The other day, someone said to me that I am randomly weird. I thought, goodness, is that true? Do we wonder about how we are perceived in this world? What about when we know God’s commandments, but for whatever the situation is, we chose to ignore them? Would that be considered randomly weird? Remember, God sees all and knows all, so I would say doing that, yes, would be randomly weird. Let’s see what God has in store for us in this week’s scriptures.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 1)”Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2)”You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. 6)”So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7)”For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? 8)”Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today? 9)”Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. What I see is that God doesn’t need us to embellish His Word. We are tempted though, when we are, we are definitely straying from what God intends. But lead by example, if we are following these commandments and God is listening to our struggles in this world, people will notice right? Yes, as we maneuver through this life, staying on this path, doing as God asks, His protection is over us.
Psalm 15 1)O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2)He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. 3)He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 4)In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5)He does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. Here we find a question being asked and a response given. A follow up to the commandments on what behavior is expected of us.
James 1:17-27 17)Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18)In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. 19)This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20)for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21)Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22)But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23)For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24)for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25)But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 26)If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27)Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Hmm, well, this stems from the commands of God. He knows our hearts and minds, He knows that we will be angry, and He asks that we hold our tongue. It is okay to get angry, it is usually a misunderstanding that brings it about. However, when we pause and think about what has happened to bring this on, we see a solution. Perhaps the discernment from the Holy Spirit.
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 !)The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2)and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed.3)(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders;) 4)and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5)The Pharisees and the scribes ask Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” 6)And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7)’BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ 8)”Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” 14)After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15)there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 21)”For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22)deeds of coveting and wickedness as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23)”All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. Okay, so back to the beginning in Deuteronomy where God says openly, “Do Not Add to My Words.” Do we enjoy piling on and tilting things in our own favor? Yes! What does God want from us, to understand and follow the commands that He has set up for us. When we add on, we move away from Him, just as this scripture says, their mouths say, but their hearts do not. It is not about hand washing, though depending on what you have been doing with your hands, it is a good idea to wash before you eat. But it is about what precedent God has given us. Think about that when you think someone is at fault, compare it to the Word of God.
So what did you find the most intriguing in the scriptures this week? I hope that we can do a great job of being hearers and doers. Praise be to God.
Through Christ, Seek God,
D.J. Schoneweis