Memorize
Passage #1
The prudent sees the evil coming and hides himself, but the naive continue on, and are punished for it.
Did I recall this passage correctly? No
Passage #4
Start memorizing 1 Thess 4:3-8.
I wrote it out once phrase by phrase correcting my mistakes along the way.
Did I recall this passage correctly? n/a
Scripture Reading
| The Message | NASB |
|---|---|
| Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 23 Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, 24 walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. 25 But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God — the free life! — even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. 26 Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. 27 Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. |
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. |
Reflections
Keywords
(from the NASB) effectual doer, delude, forgotten, intently, abides, religious, worthless
These are the words that stand out to me today. They carry simple themes but my mind has an aversion to pondering them.
- These words indicate action over against mere talk.
- These words speak of deception.
- These words speak of warning.
I think of Pharisees. Do you think a good definition of a Pharisee would be…
- One who is indifferent about making sure his conduct exceeds his talk
- One who is largely self-deceived
- One who cannot be warned about such matters as these – they don’t listen
Pharisees do not condescend to reach the down and out do they? They often say all the right things, but rarely do them. I think of the sharp contrast that existed in Israel when Jesus walked the earth in the midst of them.
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. Matt 23:1-3
Such people are easily spotted. I think our country is filled with them. We are so much more educated than the people in Jesus’ day and consequently such education apart from contemplation produces many, many more unofficial Pharisees.
I see them everywhere.
I’ve been one!
“What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear a word you say.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Why I memorize. It challenges my mind. I find these statements helpful in my fight for truth and morality both within and without my life.