Skip to main content

Don't Waste Your Strength!

In my previous post, I wrote about “sound” words.  Those are words that are solid, firm, reliable and stable.  They are also free from error and are based on thorough knowledge and experience.  But it’s not enough to just define what they mean, it’s also crucial to determine their source.

The sound words that are sound in every way come from Jesus:  “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,” (1 Tim 6:3)

Prior to the post about “sound words”, I wrote about words that are not “idle” words.  These not “idle” words are mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy:  “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deut 32:47)

Such words, as other translations put it, give life and they mean life for us.

In this post, I want to focus on one aspect of what sound words and words that are not idle words can do.  Again, in going to the book of Deuteronomy, we find this:  “Soon you will cross the Jordan River, and if you obey the laws and teachings I'm giving you today, you will be strong enough to conquer the land.”  (Deut 11:8)

Many versions translate the laws and teachings as commands or commandments.  As for “you will be strong enough”, here is how other versions translate that phrase:

  • that you may be strong
  • so that you may have the strength
  • so that you stay strong
  • then you will be strong

 

While the words themselves didn’t necessarily give strength, when the words were obeyed, it was then that strength was gained.  And yes, it must be acknowledged that we are not part of those to whom strength was gained in order to go in and conquer the land.  Yet obedience is still a hallmark of the Christian faith..

And, to give an example of how important it is, we can look at it from an opposite perspective.  That is, what could possibly happen to our strength when we are not obedient to God’s words?  David gives us some insight into this when he wrote about what he experienced: 

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.  I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Ps 32:1-5)

When David disobeyed and kept silent about it, his strength was dried up.  When he finally acknowledged his sin and confessed it, he was forgiven.  And not only that, He also entered into God’s blessings.

So while we likely won’t get strength in our day to go in and conquer the land promised to Israel, we can still experience our strength being dried up when we disobey His commands.  And I don’t know about you, but I would prefer to not go about life with my strength being constantly dried up!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Little Words, Big Impact

Sometimes we get caught up in the big words and that certainly has its place.   But, sometimes I think I appreciate the little words even more.   These are one or two or three letters words that can have big meaning and big impact. Take the word “I”.   It is a pronoun that often is used to identify the one who might be communicating.   The communication could be something like “I love you” or “I forgive you” or “I will do that.”   Meaning and impact from a word with just one letter! Take the word “no”.   It can put a stop to things. For example, you could have what you think is a really great idea but if you receive a no, your great idea comes to a screeching halt.   Meaning and impact from a word with just two letters! Take the word “yes”.   It can set things in motion.   For example, perhaps you are in love with that certain special person and you ask that question and they say yes.   Big things are set into motion and yo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Double Entendre

Double entendre:   a word or expression used so that it can be understood in two ways.   For example: Seriously struggle with sin : 1.   Some people seriously struggle with sin.   That is, they see how easily sin entangles and they take their struggle with sin seriously and overcome it. 2.   Some people seriously struggle with sin.   That is, sin easily entangles them and they have serious struggles with sin and they never seem to overcome it. The example is not just theoretical, it is real.   And it is likely that many of us have experienced both over the course of our lives.   But whatever you have experienced, I have some more double entendres that follow a bad news/good news format: 1.   Sin is costly .   The cost is spiritual death.   But we have a Savior who paid the cost with His own life so that we can live spiritually. 2.   Sin has consequences . The consequence of sin is eternal separatio...
Post a Comment
Read more

Flee From/Flee To

If you are going to flee, do it right! What?   Give me a chance to explain! But first, let’s land on what it might mean to flee.   To flee is to run away from a place or situation of danger or evil.   It also means to hurry toward a place of safety. So, here are some possible explanations: 1.   Flee when God tells you: Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt , and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”  (Matt 2:13)   2.   But don’t try to flee from God: But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord . He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord .  (Jonah 1:3)     3.   Flee from danger: For they have fled from the ...
Post a Comment
Read more