Watch Your Step
Proverbs 24:11 "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter."
Wow - this hit me in to BIG visuals today! 1- for those lost in sin and separated from God. 2- for those in the weight loss community, especially those who have had weight loss surgery (like me).
Seeing someone walk towards a dangerous situation/place/thing - we normally would do something and try to stop them, right?!?! Like, if you were at the Grand Canyon and someone was walking too close to the edge, or not looking where they were going while trying to take a picture... you would speak up, right? If someone was using a saw, and they were not fully holding the wood right and you could see that they were in the path of getting hurt, you would speak up right?! When someone is being led astray from doing and living good, and you see the people they are hanging around and the places they are going are going to lead to trouble, we speak up right?! Ummmmm - yeah, that one was a hard one for me too. As much as I "think" I speak up, honestly, I don't think I do as much as I would like to.
Reading this verse also took me to a place with people I see each week in the different support groups I attend. It is hard to witness someone that has gone through the expense and pain of weight loss surgery, following the directions through recovery like they should - to get a few months out, and "go-it-alone" doing things their own way instead of what the doctor told them to do. The visual that popped in my head while reading this proverb, was of someone choosing the path to being eaten alive by the 'slaughter' machine - the Fat Machine. Taking them back to the way they used to live. Almost mindlessly being led to their death. I believe that is why I feel so driven to share my experiences, in hopes that I can help someone NOT learn the hard way of some things.
Today, we need to take a good look at ourselves and how we do or do not guide others to eternal life or eternal death. We need to examine our own health and what we are "leading ourselves into" as well as the example towards others. Even if we are 'looking' healthy on the outside, it is what is going in, nourishing our insides - our heart and soul, that will show up and spill out towards others. If we continue to put garbage in our bodies, it will produce garbage coming out. Even if it is only the 'self-talk' that we only say to ourselves. Today, lets start turning our negative thoughts, actions, and speech into positive words of encouragement. Both to ourselves and towards others. God wants us to desire Him - leading others to that same desire. NOT leading people to destruction and separation from Him! Watch you step both literally and spiritually - it's ok to be on the look out. I am praying that we all will catch ourselves today, and turn around - when we realize we are being lead to or leading others to "the slaughter". I'm praying you are blessed and productive today in all that you do! :-)
Wow - this hit me in to BIG visuals today! 1- for those lost in sin and separated from God. 2- for those in the weight loss community, especially those who have had weight loss surgery (like me).
Seeing someone walk towards a dangerous situation/place/thing - we normally would do something and try to stop them, right?!?! Like, if you were at the Grand Canyon and someone was walking too close to the edge, or not looking where they were going while trying to take a picture... you would speak up, right? If someone was using a saw, and they were not fully holding the wood right and you could see that they were in the path of getting hurt, you would speak up right?! When someone is being led astray from doing and living good, and you see the people they are hanging around and the places they are going are going to lead to trouble, we speak up right?! Ummmmm - yeah, that one was a hard one for me too. As much as I "think" I speak up, honestly, I don't think I do as much as I would like to.
Reading this verse also took me to a place with people I see each week in the different support groups I attend. It is hard to witness someone that has gone through the expense and pain of weight loss surgery, following the directions through recovery like they should - to get a few months out, and "go-it-alone" doing things their own way instead of what the doctor told them to do. The visual that popped in my head while reading this proverb, was of someone choosing the path to being eaten alive by the 'slaughter' machine - the Fat Machine. Taking them back to the way they used to live. Almost mindlessly being led to their death. I believe that is why I feel so driven to share my experiences, in hopes that I can help someone NOT learn the hard way of some things.
Today, we need to take a good look at ourselves and how we do or do not guide others to eternal life or eternal death. We need to examine our own health and what we are "leading ourselves into" as well as the example towards others. Even if we are 'looking' healthy on the outside, it is what is going in, nourishing our insides - our heart and soul, that will show up and spill out towards others. If we continue to put garbage in our bodies, it will produce garbage coming out. Even if it is only the 'self-talk' that we only say to ourselves. Today, lets start turning our negative thoughts, actions, and speech into positive words of encouragement. Both to ourselves and towards others. God wants us to desire Him - leading others to that same desire. NOT leading people to destruction and separation from Him! Watch you step both literally and spiritually - it's ok to be on the look out. I am praying that we all will catch ourselves today, and turn around - when we realize we are being lead to or leading others to "the slaughter". I'm praying you are blessed and productive today in all that you do! :-)
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