I looked up along the lakeshore and saw a three- or four-year-old boy walking out of the water. He was wet well beyond his knees and muddy nearly as far. His mother was not impressed.

“What are you doing? Why were you in the water? Answer me! “

“I was..” 

“Don’t interrupt! You’re all wet and filthy! What did I tell you?” 

Finally, the boy had an opportunity to get a word out. 

“But mom, you said don’t get my new shoes dirty. I didn’t! They’re over by the bench. I took them off so I wouldn’t get them dirty. Just like you said, Mom.”

I smiled and laughed as the mom sputtered some explanation about leaving the shoes on the shore not being what she had meant. She didn’t seem as amused.

We’re often like the little boy looking to get off on some technicality. We try to achieve superficial holiness or partial obedience in our faith walk. We try to rationalize that “we’re not as bad” as someone else or that “we can’t help it.”

We may hear a call from God to do something and then come up with excuses for why we can’t or why we must have been mistaken about hearing from God.

The same behavior that made me laugh at the little boy and his mother isn’t nearly as funny when we do it to God. I believe God has a sense of humor and laughs, but never about sin.

Christ is a perfect example of someone meeting all the technicalities of the law but not being right before God. He was obedient, even unto death on a cross.

Our hearts are not as pure, and our flesh isn’t willing. 

Fortunately, believers have the Word to teach us and The Spirit to guide us. We are works in process, and God will finish what He started in us,

King David was a man who struggled and sinned greatly. Yet, he understood the value of repentance and having a clean heart before God.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Psalm 51:1-3

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

David understood that God examines our hearts. Have you checked yours lately? Is it soft toward the Lord, or has it grown hard?

Are you looking for excuses or seeking ways to follow Him better? 

Until next time, may you bring glory to God through a humble, contrite heart.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

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Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

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© 2025 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

Now that we’ve gathered together let us make some  mindless small talk and share some superficial chitchat.

“How are you?” “Fine, and you?” “Fine, thanks.” “How about the weather we have been having?” “Yes, it is something.” “Hurrah for the local sports team!” “Did you hear about the latest office or community gossip?”

Around that point, I get stumped because I am not very good at making small talk. I have run out of things to say and have to repeat myself. Where do we go from here?

I confess to a certain degree of frustration over chitchat. I know that it is one of the oils that allow conversations to get going and lubricates the wheels of social intercourse. Yet, by and large, it is pretty meaningless, trivial stuff. 

I find it particularly frustrating when dealing with other Christians.

Do we not have more significant things to share? “How is God working in your life?” “What real struggles (or joys) are you facing?” “What is God teaching you?” “What ministries and missions are you supporting these days and why?” “What did God share with you during your prayer time today?”

There are all kinds of exciting, meaty topics we can discuss, things that matter for all eternity. I don’t suggest for a moment that every conversation must be a deep theological debate filled with the latest and greatest Christianese. 

We don’t have to be stern, stoic, or religious when conversing. Our discussions can still be light but filling, and there can be plenty of laughter.

There are many areas where we can encourage one another, grow together, and bear each other’s burdens. Yet, when you walk into many churches or visit with many Christians, it takes a Herculean effort to get past anything completely superficial.

The Apostle Paul had some strong words for the infant-like nature of the church in Corinth.

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, or you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

We may not quarrel when we stick to small talk, but we certainly act worldly. The world has nothing more profound to offer. We need to stretch and grow up a bit.

There are indeed places for quick, superficial conversations. It is true that it is not wise to bear the innermost secrets of our hearts in an indiscriminate matter. Yet, there is so much more that we can share with others. 

We serve an awesome God who is hard at work in our lives and the lives of others. Let us learn to talk about that.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format.

Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

For an archive of many back issues, visit our website at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com.

© 2025 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.