Noble Character

Who can find a wife of noble character? Just by asking the question, it would seem to imply that she is hard to find.

Who is even looking for a wife of noble character? What in fact are they looking for? Is it the beautiful women on the cover of the Sports Illustratated swimsuit edition? Is it the conniving woman of one the Real Housewives shows? Is it the young woman twerking up a storm in a music video? Is it the actress taking off all her clothes in the movie that is almost soft-core pornography? What kind of character do these women have?

The men looking for a wife of noble character are the treasure seekers? “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field. (Matthew 13:44 NET) When these men find a women of noble character, they should drop everything and marry her for she is like the kingdom of heaven. Would one look at me and see the kingdom of heaven? Would one look at me and see noble character? That's what I want to be seen in me. May God in His Grace make it so.

Serving Others

Today, I was reading in Matthew 20 where the mother of James and John was asking Jesus if her sons could sit at his right hand and left hand in his kingdom. First of all, I really appreciate Momma still looking after her grown sons, but that's not what I was focussing on as I read.

It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,
Matthew 20:26 (NET)

The Greek word translated servant here is diakonos is probably the word from which we derive the word deacon. Looking at the definition on blueletterbible.org, I'm struck by a couple of things in the definition. Under "Root Word (Etymology)," I read "Probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands...)" Being a servant means running errands! Wow, I've really been being a servant lately. Taking the honey to the doctor. Taking one of the kiddos to get some new clothes. Sometimes it seems that my life is just one errand after another - not enough "me" time. I must remember that this is part of being a servant. Back to the definition again, under "Outline of Biblical Usage," I'm struck by a few things. Diakonos also refers to "a waiter, one who serves food and drink." Add "short order cook" to that and it sounds like another significant chunk of my life. Working my way up the sub-definitions, I come to "a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use." Ok, not really me - perhaps there is more that I should be doing in this regard. Another usage is "the servant of a king." I definitely want to be a servant of The King And as I look over my life and the different aspects of what diakonos means, I realize that even in the drudgery of my everyday life, I am being a servant.

Heavenly Father, I want to serve You with my life. Thank You that You are giving me ample opportunity to be a servant. Help me to be joyful as I do it. Amen.

Extending Mercy

I'll admit it, I got sidetracked. I'm back for now. It's not that I haven't been reading and studying God's Word in the interim. I've just gotten distracted by things that got in the way of blogging - things that got in the way of responding with my heart to what God was saying to me.

Today, I was reading in Matthew as I am working my way through reading the Bible through in a year. I was struck by the parable of the unforgiving slave. He owed his master a great debt and pleaded for mercy. His master forgave him the great debt and he was grateful, but then refused to forgive those who owed him a debt. Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ (‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭33‬ NET)

I am surely one who keeps accounts. I am not quick to let go when someone has offended me. And yet, I, like the slave in this passage, know that I have been forgiven much. How often have I prayed the Lord's Prayer and not forgiven those who have sinned against me? Far too often. I stand convicted!

Lord, Your mercy should overwhelm me, but I have become numb to it. Help me to realize the depths of Your mercy towards me. Break my heart for sin that I have committed and give me tears because of Your forgiveness. Show me those that I need to forgive and extend mercy towards and grant me Your mercy. Bring healing and restoration for Your glory. Amen.