The Sayings of Agur
The Saying of Agur
4:37, Everything he does is right and all his ways are just!
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Close your eyes as I read Ephesians 1: 20 -23 from the Message, ‘All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him for death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being but forever. He is in charge of it all, and has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church!’ WOW, WOW, WOW… Can I read that last sentence again… The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church! Now let us go and chew on that for a while!
As mentioned, our family lived in Zambia, where we adopted several children. One of the many things I have always appreciated about the culture is their love for riddles. Thus, I decided to end the year with a brain teaser, for one of the motivations behind this book, as written in Proverbs 1:6, is for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise!
What is greater than God — and more evil than the devil? The poor have it. The rich need it. And if you eat it, you will die.
While you chew on this, let’s go to Chapter 30 and the Sayings of Agur. In verse four, he asks: Who has gone to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
The answers to these questions posed by Agur are wonderfully evident to each of us today and form part of the unique opening to this chapter. In it, Agur acknowledges that his insights, observations, and human reasoning pale compared to God, the source and fountainhead of true wisdom. Although exaggerated, his genuine humility must be commended. Humility comes from recognizing who God is and who we are in relationship to God.
As I look back on this year’s challenge, I need to tell you that there was a time when I felt like I failed every single challenge every week. Clearly, knowing or reading scripture and applying scripture are two different things. Another interesting observation is that my go-to scriptures remain the same!
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Another scripture that stayed with me comes from Paul’s letter to the Colossians: My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK: In the light of this last scripture, we must understand that to comprehend better who God is, we need to grow in our understanding of who Christ is. Dane Ortlund, in his book DEEPER, says we fail to leave sin behind because we have a domesticated view of Jesus, one that has downsized the glory of Christ in our hearts! A sin Paul was never guilty of. In his letter to the Ephesians, he marvels that he, the least of all the apostles, was given this grace – to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. The original Greek Word, translated as unsearchable by some or boundless by others, is paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in the Message as the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ, and the Amplified as the incomprehensible riches of Christ (that spiritual wealth which no one can fully understand).
Friends, very soon, we will celebrate this same Christ’s birth. Therefore, I sincerely pray that we will again be inspired to follow the example of the wise travelers from the East, who fell down after seeing the Child with Mary and worshiped Him. Let us do likewise this coming holiday season – always making Christ the reason for the season!
Oh, and the answer to the riddle I posed at the beginning – NOTHING!
What is greater than God — and more evil than the devil? The poor have it. The rich need it. And if you eat it, you will die.
To Kiss or Not to Kiss
To Kiss or not to Kiss
Many years ago, my husband, without my knowledge, signed me up to preach a couple of sermons during a home visit. At the time, we lived and worked in Zambia as missionaries. At first, I thought it was one of his jokes, but upon closer inspection of our program, I realized that it was legit – I was indeed scheduled to preach on two separate occasions. I did not know if I should laugh or cry – I was too shocked! I reached out to a friend, an older lady with a big heart for missions who traveled regularly to Zambia. I asked for prayer and wisdom.
Her simple answer to my whining was, “It is people like you God can’t use for you refuse to get out of your comfort zones!”
This was not the answer I expected, and I found myself speechless for a second time in one hour. Burning with a mixture of resentment and shame, I very quickly realized how right she was! I needed to step up, for the laborers remained few. My friend turns 80 this year, and we keep in touch. She remains a huge inspiration to me, actively involved in serving the poor, proclaiming the good news of Jesus at Sunday school, and praying for her family and others.
Our Scripture Verse today is taken from Proverbs 27:5. Faithful are the wounds of a friend (who corrects out of love and concern), but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful (because they serve his hidden agenda).
In Luke 7, we read of how a sinful woman with quite the reputation anointed Jesus. When Jesus sensed the disapproval of his host, Simon, a Pharisee, he said to him – “I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.” But what to do with Judas, leading a mob to arrest Jesus? Luke tells us that upon approaching Jesus, He asked, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Understanding these three people’s actions is a matter of the heart. Even though Jesus was the guest of honor at the banquet Simon arranged, one wonders what his motives were, for he ignored the basics of Middle Eastern etiquette, not washing his guest’s feet upon arrival or greeting him with a kiss. In the short parable, Jesus tells us later that night we identify Simon as the man who owed little and was forgiven little; therefore, his gratitude was little. Judas Isacriot’s kiss is an entirely different story. It is the kiss of an enemy and exposes the deceitfulness of his heart. The word deceitful means to multiply, which explains why the ESV translates Proverb 27:5 as profuse are the kisses of an enemy!
But what exactly is a “faithful wound?” Most important is to remember this wound comes from a friend who takes no pleasure in inflicting pain. Understanding that it is for our benefit, they are willing to say that which is difficult. It can be a warning, a rebuke, or a correction, but because they understand that discipline in the short term will prevent potential pain in the long term, they are willing to risk upsetting us! They understand that not wounding us can have far worse consequences! Ultimately, we must remember that Godly love does not cover sin; it corrects sin.
There are many misunderstandings about friendship currently in the world; all lies from the enemy. True friendship is more than keeping things comfortable, fun, and peaceful. Genuinely caring about someone means we are willing to help perfect that person. As Paul reminds the Galatians – Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. The truth is we all need real friends who will care for our souls and be willing to correct us when necessary.
CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Shall we let Solomon have the last word in this penultimate challenge of the year? He warns in chapter 9 not to correct a scoffer (who takes no responsibility for his error) as he will hate you, but correct a wise man (who learns from his error), and he will love you! May God help us be good friends, willing to give brave counsel, and wise when we receive someone else’s brave counsel!
Love your Enemy
Love your Enemy
I came across a story, dr. Martin Luther King shared in one of his sermons, Loving Your Enemies. During one of Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaigns, an opponent by the name of Stanton, for some reason, hated Lincoln. He publicly degraded him, made unkind remarks about Lincoln’s physical appearance, and tried to embarrass him. Despite all this, Lincoln was elected President and, like all previous presidents, was given time to select his cabinet. Naturally, all presidents choose intimate associates, persons they can trust to be the best candidates to implement their programs. When it was time for him to select the all-important post of Secretary of War, Lincoln appointed Stanton. Naturally, there was an immediate uproar in his inner circle, and adviser after adviser cautioned him, reminding him of the ugly things Stanton said about him.
“He is your enemy,” one cried out.
Mr. Lincoln’s answer was terse and to the point: “Yes, I know Mr. Stanton. I am aware of all the terrible things he has said about me. But after looking over the nation, I find he is the best man for the job.” Stanton did an outstanding job and rendered invaluable service to the nation.
After Mr. Lincoln’s assassination, many people said beautiful things about him, but the words of Stanton remain among the greatest. Standing near the dead body of the man he once hated, Stanton referred to him as one of the most remarkable men that ever lived and said, “he now belongs to the ages.”
Through the power of love, Lincoln transformed an enemy into a friend. This same attitude made it possible for Lincoln to speak a kind word about the South during the Civil War when the feeling was most bitter. Asked by a shocked bystander how he could do this, Lincoln said, “Madam, do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” [1]
Today our reading piece is from Proverbs 25: 21-22, If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord will reward you. Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, raises the bar when he tells his followers, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. [2] Luke writes along similar lines in his rendition of the same sermon, But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
It is one thing to preach a message; it is another thing to live that same message. The apostle Paul encourages persecuted Christians exiled through the Roman provinces with these words – But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God. To this, you were called because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [3]
Christians are set apart by how we respond to our enemies. Both Jesus and Stephen asked God, as they were breathing their last, to forgive their enemies. As we are called to do likewise, let us go through a few practical steps:
- Allow God to change your heart
- Put yourself in the other person’s shoes
- Pray for them
- Be first to forgive and show love
- Pursue unity and peace
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK: It was said of Archbishop Leighton, a Scottish minister of the 1600s, that to do him an injury was to secure his lasting friendship. As we fast approach the end of the year, let us ask the Holy Spirit to show us where we have fallen short in this specific area of our lives this year. And if at all possible, let us go and make amends!
[1] https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/212014/a-gift-of-love-by-martin-luther-king-jr/9780807000632/excerpt
[2] Matthew 5:44
[3] 1 Peter 2: 19 – 23
Sayings of the Wise
Sayings of the Wise
As we are nearing the end of what I term the Wisdom Challenge — together pondering how to practically apply biblical knowledge and truth to our everyday lives as a community of believers, I believe a recap will serve as well.
Throughout the book of Proverbs, life is divided into two parts, and thus, we find wisdom and folly, righteousness and wickedness, humility and pride, virtue and vice consistently contrasted. Under the topic of virtue, we discussed some themes in greater depth, like humility, fear of the Lord, good parenting, good management, generosity, gracious speech, and purity. But we also discussed qualities associated with vice, like laziness, injustice, unfaithfulness, and folly. Another theme is that our actions are linked to an appropriate consequence. For example, in Proverbs 22:8, we read that the wicked are punished—Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, while we read in the very next verse that the righteous are blessed — the generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
This week we looked at various proverbs from the section “The Thirty Sayings of the Wise. It is a separate collection of sayings from unknown authors, although Bible scholars tell us they closely resemble Egyptian literature of the same era. Most of them believe that these probably come from one of Solomon’s wives, Pharaoh’s daughter. It is important to note David Pawson reminds us that Solomon recognized that God had given wisdom to people outside the land of Israel. Therefore, he had no problem including it in his work once he put them into the framework of a life lived under God.
Another interesting observation is that these sayings are mostly advice not to do something, adding a reason or consequence to help the listener or reader heed the advice. For instance, Saying Two warns us not to exploit the poor because God will come to their defense, robbing those who rob them. (Proverbs 22: 23,24)
Yet, I want us to ponder Saying Six momentarily: Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank. (Prov 22:29) I was reminded of the story of Gladys Aylward, a housemaid from England who felt called to bring the gospel to the people in China. Without formal education or a missionary organization to back her, Gladys raised her own finances for the trip. In the face of seemingly hopeless circumstances and the Sino-Chinese war, her incredible adventure of faith and determination inspired the world. Eventually, a Hollywood movie with Ingrid Bergman in the lead, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, was produced! During a time of recovery in England and after successfully guiding 100 orphans over hundreds of kilometers to safety, she was invited to dine with Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Phillip. An unlikely hero indeed, and yet her obedient faith in God’s call on her life brought her face to face with royalty!
GRACE CHALLENGE: Despite all this fame, Gladys returned to China, where she continued to live a quiet life with joyful obedience and radical faith, for she truly believed that with God, all things are possible! If you have not seen the movie (not very accurate, by the way) or read any of the books about Gladys Aylward, let this be your gift to yourself this Christmas! You will never be the same again!
The Most High Rules in the Kingdom of Men
The Most High Rules in the Kingdom of Men
As I read through some commentaries on the book of Proverbs, I came across the following story from the Eastern Roman Empire. A Christian monk horrified by the emperor’s wickedness prayed to God and asked, “Why did You allow that evil man to become emperor?” To which God replied, “Because I couldn’t find anyone worse!”
Daniel reminds us in Daniel 4:17 that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people. Daniel, for example, served in prominent positions in the governments of several consecutive Babylonian and Medo-Persian rulers, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus -men placed there by God to fulfill His purposes.
One of the themes in Proverbs is indeed the sovereignty of God. This book reminds us that He made all, sees all, rules all, secures justice, is the source of wisdom, and deserves our worship. It is against this truth that we read Proverbs 21:1. In the LORD’s hand, the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
In another theme, the responsibilities of kings or leaders are frequently described. If you can remember, we talked about this right at the beginning of the year, that one of the reasons behind this collection of wise sayings was to prepare the king’s children for succession!
Let’s take chapter 20 for example:
Verse 2 compares the king to a lion, highlighting his power and the impact of his decisions.
Verse 8 encourages the king to be observant, alert, and test every matter.
Verse 26 commends the king, who can separate right from wrong, and
Verse 28 reminds the king that his position is not dependent on his strength and dominance but upon his relationship with his subjects, a relationship of love, loyalty, and trust!
We must remember that history really is His Story. God reigns supreme. When the politicians we vote for get into office, He is as much on the throne and in control as when those we oppose get elected into power. How reassuring to know we can trust Him, for as Daniel reminds us in chapter 4:37, Everything he does is right and all his ways are just!
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Close your eyes as I read Ephesians 1: 20 -23 from the Message, ‘All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him for death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being but forever. He is in charge of it all, and has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church!’ WOW, WOW, WOW… Can I read that last sentence again… The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church! Now let us go and chew on that for a while!
The Domino Effect
The Domino Effect
I downloaded the Bible in One Year App from Nicky Gumbel earlier this year and was deeply impressed by the introduction to Day 104’s reading titled, How to Avoid the Titanic Mistake.
James Cameron, director of the movie Titanic, describes the Titanic as a ‘metaphor’ of life: ‘We are all living on …(the) Titanic.’
When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was declared ‘unsinkable’ because it was constructed using new technology. The ship’s hull was divided into sixteen watertight compartments. Up to four of these compartments could be damaged or even flooded, and still, the ship would float.
Tragically, the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 at 2.20 am. One thousand five hundred thirteen people lost their lives. At the time, it was thought that five of its watertight compartments had been ruptured in a collision with an iceberg.
However, on 1 September 1985, when the wreck of the Titanic was found lying upright on the ocean floor, there was no sign of the long gash previously thought to have been ripped in the ship’s hull. What they discovered was that damage to one compartment affected all the rest.
Many people made the Titanic mistake. They think they can divide their lives into different ‘compartments’ and that what they do in one will not affect the rest. However, as Rick Warren (from whom Nicky took this illustration) says, “A life of integrity is one that is not divided into compartments.’
Since reading this illustration earlier in the year, I have been deeply impressed by its truth. All elements in life are interrelated. Therefore, each thought, each action, and each word must flow from “an undivided heart’ to quote David’s prayer from Psalm 86:11. We dare not think that worry in one area or lack of faith in another will not quickly spread and affect every other area and aspect of our lives, too. Proverbs 22:8 says, “He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow,” and Galatians 6: 8 says, “He who sows to his flesh will … reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will … reap everlasting life.”
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK: Do you separate parts of your life from your faith in Christ? If yes, why? Remember, as Christians, everything we do, think, and say is for God’s glory, honour, and praise.
Flying High
Flying High
Since childhood, I have loved fairy tales and fables, firmly subscribing to the power of stories, and these days, I greatly admire those who can tell them well. One of the stories that have stayed with me all these years is about a skillful architect, craftsman, and artist named Daedelus – a man who symbolized wisdom, knowledge, and power and his infamous son, Icarus! Unjustly imprisoned by the King of Crete, Daedelus created wings attached by wax to their bodies, and with those, they escaped to Greece. While he landed safely on the mainland, Icarus, full of pride that he could fly like a bird, ignored the advice and warning of his father and soared further and further away from Earth. As he got closer to the sun, its powerful rays melted the wax, and he lost his wings. As you will remember, the young man, Icarus, plummeted to his death because of pride.
Our Scripture reading for today comes from Proverbs 16:9, it is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoiled with the proud. But who is the proud, and how do we find ourselves among them? I was reminded of the apostle John, who warns believers in his first letter not to love the world. In the Amplified translations, verse 16 reads, For all that is in the world — the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life (pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things)— these do not come from the Father but are from the world.
Pride lurks everywhere, and I must confess that I sometimes feel its pressure both internally and externally! Whether our ambitions, insecurities, or fears feed the pride or expectations from the workplace, our wider family, or the social circles we frequent — pride is ever prowling around, waiting to pounce on us! We often wilfully choose to follow the masses, allowing ourselves to be swayed by their powerful opinions displayed on every screen imaginable – from billboards and road signs to online advertising interrupting every story and documentary. Eventually, we can divide all temptations into these three categories: power, money, and beauty. At this point, I need to remind everyone listening that we are never entirely safe from them, regardless of our good intentions and earnest and honest resolutions.
For this reason, we need to regularly implore our heavenly Father for his help, meaning we should start looking up, and that way more often than looking around and comparing ourselves to others. With the Holy Spirit powerfully present to steer us clear from every pitfall, we can count on his piercing presence, shining bright as daylight in our hearts and minds, to bring clarity and establish his peaceful rule. Thus inspired, may we ceaselessly ask for the old ways, grow adept at spotting the humble, and be joyfully motivated by the authentically good and godly!
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: None of us can say that there have not been times when we have given in to harmful desires to be more, earn more or own more. Therefore, let us look at Paul’s advice to the young man, Timothy, that godliness accompanied by contentment is great gain, for since we brought nothing into the world, we can take nothing out of the world. May God open our eyes this week to quickly spot the humble and adeptly steer clear of the proud!
Life and Death
Life and Death
Several years ago, I did a correspondence counseling course called ABCE – Association for Biblical Counselling & Education. Pioneered by Larry Crabb, its goal is “to free people to better worship and serve God by helping them become more like the Lord.” In the years since I did the course, I have mobilized many people from various continents to do this same training, and I have many of Larry Crabb’s writing on my bookshelf. You can imagine my surprise when I came across the following testimony.
As a youth, Larry Crabb developed a stutter that once humiliated him in a school assembly. Not long after this event, he prayed aloud during a church service. This time his stutter caused him to get both his words and his theology mixed up. He expected a stern correction from the leadership and decided to slip out of the service. One thing he was sure about – he would never again speak in public. On his way out, an older man caught up with him, “Larry, there’s one thing I want you to know. Whatever you do for the Lord, I’m behind you one thousand percent.” Larry shared that his resolve never to speak in public again disappeared into thin air. Today, he is a respected public speaker, effortlessly addressing large crowds worldwide.
This week we are meditating on the concept of encouragement, and today we are looking at Proverbs 18:21, the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. In the light of this scripture, we can call encouragement “life words” as they cheer up, comfort, and console others – just like the elderly gentleman’s words of encouragement gave life to a young Larry Crabb’s defeated dreams of one-day entering the ministry of some sort.
We must remember that what we say begins deep inside of us, and thus we must diligently care for our thought life, for once we put our thoughts into words, we must understand that they will either produce poison that will lead to death or fruit that will nourish and strengthen.
In a Desiring God article,[1] the writer reminds us that in John 14:26, where the Holy Spirit is called our “Helper,” Jesus used the noun form of the verb encourage. In other words, as our Encourager, the Holy Spirit is an “empowering presence” and “helper” among us.
- As God’s hands, feet, and mouthpiece – there are numerous ways we can encourage and help others, coming alongside them with hope and help.
- We can verbally encourage people with positive words, admiring their talents and celebrating their successes!
- We can write notes to our family members, not just on their birthdays, but when we pack their lunch boxes or pray for them!
- We can visit lonely people and help them with technology, advice, and practical assistance – as God leads us! Often, they are not touched with love or laughter, for there are many whose loved ones live far away. Others don’t know Jesus and are stuck in old thought patterns and held prisoner because of their unwillingness to forgive. Then there are mothers with small or sick children juggling work and kids, a tight budget, and long hours. May God show us today how we can bring life, not death, help and hope, not doom and gloom, and build others up with faith and trust as we help them look up, not down!
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Ask God to show you how you can tap into His Holy Spirit as an “Empowering Presence” and “Helper” more regularly and more desperately – so that together with Him, we can communally and creatively choose LIFE and be LIFE. This reminds me of the proverb: correction may mold us, but encouragement will motivate us!
[1] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-surprising-ministry-of-encouragement
The Three Amigo’s
The Three Amigo's
When my children were younger, we enjoyed the classics, both on screen and as prescribed readers during homeschooling. Among our favourites were stories where unlikely friendships were formed, like Charlotte the barn spider and Wilbur, the pig, Baloo the bear and Mowgli the boy raised by wolves, and Pooh and Piglet. These childhood tales are often repeated in real life where equally unlikely friendships have fascinated the world; like the friendship between Mark Twain and Helen Keller; Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald, and the two literature giants Lewis and Tolkien, both professors at Cambridge.
As you can recollect, this week, we read two proverbs mentioning friendships. First, we were reminded that a friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity, and then we were reminded that while unreliable friends will lead to our ruin, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Friendships are compared to lifts because of their ability to take you up or down. While we certainly have examples of both types of friends in the Bible, the three friends of Job and Daniel make an interesting comparison. While these two men lived hundreds of years apart, they had surprisingly much in common.
o Both went through severe trials and faced various challenges.
o Both were found blameless in the midst of severe testing.
o Both were blessed by the presence of God.
o Both can be considered giants of the faith.
o Both had three significant friends, and it is with this last point that the comparison ends.
Job’s friends were supposed to support him. Initially, they did, sitting down on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights, not saying a word to him. [1] If only they remained quiet, but soon they began to weary him down with long miserable discourses, offering simplistic answers to the topic of suffering. Their advice is a mixture of truth and falsehood, and thus God tells Eliphaz at the end, ‘I am angry with you and your two friends because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. [2] No wonder Job calls them, ‘miserable comforters.’
In contrast, Daniel’s three friends were very different. As high-profile prisoners of King Nebuchadnezzar, they were handpicked to be educated in the King’s Palace in all the ways of Babylon. This education certainly included magic and fortunetelling. Yet, they united in their obedience to God first and put it into practice by abstaining from all delicacies that might have led them to sin. United and strengthened in this resolve, they supported each other through tests and trials that characterized living in Babylon. What a precious friendship they put on display throughout their lifetime!
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: We desire friends who will stick with us during good and bad times, for we not only want a buddy’s shoulder to cry on when we are disappointed but also someone we can celebrate with when we are happy. Instead of weighing our friends, let us look into our own hearts today and ask ourselves – “What kind of friend am I?”
A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine
A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine
The original Mary Poppins movie with Julie Andrews in the lead has been a family favourite for some time. One iconic song, A Spoonful of Sugar, is still occasionally sung in our house when one of my young adults particularly dislikes a chore that needs doing.
The idea behind the song apparently stems from a conversation the songwriter, Robert Sherman, had with his young son, Jeff, about the polio vaccine. Jeff recalls how afraid he was of getting shots and how he would often run away from nurses trying to administer them. So when he told his father one afternoon that he had received the polio vaccine at school, his father was naturally surprised.
‘Didn’t it hurt?’ Robert Sherman asked his son.
‘No, they put it on a sugar cube, and you just ate it,’ Jeff explained.
According to Jeff, his dad immediately went to the phone to call his uncle. They had been struggling to develop a new song in the place of one that Walt Disney had rejected. He wanted something snappier. Robert Sherman’s conversation with his son finally gave him the catchy slogan he and his brother needed: A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down!
This week we are revisiting the heart, taking another look at this most important organ. In Chapter 17:22, it says A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. I find it fascinating that medical article upon medical article has been written about the benefits of laughter, and that on every level — physical, mental and social!
Listen to what today’s “clever” people have to say about the advantages of laughter and that after lengthy research[1]:
Physical: it boosts immunity, lowers stress hormones, decreases pain, relaxes your muscles and prevents heart disease.
Mental: it adds joy and zest to life, eases anxiety and tension, relieves stress, improves mood and strengthens resilience.
Social: it strengthens relationships, attracts others to us, enhances teamwork, helps defuse conflict and promotes group bonding.
While the Bible is no psychological textbook, it surely gives the wisest counsel! For Christians, joy is a fruit of the spirit, and thus combined with faith and hope in Jesus Christ, we should be pictures of health in all seasons and all circumstances. I always think about King David’s repentant cry in Psalm 51, restore to me the joy of your salvation and Jesus reminding the 70 upon their return not to rejoice that they have authority to trample on serpents and scorpions but that their names are recorded in heaven.
Thus, as saved Believers, our joy should be immense, our confidence in Christ unparalleled and our faith in His wise counsel and meticulous care a testimony to everyone!
It is not by accident that Christ commands his followers on seven occasions to be of good cheer! In English, the word “cheer” means to shout for joy in praise or encouragement, cheerfulness, optimism, or confidence. In John 16:33, the AMPLIFIED version, we read some of the last words of Jesus to his disciples: I have told you these things so that in Me you may have (perfect) peace. In the world, you have tribulation, distress, and suffering, but be courageous (be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy); I have overcome the world.” (My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.)
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: It is said that he who laughs lasts, but we cannot always be cheerful. Solomon is clear about that when he writes there is a time to weep and a time to laugh. Instead, I believe the Bible teaches us that Christians should intentionally cultivate a happy and cheerful heart. Therefore, ask God to show you this week where and when to put on the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
[1] https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm
