The last couple of weeks my blog experienced a number of phishing attacks. I pay for security features which block all these nefarious assaults, but a setting is turned on that sends me an email every time this happens and I’m now getting over a hundred emails a day. I know there must be a way to deal with the issue, but I need to take the time to go online and figure it out. It’s a hassle I’d rather do without.

Paul wrote about challenges and hassles in life, his much more painful and difficult than my technical problems. Addressing the church in Corinth, Paul recounted the painful trials he faced, the persecutions for preaching about Jesus, and the blows received upon his body. He gloried in the fact that the death working in him brought life to the people of Corinth. He added this piece of wisdom:

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Although consuming much of my time and attention, the frustrations of this world eventually pass. Issues grabbing my attention and energy prove transient. Money, prestige, and power all take wings.

However, the eternal exists all around us. I close my eyes and gain a sense of this hidden world. Unseen things, like God in heaven, the hopes and fears of those around me, spiritual battles, and even my own soul live in an eternal sphere. On the other hand, most of what I deal with daily takes place in an impermanent state.

I’ll get my blog issue figured out and skip along happily until the next system crash. These frustrations fail to smudge the eternal goodness of God. Paul reminds me of where to place my hope, and may the Lord keep me thinking on the eternal rather than the transient.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Photo by Dániel Barczikay

While I understand the Bible contains wisdom proven true over the ages, occasionally a passage jumps out at me like it was written this morning.

Social media, always a repository of slander and innuendo, turned vile this past week with the assassination of a popular figure. Those in opposition celebrated and gloated across digital platforms, gleeful at the death of a father and husband with whom they held political and behavioral disagreements.

However, the mob giveth, and the mob taketh away. Weaponizing social media, denizens of the web reported heinous and untruthful posts to employers. Hundreds of those who cheerfully mocked a senseless death lost jobs for their impulsive rants.

Should’ve waited a day before hitting publish.

Which brings me to the Bible’s wisdom: The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

This past week I’ve seen unrighteousness, poison, and curses on those made in the image of God. Will it end? I’m afraid not. As James points out, no human being can tame the tongue. The temptation remains too strong to spout off.

Will repercussions follow? Of course. You cannot spit on a man’s grave and not expect blowback. Infernos launched by unconstrained speech consume both listener and speaker. This situation stands as a perfect example of the damage done by how we communicate, a forest set ablaze by tiny fires.

Personally, I cannot bridle my tongue without the Lord’s help. I need the Holy Spirit to intervene, to build love and self-control into my life. I need God to shut me up, because without His bit in my mouth, there’s no telling what I might say.

James 3:1-12

Photo by Nijwam Swargiary

I keep my ear open to shifts around the world dealing with issues of belief and religion. While I cannot point to a definitive study, it appears that younger people (those ages 16-25) are turning to the historic Christian faith in ever-increasing numbers. As one 24-year old pilgrim in France recently said, Tradition is the only safe future we have. What are you going to build your life on, if not God?

Indeed, what will you and I build our lives upon, if not God?

In this hopeful situation I’m motived by the psalmist: O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

I’m certainly in the gray hairs stage of life. But I can still proclaim the wondrous deeds of our Lord. Younger generations need to know of the might and power of God. Indeed, they yearn for it. True life in not found in social media or pursuing self-fulfillment. These lead instead to dead-ends of loss and despair. Discerning young people awaken to this reality and call for something greater.

And what is greater than God?

If you’re young and hip, I encourage you to pursue the Lord above all else. You will never regret that decision. If you’re old and gray and not so hip (like myself), I encourage you to join me in unapologetically proclaiming the Lord’s might and power. We cannot leave a better inheritance to those who come after us.

Psalm 71:17-18

Photo by Etienne Girardet

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I’m tempted to take this verse as permission to live life to the fullest, enjoy the gifts of the table and feast under the benevolent hand of God. Indeed, part of the meaning includes thoughts along these lines. But Paul wrote in the midst of a discussion on whether Christians should eat meat previously sacrificed to idols, then sold in the marketplace or served as a meal.

Paul declared all foods clean, but added the injunction for believers to guard the consciences of those new or weak in the faith. We are indeed our brothers keepers, and Paul urged each of us to avoid needless offense, so that no one stumbles on their way to the kingdom.

Whether I’m eating or drinking, or whatever activity I’m enjoying, the glory of God shines nearby. I cannot live without abandon until I give thought to those with a different set of views on a wide variety of issues. Better to defer to that voice in my head reminding me to slow down than charge ahead.

Amazingly, as a follower of Jesus I can do most anything I want. The Christian life is incredibly open and free. But I’m not at liberty to shade the glory of God. Live in freedom, but only in a manner allowing God’s love to shine into our world. The glory of God exists so that all may know Him. The least I can do is get out of His way.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Photo by Kristine Weilert