Hey gang. I've noticed my hit counter's not rising as rapidly. Sigh. Looks like we're the hardcore remnants! I shall have to stir up interest again somehow. Possibly by making sure these go up during daylight. Onto business then,
Today's readings
Exodus 29:1-30:38
Mark 6:6b-29
Proverbs 5:15-23
Exodus is more laws and it's all stuff that's so detailed it's hard to get a sense of meaning from it. I think that this is still the case of God expecting His people to be focused on Him but also I think that it shows just how much the people would have to go to so that they felt acceptable to come to God. While reading this I just kept wondering why the early church thought it should be included in the Bible. Just because the Jewish faith included it? Well no, I think God put it here for a reason and I think that is to show us how lucky we are that we can come to God with whatever problem we have, whatever time of the day. Take advantage that there are no hoops to jump through or rules to follow with God. We just talk and He listens.
Into the New Testament we motor and we read of John the Baptist's execution. I like how it describes John as having something about him that Herod had to keep coming back to even though all John did was make Herod feel guilty. To me that's an amazing example of God being inside someone. When you see someone so commited to the work of God in their lives that they actually make you feel humble and guilty that you aren't doing more. Herod knew that when he looked at John, he was looking at God and being judged for his weaknesses. And God gives him chance after chance to change, compelling him to return to John time and again. But ultimately it's down to choice and even though, as king, he could have told Salome to pick something else, he turned his back on his heart and on God in order to stay in the same old rut. Feeling bad about yourself isn't a sin. It's often a calling to do something to change your situation. And if that something can be a way of spreading God's love and justice in the world then what a fantastic positon we'll be in!
Finally our Proverbs continue and we're reading about appreciating what you've got for the time you've got it. Specifically in marriage but this does apply to all sorts of situations. There are relationships we have that we might get bored of or tired of. Whether it's parents and siblings or friends who just won't stop demanding our time and attention, there are people we wish we could just toss aside. But this is warning us that the benefits and blessings we get from that person will be lost to us. Jesus was never in the habit of turning people away. People rejected Him certainly and He sometimes made it hard for people but He never told them to leave Him and not come back so to speak. Nor would He ignore those who wanted His attention. I think this portion of Proverbs is warning us about the dangers of ignoring the steadfast and reliable blessings in search of the more exciting and dangerous life we could have.I know that yesterday I was talking about taking chances and risks but I think this is different. We should be risking ourselves in doing God's work and in trying things we might not think we're suited to. But doing those things shouldn't leave behind the people that God has put in our lives.
And that's your lot for today. Three pretty disparate passages and dealt with nice and quick. Not that anybody seems to be reading these anymore! :p Why not remind Jon you read with a comment here or on facebook.com/british.hedgehog? Yesterday's song is here. Questions, criticisms and comments welcome as always
Jon
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