Be careful. The bridges you’re willing to burn when trying to get ahead may result in alienating a friend you may need again. (Like many words of wisdom, I took that from someone else.) However, that statement is worth considering during this drive to the grave.

Case in point is the strong disagreement between Paul and Barnabas found in Acts 15.

Acts 15:39

Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. 

Now a close examination of Scripture will prove that Paul misjudged the situation. However, the bridge was burnt and they never were seen traveling together again.

Happens to the best of them. Careful with those matches.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Mike Curb Congregation sang “Burning Bridges” 1971. This was the theme song of “Kelly’s Heroes”. If you were nineteen in 1971, the lyrics will never leave your mind.

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Years have passed and I keep thinking
What a fool I’ve been
I look back into the past and
Think of way back then
I know that I lost everything I thought that I could win
I guess I should have listened to my friends

The meaning of all of this is that once the bridge is burnt, you can’t go back. Judas burnt that bridge between him and God at the end of his life.

John 18:5

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)

Acts 1:18

(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.

Judas thought he would make a killing by burning that bridge. Oops!!!

Careful with that match.

Think about it.

Gary

Sanity is defined as reasonable and rational behavior. I don’t know who came up with that, and I am not sure where the boundaries are before you enter the crazy category. Some might think I’m already there, and there are times when I’m not so sure myself. Back in my teenage days, there was a song with a stanza that said, “I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.”

David was on the run from Saul and seems to have forgotten the promises of God. When those two situations align, one can act crazy. He wasn’t crazy, but put on a good show because of fear.

1 Samuel 21:13

So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard.  

Don’t be crazy. Trust and obey for there is no other way to have a sane mind.

2 Tim. 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Talk to your body. Let every member know that you desire that each one is invested. Arms: Embrace truth while there is still time. Eyes: Before the clouds roll in, take a deep look at this. Ears: Stay open and keep the canal clear of obstruction. Legs: Don’t tremble and run away. Heart: This is where you belong and is the place for all your affection. Mouth: Confession is necessary.

1 John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

Matthew 11:15

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

1 Corinthians 9:26

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Don’t let your members lead you to a place where you might not want to spend eternity.

Think about it.

Gary

Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. How many times was that repeated on the playground when I was a kid! Truth is, we’d rather take a beating than remember some of the words that were said. That tongue of ours is like having a loaded 357. Make sure the safety is on, and see that it’s stored in a secure location.

Words need to be examined, just like an unusual growth that appears on the skin somewhere. This thing could be a killer, killing something in us and doing damage to someone else. We not only need to be careful with what we say, but also with how we say it.

Matthew 12:36

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Proverbs 12:18

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

No, words can’t break bones, but they certainly break hearts.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Please don’t put ketchup in your gas tank. As a matter of fact, don’t click on the link that shows someone doing just that. It’s called clickbait. The definition is something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink. It spells scam. No, it didn’t happen to me.

There is a plethora of scams that come through the internet and through the phone lines that are designed to draw you in. What amazes me is the number of people who succumb to that trickery, yet they won’t believe the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

You won’t be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth, but you will be ashamed if you put ketchup in your fuel tank.

Think about it.

Gary

Can you imagine the work in building a house? Very few people do, but those who have, sweat just thinking about it. However, what if it burnt down before the insurance policy went into effect.

Can you imagine being on guard for the enemy, and all the time, he is digging under you to come up from behind?  Surprise!  These are two interesting statements found in the Word of God.

Psalm 127:1

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.

If God is not in your equation, you will never come out with the right answer.

Give it some thought.

Gary