THE WORD FOR FRIDAY THE 13th - NEGLIGENT
For some reason, the number 13 is also associated with an alleged phenomenon called "bad luck". You and I know there is no such thing as "luck". What the world calls luck is an event which occurs with, or without the blessing of God. What some call "good luck" is actually a point in time where all the hard work and preparation for whatever the cause comes together, within God's timing, to where one is put on a path to fruition of one's dreams. There is no such thing as an overnight success either. But back to the number 13 - this number is so feared that some tall buildings would not even have a 13th floor listed on their elevator! Now there will actually be 13 floors built into the buildings as the next number after 12 is 13! So they are only fooling themselves.
Folks would believe and follow and act on all kinds of Friday the 13th superstitions from crossing their fingers; wearing so-called "lucky" socks to; to carrying rabbits' feet made in China to....you name it. They will not walk under ladders and by the way, the only good time NOT to walk under a ladder is if there is a can of paint under it. They will be scared of black cats. Some will even throw salt behind them and on and on...
Yet, these same folks will neglect the Word of Truth. I find myself in agreement with DL Moody who once said "This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book"....in reference to the Bible. Still most church leaders, in the western world, are negligent in shepherding the flock God gave them to lead into spending time with both Him in prayer, and reading the Scriptures daily. Most of the modern preachers do not even carry an actual bible into the pulpit and rely on electronic devices and powerpoint illustrations to do their messages.
Here is what Jesus said about neglecting the Word of God...and He confirms precisely what I just mentioned about Black Friday. In Mark 7:8 Jesus said "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." He was speaking to those who go through all kinds of rituals and burn themselves out following these things, yet would not following the simplest, easiest and most direct teaching from our Maker Himself, when HE Is the One Who cares the most about us!
Webster's Dictionary describes negligence as "failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances". Imagine you, as a surgeon, taking great care NOT to leave a pair of scissors inside of a patient after surgery, so must we as believers, be very careful NOT to let the things of this world take us away from that which we know to be true and holy and right and wonderful and purely good. Let us pursue that....and not the traditions of men!
Psalm 119:16 "I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word"
(images courtesy google)
No comments:
Post a Comment