The Bible is Full of Practical, Every-day Wisdom.

College professors love theory. One favorite question is “How many angels could dance on the head of a pin?”  But when profs talk theory, students lose interest, answering “So what? What does that have to do with my life?” 

Some think the Bible is like that too: ALL THEORY, and that scripture is all deep truths about Creation, Sin, and Eternity and topics such as why we should believe in a pre-millennial, dispensationalist view of end times.

But in fact, the Bible is a practical HOW-TO Book.  There are instructions on: how to cook meat, fight battles, train children, run a business or a bank, and handle the sick, particularly those with dangerous, contagious diseases, and hundreds of other topics.  The Bible even explains how to handle your bathroom business (could there be anything more practical?):

“You must have a place outside the camp to go and relieve yourself. And you must have a spade in your equipment, so that when you relieve yourself you can dig a hole and cover it. For the Lord your God walks through your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy….” Deuteronomy 23:13.

When God gives Moses the plans for a tabernacle (the mobile temple), He addresses an equally practical concern: underwear.

“Make linen undergarments to cover the priests’ naked bodies. They must extend from the waist to the thighs. These must be worn by Aaron and his sons whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the sanctuary area, so that they do not incur guilt and die” Exodus 28:42-43.

If I needed convincing, this verse would be enough for me: WEAR UNDERWEAR.  Wear underwear “so you don’t incur guilt and die.”  Ha ha.

But seriously, never be deceived into thinking the Bible is all theory and nothing practical. In contrast to many books in religion or philosophy, the Bible is FILLED with practical advice for EVERY AREA of life.  You just have to take the time to read it.

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Sex.

There is not much debate about the morality of adultery: most people are against it. Everyone understands that it is the most fundamental kind of betrayal: to sleep with a married person is to destroy a marriage and family and to risk tremendous damage and hurt to innocent children. But about pre-marital sex, the consensus is not strong. People say things like, “I wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes without trying them on,” as though the spiritual mysteries of love-making and God’s design for a family were no more meaningful than changing your shoes. This is because of the prevalence of atheism and evolution: when you look at life from a god-less perspective, it’s just sex. It means nothing. You’re no different than dogs in heat. But that is a GIGANTIC lie.

You were created by God, in God’s image! He has plans and purposes for you that are infinitely more meaningful than His plans for animals. YOU have meaning. Your LIFE has meaning. Your HEART has meaning. Your BODY has meaning. And there are spiritual dimensions involved that cannot be understood by the lost (I Cor.2:14). A marriage is a holy promise to God, and God takes that seriously, even when we do not. Marital intimacy is a picture of the relationship between Christ and His bride, the Church. It is a mystery, and you must respect it. Those who do not will suffer in so many ways: broken marriages, barrenness, rebellious children, and more. Pre-marital sex creates flashbacks in the one spouse, and insecurity in the other. It causes you to take your vows less seriously AFTER marriage because you never respected them BEFORE marriage. It carries diseases. There is the risk of pregnancy and the way that turns lives upside-down.

God’s law speaks seriously on the matter:

“[If a woman is found to be a non-virgin at her marriage, the elders] will bring the woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city will stone her to death. For she committed an outrage in Israel by being promiscuous in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from you.” Deuteronomy 22:21.

The Death Penalty? So, premarital sex was a CAPITAL OFFENSE? Wow.

And what about the children conceived out of wedlock? Is that serious? I think God takes it seriously, what do you think after reading the verse below?:

“No one of illegitimate birth may enter the Lord’s assembly [group worship]; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, may enter the Lord’s assembly.” Deut. 23:2

Illegitimate children are banished from the temple for ten generations! (Again, God not only takes your choices seriously, but He gives incredible regard to your family tree! Can you imagine that your failure could impact your descendants for ten generations? That’s at least 200 years!)

Of course, we love sinners, and we must be compassionate toward both the saved and the lost. Only God can judge. And we must have compassion for children born out of wedlock—it’s not their fault. But you can be compassionate with your brother while remaining loyal and obedient to God’s Word. Grace toward the sinner does not mean you join them in their sin.

You know what the best gift you will ever give your spouse is? Your virginity. That is not a gift to be wasted before marriage, whether you date for years or it’s just a casual hook-up. God has strong words for those who treat virginity with contempt. Although we may not understand this mystery, we must obey God and walk by faith. Extra-marital sex, whether before or after the wedding, is a serious matter. You MUST train yourself to see it the way your Creator sees it. It’s not about you and your pleasures. Life is about serving Him and staying in the center of His will.

Ask God to help you see this matter exactly the way He sees it. Ask Him to strengthen you to stand against the never-ending river of lies on this subject. Ask Him also to make your heart and your imagination as obedient and loyal as your physical body.

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Haunted Houses.

People love haunted houses, though we say there’s no such thing.  But not so fast.  While I would not suggest a house can be occupied by the souls of dead people, there IS Biblical support for the idea that locations are connected to the sins committed in them.  The ground remembers where innocent blood was spilled.

“What?” you ask, “Have you lost your mind?!”

No.  The Bible warns that when innocent blood is shed, it defiles the land.

“[The killer] must be put to death… you shall not defile the land, for BLOOD DEFILES THE LAND, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it” Numbers 35:33.

If a man is hung on a tree, he must be buried by nightfall “for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse, and you must not DEFILE THE LAND…” Deuteronomy 21:23.  If you have a new house, put a railing around the roof (roofs were like balconies then) “so that you DON’T BRING BLOODGUILT ON YOUR HOUSE if someone falls from it” v.8.  (So even a death due to negligence can defile the land or the house.)

God told Cain that he knew Cain killed Abel, because “the voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!” Genesis 4:10. Interestingly, God did NOT require the blood of Cain to restore the ground.  And clearly I would be going way out on a limb to suggest that all murders require the death penalty.  We live under a New Covenant. Jesus can restore our land.

Nevertheless, be aware that sin may be connected to locations—and consequences may likewise be connected to locations.  If you sin at work, you may suffer consequences at work. If you read your Bible at the office, you may reap GOOD things on the job.  It is something to think about.

Don’t “haunt” your house by filling it with sin!

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Not My Problem.

Heather was the warmest girl in law school. She was kind and generous and as sweet as pie.  She would do anything for anyone.  When a lawyer needed a bone marrow transplant, students were asked to give blood at a local firm in order to find a match. Heather refused our offer to carpool over there.  She was worried about finals–which were weeks away.

“But you might save a man’s life?”

“I’m sorry, I just don’t have time.”

“You don’t have time to save a man’s life?”

How often do you hear someone say, “Not my problem”?  Too often this is a curt way of telling someone that their concern is of no concern to you.

When drivers of armored vehicles deliver cash to banks, stores, and restaurants, one driver remains in the truck to guard the money while the other driver goes inside.  One time the guard waiting in the truck saw a robbery happening inside the bank and went inside to stop the crime.  The armored truck company fired him for leaving his post.  He could have said “not my problem,” but he chose to help and was terminated. 

A judge later required the company to re-hire him and to compensate him for his lost time.  Why? Because we want a legal system that encourages heroes.  We NEED people who are prepared to get involved—even when a situation is officially not their problem.  Big cities have a de-personalizing impact on everyone: with thousands everywhere, it is easy to assume someone else will step up.  But sometimes you may be that person.

The Law of Moses requires us to help—to get involved.

“If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, YOU MUST NOT IGNORE IT.  Make sure you return it to your brother….  Do the same for his donkey, his garment, or anything your brother has lost and you have found.  YOU MUST NOT IGNORE IT.  If you see your brother’s donkey or ox fallen down on the road, YOU MUST NOT IGNORE IT.  You must help him lift it up” Deuteronomy 22:1-4.

When you can safely help someone, do it!

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Words: Copy Them, Recite Them, Ponder Them.

Our lives exist in words, don’t they? What we DO is important, but what we SAY is more important. When a person like your grandfather begins to speak less, it is as if we have lost the most important part of him.  Words guide everything we do: rules, laws, agreements, promises, affirmation, criticism, goals, mission statements, slogans, and more.  Everything requires words—most of us have to talk all day, words being a critical grease to lubricate the engine of every human activity. But words also define our lives, purposes, hopes, and dreams.  And when we die our lives are summarized with words.  Not only that, but in heaven, God has books filled with words: there are books recording THE DEEDS OF MEN (Rev. 20:12). And more critical is the BOOK OF LIFE (id.) which names every person who belongs to God. David even says, “In thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me” (Ps.139:16).  Words are ESSENTIAL.

In Deuteronomy 17:18-20, God orders that each king of Israel (1) write, BY HAND, his own copy of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; and then (2) study it EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE. By copying the scriptures the king will “make it his own.”

God tells Joshua the same:

“This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth, but you are to RECITE IT DAY AND NIGHT, being careful to do all that is written in it—for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” Joshua 1:8

Words surround us—as water surrounds a fish. We swim in a sea of words nearly every moment. But some words are better than others, and GOD’S WORDS ARE CRITICAL. We should be writing them, reading them, reciting them, memorizing them. We need God’s word on our minds every morning and every night.  If you do that, what does God promise in Joshua 1:8 (above)?

God, help us give your word the attention it deserves.

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How Do You Keep Children Obedient?

If you were God, you would face the challenge of parenting humans: when you bless them, they get cocky, rude, and selfish. When you punish them, they repent—but it hurts to watch them suffer. This is the Deuteronomic principle: if you love children, you want to lavish them with gifts—but when you do they become nasty.

Think of celebrities, athletes, movie stars. How do beautiful and famous millionaires stay humble? Many don’t. Imagine how that is magnified when God makes a man a king. Suddenly, he is the boss of everyone, has everything he desires, and is the most celebrated celebrity on earth. Arrogance and evil will stick to him closer than a shadow, ready to destroy him. So what does God do?

He writes a special law for the king.

“When he is seated on his royal throne, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be exalted above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandments.” Deuteronomy 17:18-20.

God’s plan to keep kings humble: (1) write, BY HAND, his own copy of the Torah—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; and (2) study it EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE. By copying the scriptures by hand, the king will “make it his own.” That keeps him from becoming arrogant and thinking it does not apply to him, that he is better than ordinary folks. And studying it every day reminds him—you are NOT above the law. You must obey God. Every day.

Are you spending as much time in the Word as the kings of Israel? If not, why not? It is the Bread of Life—you must feed yourself from it every day.

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Gift Giving.

Prophecy says when the world receives a certain bit of news, everyone will “celebrate, and they will send gifts to one another” Rev. 11:10.  Consider human nature: when people are really happy, they celebrate by giving each other gifts.

Have you ever been so happy you wanted to give gifts?  It is a rare and spontaneous feeling.  I have felt that way while traveling—so happy that I wanted to buy souvenirs or postcards to share my joy.  I once flew to Oakland, California for a deposition in Sacramento.  I spent the night in Marin County, got up early the next morning and WALKED across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco!  I arrived a day early, so I had a day to see the city, tour a Redwood Forest (the Muir Woods), then drive north past San Quentin Prison and on to Sacramento.  Trips like that were so fun and though I could not bring my family, I could at least give them gifts!

By custom, some events now require gifts: birthdays, weddings, showers, graduations. Gifts mark the importance of the occasion. Spending money says “this thing you did MATTERS to ME.”

“No one is to appear before the Lord empty-handed. Everyone must appear with a gift suited to his means, according to the blessing the Lord your God has given you” Deuteronomy 16:16-17.

Do we appear before the Lord empty-handed? How often do we show up with gifts?  It is important to give God some of the money that he has given you. Bring a gift to church and participate in worship by being a giver. 

Say to God “this thing MATTERS TO ME.  Church matters to me.  Feeding the poor and sharing the gospel and supporting missionaries MATTERS TO ME.” 

God, show us what we can give.  Thank you that you accept small gifts—that it need not be overwhelming, because you are more interested in our hearts than our bank accounts.  But give us the desire to be givers!

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Thus Sayeth.

Does God speak to people today?  Absolutely.  “My sheep hear My voice” John 10:27.  But do we ALWAYS rightly interpret things? No. Do we sometimes suspect God is giving us a message, but are uncertain? Yes.  Sometimes we need to keep praying, or sleep on it, or let some time pass. I have often prayed, “God, I THINK You are leading me, but I’m not sure.  I know it is my job to listen, but it is up to You to make it clear.” 

Nothing will help you to know God’s voice more than time reading His word.

The third commandment is “thou shalt not speak the name of the Lord thy God in vain” Exodus 20:7.  God warns us not to use His name recklessly.  Do not attribute to God things God did not say. Even if we think God may have spoken, we should be careful what we say.  If you are 99% sure but have 1% doubt, then leave God out of your conversation.  You might say you have prayed a lot and believe you are on the right track.  But never say “God told me …” or anything about the voice of God if you are not ready to stand before His throne and tell it to Him.

Imagine I wreck a company car.  When HR questions me, I say, “my boss Sheryl told me to take the car.”  But Sheryl did no such thing.  What will Sheryl do?  She would fire me and I’d be cleaning out my desk for claiming she said something she did not say.

In October of 2020, a TV preacher predicted: “Trump will win the election. America will erupt in civil unrest. There will be two attempts on Trump’s life. A coalition of Muslim nations will attack Israel.  But God will deliver Israel by a miracle, wiping out the attackers….”

Not one of those things happened.

“The prophet who dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak … must die” Deuteronomy 18:20.

DO NOT USE THE NAME OF THE LORD RECKLESSLY.  Exodus 20:7.

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Have You Been Influenced by Idol Worshippers? Deuteronomy 13:6-10.

Do you have lost friends? Yes. Do you admire personal heroes who happen to be lost? Yes. Do they influence you? Yes. Anytime you like or admire someone, their choices influence you. It’s as if you were two sheep wandering across a field. If you like or admire another sheep and he takes a certain path, you will be tempted to take the same path. After all, it worked for him so far, right? And now that he walked there, the grass is already flattened out for you. Never mind if there might be a wolf at the other end of the path.

When we watch people make choices, we are ALWAYS influenced. Even when they are FICTIONAL people. As you see the path they take it forms a mental map in your mind. And if you see many, many people (fictional or not) taking the same path, it becomes more like a highway than a trail. Soon a rut forms in your thinking and when you face a similar fork in the road, it will be difficult to choose anything but the choice you have watched everyone else make. An example? Pre-marital sex. If you watch television, you can’t help but think that EVERYONE makes that choice; NO ONE waits. And that is a lie, but it is an overwhelming lie if television is your only source of information about the world.

God says to be careful and shake off the influence of unbelieving idolaters. (And every unbeliever is an idol worshipper, whether the idol is self, money, success, or something else.)

If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods,” you must not listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. Instead, you must kill him. Your hand is to be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Deuteronomy 13:6, 8-10.

Could you do it? Could you stone to death your brother, son, daughter, or wife for tempting you with idol worship? Thankfully, we do not face that choice today. But the danger is real. God commands each of us to be vigilant, to be a warrior. Can you do battle with the world’s ungodly influences? Can you destroy the idolatrous lies already lurking in your heart? Do you hate evil? Ask God to help you to HATE EVIL, even when it comes from someone you love.

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The Secret to Happiness.

What do you want? What does everyone really want? It’s not money, fame, success, or true love.  Those are the means to achieve the goal of HAPPINESS.  We want to be happy, though we each believe different things will help us reach that goal.

God’s Word clears up the confusion. Though they may provide happiness temporarily, none of the things listed will bring lasting happiness.  Lasting happiness comes from: (1) Choosing God’s will over my own, and (2) Gratitude.  Let’s discuss the second.  Moses says:

“Rejoice before the Lord in everything you do” Deuteronomy 12:18.

Similarly, Paul writes:

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice” Philippians 4:4.

You can always practice an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.  Find things to be thankful about. Make a habit of looking for the good in every day, in every circumstance. When you feel negative, angry, lonely, sad, confused, scared, worried, or anything else—stop your mind and begin THANKING GOD.  Tell him thank you for everything good that you can think of.  And thank him for the bad stuff too. Exercise your faith by telling God that you trust him with the illness you can’t heal or the bills you can’t pay or the relationship you can’t reconcile or the problem you can’t solve.  Tell God thank you for the opportunity to GROW, and to see His hand at work.  It is difficult, no doubt.  Thanking God and praising Him in the midst of extremely bad circumstances is very difficult.  But it is the PUREST worship you will ever experience.  Thank him, trust him, worship him.  Rejoice in everything—that is, FIND JOY in every situation. Look hard, trust God, and find things about which you can be grateful.

Nothing will make you happier!

God, teach us to thank you and worship you no matter how hard our circumstances may be.

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