Every careless deed...

Follow The Rules

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. (ISV)

Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is what it means to be human. For God will judge every deed, along with every secret, whether good or evil.

We previously discussed how every careless word will be held accountable. This week, a verse from Ecclesiastes reveals that every deed—both good and evil, public or private—will be judged.

We live in an upside-down world.  We’ve come to accept evil as good, the perverse as normal, tyranny as tolerable.

But no matter the change in social norms, God’s Word never changes. There are many versions of the Biblical text – such as KJV (King James Version), NASB (New American Standard Bible), ESV (English Standard Version), ISV (International Standard Version), and more.

In fact, Wikipedia has some incredible statistics on this:

• The United Bible Societies is a global fellowship of around 150 Bible Societies that aim to translate, publish, and distribute the Bible.

• There are currently over 3,142 versions in over 2,073 languages available digitally on bible.com - of which 1,768 are available audibly.  (the lists can be found here).

• WorldBibles.org lists over 14,000 internet links to Bibles, New Testaments, and portions of scripture in "over four thousand languages."

One thing I learned while writing my books, Walking With God, Part 1 and Part 2 (coming soon), is that all the various versions, except the King James Version, are copyright-protected! Who knew?

Nonetheless, the core messages are the same, no matter what version of the Word you are reading:

• God IS love.

• The Gospel of Jesus - that He died and rose again for our sins - is the cornerstone of our Faith.

• God will judge every word and dead, good and evil, hidden or in plain sight.

• The Ten Commandments are the core set of principles for how to live.

Solomon is credited for writing the Bible’s book of Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. I’ve been told that he wrote Ecclesiastes near the end of his life as a lament about all the years he wasted frittering away his enormous funds and following the gods of his many wives. He looked back on the wasted years of his life when he could have better served God.  

Because every word and every deed will be judged, we should live and practice daily the rules from God’s playbook, The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20)

1. I AM the LORD your God: you shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall make no idols or carved images.

3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

5. Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

6. You shall not kill.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or your neighbor’s goods.

Take a hard look at that list.

How many do you follow to the letter? How many need to be tightened up, even repented? For example, how many times in the last week did you say or write OMG, or worse, in a text or an email? How many of us use the Sabbath, Sunday or Saturday, depending on your practice, as a catch-up work day instead of a day of honor and rest? Do we gossip about our neighbors? Or do we wish we had THAT car or house or spouse?

We will be held accountable for our every word, deed, and even thought. Walking closer in alignment with the way God wants us to live will make us more like Jesus. After all, that’s who we all most desire to be more like.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Father, we are your children, and you know us so very well. Every day, we fall short of Your Glory and Your way of being. Thank you that You have given us a way to correct our every vault, through Your son Jesus. You love us so much that nothing can snatch out of your hand. And no matter how far we fall or stray away, you are always there, ready to embrace us and welcome us home. Help us to every day FIRST seek Your kingdom and FOREMOST, seek to know You better. Help us to have a real relationship with You, Abba Father. Open our ears so we may always hear and recognize Your voice, especially when you whisper to us, “I love you. You’re mine.” We are so grateful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.