Learn not the way (part 2)

Scholars studying and conversing at the Ancient University of Babylon courtyard with ziggurats and river in background

Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity.
Jeremiah 10:2,3

GOD says not to learn the ways of the nations, the pagan ways.

Jeremiah chapter ten provided strict guidance for those taken to Babylon. Daniel, for instance, was young when taken as a captive. Jeremiah’s warning was to keep him, and the other exiles, from the Babylonian customs, especially religious practices. It was idolatry that brought upon Israel GOD’s judgement.

Once in the great city, Daniel and friends get a full ride to Babylon U. They receive new names. Not a big deal. Easier for the locals to pronounce. They would be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans. Again, useful and not against the LORD’s commands. They were also to eat from the king’s table. Who could resist that. Surely the king’s BBQ ribs were known far and wide. “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.” (Daniel 1:8)

It all worked out well for Daniel, however He got to travel around the country, worked in the king’s palace, helped out the king. He spent his life in daily prayer to GOD. The GOD of Abraham, Issac, Jacob. The GOD of Israel. He didn’t stop, either, even when the king ruled against it. That got him tossed in a cage with some fierce and hungry lions. But even that turned out nice again.

But what of the Gentiles, years later, came to believe in the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. And what of those today. What of those born in the nations, even nations that with religious freedom and churches and Christians. What of the children who grow up with non-believing parents. Most children today have teachers who aren’t Christians. They use a secular, non-Biblical, curriculum that prizes science, technology, politicians, social media influencers, news media as its gods.

How does one unlearn that?

It begins with a call by Spirit. It begins when a person is born again. The process of unlearning begins. New learning, new ways. Learning new ways of thinking. Learning new ways of behaving.

While there are 613 instructions given the first five books of the Bible, there are over twice that number of instructions beginning at the Book of Matthew and continuing on through the letters and writings of the Apostles. There are a lot of laws. We can’t unlearn enough. We can’t learn enough. We can’t become good enough to earn our way into an eternity with Jesus.

We can’t earn salvation. We simply can’t. But by Grace we are saved. Thank GOD for Jesus. Through His Cross. Through His Blood.

Born again, we begin to unlearn old, useless, empty ways. We begin to stride with Spirit to do what the Lord requires of us: to do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly” with our GOD. (Micah 6:8)

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine

Learn not the way of the nations

Nighttime mountain valley with meteors streaking across the sky and a hiker observing from a cliff

“Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity.”
Jeremiah 10:2,3

Jeremiah speaks to Israel the Word of the GOD of Israel. He says not to learn the way of the nations (ESV). While other translations differ somewhat in wording, it’s clear GOD is saying not to follow the practices of “the nations.” Barnes’s Notes calls it the customs, ordinances, established institutions of the peoples of pagan nations. Mostly, translations and comments apply this warning to religion, rather than social, behaviors. [I wonder, though, if it is that limited. ]

The historical context: Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry came in the years before Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC. The Land of Israel was on a major trade route, which made it a target for conquest. Babylon was on the rise as a nation. Assyria was still a power, though not as it had been. Worse, Israel was filled with idolatry. Kings such as Jehoiakim sought pagan alliances in an effort to maintain power. They weren’t following the GOD of Israel; they turned to the gods of the nations, the world.

GOD says these customs are vanity. Empty. Of no value.

At this same time that Jeremiah gave GOD’s warnings to Israel there must have been fearful sightings in the skies. I can’t help think of all the “apocalyptic” movies that begin with some catastrophe such as earthquakes, astroids, floods, or aliens. Wars and rumors of wars. Panic.

We are instructed, however, not to be dismayed at the panic of the nations. We must follow the way of the cross. Our salvation comes not through things of this world, but through Jesus.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Prayer Point from Mark 9

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. Mark 9:50

Echinacea. It’s also known as coneflower. It’s GOD’s Swiss-army knife of herbal healing.

Jesus said we are the salt of the Earth. He could easily say we are the echinacea of the EARTH. For in Him, we can offer ourselves as a healing balm to all GOD’s creature.

There is a prerequisite for our use: our prayer life. As we reflect on Mark chapter 9, may we be inspired to live lives of faith, humility, and service, ever mindful of the glory and power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here are some takeaways from this chapter:

Praise God for His Glory;

Thank God for revealing His glory through Jesus and for the hope we have in Him;

Ask for Increased Faith;

Pray for a deeper, unwavering faith that trusts in God’s power and promises;

Seek Humility and Service;

Request a heart that seeks to serve others and reflects Christ’s humility;

Protection from Sin

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Note: Prayer points based on Berean Bible Commentary, Mark 9.

Days of Noah

Open Bible displaying Genesis Chapter 6 text and illustrations of Noah's Ark and people building the ark

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17: 26,27)

The Berean Bible commentary lists four points of prayer based on Genesis Six. Jesus said The Last Days would be like the Days of Noah. Whether or not these day are those days, the prayer points are applicable.

Pray for Personal Righteousness
Ask God to help you live a life that is pleasing to Him, following the example of Noah.

Seek Forgiveness and Repentance
Confess any areas of sin in your life and seek God’s forgiveness and strength to overcome them.

Intercede for the World
Pray for the world to turn from wickedness and seek God’s mercy and grace.

Thank God for His Faithfulness
Praise God for His unwavering faithfulness and the promises He has made to His people

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. .

10,000 Reasons

Today is just one of those days.

Frustrated. Irritated. Must be the weather. I got up on the wrong side of the bed. I didn’t sleep well. I wandered around CostCo overloading a cart on the 6-week grocery trip. Traffic is crazy. I don’t like the way people drive, especially those from somewhere else. I want to go sit in the forest, alone. I. I. I. Yes, I know, life isn’t about me. Life happens. Deal with it. Yuke!

So I look through notes kept in Google Keep. I see one about 10,000 Reasons. I read the lyrics. Again. I think if I could get to the 10,000th reading or listening of this song I’d still choke up. Thank You, Jesus!

O LORD
You’re rich in love and You′re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is king
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
from Maranatha! Music
Writers: Matthew James Redman, Jonas Myrin

chorus
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul, worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I′ll worship Your holy name

verse
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It′s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

verse
You’re rich in love and You′re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is king
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

chorus

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul, worship His holy name
Sing like never before, Omy soul
I′ll worship Your holy name

Bless the Lord, O my soul
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

Abundant Life is a Fountain of Living Water — Abundant Life Christian Ministry

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

EDC

Small backpack first aid kit with Star of Life symbol and buckle

A Miktam of David.
Preserve me, O GOD, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.|
Psalm 16:1-4

Every Day Carry. The circumstances may vary, but I carry a few basics with me each day, things I consider essential. A small first aid kit is one. Everyone’s kit is different, personalized.

King David, in Psalm 16, gives us another form of EDC, his miktam, for carrying with him each day. It’s more important than physical first aid kit; it’s a spiritual first aid kit. It’s a preventative dose of essential spiritual vitamins.

Item #1 Trust. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

Item #2 Holy Fellowship. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

Item #3 Idolatry’s Emptiness. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

The King’s list goes on.

We can pray Psalm 16. We can add its good things to our miktam, our EDC.

In his book Diary of Personal Prayer, John Baillie begins day 17 with “Almighty GOD, Who art ever present in the world without me, and in the unseen world above me, let me carry with me through this day’s life a most real sense of The power and Thy glory.”

What a wonderful way to begin our day with our LORD, and to carry throughout all our days.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

A cherry blossom time

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
(Luke 2:29-32)

A neighbor has a cherry blossom tree. Ever since I’ve lived in here in Georgia, I’ve thought it the ugliest of trees. All summer its small nondistinctive leaves dissatisfy. Finally dropping in early Fall, it leaves a sad-looking trunk with barren branches. But early Spring it is beautiful. It is one of the first signs that Winter’s gloom is over, and for a few short weeks its lovely blossoms brighten our world.

Simeon had his cherry blossom time. Lead by Spirit, Simeon goes to The Temple. He is a witness, to the world of his day and to our world today, of something extraordinary.

The following is from GotQuestions. com.

“Simeon spoke to Mary, Jesus’s mother. Simeon said, ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too’ (Luke 2:34). In this prophecy, Simeon said that 1) some of the Jewish people would believe that Jesus is the “consolation of Israel,” and some would not, 2) there would be much opposition to Jesus in the future, 3) Jesus would reveal the truth, and 4) Jesus’s suffering would cause Mary much pain, personally.

“Simeon stands as a testimony of how we, too, should anticipate the arrival of the Messiah. Simeon looked forward to Christ’s first coming, and we anticipate His second coming (see Acts 1:11 and Titus 2:13).

“Jesus, the “consolation of Israel,” is the comfort of all those who believe in Him, and Simeon is a beacon of faith in an unbelieving world and a positive assurance that “hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5, NASB).

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine…

Empty page

Emptiness is not lonely. There’s plenty of company. At least that’s what a pastor was saying in a sermon that I heard recently.

He spoke about the Hopeless Generation. It has the highest rate of suicide. The youngest generation. It’s a lost generation. A bunch of kids that don’t know Jesus. That don’t know Hope. Or Peace. Or Love.

There’s time. The preacher said the best time to be reached, to be found, to be evangelized, is before they turn 18.

Note to self: add that generation to the long pray list.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Distractions

A horse grazing in a countryside field near a hill with a wooden cross at sunset

Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Many distractions. Too many. I need to learn from the horses to just flick them away like they do bothersome flies. Automatically. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and though I don’t have a tail, LORD help me focus on the good portion.

LORD bless, keep, shine. . .

They just haven’t a clue

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD holds them in derision. Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
Psalm 2:1-6