–Ephesians 5:17(Amplified)
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Let’s look at another one of those simple, yet profound verses of Scripture:

          “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  –Luke 2:19 (NKJV)

          “But Mary stored up these things in her memory and in her heart kept wondering what they meant.”  –Luke 2:19 (Barclay)

After the angel spoke with her I do not think she had questions regarding the accuracy of the birth of Jesus.  She was a direct recipient, but I do think she did not understand all that was happening.  This verse speaks of the time up to and immediately after the birth of Jesus.  At the Temple, shortly after, there is the encounter with Anna and Simeon.  What did Mary think?  She must have added to her thoughts.  
       The next time we see Jesus missing.  Joseph and Mary didn’t even look for Him immediately, but when they did and started looking they found Him at the Temple with the scholars.  Mary scolded Him, “Son, why have You done this to us?  Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” (Luke 2:48, NKJV)  Remember Jesus’ reply?  “‘…Why did you seek Me?  Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’  But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.”  (Luke 2:49-50, NKJV)  I’m sure frowns were etched on their foreheads, and Mary had to add this to her pondering.  In fact, verse 51 implies this, “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.”
       For a moment, consider Mary and what she did.  In her memory she kept all these things.  In her affections she kept them in her heart, and in her intellect she pondered them.  In other words, in her total being she thought about Jesus. (Spurgeon)  Perhaps we do not understand the term “ponder.”  We often use it when we say we are thinking of something, but it is more than that.  The Greek word (sumballo) means “to throw together; to put one thing with another in considering circumstances.”  Merriam-Webster states it this way, “to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply.”  A good way to define ponder is “to weigh.”  Weigh all the things you know–through your memory, through your affections, and through your intellect.  We, all of us, in one way or another must weigh who Jesus is.  We must place Him on our scales of judgment and come up with a conclusion–accept or reject.
       We are to be no different than Mary.  We are to remember what we have heard of the Lord Jesus and what He has done for us.  Yes, take time to ponder (weigh) that!  “Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold Him fast for evermore” (Charles H. Spurgeon).   In other words with your whole being grasp hold of Jesus.  Spurgeon continues with his thoughts, “Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus.  Meditate upon what you read:  stop not at the surface; dive into the depths.”
       Don’t groan because of your lack of understanding, but do the best you can for even a little knowledge is something gained.  We will never totally comprehend this God/Man who through His sacrifice brought redemption and restoration to mankind.  Grace?  How can it ever be fully understood?  Use your whole being to try to grasp Jesus; to ponder Him in your hearts.  Let me finish with one more thought from Spurgeon.  “If your understanding cannot comprehend, let your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot compass the Lord Jesus in the grasp of understanding, let it embrace Him in the arms of affection.”

                    –J. Lee Butts  (Written in Blood)

       “That you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”
                    –1 Thessalonians 2:12 (NKJV)
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               “And Enoch walked with God….”
                         –Genesis 5:24(NKJV)

               “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”
                         –Amos 3:3 (NKJV)

I wonder if Enoch listened to the stories of his great ancestor Adam?  Adam had walked with God in the cool of the evening back in Eden.  Did Adam describe Eden to Enoch and the others?  Did he speak of his conversations with God?  Perhaps, that is unknown, but if so, Enoch must have taken them to heart and wanted desperately to have a special walk with God.  His walk with God had to be one of deep fellowship and obedience, so much so that the Lord took him so he would not have to see death.
       I’m sure you had a best friend growing up, and most likely have one now.  What made them your best friend?  For sure one thing would be–common interests.  There may be other things contributing to the friendship but there must be something in common.  Maybe another question should be asked, why and when did they stop being your best friend?  Was it because you interests had changed?  Was it that you were going different directions?  When a person becomes a Christian, many things change, one of which is companions.  No longer is there a shared interest or if there is it is of little importance.  The “new man” has changed direction and is headed for heaven.  The “new man” now has a different purpose in life.
       Enoch walked with God.  That means they were walking in the same direction.  They had things in common, the same purpose so to speak, and they were headed in the same direction.  Oxford says that to walk is to “move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once; it is the act of traveling.”  Perhaps Enoch was humming the old tune, “I feel like traveling on…my heavenly home is bright and fair…I feel like traveling on.” (William Hunter)  However, the Bible often refers to “walk” a little differently.  It means the way in which an individual lives or conducts his life.  It will be very much in contrast to that of an unbeliever for they walk in darkness while the believer walks in the light.
       Therefore, a walk is a series of steps taken day, after day, after day with God.  Enoch, daily, walked with God.  To walk with God meant there must be agreement with Him.  As the prophet asked, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”  Coming upon a fork in the road, they must be in agreement which road to take.  They must reason together when to rest, when to eat, and how fast the pace should be.  That is an important thing to consider, for when two people walk together they must walk at the same pace so to walk with God means that we must keep in step with Him.  Think of these things in regard to Enoch:  going in the same direction, keeping in step, agreeing with God.  Now, think of them regarding your walk.  When we walk with God there can be no controversy with Him.  
       I like what Ray Stedman said, “Enoch’s life is a testimony to us, that if we walk with God we shall not see death; that the answer to barrenness, drabness and dullness is this daily stepping out by faith on the promises of God; this daily testing of His promises, and reckoning upon them.”  The writer of Hebrews speaks of Enoch in this manner, “By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away.  For prior to his transformation he was approved, having pleased God.” (11:5, HCSB)  Enoch pleased God, go on to verse 6, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards them that seek Him.” (HCSB)  To walk with God is to walk in faith never wavering.  The person who walks with God will not see spiritual death.   So I would say:  Keep in step!  Walk worthy!  Walk in obedience!

                         –Luke 21:28 (ESV)
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                    “Signs of the times are everywhere,
                    There’s a brand new feeling in the air;
                    Keep your eyes upon the eastern sky
                    Lift up your head, redemption draweth nigh.”
                             –Gordon Jensen

          “And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days…”
                            –Daniel 8:27(NKJV)

     The mystery of lawlessness is already at work (2 Thessalonians 2:7).  Look around you, it is clear to see.  Watch the news and it is very apparent.  Men are lovers of themselves and everything that is unholy.  Go ahead, read what the times will be like before the coming of the Lord in 2 Timothy 3 and see if we are not there.  Even in the church, people have a form of godliness, some speak a partial truth, a truth of harmony and compromise instead of following Jesus who is the only way.
     What Daniel saw those many centuries ago made him sick to his stomach.  When you hear people say that it won’t be so bad, take another look at Daniel retching.  It wasn’t only a gut reaction, but his soul was in anguish.  Today is the day of salvation–don’t miss it.  Heed the warning of Paul to the Thessalonians, “Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6, NKJV)  Take comfort, however, because the Holy Spirit instructed Paul also to write, “For God did not appoint us to wrath…” (5:9)
     Despite what others may say, the time of the Tribulation is coming.  Look briefly at the “Seals” of Revelation.  My how bad a time that will be.  When we see the destruction in the world and the troubles that go with it, it will not compare to the judgments seen in Revelation.  The innocents killed in wars in Gaza, Ukraine and a host of other places will seem negligible compared to what will happen when the Man of Lawlessness is released.  It will be so bad that the rich and noble men on the earth along with the common man will “hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!'” (Revelation 6:15-16, NKJV)  Hmm, so much for the “preppers.”
     After the Seals the judgments come in a fury.  Something that the earth has never seen before.  The Trumpet sounds and we see the destruction upon the earth:  fire, famine, pestilence, death upon the sea and upon the land, bitter and poisonous water, even destruction in the cosmos, no wonder the angel cried aloud, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound.” (Revelation 8:13, NKJV)  With that fifth trumpet blast comes a host of evil from the bottomless pit.  The evil angel of the pit will appear–Apollyon.  Then the sixth trumpet and the evil angels that are bound at the river Euphrates will be released and will kill a third of mankind. (Revelation 9)  Still think the Bride of Christ will be going through this?
     But wait, there are worse judgments yet to come–the “Bowl Judgments” (Revelation 16)  There will be sores, darkness, pain, pestilence, thirst.  The stench of decaying animals will be throughout the earth.  Frogs (spirits of demons) will come out of the mouth of the great dragon (Satan) to gather the armies of the earth together.  Imagine, with all the destruction and woe, they still think they can defeat the King of kings.  The earth will be utterly shaken.  Cities will collapse, islands will disappear, mountains will fall because of the blaspheming of men.
     Yes, signs of the time are everywhere so be ready for that first trumpet blast.  A blast of victory, a trumpet call of homecoming, then the woes will begin to fall upon the earth.  Friend, now is the day of salvation.