Apples of Gold, Pt. 2

How many of you ate an apple yesterday? Can you believe all that cool stuff? God has such an amazing plan for healing and health for his children. I was at the store late today and discovered a few new types of apples, one of which is a candy apple. (not candied - candy) I haven't tried it yet - maybe for lunch today. Have you found some yummy apples? My favorites are still Honey Crisp but they are so expensive. I am hoping the Candy Apple will be my new favorite, as it's a dollar a pound cheaper. I will keep you posted. As I ended yesterday I told you we would explore the two metals referenced in Proverbs 25:11, which are gold and silver . Let's examine this passage from several translations. The Message The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, and a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. New International Version - Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. Amplified - A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Contemporary English Version - The right word at the right time is like precious gold set in silver. No matter how I read this passage, it really hits me concerning the power of our words. The metal gold speaks of deity and kingship while silver speaks of redemption. As I read this, I want us to consider that God's timing is everything. A right word at a wrong time can yield a wrong response. Amen? Have you ever tried to speak about health or some other critical issue only to find that the words fell on rocky soil. I have. Does that mean the words were bad? Maybe not, it could have been the timing. I have found that people have to be ready to grab the message and truth that their health is REALLY controlled by them...I buy my groceries; I drive my car to the fast food establishment; I open my OWN mouth. But sometimes our need to blame-shift keeps scales on our eyes. Like Saul's conversion to Paul. After the scales were removed, he submitted and was baptized. Then completely followed God's plan. A word about health (or other issues) in the right time seasoned with HOPE (redemption - silver) is so life-giving. And let me remind each os us - constant nagging to embrace health NEVER works. God instituted choice within us all and unless someone is ready, those words are meaningless. That's why the scripture says "due season, right time." Sometimes the best words come in the form of living a healthy life AND SAYING NOTHING. I couldn't stand to hear all the "diet people" singing their songs at lunch. It irritated the snot out of me. However, when I became desperate to live and joined them, those words became life (redemption - silver) to me. Truth (gold) and redemption (silver) are critically attached to our successful journey. This is true in the realm of nature as we eat our apple each day and it is so true with our spoken words. Let us always speak WHEN GOD SPEAKS AND IN A MANNER THAT GOD WOULD SPEAK. Then, and only then, do the words become "a custom-made piece of jewelry." Choose life and give life today, PK