Foxes!

I was reading in Songs, and although there really isn't much "wisdom" to take from it (without digging really deep and finding analogies I guess), there was at least this line:

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. ~Song of Solomon 2:15 (NIV)

There is a band called mewithoutyou that brought this up in some of their music (which is how I recognized it), and there are also various sermons/writings about the verse, with different interpretations of the meaning. Here is my take:

Foxes are the things that steal our time and ruin our connection with God. If we are His temple and He dwells within us, then it is fair to say we are like his vineyard (of course, this messes with His "I am the vine, you are the branches" analogy, but it's also kind of a different subject. I like to think of "gardens" instead of "vineyards"). If we are God's vineyard though, then whenever we fail to keep it well groomed and kept--when we let things in like foxes that trample over it--then suddenly our priorities don't match up with God's, which is to keep our focus, time and worship on Him.

The foxes are basically the things that draw our attention away from God or keep our us far away from Him, like addictions to TV/other time-wasting things or neglecting to be in His Word and spending time in prayer to Him. So let's work together with God to help catch the foxes before they enter the garden, and thus we can put our focus on Him who deserves all our praise!

Rounded Walls

In Acts chapter 26, Paul is giving one of many testimonies in order to assure his innocence of any crime. In this circumstance, he stands before the judge Agrippa. He explains what exactly he believes and how his views of the resurrection of the dead align with those of the Pharisees, and then he tells of his conversion to Christianity.

"I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to [the power of] God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."

~Acts 26:15-18

 Agrippa's initial reaction is to call Paul a lunatic, but here is Paul's response:

"I am speaking true and rational words. For the king [Agrippa] knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner." ~Acts 26:25-26

Paul basically says that everything he and the church has done in spreading the gospel should not be news, because they have not been preaching to themselves in a corner. On top of that, Paul knows that gossip flies fast wherever he goes, and since this new Jesus thing was a big deal to the traditional (angry) Jews, they would have helped spread the stories already.

This is a good example of how we should live. After a while of being in a new community of people (work, school, family, friends), our values and beliefs should not be a surprise to those around us, as long as we have not kept them in a corner. This also speaks to one of the many steps we have in house-building. Jesus' example shows us who is to be the foundation of the house: the Father. Paul's example shows us what the house should look like: rounded walls with lots of windows and open doors. As long as we strive to follow those two, then all that's left is for our example to be a decent enough blueprint for others to follow in building their own homes in faith!

P.S. Round walls means not so many hanging self-portraits!

Responsability:Priority

As Christians, we have a responsibility to stay awake and live life prepared for anything. I call this our response-ability.

Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
~Ephesians 5:7-21 (NIV)

So don't let yourself fall back asleep spiritually. When your life is becoming normal again, when you are no longer in a constant communicated relationship with God, give yourself a spiritual slap across the face. For me, this usually looks like getting myself into a setting with other believers, praying and/or worshiping; it usually is able to bring my focus right back to the creator.

Finally, how are we to spend this time, as we wait for the unknown day and hour of Christ's return? We are called to make disciples. It is a simple fact that we are all called to be missionaries in some way shape or form, no matter how well you are playing the part or how far you are going to enact it. If someone is a Christian, it means that they are also a missionary--they go hand in hand. Jesus never suggested otherwise, so why should we? It doesn't mean traveling from town to town as he did or journeying to other countries like Paul did, but however the Lord leads you to reach an untouched, unsaved soul: that's what we should be striving for.