…get a job, have a family—4 to 7 kids should be enough—was my plan before graduating High School. That was 14 years ago. Much has changed—to say the least, and while there’s much more to that story I can’t go back to change anything, nor should I try or pray to. Because where I am now is my opportunity at Change. And being that I consider myself a brother to those of faith in Christ am considering how many might be looking back or even forward pining at what is not reality or truth.
So here we are at time and opportunity to change our way of emotion and logic to organize the reality about us in faith that God hears the yearning of our hearts for truth in love that is real.
These questions of – What might be the change my readers desire for themselves? Where are they around the globe that I might understand their situation, their circumstances limiting their potential at being heard, admired, and encouraged to press on for the joy set before them the individual as well as us collectively—the whole? – concern for the fellow male and female (Man) are but shadows in the dark. Heart warming, yes, but far from faith in the Heart of God.
The true change hoped for right now—not when this is published, but right now, at the time of your reading—is the grace of God experienced by those yet to have salvation. Because there is no greater treasure than to serve the entrance into the kingdom of God…for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you—2 Peter 1:11.
And so what is this change? I ask.
As a person who died in sin, I testify, belief in who Jesus is – is the change that procures promised salvation; and yet, as a person of faith to be alive, I testify, not without suffering. The evidence of change is the experience of spiritual discipline wrought by God through the Holy Spirit in the believing soul.
Can you, reader, articulate the testimony experienced by spiritual discipline in your change from the old self to … new?
In the virtual world, I’m Mario, and no one can beat me. That’s right. Soak it in you game nerds and Gamers!
There was a time when Super Smash Bros was a serious game in my life, no sister or brother could [PAUSE].
You see how inconvenient ‘pauses’ are in our lives.
Pauses, are so frustrating it makes you want to throw a gaming controller from wherever you are in the world to volcanoes in Iceland.
Why are they frustrating?!
Because pauses have the power to throw your entire game off, to cool you from your fire when you’re so hot no one wants to play against you.
So there was a time when Super Smash Bros was a serious game in my life, no sister or brother could defeat me when my character was on the platform…
And then there was Link.
The End. —I should just leave it there, but then Link would win, and I can’t have that!
The point is, pauses, while frustrating when used as a means to be a sore loser, or even, winner, are also necessary for change and growth.
I’ve written consistently for a month, and it’s time for a pause going into our Christmas season.
Of course I still plan on posting throughout December of 2021, but it will be random.
Before the new year 2022, I hit … [PAUSE] … for the love of the “game”, which is our lives coming together in celebration of the greatest gift of eternal life…
32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Was the year 2020 a wayward year? You’re the judge, but TODAY … is more than a NEW DAY! We’ve just kicked off the starting line of a NEW YEAR! TwentyTwenty-one! MMXXI! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2021
The first part of our verse today kills me (no pun intended) because the waywardness of the naïve is seen not only in my environment—as I think of select individuals and their reasons to reject the proclamation for a behavior contrary to the spiritual work of the gospel—but all around the world through social media. I mean if we really looked intently at the law of liberty(James 1:25)next to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. posts can see the alarming nature of the human condition that will kill them. Now, of course, it might be that someone reading this is still in the process of learning about the Christian faith while Christians of the faith are still going through their process of sanctification, and when these two different stages of faith developments’ collide can be catastrophic to the conscience of both parties, but as we go through these Proverbs together will discover the healthy environment that the Holy Spirit works in—to the glory of Jesus Christ.
COMPLACENCY
If you happen to be one of those people who are seeing the nature of sin by the world around you as your conscience bears witness, your spirit gradually descending into depression, don’t fret or become intimidated by the information overload that our advancing society expects us to keep up with; you know… the new trend, or… that new smart technology, whatever it is that compels you to show it off in a new selfie photo, waiting for the ‘likes’ and ‘loves’ of those who care. “OH BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!” Now distracted by the ‘ads’ in the onslaught of social media feeds that the complacency of fools spend there days to grab your attention, sucking your life blood into their vortex of demise, an outcome that will destroy them. It’s time now to turn our attention to the good Word of God that means to save your soul, not destroy it. You see, there is an Eternal Father that loves you more than you’ll ever know because that’s how faith in eternity works, a hope that is for you, personally: Romans 8:24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. So don’t find yourself wayward with the naïve, but blessed by the grace and mercy of God to pray for a clean conscience and live by that faith; don’t get distracted (for at least too long) by the social media drama and become so complacent you forget that perfect law that set you free from sin. Let’s replace the sin about our lives with the confidence we have in Christ!
Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
COMMENTARY
Matthew Henry (P1-V32) Commentary [5.] Now they value themselves upon their worldly prosperity; but then that shall help to aggravate their ruin, v. 32.
First, They are now proud that they can turn away from God and get clear of the restraints of religion; but that very thing shall slay them, the remembrance of it shall cut them to the heart.
Secondly, They are now proud of their own security and sensuality; but the ease of the simple (so the margin reads it) shall slay them; the more secure they are the more certain and the more dreadful will their destruction be, and the prosperity of fools shall help to destroy them, by puffing them up with pride, gluing their hearts to the world, furnishing them with fuel for their lusts, and hardening their hearts in their evil ways.
"NOT WITH INK" 