Pippa’s first birthday.
Our little great granddaughter Pippa doesn’t always do what her fine parents want her to do. Do you know why? She thinks she has a better way than those who have lived 20 or 30 years longer. But, by experience all of us understand that her parents know way better than she does about everything. Any good parent loves their children and want to lead them in the way that will cause them the least harm and the most benefit.
Let’s make a parallel of sorts to our lives in relationship to God. I’ve been thinking lately about how God wants to bless our lives in such a way that we flourish from our very inner self all the way to our outer relationships. Even our physical bodies receive benefits from embracing God’s instructions concerning life. I’m not talking about living a moral life that merits us Heaven, because that is impossible. Our only hope of Heaven is tightly tied into the forgiveness God gives us as we wholeheartedly believe Jesus died in our place to satisfy the wrath of God against our sins. But rather I mean paying serious attention to what God says about living as He has given it to us throughout the Bible.
An example of what we may ignore, or take lightly, would be this incredible verse. “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”(Proverbs 14:30) Take a minute to contrast a couple of things: a tranquil heart as opposed to an envious soul and life-giving as opposed to bone-rotting. When we ignore God’s instructions concerning envy, we set ourselves up for rotten bones. However, if we take to heart what God says our tranquil heart will give life to our body. Oh, that we would not be like little children, preferring their own self-destructive way over the life-giving instructions of their parents.
This Thursday morning we will be covering Day Four and Five of Chapter 7. Envy will be our main concern and it’s contrast—a tranquil heart. Please plan to join us for a great time of encouragement to live wholeheartedly for the Lord.