August 28, 2021

Larry Williams: "Slow Down" - Bruce Atchison

This fifties song, later covered by The Beatles, fits the monthly theme nicely. It's about a girl who's too eager to rush the relationship onward. I suspect she wanted to marry the guy in the song.

Check out this rock 'n' roll song here:

In our Christian walk, we're too much in a hurry to spread the good news before we know what we're talking about. Just like in the New Testament, people disobeyed the Lord's command to not publish their healing all over the place. Poor Jesus ended up unable to move around due to the crush of people wanting healing.

We read of one example in Mark 7:36. The Bible in Basic English phrases it like this, "And he gave them orders not to give news of it to anyone; but the more he made this request, so much the more they made it public."

We also read how Christ's popularity caused four men to do a novel thing for their lame companion. Mark 2:1-4 (BBE) tells the story. "And when he came into Capernaum again after some days, the news went about that he was in the house. And a great number had come together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door: and he gave them teaching. And four men came to him with one on a bed who had no power of moving. And when they were unable to get near him because of all the people, they got the roof uncovered where he was: and when it was broken up, they let down the bed on which the man was."

Our Lord realized that most of the people came only for the healing and other miracles. So he preached a hard sermon which they found repulsive. John 6:61 and 62 (BBE) reads, "When Jesus became conscious that his disciples were protesting about what he said, he said to them, 'Does this give you trouble? What then will you say if you see the Son of man going up to where he was before?'"

Israel stumbled because they didn't understand God's righteousness. That's why Paul wrote in Romans 10:2 and 3 (BBE), "For I give witness of them that they have a strong desire for God, but not with knowledge. Because, not having knowledge of God's righteousness, and desiring to give effect to their righteousness, they have not put themselves under the righteousness of God."

We don't want to bring shame to Christ's name through our haste. That's why Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:15 (BBE), "Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way."

8 comments:

  1. Thanks, Bruce. We certainly need to watch our witness. I sometimes ask God to put spiritual duct tape over my mouth rather than say something at the wrong time and place. But i also have to be prepared to speak when He takes off the tape. I need courage then. Obedience is learned I guess. Thanks, again.

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    1. Is that EVER true! I'll never forget the time I was walking down the street and a prostitute asked me if I wanted a date. Before my brain could think, my mouth spoke, "No thanks. I'm trying to cut down." The look that woman gave me was hilarious in retrospect.

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  2. Thanks for this Bruce. I enjoy your posts that use old rock and roll songs as a springboard. Perhaps you should think about gathering them into a collection...?

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    1. I'm thinking of making these post into a devotional book. First I'll take a long rest to recharge. I also plan to buy some Larry Williams CDs. I was a baby when he was recording so I missed out on all that wonderful music.

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  3. Thank you, Bruce, for your wise words of warning. I've often wished I was less like impulsive Peter and more like the others.
    Yes to this: "We don't want to bring shame to Christ's name through our haste."
    I agree with Tracy's idea too.
    Blessings as you continue writing for Him.🕊️

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    1. Thanks for your comments. This would make a unique devotional book. We all slip up at times. Poor Paul let fly with an insult once, calling the high priest a whitewashed wall. Of course he didn't realize he was the high priest. Paul did apologize once he knew that.

      I also feel sorry for Peter and him having to live with the world knowing his verbal and physical blunders. Even so, we all know that every one is human.

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  4. Thanks, Bruce, for reminding us not to act in haste, but to wait before God to get his approval in all we do.

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    1. Thanks, Sandy. It's far too easy to sledge-hammer our way through life than to wait for orders like good soldiers.

      By the way, there's a hilarious sitcom spoofing Dirty Harry and it's called Sledge Hammer. This impulsive cop often took matters into his own hands, like blowing up an entire building to get rid of a sniper.

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