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​Here in London, England, we'll often hear these words when you're boarding an underground tube train.

“Mind the gap.”

​It's a warning not to fall in the crack when you step from the platform to the carriage. Doing so can be dangerous, even lethal.

We would not be unwise to stamp the same warning on the front cover of our Bible.

​I’ve already spoken about the congruency of conversation and conduct, or the lack of it.

​The lack of it is the gap I'm talking about.

​Sadly, it's often not just a gap; it's a gulf.

​We claim to believe one thing, but somehow it doesn't step beyond the page. Little wonder the world does not want to sit up and listen.

​As James so eloquently states:

​“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” (James 1:22–24 KJV)

Word and walk need to agree.

​Word, as in the Word of God, and words, as in the words that proceed from your mouth.

​James continues, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” (James 1:26 KJV)

​A bridled tongue.

An honest heart.

​A life aligned.

Selah.

I love the old King James Bible.

Something about the archaic language makes my heart sing. I’m forced to slowly consider each word and sentence to draw out the meaning, which might otherwise be lost to familiarity.

Words change over centuries, their meanings adapted to the times.

One word that’s been causing me to ponder is prominent in the letters of Peter.

“Conversation”

As in, “Having your conversation honest” (1 Peter 2:12 KJV)

Or, “what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” (2 Peter 3:11 KJV)

And, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation” (1 Peter 1:18 KJV)

Conversation here refers to how we act and live of course, not just how we speak.

To my modern ears, the correspondence between conversation and conduct is striking. Encapsulated in this one word is what’s spoken and the lifestyle that embodies what’s said.

Speak right. Live right.

Say it, do it.

Your words and your life aligned.

Harnessing the tongue so the feet will follow.

It’s the perfect way to describe integrity.

Just one word, with a massive assumption baked in.

That you will do what you say.

Selah.

​I would say I'm a “faith” man.

​I've always loved the faith message, and it has been a steering-guide for me for as long as I've known Jesus.

​But there's an element in the faithful equation that looms larger and larger as I walk through life.

​Read this verse and let me know what you think it might be…

​“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12 KJV)

That’s the one. Our favourite fruit right? Patience.

Notice the first sign and proof of apostolic calling:

​“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” (2 Corinthians 12:12 KJV)

At one time I was all signs, wonders, and mighty deeds. Those were my hungry pursuits.

Now I realise, at least to a greater degree than I once did, that patience is a worthy brother to these more impressive siblings. Perhaps, in reality, patience is the most powerful of the whole celestial clan?

A friend and mentor of mine, pastor Rob Smillie, shared with me how as a young man he constantly prayed Paul’s prayer from Ephesians chapter 1, but as he got older he wished he’d given equal and fervent attention to the apostolic prayer recorded in chapter 3! (go look them up)

May “the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 KJV)

Selah.

Let’s get the senses involved.

Imagine the Word of God is a perfectly smooth surface, and you are running your finger across it.

Then there’s a small rough patch, like a 5 day unshaven chin!

That’s the only way I can describe the feeling I get when I scan these two words in 1 Peter:

​“fashioning yourselves” (1 Peter 1:14 KJV)

They trouble me.

They arrest my attention.

They make my spirit sit up and ask, “Who or what is fashioning my life?” What thoughts and attitudes am I allowing to shape how I live?

As Paul urges in Romans:

​“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2 KJV)

That word “conform” means “fashion self according to” (Strongs #4964).

Will it be the Word that shapes you, or the world?

The choice is yours.

​“As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness.” (1 Peter 1:15 MESSAGE)

Amen.

And selah…

I’m no money man, but I am a honey man.

​​“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103 KJV)

I’m licking my lips when I open the Word of God.

I don’t understand bitcoin mining, but do know a bit about scripture mining.

I’m digging for peace and pleasantness, not pennies. With a large helping of long life, and an overflowing side dish of riches and honour.

​“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:13–17 KJV)

To my understanding it takes a great deal of energy to mine a bitcoin. This is why some believe that it will fall over and fail in years to come, when energy becomes the core resource.

​Whether these predictions are in any way accurate or not, I have no idea, but I do know a resource that is inexhaustible.

​It does take energy to mine the scriptures too. Fortunately, the return on investment is magnificent.

​“…to have skillful and godly Wisdom is pleasure and relaxation to a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 10:23 AMP)

​The effort you put in to dig the truth yields a harvest of pleasure and relaxation.

​The ways of wisdom are paths of peace.

​Dig it?