Have you ever walked in on the middle of a conversation and realized that you must have missed something? For example, someone may have been talking about a friend who had been so embarrassed that “she wanted to die.” Imagine someone overhearing just part of that conversation and thinking that the friend was actually suicidal.
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I fear that sort of thing happens all too often with the scriptures. If we only get part of a passage, we can end up jumping to some really bad conclusions. That is why context is so very important in the study of scripture. Not only should we focus on the context of the surrounding verses, but we need to also focus on the context of the audience that is being spoken to.
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There is a song about the Bible that says, “Every promise in the Book is mine.” That is an invalid statement, because there are promises in the Bible that are not mine because they were given to a different audience. For example in Genesis 17:6, Abraham is promised that he would have descendants that would be kings. That is not a promise that is given to everyone. In that same chapter Abraham is given a promise that his 90 year old wife will have a son. That does not mean that every woman has the promise of bearing a son when she is 90. Clearly the context of the audience makes a difference in our understanding of scripture.
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The context of history is also important. For example, at our Monday night Bible study we just began to look at the book of Nehemiah. In that book we find out that Nehemiah is concerned about the fact that the residents of Jerusalem had not rebuilt the walls around the city. Earlier the prophet Haggai had been concerned that the residents of Jerusalem had not rebuilt the temple. In fact he rebuked them for making their own houses fancy while neglecting God’s house.
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But as we look at the historical context of Nehemiah, we find out that there is more to the story than just the residents of Jerusalem having other priorities rather than rebuilding the wall. First of all, Judah/Israel was not an independent country at this time. They were instead a province of the Persian Empire. Further when we look at Ezra 4:13-23, we find out that the Persian King had ordered them not to rebuild the wall. The historical context that we find in other portions of scripture as well as secular accounts of that time period, help us to better understand the events that unfold within the book of Nehemiah and how God worked in an amazing way in order to allow the wall to be rebuilt in spite of all the roadblocks that kept coming up.
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Not only does context help us to have a more accurate understanding of Scripture. It also makes it more exciting. It helps us to understand how all the pieces of Biblical history and Biblical doctrine fit together in a unified way that not only makes sense, but is really interesting and electrifying.
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Some people think that the Bible is boring. I believe that it only seems boring because many have not yet seen how the pages of scripture unfold to tell a magnificent story. Context helps us to understand the scripture so that we can see it’s true relevance. For further questions or comments, please contact southtownbc@yahoo.com
Friday, December 27, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
The Best Christmas Gift
Christmas time is exciting- especially with little kids in the house. We have four little boys and our oldest is almost 6 and our youngest is 2. It is fun to see their excitement as they open their presents. Of course with little boys in our house, we have a lot of toy trucks. We have some friends who only have little girls and they have a lot of dolls.
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Even though our boys love trucks and tools, they have dolls as well. Of course they look like dolls that have been played with by boys. Instead of dressing them up in frilly dresses, our boys have colored them with markers.
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As fun as trucks and dolls are, I hope we understand that they are not what Christmas is really about. Christ-mas is about the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but even as we consider the true meaning of Christmas, we can still end up missing it’s full significance.
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Our oldest son Jared recently reminded us of why Christ’s birth is so important. He approached his mom and told her, "Mom, I need to tell you something. My dolls need Jesus too." From a strictly theological perspective, dolls do not have souls and are not even alive, but our little boy had the right idea in realizing that everyone needs Jesus.
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That is why it was so important that Jesus was born into this world. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In other words we need Jesus in order to have everlasting life. This is clarified later in the same chapter when verse 36 states, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
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The wrath of God sounds a bit scary, and it should, for the wages of sin is death, but the love of God should balance that fear with comfort because the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
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Can you imagine a better gift than eternal life? As much as I would still like a toy truck for Christmas, eternal life is way better than even a brand new real truck and all we have to do to receive it is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
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Christmas is about the birth of Christ, but it should be about so much more than just that. It should also remind us that baby Jesus grew up to be the Savior of the world as He died on the cross for our sins and that He did not stay dead, but rose again 3 days later. If you believe in Him as your Lord and Savior- your only hope for eternal life- then you too can be assured that you have the greatest gift of all. Take comfort in the promise that He made when He said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) No wonder so many are excited about celebrating His birth.
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Even though our boys love trucks and tools, they have dolls as well. Of course they look like dolls that have been played with by boys. Instead of dressing them up in frilly dresses, our boys have colored them with markers.
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As fun as trucks and dolls are, I hope we understand that they are not what Christmas is really about. Christ-mas is about the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but even as we consider the true meaning of Christmas, we can still end up missing it’s full significance.
-
Our oldest son Jared recently reminded us of why Christ’s birth is so important. He approached his mom and told her, "Mom, I need to tell you something. My dolls need Jesus too." From a strictly theological perspective, dolls do not have souls and are not even alive, but our little boy had the right idea in realizing that everyone needs Jesus.
-
That is why it was so important that Jesus was born into this world. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” In other words we need Jesus in order to have everlasting life. This is clarified later in the same chapter when verse 36 states, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
-
The wrath of God sounds a bit scary, and it should, for the wages of sin is death, but the love of God should balance that fear with comfort because the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
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Can you imagine a better gift than eternal life? As much as I would still like a toy truck for Christmas, eternal life is way better than even a brand new real truck and all we have to do to receive it is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
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Christmas is about the birth of Christ, but it should be about so much more than just that. It should also remind us that baby Jesus grew up to be the Savior of the world as He died on the cross for our sins and that He did not stay dead, but rose again 3 days later. If you believe in Him as your Lord and Savior- your only hope for eternal life- then you too can be assured that you have the greatest gift of all. Take comfort in the promise that He made when He said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) No wonder so many are excited about celebrating His birth.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Don’t Eat Ducks in That Pond
On a cold day this fall, I suddenly heard the honking of geese. They were flying in a southern direction- obviously heading for a warmer place to spend the winter. Earlier I had noticed a group of ducks floating on a body of water. I was not sure if they were local ducks or if they too were just passing through, but the water that they were floating on was a sewage lagoon.
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I must admit that I was a little grossed out, but for someone who did not know what sort of pond it was, the scene could have looked peaceful and even pleasant. There were beautiful trees and lush grass surrounding the pond and the ducks looked quite healthy and happy.
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That scene got me to thinking about how things are not always how they seem. The scripture actually warns us about those who seem good but are actually evil. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (NKJV)
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Satan and his ministers do not always look like a murky sewage lagoon. Instead they might look more like a peaceful pond. They might even say a lot of things that sound good on the surface.
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Satan’s messengers try to look like spokesmen for Jesus Christ, and Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light. Let us not forget that the true light of the world is Jesus Christ. “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12 NKJV)
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Before the apostle Paul warned about the Satan and his ministers in 2 Corinthians 11, he warned, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NKJV)
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Today even some church leaders are saying that there are many ways to God, but Jesus Himself was very clear when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
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When someone pretends to be a spokesman for Christ and says that there is a different way to God, they are giving a different gospel and are thus ministering for Satan rather than for the truth. They are like the stinky sewage pond that may look good on the outside but is a mess within.
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Jesus is the only way to eternal life. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NKJV). We should not expect the false teachers who give another gospel to have horns and a pointed tail. We should not even expect that they will look ugly and menacing, but we should be able to compare what they say to what the Bible teaches.
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I would not want to eat a duck that had been swimming on the sewage pond, and I would not want to follow a false teacher no matter how good they looked or sounded.
For further questions or comments, please contact southtownbc@yahoo.com
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I must admit that I was a little grossed out, but for someone who did not know what sort of pond it was, the scene could have looked peaceful and even pleasant. There were beautiful trees and lush grass surrounding the pond and the ducks looked quite healthy and happy.
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That scene got me to thinking about how things are not always how they seem. The scripture actually warns us about those who seem good but are actually evil. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (NKJV)
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Satan and his ministers do not always look like a murky sewage lagoon. Instead they might look more like a peaceful pond. They might even say a lot of things that sound good on the surface.
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Satan’s messengers try to look like spokesmen for Jesus Christ, and Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light. Let us not forget that the true light of the world is Jesus Christ. “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12 NKJV)
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Before the apostle Paul warned about the Satan and his ministers in 2 Corinthians 11, he warned, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NKJV)
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Today even some church leaders are saying that there are many ways to God, but Jesus Himself was very clear when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
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When someone pretends to be a spokesman for Christ and says that there is a different way to God, they are giving a different gospel and are thus ministering for Satan rather than for the truth. They are like the stinky sewage pond that may look good on the outside but is a mess within.
-
Jesus is the only way to eternal life. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NKJV). We should not expect the false teachers who give another gospel to have horns and a pointed tail. We should not even expect that they will look ugly and menacing, but we should be able to compare what they say to what the Bible teaches.
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I would not want to eat a duck that had been swimming on the sewage pond, and I would not want to follow a false teacher no matter how good they looked or sounded.
For further questions or comments, please contact southtownbc@yahoo.com
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Can You Relate to The Bible?
How high can you count? My three year old surprised me by counting to 5 all by himself. His older brother was not able to count that quickly. For some reason he had trouble figuring out the difference between 3 and 4. He would count one two four and then get stuck, even though he knew six, seven, eight. Finally I came up with a rhyme so that he could remember three. I told him to say, “three is like me.”
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Soon he was counting by saying, “one, two, four is like- three is like me, four, five…” Before long he no longer had to use the rhyme because he had learned the number 3.
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It can be frustrating trying to learn something and getting confused. To those of us who have been counting for a long time, three and four do not sound all that much alike, but to my little boy they were very confusing.
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The same sort of confusion can come when people first start to study the Bible. Theologians are able to quickly distinguish between Noah and Moses, yet some of them have still fallen for the trick question about how many animals Moses brought on the ark (Noah built the ark, not Moses).
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For those reading through the Bible for the first time, all those names and events can look like advanced algebra to someone who has just learned how to count. Once you figure out the difference between Noah and Moses, you then have to figure out the difference between Elijah and Elisha.
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It is kind of like watching a TV series for the first time. When you tune in during the middle of the second season, you do not know all the characters. You do not even know right away who the good guys are and who the villain is, but as you watch you begin to sort things out. Imagine thought that the TV series took place over hundreds and even thousands of years of history and the characters were constantly changing. If the series were really exciting, you would want to go back and watch the first season to find out what led up to the events in the second season. That is what the Bible is like.
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The Bible is not just a bunch of random stories that are not connected. It is a history of a people and of a particular family group and it traces that family group all the way to Jesus Christ.
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Once you realize that the events of the Bible are connected, you can then start to see how exciting the scriptures really are. That is part of the reason why I like to preach through a whole book of the Bible and explain who the people are, the significance of the events, and how we can relate those events to our lives.
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Often when people go to church, they only get a small sample of Bible verses and then the next week they get another random sample from another place in scripture so they do not get to see how the events are connected. It is almost like seeing a bunch of random movie clips without sitting down and ever watching the movie. My goal is to plant a church where God’s word is preached verse by verse so that people can see who the Bible characters are. Then they can also learn about who God is, how He interacts with man, and how He is relevant to our lives today.
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Soon he was counting by saying, “one, two, four is like- three is like me, four, five…” Before long he no longer had to use the rhyme because he had learned the number 3.
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It can be frustrating trying to learn something and getting confused. To those of us who have been counting for a long time, three and four do not sound all that much alike, but to my little boy they were very confusing.
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The same sort of confusion can come when people first start to study the Bible. Theologians are able to quickly distinguish between Noah and Moses, yet some of them have still fallen for the trick question about how many animals Moses brought on the ark (Noah built the ark, not Moses).
-
For those reading through the Bible for the first time, all those names and events can look like advanced algebra to someone who has just learned how to count. Once you figure out the difference between Noah and Moses, you then have to figure out the difference between Elijah and Elisha.
-
It is kind of like watching a TV series for the first time. When you tune in during the middle of the second season, you do not know all the characters. You do not even know right away who the good guys are and who the villain is, but as you watch you begin to sort things out. Imagine thought that the TV series took place over hundreds and even thousands of years of history and the characters were constantly changing. If the series were really exciting, you would want to go back and watch the first season to find out what led up to the events in the second season. That is what the Bible is like.
-
The Bible is not just a bunch of random stories that are not connected. It is a history of a people and of a particular family group and it traces that family group all the way to Jesus Christ.
-
Once you realize that the events of the Bible are connected, you can then start to see how exciting the scriptures really are. That is part of the reason why I like to preach through a whole book of the Bible and explain who the people are, the significance of the events, and how we can relate those events to our lives.
-
Often when people go to church, they only get a small sample of Bible verses and then the next week they get another random sample from another place in scripture so they do not get to see how the events are connected. It is almost like seeing a bunch of random movie clips without sitting down and ever watching the movie. My goal is to plant a church where God’s word is preached verse by verse so that people can see who the Bible characters are. Then they can also learn about who God is, how He interacts with man, and how He is relevant to our lives today.
Friday, November 1, 2013
Don't Stay Up All Night
I drove home late the other night and began to get tired. As I stopped to get gas, it changed from night to morning as the clock ticked past midnight. I was still about an hour from home and I wanted to get back to my family and my own bed. I walked around as the fuel pumped. I wanted to feel more awake for the final leg of my journey.
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No doubt about it, the sleep was sweet once I was finally able to lay my head on the pillow, but how important is sleep? Had I continued to drive without getting out and moving around, I would have become a danger to myself and others. Had I continued to drive much later instead of arriving at home it would have also been hazardous.
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Sadly, some suggest that sleep deprivation is a sign of spirituality. No doubt we must take into account the verses that say, “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:33-34 NKJV) In other words, if you are too lazy to get out of bed and go to work, do not be surprised if you are a victim of poverty.
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Still, there is another side to this issue. With modern lighting, it is much easier to stay up late and avoid sleep. From the Christian perspective this too can be a problem. First of all, let us not forget that God created man to need rest. The Lord said in Mark 2:27, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” The Sabbath day was set apart for man as a day of rest because God understands that we need to rest.
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The Psalms speak of meditating on God’s word day and night and even give special attention to focusing on it at night, but simply depriving ourselves of sleep can end up being an exercise in vanity. Psalms 127:2 tells us, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Let us not neglect the gift of sleep. Even modern medical science shows us that sleep deprivation is hazardous to our health. As Christians our bodies are God’s temple. We need to take care of our bodies, and that includes getting enough sleep.
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But sometimes laziness can take the form of being poor stewards of our sleep. For example the person who only got 4 hours of sleep because they stayed up half the night watching TV is not less lazy than the person who got 9 hours of sleep after a hard days work. Ecclesiastes 5:12 tells us that the sleep of a labouring man is sweet.
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As Christians we need to be careful not to love sleep so that it leads to poverty (Proverbs 20:13), while still getting the rest that God made us to need. This is one of the many areas of the Christian life where if we only look at a couple of isolated verses, we can end up with wrong conclusions. Biblical balance shows us that we should not be lazy and spend all our time sleeping, but it also shows us that we need rest. Therefore, if you are reading this in bed and it is time to get up, throw off those covers and get to work. If you are falling asleep while reading this after a hard days work, then reward yourself with a good night’s sleep.
For further questions or comments, please contact southtownbc@yahoo.com
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No doubt about it, the sleep was sweet once I was finally able to lay my head on the pillow, but how important is sleep? Had I continued to drive without getting out and moving around, I would have become a danger to myself and others. Had I continued to drive much later instead of arriving at home it would have also been hazardous.
-
Sadly, some suggest that sleep deprivation is a sign of spirituality. No doubt we must take into account the verses that say, “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:33-34 NKJV) In other words, if you are too lazy to get out of bed and go to work, do not be surprised if you are a victim of poverty.
-
Still, there is another side to this issue. With modern lighting, it is much easier to stay up late and avoid sleep. From the Christian perspective this too can be a problem. First of all, let us not forget that God created man to need rest. The Lord said in Mark 2:27, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” The Sabbath day was set apart for man as a day of rest because God understands that we need to rest.
-
The Psalms speak of meditating on God’s word day and night and even give special attention to focusing on it at night, but simply depriving ourselves of sleep can end up being an exercise in vanity. Psalms 127:2 tells us, “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Let us not neglect the gift of sleep. Even modern medical science shows us that sleep deprivation is hazardous to our health. As Christians our bodies are God’s temple. We need to take care of our bodies, and that includes getting enough sleep.
-
But sometimes laziness can take the form of being poor stewards of our sleep. For example the person who only got 4 hours of sleep because they stayed up half the night watching TV is not less lazy than the person who got 9 hours of sleep after a hard days work. Ecclesiastes 5:12 tells us that the sleep of a labouring man is sweet.
-
As Christians we need to be careful not to love sleep so that it leads to poverty (Proverbs 20:13), while still getting the rest that God made us to need. This is one of the many areas of the Christian life where if we only look at a couple of isolated verses, we can end up with wrong conclusions. Biblical balance shows us that we should not be lazy and spend all our time sleeping, but it also shows us that we need rest. Therefore, if you are reading this in bed and it is time to get up, throw off those covers and get to work. If you are falling asleep while reading this after a hard days work, then reward yourself with a good night’s sleep.
For further questions or comments, please contact southtownbc@yahoo.com
Friday, October 18, 2013
God's Love For Bad Guys
Our little boy’s favorite TV program is Emergency. It is a series from the 1970’s that features two emergency rescue workers and their adventures helping others. The other day our 3 year old was laying in the back yard pretending that he was hurt and trapped in a hole. The 5 year old was tying the dog cable around him so that the 4 year old could hoist him out. I had to caution them not to hurt their little brother as they pulled while smiling under my stern admonition.
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Another one of their imaginary adventures involved a “bad guy.” I did not hear all of what was happening in their role play, but I listened long enough to hear our 4 year old say, “We should tell the bad guy about Jesus. He needs to know that Jesus loves him.” Some would have expected to hear, “We need to shoot the bad guy,” but instead my little man realized what the bad guy really needed.
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In a child’s mind, a bad guy is someone who steals, hurts, or kills, but according to the scriptures we are all bad guys. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). Although the following list is by no means exhaustive, it gives some examples of the sort of things that prove we are all “bad guys” in God’s eyes. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV)
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Some may look at that list and say, “Well, I’m not a drunk or a thief, so at least I’m all right.” But notice that even being covetous- wanting what someone else has- makes us unrighteous before God. No wonder Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” As I look at my own life, I realize that I truly have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I also realize that the wages of sin is death. I realize that because of my unrighteousness, I do not deserve to be allowed into the kingdom of God. I realize that because of my sin, I am a bad guy.
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But I also realize the truth that my 4 year old shared. I understand that Jesus loves me. I understand that God loves me even though I am a sinner. “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8 NKJV)
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The consequences for my sin are serious, but because of my trust in Jesus Christ, I do not have to face those consequences. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) God’s gift is eternal life through believing on Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
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Remember that list of sins from I Corinthians 6? The Corinthians that the Apostle Paul was writing to in that letter were bad guys, but they had trusted Christ, therefore he is able to say in the very next verse: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11) If you have not yet trusted Christ, you can trust Him now and be washed as well.
For further questions or comments, please contact southtownbc@yahoo.com
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Another one of their imaginary adventures involved a “bad guy.” I did not hear all of what was happening in their role play, but I listened long enough to hear our 4 year old say, “We should tell the bad guy about Jesus. He needs to know that Jesus loves him.” Some would have expected to hear, “We need to shoot the bad guy,” but instead my little man realized what the bad guy really needed.
-
In a child’s mind, a bad guy is someone who steals, hurts, or kills, but according to the scriptures we are all bad guys. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). Although the following list is by no means exhaustive, it gives some examples of the sort of things that prove we are all “bad guys” in God’s eyes. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV)
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Some may look at that list and say, “Well, I’m not a drunk or a thief, so at least I’m all right.” But notice that even being covetous- wanting what someone else has- makes us unrighteous before God. No wonder Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” As I look at my own life, I realize that I truly have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I also realize that the wages of sin is death. I realize that because of my unrighteousness, I do not deserve to be allowed into the kingdom of God. I realize that because of my sin, I am a bad guy.
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But I also realize the truth that my 4 year old shared. I understand that Jesus loves me. I understand that God loves me even though I am a sinner. “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8 NKJV)
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The consequences for my sin are serious, but because of my trust in Jesus Christ, I do not have to face those consequences. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) God’s gift is eternal life through believing on Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
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Remember that list of sins from I Corinthians 6? The Corinthians that the Apostle Paul was writing to in that letter were bad guys, but they had trusted Christ, therefore he is able to say in the very next verse: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11) If you have not yet trusted Christ, you can trust Him now and be washed as well.
For further questions or comments, please contact southtownbc@yahoo.com
Friday, October 4, 2013
Our Creator and Savior
Our boys have a new fort. Their uncle came to visit and he gathered up 3 old pallets for walls and then covered them with leaves and branches that he cut off of our willow tree. It looks like a cross between an obstacle course and a duck blind, but our boys love it. I have to admit that it is a cool fort for 4 little boys.
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The fort sits right between the house and the garage- two structures that took much more planning than the fort did. Though the house took much more planning than the garage, I must admit that it is a fairly simple structure compared to the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace might seem impressive until you see Mt. Rushmore. Still, the work Borglum did on Rushmore is nothing compared to the creation of the whole world.
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We do not expect that Mt. Rushmore came about by chance. I do not even look into my backyard and imagine that the wind blew the willow branches and pallets together to make a fort. So how did the world get here?
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One of the most ancient history books states in it’s opening statement, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Then we read later in Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”
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There are many other verses in the Bible that refer to God as creator. One of the passages that I love the most concerning creation is the passage that shows that Jesus is creator, thus showing that He is God. Colossians 1:16-17 states, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
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The study about what the Bible’s teaches concerning creation shows us many vital truths. Just in this short article we have already seen that God is the creator and that Jesus Christ is God. But why should we listen to what the Bible says over other history books? The Bible claims to be much more than just a history book. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
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The Bible is not just some history book. It is not just some myth made up by some clever author. The Bible is God’s word given to us through the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)
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Look again at Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” Notice that not only is the LORD our creator, He is also our redeemer. Jesus not only made us, but He redeemed us. That means He paid the price for us as He paid the price for our sins on the cross. That means He saves us from the penalty for our sins if we believe in Him- not just as our creator, but also as our savior.
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As we understand that Jesus is our creator and savior, not only should we believe on Him, we should also worship Him as God. "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NKJV).
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The fort sits right between the house and the garage- two structures that took much more planning than the fort did. Though the house took much more planning than the garage, I must admit that it is a fairly simple structure compared to the Corn Palace. The Corn Palace might seem impressive until you see Mt. Rushmore. Still, the work Borglum did on Rushmore is nothing compared to the creation of the whole world.
-
We do not expect that Mt. Rushmore came about by chance. I do not even look into my backyard and imagine that the wind blew the willow branches and pallets together to make a fort. So how did the world get here?
-
One of the most ancient history books states in it’s opening statement, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Then we read later in Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”
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There are many other verses in the Bible that refer to God as creator. One of the passages that I love the most concerning creation is the passage that shows that Jesus is creator, thus showing that He is God. Colossians 1:16-17 states, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
-
The study about what the Bible’s teaches concerning creation shows us many vital truths. Just in this short article we have already seen that God is the creator and that Jesus Christ is God. But why should we listen to what the Bible says over other history books? The Bible claims to be much more than just a history book. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us, “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
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The Bible is not just some history book. It is not just some myth made up by some clever author. The Bible is God’s word given to us through the Holy Spirit. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)
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Look again at Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” Notice that not only is the LORD our creator, He is also our redeemer. Jesus not only made us, but He redeemed us. That means He paid the price for us as He paid the price for our sins on the cross. That means He saves us from the penalty for our sins if we believe in Him- not just as our creator, but also as our savior.
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As we understand that Jesus is our creator and savior, not only should we believe on Him, we should also worship Him as God. "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11 NKJV).
Friday, September 20, 2013
Whoever Believes, Will Live
As we enjoy the wonderful fall weather, it is a great time for a picnic. As my wife was preparing for our outing, she mentioned that the cooler was down in the basement. Deciding to be helpful, I went down to get it. The boys were already in bed. It was dark outside, and the house was quiet. She did not realize I had gone down to the basement and as she began to descend the steps, I came around the corner carrying the cooler. Of course, my unexpected presence startled her.
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Many are also startled by the uncertainty of eternity. A prominent religious leader was recently asked if someone who does not believe in God could go to heaven.
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As I heard the question, my thoughts went, not to what certain clergy believe, but to what does the Bible say. In other words, if I had to answer that question, would I be able to give scripture to support an answer?
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One of the first passages that comes to mind is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This passage obviously relates eternal life with belief, but does it exclude unbelievers? In order to answer that question, we must look not just at one isolated verse, but also at the verses around it. 20 verses later, we read, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
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As we look to these scriptures we find that the Bible teaches that we must believe in more than just some generic creator God, but that we must believe in Jesus Christ. Consider as well, John 14:6 NKJV, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Acts 4:12 NKJV states, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
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Still the question might be asked, “Why would God hold someone accountable to Him when they don’t even believe in Him?” The book of Romans in the Bible helps to answer that question. In chapter 1 vs. 20 we are told that creation is a testimony to God’s existence so that the unbelievers are without excuse. Then in Romans chapter 2, verses 14-15, we see that even those who do not have the word of God, still have a conscience to convict them of their wrongdoing. This leads us to chapter 3, where we are told in vs. 10 that there is none righteous, no not one and vs. 23 were it says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
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So creation shows us that there is a creator God. Our conscience shows us we are sinners. If that were all the farther we went in our discussion, the Bible would be far more frightening than even an intruder in the basement, but look at what it says toward the end of Romans 3, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26 NKJV).
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Even though the consequences of sin and unbelief are serious and scary, God loves us so much that He sent His son to provide forgiveness to those who believe. Take comfort in the words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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Many are also startled by the uncertainty of eternity. A prominent religious leader was recently asked if someone who does not believe in God could go to heaven.
-
As I heard the question, my thoughts went, not to what certain clergy believe, but to what does the Bible say. In other words, if I had to answer that question, would I be able to give scripture to support an answer?
-
One of the first passages that comes to mind is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This passage obviously relates eternal life with belief, but does it exclude unbelievers? In order to answer that question, we must look not just at one isolated verse, but also at the verses around it. 20 verses later, we read, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
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As we look to these scriptures we find that the Bible teaches that we must believe in more than just some generic creator God, but that we must believe in Jesus Christ. Consider as well, John 14:6 NKJV, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Acts 4:12 NKJV states, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
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Still the question might be asked, “Why would God hold someone accountable to Him when they don’t even believe in Him?” The book of Romans in the Bible helps to answer that question. In chapter 1 vs. 20 we are told that creation is a testimony to God’s existence so that the unbelievers are without excuse. Then in Romans chapter 2, verses 14-15, we see that even those who do not have the word of God, still have a conscience to convict them of their wrongdoing. This leads us to chapter 3, where we are told in vs. 10 that there is none righteous, no not one and vs. 23 were it says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
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So creation shows us that there is a creator God. Our conscience shows us we are sinners. If that were all the farther we went in our discussion, the Bible would be far more frightening than even an intruder in the basement, but look at what it says toward the end of Romans 3, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26 NKJV).
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Even though the consequences of sin and unbelief are serious and scary, God loves us so much that He sent His son to provide forgiveness to those who believe. Take comfort in the words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Be Humble Enough to Laugh
My wife and I had an argument in the middle of the night. We were both dreaming and then we both started to talk in our sleep- actually more like half asleep. She was dreaming about braiding a strap for one of her projects and I was dreaming about laying cement block. Suddenly she said out loud to use the strap. Since I did not think that a strap should be used on the block, I told her so. I then woke up enough to realize she had been talking in her sleep while still not understanding that I had been doing the same myself.
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We both began to drift back to sleep, but then I decided to roll from my back onto my side. Suddenly she warned, “be careful!”. Thinking I may have accidentally pulled her hair I asked what was wrong. The response, “You are going to knock them over.” Realizing she was talking in her sleep again, I chuckled and said that at least they would fall on the bed. She then told me not to be so sarcastic.
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The scripture says in Ephesians 4:26 not to let the sun go down upon your wrath. Well the sun had not even come up yet, so I figure it was okay that I just let her fall back to sleep even though she seemed to be upset with me.
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The next day I asked her if she remembered our conversation from the middle of the night. She did and she also began to laugh. I knew then that there was no worry about her going to bed angry.
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As funny as all this sounds, the tension between Crystal and I was very real during our argument even though we were not fully awake. Other times it has been just as real when we have been awake. Any time two people spend a lot of time together it should not surprise us that disagreements and even anger will result. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
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Sometimes I am the one who sins and causes the tension. Sometimes it is Crystal. Often it is both of us. Sometimes we just misunderstand each other.
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So how do we go to bed at night without being mad after something has caused tension between us? The answer is to set aside pride. If I am the one who sinned, I have to swallow my pride and admit it. If she is the one who sinned, I have to set aside my pride and forgive her. If it was a misunderstanding, then each of us has to be humble enough to admit that we did not grasp what was going on. Proverbs 13:10 affirms, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”
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James 4:1 states, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (NKJV) Why do we fight to get our pleasures? Because we are so proud that we think that what we want is the most important thing. In order to get along with each other, we need to humble ourselves.
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After our middle of the night fight, Crystal and I were both able to look at ourselves and laugh. Essentially we were humble enough to see the humor instead of so arrogant that we were upset with each other. May we all set aside our pride so that we get along with each other.
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We both began to drift back to sleep, but then I decided to roll from my back onto my side. Suddenly she warned, “be careful!”. Thinking I may have accidentally pulled her hair I asked what was wrong. The response, “You are going to knock them over.” Realizing she was talking in her sleep again, I chuckled and said that at least they would fall on the bed. She then told me not to be so sarcastic.
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The scripture says in Ephesians 4:26 not to let the sun go down upon your wrath. Well the sun had not even come up yet, so I figure it was okay that I just let her fall back to sleep even though she seemed to be upset with me.
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The next day I asked her if she remembered our conversation from the middle of the night. She did and she also began to laugh. I knew then that there was no worry about her going to bed angry.
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As funny as all this sounds, the tension between Crystal and I was very real during our argument even though we were not fully awake. Other times it has been just as real when we have been awake. Any time two people spend a lot of time together it should not surprise us that disagreements and even anger will result. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
-
Sometimes I am the one who sins and causes the tension. Sometimes it is Crystal. Often it is both of us. Sometimes we just misunderstand each other.
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So how do we go to bed at night without being mad after something has caused tension between us? The answer is to set aside pride. If I am the one who sinned, I have to swallow my pride and admit it. If she is the one who sinned, I have to set aside my pride and forgive her. If it was a misunderstanding, then each of us has to be humble enough to admit that we did not grasp what was going on. Proverbs 13:10 affirms, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”
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James 4:1 states, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (NKJV) Why do we fight to get our pleasures? Because we are so proud that we think that what we want is the most important thing. In order to get along with each other, we need to humble ourselves.
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After our middle of the night fight, Crystal and I were both able to look at ourselves and laugh. Essentially we were humble enough to see the humor instead of so arrogant that we were upset with each other. May we all set aside our pride so that we get along with each other.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Will God Tickle Your Feet?
As I stood in my bedroom getting dressed, I could hear our little boys playing outside of the door. They knew I was there as well and soon one of them poked his foot under the door and said, “Daddy, tickle my feet.” I did not go over right away so he repeated his request. After he had asked about three times, I finally went over and tickled his feet. Soon two of his brothers also had the tips of their feet under the door. As I tickled their feet, they squealed with delight.
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In their position on the other side of the door, they could not see Daddy, but they knew I was there. They could hear me in our room, and then they could feel my presence as I touched their feet.
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As I enjoyed that special time with my sons, I also thought about my time with God. Though I can not see Him with my eyes, I know He is there. No, God does not tickle my feet as I pray to Him, but He is concerned about my feet. Notice what Jesus did when He was here on earth. “After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:5 NKJV)
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Though God is no longer here on earth in human form so that we can see Him and have Him wash our feet, He has not forgotten about us. He still cares about us and He is still showing us His very real presence.
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One of the most obvious ways that God reveals Himself is through His creation. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20 NKJV) The very presence of the world and the things around us are a testimony to the reality of God. Even though we cannot see Him, we can see what He has done and is doing. Psalm 19:1 has a similar message, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
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It is one thing for God to reveal His existence, it is another thing for Him to actually show that He cares about us and wants to interact with us. For example, my boys knew I was in the room, but I could have just ignored them when they stuck their toes under the door. Our God does not ignore us. Not only has He given us the Bible to tell us about Himself, He also sent His only begotten son into the world to die for our sins so that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life. Let us not forget that even before He went to the cross He showed His love by washing feet. We really do have a wonderful God who really does care for us.
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My boys called out to me to ask me to tickle their toes. God wants us to call out to Him. We are told to pray without ceasing. In other words, we should be talking to God all the time. Though we cannot see Him, He is there and He wants to interact with us.
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In their position on the other side of the door, they could not see Daddy, but they knew I was there. They could hear me in our room, and then they could feel my presence as I touched their feet.
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As I enjoyed that special time with my sons, I also thought about my time with God. Though I can not see Him with my eyes, I know He is there. No, God does not tickle my feet as I pray to Him, but He is concerned about my feet. Notice what Jesus did when He was here on earth. “After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:5 NKJV)
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Though God is no longer here on earth in human form so that we can see Him and have Him wash our feet, He has not forgotten about us. He still cares about us and He is still showing us His very real presence.
-
One of the most obvious ways that God reveals Himself is through His creation. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20 NKJV) The very presence of the world and the things around us are a testimony to the reality of God. Even though we cannot see Him, we can see what He has done and is doing. Psalm 19:1 has a similar message, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
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It is one thing for God to reveal His existence, it is another thing for Him to actually show that He cares about us and wants to interact with us. For example, my boys knew I was in the room, but I could have just ignored them when they stuck their toes under the door. Our God does not ignore us. Not only has He given us the Bible to tell us about Himself, He also sent His only begotten son into the world to die for our sins so that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life. Let us not forget that even before He went to the cross He showed His love by washing feet. We really do have a wonderful God who really does care for us.
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My boys called out to me to ask me to tickle their toes. God wants us to call out to Him. We are told to pray without ceasing. In other words, we should be talking to God all the time. Though we cannot see Him, He is there and He wants to interact with us.
Monday, July 29, 2013
God, The Perfect Father
I used to hate getting a Charlie horse in my leg. I did not realize that there was anything I could do about it until a friend told me to grab the end of my toes and stretch the muscle in order to bring relief. I was amazed at how quickly it worked.
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Our little boys sometimes get Charlie horses in their legs as well. I realized this when our first child woke up during the night crying. We tried feeding him and changing his diaper but nothing seemed to help. He had no fever or symptoms of teething, so we figured he was just being fussy for no good reason. I must admit that I was running out of sympathy for the little guy because I wanted to go back to bed. Then I saw him pointing at his foot. Suddenly I had an idea- maybe he has a Charlie horse. I carefully pushed on the end of his foot and he pushed back with his little leg and then instantly calmed down.
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We were recently driving home late in the evening. The boys had been playing hard all day and quickly fell asleep. Suddenly our 3 year old woke up crying. We asked him what was wrong and in his sleepy voice he said that he wanted to play. Usually he sits in his car seat without complaint so we thought this was strange- especially considering how tired he was. Crystal tried calming him down, but he continued to fuss. It was almost one of those “Daddy is going to pull the car over” moments, when we figured out that he had a Charlie horse. As soon as she pushed on his foot he settled down and went back to sleep. I figure that he wanted to get out and play so that he could stretch is leg.
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Children should be expected to behave. In fact, Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” At the same time parents also have a responsibility toward their children. Just a few verses later we read, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV)
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If I had pulled over and disciplined my 3 year old for fussing over a Charlie horse, I would have been provoking him to wrath instead of helping him.
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Imagine if my treatment of my son had ended up shaping his view of God. Imagine if I had disciplined him when he actually needed my help. He might end up thinking that God was like that and that He only wanted to hurt him when he was in trouble instead of helping him.
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I, as a father, do not always know or understand my children’s needs. Before they are able to talk, I do not always know where they hurt or why, but our God knows everything. He, like a good father, disciplines us and holds us accountable for our actions, but He also understands our true needs and loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
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God is not like the dad who just lets his kids get by with anything, but He is not the cruel father who beats his kids or yells at them for every little thing either. He is a God who lovingly holds us accountable and also lovingly cares for us. Further He is a God who forgives us even when we do wrong, mercifully allowing us back into fellowship with Him as we trust Christ’s payment for our sins.
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I realize that I will never be the perfect father, but God is.
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Our little boys sometimes get Charlie horses in their legs as well. I realized this when our first child woke up during the night crying. We tried feeding him and changing his diaper but nothing seemed to help. He had no fever or symptoms of teething, so we figured he was just being fussy for no good reason. I must admit that I was running out of sympathy for the little guy because I wanted to go back to bed. Then I saw him pointing at his foot. Suddenly I had an idea- maybe he has a Charlie horse. I carefully pushed on the end of his foot and he pushed back with his little leg and then instantly calmed down.
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We were recently driving home late in the evening. The boys had been playing hard all day and quickly fell asleep. Suddenly our 3 year old woke up crying. We asked him what was wrong and in his sleepy voice he said that he wanted to play. Usually he sits in his car seat without complaint so we thought this was strange- especially considering how tired he was. Crystal tried calming him down, but he continued to fuss. It was almost one of those “Daddy is going to pull the car over” moments, when we figured out that he had a Charlie horse. As soon as she pushed on his foot he settled down and went back to sleep. I figure that he wanted to get out and play so that he could stretch is leg.
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Children should be expected to behave. In fact, Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” At the same time parents also have a responsibility toward their children. Just a few verses later we read, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV)
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If I had pulled over and disciplined my 3 year old for fussing over a Charlie horse, I would have been provoking him to wrath instead of helping him.
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Imagine if my treatment of my son had ended up shaping his view of God. Imagine if I had disciplined him when he actually needed my help. He might end up thinking that God was like that and that He only wanted to hurt him when he was in trouble instead of helping him.
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I, as a father, do not always know or understand my children’s needs. Before they are able to talk, I do not always know where they hurt or why, but our God knows everything. He, like a good father, disciplines us and holds us accountable for our actions, but He also understands our true needs and loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
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God is not like the dad who just lets his kids get by with anything, but He is not the cruel father who beats his kids or yells at them for every little thing either. He is a God who lovingly holds us accountable and also lovingly cares for us. Further He is a God who forgives us even when we do wrong, mercifully allowing us back into fellowship with Him as we trust Christ’s payment for our sins.
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I realize that I will never be the perfect father, but God is.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
John Deere & Jesus Christ
My lawnmower quit working. It was not a total surprise, since it was about 35 years old and I knew the engine was getting weak. The fact that it lasted that long is a testimony that John Deere has made some decent mowers through the years. Still, I was discouraged that my day was messed up and the grass was getting longer.
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It is not unusual for us to face such challenges in life. Maybe the car won’t start or you have a flat tire. Perhaps the problem is more serious, such as a job loss or an illness. Learning to trust God with the little things like a broken lawn mower can help us to face the bigger challenges in life.
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Romans 5:1-4 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope“ (NKJV).
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If my trust were in John Deere rather than Jesus Christ, my whole world would have fallen apart when the lawn mower would not run. Because I have peace with God through Jesus Christ, I realize that His grace is sufficient for the trials of life.
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In fact, as Romans 5:3 says, I can actually glory in tribulations. In other words I can boast as I rejoice about the problems I face. I am not talking about being a masochist. I do not look forward to problems- instead I realize that when they do come, I can trust God and even allow Him to use them in my life.
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As I look at Romans 5:3-4, I understand that God used these trials to help me persevere so that I have the sort of enduring patience that will allow me to better face the larger challenges in life. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope“ (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV).
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Not only are patience and character built up through the trials in life, but as we come through them, we realize that there is hope. When I could not get the lawn mower running, I decided to go to Craigslist and find one that would get me by until I could get the other one fixed. I thought I had found one, but that led to another trial because when we showed up to look at it, it would not start. Suddenly, the seller was facing an even greater trial than I was as he shared his embarrassment.
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I did not buy that lawnmower from him, but I found something even better- the stranger trying to sell his lawn mower became my friend. Friends are far better than lawnmowers. This is a great reminder that even in trials there is hope.
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The story gets even better. When I called my brother and told him of my problems, he told me that he had an extra mower that wasn’t in the best of shape but it would probably work for a while. I went to pick it up, but stopped at a Snapper dealer on the way and found a really nice used mower at an excellent price- such a good price that it was not worth fixing up my old mower. Not all our trials work out as good as this one did, but it is a reminder that we can trust God and have hope even when things are not going so well.
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It is not unusual for us to face such challenges in life. Maybe the car won’t start or you have a flat tire. Perhaps the problem is more serious, such as a job loss or an illness. Learning to trust God with the little things like a broken lawn mower can help us to face the bigger challenges in life.
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Romans 5:1-4 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope“ (NKJV).
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If my trust were in John Deere rather than Jesus Christ, my whole world would have fallen apart when the lawn mower would not run. Because I have peace with God through Jesus Christ, I realize that His grace is sufficient for the trials of life.
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In fact, as Romans 5:3 says, I can actually glory in tribulations. In other words I can boast as I rejoice about the problems I face. I am not talking about being a masochist. I do not look forward to problems- instead I realize that when they do come, I can trust God and even allow Him to use them in my life.
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As I look at Romans 5:3-4, I understand that God used these trials to help me persevere so that I have the sort of enduring patience that will allow me to better face the larger challenges in life. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope“ (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV).
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Not only are patience and character built up through the trials in life, but as we come through them, we realize that there is hope. When I could not get the lawn mower running, I decided to go to Craigslist and find one that would get me by until I could get the other one fixed. I thought I had found one, but that led to another trial because when we showed up to look at it, it would not start. Suddenly, the seller was facing an even greater trial than I was as he shared his embarrassment.
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I did not buy that lawnmower from him, but I found something even better- the stranger trying to sell his lawn mower became my friend. Friends are far better than lawnmowers. This is a great reminder that even in trials there is hope.
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The story gets even better. When I called my brother and told him of my problems, he told me that he had an extra mower that wasn’t in the best of shape but it would probably work for a while. I went to pick it up, but stopped at a Snapper dealer on the way and found a really nice used mower at an excellent price- such a good price that it was not worth fixing up my old mower. Not all our trials work out as good as this one did, but it is a reminder that we can trust God and have hope even when things are not going so well.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Knowing the Rules of the Game
We only live a few blocks from the recreation complex in Worthing. It has a picnic shelter, playground equipment, volleyball net, and softball field. The boys love to go there to play. The other day as I was driving home, I noticed a lot of cars there and realized that there was a little league softball game going on.
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I told our three oldest boys about it when I got home, and they were excited to go and watch. They call any shirt that has numbers on it a “ballgame shirt” and any pants with stripes running up the side of the leg “ballgame pants.”
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The oldest is five, so their knowledge of ballgames is quite limited. They saw the catcher and they were wondering why she was wearing all that stuff. I then began to try to explain the most basic rules of the game, understanding that they did not even know what I was talking about when I said “safe” or “out.”
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Most of us take the basics of playing softball for granted, but for my little boys, this is all new to them. It may be easy to take the basics of the Bible for granted as well. We should not be surprised that if someone has not been taught anything about the Bible, that they will not understand it.
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Further, some have been taught the wrong things, so they have come to the wrong conclusions. Imagine if our boys had watched 9 base kickball, and thought that there could be multiple runners on each base and then tried to play softball. Imagine if they tried to use a bat when playing kickball.
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Often people have the same frustration with the things of God. They know about as much about God as my boys knew about softball, but how many adults would have the courage to go to a softball game and ask why sometimes the batter is out after not hitting the ball and sometimes they get to walk to first base. Further, how many people would have the courage to ask why some people get to live with God after they die and others don’t.
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John 3:36 gives the most basic answer, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” That verse taken along with John 3:16 shows us that belief- putting our full confidence in- Jesus Christ is what makes the difference. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life“ (John 3:16).
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Knowing enough truth to get to heaven is one thing, but we should want to learn more. As we walk the Christian walk, we will strike out from time to time, but our walk will be much more effective if we know the rules of the game. That is why we should study the Bible- God’s rule book. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
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God’s rules do not have to be a mystery to us. My desire is to teach people God’s word without assuming that they already understand it. I do not care if they know who Moses is as long as they want to learn. Before they know it, they will be running around the bases of Bible history and Bible application.
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I told our three oldest boys about it when I got home, and they were excited to go and watch. They call any shirt that has numbers on it a “ballgame shirt” and any pants with stripes running up the side of the leg “ballgame pants.”
-
The oldest is five, so their knowledge of ballgames is quite limited. They saw the catcher and they were wondering why she was wearing all that stuff. I then began to try to explain the most basic rules of the game, understanding that they did not even know what I was talking about when I said “safe” or “out.”
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Most of us take the basics of playing softball for granted, but for my little boys, this is all new to them. It may be easy to take the basics of the Bible for granted as well. We should not be surprised that if someone has not been taught anything about the Bible, that they will not understand it.
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Further, some have been taught the wrong things, so they have come to the wrong conclusions. Imagine if our boys had watched 9 base kickball, and thought that there could be multiple runners on each base and then tried to play softball. Imagine if they tried to use a bat when playing kickball.
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Often people have the same frustration with the things of God. They know about as much about God as my boys knew about softball, but how many adults would have the courage to go to a softball game and ask why sometimes the batter is out after not hitting the ball and sometimes they get to walk to first base. Further, how many people would have the courage to ask why some people get to live with God after they die and others don’t.
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John 3:36 gives the most basic answer, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” That verse taken along with John 3:16 shows us that belief- putting our full confidence in- Jesus Christ is what makes the difference. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life“ (John 3:16).
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Knowing enough truth to get to heaven is one thing, but we should want to learn more. As we walk the Christian walk, we will strike out from time to time, but our walk will be much more effective if we know the rules of the game. That is why we should study the Bible- God’s rule book. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
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God’s rules do not have to be a mystery to us. My desire is to teach people God’s word without assuming that they already understand it. I do not care if they know who Moses is as long as they want to learn. Before they know it, they will be running around the bases of Bible history and Bible application.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Stay Out of the Mud
We have a mud hole in our back yard. Our little boys love to play in it. The other day our four year old rode his tricycle into the puddle and got stuck. His five year old brother found a light log chain, hooked it onto the trike and was trying to pull him out. Earlier the three year old wore his mom’s cowboy boots into that same hole and got them all dirty. Of course she was not happy about that.
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Not only did Crystal have to wash her boots, she also had to wash our boys. We finally had to put limits on playing in the mud puddle. We told them to just stay away from it because they were making too much of a mess.
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The problem is that little boys really like mud holes. Still, their love for mud holes does not make their disobedience okay. The three year old especially has trouble staying away. His lack of maturity is reflected in his disobedience.
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As a father, I get discouraged when my children disobey, but then I am reminded of my heavenly father and my own disobedience. As Christians we are saved by grace, not our works, yet God still expects us to obey Him. Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
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I Corinthians 6:9-10 gives a list of sinful activities that would keep us out of heaven if it were not for God‘s forgiveness, but then look at what verse 11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
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Just as the boys get all dirty in the mud hole, our lives are dirty with sin. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The dirtiness of sin has consequences-death. Still, because of God’s grace, we have the gift of life. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
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We are all dirty with sin and need to be washed by believing in Jesus Christ as our savior. Once we are washed we should not continue to sin just so we can get grace, yet that grace is still available to us when we do sin. Like our little three year old, we should be growing in maturity so that we sin less. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:1-2).
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Sadly, too many people return to the mud hole of sin. “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (II Peter 2:22)
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As believers, we should not go back to the mud hole of sin, instead we should recognize that we are washed through the blood of Christ and then stay clean because we love Him and want to obey Him. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
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Not only did Crystal have to wash her boots, she also had to wash our boys. We finally had to put limits on playing in the mud puddle. We told them to just stay away from it because they were making too much of a mess.
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The problem is that little boys really like mud holes. Still, their love for mud holes does not make their disobedience okay. The three year old especially has trouble staying away. His lack of maturity is reflected in his disobedience.
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As a father, I get discouraged when my children disobey, but then I am reminded of my heavenly father and my own disobedience. As Christians we are saved by grace, not our works, yet God still expects us to obey Him. Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
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I Corinthians 6:9-10 gives a list of sinful activities that would keep us out of heaven if it were not for God‘s forgiveness, but then look at what verse 11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
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Just as the boys get all dirty in the mud hole, our lives are dirty with sin. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The dirtiness of sin has consequences-death. Still, because of God’s grace, we have the gift of life. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
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We are all dirty with sin and need to be washed by believing in Jesus Christ as our savior. Once we are washed we should not continue to sin just so we can get grace, yet that grace is still available to us when we do sin. Like our little three year old, we should be growing in maturity so that we sin less. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:1-2).
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Sadly, too many people return to the mud hole of sin. “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (II Peter 2:22)
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As believers, we should not go back to the mud hole of sin, instead we should recognize that we are washed through the blood of Christ and then stay clean because we love Him and want to obey Him. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Fear God’s Restraining Power
Our youngest son is finally walking. Not only is he walking, but he is already trying to keep up with his bigger brothers. As I write this he giggles as he tries to wrestle with our oldest son. He has no chance at this point to defeat his big brother, but he keeps going back for more. His big brother wrestles back but without using his full strength so that he does not hurt the little guy.
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I remember doing the same thing with my little brothers. They had little fear of me, because as we wrestled I was careful not to hurt them, but because I was so much bigger, they did not worry so much about hurting me. I finally quit wrestling with them when they became big enough that I could no longer pin them without hurting them.
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As I watch my boys I think of Jacob wrestling with God (I believe Jacob wrestled with Jesus Christ taking on human form in Old Testament times). “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.” (Genesis 32:24-25)
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As we think of Jacob wrestling with God, realize that God could have used His power at any time to subdue him, but that God chose to let the wrestling continue. Also realize that God never has to worry about a little brother growing up and becoming stronger than Him someday.
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Our one year old son has no idea how much power his wrestling opponents have, and as he wrestles with his brothers, he has no fear of them. I sometimes wonder how many people approach God in a similar manner. If my one year old wrestles with me, I have the strength to take his life, but love him enough to protect him rather than harm him.
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God loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us, but He also has the power to take our lives. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
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Though we should never forget about God’s love, we must also remember both His strength and His justice. If I were to wrestle with my sons and one of them continued to kick me as hard as he could, then he would find himself on the receiving end of justice so that he understood that he was not allowed to carelessly hurt others.
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As we remember God’s strength and justice, we must not forget to have a reverent fear of Him as we realize the justice that He can bring to bear. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36) “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)
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God does love us, and has shown us mercy by holding back the full power of His wrath from us, but we should view Him with awe (fear) as we realize the power He has and the justice we deserve.
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I remember doing the same thing with my little brothers. They had little fear of me, because as we wrestled I was careful not to hurt them, but because I was so much bigger, they did not worry so much about hurting me. I finally quit wrestling with them when they became big enough that I could no longer pin them without hurting them.
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As I watch my boys I think of Jacob wrestling with God (I believe Jacob wrestled with Jesus Christ taking on human form in Old Testament times). “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.” (Genesis 32:24-25)
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As we think of Jacob wrestling with God, realize that God could have used His power at any time to subdue him, but that God chose to let the wrestling continue. Also realize that God never has to worry about a little brother growing up and becoming stronger than Him someday.
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Our one year old son has no idea how much power his wrestling opponents have, and as he wrestles with his brothers, he has no fear of them. I sometimes wonder how many people approach God in a similar manner. If my one year old wrestles with me, I have the strength to take his life, but love him enough to protect him rather than harm him.
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God loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us, but He also has the power to take our lives. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
-
Though we should never forget about God’s love, we must also remember both His strength and His justice. If I were to wrestle with my sons and one of them continued to kick me as hard as he could, then he would find himself on the receiving end of justice so that he understood that he was not allowed to carelessly hurt others.
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As we remember God’s strength and justice, we must not forget to have a reverent fear of Him as we realize the justice that He can bring to bear. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36) “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)
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God does love us, and has shown us mercy by holding back the full power of His wrath from us, but we should view Him with awe (fear) as we realize the power He has and the justice we deserve.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Biblical Standards and Love
Because we are sinners living in a sin cursed world, all of us have experienced some measure of heartache in our lives because of sin. Perhaps someone was rude to you or you were rude to someone else. It may be tempting to just decide that this is the way things are and there is nothing we can do about it. We may not be able to change other people, but we should be concerned about our own behavior.
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As Christians, we understand that the greatest command is to love God and the second is to love our neighbor. With that in mind it should not surprise us that our love should be growing more and more. Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
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As our love abounds more and more, the result should be a life that understands what is excellent according to God’s standards, and then that should translate into a life that is lived in a righteous way.
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As we study scripture we find a number of things that should not characterize the Christian life and we also find things that we as Christians should be doing. All of scripture taken together and applied appropriately should show us how to apply our love for God in a way that conforms to His standards.
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Still, we understand that none of us will measure up to those standards. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Still that should not be an excuse to ignore His standards. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1).
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Because of our love of God, we should not make excuses for those who reject God’s standards, but what happens when someone accuses us of rejecting God’s standards as we are trying to apply them? This can sometimes happen among those who have a zeal for serving God.
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For example we have some friends who have a concern for dressing in a modest way as not to offend God or cause others to stumble. We share that same concern. The problem is that our application differs drastically. They believe that for a woman to be dressed modestly she must not wear pants. Though I disagree with their conclusion, I admire their desire to do what they think is right, however, when they invited us to go roller skating with them, I insisted that my wife wear pants. I did this for the same reason that the women in their family wore dresses- modesty. My wife had not skated in years and I figured that if she fell down and her legs went up that it would be much more modest for her to be in pants than in a dress.
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You see, both families were concerned about high standards, but our conclusions were quite different. This is a reminder that we need to be careful about not being judgmental toward those who apply a principle a bit differently than we do. It is also a reminder to let our love for God and our love for others abound more and more as we take care to apply God‘s standards appropriately.
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As Christians, we understand that the greatest command is to love God and the second is to love our neighbor. With that in mind it should not surprise us that our love should be growing more and more. Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
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As our love abounds more and more, the result should be a life that understands what is excellent according to God’s standards, and then that should translate into a life that is lived in a righteous way.
-
As we study scripture we find a number of things that should not characterize the Christian life and we also find things that we as Christians should be doing. All of scripture taken together and applied appropriately should show us how to apply our love for God in a way that conforms to His standards.
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Still, we understand that none of us will measure up to those standards. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Still that should not be an excuse to ignore His standards. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1).
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Because of our love of God, we should not make excuses for those who reject God’s standards, but what happens when someone accuses us of rejecting God’s standards as we are trying to apply them? This can sometimes happen among those who have a zeal for serving God.
-
For example we have some friends who have a concern for dressing in a modest way as not to offend God or cause others to stumble. We share that same concern. The problem is that our application differs drastically. They believe that for a woman to be dressed modestly she must not wear pants. Though I disagree with their conclusion, I admire their desire to do what they think is right, however, when they invited us to go roller skating with them, I insisted that my wife wear pants. I did this for the same reason that the women in their family wore dresses- modesty. My wife had not skated in years and I figured that if she fell down and her legs went up that it would be much more modest for her to be in pants than in a dress.
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You see, both families were concerned about high standards, but our conclusions were quite different. This is a reminder that we need to be careful about not being judgmental toward those who apply a principle a bit differently than we do. It is also a reminder to let our love for God and our love for others abound more and more as we take care to apply God‘s standards appropriately.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
New blog location
For all those who follow this blog, please go to our new blog site at http://www.southtownchurch.com/blog.php
Please visit the rest of the Southtown website as well to read about our church planting plans in the Sioux Falls area.
Please visit the rest of the Southtown website as well to read about our church planting plans in the Sioux Falls area.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Jesus Is Our Propitiation
Our house has become overwhelmed with boxes. Some of you may have heard that we are in the process of moving. When we first told the boys that we were moving they had some mixed reactions. Our oldest had a lot of questions, but seemed to trust the decision. Our four year old, however, was quite upset about it. As his older brother asked questions, we began to understand why he was so upset. One of the questions was, “will we get to bring our toys?” After he found out that they could bring their toys, then he wanted to know if they could bring their beds. It had never even occurred to us to explain to them what moving meant.
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As a pastor I have come to realize that sometimes when I talk about spiritual things I do not explain what I mean as well as I should and thus I can end up leaving people just as confused as my little boy was.
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For example, when talking about Jesus’ payment for sin on the cross, I will use the word “propitiation.” That word is found in 1 John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
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The problem is that if we do not have any idea what propitiation means, then that verse does not have the meaning for us that it should have. Microsoft actually has a dictionary in the Works Word Processor program that I use. It describes propitiation as: “win somebody's favor: to appease or conciliate somebody or something.”
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So what does Jesus have to do with winning someone’s favor? To answer that question, we must first realize that without Jesus Christ, all of us are out of favor with God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, Jesus Christ is our propitiation- the one who wins our favor with God- because our sin had caused us to be out of favor with God. Read I John 2:2 again with that in mind, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
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Looking at the further part of the definition, we find that propitiation means “to appease or conciliate somebody or something.” Jesus Christ has won our favor and has appeased our sins. He appeased God the Father because there is no way that any of us could do enough to appease God for our sins. Consider as well the word “conciliate.” That means to bring two opposing sides together. Jesus’ propitiation brings us and God the Father together. Hebrews 10:1-10 shows that the Old Testament sacrifices of animals was not enough to completely appease God, but Jesus was.
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Essentially the Old Testament sacrifices were a reminder of our sin and that sin needed to be appeased, but the blood of animals was not enough to be a final propitiation. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4) But notice what happened when Jesus offered His life on the cross, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14).
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So what does it mean when Jesus perfected forever them that are sanctified? It means that by dying on the cross He was able to appease God and make us holy forever. But here is the catch. In order to be made holy forever, you must believe that Jesus really is your only hope for appeasing God.
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John 3:36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Without believing in Jesus’ propitiation, we are not trusting that God the Father has been appeased and therefore God’s wrath still abides upon us. Believe on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins so that you and God can be brought together.
-
As a pastor I have come to realize that sometimes when I talk about spiritual things I do not explain what I mean as well as I should and thus I can end up leaving people just as confused as my little boy was.
-
For example, when talking about Jesus’ payment for sin on the cross, I will use the word “propitiation.” That word is found in 1 John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
-
The problem is that if we do not have any idea what propitiation means, then that verse does not have the meaning for us that it should have. Microsoft actually has a dictionary in the Works Word Processor program that I use. It describes propitiation as: “win somebody's favor: to appease or conciliate somebody or something.”
-
So what does Jesus have to do with winning someone’s favor? To answer that question, we must first realize that without Jesus Christ, all of us are out of favor with God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore, Jesus Christ is our propitiation- the one who wins our favor with God- because our sin had caused us to be out of favor with God. Read I John 2:2 again with that in mind, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
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Looking at the further part of the definition, we find that propitiation means “to appease or conciliate somebody or something.” Jesus Christ has won our favor and has appeased our sins. He appeased God the Father because there is no way that any of us could do enough to appease God for our sins. Consider as well the word “conciliate.” That means to bring two opposing sides together. Jesus’ propitiation brings us and God the Father together. Hebrews 10:1-10 shows that the Old Testament sacrifices of animals was not enough to completely appease God, but Jesus was.
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Essentially the Old Testament sacrifices were a reminder of our sin and that sin needed to be appeased, but the blood of animals was not enough to be a final propitiation. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4) But notice what happened when Jesus offered His life on the cross, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14).
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So what does it mean when Jesus perfected forever them that are sanctified? It means that by dying on the cross He was able to appease God and make us holy forever. But here is the catch. In order to be made holy forever, you must believe that Jesus really is your only hope for appeasing God.
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John 3:36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Without believing in Jesus’ propitiation, we are not trusting that God the Father has been appeased and therefore God’s wrath still abides upon us. Believe on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins so that you and God can be brought together.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Science and Biblical History
My little brother recently purchased a payloader. I am excited about his new “toy” because I am hoping he will let me “play” with it. He also has a road grader that I would like to play with as well. I have already played with his backhoe. When we were kids, we played with Tonka toys like that, but his “toys” are real.
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It is amazing how much dirt you can move with heavy equipment, but then I think of God and his power. How many payloaders and how many years would it take to dig the Grand Canyon? I personally think that canyon was made in just a matter of days. Scientists and historians believe that the canyon was carved by water over many many years, but let us not forget that water once covered the entire earth during Noah’s flood.
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“And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.” (Genesis 7:19-20)
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It has been a while since we have had a real gully washer here in northern Iowa, but there is a reason that we call them gully washers. Even a 3 inch rain coming quickly can carve a pretty good gully out in a field.
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Still there is a big difference between a two foot gully and a canyon that is 18 miles wide and a mile deep. There is also a big difference between a 3 inch rain and water covering the whole earth. Consider what happened at the end of Noah’s flood. “And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.” (Genesis 8:1-3)
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That much water running off the earth could form some pretty good gullies. However, we do not know exactly what happened. I do not even know for certain that this is how the Grand Canyon was formed, but when we look at science and Biblical history, we realize that it is a possibility to consider.
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What if all of the water did not run down at the same time? What if much of the water that formed the Grand Canyon was actually held in a huge lake and the outlet to that lake began to erode until a huge torrent of water suddenly broke loose?
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We actually have a modern day example of this sort of thing happening on a much smaller scale. After Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980 water was released from Spirit Lake on that Mountain and it showed amazing power in carving out new patterns in the landscape.
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Now imagine the whole earth saturated by the waters of a flood. The flood waters have recently receded but the ground is still saturated and prone to erosion. Suddenly there is a huge earthquake that releases the water of a sea that covers much of North America. That water goes gushing down into what is now the Southwest United States and a grand canyon is formed.
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Of course what I just wrote is only a theory, but it is a reminder that scientific theory and Biblical history do not have to be enemies.
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It is amazing how much dirt you can move with heavy equipment, but then I think of God and his power. How many payloaders and how many years would it take to dig the Grand Canyon? I personally think that canyon was made in just a matter of days. Scientists and historians believe that the canyon was carved by water over many many years, but let us not forget that water once covered the entire earth during Noah’s flood.
-
“And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.” (Genesis 7:19-20)
-
It has been a while since we have had a real gully washer here in northern Iowa, but there is a reason that we call them gully washers. Even a 3 inch rain coming quickly can carve a pretty good gully out in a field.
-
Still there is a big difference between a two foot gully and a canyon that is 18 miles wide and a mile deep. There is also a big difference between a 3 inch rain and water covering the whole earth. Consider what happened at the end of Noah’s flood. “And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.” (Genesis 8:1-3)
-
That much water running off the earth could form some pretty good gullies. However, we do not know exactly what happened. I do not even know for certain that this is how the Grand Canyon was formed, but when we look at science and Biblical history, we realize that it is a possibility to consider.
-
What if all of the water did not run down at the same time? What if much of the water that formed the Grand Canyon was actually held in a huge lake and the outlet to that lake began to erode until a huge torrent of water suddenly broke loose?
-
We actually have a modern day example of this sort of thing happening on a much smaller scale. After Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980 water was released from Spirit Lake on that Mountain and it showed amazing power in carving out new patterns in the landscape.
-
Now imagine the whole earth saturated by the waters of a flood. The flood waters have recently receded but the ground is still saturated and prone to erosion. Suddenly there is a huge earthquake that releases the water of a sea that covers much of North America. That water goes gushing down into what is now the Southwest United States and a grand canyon is formed.
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Of course what I just wrote is only a theory, but it is a reminder that scientific theory and Biblical history do not have to be enemies.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Why Do We Have New Bible Translations?
The other day I was driving down the road with my two oldest boys. Suddenly, the four year old got all excited and pointed, “Look a Christmas goat.” He was pointing at a lawn ornament of a deer with antlers.
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I get a chuckle out of his attempts at mastering the English language. A few weeks earlier he had told me that he wanted Mommy to make “grease juice.” I said, “You mean gravy?” “Yes, gravy, “ he replied.
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Those of us who have been talking for more than three years take some of these things for granted, but why do we call it gravy instead of grease juice? Part of the reason- words take on meaning based on common usage.
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Even within the English language words mean different things based on where you live. For example if you live in the United States, to table a discussion usually means to set aside the matter and not discuss it. If, however, you live in England, to table a matter means to bring it to the floor for consideration.
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Though not as confusing as the table example, in our own country, different words are used in different regions to mean the same thing. For example: see saw vs. teeter totter, firefly vs. lightning bug, soda vs. pop. To add to the confusion, pop, can mean a soda, a loud sound, hitting someone, a father, a grandfather, or an older man. Let us also not forget that a table can also be a flat elevated surface.
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Understanding the English language within the context of its speaker/writer, audience, as well as its point in history, is very important to interpreting it accurately. For example, I had to do some contextual interpretation to figure out what “Christmas goat” and “grease juice” meant.
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Those who translate languages face some of those same challenges. Most Christians do not understand Hebrew or Greek, so they are left to study a translation of the original languages of the Bible. But what about those who do understand another language? A Greek scholar who accepts the challenge of translating should not just understand basic Greek, but should also have the ability to research how a particular word was used in Greek literature during the time the Bible was written.
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For example, many alive today, remember when the word “gay” meant something different than it does now. The King James Version is still my favorite Bible translation, but we must recognize that it was translated over 400 years ago. Since that time, many words have changed meaning. That does not mean that it was a bad translation, but how many people realize that “meet” means “right” or “worthy?”
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I recently came across the word “prevent” in my study. Today in English, that word means to stop, but in the 15th century, it meant meet or come before. Because word usage has changed, the meaning has thus changed and in order to properly understand the passage it needs to be reinterpreted. To further complicate matters, the King James is a translation from England, not the United States. For example corn, in England means grain in the USA.
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I love the King James Version, but we need to resist those who are opposed to interpreting it into language that is accurate today. The examples I gave are of places where the translation was accurate 400 years ago in England, but is not accurate for the way we use English here in Iowa today. That is why many use a translation like the New King James, New American Standard or others.
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I get a chuckle out of his attempts at mastering the English language. A few weeks earlier he had told me that he wanted Mommy to make “grease juice.” I said, “You mean gravy?” “Yes, gravy, “ he replied.
-
Those of us who have been talking for more than three years take some of these things for granted, but why do we call it gravy instead of grease juice? Part of the reason- words take on meaning based on common usage.
-
Even within the English language words mean different things based on where you live. For example if you live in the United States, to table a discussion usually means to set aside the matter and not discuss it. If, however, you live in England, to table a matter means to bring it to the floor for consideration.
-
Though not as confusing as the table example, in our own country, different words are used in different regions to mean the same thing. For example: see saw vs. teeter totter, firefly vs. lightning bug, soda vs. pop. To add to the confusion, pop, can mean a soda, a loud sound, hitting someone, a father, a grandfather, or an older man. Let us also not forget that a table can also be a flat elevated surface.
-
Understanding the English language within the context of its speaker/writer, audience, as well as its point in history, is very important to interpreting it accurately. For example, I had to do some contextual interpretation to figure out what “Christmas goat” and “grease juice” meant.
-
Those who translate languages face some of those same challenges. Most Christians do not understand Hebrew or Greek, so they are left to study a translation of the original languages of the Bible. But what about those who do understand another language? A Greek scholar who accepts the challenge of translating should not just understand basic Greek, but should also have the ability to research how a particular word was used in Greek literature during the time the Bible was written.
-
For example, many alive today, remember when the word “gay” meant something different than it does now. The King James Version is still my favorite Bible translation, but we must recognize that it was translated over 400 years ago. Since that time, many words have changed meaning. That does not mean that it was a bad translation, but how many people realize that “meet” means “right” or “worthy?”
-
I recently came across the word “prevent” in my study. Today in English, that word means to stop, but in the 15th century, it meant meet or come before. Because word usage has changed, the meaning has thus changed and in order to properly understand the passage it needs to be reinterpreted. To further complicate matters, the King James is a translation from England, not the United States. For example corn, in England means grain in the USA.
-
I love the King James Version, but we need to resist those who are opposed to interpreting it into language that is accurate today. The examples I gave are of places where the translation was accurate 400 years ago in England, but is not accurate for the way we use English here in Iowa today. That is why many use a translation like the New King James, New American Standard or others.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Do You Value God’s Word?
Imagine if you built an expensive display case out of beautifully polished oak, padded the inside with the most expensive velvet fabric you could find, and enclosed in with a beveled glass door. Then you placed your Bible in that case showing to all who entered your home how important God’s word was to you.
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If you really value God’s word, you would not keep it in such a case. Instead, you would take it out and read it, but what if you read it, but never let it affect your life? When it comes to God’s word, we should do more than just value it and read it, we should live it.
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In order to live it though, we must first be taught it. That does start by reading it. Psalms 119:33 says, “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.” The Psalmist is committed to guarding God’s word and making it a priority right up to the end, but in order to do that, he understands that he must be taught God’s word.
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But do we really understand everything that we are taught? I think of some of the classes I had back in High School where the teacher would stand up and teach, but I did not really understand what he was trying to get across. For example, I was in college before I really understood the right times to use the words “who and whom“.
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Not only should we pray to be taught, we should pray for understanding as well. “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” (Psalm 119:34) Unless we really understand what God is saying, how can we observe to do it? That is why it is so important to “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)
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So we need to be taught God’s word, we then need to understand what we are taught, but the next step is to actually do it. The end of vs. 34 says, “yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” To observe it is actually just one of the steps to doing it though. In our English language, observe can mean to notice or watch something, or it can mean to carry it out- to do it. In the Hebrew it was a lot like the word we translate “keep”- it meant to guard or take heed. It is back to the idea of making God’s word a priority.
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The Psalmist was not just making it a priority for the sake of looking at God’s word, he was making it a priority so that he could actually carry out obedience to God’s word. Look at what he asks for next. “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” (Psalm 119:35)
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Being taught and even understanding what you have learned is not the same as actually having that teaching alter your path. For example, I have been taught many times how to mud and tape sheetrock. I know the basics, but when I try to do it, it never turns out the way my teachers taught me to do it. I can get the job done, but it takes me more time and more steps and the finished product is still not as good.
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Having the knowledge and understanding is one thing, being able to consistently apply what you have learned is another. The Psalmist understands that, and thus is asking God to make him do what he is supposed to do.
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You see as we make God’s word a priority, we should want to be taught it, then we should want to understand it, and finally we should want to apply it. If you do not have all of those, then how can you say that it is really important to you?
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If you really value God’s word, you would not keep it in such a case. Instead, you would take it out and read it, but what if you read it, but never let it affect your life? When it comes to God’s word, we should do more than just value it and read it, we should live it.
-
In order to live it though, we must first be taught it. That does start by reading it. Psalms 119:33 says, “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.” The Psalmist is committed to guarding God’s word and making it a priority right up to the end, but in order to do that, he understands that he must be taught God’s word.
-
But do we really understand everything that we are taught? I think of some of the classes I had back in High School where the teacher would stand up and teach, but I did not really understand what he was trying to get across. For example, I was in college before I really understood the right times to use the words “who and whom“.
-
Not only should we pray to be taught, we should pray for understanding as well. “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” (Psalm 119:34) Unless we really understand what God is saying, how can we observe to do it? That is why it is so important to “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)
-
So we need to be taught God’s word, we then need to understand what we are taught, but the next step is to actually do it. The end of vs. 34 says, “yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” To observe it is actually just one of the steps to doing it though. In our English language, observe can mean to notice or watch something, or it can mean to carry it out- to do it. In the Hebrew it was a lot like the word we translate “keep”- it meant to guard or take heed. It is back to the idea of making God’s word a priority.
-
The Psalmist was not just making it a priority for the sake of looking at God’s word, he was making it a priority so that he could actually carry out obedience to God’s word. Look at what he asks for next. “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” (Psalm 119:35)
-
Being taught and even understanding what you have learned is not the same as actually having that teaching alter your path. For example, I have been taught many times how to mud and tape sheetrock. I know the basics, but when I try to do it, it never turns out the way my teachers taught me to do it. I can get the job done, but it takes me more time and more steps and the finished product is still not as good.
-
Having the knowledge and understanding is one thing, being able to consistently apply what you have learned is another. The Psalmist understands that, and thus is asking God to make him do what he is supposed to do.
-
You see as we make God’s word a priority, we should want to be taught it, then we should want to understand it, and finally we should want to apply it. If you do not have all of those, then how can you say that it is really important to you?
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Don't Wear Pajamas to Church
Among Christians there has been a valid concern over the decline in clothing standards. Unfortunately, this concern leaves a large looming question over the discussion- what standard should we adapt? Opinions range from allowing the risqué to imposing legalistic parameters.
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Often the discussion centers around the clothing choices of the female- for obvious reasons- but I want to step back from that discussion to look at the broader issue. Not only is there division among the brethren over what is or what is not modest, there is division over what is or what is not casual.
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The discussion often goes something like this, “Our world has become far too casual and it is obviously creeping into our churches.” Some of those who make these statements may have people showing up to church in their pajamas, but I fear that some are wishing that they could get all the men to wear ties.
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Before going any farther on this discussion, I think we need to look at what the scripture actually has to say on this matter. James 2:2-4 says, “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
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It breaks my heart when I see how some Christians completely ignore this passage and actually do the complete opposite of what it says as they look down on those who they do not think are dressed up enough. Many need to repent and realize that even John the Baptist did not dress up like people thought he should. “But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.” (Matthew 11:8) “And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;” (Mark 1:6)
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Today I wouldn’t be surprised to hear someone say, “We didn’t come out to hear someone preaching in Carhartts and work boots.” In our culture, the standard for men dressing up is to wear a suit and tie, but we must understand that this is a cultural standard, not a Biblical standard. In Jesus’ day the cultural standard John the Baptist was held to was soft clothing, yet he did not match up with that standard.
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Now before I go any further, I can understand why some are concerned. I too have seen people going to Walmart in their pajamas, and think that maybe they should pay a bit more attention to their culture. As Christians it is tempting to go to extremes. The one extreme would be to expect that every man should come to church in a suit and tie. The other extreme would be to say, “just come in your pajamas.”
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As Christians, we should not ignore our culture so that we end up drawing undue attention to ourselves, but we also need to recognize that different cultures (whether it be different geographic locations or eras in history) have different ways of dressing.
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I also believe that it is good and proper for us to wear nice clothing as we go to church, but dressing up for one man may mean putting on a tie- dressing up for another may mean putting on his new Carhartts. Of course if all you have to wear is pajamas, please come to church in them.
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Often the discussion centers around the clothing choices of the female- for obvious reasons- but I want to step back from that discussion to look at the broader issue. Not only is there division among the brethren over what is or what is not modest, there is division over what is or what is not casual.
-
The discussion often goes something like this, “Our world has become far too casual and it is obviously creeping into our churches.” Some of those who make these statements may have people showing up to church in their pajamas, but I fear that some are wishing that they could get all the men to wear ties.
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Before going any farther on this discussion, I think we need to look at what the scripture actually has to say on this matter. James 2:2-4 says, “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
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It breaks my heart when I see how some Christians completely ignore this passage and actually do the complete opposite of what it says as they look down on those who they do not think are dressed up enough. Many need to repent and realize that even John the Baptist did not dress up like people thought he should. “But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.” (Matthew 11:8) “And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;” (Mark 1:6)
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Today I wouldn’t be surprised to hear someone say, “We didn’t come out to hear someone preaching in Carhartts and work boots.” In our culture, the standard for men dressing up is to wear a suit and tie, but we must understand that this is a cultural standard, not a Biblical standard. In Jesus’ day the cultural standard John the Baptist was held to was soft clothing, yet he did not match up with that standard.
-
Now before I go any further, I can understand why some are concerned. I too have seen people going to Walmart in their pajamas, and think that maybe they should pay a bit more attention to their culture. As Christians it is tempting to go to extremes. The one extreme would be to expect that every man should come to church in a suit and tie. The other extreme would be to say, “just come in your pajamas.”
-
As Christians, we should not ignore our culture so that we end up drawing undue attention to ourselves, but we also need to recognize that different cultures (whether it be different geographic locations or eras in history) have different ways of dressing.
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I also believe that it is good and proper for us to wear nice clothing as we go to church, but dressing up for one man may mean putting on a tie- dressing up for another may mean putting on his new Carhartts. Of course if all you have to wear is pajamas, please come to church in them.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Happiness in Following God
Our second son recently turned 4, and on his birthday he got to request a favorite food. I found joy in seeing him enjoy what he had requested. It made me happy to give him what he wanted on that special day. Shouldn’t giving God what He has asked us for make us even more happy? This article will actually look at the first eight verses of Psalm 119 to answer that question.
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Psalms 119:1 says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.” As we think of the benefits of following God’s law it may be tempting to focus only on rewards or the avoidance of punishment, but “blessed” here is actually the idea of happy. I fear far too many Christians obey God for selfish reasons- to get a reward or avoid punishment- rather than for the sheer joy of being right with God.
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As we continue reading Psalm 119, verse 2 shows us that happiness comes not just from following God‘s word, but from seeking a closeness to God. “Blessed (happy) are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” (Ps 119:2) You draw close to God as you follow Him with your whole heart.
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If you follow what God has declared in His Word and seek Him with your whole heart, not only will it bring happiness (blessed) but you will be doing what is right. “They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” (Psalm 119:3) And if we are to do what is right, we need to do what God says to do. “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.” (Psalm 119:4)
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But what happens to a believer when they do not do what God tells them to do? How happy are you when you are walking in disobedience? With sin comes guilt and with guilt comes a lack of happiness. If on the other hand we do what God says to do and walk in His ways, we do not have to live with the shame of guilt. Instead we can have the joy of happy fellowship with Him as we seek Him with our whole heart. “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.” (Psalms 119:5-6)
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Perhaps you have run across Christians who live their life in a state of constant shame. Perhaps you are even one of them. Perhaps that is the reason why you do not have happiness in your life, but that is not the way the Christian life is supposed to be. Remember Psalms 119:1-2, “Blessed (happy) are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
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Sometimes people are not happy because they are not really following God. Perhaps there is unconfused sin in your life. Sometimes they are not happy because they are trying to avoid sin for selfish reasons- so that they can avoid punishment or earn some kind of reward- not because they really want to be close to God.
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Once we realize that there is joy in following God simply because of who He is, and that we have forgiveness for when we come short of His glory, then not only can we live in happiness as we do what He has told us to do, but we can praise Him with thankfulness and a heart that is right. “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.” (Psalm 119:7-8)
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Some might argue that if we are simply motivated by happiness in serving the Lord then we will have little incentive to do right. I disagree. The Psalmist was definitely motivated to follow God’s commands. Essentially this section of Ps 119 is showing us that there is joy in making God’s commands a priority in your life. Have you done that?
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Psalms 119:1 says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.” As we think of the benefits of following God’s law it may be tempting to focus only on rewards or the avoidance of punishment, but “blessed” here is actually the idea of happy. I fear far too many Christians obey God for selfish reasons- to get a reward or avoid punishment- rather than for the sheer joy of being right with God.
-
As we continue reading Psalm 119, verse 2 shows us that happiness comes not just from following God‘s word, but from seeking a closeness to God. “Blessed (happy) are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” (Ps 119:2) You draw close to God as you follow Him with your whole heart.
-
If you follow what God has declared in His Word and seek Him with your whole heart, not only will it bring happiness (blessed) but you will be doing what is right. “They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” (Psalm 119:3) And if we are to do what is right, we need to do what God says to do. “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.” (Psalm 119:4)
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But what happens to a believer when they do not do what God tells them to do? How happy are you when you are walking in disobedience? With sin comes guilt and with guilt comes a lack of happiness. If on the other hand we do what God says to do and walk in His ways, we do not have to live with the shame of guilt. Instead we can have the joy of happy fellowship with Him as we seek Him with our whole heart. “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.” (Psalms 119:5-6)
-
Perhaps you have run across Christians who live their life in a state of constant shame. Perhaps you are even one of them. Perhaps that is the reason why you do not have happiness in your life, but that is not the way the Christian life is supposed to be. Remember Psalms 119:1-2, “Blessed (happy) are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
-
Sometimes people are not happy because they are not really following God. Perhaps there is unconfused sin in your life. Sometimes they are not happy because they are trying to avoid sin for selfish reasons- so that they can avoid punishment or earn some kind of reward- not because they really want to be close to God.
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Once we realize that there is joy in following God simply because of who He is, and that we have forgiveness for when we come short of His glory, then not only can we live in happiness as we do what He has told us to do, but we can praise Him with thankfulness and a heart that is right. “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.” (Psalm 119:7-8)
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Some might argue that if we are simply motivated by happiness in serving the Lord then we will have little incentive to do right. I disagree. The Psalmist was definitely motivated to follow God’s commands. Essentially this section of Ps 119 is showing us that there is joy in making God’s commands a priority in your life. Have you done that?
Friday, January 25, 2013
Finding Real Joy in Prayer
We know that prayer is important and Jesus taught us how to pray as He recited the Lord’s prayer. Thus we know what to pray, but the challenge comes in knowing how to keep praying. According to I Thessalonians 5:17, we are to pray without ceasing, but do you realize that the longest prayer in the Bible- found in Nehemiah 9- is only about 7 minutes long.
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I believe one of the keys to a consistent prayer life is thankfulness rather than the length of the prayer. Paul said in Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Notice that every time Paul thinks of them he thanks God. Do you realize that just a thought of thankfulness toward God is a prayer? That is why we can pray without ceasing.
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But let us focus a bit more on thankfulness in prayer. When you pray for other people, do you just bring requests to God concerning them, or do you thank God for them?
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According to Colossians 3:17, whatever we are doing, we should be giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” If we should be thankful no matter what we are doing, we should especially be thankful as we pray.
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Going back to Paul‘s example of thankfulness for the Philippians, we see that his thankfulness for them in prayer actually brings joy. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,” (Philippians 1:3-4)”
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I must say that I am more joyful when I remember to be thankful. Do you think that could have an effect on our prayer lives? If you are not finding joy in your prayer life, perhaps it is due in part to forgetting to be thankful as you pray.
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I fear too many Christians pray out of drudgery rather than out of joy or thankfulness. Our prayer life should me more than just praying through a list of requests. It should be a time of thankfulness and joy.
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If you want a joyful prayer life, I would NOT suggest setting a timer so that you get in what you think should be your minimum amount of prayer for the day. A vibrant prayer life is not about meeting a prayer quota. Remember the longest prayer in the Bible is only about 7 minutes long.
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You might go a whole day and never even pray for 5 minutes straight and still have a great prayer life because you have been constantly talking to God for a few seconds at a time all day long. If you were to add up that time it might amount to hours, and you never even set a prayer quota and the whole time was filled with joy and thanksgiving. That is what I believe praying without ceasing is all about as we realize that prayer is about constant fellowship with God. That fellowship must include thankfulness toward Him.
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Imagine if I get up 3hrs earlier every morning and set a timer to pray for 3 hrs straight and then I cease to pray as soon as that timer goes off, because “I’ve put in my time.” That is not a good prayer life. Now if you do pray for such a long time and find joy and thankfulness in it, that is a good thing, but it is not a requirement from God.
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Prayer should not be a ritual, it should be a time of joyful thanksgiving as we cast our dependence on God, bringing our requests, confessing our sins, and adoring Him.
-
I believe one of the keys to a consistent prayer life is thankfulness rather than the length of the prayer. Paul said in Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” Notice that every time Paul thinks of them he thanks God. Do you realize that just a thought of thankfulness toward God is a prayer? That is why we can pray without ceasing.
-
But let us focus a bit more on thankfulness in prayer. When you pray for other people, do you just bring requests to God concerning them, or do you thank God for them?
-
According to Colossians 3:17, whatever we are doing, we should be giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” If we should be thankful no matter what we are doing, we should especially be thankful as we pray.
-
Going back to Paul‘s example of thankfulness for the Philippians, we see that his thankfulness for them in prayer actually brings joy. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,” (Philippians 1:3-4)”
-
I must say that I am more joyful when I remember to be thankful. Do you think that could have an effect on our prayer lives? If you are not finding joy in your prayer life, perhaps it is due in part to forgetting to be thankful as you pray.
-
I fear too many Christians pray out of drudgery rather than out of joy or thankfulness. Our prayer life should me more than just praying through a list of requests. It should be a time of thankfulness and joy.
-
If you want a joyful prayer life, I would NOT suggest setting a timer so that you get in what you think should be your minimum amount of prayer for the day. A vibrant prayer life is not about meeting a prayer quota. Remember the longest prayer in the Bible is only about 7 minutes long.
-
You might go a whole day and never even pray for 5 minutes straight and still have a great prayer life because you have been constantly talking to God for a few seconds at a time all day long. If you were to add up that time it might amount to hours, and you never even set a prayer quota and the whole time was filled with joy and thanksgiving. That is what I believe praying without ceasing is all about as we realize that prayer is about constant fellowship with God. That fellowship must include thankfulness toward Him.
-
Imagine if I get up 3hrs earlier every morning and set a timer to pray for 3 hrs straight and then I cease to pray as soon as that timer goes off, because “I’ve put in my time.” That is not a good prayer life. Now if you do pray for such a long time and find joy and thankfulness in it, that is a good thing, but it is not a requirement from God.
-
Prayer should not be a ritual, it should be a time of joyful thanksgiving as we cast our dependence on God, bringing our requests, confessing our sins, and adoring Him.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Give Others a Chance
Have you ever met someone that you do not like? Maybe there was someone at school who was really cliquey and was quite rude to you. Each time you heard that person’s name, you would have negative thoughts about them. You might go years without seeing them, but that old resentment still linged. Then another classmate tells you that they ran into that person and that now years later that same person who used to be rude is really nice. What would your attitude be at such news? Would you be overjoyed, or would you say, that you still don’t trust them because of what you have always thought about that person?
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Do we realize how ungodly it is when we let our dislike for someone shape our image of them? I have a friend who the first few times I met him, I thought he was really rude. Based on my first impression, I did not like him much, but as I got to know him, I realized that I was simply taking his sense of humor wrong and now I really enjoy talking with him and love him dearly. Imagine the friendship that I would have missed out on if I had never gotten beyond my first impressions of him.
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Imagine if you developed a dislike for someone and continued to harbor those feelings for the rest of you life and never gave that person the same chances that you would give to others.
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As Christians, we need to understand that such attitudes of continued bitterness toward others are sinful. In fact, they are very worldly and fall into the category of the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
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If you continue to harbor bitterness toward another person, words like hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresy, and envy, likely characterize your attitude. That is evidence that your attitudes are not coming from God, but from your sinful heart instead. Let us not forget that, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) We can so easily be deceived into thinking that our attitudes are correct as we see the sin in others lives, but let us also remember Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” If others began to focus only on our faults it would be easy for them to never give us a chance either.
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God’s way is much better. It is characterized by the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) If there is someone that you do not like, replace the works of the flesh with love, joy and peace toward that person. Then be patient and gentle with them. Treat them with goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self control.
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Let us not forget James 2:8, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.”
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Do we realize how ungodly it is when we let our dislike for someone shape our image of them? I have a friend who the first few times I met him, I thought he was really rude. Based on my first impression, I did not like him much, but as I got to know him, I realized that I was simply taking his sense of humor wrong and now I really enjoy talking with him and love him dearly. Imagine the friendship that I would have missed out on if I had never gotten beyond my first impressions of him.
-
Imagine if you developed a dislike for someone and continued to harbor those feelings for the rest of you life and never gave that person the same chances that you would give to others.
-
As Christians, we need to understand that such attitudes of continued bitterness toward others are sinful. In fact, they are very worldly and fall into the category of the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
-
If you continue to harbor bitterness toward another person, words like hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresy, and envy, likely characterize your attitude. That is evidence that your attitudes are not coming from God, but from your sinful heart instead. Let us not forget that, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) We can so easily be deceived into thinking that our attitudes are correct as we see the sin in others lives, but let us also remember Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” If others began to focus only on our faults it would be easy for them to never give us a chance either.
-
God’s way is much better. It is characterized by the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) If there is someone that you do not like, replace the works of the flesh with love, joy and peace toward that person. Then be patient and gentle with them. Treat them with goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self control.
-
Let us not forget James 2:8, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.”
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