Okay, so this morning I excitedly sit down to have breakfast with God. My plate of French toast, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and syrup drizzled over them was prepared. (Yes, in the picture that is FOUR slices all for me.) My cup of milk, not coffee, was ready for sipping. The Word was open on my computer in four various translations. Life was/is good!
Then, I started reading Proverbs 26:10-12, and my appetite got disrupted. (See verse 11)
10 Hiring a fool or a stranger who is just passing by is dangerous—you don’t know who might get hurt.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit, a fool does the same foolish things again and again.
12 People who think they are wise when they are not are worse than fools.
Really? I am trying to enjoy a scrumptious (and sugary) breakfast here.
Then, as I continued reading the scriptures, the appetite for my breakfast and His word returned. Whew! Good thing, because I was hungry for both.
Titus 2:1-8 instructs us to:
- Have self-control, wisdom, and be strong in faith, love, and patience.
- Live the way those who serve the Lord should live, don’t gossip, or drink too much.
- Teach what is good.
- Love your spouse and children, and teach them to be wise and pure, take care of their homes, be kind, and wives willing to serve your husband.
- Be a good example in every way by the good things you do.
- Teach younger ones to be honest and serious.
- When we do right, no one can criticize us. Others won’t have anything bad to say about us.
A God-Filled Life (The Message translation)
2 1-6 Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
7-8 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.
All of these are great instructions of how to live right in God’s sight. As I glance back over the list, I can see how when we abuse these characteristics, trouble comes our way. Don’t abuse, but use.
I was also reminded in Jeremiah 42-44 how when we seek God, He will give us an answer. It may not always be what we would want to hear, but His way is best whether we like it or not. When we go against God’s will, again…that’s when things go seriously wrong. Go God’s way, not your own way.
Now I am as happy as my grass is right now getting watered by God. My body and soul are fed. Now let’s get this day going.
I couldn't eat ALL four. My eyes were bigger than my stomach.
Blessings and God’s abundant love to y’all.
