Solomon
said that there is a time for every purpose
under heaven, stating further there was a time to keep silent. In the
text, he
means that one should be silent rather than speak. Lets’ look
at another
thought that may be gleaned from this.
We
live in a world and society of movement and noise.
Teenagers drive by with their radio speakers blaring out such noise as
to
rattle the windows of the house. On their walk around our lake, there
are those
who have their ear-phones, listening to something. Have we lost the
calmness
and serenity of stillness and quietness? One of my favorite places is
in the
swing in my backyard. Here it is quiet, here it is peaceful. No radio,
no noisemakers
except the birds as they give forth their God-given song. It is here
that more
than eighty percent of these moments of reflection are written, this
one
included.
It
is good for the heart, it is good for the emotions,
and it is good for the soul to take time out of each day to be quiet,
to be
calm, to be still. While doing thus, take that time to quietly count
the many
wonderful blessings of God.
Leftovers for the Lord
By Ernest S. Underwood
How would you feel if you had bought something that was
supposed to be new and to find out that it was used and almost worn out? Or to
buy an animal, thinking that it was healthy, later finding out it was diseased
and sickly? I doubt if any of us would be pleased with such an arrangement.
One thing I do know—God is not pleased with such.
Listen to His words in Malachi 1:18:
“And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you
offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would
he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably? Says the LORD of hosts.”
Will the Lord today accept a “blemished” offering? If
we deliberately defile our bodies with the poisons of tobacco, alcohol and
drugs, will He accept such without genuine repentance on the part of the user? Will
the Lord accept a “blemished” religion, one concocted in the councils of men?
Will He accept “blemished” worship? Are we offering to Him a pure body, a pure
doctrine and pure worship authorized by Him?
