Are you a busy bee? Do you fly from here to there buzzing all the time? Are you constantly putting one step down after another? Do your wings flap as fast as a humming bird? In this age of technology, it can seem like we are all going from here to there with a constant goal in mind.
My Dad and I have a game when we go to the coffee shop or sit on a bench in a mall. I invite you to try this some time. Sit somewhere public and watch how people walk. Do they walk with a purpose? Do they walk with excitement? Do they walk like they don't want to go wherever they are going? Or are they slowly walking and enjoying the walk? Oh no! Exercise! Yes. Some people do enjoy walking. Note the expression on their face. What does it say? Read their body language. Think about how you walk to wherever you are going. Is it fast or slow? What are you thinking on? As you may be able to tell, today's devotional is on deliberate movement and stillness.
In Joshua 1:8, God tells Joshua, "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be
prosperous and successful." Now, you may ask how this has to do with movement and stillness, but I tell you it has much to do with it. By meditating on God's word, there is less room in our minds to think about doing things that are against His law. To do something like this, we need to be thoughtful and deliberate. If we go about our every action in a mindless manner, then we risk falling into a meaningless life. By being deliberate in our thoughts, we can be deliberate in our actions. So, if you are walking along and you are thinking about Proverbs 19:17 which says, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done," you will be more likely to be kind to the poor. For instance, you might be thinking of that verse and see a homeless person. What will you do? You do not have to do anything big for that person. The verse merely says to be kind. How will you be kind to that person? It can be small. It can be big. It is whatever God lays on your heart. You may ask, "what if they are faking it?" Think about that.
If they are faking it, then they are obviously in need of someone to show them the love of Christ by being neighborly to them. I tell you, do not worry about the wicked! We have so many verses that tell us what will happen to them (Proverbs 14:11, Psalm 37:17, Philippians 1:27-28, etc.). Let the Lord take care of the wicked and be kind to all you see, even your enemy (Mathew 5:44). Be deliberate in this way so that you may reflect God well. God made us in His image (Genesis 1:26). He sent his Son to die for us while we were still wicked in His sight. He loved us even when we were wicked. Why should we not do the same? Jesus commands, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mathew 5:48).
This can seem like an impossible task. It is impossible without God. Job 34:14-15 says, "If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust." We cannot even live without the spirit and breath of God. How then can we be perfect like God? First, God is with us (Jeremiah 1:8, Isaiah 41:10). Second, by confessing our sins, God purifies us (1 John 1:9). (to read more on this particular topic checkout the devotional titled, Worthy Through Christ) So it is through Christ that we can be perfect like our Father in Heaven.
The point here is that we need to be thoughtful in what were are thinking and doing. Do not run from place to place. Do not try to run away from the wave as it comes crashing towards you. Instead, plant your feet firmly on God's word and let the wave crash by you. It will be easier to continue on your way if you are prepared for the wave than if you are running from it and do not even see it coming. If you are fleeing it, your back is turned toward it and it can easily sweep you off your feet and carry you farther from where you are going. I leave you with this verse: Psalm 46:10 "He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."".
Related Scripture
-1 Joshua 1:8 "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
-Isaiah 65:17 "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind."
-Proverbs 19:17 "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."
-Proverbs 14:11 "The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish."
-Psalm 37:17 "for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous"
-Philippians 1:27-28 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God."
-Mathew 5:44 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you".
-Genesis 1:26 "Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness...""
-Jeremiah 1:8 "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord"
-Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
-1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
-Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.""