Luke 6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

If you don’t know me by now, let me tell you I love words. I love the deeper meanings, I love the personal relevance, and I really love how they connect me to God. Many words are repeated over and over in the bible. They can carry different meanings. Today I would like to point to the word rubbing in Luke 6:1. I found that it only occurs once in all the bible. I thought that was special considering how many words are contained in the bible. I am going to show you the root definition for rubbing for this is where we often find the deeper meanings. (pun intended)

Psallō

1) to pluck off, pull out

2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang

  a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate

  b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc.

  c) to sing to the music of the harp

  d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song

Twang is an old country expression which fell out of use in the common language but when I saw it I laughed. Then I read “to touch or strike a cord” and I realized when I feed myself, as the apostles were doing here, that is something that happens in the spirit with me. The sound produced is music, harmony for worship.

My point here is that reading the word doesn’t always have to be serious. You don’t always have to be fearful of correction, you don’t always have to receive instruction. Sometimes all the Father wants to do is sit down, spend some time with you, laugh a little, find a little joy to share. Maybe the Father just wants to pluck the strings of your heart, to twang a little.

Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

As I listened to Pastor Bill Glasgow preach repentance on June 2^nd, I saw a vision of a rattlesnake shedding its skin. I thought to myself, how appropriate, that might make a good Lifelines. Think of the old dead snakeskin as sin in our lives. Like the snake its presence is restrictive and uncomfortable. The true nature of what we really are is hidden underneath. It cannot be seen for what it is without shedding sin, the old dead skin.

When it comes to shedding snake skin, there is a great deal of squirming and a struggle involved. We often think of repentance as being an easy thing, all I have to do is turn. That turning is a secondary act, true repentance happens with a change of attitude, which happens in the head, just as a snakes shedding begins with the head. It should be first grievous, just as Job describes it, an abhorance.

It is a process which includes a struggle. The body needs to complete the process, actions have to follow intention and that isn’t always easy, there is resistance. The benefits of repentance are only discovered from the struggle. The refreshing, the restoration, the revival Bill spoke of that Sunday will be as obvious as the glistening snake skin of that rattler. Like the rattlesnake, the true nature of who we are has not changed, the sin is removed and we are restored to His design.

Like the rattlesnake, this is an ongoing process, it does not happen just once and we are done. This process happens over and over again. Now the rattlesnake shows growth thru this process by adding rattles to the end of his body. You can tell how mature a rattler is by the number of rattles. We also give signs of grown, but they are not as obvious as rattles. Our signs of growth is to be a little more like Jesus after repentance. Those who know the Lord will see the change as conformance. Those who do not know the Lord will only wonder about the change. Hopefully they will ask why so that a witness may be given.

John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Shed sin so that Jesus might be seen.