Bioinspired ∙

Bioinspired ∙

All Scripture is inspired by God – 2 Timothy 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16-17

 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Discover Magazine, June 28, 2019, announced that a new type of virtually shatterproof glass had been created. Crack open an oyster shell, and the inner face shimmers in a rainbow of kaleidoscopic colors. This smooth material, known as mother-of-pearl, is beautiful and resilient, so resilient that it has inspired the creation of new synthetic glass. It is deemed unbreakable biology.

The engineers at McGill University who designed it named it “bioinspired” glass. It is 2 to 3 times more impact resistant than tempered or even “bulletproof” laminated glass. Upon careful inspection, they discovered that the microscopic structure of mother-of-pearl, whose tiny mineral “building blocks” slide apart under force, allows the material to endure substantial blows without breaking. The new “bioinspired” glass is transparent and does not produce any image distortions. When scientists used enough force to damage it, it dented and deformed rather than cracking.

How is the existence of mother-of-pearl explained? Many scientists and engineers might assert that there was no plan, no design, no research, no intelligence behind it. It just happened by chance, by accident over long periods of time.

Time is almost magical. Unlimited time will produce mother-of-pearl. Given enough time, it will happen; it did happen! What is the proof? Mother-of-pearl exists!

Here is the formula.

Time + Chance = Mother-of-pearl

Here is an alternative formula

Nothing + Nobody = Everything

Ultimately, this is not observable, repeatable science. This is a matter of faith! Faith is faith. There is little difference between faith statements from totally different ideologies.

What is the difference between saying, “Time did it” or “God did it?”

As children of the King, when we observe obvious design and honor the ultimate Intelligent Designer, our Father God.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith, we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Psalms 33:9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

Genesis 1:20-22

 20 Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”

 21 God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

 22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

REFLECT & PRAY

By faith, we understand that the spoken word of God created the world and everything in it. Our formula is Nothing + God = Everything.

Father only because of You and Your Word can I know and believe that all things were intelligently designed and created by You.

INSIGHT

Children of the King are not limited to bio-inspired realities such as they are. We have God-inspired realities. Where did the Bible come from? It is the product of God’s spoken word as given to mankind.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God

The Greek term translated as inspired by God is theopneustos. From theos – God, and pneo – to breathe. It literally means God-breathed, inspired by God. The Father’s written word is the result of His spoken word. He breathed it into existence.

The Greek term theopneustos stresses the divine origin and the authority of Scripture. The Father produced the Word of God. The human authors of Scripture are not inspired people. Rather the writings themselves are inspired.

Yet, at the same time, Peter explains that the Father uses people as His spokesman to create the product He ultimately desired.

2 Peter 1:20-21

 20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,

 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

The prophets “spoke” as they were “carried along” by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was the impetus and driving force. The writers spoke the Father’s words. Yet, at the same time, the Holy Spirit empowered them. The Holy Spirit used the style of each individual writer’s unique personality, knowledge, background, vocabulary, and style.

The Holy Spirit invisibly directed the prophets to say and write exactly what He intended without overruling the personalities of the human authors. It is a very unusual collaboration.

Yet to a much lesser degree, any of the Father’s children may be supernaturally guided and directed to accomplish His purpose.

The Scriptures are entirely the Word of God. The content of the Bible contains supernaturally inspired words written by human hands.

Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

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© Dr. H 2022

Double hearts ∙

Double hearts ∙

All they do is lie to one another with flattering lips; they talk from a double heart. – Psalms 12:2

Isaiah 5:20-23

 20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light, and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.

 21 What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.

 22 What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.

 23 They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent.

“If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be if without it?” (Benjamin Franklin)

The Founding Fathers sought to create a nation founded essentially upon Biblical morality, but apart from truly a Christian government. “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” (John Adams).

Part of the great American experiment was the vision of a government where the citizens had values and principles enshrined in their hearts derived from a Judeo-Christian base. The Founding Fathers envisioned America as a land where people of all faiths could worship God without fear of persecution. The freedom to worship would, in turn, cultivate the piety and virtue necessary for the success of self-government. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness would be promoted in an environment of individual well-being under the umbrella of safety and security (Bennett).

In the 21st century, America is in freefall. The Judeo-Christian consensus is no more. Moral values are no longer derived from the absolute Truth of the Word of God. Truth is whatever people want it to be. Therefore, morality is derived from a kind of a pack mentality of the favored or, perhaps, loudest factions in society. In various sections of society, dissemblers in positions of authority dominate.

Prevaricators are so blinded in their moral judgment that their evaluations of good and evil are the exact opposite of the Father’s perspective. What was once evil is now called good, and what was once good is now called evil. Darkness is substituted for light and light for darkness.

People use the Father’s vocabulary but not His dictionary (Wiersbe).

Moral standards are altered by new definitions of sin that do not arouse or trouble the conscience. It is the newspeak and doublethink anticipated by George Orwell in his novel 1984. People lie to one another and speak from a double heart.

For the present generation, the memory of an accurate American history has faded into almost complete darkness. Lies become truth. Sadly, George Orwell, as an oracle of our times, wrote, “Who controls the past, controls the future, who controls the present controls the past.”

REFLECT & PRAY

The only thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history (Hegel).

Father encourage me to take my stand firmly upon the absolute Truth that You have revealed through Your Word and Your Son.

INSIGHT

Pontius Pilate asked the question, “What is truth?” As children of the King, the eternal Father, the Lord God omnipotent, we have a certain, enlightened, profound, and consummate answer. Truth with a capital “T” is absolute, uncompromising, and eternal. It does not change, and it does not synthesize with non-truth. The Word of God is Truth (John 17:17). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6).

Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.

Psalms 135:6 The LORD does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, on the seas and in their depths.

Daniel 4:35 All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’

One day the Lord Jesus Christ will return in triumph. He will bring good news to the afflicted; He will bind up the brokenhearted, He will proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; He will proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God (Isaiah 61:1-2).

The final chapter has already been written. In the end, the Lord Jesus Christ wins! But for the Father’s children, the Lord Jesus Christ has already won. The Lord Jesus Christ entered our lives triumphally to bind our wounded hearts. Grief and despair stood between us and the joyful celebration of life the Father intended. Peter called it “glorious, inexpressible joy” (1 Peter 1:8). We have been invited to the celebration.

It is up to us to choose to attend. To participate and celebrate our victory day by day, it is incumbent upon us to remove our personal impediments. When we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, all of our sins, past, present, and future, were forgiven.

Colossians 2:13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

However, as we go through life, all children of the King experience two disheartening realities. We continue to sin. And we become aware of our innate inner sinfulness. Our hearts are essentially wicked and deceitful.

Jeremiah 17:9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

Although we are His children, we sense distance from Him from time to time and experience temporary separation from the Father because of our sins.

Isaiah 59:1-2

 1 Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.

 2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

The Father, knowing everything, has already considered this practical issue and resolved it. We have been permanently reconciled to Him. All real and imaginary barriers have been removed.

Colossians 1:22 He has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

The joy of our fellowship with Him is restored and actualized by a simple prayer. We have only to recognize and confess our sins.

1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

The Father’s gifts far exceed the limitations of our present circumstances. He has provided His presence in our lives, overflowing acceptance, forgiveness, restoration, and practical righteousness.

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© Dr. H 2022

Be kind ∙

Be kind ∙

The LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8

Ephesians 4:31-32

 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind” (Henry James).

Since the days of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), communication has been a problem between peoples. It is perhaps worse in our day of polarized and antithetical political views. Is there a universal language we could all speak that would allow us to communicate and understand one another?

The simple answer – is yes! Kindness!

Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear, and the blind can see (Mark Twain).

Kindness is a state of being that includes loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness.

Some folks seem gifted with a tender heart and a kind spirit. You can spot them anywhere. People who need loving care, sympathy, mercy, gentleness, and understanding are attracted to them. Simply follow the crowd.

But for the rest of us, it is not so simple. We get hurt and offended; we bear grudges; we close off ourselves to human relationships and dry up inside and become hard.

Anger is an acid that can harm the vessel in which it is stored more than anything on which it is poured (Mark Twain). “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle” (Plato).

Of all the possible things that we could possibly do to please the Father, what matters most? The Father has made Himself clear on this matter. Kindness is at the core of what we ought to be and do. It is not a suggestion; it is a requirement. Simply stated, if we are not choosing to be kind, we violate one of His prime directives.

Micah 6:6-8

 6 What can we bring to the LORD? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves?

 7 Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?

 8 No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8 unequivocally answers the question. It rules out the possibilities of the previous two verses. Micah, the prophet himself, speaks for the Father. The Father tells us what He requires: to do what is just, show kindness, and live in humble fellowship with our God.

Without a right relationship with the Father, this is impossible, and all outward pretense and ceremony are useless and vain (UBS).

To do what is just and equitable involves right and fair relationships.

The Hebrew term translated as kindness is hesed. It is often translated as kindness, lovingkindness, reliability, faithfulness, mercy, and loyal love. The third phrase is literally “to walk humbly with your God.” It is not insisting on our own way but readily doing what the Father desires of us.

Hesed one of the most beautiful and fascinating words used in the Old Testament to describe the Father. It is profound and multifaceted. The Father has many attractive characteristics, personality traits, and attributes. Perhaps one of the most delightful of all is His lovingkindness.

The Father requires us to be just like Him in dealing with others.

REFLECT & PRAY

I have made so many bad choices. Is there one that stands out that I wish I would have done differently? The answer is an obvious yes. I would have chosen to be kind and tenderhearted.

Father, it grieves me deeply to have been so hardhearted and resistant to simple acts of kindness and forgiveness. Let me be tender, gentle, and accepting of others as You are of me. Let me start a new day and walk in a new way.

INSIGHT

The Father’s tenderhearted, lovingkindness is seen in the story of the prodigal (Luke 15:11-32). The Father does not reject; He longs for reconciliation and restoration.

Luke 15:20-24

 20 But while he was still far off, his father saw him, felt compassion, and ran, embraced, and kissed him.

 21 And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy of being called your son.”

 24 [And his father said,] this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found

The Father’s marvelous lovingkindness is revealed in His acts of tenderness and gentleness with those that have sinned egregiously and are embarrassed and ashamed. He does not condemn, He forgives (John 8).

John 8:10-11

 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

The Father has drawn us to Himself because of and through His lovingkindness.

Peter tells us how to get this done.

1 Peter 3:8-12

 8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude.

 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

 10 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.

 11 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

 12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

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© Dr. H 2022

Ragnarök and the Last Days ∙

Ragnarök and the Last Days ∙

Unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days. – Mark 13:20

Luke 21:7-26

 7 “Teacher when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?”

 8 He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.”

 9 “And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.”

 10 Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation and kingdom against kingdom.”

 11 “There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many parts of the world, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.”

 25 “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth, the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.”

 26 “People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”

Ragnarök is a Norwegian fantasy drama streaming television series reimagining Norse mythology developed for Netflix. It is a take on the seeming Existential Threat of climate change. It takes place in the current day, in the fictional Norwegian town of Edda in Hordaland, Western Norway. Edda is plagued by climate change, causing melting glaciers and industrial pollution from local factories.

According to Norse myth, Ragnarök is the end of the world of gods and men – Ragnarök means “Doom of the Gods” in Old Norse. It was said that Ragnarök would be preceded by cruel winters and moral chaos, after which giants and demons would come from everywhere to attack and kill the gods.

In the myth, Thor, the Norse god of thunder, appears to save the day. He is good and righteous and the protector of humanity. Using his enchanted hammer, Mjolnir, he defeats the World Serpent, ending Ragnarök. This, in turn, leads to the world’s rebirth and restoration and a new beginning for humankind. Only a god could save the planet.

Ragnarök is an end-times scenario not too far afield from what is going on, on planet Earth, sans the Norse gods and legendary creatures.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the Father has predicted an overall outline of the last day scenario through His prophets and apostles and the Lord Jesus Christ. He provided a great deal of detail in a few areas as well.

In the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, His disciples asked three questions: When will these things be? What will be the sign of your coming? What will signal the close of the age? The Lord Jesus Christ speaks of the soon-coming destruction of Jerusalem and the distant events leading up to the Second Coming. His warnings are similar but more elaborate than those of Norse mythology. But more significantly, they are eerily consistent with current day events.

Of course, for centuries, students of the Scriptures have jumped to the conclusion that the prophecies of Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13 are coming true during their lifetimes. Clearly, they were mistaken.

REFLECT & PRAY

The day of the Lord will be a “thief-like,” unwelcome surprise for the world. People who live in the dark will suddenly be surprised by the light.

Father thank You that all children of the King are children of the light. Enable us to walk in the light as You are in the light and cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

INSIGHT

How are children of the King to know when the last days have begun? The Lord Jesus Christ was crystal clear regarding this. On the one hand, no one on earth will know the day or the hour.

Matthew 24:36 However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

But on the other hand, when we see these things happening, we know that the return of Lord Jesus Christ is near.

Matthew 24:33 When you see all these things recognize that He is near, right at the door.

Consequently, children of the King are to be on the alert and always waiting for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth. How then should we live?

Matthew 24:42-44

 42 So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

Matthew 25:13 So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-8

 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.

 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

“Like the other apostles, Peter believed the return of Jesus Christ was imminent (i.e., it could occur at any moment; cf. James 5:8; Romans 13:11; Hebrews 9:26; 1 John 2:18). This fact should have made a practical difference in the way his readers lived. Eschatology has ethical implications. They were to remain clear-headed (‘of sound judgment’), self-controlled (‘of sober spirit’) primarily so they could pray properly.”

“This statement illustrates the importance of prayer. Prayer is the most noble and necessary ministry that God entrusts to His children, but it is also the most neglected ministry (cf. Hebrews 4:15–16). Jesus’ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane may have impressed this truth on Peter (cf. Matthew 26:40–41). Jesus prayed when the end of His life was near” (Constable).

“. . . proper prayer is not an ‘opiate’ or escape, but rather a function of clear vision and a seeking of even clearer vision from God. It is only through clear communication with headquarters that a soldier can effectively stand guard” (Davids).

Luke 7:35 Wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.

1 Chronicles 12:32 From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.

These unique individuals had discernment regarding what the children of the King should do in their own day. The Father gave people intellectual ability so they might discern His will and how they should act. Could it be that some children of the King are like the sons of Issachar? What about you?

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© Dr. H 2022

A delightful way to live ∙

A delightful way to live ∙

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. – Psalms 119:35

Psalms 119:33-48

 33 Teach me your decrees, O LORD; I will keep them to the end.

 34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.

 35 Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

 36 Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!

 37 Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

 38 Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.

 39 Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.

 40 I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.

 41 LORD, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me.

 42 Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.

 43 Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope.

 44 I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever.

 45 I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

 47 How I delight in your commands! How I love them!

 48 I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees.

Giving gifts to others is a simple endeavor that is as old as humanity. Gifts are given without expecting payment or anything in return. The best gifts have intrinsic meaning and value, which are not related to cost. For the recipient, gifts are meant to be free.

Gifts come in many forms: material items, acts of service, etc. They are intended to encourage and bring joy or satisfaction to the recipient. Often, simple acts of kindness or forgiveness go a long way.

The Father loves to give gifts to the children of the King. The Word of God is the Father’s magnificent gift to the world. The Scriptures provide encouragement, grace, understanding, and hope for the human race. The greatest gift is the incarnation and redemptive death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119 celebrates the Father’s gracious gift to mankind of His truth found in the Law of Moses, the Torah. The Torah contains the Father’s guidebook for life.

Of all of the Psalms, it is the longest, containing 175 verses. It is the longest chapter in the entire Bible. The amount of space given to it underscores its immense importance.

Every Child of the King should meditate upon, pray through, and sing (Psalm 119). When we set aside the time and make a definite choice to do so, we express our heartfelt gratitude and admiration to the Father for His great gift.

The simple act of praising Him through prayer and song stirs up a genuine yearning to reflect the goodness and loveliness expressed. It encourages us to become like Him and to do what He does.

As we learn and follow His instructions, we avoid self-destructive attitudes, choices, and actions and their consequences. Instead of the law restricting us, it sets us free to live and enjoy life as the Father intended. We experience forgiveness and the release from guilt and pain that often torments us.

What a delightful way to live!

REFLECT & PRAY

“People with renewed hearts delight to obey God and learn from his Word, which guides them” (ESV Study Bible). When we fall in love with the Father, obedience and service flow freely from our hearts.

Father please soften my wounded and hardened heart so that I might fall deeper and deeper in love with You. May I truly become a Theophilus, a lover of God.

INSIGHT

Most of us know what it feels like to love someone else deeply and be loved deeply. Psalms 119 shows how it is possible to do just that with the Father. Imagine what it would be like to be “in love” with the Father and His Word. Indeed this is precisely what the Father desires for each of His children.

The writer of the Psalm remains anonymous, but he shows us the way. He cries out in prayer to the Father, teach me and give me insight (Psalms 119:33-34). His desire to understand is earnest and intense. But his ultimate goal is not merely to understand but, more importantly, to live out what he knows wholeheartedly. He seeks undivided devotion to the Father via a deep love relationship.

“We must come to understand the character of God and the workings of His providence (Psalms 27:11; Psalms 86:11; Psalms 103:7). Just as children come to understand the character of their parents and what pleases them, so we must get to know God better and discern His desires. We have a complete revelation of the Lord and His will in the Scriptures, but we need inner illumination to discover what it means to our own lives” (Wiersbe).

What blocks the king’s children from being more in love with the Father and having undivided devotion to Him?

The psalmist identifies two among many possible impediments.

Psalms 119:36-37

 36 Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!

 37 Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

The Hebrew word translated as gain, selfish gain, profit, and love for money is betsa. Betsa originally was a technical term used by weavers to designate the action of cutting a piece of cloth free from the loom after it had been woven (TWOT). But over time, it took on a more sinister meaning. Rather than the mere desire to obtain profit or gain, it focused on the motivations driving it, often impure or greedy hearts. Thus, the impediment is not gain in and of itself but rather ill-gotten gain resulting from greed or avarice. In modern times, we might speak of money laundering, skimming off the top, or cheating.

The Hebrew word translated worthless things; vanity is shav. Shav refers to things that have no eternal value. They are temporal and earthbound. They are like grass and flowers, here today, gone tomorrow.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the Word of our God stands forever.

“Outlook determines outcome. Abraham looked for the heavenly city and ended well; Lot looked at Sodom and ended badly (Genesis 13; Hebrews 11:8-16). What the heart loves and desires, the eyes will see (Psalms 101:2-6; Numbers 15:37-41; Jeremiah 22:17). To have one eye on the world and the other on the Word is to be double-minded, and God does not bless double-minded people (James 1:5-8)” (Wiersbe).

“Left to ourselves, we often don’t know which way leads to life and which way ends in death; we remain in the dark. But God’s Word provides us with a searchlight to cut through the darkness and lead us to safety” (Stanley). 

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© Dr. H 2022