Anyone remember a movie with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt called "As Good As It Gets"?
I don't usually plug movies here, but I came across some interesting things in study this morning, I wanted to share.
I've been running references about "value" and "precious" in the Scripture. Those things that are precious and valuable to God and how we need to recognize that also, for our own lives.
There's a place over in Acts 19:19 that says:
Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Paul was in Ephesus preaching the Gospel and there were a LOT of miracles and signs and wonders that took place. God showed up in that place, at that time.
The VALUE of the books on magic that was burned that day was 50,000 coins of silver. The commentary in my Bible says that this was probably a reference to 50,000 Greek drachmae, a coin which was roughly equivalent to one day's wage....so the cumulative value of these magic books was ENORMOUS.
The Word of God that was shared with these people was so precious and VALUABLE that they became serious about, and wanted to PLEASE GOD. They did what they did to make a step in the right direction towards pleasing God in their lives.
In the movie, there was a scene where the character, played by Helen Hunt, said she wanted Jack to pay her a serious compliment, because there was a LOT LACKING in the relationship....she thought this would be good place to start. A compliment. He then told her that she made him want to be a better man.
All of God's Words, His precious instructions, His VALUABLE HELP should be just that to us. PRECIOUS and VALUABLE, and that should motivate us to DO what HE SAYS, because of His LOVE towards us. What He's said and done FOR US, makes me wnat to be a better person.... because I VALUE HIM, HIS WORD, HIS LOVE, HIS DIRECTIONS, HIS GIFT to me.
Jeremiah 38:20 tells us:
Please, obey the voice of the LORD which I speak to you. So it shall be well with you, and your soul shall live.
God wants to save our hide, and save us heartache, and trouble in our lives, and many times we look upon His instructions as an INCONVIENCE and not PRECIOUS.
Jeremiah 42:6 says:
Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."
Colossians 1:10 tells us:
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God
Hebrews 13:21 says:
make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Father, YOU are the One that wants us to be better people, and put us into a situation to SAVE our hide. I ask YOU to make us hungry and thirsty for You and Your Ways. HELP US to respond to You with a loving and willing heart. HELP US to show our Love to YOU with our obedience to You. I AM a better person because of YOU. In Jesus' Name.
