Quotable

Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.

This is quoted without chapter and verse. It might have even come out of some secular work because of the soundness of advice. It is quotable but I have never heard it quoted by anyone.

Here is the point to this quote. Do you know it to be true?

Most of the quotes I have heard over the years have been to call attention to the lost about God’s love, mercy and grace. Some even have purpose for encouragement to believers who in their circumstances need a good word.

Words of wisdom often come as quotes to help us straighten out our paths as we try and walk with Christ. Some quotes are used to warn others of perceived dangers. Some give peace. Some comfort the grieving. Quotes can be used in many ways. They can even be misused.

While I was doing my bible reading this morning I came across this verse and it stood out as being true. Have we lived a life that allows us to experience truth in our lives so that we can confirm the word as being absolutely true?

Do we take these truths to be self-evident or have they manifested themselves in the life we live?

God has not given us these precious words to believe only but to be lived out in a life that glorifies God. Words are meaningless to the lost if the life they see in us doesn’t manifest the truth of these words. Being a hearer of the word is insufficient to reach the lost. We must live these words, not so much for our own sake but for those who are being called by God to come to Him.

The purpose of all scripture has not changed from the beginning.

God is calling for the restoration of relationship with Him.

The fact that we have it is only the beginning of our involvement.

Meanigful

Psalm 139:14 English Standard Version (ESV) I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

God is talking about us here. What does this mean to us? If we break this down into its component parts we might want to start with how we are made. Wonderfully made in the Hebrew is pālâ which means to be distinct, marked out, be separated, be distinguished. It has a secondary definition of being wonderful.

These definition fit nicely into words used in relationship to our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Distinct, in that while we are in the world we are not of the world, we are unworldly. Marked out, He has set His seal of protection upon us, His image is upon that seal. Separated, consecrated, holy, set aside unto His purpose. Distinguished in the sense that we should be seen for who we are in Christ and not who we were in our former lives.

Being fearfully made takes on a difference sense when viewed with our personal responsibility in what it means to be made this way. Others may not see it but we should have a sense of reverential fear or respect for how we are made in Christ. I found one telling definition of that in the TWOT listed at the very end of definitions. Shoot, pour is found there.

Having been trained in firearms and the real danger that can occur if respect for the use and purpose of those firearms is ignored. Those dangers cannot be taken lightly or someone is going to be hurt or even killed.

The power of God in the person of the Holy Spirit abides in us. We should have that same respect of use and purpose by which God entrusted to us.

We need to be aware of that with reverential fear.