Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

True Wisdom - Read: Proverbs 2

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." - Proverbs 9:10

Today's Bible reading shows the importance of seeking wisdom diligently.  True wisdom draws us closer to God and helps us more fully understand the fear of God.  It not only gives us spiritual protection but also keeps us from making foolish choices.  This is well illustrated in Jesus' parable about the wise man who built his house on a rock, and the foolish man who built his house on sand.

True heavenly wisdom is described in James 3:17: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."  Clearly there is a great difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom.  Worldly wisdom makes a person look good and sound good, but somehow it makes little difference in whether he lives an upright life.  Godly wisdom directly produces godly living.  As today's Bible reading indicates, what we do is just as important as what we say.  True wisdom is not only about talking right; it also requires doing right.  Our words carry the most weight when our walk and our talk agree.

Jesus strongly condemned hypocrisy.  He said of the scribes and Pharisees, "Therefore, whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not" (Matthew 23:3).  These leaders had many wise and wonderful things to say, but their lives didn't match their words.  Is it the same way with us?  Is our wisdom only in what we say?  Such wisdom is earthly and has little value.  It is a stumbling block for those who follow us as examples.  Let's pray that God would give us a plentiful supply of the "wisdom that is from above."

Titus Yoder - Thorndike, ME

"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." - James 3:13

From Amish Peace...

Light of the World

"You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house." - Matthew 5:14-15

September is a time when Amish children head back to school.  Many believe that Amish children only attend school in one-room schoolhouses, but many Amish scholars also go to public school.  Once, I even met an Amish man who taught at a public school!

So what is it like to attend public school as an Amish person?  Elizabeth Coblentz, author of The Amish Cook, describes it this way:

When I was at school age, we went to a two-room public school.  First to fourth grade were in one room (the little side), and fifth through eighth was called the "big side".  A room for lunch buckets and coats divided the two.  Then we moved to a different place, which brought us to grade nine and a high school.  Was so different from a country school of eight grades.  At the high school, they served a noon lunch, but who could afford it? ... 

When our eight children went to public school where lunch was prepared, I thought it was healthier to let them eat a warm meal at school.  Made less work to pack the lunch and keep those buckets clean.

As you can imagine, Amish students will stand out among their peers in public school - from their faith to the way they dress to the size of their families.  They aren't your typical students.  Yet standing out isn't always a bad thing.  God calls us to be salt and light in this world.  In our daily lives, we will often interact with those who are different from us in some way.  Instead of being intimidated by the situation, we have a chance to share God's love with those who may never have heard about Him.  When someone takes note of you because you are different, use it as your chance to shine the light of Jesus in that person's life!

Dear heavenly Father, I often feel awkward when I am different from those around me.  Help me to use any attention I receive to glorify You.

I am a humble pensioner, myself, for my daily bread;

Shall I forget my brothers who seem in greater need?

I know not how it happened that I have more than they,

Unless God meant that I should give a larger part away.

The humblest wayside beggar and I have wants the same,

Close side by side we walked when God called out one name.

So, brother, it but happened the name he called was mine;

The food was given for both - here, half of it is thine."

- Helen Hunt Jackson

Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

Trachselwald Castle

The Trachselwald Castle - Read: Luke 12:33-59

"For unto whom much is given, of him shall much be required." - Luke 12:48

The Trachselwald Castle is prominently situated on a hill in the fertile Emmental Valley of Switzerland.  This castle is over a thousand years old and stands today much as it did when Anabaptist believers farmed the Emmental Valley.  Within the castle tower are cells constructed out of heavy lumber.  A cell often has iron chains fastened to the stone walls, with shackles on the other ends.  There is a crude bed with stocks for holding prisoner's feet, and a slot in the door where food was passed through.

In the 1500s and 1600s, scored of Anabaptists were taken to the Trachselwald Castle.  They were imprisoned and tortured, and many were martyred.  One of those imprisoned was my seventh-generation grandfather, a Mennonite minister, who is also the ancestor of most plain people in America with the Martin name.

Most readers of this devotional can freely practice their religion but many of the believers in the world still gather in secret because of persecution.  We should be thankful for the freedom to assemble publicly with other believers, sing hymns of worship to the Lord, preach the Gospel, and study the Scriptures.  We park our cars in a church parking lot and assemble in a building to worship without fear.  What we do with this privilege carries a great responsibility and will have effects in eternity.

These blessings were bought with a high price, first by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  Then they were passed down through the generations with much sacrifice and suffering.  In various ways we are like the servant who was given five talents.  Let us all be diligent and use these blessings to advance God's kingdom, so that we can hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

Lester K. Burkholder - Womelsdorf, PA

The Three Dimensions of Thanksgiving - Read: Luke 17:11-19, 2 Timothy 3:1-5

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: ... abounding therein with thanksgiving." - Colossians 2:6-7

Having a thankful spirit with genuine appreciation for our many blessings is the first dimension of thanksgiving.  With the exception of the chronic complainers, the bitter, the never-satisfied grumblers, most people fit into this category to varying degrees.  The second dimension is not only to feel thankful but also to express gratitude sincerely to the One from whom all blessings flow.  Jesus healed ten lepers, but though nine of them assuredly were very thankful, they never passed beyond the first dimension.  Yet the second dimension was never intended to be a dead end either.

Thanksgiving is an action word that involves not only our emotions and words but also our doings.  We do not have the option of keeping to ourselves the things God gives us.  Spiritual, material, or even emotional blessings are entrusted to us to be shared, not hoarded.  Paul wrote, "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).  Being faithful stewards is the third dimension of thanksgiving.  It builds on the foundation of a thankful spirit, and it expresses heartfelt appreciation to our Lord for His bountiful blessings - but it does not end there.  If we are faithful stewards, we will use our blessings to glorify God and extend His kingdom, and we will generously share our time, talents, and finances with the poor and suffering.

Upon the conclusion of a soul-searching message, one man informed the minister that he had been deeply challenged.  "Good," replied the minister.  "Now what are you going to do about it?"  The same question applies to us who know that we are stewards of God's bountiful gifts.  What are we going to do about it?

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR 

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:10

Flowers Leave Their Fragrance on the Hand that Bestows Them

There's an old Chinese proverb that if practiced each day

Would change the whole world in a wonderful way.

Its truth is so simple, it's easy to do,

And it works every time and successfully, too.

For you can't do a kindness without a reward

Not in silver or gold but in joy from the Lord.

You can't light a candle to show others the way

Without feeling the warmth of that bright little ray,

And you can't pluck a rose all fragrant with dew

Without part of its fragrance remaining on you.

- Helen Steiner Rice