today, it is just a text or a quick "tweet". In giving this much thought, I am surprised how some handle their employees' Work Evaluation. Of course, this writing context is in regard to those teachers, bosses, those in any management positions and even in regard to business owners, that one to one contact would be important.
In regard to meeting eye to eye, we can express our heartfelt questions and answers in regard to either our work or even work within school as in the Parent/Teacher Conferences. In reality though, if we only send a text to "Well Done" and the person needs some work in some areas, are we not adding to their defeat in life? Some folks just do not like communication at all. They are content with the five minute e-mail explanation, the 30 second tweet or such else to communicate.
In posting a comment in regards to something important as a job or a student's work record, would not a more formal of meet and greet over this thing so important to maybe the life of the job, or maintaining school attendance.
There is so much that probably should be said but is left undone because we "decided to text" or "tweet" someone about how they are doing. I think of the applying for a job today and online. I am not sure if that is just a way to weed them (the applicant's) out that may not fit the job. I know that I liked going for those interviews and meeting with people face to face. In meeting one on one, you find their real heart on the job they are trying to fill. You find the real heart of those teaching your children at school. You find the real heart of those you might attend church with.
Going back to our grand-daughter, I think of how different her life would be if her parents just texted, " well done " with a HAPPY FACE on it! If there was correction by just texting.........the sad, grumpy face would not work!
In doing that they would be shortening their commitment time, that being in her face, and showing her what the life in God is really about. They must show her daily how her steps will possess that land God has planned for her! In society today, we surely see those who have not had the face to face with parents and those who really care. We have seen the effects of a 30 second text sent at the wrong time as in many young and middle aged getting into terrible car wrecks. Please understand that this is my opinion. I think Jesus liked getting out among them and looking into their eyes and watching their body movements as He spoke truth. I think He liked getting involved and letting them know He really cared for them.
In this age of this kind of communication we can surely see that people can maintain a low - key commitment and almost no responsibility to anyone. It is like the elusive unicorn. In sending a text once or twice to someone does not mean that anyone will really know us? It is not commitment and it is not possessing a place in society. Commitment is time and money.
I believe that those who post their page are posting the "fake" person. The real you or me is the one who lives and breathes and acts out at home where no one sees. In that posting of our thoughts from a heart not guarding the instruction of God can surely lead us down to a place thinking we really have a voice when we really do not have one. We can write it out and expand on it, and then at one point, one day comes when we grab that megaphone (horn) and gather those who think as we think. But is it of truth? Is it something that will last? For truly God desires to keep His own safe! So are our hearts one with HIM? Do we delight in Him or we salivating for our fifteen minutes of fame!
Communication is awesome! It is truly needed in the amount of people who cover this earth. But my thoughts are, if God desires this technology, will we see where sin might abound more and see our own glory and not God's glory?
Our pastor likes us sitting down together to meet and talk. It is his desire that we know one another. It is his desire that "like Jesus" we too communicate face to face. We did it during the summer at the park during an actual service time. We circled our chairs and faced each other. We also have come to eat together after a service time of Word and worship. We get to know the neighbor. We get to know how to pray for them and see them succeed, not by voicing loudly over a "megaphone", but actually speaking what is in their heart that comes from God. It may be in bits and pieces..........but God can restore those who are broken. God can cause restoration to come, when we start out slow, possessing our steps as the individual and then as the child of the Most High God. Our boundaries should be those that God placed at the foundation of this world.
We too, should look back at the Ten Commandments and realize God has it all in hand when we choose to follow and guard His instruction and know that He has given us the land..............that no man can take from us. Amen!
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
NIV (
list found in Exodus 20 )
In closing: I think about Adam when he was formed by God. God brought him into the garden and to work there with his hands. He called Adam to name the animals. Adam was not created to just sit and let others work for him, but he was created to have the relationship with God and live life to the full! It was the place already prepared for him, much like the place prepared for our grand-daughter and even our own. It was the place prepared to start enjoying life with a family and with others.
Ah, but sin came into the garden.
Adam did not guard the instruction given him! Our grand-child did not come to sit and observe, she came to participate in life. She did not come to sit on her laurels and not work for she certainly has her chores to do within the home. And in the right time, she will go to college, she will work at a job. She came to learn and possess land.
We must
guard that instruction given to us. In seeing our grand-child grow in God, I expect her to be taking those steps to continue having a healthy body, learning an instrument that will bring praise to God, see her teach the parables of Jesus and see her become all that God has destined her to be. She is possessing the land.
May God be glorified!
