Legal drugs come with directions and are prescribed by a physician.  Illegal drugs can be produced by someone who flunked high school science and can lead to death. I trust my physician and I trust the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  The key word I emphasize here is directions.

Back in the Old Testament someone died by not following directions and his name was Uzzah. No one names his or her kid after him because he didn’t follow directions. I have struggled with directions from kindergarten to the present time, and along the way I’ve suffered many times. It just absolutely pays to follow directions.

1 Chronicles 13:9-10

And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.

King David didn’t get it, but he should have because he knew Scripture. The only person to touch the Ark was to be a Levites and that excluded Uzzah. Don’t be an Uzzah or a David; follow directions!

Think about it.

Gary

Don’t be giving excuses for what God has for you to do in this lifetime. I’ve had a multitude of teachers and professors instructing me in my life. However, the one with the best information about the subject matter and who had the most impact on my life carried only a sixth-grade education. I’m not putting down education because I hold a Master of Christian Studies degree. This man knew his calling to the ministry and didn’t use his lack of degrees to hinder him.

Moses was faced with this decision at eighty years of age:

Exodus 4:10-12

 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”  Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?  Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 

Don’t argue with God about your assignment in life. He has been assigning individuals for different tasks for a long time and knows what we are capable of.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I don’t know why when someone slanders me the Irish wants to jump out and unscrew the person’s neck. It’s certainly not what the Scripture teaches, and the exchange would never end well for either party. There was a time in my youth when it produced a black eye for me and much embarrassment.

The Human with all the power contained in the universe never resorted to revenge when He was slandered. So many times as we read through the gospels, we say to ourselves, “I wouldn’t put up with that.” However, He did and He did that to reveal the awesome power of God.

1 Peter 2:23

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

He was something, but it is the next verse that brings it home for us.

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Give it some thought the next time someone pushes your pride button.

Gary

Usually placed on a stone pedestal, “The Thinker” (French: Le Penseur) is a bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin. The work depicts a nude male figure of heroic size sitting on a rock. He is seen leaning over, his right elbow placed on his left thigh, holding the weight of his chin on the back of his right hand. The pose is one of deep thought and contemplation, and the statue is often used as an image to represent philosophy.

Now if he had really been thinking, he would have realized he had no clothes on. On the other hand, maybe he had no clothes because he spent too much time thinking and no time working. Then again maybe he was thinking, “How do I get out of this embarrassing situation?” In any case, I’m done thinking about it.

Did anyone ever ask you this soul-searching question? “What were you thinking?” My usual response is, “I wasn’t thinking.”

When it comes to what the Bible says about thinking, here’s a good list:

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Think about it.

Gary

Paul warned us:

Acts 20:29-30

 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Jude warned us:

Jude 4

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ

Jesus warned us:

Matthew 16:6

Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

I’m reminded of E. B. White’s comment: “People have recut their clothes to follow the fashion…People have remodeled their ideas too — taken in their convictions a little at the waist, shortened the sleeves of their resolve, and fitted themselves out in a new intellectual ensemble copied from a smart design out of the very latest page of history. When slavery to fashion invades the church, our latest ideas are yesterday’s fads. We adopt the world’s agenda — just a few years too late. Many churchmen sport theological bell-bottoms. ”

When the church gets crazy, as has often happened, take large doses of Scripture to counteract the malady.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I’ve discovered, after spending almost seven decades on this particular planet, that some people can be extremely hard when it comes to spiritual things. On the other hand, I’ve been pleasantly surprised that some difficult individuals can be reasoned with. I find success, not in my forceful spirit of debate, but in the chosen words coming from Scripture that make a difference.

The false shepherds of Israel seemed to gain the total attention of the nation. However, God was telling Jeremiah the Words given to him had overcoming power.

Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,
“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

As New Testament believers, we must realize the influence we have on others doesn’t come from our personalities but from divine truth. The Word we handle must be loosened on a deceived populace. It can burn up presuppositions and break down arguments.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Can you imagine the 7th grader telling the science teacher, “You’re wrong about how elements are arranged on the periodic table.”? (Yes, that is being taught now in seventh grade. Glad I’m not there.)

Now God has been managing this universe since He brought it into being and He will continue until the new heavens and the new earth. You, Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi or Joe Biden will not cause Him to deviate from His purpose.

Isaiah 45:9

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
    Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
    ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
    ‘How clumsy can you be?’

Don’t be a Monday-morning-quarterback when it comes to the things of God. Don’t be critical of His ways and questioning His authority. Just submit and respond appropriately.

Give it some thought.

Gary