When I read this short section from Mark, I had to read it again. When Jesus called his first disciples, He called and they came. It is as simple as that!
"At once they left their nets and followed Him."
"Without delay He called them, and they left...and followed Him."
Notice, they did not stop and think about it. They did not ask their friends and family if this was the best thing for them to do. They did not sleep on it. It was not a complicated matter. They SIMPLY stopped what they were doing, and followed him. How cool is that?
This is how we should live as well. He still wants us to follow Him. And my prayer is that we would respond in the same way the first disciples did. Let us put down our worldly concerns and follow Him.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Wisdom v. Folly (Proverbs 9-11)
I'm sure this comparison spans many more books and chapters of the bible than I am exploring here, but this is just what really stood out to me during this section of reading.
I've always felt that if you read just one section of the bible, (which I do not suggests, because it is ALL good) I would say, "read Proverbs." In the same way a poem can tell the same story as a novel, using less words in number, but more strategically planned words. Proverbs can get the broadest, most complex ideas across in such short statements, that it is mind blowing.
The 9th chapter of Proverbs begins with a comparison of two houses. Wisdom's house and folly's house. Wisdom's house is made from seven pillars, and inside she has prepared a meal with meat, wine and a set a table. She sends out maids to the highest point of the city to calls "Let all who are simple come in here!" She invites "those who lack judgment" to join her in her house for dinner. verse 6 says "Leave your simple ways and you will live: walk in the way of understanding."
"The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge (v. 13). There is no mention of pillars--she has no foundation, no rock to stand on. There is no mention of meals or maids--she stands alone, isolated, and has no intention of meeting your needs or providing comfort for you. Yet, she is deceitful saying nearly the same phrase as wisdom, "Let all who are simple come in here!" She says this also to "those who lack judgment," "But little do they know that the dead are in there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave." (v. 18)
Wisdom and Folly apparently seek the same person, just as God and Satan seek us. There intentions are vastly different. God loves us and wants the best for us. He goes great lengths to be sure we hear His call, that we are provided for. Satan only lures to the grave. He is deceitful and will disguise himself as anything to convince you to go to him. We must put on the armor of God to protect ourselves from this prowling lion.
In the following chapters of Proverbs, I read on to see many comparisons of wisdom v. folly, righteousness v. wickedness, upright v. unfaithful. The wages are life v. death. There is too much to list and go into, so you really must read it all!
There is a great importance placed on the mouth. "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked." (Prov. 10:11) A wicked and foolish mouth destroys many things, and the wise hold his tongue and is delivered! I read over and over how the righteous and upright are delivered from trouble, while the very same trouble falls on the perverse and wicked instead.
There are many days when I look around and feel discouraged of the world I see. I see people who prosper while their deeds (seemingly) are dishonest. I do not know the hearts of others, and I should not judge those around me, so this is really only my perception I'm talking about. But so many times I feel that "life" is so hard. I work so hard and nothing comes easy, and I feel as if all my hard work may never "pay off." BUT!!! I find comfort in knowing that the wages for me is LIFE!
The Lord our Father in heaven says this, "Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free (Prov 11:21)." "The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath (v. 23)." "He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it (v. 27)."
There is so much good stuff in this book, I tell you, you must go read it!
I've always felt that if you read just one section of the bible, (which I do not suggests, because it is ALL good) I would say, "read Proverbs." In the same way a poem can tell the same story as a novel, using less words in number, but more strategically planned words. Proverbs can get the broadest, most complex ideas across in such short statements, that it is mind blowing.
The 9th chapter of Proverbs begins with a comparison of two houses. Wisdom's house and folly's house. Wisdom's house is made from seven pillars, and inside she has prepared a meal with meat, wine and a set a table. She sends out maids to the highest point of the city to calls "Let all who are simple come in here!" She invites "those who lack judgment" to join her in her house for dinner. verse 6 says "Leave your simple ways and you will live: walk in the way of understanding."
"The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge (v. 13). There is no mention of pillars--she has no foundation, no rock to stand on. There is no mention of meals or maids--she stands alone, isolated, and has no intention of meeting your needs or providing comfort for you. Yet, she is deceitful saying nearly the same phrase as wisdom, "Let all who are simple come in here!" She says this also to "those who lack judgment," "But little do they know that the dead are in there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave." (v. 18)
Wisdom and Folly apparently seek the same person, just as God and Satan seek us. There intentions are vastly different. God loves us and wants the best for us. He goes great lengths to be sure we hear His call, that we are provided for. Satan only lures to the grave. He is deceitful and will disguise himself as anything to convince you to go to him. We must put on the armor of God to protect ourselves from this prowling lion.
In the following chapters of Proverbs, I read on to see many comparisons of wisdom v. folly, righteousness v. wickedness, upright v. unfaithful. The wages are life v. death. There is too much to list and go into, so you really must read it all!
There is a great importance placed on the mouth. "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked." (Prov. 10:11) A wicked and foolish mouth destroys many things, and the wise hold his tongue and is delivered! I read over and over how the righteous and upright are delivered from trouble, while the very same trouble falls on the perverse and wicked instead.
There are many days when I look around and feel discouraged of the world I see. I see people who prosper while their deeds (seemingly) are dishonest. I do not know the hearts of others, and I should not judge those around me, so this is really only my perception I'm talking about. But so many times I feel that "life" is so hard. I work so hard and nothing comes easy, and I feel as if all my hard work may never "pay off." BUT!!! I find comfort in knowing that the wages for me is LIFE!
The Lord our Father in heaven says this, "Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free (Prov 11:21)." "The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath (v. 23)." "He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it (v. 27)."
There is so much good stuff in this book, I tell you, you must go read it!
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