Tuesday, November 19, 2019

A LAMP AND A LIGHT

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

On display at the Convent of the Sisters of Zion in the Old City of Jerusalem on the Via Delarosa are several oil lamps from ancient times. During my last trip to Nazareth, every member of our group of 100 was given a lamp like the ones above by the people at the Nazareth Village. A wick came with the lamps, but we must fill the lamps with olive oil and light our lamps. Olive oil is the symbol of spiritual life! The Spirit of God is symbolized by fire. Let’s be energetic in shining our lights in the darkness of this world!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Proverbs 6:6, 9

Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise…
How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?

 

Solomon encourages industry and hard work! He mocks the “sluggard” and tells us to learn from the “ant.” Discipline, diligence, perseverance and co-operation are all evident in the energetic work of an ant. The next person Solomon describes is one who is not slothful, but even worse. He devises evil. He busies himself with stirring up dissension and deception. Everything he does with his mouth, eyes, feet, and fingers (possibly referring to rude gestures) reflect the perversity of his heart. He sows discord and will reap calamity upon himself. God loves the sinner but hates sinful ways. Solomon lists these ways in the form of a numerical proverb. The six that are listed are a background for the seventh which is: “He sows discord!” The opposite of this is the prayer of Jesus found in John 17:20-26.

The oil and fire are a “Lamp” and a “Light” (Proverbs 6:23a)! God’s Spirit and His Word will keep us from the totally destructive activities of the last twelve verses of Proverbs chapter 6! Amen!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that by Your Spirit and by Your Word I will learn to not be slothful in the way I use my brief time here on earth. Grant the grace to me sufficient to keep me trusting You and obeying your Word! I pray for these mercies in the Name of the One who always obeyed You throughout eternity past, during His earthly life, and who will continue to obey You, Father God, throughout all eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!!! (Hebrews 5:7-9).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

[Note: This blog post was originally written November 19, 2015]

I’m at our daughter Elaine Stacey’s home just now. The spare room bed is exceptionally comfortable. It was a challenging decision this morning to “Rise from your [my] sleep.” The question is asked, “How long will you slumber?” In my final years as the daily host of the 100 Huntley Street daily live telecast, I would rise at 3:30 a.m. to prepare my heart and mind for the new day. It is said that it takes two weeks of constant repetition to form a habit, good or bad, and less than that to break a habit. I confess that now in my 80th year, I’m rising a little later. Nevertheless, the principles are the same. Discipline and regularity are vital to spiritual health.

In his autobiography, our new Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, tells the story of taking the Alpha Course at a church in his area. The 100 Huntley Street telecast introduced Alpha to Canada some years ago. Click here for a look back at an interview I did in 1995 with the Alpha Course Founder, Nicky Gumbel. Whether or not we voted for Mr. Trudeau’s political party, let’s remember to pray for him daily. “Pray for those in authority” is the clear instruction from the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Yours to help us all “RISE and SHINE!”

David

P.S. The photo below is at the Nazareth Village in front of a 430 year old olive tree which we visited with friends. The Nazareth Village is an effort to recreate life as it may have been at the time when Jesus was a Child, a Teenager, and a working Man until He was 30 years old and began His public ministry.

In Nazareth Village with a shepherd.

9 thoughts on “Tuesday, November 19, 2019

  1. Dear Lord God, thank You for your faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see. Lord, how we need You! You are our stability, our rock in the shifting sands of our feelings. Please forgive us of all our sins, and help us to put our faith in You. I like David’s prayer asking for grace to obey You, so I ask for your grace, Lord God, to trust and obey You.
    Help us to share your gospel with others, Lord, and bless all your workers today, we ask in Jesus’s name, amen

  2. Thank you for this blog.It is a continuing source of nourishment and understanding.
    Still praying to the Great Physician for Ann’s healing.God bless
    The World Forgot

    The world forgot what is right
    For we were supposed to teach them,
    By sharing with them the light
    But we could not reach them.

    Not long ago we ‘were’ them
    Until we found the light He gives;
    The One the world would condemn,
    Then died to show He lives.

    They don’t want to know our ways
    For they think their ways suit them best,
    But we know how it dismays
    When one begins the quest.

    We must begin to reach out
    Or we may loose them all to sin,
    So we must defeat the doubt,
    To plant the seed within.

    Using words at their command
    Will allow His word to imbed,
    Thus they can then understand
    How He rose from the dead.
    GW(Bill) Marshall/26 July, 2015

  3. Amen Rob and William. Remembering MarioD’s cousins today. May the Lord watch over them and draw them to Himself. Elena is such a pretty girl and remember her photo as a little girl at the orphanage. How the Lord has blessed her. Say Amen to psalm 6 today. Woke up today to seeing everything coated with freezing rain.

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