[Adeodata's Heart] "Right Back Ashy"
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RT
Sep 22, 2010, 10:00:04 AM9/22/10
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Deuteronomy 5:32
So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you..."
My nephew needs lotion like a desert pirate needs water. Without it, his skin becomes a quick canvas for a game of tic tac toe! Dry skin can plague us all, but for some, it's a menace. Growing up, we used the term “ashy” to describe this crocodile like appearance. Water, soap, and cold air were the culprits. Lotion, Vaseline, or even lard and butter (when you hail from a family of 6 brothers and 2 sisters, you become quite resourceful) were the cure.
On our way to church a few weeks ago, I asked my little buddy (he’s 10) if he had applied lotion after bathing and he replied with questioning frustration, “Yes, but it seems like I get right back ashy.” We chuckled and searched the car for our extra stash of moisturizer!
For the past 6 months, I've been doing a one year Bible reading plan (more like a year and a half for me). Throughout the books of Exodus, Joshua, Numbers, 1st and 2nd Samuel and Kings, I’m astonished by Israel's repeated cycle of "Oh God, we love and worship you" one day, and "Oh idol baal, we love and worship you" the seeming next (the following link: Bible Timeline gives great summary of this)! I found myself shaking my head in disbelief at their flip flop devotion. Then I thought, "Wait a minute, don't get all self righteous, you've walked in a few flip flops yourself."
Can you relate? One week you're encouraging a lost and hurting heart, reveling in God's presence as you sing along with the choir, and facing each circumstance with faithful confidence. Then bam, a few weeks later, you are one consonant away from reading somebody their rights, watching or listening to something that once made you cringe, or believing that you are a failure and wondering how you will make it another day?
What happens? Well perhaps we can get a clue from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses, in his address to the Israelites prior to their possession of the promised land, repeatedly (I counted over 20 instances) warns his people to be careful. This warning comes as a result of what the Israelites were about to encounter: an abundant land where all of their needs would be met (Deut 6:10-12), and groups of people whose devotion was anything but God (Deut 6:14, 7:1-16). This is not too unlike the world we live in now. Whatever we want, we can pretty much get. A baked potato in 6 minutes, fried butter, or a manicure while our car is vacuumed. There's also an outright rebellion against the one true God. We have come to idolize any and everything from football to political figures to cars.
If we are not careful, our comfort laden lives and desire for entertainment and lifestyle identity can weaken our need for the Savior, and replace Him with a "hobby" or "passion" made of pigskin or metal. Next thing you know, we become encrusted with sin, again.
However, there's a balm, that if applied daily will free us from our on again off again devotion. It drenches our soul, covers our sin (Rom 3:24-25), guards our walk (Proverbs 2:8), and protects us from evil (Ephes 6). It is the Word of God. If we live by it and it alone, using it as the tool by which we measure all else, we won't be so easily ensnared by the magnets of self fulfillment and worldly gain. Proverbs 2
Lord, please help me to be intentional about attentiveness, always cognizant of what I take in and put out. There are so many things trying to take my eyes off of You. Forgive me for the times I've carelessly allowed them to take Your place. You and only You deserve all glory, honor and praise.
--
Posted By RT to Adeodata's Heart at 9/22/2010 07:00:00 AM
So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you..."
My nephew needs lotion like a desert pirate needs water. Without it, his skin becomes a quick canvas for a game of tic tac toe! Dry skin can plague us all, but for some, it's a menace. Growing up, we used the term “ashy” to describe this crocodile like appearance. Water, soap, and cold air were the culprits. Lotion, Vaseline, or even lard and butter (when you hail from a family of 6 brothers and 2 sisters, you become quite resourceful) were the cure.
On our way to church a few weeks ago, I asked my little buddy (he’s 10) if he had applied lotion after bathing and he replied with questioning frustration, “Yes, but it seems like I get right back ashy.” We chuckled and searched the car for our extra stash of moisturizer!
For the past 6 months, I've been doing a one year Bible reading plan (more like a year and a half for me). Throughout the books of Exodus, Joshua, Numbers, 1st and 2nd Samuel and Kings, I’m astonished by Israel's repeated cycle of "Oh God, we love and worship you" one day, and "Oh idol baal, we love and worship you" the seeming next (the following link: Bible Timeline gives great summary of this)! I found myself shaking my head in disbelief at their flip flop devotion. Then I thought, "Wait a minute, don't get all self righteous, you've walked in a few flip flops yourself."
Can you relate? One week you're encouraging a lost and hurting heart, reveling in God's presence as you sing along with the choir, and facing each circumstance with faithful confidence. Then bam, a few weeks later, you are one consonant away from reading somebody their rights, watching or listening to something that once made you cringe, or believing that you are a failure and wondering how you will make it another day?
What happens? Well perhaps we can get a clue from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses, in his address to the Israelites prior to their possession of the promised land, repeatedly (I counted over 20 instances) warns his people to be careful. This warning comes as a result of what the Israelites were about to encounter: an abundant land where all of their needs would be met (Deut 6:10-12), and groups of people whose devotion was anything but God (Deut 6:14, 7:1-16). This is not too unlike the world we live in now. Whatever we want, we can pretty much get. A baked potato in 6 minutes, fried butter, or a manicure while our car is vacuumed. There's also an outright rebellion against the one true God. We have come to idolize any and everything from football to political figures to cars.
If we are not careful, our comfort laden lives and desire for entertainment and lifestyle identity can weaken our need for the Savior, and replace Him with a "hobby" or "passion" made of pigskin or metal. Next thing you know, we become encrusted with sin, again.
However, there's a balm, that if applied daily will free us from our on again off again devotion. It drenches our soul, covers our sin (Rom 3:24-25), guards our walk (Proverbs 2:8), and protects us from evil (Ephes 6). It is the Word of God. If we live by it and it alone, using it as the tool by which we measure all else, we won't be so easily ensnared by the magnets of self fulfillment and worldly gain. Proverbs 2
Lord, please help me to be intentional about attentiveness, always cognizant of what I take in and put out. There are so many things trying to take my eyes off of You. Forgive me for the times I've carelessly allowed them to take Your place. You and only You deserve all glory, honor and praise.
--
Posted By RT to Adeodata's Heart at 9/22/2010 07:00:00 AM
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