2024 Week 35

Hello, Springers!

When you rejoice, do you feel it in your kidneys? Language is a funny thing. Different cultures communicate universal human thoughts and feelings with different linguistic expressions. You might find it interesting where I was reminded of these expressions this week.

This week, Gina and I experienced a significant milestone. We moved our son, Ian, into his freshman dorm at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It’s been a whirlwind trip, leaving us physically exhausted but emotionally fulfilled. This experience has given me a glimpse of Proverbs 23:15-17 in a new light.

Kids love imitating what they see adults doing. When our kids were little, they had a toy mailbox, so they wanted to receive mail. For a season, I would write a proverb a day and put it in their mailbox. When they got older, I put a proverb in a little notebook for each of them to copy.

This week I read these words of Proverbs 23:15-17 again and tasted their truth in new way:

15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.

16 My inmost being (kidneys) will exult when your lips speak what is right.

17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

In v. 16, the kidneys are described as the place where feelings are felt. If that’s the case, what is the heart’s function described in v. 15? How can a heart be wise? How can it be glad? Then, in v. 17, how does it envy? The heart has complex functions according to Scripture.

The easiest way to describe it is that the heart is the seat of the will. When your heart wills to be wise, when it chooses not to envy those who reject God’s kindness, when it wills to give God the honor due his name – then my heart will choose gladness, and the result will be joy! (Felt in my kidneys?!)

Proverbs may be the best gift besides the gospel stories of Jesus that we can give our children. Today, rejoice with Gina and me. Also, you can join us Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Chapel for another Concert of Prayer, where our theme will be praying as children for children.

in Christ,

Pastor Tag