Water on Mars?

 

 [1]

1 Peter 5:8-9

Holman Christian Standard Bible

⁸ Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

 

When the serpent (devil) tempted Eve, he had very little to go on. He used ventriloquism to make it appear that the serpent was actually talking and promised Eve that, as the serpent, had gained the ability to speak by eating the forbidden fruit, she, Eve, would gain precious knowledge by eating it. She was tricked, and all the evil in the world today resulted from her falling for it.

Likewise, the devil will stoop to any deviant, low, and mean device to capture us. Shortly after I got to high school, we had a discussion in a Friday night meeting about things to do on the Sabbath. Some students suggested that since God is love, and that he gave us love, including physical love, we should read novels about love. A lot of students thought that was a good idea.

I countered that since God is love and, in the commandment, He stated that the seventh day is the “Sabbath of the Lord Thy God,” therefore, we ought to be reading about our love for God instead of physical love. My reasoning sort of brought the discussion to a close.

Several of my fellow students approached me afterwards and told me that my reasoning was very convincing. They would appreciate it if I used it “on our side.” Their compliments fed my ego, and I began looking for places where I could support “our” side, and there were lots of places that I could. Some of those places actually supported what I considered to be the Lord’s side. On the other hand, it is also easy to use reasoning to support evil.

For example, just the other day, I overheard someone commenting that as scientists have examined some global structures on Mars, they have come to the conclusion that, early on, Mars was covered by water. Those same scientists examine the very same structures on earth and conclude that the earth was never covered by water. Why not? Because that would support the concept of a Genesis flood, and that is unconscionable.

Oh Lord, may my reasoning be guided by your Holy Spirit!

 

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[1] https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/what-happened-to-marss-water-it-is-still-trapped-there

Love Thy Neighbor

 [1]

1 John 4:21

Common English Bible

²¹ This commandment we have from him: Those who claim to love God ought to love their brother and sister also.

 

Sylvia and I were studying with Sara in Somerset West who had expressed an interest in studying the Bible. She sat in an easy chair in the corner of her living room. Nestled on her right arm sat the chubbiest little black Wheaton Terrier I’ve ever seen. Every so often she would reach into a box of chocolates with her left hand and pop one into Wheaty’s mouth. He would lick her fingers and then chew contemplatively on the chocolate.

Sara had been telling us about a lady, Melody, from down the street whom she couldn’t stand. She mentioned several minor things that bugged her: her lawn was neatly manicured, not just mowed like Sara’s. She had a big golden lab that she would walk on leash every morning. Sometimes the lab would leave a pile on Sara’s lawn. Melody would reach into her fanny pack and take out a plastic bag. Then she would lean over and primly pick up the pile, tie the bag in a knot, and walk on. In Somerset West nobody ever picked up after their pet.

Once in a while Sara would be out in her yard with Wheaty when Melody came by. When Wheaty saw the lab, he would dash, barking wildly, and nip at the lab’s heels. Usually the south-easter was blowing relentlessly. Petite Melody would struggle with all her might to drag the lab away while also fighting vainly to keep her skirt modestly covering her legs. Sara would laugh at the struggle and just let Wheaty do his worst. Served her right!

When Wheaty finally returned triumphantly after chasing “the enemy” away, Melody would call back cheerfully: “Good morning! Have a beautiful day! Don’t you just love this south-easter—the old Cape Doctor?”

Bright and early on Christmas morning, Melody had rung Sara’s doorbell. When Sara had opened the door, Melody stood there in a bright summer smock. She had reached out with a winning “Happy Christmas!” and handed Sara a festively decorated platter of neatly braided and decorated koeksisters. Then she had skipped joyfully down her sidewalk toward home.

“I just can’t stand her cheerfulness. I never have anything ready to give her!” she grouched. Sara looked at me: “I know the Bible says to love your neighbor.” Then she paused for effect before adding with venom: “Just because I have to love her doesn’t mean I have to like her!”

How do you respond to an outburst like that?

Lord, help me to love those I really can’t stand—like You love me.

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[1] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/26/happy-ever-after-25-ways-to-live-well-into-old-age#img-7