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Listen while you read: "I Will Sing The Wondrous Story"1 (Lyrics) |
"Before she got all gussied up, she looked as plain as a turnip," crowed the old woman. She didn't have much of an opinion of our locally-grown celebrity.
Her comments reminded me of Mark Twain's famous line, "Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education."
Who are we really? What do people hide behind their calm smiles, blooming bank accounts, or "poor me" demeanours? Should we be cautious?
Joshua 9:3-6 – But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they worked cunningly, and went pretending to be ambassadors and took [provisions and] old sacks on their donkeys and wineskins, old, torn, and mended, and old and patched shoes on their feet and wearing old garments; and all their supply of food was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, We have come from a far country; so now, make a covenant with us. (AMP)
Unfortunately, the Israelites depended on their own wisdom.
Joshua 9:14-15a – So the [Israelite] men partook of their food and did not consult the Lord. Joshua made peace with them, covenanting with them to let them live. (AMP)
They did this on a stranger's word and a mouldy lunch? What? Three days later, they found those visitors to be liars, but because they'd made a deal, they were stuck with it. It didn't turn out so well for the liars either. They spent the rest of their days as woodcutters and water carriers for the community.
Are you in the midst of some kind of deal now? Whether it is for a babysitter or a building contract, beware. First, consult the One Who knows all!
Prayer: Lord, let it not be said that we, Your people, are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Amen.
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Amen sister!!
Very good advice.
Good to hear from you Brenda. Very inspiring.
Ah yes, seek God first, call upon Him in the day of trouble, and He will direct our steps and lead us to safety in His arms. Thanks for the reminder. Blessings.
Thanks Brenda – And sadly today many don’t even take God’s word literally! They pick and choose what they will believe. Good thoughts Brenda. Regards – And have a fine large day.
What a unique approach to the matter of decision making.
Indeed we must consult our Lord in any and all of our decisions and not rely on our own wisdom. Good advice my friend as I am making many decisions lately, and can’t afford to rush into anything.
Thanks!
Thank you my friend, like this devotional lesson very much. Wonder if this is where the term “Honesty Is The Best Policy” came from? It seems today we have to be very cautious about being taken in. Even via phone, thinking of the scams being perpetrated on people pretending to be from the Canada Revenue Agency. Love your writing Brenda.
Brenda,
Thanks for the devotional.
A verse that really jumped out at me earlier this year was Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
(England)
Thank you Brenda.