"Raise Your Arms a Little Higher!"

Several months ago we purchased a Kinect system for our grandchildren to use.  Then we discovered it was a great system for us to use as well.  With the Kinect video game system, you see yourself moving on the screen and what you do is what the character in the game does.

In the exercise game we have, you actually see your real-life self on the screen, not an avatar (which can be depressing while you are working out.)  As you perform the work-out, the sensor judges how well you are performing the action and tells you, "Raise you arms a little higher!" or "Squat a little deeper, please!"    She lets you know if you are doing something wrong and if you are doing it right, your whole body on the screen lights up and glows golden.  The instant gratification and feedback is very helpful in learning new exercises. 

In our Christian lives, we need that sort of feedback and correction as well.  Our perspectives and thoughts aren't always true or parallel to the Scriptures.   For example, how many times have you heard someone "quote" the Bible by saying, "God loves those that help themselves."  Well, the problem with that is that is isn't in the Bible.  You just won't find that anywhere in Scripture.

We have to be open not only to learning the Word of God and His truths, but also to unlearning those things we have believed to be His truths and things we have believed the Word of God to say.  I know there have been times I have stated to my husband that a particular verse said something and he said, "Read it again."  Upon more careful reading, I realized I was inferring what I thought the verse said, not what the verse actually said.

Sometimes we take for fact those things that are passed down as legend.  For example, if asked how many of each animal did Noah take on the ark, most people will answer, "Two."  That is partially correct.    The Lord did command Noah to take two of each, but He also commanded:

 "Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.  Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth." Genesis 7:2,3

So the answer is really, two of every unclean and seven of every clean animal and the fowl (because they would have to make sacrifices of the clean animals and fowl.)

Paul tells us in 2 Timothy that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works," (2 Timothy 3:16, 17.)

As with Jeremiah, sometimes the Lord sets about to root out, to pull down and destroy and some times He sets out to build and to plant.  The Lord uses Scripture in our lives not just for our encouragement, instruction and edification, but also for our reproof and our correction.   If we feel we lack wisdom, James tells us to ask of God, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him, " (James 1:5.)

It is important we avail ourselves of those corrective agents the Lord has set in our lives: the Scriptures, the fellowship of other Christians and the communion of the Holy Spirit.  If remain sensitive and faithful to them, it is likely there will be much more planting and building up than there will be rooting up and pulling down.