Proverbs 5:17 let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you
I had maybe been a Christian for around three or four months and I was at Pastor John and Val’s house one Friday night. We were having a get together with everyone from the small church I was part of, and a lot of younger people were there (I would have been just turned 30).
The house was packed, people drifting around, laughing, chatting, catching up on this cold Friday night in March.
It was a fun time just getting together and being ourselves.
There were some snacks and drinks out on the table and cups of tea were flowing endlessly.
John came around letting everyone know we would be ordering some pizzas and asking what we all liked. I had been for a ten-mile run earlier in the day and was hungry. I looked at all the people and started to think about how little pizza I might actually be able to get when they arrived (oh the shame on me now as I think back to my selfishness).
When my turn came to say to John what topping I liked I said “anchovy”, and I love anchovies, but to be honest I also thought the chances of other people liking anchovies in my experience was quite low.
Someone went to order and then collect the pizzas and we carried on chatting, laughing and enjoying the great companionship that night.
The pizzas arrived, a big stack of boxes. The smell flooded the kitchen long before they were open.
Someone took charge and started opening the boxes and handing them around, “pepperoni” was called, “me, me, me” was the answer and the box passed over heads and shoulders to grateful hungry people. One or two voices responded to each topping.
I waited, anticipating the moment, and the silence that would follow the call of “anchovy”.
It was time, the box was open, “anchovy” was called.
Around six or seven voices echoed the call and I remember hearing “oh YES! Anchovy”, being shouted around the room”. It felt like every person in the house had a passion for anchovies, although no one else had thought to apply that passion to their order.
I did get two slices of that anchovy pizza and a load of slices from others, so I certainly did not go hungry. But I did think about my heart and what God was maybe saying to me about me and about sharing.
KNOWLEDGE
The great I AM is seeking an audience with you, he desires your full attention. It’s Gods heart that you would make time to be one-on-one with Him, to value these encounters above anything else in life.
It’s time to put everything else aside, all the distractions, all the demands, all the delays, and all the destructive habits. Clear the decks. Get rid of the clutter in your life, simplify and sanctify. Don’t wander off into all the usual activities that fill your time but don’t touch your soul, that occupy your mind but doesn’t edify your spirit.
Can you hear the whisper today………
[Song of Solomon 2:10] “My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away”.]
[Matt 11:28-30] – Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
[Mark 6:31] And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
[Exodus 33:14] And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Listen, truly, truly, listen – the bible has a call woven through the pages of scriptures written thousands of years apart…..come and spend your time with the great I AM. It’s time to listen with a heart that responds in obedience. We don’t flourish by knowing more about God, we flourish by knowing God.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word for “stranger” in Hebrew is pronounced as “zur” and this word appears 71 times in the Old Testament. In the ESV this word is translated into the English words, unauthorized; outsider; layman; stranger; foreign; another; estranged; [forbidden] woman; alien; and, winnowers.
In our verse, we pick up on being estranged or turning astray.
WISDOM – what voices command your attention today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Connectedness visibly demonstrates its’ values, asks unlocking questions, constantly gravitates to the bigger picture, and opens up the “next level” for self and others.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [let it come to pass that you are separated, and set apart, not turning aside, estranged or going astray.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to turn towards you in all situations and circumstances. Thank you.
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