All the snakes in the West don’t crawl around in the brush. Lots of them wear fancy suits and talk real pretty. And they’re as deadly as an eight-foot rattler.”
–Paul Bagdon (Stallions at Burnt Rock)
“Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly? No! You plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land. These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way. They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen.”
–Psalm 58:1-4 (NLT)
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Ain’t that the truth! At least one normally hears the sound of the rattler, but those in their fancy duds, and some even wear dresses, that try to destroy or alter truth are dangerous to the soul. Hmmm, ask Judge Kavanaugh about snakes in skirts. We are warned to beware of those that can harm not only the body, but also the soul.
They use their fancy words. They twist truth and sometimes invent truth with their lies. Remember, always remember who their father is. The devil–he is the father of lies.
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God is transcendent; we know that. Therefore as Christians, when we walk through this life we must keep that in mind as well as other transcendent thinking. This may be called purpose or mission for one’s life. Whatever it is, it must always be higher than yourself. Here are some things to consider:
–Do you live for yourself? (Not good. Too small.)
–Do you live for your business, career or making money? (Doesn’t qualify. Money is no transcendent cause.)
–Do you live for your wife and family? (That’s bigger. And somewhat better.)
–Do you live for your nation? Or, more vaguely, “humanity”? (That’s transcendent. But it still falls short of ultimate transcendence.)
–Do you live for a principle, such as “freedom”? (That’s good. But just what does it mean? Is it just temporal freedom? Political freedom? Freedom from foreign oppression? Individual freedom?)
–Jerry Boykin and Stu Weber
In other words, principles, values, eternity are things that should make us move and guide our conduct. Jesus Christ is then the ultimate transcendent cause.
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Ponder this: “Ostriches are not flying birds. Chickens fly short distances with much effort. Eagles, doves, and swallows fly high and far. Sinners are like the ostrich and are earthbound. Good people who have not quite reached devotion are like the chicken. They fly in God’s direction, but inefficiently and awkwardly. The devout regularly soar to God. Devotion, then, is a natural nimbleness of spirit.”
–Francis de Sales
Think of devotion as “worship.” For true devotion is actually a very real form of worship.