TRANSFORMED BY DOING

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV 

Scholars tell us that this excellent piece of wisdom was written by King Solomon over 3000 years ago. It is a powerful passage that instructs us to put our full trust in God, relying on Him for everything, and He will guide our lives. It also warns us not to trust in our own thinking, feeling and understanding more than we do God and His word. I love this passage and it has helped me through a lot of hard and difficult times. 

Solomon was a wise man. Unfortunately he didn't always follow his own God-given wisdom. Though he started out as a man of great faith and trust in God, in the later years of his life, he turned away from God, trusted his own wisdom and even worshipped other gods. Though he succeeded from a worldly standpoint, he failed in the most important area of his life - his relationship with God. Want to know how bad things were for Solomon? Read the book of Ecclesiastes. 

The point is, just knowing the Bible and the wisdom of the Bible is not enough, we have to live it. We have to put God's word into practice ... Every. Day. 

Jesus taught, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, that God's blessings come not from just hearing His word, but from doing His word. As one of my former professors said, "The Bible wasn't given to us just for information, it was given to us for our transformation." 

We are transformed not by just knowing what the Bible says, but by doing what the Bible teaches. 

Read more posts at my site, High Places

FIVE ON FRIDAY - May 30, 2025

 

Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week: 

1. BIBLE VERSE I'M MEDITATING ON

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11 NKJV

This verse speaks to our ability to defeat Satan by the power of God's provision (the blood of the Lamb) and through our testimony of God's grace and faithfulness, and by not loving our lives in this world. Jesus said in John 12:25 "Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity."  

Revelation 12:11 highlights the overcoming power of faith, the gospel message, and the sacrifice of Jesus. 

2. APP I'M USING

Remember Me. Bible Memory App

I've used this app for a few years now for Bible verse memorization. This free app allows you to memorize Scripture from any Bible translation easily, and provides lots of helps with games, strategies, reminders and more. I love it. 

3. BOOK I'M AUDIO READING

Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most, by Greg McKeown

I'm still reading McKeown's better known book, Essentialism, but I came across this book in audio on the Libby App. In Effortless he builds on the foundation he laid in Essentialism. His central idea is that we can accomplish just as much in life with balance and efficiency as we can by working ourselves to death. He highlights a lot of the issues we have with "burning the candle at both ends" and how we are more productive when we are rested and focused. 

"Getting ahead doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it. No matter what challenges or obstacles we face, there is a better way: instead of pushing ourselves harder, we can find an easier path. Effortless offers actionable advice for making the most essential activities the easiest ones, so you can achieve the results you want, without burning out." 

I'm about halfway through and it has a lot of practical helps to simplify life. 

4. QUOTE I'M PONDERING

"There is a peace passing understanding of which the politicians cannot deprive us." John Newton

Newton is most noted for being the author of the great hymn, Amazing Grace" but he also played a significant role in the British abolitionist movement by transitioning from a slave trader to a vocal critic and advocate against slavery, contributing to the eventual abolition of the slave trade. Newton became a close friend and advisor to William Wilberforce, the leading parliamentary figure in the abolitionist movement. Though it took them many years and many political battles, their collaboration was crucial to the success of the abolitionist cause. 

Newton faced a great deal of public scrutiny and criticism launched by political opponents, but he had a deep faith in God which brought him tremendous peace when the political fiery darts were being fired. 

His quote is a great reminder for followers of Jesus in our political climate today. 

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website.