There is always a FIRST step.

There is always going to be a first step!

When we were infants crawling on the floor, our families encouraged us to make the first step. And when we did, their delighted whoops inspired us to take another step. Slowly, but surely, we got more steady on our tiny legs, and eventually we couldn't stop moving.

It is the same with most things in life, and even so with our faith. We must always start with a first step and when we succeed in that action, so the other steps flow from this momentum. The writer of Proverbs suggests that if we want to live godly lives, we should listen to Wisdom and live out the principles of faith. However, there is a crucial first step. Read what he says:

1 These are the proverbs of King Solomon of Israel, David’s son:

2 He wrote them to teach his people how to live—how to act in every circumstance, 3 for he wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did. 4 “I want to make the simpleminded wise!” he said. “I want to warn young men about some problems they will face. 5-6 I want those already wise to become wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth.”

7-9 How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! (Proverbs 1)

Thought: What is your first step going to be today?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Use your freedom wisely

"Nothing that is God's is obtainable by money."

"He who lives only to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies."

"You cannot parcel out freedom in pieces because freedom is all or nothing."

All of these quotes are attributed to the early Christian author, teacher and Church Father, Tertullian. What I find remarkable is that some truths are timeless. His words are just as relevant in our modern era, as they were in the 2nd Century.

Surely, the same can be said of the sacred Scriptures. They may have been written in a different time, location and generation from our own, but they always speak into our current lives. 

Galatians 5:13 - For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other.

Living in grace

D3LM3

Last words

Coming to the end of his thoughts on life, wisdom and choices, Solomon gives us these profound words. Having read through the previous 12 chapters of Ecclesiastes they certainly sum up his sentiments neatly. 

"That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

This is the best advice we could pass onto the younger generation, and those who still need to hear this advice: 

Let us have a reverence for God (a holy fear) and be willing to follow God's ways. In the end, we will all be judged according to our actions and I am grateful that my life will be judged by one person only - The Lord.

"The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else." - Oswald Chambers

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Chasing the Wind

Have you ever tried to catch a piece of paper that is flying in the wind? It's difficult isn't? Now, have you ever tried to chase the wind itself? It is totally impossible to achieve that feat and that is Solomon's point when he writes:

^"I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. ¹³ I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. ¹⁴ I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind.

¹⁵ What is wrong cannot be made right.
    What is missing cannot be recovered.

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them.” ¹⁷ So I set out to learn everything from wisdom to madness and folly. But I learned firsthand that pursuing all this is like chasing the wind." - Ecclesiastes 1:12-17

In trying to find the answers to all of life's BIG questions Solomon searched everywhere - all human wisdom at his disposal - but he found no satisfactory answers. It was like he was chasing the wind. There was going to be no answers in human knowledge, but rather in discovering the purposes of God.

As you seek to follow God may you find the answers you are looking for.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The way of fools

It amazes me that nothing seems to have changed in the hearts of people for thousands of years. With all our inventions, technology, skills, access to knowledge and ability to master our environment, we are still yet to gain control of the 'person within.' The heart of a person is still swayed by sin and we need the grace of our Saviour to break the chains that bind us. Read these words to see where I am coming from.

"The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.
The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." - Proverbs 12:15-19

We still live in a world where the 'way of fools' seems to be lauded as the best way and how reckless words pierce the hearts of innocent people. The only thing that may have changed is that now the 'way of fools' is also posted all over the internet and not just spoken in public.

Let us commit to becoming people of wisdom and Christians who follow the directives of Jesus.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Learning from the ant

There is so much to learn in this life and if we reckon we can't learn from the smallest, weakest and youngest then we are standing on dangerous ground. It is not just those who have degrees, large bank balances and big followings that can teach us true wisdom. Listen to these wise words of instruction:

"You lazy fool, look at an ant.
    Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
    All summer it stores up food;
    at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?
    How long before you get out of bed?
A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
    sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,    poverty your permanent houseguest!" - Proverbs 6:6-11

What are we able to learn from the 'smallest' in our communities at the moment?

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” –Zig Ziglar
 
Living in Grace
D3LM3