“²⁰My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. ²³For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,” – Proverbs 6:20 & 23 (ESV)

I encourage reading of the full passage of Proverbs 6:20-35 as it is a great passage to teach us more about how passion gets in the way of rational thought. I want to focus on the passage above as a starter to how to get through life.

I have titled this study, “Way of Life: Commands, Teachings, and Discipline”. I truly believe that this is a great way to progress through this life on earth.

We have been given parents, teacher, mentors, elders, and others in this world that have lived life already. Real people that have made mistakes and recovered, or learned from the mistakes of others and they provide wisdom for us to absorb as we walk through life. They have experienced it already and bring to us the consequences of actions to contemplate prior to taking action ourselves.

Why do we still choose to try it ourselves? Because we are human and we learn by doing. That is the only reason I can think of aside from our arrogance and stubbornness to believe that we know better.

As parents ourselves, I know that there are areas that we have failed to teach our sons. We cannot remember to command and teach all things, but we can them discipline to minimize the damage that comes with the mistakes they will make as they learn on their own.

What are some of the things that you may have learned that you have failed to heed? Where are you able to get back to by looking back at some of the commands from those with experience? Are you able to get back on the way of life through those commands, teachings, and discipline?

“¹Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! ²It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! ³It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” – Psalm 133:1-3 (ESV)

Can you imagine a world where all “dwell in unity”? Imagine a healthy respect for one another. Imagine love for each other.

I have seen the bumper stickers of the word “coexist” written in symbols of different religions. Where I may not fully understand what that means in the hearts of others, I can apply it to the idea of dwelling in unity. A world where we would love one another and work together for the common cause of spreading the gospel. We have to be careful not to believe that we will always get along and agree with one another on all items, however our purpose should be something that we all should agree. Isn’t that our task as laid out by God in Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)?

And when we are in unity with our purpose and carrying out God’s plan, then we are blessed by God with “life forevermore”. Our lives are blessed when we are working for the greatness of God. When we are working together to bring God to the people, we are fulfilling our end of the agreement and God will uphold His.

Are you working with your fellow man in unity of purpose? Are you experiencing the blessings of God? Are you receiving “life forevermore” as we “dwell in unity” with our fellow man?

We find ourselves at an interesting place on Monday mornings when we get to the office. The water cooler crew has gathered and the gossip begins. We have a choice, join in, or search for something good.

 “¹¹Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. ¹²What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? ¹³Keep your tongue from evil and you lips from spreading deceit. ¹⁴Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” – Psalm 34:11-14 (ESV)

I wonder how many of us really think of the water cooler as a place to walk away from. It is our duty to seek good, and when conversing at the water cooler is it always good that comes from it?

The example of Christ is one of love and goodness. When we are standing around the water cooler, things may not always be aimed at love a goodness. There is the chat related to what someone is wearing. The discussion of what someone got caught doing over the weekend. And then there is the celebrations of the team victory on Saturday. Now all of these are not evil and deceitful, but 67% are not bringing the love and goodness of Christ.

The love and goodness that we feel and experience on Sundays should be extended throughout the work week with everyone we come in contact with. We should be the example of Christ at every turn.

I will say that it is not and will not be easy. And, we will likely slip up on occasion. But I will also say that we are human and nowhere near perfect. Our slip ups, and I mean those that are truly slip ups, when they happen will be forgiven when we have a repentant heart. Our heart is at the center of it all and our repentant heart allows for our imperfections.

What if we took the attitude of Christ we lived on Sunday morning and spread that at the water cooler? What if the love and goodness shown to us were something that we showed to others? What if our life with Christ was all day, every day?

We are to follow God through our lives and continue doing His work as we go. And in return:

“⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23:6 (ESV)

Chapter 23 of Psalms is a prayer quoted over and over again. This verse is the last in the chapter and brings home the point that God is right with us throughout the entire journey. We are doing work for Him, and that work can be/is dangerous. We are to persevere through it and know that God is there to protect us and provide for us. Our final reward is that we get to live with Him forever.

What a great promise for us to remember. When we have finished the race, God will be there providing a place of rest in heaven. But while we are working for Him, He provides goodness and mercy for our journey.

When you think of your journey, where do you place God? Are you working for Him knowing that he is there always? Are you aware of the goodness and mercy that follows you everywhere?

“¹¹You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is a fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

Before travelling to a new place, I spend some time looking at a map to understand the direction, and path I am going to take. Sure I could let my phone or GPS tell me which way to go when I get there, but would I truly “know” the path or simply travel on it.

When relying on another entity to direct you, our attention to the journey is lost as we only focus on the destination. The first part of verse 11 above says that God makes the “path of life” known, not the destination. God gives us the path for the journey and is present on the path and in his presence we experience joy and pleasure.

In today’s world, we have technology and speed to get us somewhere (phones, GPS, automobiles, planes). Shouldn’t we take some time to enjoy the journey of life in the presence of our God?

When you think about life, are you aware of the path or focused on the destination? Are you able to enjoy the journey in the presence of God?

“⁶My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and come to their end without hope. ⁷Remember that my life is a breath;” – Job 7:6-7 (ESV)

I forget that as long as my life is (in number of years) it is short when you think about God. The Grand Canyon was carved over millions of years, Christ was born over 2000 years ago, and the United States was born in 1776. My current 47 years of life is extremely short comparatively.

When we are looking at our lives, we should remember that they are short. When we are short on time, we focus on getting as much done as possible in that time so as not to “miss the deadline”.

And where is our focus? Well shouldn’t it be on completing the tasks set before us by God? Shouldn’t we prioritize our task list to have God’s at the top?

We are not going to be on this earth for very long (compared to the earth’s existence) and therefore we should be doing the work of God at every turn. We have an obligation to do God’s work first. Once we have completed the work of God we can get to those items that are on our list, although I suspect that some, if not all of them will fall off of the list entirely thanks to the gifts God will bestow on each of us for completing His work.

Knowing that our lives are short on this earth, are you focused on God? Are your priorities set so God’s work is done first? What if you did?

As I study this morning, I am reminded that we are always given a choice of life with God as opposed to being forced.

“¹⁹I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, ²⁰loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” – Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV)

The choice is ours. Life or death. Life in Christ, or death in the world.

God certainly wants each of us to choose Him and life, however He will not force Himself upon us. If we are not willing to choose Him, then we do not receive Him.

Think of our actions as Christians. I know that I have witnessed “ministry” that seems to “force” itself on those around them. I am pretty sure that this is not the approach that God wants for us. We are to present the Gospel and allow the Holy Spirit to work. Just like we have a choice, those around us have a choice as well. We are tasked with bringing them the good news, however it us up to them to choose life or death through Christ.

When you are witnessing to others, what is your approach? Are you one that is looking to force your beliefs on others, or one that allows the Holy Spirit to work? Are you approaching life with Christ as a choice?

“¹⁸Whoever takes and animal’s life shall make if good, life for life. ¹⁹If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, ²⁰fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.” – Leviticus 24:18-20 (ESV)

This was certainly not what I expected to study this morning. But, a great way to start the week, thinking about accountability and value.

We have a responsibility to be the example of Christ each and every day in each and every situation. We act with love and care, but when we do not, we are responsible to answer for our actions. Just saying “sorry” does not absolve us of our actions. Our accountability should fit our actions, and this is what is being referred to in the verses above.

We have to look past the letter and look to the intent. The punishment should fit the crime or the retribution should equal the discretion. If we find ourselves in a position where we are on the wrong side of a discretion, we should expect to “pay the piper” for those actions accordingly.

When we are looking at the actions and consequences of those actions, it is our responsibility to seek guidance to be sure that we are holding responsible at the right level, “eye for eye and tooth for tooth”. We should be looking to God for that guidance and direction. Likewise we should be seeking to be held accountable for our actions. We should be looking to God to be sure that our actions are in line with obedience to Him.

Has there been a situation where you have “over punished”? Have you been “under punished” and walked away as though you got away with one? Are you seeking equal accountability for your actions?

“¹⁰If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who east blood and will cut him off from among his people. ¹¹For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” – Leviticus 17:10-11 (ESV)

We are to take care when taking the flesh. In the Old Testament the blood was spilled on an alter as atonement sacrifice for sin. The sacrifice was sacred and so was the blood. That blood was off limits for consumption.

As I study this morning I am looking into today, and how we look at that same practice. I look to this passage and remember that Jesus sacrificed himself for us as his blood was spilt. We have the Lord’s Supper or Communion where we remember the blood of Jesus and His sacrifice for us.

I have to also consider also the blood of the animals that provide our physical sustenance as well. Whether that which we get from the grocer or that which we get from the wild. When that animal is prepared, the blood is removed and we are not to consume it. Hunters and butchers go through a process of removing the blood of the animal prior to preparing it for consumption.

Whereas it may seem a bit much, I have to think about the life of the animal and be thankful for this animal being so that I could have something to eat.

We may should be looking at life differently each day as we sit down to dinner. I know that I am thankful for the blood spilled by Jesus for my life, and I should be thankful for the food of the animals.

Are you thankful for the life of all? What about the animals you are consuming? And the life and sacrifice of Jesus? When was the last time you truly looked at life?

There are laws of God and laws of the land and in my study of God’s Word, when we are within the laws of God, we will naturally be within the laws of the land. Example, the Ten Commandments.

Here are a few of them that everyone should know:

“¹³You shall not murder. ¹⁴You shall commit adultery. ¹⁵You shall not steal.” – Exodus 20:13-15 (ESV)

As the example, God’s Law is not to murder, commit adultery, or steal. It is not a coincidence that the law of the land is the same.

When we are committed to obeying the laws of God, we will naturally fall in line with the law of the land.

“²⁰When a man strikes his slave, male or female with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged…²²When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. ²³But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life,” – Exodus 21:20, 22-23 (ESV)

God’s Word is clear with how we are accountable for life of human beings. Whether from the Ten Commandments, or other passages. We are responsible for caring for the lives of others and when we are not caring for those, we are held to being accountable for our failure.

When you look at the law, which are you looking at first, God’s or the land? When you think of others, are you valuing the care we are to place on them? Is your look at life Godly?