Tuesday, August 28, 2018


2018.08.28 Landmarks

Daily Reading:  Proverbs 23-24

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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