Tuesday, May 6, 2014

For everything there is A Time ..... is there a time to rant??


I looked over the 'for everything a time'  list in Ecc.3:1-8  and did not find a listing for a 'time to rant', but I thought maybe "a time to throw away'   came close enough!

I have something in my kitchen   that   aggravates me every time I use it, which is most every day.
We bought new appliances when we moved nine years ago and I have been happy with them except for one feature on my stove !  The built-in timer !!
It makes no logical sense to me !

If I set the timer to one minute, no problem - I set it to the "1" and the number display immediately slips to  59 seconds and the count down follows to zero.    BUT, if I set it to any other number of minutes  then when I look at the timer display it always shows one less minute than what is left.
If, for example, I set it to 20 minutes, after one sec the display flips to 19 and counts down from there so that when it shows "1" minute left there are actually TWO minutes left  ... because the one minute shows for a whole minute before it starts the final minute at 59 down to 0 to  activate the buzzer !

OK, I know since I know how it works, that I just add one minute in my mind and don't let it bother me, right ?? NO!!   It bothers me every single time I set the timer because is just isn't RIGHT !!
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I love the story found in John 1:43-51.  It is the story of Nathanael - whose name means "given of God".
John tells how  Philip encountered  Jesus  and heard His words, "follow me!"
Philip's  first thought was to seek out his  good friend Nathanael to share the exciting news.   Obviously they must have spent time discussing the prophecies of the Old Testament, because without any introduction Philip blurts out .."We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Nathanael responded out of his knowledge of the scripture,  "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"   
Philip knew seeing was believing for Nathanael and simply replied... "Come and see."
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming to ward Him, Jesus said, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!" 
Nathanael asked the obvious question in his mind ... "How do You know me?"   and  Jesus answered..."Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."   
Nathanael's response is rather amazing.   While Philip spoke of Jesus as the One who was to come...  Nathanael  dared to call him God ... "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 

Jesus marvelled at his faith and asked ... "Because I said to you , 'I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe?  You will see greater things than these. Most assuredly I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." 

While only John speaks  of Nathanael by name in this one account , I believe it is recorded because it holds a message for us. There is something we can learn from Nathanael.
Jesus liked him and paid him a high complement -  that he was without guile!   What does that mean?
It means that Nathanael was someone who was honest, forthright -- what you see is what you get...  no beating around the bush,  no filtering of thoughts before they are spoken, no guessing where you stand with him.
Nathanael spoke his mind .... expressed his honest doubts but was  also quick with a  ready acceptance of the truth when he saw it !

God desires honesty in our inner self ...  that we are open, without hiding behind a mask or a pious façade.   We cannot hide from God.... so why try ?  

If people look at us , do they have to guess what the 'numbers on our screen'  really mean ? or do they see our face reflecting our heart and find our words to be honest and true ?

"Given of God"   -  a  beautiful name meaning that speaks of us walking in the 'image of Him' to whom we belong.    May the Lord say of us ... "A child of mine who is without guile!" 

6 comments:

Elaine said...

This is so good, Julie. As a Christian we should desire to live a life without guile. Years ago I came across the verse (can't remember the reference) where it says He was without guile or something to that effect. I looked up the meaning of guile and thought "yes, that is why I can trust the Father with my life. He can be trusted in every way".

Anneliese said...

Thank you for explaining this passage. That word guile has never really been clear to me.
It is now. Total honesty.
And your clock? that is a strange one... I was trying to figure it out before you explained. Someone was not too bright when they programmed it that way.

Vicki said...

Great post! Thank you...

ellen b. said...

That would be quite the compliment coming from Jesus.

Judy said...

Good post. Am I honest? Am I giving the right message? I would like to be.

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

Interesting thoughts Julie. Being honest and unfiltered is usually only welcomed when positive things are being said. I always thought the comment about nothing good coming from Nazareth was being said sarcastically rather than a scriptural reference. I have a feeling what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree may have been prayer that the Messiah would come although I have heard many thoughts on that fig tree moment.
My electronic timer has never suited me as much as my old wind up timer with its reassuring ticking sound which sound cozy nice to me!