BBD 12.11.14 Turning Green (New)
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The Burning
Bush Devotional
12.11.14
Turning
Green
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good
conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have
bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the
truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual,
demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing
are there. - James 3:13-16 NKJV.
Also, if a garment has a leprous plague in it, whether it is a
woolen garment or a linen garment, whether it is in the warp or woof of linen
or wool, whether in leather or in anything made of leather, and if the plague
is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather, whether in the warp or
in the woof, or in anything made of leather, it is a leprous plague and shall
be shown to the priest. - Leviticus 13:47-49 NKJV.
And he shall examine the plague; and indeed if the plague is on the
walls of the house with ingrained streaks, greenish or reddish, which appear to
be deep in the wall, then the priest shall go out of the house, to the door
of the house, and shut up the house seven days. - Leviticus 14:37-38 NKJV.
There
is a new tourist attraction in Varna, Bulgaria which is a seaside resort. The
new attraction has nothing to do with fun in the sun on the sea. Instead, the
new attraction is all about a cat, which is apparently friendly because it
purrs. What makes this cat so special? The cat has turned green! Emerald green!
It was thought at first that a cat hater or a group of cat haters had dyed the
cat’s fur. There was even a facebook page set up seeking the perpetrators of
this hateful action. Now it is known that the cat’s fur has become greener over
time discounting the possibility of someone actually dying the animal. I’m
wondering now how long it will be until the people of Varna begin to turn green
too? That ought to be a real tourist attraction! (The
Independent 12.08.14)
Green, as a color, has a better reputation in these days than it
has had in past days. The “Hanging of the
Green” is a frequently attended service at many churches in the United
States at the beginning of the Christmas Season. I have been present at a few
of those services and it can be very beautiful and meaningful. One church on
their website actually says it is their most meaningful service of the year.
It was not long ago when the phrase “turning green with envy” was heard often. Why has there been a
reduction in its use? “Green with envy”
shows up in a Google search 790,000 times. The Urban Dictionary defines “green with envy” as: “Wishing
very much that you had what someone else has. A longing to possess something
awarded to or achieved by another.” But
where did the phrase originate? I believe it came about because envy is a sin.
In the Old Testament, there would often be a physical manifestation of sin called,
leprosy (Having leprosy in these times does not mean that the person has
sinned.). Leprosy, in the Old Testament was a vivid picture of the damage sin
causes to a person and even to the possessions of a person. There was not only
the leprosy of people, but also of clothing and of houses. Clothing with
leprosy, and even houses with leprosy would sometimes turn, GREEN.
The
Christmas Season, in some ways is also the envy season. When we see others who
are able to give so much more to their families than we are, we envy. When we
see others with homes more brightly decorated than ours, we envy. When we hear
others tell about everything they are giving or have received in the way of Christmas
presents, we envy. If our clothing or our houses could still turn green with leprosy,
how many of us would be living in green houses wearing green clothes? Perhaps
those of us who have so much, should be careful about how we show off what we
have and what we give. Maybe it would make the Christmas Season, a little less
GREEN, and a little less painful for those who do not have quite so much.
Copyright © 2014. Ed Wrather. The
Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998
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