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Time = Life

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Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

Julia Neves, in a web article titled, The Top Ten Time Wasters and How to Avoid Them wrote: Time wasters, by definition, are activities or tasks that drain our valuable time without contributing meaningful returns to our productivity, effectiveness, or fulfillment. They represent the errands we run, the habits we engage in, or even the tasks we undertake that, despite consuming time, offer little to no substantial value. Michael Gerber once stated: Time is just another word for life. If time is just another word for life then how would you describe your life? Are you an investor in time and life or are you one who wastes the life you have been given?

In this Psalm those who delight in the Lord, in His teachings and instructions, do not waste their time – their life – walking, standing, and sitting – with mockers, or scorners. Mocking and scorning are seen as actions that are contrary to the character and will of God. The Topical Bible states: These terms refer to the act of ridiculing, deriding, or showing contempt towards others, and they are often associated with pride, arrogance, and a lack of respect for God and His commandments. In the Old Testament these characteristics are associated with the sinful, wicked, and foolish. Proverbs 9:7-8 states: “He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself. Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” This passage underscores the futility of attempting to correct those who are entrenched in mockery, as they are resistant to wisdom and correction. The Psalms also address the issue of mockery, often in the context of the righteous being scorned by the wicked. We see this attitude emerging powerfully during Jesus’ five governmental trials of the night before the religious leaders, Pilate, and Herod. Jesus is scorned and mocked by the Romans soldiers, by the thieves on the cross, and by the spectators of His crucifixion. They scorned and mocked Him to the bitter, triumphant end. One writer stated that mockery and scorn are seen as manifestations of a heart that is hardened against God. They are often linked with pride, as those who mock others elevate themselves above them, failing to recognize their own need for grace and redemption. And there it is. Grace is the need of every blood washed saint of Jesus. Grace is the empowerment to do the will of God. Grace is the empowerment that exceeds do-it-your-self righteousness. 2 Peter 3:18 states: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. James 4:6-10 echoes this by stating: But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

To grow in Grace is to grow in agreement and alignment with God’s Word and Truth. To grow in Grace is a daily surrender of every thought that comes from the Spirit of God, and every reminder from the Word of God. To grow in Grace is to do the opposite of Romans 3:10-12. It is to seek to be rightly related to God and others; it is to seek understanding of the Word; it is to seek to be connected to the manifest Presence of God; it is to seek to bear fruit and be teachable; it is to turn to God – in every way of obedience and faith; and it is to seek to be good. Mockers and scorners are resisted by God. Mockers and scorners are not teachable, nor humble, nor meek. They resist the Truth and in their resisting their resist Jesus Who is the Truth. With all of that in mind what are you investing your life in? Where are you spending your time and life? Are you growing in humility, meekness, and dependence on the Lord? Are you growing in His Grace and see its’ vital need? Mockers, and scorners put out the fires of His Grace and grieve the Spirit of God’s presence in their life. But those who delight in God and His instruction are constantly meditating in and on His Word.

No King But Caesar?

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In the Book of Exodus 7:10-12 Moses records the following: So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had commanded; Aaron threw down his rod before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent.11 Then Pharaoh called for the wise men [skilled in magic and divination] and the sorcerers (wizards and jugglers). And they also, these magicians of Egypt, did similar things with their enchantments and secret arts.12 For they cast down every man his rod and they became serpents; but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. Interestingly enough in Exodus 3 Moses’ shepherds rod becomes a serpent. When taking the account regarding Aaron, Pharaohs magicians, and the showdown of the serpent rods one could deduce that the “King Snake” swallowed up all the other snakes. Also, you must add that the Shepherd became a King – this is true regarding Moses and Jesus.

I was curious about the etymology of our English word king and wondered where it all derived. The online etymology dictionary provides the following: a late Old English contraction of cyning “king, ruler” (also used as a title), from Proto-Germanic *kuningaz (source also of Dutch koning, Old Norse konungr, Danish konge, Old Saxon and Old High German kuning, Middle High German künic, German König). It proceeds to state that the word implied a leader of the people, noble birth, a chief, or ruler.

What I found interesting was the late Old English contraction cyning. When I seek to sound it out at first it sounds like I am saying, sinning. Which calls us back to the accounts in Exodus 3, and 7. Were you aware that Pharaoh wore a headdress which bore the symbol of a cobra? Incidentally you will see that symbol on King Tuts burial mask. The cobra symbol is called the uraeus, which is an upright or rearing cobra. It derives from the worship of the goddess Widget – the patroness and protector of the Nile Delta and all of Lower Egypt. Uraeus was a symbol of royalty, divine authority, and sovereignty. Pharaohs wore the uraeus as part of their crown, and it was often depicted with a golden sun-disk on top. The pharaohs thought they were gods and it was only fitting that their “priests” were able to perform supernatural feats.

What many Christians and Jews fail to realize is that Moses and Aaron were sent by God for a showdown with the “so-called” gods of Egypt, and to force all of these idols to bow before the feet of the True Shepherd-King – Jesus! It’s interesting to note that even in Herod’s day (1445 years from the reign of Pharaoh) it was a crime, (whose punishment was immediate death) to say you were a king – as there was no king except Caesar. Which sadly during Jesus’ trial before Pilate the chief priests stated, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). (The chief priests would not even acknowledge that only God was their King).

In 2025 you need to ask are you “cyning“ “making anything other than Jesus your Leader, King, Ruler, or Chief? Jesus is the King Snake who has come to swallow up all other so-called gods, or rulers and He rewards those who make that distinction with a crown of their own. But His crown will not have the depiction of the serpent, satan. No, Jesus’ crown, will only fit on the heads of those who have made Jesus their Crown. In 2025 why not surrender and bow your thoughts and actions to the King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords? Will He be your King? Will you allow Him to swallow up all that has ruled your life?

The Black Spot

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In the book written by Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, pirates are presented with a “black spot” to officially pronounce a guilty verdict. The black spot consisted of a circular piece of paper, with one side blackened while the other side bore the message into the hand of the accused. It was a source of great fear because it meant the pirate was to be deposed as leader, by force or else killed. In the book, Treasure Island, Long John Silver receives the black spot, torn from a page in the Bible and taken from Revelation 22:15: “Without are dogs and murderers.” On describing the “black spot” Stevenson adds the following: The printed side had been blackened with wood ash, which already began to come off and soil my fingers; on the blank side had been written with the same material the one word “Depposed”.

Which brings to mind another interesting detail that’s often overlooked when we read or hear the story of Christ’s birth, and the facts which surround it. Luke 2:7-8 records: And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.8 And in that vicinity there were shepherds living [out under the open sky] in the field, watching [in shifts] over their flock by night.

These two verses alert us to a small detail often ignored, swaddling clothes. Why was this detail significant? Luke 2:12 records the message of the angel: And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

Why was a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes a sign? The researchers for One Path Research state the following: These shepherds weren’t ordinary shepherds…they had a special task that was critical to the temple and the sacrifices made to God. You see, when people came to the temple and made a sacrifice you were to bring a lamb without a spot or any blemish. If you did not have such a sacrifice, you could purchase one from the temple which the shepherds would provide.

Their task was simple. When a lamb was being born, the shepherds assisted with the birth as the lamb could not touch the ground until they were cleaned and examined thoroughly.  If they found that it had a “spot”, or physical defect, they would then put it on the ground so it could mix with the other lambs. It would not be suitable for a sacrifice as only the best could be offered to God.  If the lamb was spotless, or physically perfect, then it was their job to ensure that it did not get hurt in any way and possibly get a “blemish”, which is a small cut, wound, bruise, or any other small flaw from the time it was born to the time it was sacrificed. To make sure that the spotless lamb’s feet didn’t get cut on the rocks, they would wrap the lambs’ feet with clean “swaddling clothes” that were already there for that purpose. Only after the lamb’s feet were wrapped up would they place the lamb on the ground to walk. 

When the shepherds came….where Jesus was laid in the manger, they saw Him wrapped in the same swaddling strips used to cover the spotless lambs to prevent them from getting a blemish and they understood immediately that Jesus was indeed the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29) who came to be sacrificed at Passover, and hence providing a means by which the relationship between us and God can be reestablished for those that accept His gift of salvation and continuously be led by the Holy Spirit as we serve the Lord.

Why is this detail significant for you and me? We are all called by Scripture to “examine” Jesus for spot or blemish. Luke 2:15 states: “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” Even Pilate, in the Gospels of Luke and John, declares: I find no fault in Him. Yet when it comes to examining the claims of Jesus for ourselves we often take someone else’s word for it and forsake the examination. But when it comes to finding fault, examining others as if they were Jesus, we can do nothing but find fault. In fact it seems this is our predisposition. If you are one who is prone to make New Years resolutions, remind yourself that Jesus was and still is examined – in order that you and I could pass the cross examination and receive the “not guilty” verdict from our Holy and Righteous Father. And add to your New Years resolutions: Extend grace and mercy – not looking for the black spots in others lives.