12.11.24 ~ You Only Live Once, Live it Well

Good morning!

I was asked a question  a couple times yesterday, how are you enjoying your move to Michigan. My response in both conversations was the same and it surprised them a little...in my 29 years of life with 33 years of experience, I've learned whatever you are looking for that is what you'll find. If you are merciful, mercy and kindness will come your way. If you are walking upright and mature, those who walk towards you will do the same. If you are pure, then purity will be your main course for life. These truths are consistent with mankind, because they originated with God's response to us (Psa. 18:25,26).

With the merciful You show Yourself merciful; with the mature You show Yourself mature; with the pure You show Yourself pure, and with the crooked/iqqesh (false, twisted) You show Yourself shrewd/titpattal

According to Psalm 18, my false and twisted behavior will bring the same. When I'm twisted or perverse, those actions come from my life not in alignment with God’s purposes; I'm heading the wrong way.


The challenge of life, as we talked yesterday about two faces, is that we all know our innermost motivations of the heart; aka our secret sins.  We, speaking of me, myself and I, know how far the outward appearance is from the real hidden life. We are acutely aware of our crooked and twisted past. So how does God appear to us?


Ironically, the word 'shrewd' has a positive connotation of accurate assessment in judgment (Jn. 7:24; Matt. 7:1-4; Isa. 11:3,4). What could this mean for our personal interactions with God?


Simply put, these verses recognize that we experience God in the same way we engage life itself. Clearly measure for measure/medah keneged medah is involved in the three opening thoughts of these verses. If we look for kindness and mercy, we will find it. If we act with righteous maturity, righteousness will envelop us. If we are pure, God’s holiness will accompany our walk. And in the same way, perversity begets perversity, even from God. Why? Because He is the shadow of our right hand (Psa. 121:5). Huh?


God's response in the outer world is a reflection of my inner world. A twisted man sees a twisted world and acts according to his vision. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. And, of course, a twisted man cannot find a straightened God. He will perceive God as untrustworthy and unfaithful because he is untrustworthy and unfaithful. His image of the Lord will reflect his own inner struggles. He will not meet the God of kindness, righteousness and purity as long as his life remains bent (Prov. 23:7).


Fortunately, God is not restricted by our distorted perception. God will twist the twisted, tie them in knots, entangle them in their own webs until at last they come to the end of themselves. Measure for measure with the purpose of bringing what is bent to its final conclusion (2 Pet. 3:8). Until the metal breaks from all the bends. And then it can be melted and remade.


Life is truly a journey of discovering ourselves/lekh lekha. YOLO (You Only Live Once), let's live it well, no matter where you live. Happy middle of the week!


Hanukkah's coming soon. Light up your world!


Shalom!!!

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