Seeds For Thinking

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Scripture: “Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him who speaks what is right.” (Proverbs 16:13)

I’ve been looking for little green men. Actually, at images representing extra-terrestrial aliens, as imagined by artists and Hollywood. It’s hardly a major revelation to point out that many movie aliens bear a strong likeness to humans, unless they are drawn in animation.
If aliens really do exist, then, what do they look like? Are they little green men in space suits? Do they look like the drawings of the aliens that supposedly crashed near Roswell, NM? If so, they are about four feet tall, skinny, with long arms, big round head about the size of a basketball, tiny nose, and big eyes about three inches wide which are shaped like a football. Do aliens have lips? These examples seemed to have a small mouth and, possibly, thin lips, or no lips at all, as far as I can tell.
Well defined lips seem to be a common characteristic of humans. According to Genesis 1:27, “God created man in His own image.” But what about all the other intelligent, cosmic inhabitants? Hollywood has created aliens in man’s image, convenient for storytelling, because you already know how to read their intentions. Their behavioral cues are familiar, and you can tell if their game plan is to be amorous or aggressive.
The Bible has a lot to say regarding lips. They can be unclean, stammering, flattering, perverse, righteous false, or burning. “An evildoer gives heed to false lips; a liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.” (Proverbs 17:4) We are counseled to “Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.” (Proverbs 4:24)
Righteous lips may be used for prayer, praise, vows, singing God’s judgments and spiritual fruitfulness. “Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him who speaks what is right.” (Proverbs 16:13)
When Isaiah saw the Lord, “sitting on a throne, high and lifted up,” and heard seraphim crying out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts,” he confessed that he was a man of unclean lips, dwelling in the midst of a people of unclean lips. In this instance, his iniquity was taken away, and his sin was purged by the touch of a hot coal to his lips. (Isaiah 6:1-7)
Perhaps extraterrestrials can speak whatever they choose to without violating Biblical principles, if they truly have no lips. However, I think the same rules apply to them as to us humans, because “lips” is a metaphor for speaking, as is reference to the tongue and the mouth.
James notes that “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:10) Peter, likewise, counsels that “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.” (1 Peter 3:10)
People judge us by what we say, and how we say it. Our lips bear witness to our innermost thoughts. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Be sure you are filled with His Spirit, and have no attitude contrary to love. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12)

Note: Biblical references are from the New King James Version

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* Conclusions
* Scripture: Jesus said, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” Mt. 11:18-19, NKJV

An incident that happened to me while growing up on the farm brought home the full meaning of the maxim “Look before you leap.”
We had a lane, an unpaved path, connecting several fields with the buildings in the farmyard. One low spot was a perennial mud hole, stirred up into a gooey slop from vehicle and livestock traffic. As I rode my bicycle down the lane to fetch the cows in for the evening milking, I noted a pile of gravel that Dad had apparently brought in to fill the mud hole. Wow! A launch pad, just waiting to shoot me into the wild blue yonder.
Peddling furiously, I strove for takeoff speed. Up, up, up, perfect form! From my elevated viewpoint, I now had a full view of my landing point. Alas! Bicycles have neither air brakes nor wings. I quickly understood why Dad had not yet spread the gravel; he had dug a ditch to install a drainage pipe in the wet area, which now lay open before me. The laws of physics and gravity kicked in big time. Bicycle, boy, and bold aspirations of flight reached the lowest common denominator.
A quick survey from the bottom of the ditch determined that the major damage was to my dignity, but my collective wisdom clicked up another notch.
Add this thought to your maxim collection: “If in doubt, check it out.” My pride would not have taken such a tumble, for example, had I simply checked out both sides of that gravel pile.
What does this have to do with the chosen scripture passage? Well, hopefully it will serve to illustrate that leaping to conclusions can result in bad decisions, just like blindly jumping a gravel pile.
Jesus was likening his contemporary generation to children at play, comparing their refusal to join either a mock funeral or a mock marriage in the marketplace to the people’s refusal to accept either John the Baptist or Jesus. Instead, they stood aloof from both, making excuses based on wrong conclusions about them (vss. 16, 17.)
Seen from the proper perspective, neither John nor Jesus were in error. John was following the tenets of the Nazarite vow, as established in the Laws of Moses, and was not to eat nor drink anything from the grapevine. Matthew, Chapter 11, affirms that John’s behavior was consistent with prophecy and scripture, and their conclusions about him illustrated their lack of knowledge.
Likewise, their conclusions about Jesus were in error. Jesus points out that the well have no need of the physician, and that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (Mt. 9:12, 13)
True wisdom is not found in the “children” who stand aloof, but in those who accept Jesus and John.
Yes, jumping to conclusions is indeed a tricky business.
July 10, 2005

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Scripture: Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. (Romans 5:18, NKJV)

I recall a verse of an old camp song that was a humorous take on Biblical history. It started with Adam, of course:
Adam was the first man that ever was invented;
Lived all alone, but never was contented.
Made out of mud in the days gone by;
Hung on the fence for the sun to dry.

Add Eve to the picture, toss in some fruit (apple?) and things go downhill from there. Though intended as a parody on the creation of man, the verse is based on these truths:

Adam was created by God, not born of flesh and blood.
Adam was formed of the dust of the ground, and God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
Adam became a living being.
Adam lived alone until the creation of Woman, Eve.

Just in case you wondered, nothing is said in the Bible about Adam drying on a fence.
Unfortunately, the Bible records that Adam and Eve broke the agreement with God concerning the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Isaiah speaks of the result of this sin:
The earth is defiled under its inhabitants,
because they have transgressed the laws,
Changed the ordinance,
Broken the everlasting covenant.
Therefore, the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate.
(Isaiah 24:5-6a, NKJV)
When God created mankind, He chose for Adam to represent his posterity as "federal head" in the covenant of works. That is why Paul writes, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation . . .”
But God is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
Still, God demonstrated his love for us, so that one righteous act resulted in justification of life for all people. Justification is to declare or make someone righteous in the sight of God. Through God’s Grace, justification is a free gift to all people.
That one Man’s righteous act Paul is writing about is the sacrifice for the salvation of all people who believe on Him. You probably have heard His name - Jesus. He is also called:

* The "Son of Man" (Mark 14:61-62)
* "The Christ" (Matthew 16:16)
* "Lord" (Romans 10:9)
* "Messiah" (John 4:25)
* "Leader and Savior" (Acts 5:31)
* "Redeemer" (Isaiah 49:26)
* "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) . . . among other titles.

The term Christ is a title rather than a proper name and identifies Jesus as the anticipated Messiah of the Old Testament.
He is sometimes called “The Second Adam.”
What a contrast; two men, both created by God:
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)
Through Adam’s offense, judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation; However, “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1a)
December 20, 2009

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

Scripture: The LORD said, “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.”, Ezekiel 18:31, NIV

Reported dialogue in the TV program Friends: I'm so glad you guys got drunk and had sex,” said Monica to unwed parents Rachel and Ross. Then, inspired by the blessed event, Monica and hubby Chandler retreated to a janitors closet to try to make their own baby. (Newark Advocate, May 17, pg. 3D)

Ezekiel lived during a time of great wickedness in Israel and Judah. Although he was an exile in Babylon, living by the Kebar River, God gave him visions of the events taking place in Jerusalem. The images were not pleasant; Ezekiel saw all the depravity and idolatry taking place, even in the Temple itself.
The LORD describes the land as being full of bloodshed and the city (of Jerusalem) full of injustice. (Ez. 9:9) “They say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’ So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.”
Ezekiel saw in his vision Cherubim go into the temple, a cloud fill the inner court, full of the radiance of the glory of the LORD. Yes, the LORD was present, but not for long. As Ezekiel watched, the Glory of the LORD rose up, and departed the temple.
The LORD declares that “The soul who sins will die.” (18;4b) The righteous man, “he will surely live,” declares the Sovereign LORD.
So what is the ‘detestable’ man like? 18:10
He eats at the mountain shrines.
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
He oppresses the poor and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.
He lends at usury and takes excessive interest.

(This is a partial list, of course. Nor does one have to do all of these things to qualify)
The 18th chapter declares that the man who sins will be punished; the sinful man’s father (assuming he is righteous) and the sinner’s offspring (if they are righteous) will not die for the sinful one!
A righteous person who turns to sin will be punished; a “wicked man who turns from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.” (18:21)
Is this just? Is the way of the LORD right? The house of Israel says that the way of the LORD is unjust. The LORD responds, “Is it not your ways that are unjust?” (vs. 25 )
“Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! ”
Pass it on . . .
May 19, 2002

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Scripture: Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31, 32 NIV
“Radical Hospitality” is the name given to an emphasis on welcoming strangers and newcomers into the churches. Why radical? Well, perhaps this little story will help explain.
A man took a fancy to a church notorious for its exclusiveness. He told the minister he wished to join. The minister sought to evade the issue by suggesting that the man reflect more carefully on the matter, and pray for guidance.
The following day, the man told the minister: “I prayed, sir, and the Lord asked me what church I wanted to join. When I told Him it was yours, He laughed and said, ‘You can’t get in there. I’ve been trying to get in that church for 10 years myself, and I can’t get in.’” Thomas More, Holy Humor, 1996, Fellowship of Merry Christians, pg. 27
Exclusiveness . . . being overly choosy about who enters the church, whether as a member, or just to visit. Some churches have apparently become so ‘heavenly minded’ that they are of no earthly good. They turn away the very people that Jesus sought to minister to. Look carefully at the scriptures. It was the poor, the lame, the blind, the outcasts of society that came to Jesus, and were healed.
The religious leaders criticized Him severely because Jesus associated with such people. Read (among other references) Luke 5:27-32. Jesus saw Levi, a (despised) tax collector, and invited him to follow Him; he did so, and and invited many of his tax collector friends to a banquet where Jesus was the guest of honor. Of course, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law complained about Jesus’ conduct.
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (vss. 31, 32)
It’s a shame that those who should be “known as Christians by our/their Love” have gotten to the point that it has become ‘radical’ to minister to the “outcasts” that don’t fit the up-scale image some churches have adopted.
Indeed, Jesus would not fit the image they demand, either. The calendar may change, but human nature doesn’t. Unless, that is, they open their heart’s door to Jesus, and invite Him in.
What a ‘radical’ change He’ll make!
September 9, 2001