God's Law is my Natural Law

All nature silently and faithfully keeps the laws of God

They grow and live as they were created to grow and live

They are called natural laws and no one questions them

People try and change them, modify them, or ignore them

But they are unsuccessful.

When I learn to silently and faithfully walk in the law of God

I will be blameless

I will have an upright heart

My way will be pure

I will have all that I need.

I will be like a tree planted by streams of living water

I will yield my fruit in its season

I will produce leaves that will not wither

I will meditate on God’s law day and night

I will be blessed by God.

God’s law is not a duty

It is a delight

God’s law is not a burden

It is a blessing

God’s law is to be my natural law.

MISDIRECTED SENTIMENTS

It is amazing to me how the death of a celebrity can invoke so much attention and outpouring of love and emotion.  Most of us don’t know these people personally, and yet we act and feel as if we do.  Why is that?

It is not that I begrudge the outpouring of sentiment at the death of Robin Williams; I feel great sadness at his death, especially because it was death by suicide.  But do we feel that level of sentiment towards our neighbors or people we pass by in the streets that we would morn their death and begin battle cries for more attention to depression or mental instability that would cause one to take their own life?  Do we take the time to pay attention and listen to them, or help them out if we can?

I wonder about misdirected sentiment sometimes.  I see people who treat their pets better than they treat the people around them.  I see such concern for saving animals and such ignorance about saving the lives of babies in their mother’s wombs.  I see people totally involved in issues of folks in other parts of the world but have no clue about the elderly or handicapped person that lives next door to them. 

Robin Williams had it all; all except hope and joy in his life.  People who commit suicide have lost all hope; all connection to true meaning in life.  I know how that feels.  I also know I would not be here if I were not a believer in the Giver of hope and the Giver of True meaning in life.  This earthly life is difficult and without God it is impossible.

I did not know Robin Williams personally.  But I know myself.  I know that if I did not have God in my life I would have checked out a long time ago.  When I was at my lowest people told me about God and that He loved me; they told me about Jesus, who was Life himself, and gave of himself abundantly.  Where are those voices now?  I don’t hear them much anymore.  The churches are too busy arguing among themselves; too busy trying to keep their buildings and their programs going; too busy for the purposes of God in this and every generation.  The number one purpose being loving and attending to one another, all one anothers, especially the ones closest to us, in our homes and in our neighborhoods.

GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT

When money becomes the bottom line, the source of our being, then we make everyone we serve a consumer and the rule is, the consumer is always right.  In the quest to keep the money flowing, the sales up, the wants and needs of those we want and need to buy our product are first and foremost in what is being produced.  Whether or not the product is really the best thing for the consumer is second to the like and dislikes of the consumer.  So we inquire as to the likes and dislikes of the people.  This may be good model for a business but it is not a good model for a healthy, holistic, and spiritual Christian life.

The characteristics that Jesus presents in the Beatitudes of what the kingdom of God requires are not our humanly desired characteristics; most of them are the exact opposite.  In a poll survey how many people would check the box for poor in spirit, one who mourns, one who is meek, one who puts God above all others, embrace being persecuted?  Merciful and peacemakers, as long as things go the way the person wants them to go might be checked, but for the most part kingdom characteristics are not our natural first choice.  Neither is giving away all we own, any kind of sacrifice, loving our enemies, or putting other people before us.  These crucial characteristics plus putting God first in our lives are not the items people would check in what they want in their lives or in a church.

A business survives by listening to the consumers and giving them the products they want.  We live in a consumer world where the customer is always right is the rule that is followed.

A church that God builds survives by listening to God and receiving all that He gives them with thanksgiving.  In the kingdom of God He is always right and His ways are the Way, the Truth, and the Life that are to be followed.

Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem.  He drove out the money changers and told them not to make his Father’s house a house of trade, a den of robbers, in other words, a business.  The temple was destroyed.  But God’s House will remain forever.

          “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who built it labor in vain”

Psalm 127:1