“The beach is open, Lolly.”
My two year old grandson’s voice turned his simple remark into a question. The sunshine betrayed the chill in the air. No doubt the water would be freezing, but we would definitely be dipping our toes (and more) in before the week was out! An hour before sunset last Saturday, we found the beach walk, and discarding our shoes, we trudged through the soft sand to the firmer ground where the tide was rolling in.
A family of three left behind a mountain of sand covered with shells. Placed just out of reach of the tides, this became our landmark, helping us to find our way back to the beach walk which was little more than a sandy path through the reeds. As the week wore on, two days of rain washed some of the little hill away. More of it was trampled and tossed by my toddler grands. By Thanksgiving day, all its shells were buried around its base and a tire track was evident across its peak. Still it provided the point of reference I needed to regain my bearings while wandering behind first one baby and then the other snapping pictures.
One afternoon, we tried making castles with a sand bucket. No sooner had I flipped and lifted the bucket full of sand, in wrecking ball fashion, a little hand or foot smashed the tower flat. I had imagined how this would go. Block towers are built to be knocked down. Why not sandcastles?
Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount, his teaching on living as citizens of His Kingdom, with these words:
““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””
Matthew 7:24-27 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.7.24-27.ESV
James said something similar.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
James 1:22-25 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jas.1.22-25.ESV
God instructed Israel through Moses before they entered the Promised Land, saying,
“Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts.
Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children.
Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.
Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/deu.6.6-9.MSG
Kings of Israel were instructed to make their own copy of the teachings of God under the supervision of the Levites in order to rule God’s people well.
“This is what must be done:
When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests.
That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his God, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them.
He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions.
If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons. * * *”
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/deu.17.18-20.MSG
King Solomon instructed his sons to seek God’s wisdom above all else, searching for it as for hidden treasure. (Proverbs 2:4)
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,”
Proverbs 2:6-11 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.2.6-11.ESV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”
Proverbs 3:5-7 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.3.5-7.ESV
““In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight,” demands more than that we acknowledge that God exists and that he is in providential control, or some such thing.
It means we must so acknowledge him that his ways and laws and character shape our choices and direct our lives.
In all your ways, then, acknowledge him—not exclusively in some narrow religious sphere, but in all the dimensions of your life.
The alternative is to disown him.”
Read the Bible: Exodus 27, John 6, Proverbs 3, Galatians 2
Jesus, the Word of God who became flesh to take on the sins of the world, promised that His followers would receive the gift of His Spirit- God with us and alive in us. His Spirit would teach and remind us of His words, (John 14:26) an ever-present Helper and Advocate enabling us to live the life of faith. (John 14:16)
“From God’s perspective, what advantage is there in gaining the plaudits of a culture that disowns God?
Does not Jesus ask, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37).
If this is God’s universe, if he is our Maker and Judge, why on earth (or beyond the earth, for that matter!) should anything be called “wise” that ignores him?
How much less should it be called “wise” if it indulges in actions or attitudes forbidden by him?”
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
James 1:5 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jas.1.5.ESV
“You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13 ESV
A Fitting Reply 