This morning I noticed that Debbie was sleeping in, which I thought was good. Then I discovered it was because she was sick, which is bad. She has been the energizer bunny for the past two years with so much on here plate from work, a move to Fort Collins and my extended illness and needs. I thought she was “sick proof.” So please remember Debbie in prayer and believe with us this will soon pass.

I’m glad that I brought my power wheelchair into the house a few days ago. I felt it would be better to have it out of the extreme temperatures, but it come in handy for my to get around the house and help take care of Debbie this morning. Outside of that we are doing well and continuing to look to the future and trust the Lord in what He has for us.

 BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “You have never had any use for knowledge and have always refused to obey the Lord. You have never wanted my advice or paid any attention when I corrected you. So then, you will get what you deserve, and your own actions will make you sick.”  Proverbs 1:29-31

These verses at the end of Proverbs chapter 1 offer a stern warning. Wisdom is needed for a healthy and prosperous life. The opening verses of Proverbs promises the following: “…They can teach you how to live intelligently and how to be honest, just, and fair. They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful. These proverbs can even add to the knowledge of the wise and give guidance to the educated…” Proverbs 1:3-5

I like that the “inexperience and the young” as well as the “wise and educated” are all included as benefactors was what the Proverbs have to offer. Those who are “wise” understand that learning is a life-long process. They continue to add to their knowledge and life experiences and apply that to there own life and use that to share with others as well.

As I was scanning the TV channels, I came across a rerun of the movie “Forrest Gump.” It just happened to be the early part of the movies where the young Forrest shared with Jenny the words of his Momma, “stupid is as stupid does.” “Stupid” to Solomon would be spurning wisdom and instruction. Having an open mind and heart to learn and a willingness to submit to the Lord is the key to a happy and healthy life. It isn’t a protection from life, it is a guide on “how to handle life.”

When someone resists and rebels, they find themselves exposed to the consequences of their own actions. When Solomon warns, “your own actions will make you sick”; that can be realized both physically and emotionally. The warning of Paul in the New Testament is “you reap, what you sow.” (Galatians 6:7) If you sow obedience and faith, you reap strength, wisdom and the Lord’s help. If you sow, rebellion and living by your own standards, you reap hardship and brokenness.

This is not judgment or punishment from the Lord. It is simply the natural consequences of the life that one chooses. I point out that much of the Book of Revelation is the Lord allowing the natural consequences of people’s choices, lifestyles and desires to come about. When the world in its actions and even words say, “we don’t want God in our affairs” the Lord allows them to realize the natural consequences of His presence removed from the earth.

The good news in all of this is that God is a God of mercy.  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end…” (Lamentations 3:22) Remember “mercy” is when we don’t receive what we do deserve. An old hymn that speaks of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross says, “mercy there was great and grace was free….” We can escape the natural consequences of our own actions and lifestyle, by choosing the supernatural provision of a God who sent His son to die for us. Who suffered the natural consequences of our sin, in our place.

The wise heed warnings. The wise make the right choices. Act as one who chooses wisdom today, by submitting your life each day to the Lord.

This morning was fairly laid back with even some additional rest this morning after my normal morning routine. The past few nights just before “bed time” for me, I have really felt fatigued. That may be due to more activity during the day and just making some adjustments.

I did have my fitness workout with my trainer today. I believe we have a good workout routine for me to follow on my own. I will begin just a one day a week with my trainer for the next six weeks and see how things go from there. This afternoon produced some nice warm, sunny weather, so it was good to get out and take the dog on a longer walk.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…Then they [the Wise-men] opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”  (Matthew 2:11)  “Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.”  (Mark 15:23)

It is interesting that we find at Jesus’ birth and at His death a reference to the substance of “myrrh.” First of all, it was one of the gifts brought by the Wise-men when they visited the infant Jesus. It was a gift of value and a gift that spoke of royalty. One commentator observed that the frankincense and myrrh were probably of greater value than the gold brought by the Wise-men.

Myrrh was known for many uses: as a fragrance, as a spice used in burial and as a substance used for medicinal purposes. As a medicine it was known to treat several aliments including joint pain. So, I guess if Joesph had any joint problems from his work, he had a ready made treatment in addition to something of value that could be sold and used to support the family.

Of all the gifts myrrh is view as the one that spoke of the not only Jesus’ kingly status, but one that spoke of the fact that “He was born to die.” Some translations refer to “myrrh” as the ointment used on Jesus before his crucifixion. On that occasion Jesus did say, “…She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” (Mark 14:8) It would have been customary for myrrh to be used for this purpose.

Some have also observed that myrrh is extracted from the tree in which it is found, by cuts make in the bark that would allow the substance to ooze out. This could be a foreshadowing of Jesus suffering and the stripes of the whip that He bore which Isaiah said, were for our healing.

On the cross Jesus refused the wine mingled with myrrh as a sedative. Some believe that the myrrhed wine was given to our Lord from a sentiment of sympathy, to prevent him from feeling too sensibly the pain of his sufferings.  Although it was a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion “wine mingled with myrrh”  the effect was to produce insensibility.

In rejecting this “drink,” – Jesus endured the full brunt of the pain of crucifixion and was able to utter the words from the cross that we have recorded in scripture, not from a drug induced state, but as one who came to fullfil the will of the Father to the end.

So, we find the spice that was a gift of honor to the baby Jesus, proved a temptation to Him on the cross. But He refused any “way out” of suffering for our sake, whether through His prayer in the garden or the wine-myrrh offered to him in His pain.

What can we take away from these observations. I believe we can see the provision of the Lord and have confidence that He does “take care of His own.” We see how the gifts at the beginning of Jesus life foretold of the life He would live and one day give for us. As Jesus modeled for us, God’s plans are always the best to follow and to see unfold in our lives. And then I believe it is important for us to recognize when a “gift” is a “blessing or a curse.” That calls for us to be sensitive to the direction of the Holy Spirit and the Lord’s will for our life.

Today proved to be busy day. The weather was great for January. Warm and sunny. I even took time to take down some outside Christmas decorations and take the dog for a walk. I had a good meeting with Mike Walker and Zane Strange with Serve 6.8. This is the community outreach arm of Timberline Church and the group that built our handicap ramp and has been so instrumental in providing assistance to fire and flood victims in recent years. I toured the Murphy Center that serves as a hub for meeting the needs of the homeless and near homeless. This is an amazing community success story.

In preparation of some future opportunities, I had to take a couple of suits in to have them altered. The tailor suggested that I skip a few meals! Perhaps I need those who prayed that I gain weight, pray that I lose weight. Overall it was good to be out and about and active for most of the day.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “They left Egypt in such a hurry that they did not have time to prepare any food except the bread dough made without yeast. So they baked it and made thin bread.”  Exodus 12:39

The history of unleavened bread is established with the final judgment on Egypt and the death of the firstborn in the land. The preparations included a lamb brought into the home and then killed. The blood of the lamb spread on the door posts of the home and the baking or preparing of unleavened bread.

The bread was made without yeast because there would not be time for the bread to raise before they needed to leave Egypt. So the bread without yeast was thrown over their shoulders and at least provided some food for the initial exodus. But unleavened bread took on a significant meaning for the Israelites. The Lord established for His people the feast of unleavened bread, where all yeast was to be removed from the home for seven days. The penalty for disobedience was severe. “If you eat anything made with yeast during this festival, you will no longer be part of Israel.” (Exodus 12:15)

Unleavened bread became a symbol and reminder of the deliverance the Lord brought to His people in Egypt. It was a reminder that salvation from death comes through submitting to the Lord’s direction and coming under His protection. It was a call to vigilance, because it was “eaten in haste.” They had to be anticipating the deliverance that was coming and not focused on the cares of their current life and existence.

When we come to the New Testament we see leaven as a symbol of sin. It is something small that is introduced into the bread mixture but before long it spreads and takes over. The Lord is reminding us that is what sin does in our life when it is unchecked and allowed to remain. Leaven is pictured as an “old way” of life and is connected to sinful behavior.

Jesus warned his disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1) As Paul writes to the Corinthians he says, “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?” ….. “let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:6,8)

We need to make application to our lives today of these principles. It is not the practice of actually “eating unleavened bread” that is as important as understanding that our lives are to be lived committed to the new life Christ has brought to us.  Remember, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) Don’t return to an old life or an old way of proving  yourself worthy to God.

Be vigilant in your life about what is in your life. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” (Ephesians 4:31) Paul also gives these instructions, “…put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  (Ephesians 4:22-24)

There are some important lessons for us to learn from this Old Testament pattern. What is important for Christ follower today, is not eating unleavened bread, but making sure we have an “unleavened life.”

It is good to be back home. With my trip to Atlanta over, I am ready to move full ahead into the new year. I have some upcoming appointments that may provide some opportunities for some work and am looking forward to the coming months. I returned to my normal home schedule with some office work and a trip to the fitness center. As I walked into the fitness center, one of the staff members commented how he has observed a marked improvement since the day I came in to sign up as a member. So, I am glad for the incremental improvements and pray that they will continue.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people.”   Exodus 8:22,23

“On the day when I act…I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”         Malachi 3:17,18

As the Lord sent the plagues came upon the Egypt, we see that the first three plagues impacted all people. The Egyptians and the Hebrews. The river turned to blood, the plague of frogs and the gnats would seem to be enough for anyone. The Egyptian magicians were able to replicate the first two plagues but when the gnats came they were at a loss and had to admit, “this is the finger of God.” (I have always found it interesting that Pharaoh turned to Moses to end the plagues that the magicians of Egypt were able to replicate.)

Then the Lord did something that is not reflected in the movies about Moses and the Exodus. He made as distinction between the Egyptians and the Hebrews. The rest of the plagues that ended up ravaging the land, as Pharaoh hardened his heart, were not present in the Land of Goshen, the home of God’s children. The explicit reason was so that Pharaoh would see and recognize the the Lord is God and this was His doing.

This distinction between God’s people and the Egyptians was to be more than just a protection during judgment; it was to mark the identity of a special people and a special nation. The God they worshiped did not have an image for them to bow down to. They were given the law to follow and directions for their life and conduct. This was not to be a source of pride, but a call to obedience that would lead to a life of blessing.

Through the generations that followed, God’s people failed in this responsibility. They became enticed by other nations and people and it led to their compromise, disobedience, idolatry and final judgment from the Lord. As the prophet Malachi foretold of a day of restoration and renewal we find again the Lord’s promise that,  “…you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

As followers of Christ today, understand that while we are under grace and not the law, our lives are to be lived in a manner that is honoring to the Lord and reflects His character to those around. Peter in his first letter puts it plainly to believers,  

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9,10

The distinctiveness of our lives is motivated by understanding what Christ has done for us and the life and purpose He has given us in Him. We can be confident that as we honor the Lord with our life and place our trust in the Him, He will be with us and one day before He returns we will see the reality of Peter’s words come to pass…

“…the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.”         2 Peter 2:9