It is more than listening

"Listen to me, young people, and not only listen but obey; don’t let your desires get out of hand..." - Proverbs 7:24-25

It is so frustrating when you speak to someone and it seems like they are listening to you, but they are actually in another world. I am sure that this has happened to you before and, if we are honest, we have also been the ones ignoring someone else. 

The reason I bring this up today is because 'listening' to the word of God is only half of the process. We must take the time to listen to what God says, but we must also have the desire to obey these life-giving words.

Coming back to the lockdown we are all experiencing at the moment - there are many people who listen to the instructions of the government (which are given for our safety), but who can't be bothered to obey them. Take for example, the guy who tried to smuggle his girlfriend into another province - it was almost comical to see her lying in the boot of the car while the TV camera's were taking pictures and footage of their transgressions. She looked so sheepish and embarrassed.

Listening and then obeying God's word is not only important for our spiritual health, but also for our relationships and community well-being.

What do you think?

"It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey." - Saint Ignatius

"The ship that will not obey the helm will have to obey the rocks." - English Proverb

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Protecting your eyes

"My child, remember what I say and never forget what I tell you to do. ² Do what I say, and you will live. Be as careful to follow my teaching as you are to protect your eyes. ³ Keep my teaching with you all the time; write it on your heart. ⁴ Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend." - Proverbs 7:1-4

There are a few interesting points from today's Proverb that I would like to highlight.

1. The author is so convinced of his words of instruction that he urges the listeners to 'do what he says!' This is a simple, but profound point, because there are many people who are good at speaking, but very bad at following up with their actions. 

2. Following Godly wisdom of the Truly Wise will add 'Abundant Life' to our days.

3. We must hold onto Jesus' teaching as we would seek to protect our eyes. Obviously our eyes are such an important part of our body - they help us orientate ourselves in the physical world. In a similar way, our spiritual eyes will help us navigate through our spiritual world. 

4. Writing God's teachings onto our heart means to know it so well, that is almost as if it has been engraved on our hearts.

5. Wisdom us to be treated with dignity, honour and respect.

“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” -  Soren Kierkegaard

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Your Heart must be a Tablet - Lent #8

Your heart must be a Tablet!
No, I am not suggesting that it be an Ipad or Samsung Tablet, but rather a place where important information can be stored. This is what Solomon was suggesting to the young man in Proverbs 7:

"My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
² Keep my commands and you will live;
    guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
³ Bind them on your fingers;
    write them on the tablet of your heart." - Proverbs 7:1-3

You see, he knew that the young man was about to be tempted in a big way and so he wanted him to "bury" the word of God deep in his heart. Solomon was urging this young man not to fall into temptation, but rather to hold onto the 'ways of God. He speaks about the teachings of God as the most precious thing of all - the apple of your eye.

In my experience, it is too late to write the words of Jesus on my heart, when I am in the middle of a battle with Temptation - the words need to be there already. The pull of any temptation can sway a virtous person from their stride, but if we seen to bind the word of God to our heart, we can fight off this temptation.

Don't try and fight your battles alone. God is on your side. Read his word and allow his teachings and grace to strengthen you daily.

Living in Grace
D3LM3