Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Respect
* Scripture: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.." Proverbs 9:10, NKJV

Knowledge is the fact or condition of knowing something. For example, we might know that a stove is hot. We have been told hot, hot, HOT! Don't touch a hot stove. Up to this point we have knowledge. Touch it anyway, and, hopefully, we acquire respect for hot stoves. Now we not only know that a stove is hot, we have learned that touching it is painful, and will likely choose to not do that again.
Now that we have a reason to respect the hot stove, we also gain wisdom, the ability to make good (wise) choices. As our wisdom increases, so does our ability to make proper decisions when faced with a similar situation in the future.
Just as knowing 'about' a stove is meaningless until we learn to respect it, the simple knowledge that God exists is also meaningless until we acquire a reason to respect Him.
Certainly, the full presence of God is beyond our understanding. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, present everywhere and in everything. We can not hide, we can not escape from God. Accepting that awesome truth is indeed the beginning of knowledge about choices we must make.
Yes, we can read the above scriptures as, "Respect for the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Fortunately, the sense of the word "fear" in these scripture verses means to have a reverential awe of God.
. Isaiah affirms that we are all sinners, falling short of the glory of God; "All we like sheep have gone astray." (Isaiah 53:6)
Unfortunately, there is a danger that some might interpret "fear of the LORD" as meaning "to be afraid of" or "expect with alarm," not unlike the unrational fear of a life-threatening condition, or a child with an inordinate fear of stoves.
Consider, for example someone who finds a lump in a breast, or a sore that does not heal. Cancer? Perhaps. I have known people who did not want to learn the truth, fearing both the diagnosis and possible medical treatment, until it was too late to save their life.
Or the possibility that someone, especially a young child, might develop a strong fear of all stoves, to be afraid or apprehensive when in the presence of a stove, hot or not. That is not a desirable reaction to suffering a burn, of course. Rather, we should come to understand both the function and purpose of a stove and the proper behavior when near a stove. Do not be afraid of a stove, but respect it.
Knowledge of sin can indeed lead to fear, every bit as much as knowing the possible effects of a hot stove or of cancer. Consider that Adam was afraid and tried to hide himself from God because he knew he had sinned. (Genesis 3:10) Trying to hide, ignoring God, or avoiding the truth are unacceptable choices.
Just as we come to know and respect a stove or cancer, we need to know and respect the life-threatening consequences of sin, but also to understand that there are other choices that can lift us out of the depths of fear and lead us to peace and life-saving treatment. It is called 'salvation,' and it is free for the taking.
Paul wrote, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NKJV)
Yes, we have choices we can make:

We can deny God and sin, to our peril;
Or;
We can respect the total power and authority of God, acknowledge and repent of our sins, and accept God's gift of salvation - eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
October 15, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: James wrote, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8, NKJV

I suppose that if I were to ask people to define the main theme of the Bible, the overwhelming majority would say “God” or “Jesus.” To take nothing from the prominence of The Deity, my response will be “Relationships.” Please allow me to share my reasoning with you.
Suppose that I tell you that a magnificent rock formation forms the focal point of a vast, trackless desert. You may well say, “So?”
I persist; “It is unlike anything you have ever seen. You really should go to see it for yourself.” Yielding slightly, you may ask where it is located. Should I say, “Australia,” you could rightly comment that Australia is not only far away, but is also a very large country.
“OK,” I say. “I’ll show you a map of how to get there,” and talk about distance and direction, all of which will of course be in relation to some point and to where you are at the moment. Relationships.
Conceding that such a trip may not be within reality, I may throw in a picture so that you can see for yourself the wonders that I proclaim. Again, I need to include some references about substance, length, breadth and height, and how it may compare to anything found elsewhere in the world. Relationships.
God is Infinite, All-powerful, All-Knowing, All-Seeing, All-Hearing. He is known as the “Great I Am.” God “IS!” How do we describe the indescribable? What more to say?
He is the Creator of all that exists; That is a relationship. He wants to be our God, and we are to be His People. That is a relationship.
Think about all that is contained in the Bible. The very commandments proclaim not only God, but the relationship between all things in creation, living and nonliving. Jesus sums up the commandments in Matthew 22:36-40 by stating that a certain relationship should exist between God and ourselves, and between ourselves and our neighbor. The truth of the Parable of the Good Samaritan lies not in who of the three men passing along that Jericho road believes in God, but in who has a Godly relationship with his ‘neighbor.’
Again, it is our relationship to the least of His Children and our response brought about from that relationship that is important, (Mt. 25:31-46).
Suppose that you are sitting in a room which darkens as the daylight ebbs. You are there, the darkness is there, and a light switch is located across the room. To bring illumination (light) into your life, you need to do something about your relationship to that light switch. Get up, move that relationship close enough that you can turn on the power.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
August 14, 2005