November 28, 2012
Are You Playing the Game of Keep-a-way
“Sin will keep you from the book {The Bible}: or the book {The Bible} will keep you from sin.”
- Dwight L. Moody
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 119:105
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Keep-a-way Is a familiar children’s game: that to the best of my recollection: we generally played to annoy a cousin or sibling, by tossing a desired object back and forth while the person being annoyed ran back and forth trying to catch the object while whining and occasionally crying. I realize this was probably not the intent of this game at it’s inception but it always seemed to fit the purpose of the moment at hand when there was a younger sibling or cousin that needed a dose of good old fashioned teasing and being irritated.
Sometimes I wonder if the devil and his demons don’t like to play keep-a-way with Christians, figuratively speaking, when it comes to the truth, promises and guidance that is available to us from God’s Word.
His Word should be something we always want more of (though unfortunately this isn’t always the case) and it should be something we are willing to work towards attaining.
However, I tend to wonder if we do not fall prey to the temptation to engage in that figurative game of keep-a-way when it comes to our commitment to actually studying and devouring God’s Word. Is it easier to whine about why we don’t do it and just play along with all the things that come along to keep us away from being committed to daily times of study and reflection, while whining and making excuses as to why it’s just not fair and just to hard to do it?
“You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble here and there
Just before you kneel, aweary,
And yawn through a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you rate no other book –
Just a paragraph disjointed
Just a crude, important look, -
Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view.
You will kneel in steady rapture
When you read the Bible through.”
- Amos R, Wells
Today’s Prayer
Father, may I not become guilty of engaging in a game of keep-a-way: that keeps me from your Word or You.
“There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit, who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home.
Frustrated brother see how he’s tired to
light his own candle some other way.
See now your sister she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame.
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn.
Hold out your candle for all to see it,
Take your candle, go light your world.“
- Lyrics from ‘Go Light Your World’ by Chris Rice
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