Harry Whitt on the Journey with Jesus
More than likely, we all have lied or committed “false witness” in the recent past. What am I talking about? You know all those “terms of agreement” boxes you have checked and signed-off-on; those thousand-word, small print, legal “gobbly goop” things that no one ever reads yet you confirmed as read and understood by initialing. I have done it too! I am not making a case for reading all of that but to get you think about letting your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’
There have been thousands of books written about being successful, rich, happy, fulfilled, and the list seems to never end. Everyone seems to be looking for that formula of life that will bring the blessings of peace and joy.
Jesus began a sermon with some verses we call the Beatitudes (Blessings). It is not a formula but a lifestyle likened unto Jesus. For the follower of Jesus, these are not optional nuggets of wisdom but the principles for our lives as we journey with Jesus.
Young Mary was from an obscure place and from a common family, yet God had a plan for her life that would be filled with greatness and personal pain. Many people are looking for significance in life and often try to find it in the wrong place and in the wrong way.
Recently as part of my continual reading through the Bible, I once again “stumbled” upon a scripture the Holy Spirit used to grab my attention. It was in Exodus 36:2-7 where Moses instructed the people to bring an offering of materials for the construction of the Tabernacle. They were to bring items of gold, silver, bronze, jewels, linen, thread of blue, purple, and scarlet, acacia wood, and other items.
Autumn is upon us and I am wondering where this much of the year has gone. Time flies when you are having fun, as the old saying goes. There is nothing like being and working in the Kingdom of God; knowing that you are part of something so much bigger than yourself.
When I leave my home I travel a little over three miles before coming to a “T” intersection. I have a choice then of going north or south; that is my only choice. If I turn north, you could say I’m going toward the city of Boaz or Albertville but if I turn south, you could say I’m going toward Attalla or Gadsden. Our direction of travel indicates our destination. How foolish people would think me to be, if I traveled north hoping to arrive at a city to the south. So it is with life, too many folks are traveling north with the thought of arriving somewhere south.
I am not sure if this is a sermon or a confession, because of the sins I will describe I have also been guilty. The thoughts of empty words have been rumbling in my heart for some
time now. This rumbling is not just for a sermon or post but is also the conviction of the Holy Spirit to bring me into a better alignment with the image of Jesus—to be like Him. So, let my lesson of empty words be your lesson as well.
The story of the Exodus was a pivotal point in Israel’s history. Moses had led the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage by the power of God. When they came to Continue reading “According to the Pattern”
I heard a story about a mother and her small daughter back in the day before car seat laws. The little girl was standing up in the seat as her mother drove and the mom told her daughter several times to sit down. Finally, the mother became more adamant telling her daughter to sit down. Knowing that her mother meant business, the child reluctantly sat down but told her mother, “I’m sitting down but in my heart I’m standing up!” I imagine many of us are like this, we comply with certain laws or guidelines but in our hearts we are somewhere in the realm of compliance in the spirit of rebellion.
