Reflections from May 31, 2010

Today we honor our fallen soldiers who died in their service to our freedom. Nothing can compare to the sacrifice they gave to help my family live freely, other than the sacrifice of Jesus to allow me to live in grace and someday with God.

Today we read in Romans 13:8, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."

Paul is speaking beyond debt-free living in a monetary sense. Given the context of this chapter, he is speaking to our need to give certain things away, and not have to "owe" them to others. We should give our taxes as required, not be owing them beyond the due dates. We should pay our tolls, levies, and other customs that come from using highways, trading practices, and other business activities. We should give our respect to police and military personnel for the work they do to protect us. And we should give our honor to the authorities that God has put into place, delegating them the authority to act on His behalf. Our commandment to love one another is the second half of the greatest command. For more on this, see May 4, 2010.

Today in Proverbs 30:12 we read, "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness."

This is a continuation of looking at children growing up in disrespect to their parents. This verse tells of children that are ignorant of their haughtiness. They are looking at their life through "rose colored glasses" and they don't see what's wrong in their life. When all goes wrong, they'll weep and cry and say, "Why didn't you tell me?" Even then, they'll say they did nothing wrong, and probably blame their parents.

By training them in God's word, and teaching them to fear God, they may only need the cleansing that comes from the blood of Jesus.

In Proverbs 31:26 we continue learning of the virtuous woman where it says, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness."

A smart, loving woman who speaks kindly to all is worth more than all the riches in the world. I can think of no other earthly reward than to be with a woman like this, one like my wife.

Blessings to all