Lockdown Memories
One of my memories from earlier this year when our whole nation was under lockdown, was this: people were doing things they would not ordinarilly do because they knew no-one around them was watching.
Dog owners were not clearing up their mess and fly-tippers had a field day.
Before we judge these folks, let us remember that one divine purpose of society is to put a useful and helpful check on our behaviour. Any one of us might behave differently were we not surrounded by loving family or friends.
It's better not to live on your own, but if you do, it is wise to be accountable in all of life to a few trusted Christian friends.
Someone else is Watching
Our memory verse for today reminds us that Someone else is watching our every move, and that wisdom begins with us understanding this:
"The fear if the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10)
The word "fear" does not mean terror, but filial fear, family fear, the kind of fear that a respectful son has towards his honoured father.
When I was a young teenager I was caught stealing from Woolworths and hauled in front of some inspector bloke. What hurt me most was that my dad was with me and I had let him down. I was completely unperturbed by the official, but "fearful" of my dad. I had let dad down, that's what hurt me.
That's the kind of "fear" we have here.
Knowing that our lives are an open book to God our Father's gaze should shape our behaviour.
Our memory verse says that this kind of fear is the very beginning of wisdom. In Proverbs wisdom has nothing to do with intellectual wise-guy knowledge, it is about living, actions, behaviour.
The first step to wisdom, the place where wisdom begins is developing this loving fear of him. No-one else may hear, see or know, but our Father does and has.
"The fear if the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10)
Summing it Up
One danger with a memory verse like this is that Satan uses it as a battering ram to accuse us. The proper way we should respond to it is to remember that because of the gift of God's grace through the Lord Jesus, we have become children of God our Father. And responding to his love, we his children, should want to live lives that please him who sees all things.
We walk the path of wisdom, in his power, because he loves us so, not because he is waving a stick over us.
A SONG FOR THE DAY
Do you remember singing this one at Sunday School?
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There's a Father up above, looking down in love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see.
Be careful little ears what you hear
Oh, be careful little ears, what you hear.
There's a Father up above, looking down in Love,
So be careful little ears, what you hear.
Be careful little mouth what you say
Oh, be careful little mouth, what you say.
There's a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little mouth, what you say.
Be careful little hands, what you touch
Oh, be careful little hands, what you touch.
There's a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little hands, what you touch.
Be careful little feet, where you go
Oh, be careful little feet, what you go.
There's a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little feet, what you go
Join in HERE.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Our all-seeing Father in heaven,
We thank you that nothing is hidden from your sight. We are amazed that you love us, since you know us altogether. But as a human father continues to love their naughty child, so you love us your oft-erring children.
Remind us day by day that you are watching over us and teach us to live lives, by the power of your Spirit, for the glory of your Son, which honour the triune God, in whose name we ask these things.
Amen.
Photo by Tobias Tullius on Unsplash
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