Bible Studies

---

This is the beginning of the third set of seven lessons. There has been a continuing use of cycles of three emphasizing action, thinking and emotion within the psalms and from one to the next. Now we can see a larger pattern where the first seven emphasized actions and the second seven stressed logic and intellect. These next seven lessons continue the cycle of three but we will go deeper into the ability to feel the path we are on.

At first, new faith is fragile and needs clear and simple directions. What do I do now? What is the next step I must take? These are important questions, and a straightforward question deserves a direct answer.





15. Make Good Efforts

Lord tell us, what must we do to get near Your presence?

Remember to be confident, do the best you can and speak the truth as you see it. Don't spread slander or gossip and try not to cause unnecessary trouble for the people around you. You will see the liars condemning themselves and you will honor those that search for the truth. Hold to the right path, even when it hurts. Don't take unfair advantage of those with less than you and never exploit the innocent.

He who does these things will always be near the Lord.





We cannot always know what is the best choice to make or decision to take. Very often we must go ahead with too little information, but the message of this lesson is that efforts to do the right thing will not go unrewarded. Speak the truth with confidence knowing that lies condemn themselves.

This lesson is the beginning of a third cycle of seven and the fifth cycle of three: it is information that explains how things work. It is the instruction manual of this body we inhabit. It is easy to say this is how everybody else should act to make the world a better place, but the world begins with us. We can help but nobody is making anybody else better, we can only do that ourselves.

The question we must answer is: Are we what we think we are, or are we what we do? To ourselves we are what we think, to others we are what we do. What we do matters; what we think matters in how it influences what we do. As a rebellious child of the sixties, I tried hard not to worry about what other people thought, I wanted to go my own way. As I grew older I realized we always present a face to the world which has an effect whether we want it to or not. Despite what I thought, I was acting in a way that was as much concerned with what other people thought as those who were conforming.

To really break free from the mistakes of the past and become the person we most want to become we need simple, straightforward directions. Remember to be confident, do the best you can and speak the truth as you see it; is clear and concise. Hold to the right path, even when it hurts; has always been the heart of ethics in all relationships. But simple does not mean easy. Great plans are often followed by other great plans that get put on hold. Perhaps the hardest instruction of all was the first word: Remember.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE