2018.08.28 Landmarks
Scripture Focus:
Do not move an ancient landmark (Proverbs 23.10a)
Devotional
Thought: When we moved onto Virginia Trail, I
was plowing the yard to prepare it for seeding.
"Uh oh! What was
that?" I jumped off the tractor and
found that the plow had pulled up a boundary stake. I tried to put it back where it belonged, but
the hole was gone! I didn't think about
it for 8 years, but two years ago, a tree that was on the property line fell
over. It was an expensive proposition to
cut it up and move it off. I wanted some
help. I had to know exactly where the
property line was but couldn't find the boundary stake! Thankfully my neighbor remembered, and we
worked out a deal that was not too expensive for either of us.
The writer of Proverbs warned against moving
ancient landmarks. His concern was to
prevent people from taking advantage of the poor in court. God is concerned for that, but he also has
other landmarks that are even more important.
God gave us the Ten Commandments over 3000
years ago. Those landmarks are meant for
our good. It is so tempting to move them,
to change them. But millennia of
experience teaches us that that is not a good idea! Life is lived better in obedience to those
"Big 10"!
God also gave us the Law of love - to love him
with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength - and to love our neighbor as
ourselves. That's an ancient landmark
stretching back to the time of Moses and being reiterated by Christ
himself. That ancient landmark has been
moved, however, and too many people today, however, love only those they like.
Let's keep those ancient landmarks
intact! It's too expensive not to!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that "The boundary
lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.
Surely I have a delightful inheritance." Help me to know and keep those boundaries intact. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 10 You make springs gush forth in
the valleys; they flow between the hills; 11 they give drink to every beast of
the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 12 Beside them the birds of
the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. 13 From your lofty abode you
water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. 14 You
cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that
he may bring forth food from the earth 15 and wine to gladden the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart. (Psalms 104:10-15)
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