Tag: christianity

Reacquainting ourselves with God! “Give in to God, come to terms with him and everything will turn out just fine. Let God alone tell you what to do; take His words into your heart. Job 22:21-25

Job 22:21-25 New American Standard Bible

21 “Be reconciled with Him, and be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Please receive [a]instruction from His mouth,
And put His words in your heart.
23 If you return to [b]the Almighty, you will be [c]restored;
If you remove injustice far from your tent,
24 And put your [d]gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
25 Then [e]the Almighty will be your [f]gold
And abundant silver to you.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

These are the words of counsel from Eliphaz to his friend, Job during the worst possible time of his life. Job’s children were gone. His wealth gone. Everything God had blessed him with in his lifetime taken from him within a single day.

Even his own physical health compromised, I am quite certain that he was not looking for a long drawn out sermon but a bit of sympathy from his friends.

The story of Job is one, though hard to read and difficult to comprehend, is absolutely necessary to understand true submission to God.

“Submit to God and be at peace with Him.”

This may imply that Eliphaz had decided that Job must have sinned against God to invite such a magnitude of tragedy into his life.

From a human aspect – it would be the natural assumption.

However, his words I believe are led by the Holy Spirit and not his own intellect.

Submission to the Lord in all things will give us peace.

The Holy Spirit produces peace in our life as a fruit.

As our soul prospers so does our life, but I do not believe that God will allow us to prosper in this life if it compromises eternal life. “

“In this way prosperity will come to you.”

Everyone has a natural desire to prosper.

To see increase and live in abundance.

It is a common thread of commerce.

However, peace does not come from financial security but confident faith that there is more to life than this.

A place of eternal rest offered through Jesus Christ.

The Lord has given us His Spirit to produce the kinds of fruit that satisfies our soul and causes our heart and mind to prosper in God’s Word which is His Plan for us.

“Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.”

I have studied the Word of God nearly every day for the last four years.

Each morning getting up early to read, study and meditate on it.

I want to extract every single truth, promise and blessing hidden within the pages of text.

I do not say this to boast but rather to share even though I have spent countless hours poring over the Word of God, I find new things every single day. It is life to my heart, mind, thoughts and soul. It is never old but always fresh and new.

Romans 10:2-4 (NIV) For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Our zealousness and enthusiasm serving God must be based on His Word.

Faith comes by hearing and found in God’s Word.

We desire righteousness but do not fully understand what it entails.

Pride wants to earn it.

Somehow find a way to deserve the Grace of God.

It is impossible.

Yet still religiosity can interrupt our relationship when pride tells us – “I can do it.” The only way of reconciliation with God is through His Son, Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can make it to God except through Him.

The Word made flesh to live among us is none other than Jesus.

I must submit to God’s Righteousness fully accepting His Grace in my many weaknesses. His Power is complete in my life when I do.

The story of Job depicts man’s struggle with pride.

Doing everything right cannot erase our sin or promote a relationship with God.

It is our thriving relationship with Jesus that gives us total access to God the Father and His Power in this life.

Divine discipline as recorded in Hebrews 12 is not in the form of punishment.

It is God’s Love at work in us to remove barriers of pride, fear, and insecurity that keep us from reconciling our life to God through His Son,

Jesus. It is always born of love, mercy and grace.

God cannot punish those who believe as it would be contrary to His Word.

God doesn’t take back His Promises but daily pursues us in order to bless us.

It is His Desire to give us the desires of our heart.

Misalignment spiritually creates conflict in our life. (James 4:1-6)

Our friendship with God makes us enemies of the world.

I want more of God’s Grace.

To have it means moving my life from this world to Kingdom living by constantly pursuing a relationship with God by way of accepting His Grace more and more which means I must decrease and He must increase in me.

Pride is crucified in this place and submission fully embraced as a way of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

To be reconciled with God is to live at peace with Him.

Submission to God comes in the form of acceptance of His Grace as enough for my life. His Power is manifested in my weakness and my inability to accomplish anything of worth outside of my deep abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

I must become a new creation.

Pride must be executed so the fulfillment of His Purpose can be accomplished in me. I must learn to submit. Humbling myself before the Lord and other people.

God has a plan containing a future and hope that oversteps death into eternity.

By faith, I can achieve it.

I must understand my place as a participant in this process.

I must humble myself before the Lord which means also extending it to other people.

“Submit to God and be at peace with Him” is not any kind of threat or form of punishment.

It is an invitation. Like a wedding invitation all in white tied with a scarlet bow, bidding us to come and participate in the single greatest love story ever written.

To be His Bride.

To await His Coming with real enthusiasm not overrated zeal.

His Word gives us the opportunity to know Him.

His Spirit is the intimate consummation of His Betrothal.

We have a promise, not only of a fantastic future, but blessings for the land of the living.

Pride will never exalt us to the level of confirmation that humility born of absolute trust in the Living God allows. It is the destruction of the platform of pride that spiritual elevation takes to the new levels and life intended by God.

I must live in Christ to find them. He must increase and I must decrease. I must live at peace with God in Christ Jesus to reach my full potential. Sometimes it is the moment when all we have is the Lord, that we find He is all we ever need.

Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV)  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When your Heart Is blocked by doubt and your hands and feet are as much help as a millstone around our neck. Matthew 14:28-32

Matthew 14:28-32 Lexham English Bible

28 And Peter answered him and[a] said, “Lord, if it is you,[b] command me to come to you on the water!” 29 So he said, “Come!” And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he[c] saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus extended his[d] hand and[e] caught him and said to him, “You of little faith! Why did you doubt?” 32 And when[f] they got into the boat, the wind abated.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

What is the craziest thing you have ever done, were dared to do?

I could mention a few things from my younger days, but let’s just leave that to the imagination.

How about in your life of faith?

What is the craziest thing God has ever challenged you to do?

Were you up for the challenge, or did you hear excuses in your head about why you couldn’t possibly try?

Did you jump in with both feet and find, to your surprise, that maybe it wasn’t so impossible after all?

I wonder how big the smile was on Jesus’ face when Peter said, “Lord, if it’s you . . . tell me to come to you on the water.”

I love it that Peter was ready to jump in, test his faith even when things looked impossible. He stepped out of the boat looking at Jesus. And as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, his steps went in the right direction.

Even with little faith, his walk on water was possible.

But when Peter looked around him and saw the wind and deep water, he became afraid, doubted his judgment, and started to sink.

When Jesus asks for our trust, he knows there is always going to be a bigger story to be written.

There are days when circumstances muddy the waters and the trust factor diminishes and we cannot figure out what those ‘first’ next steps should be.

Many people get discouraged by the devastation evident in the world.

Today, we can easily turn on the news and learn about wars, natural disasters, murders, and injustices.

When we see these examples of evil and suffering, doubts can form in our minds.

Why would God allow such terrible things to happen?

What is He doing about these problems?

What is He doing to do about these problems?

Widespread suffering is not the only cause for doubt.

We can also struggle with questions of “why” when disaster, loss, and illness strike close to home.

If we get diagnosed with a long-term illness or a loved one dies, we can feel angry with God.

In our pain and doubt, we start to question the Lord’s loving character.

Nonbelievers and believers alike can struggle with seasons of doubt.

As much as these times can make people feel like everything they know has been tossed like a salad made for serving thousands, leaving them confused and questioning, seasons of doubting are also opportunities for growth, to shed the assumptions and false views we once held.

These are God opportunities to seek the truth, to learn more about God and experience His love.

Doubt is, without question uncomfortable, but God can transform it, like anything else, for our good (Romans 8:28).

If your heart is blocked by doubt, there are ways to move forward.

Consider implementing these five steps to address doubts.

1. Talk to God about Your Struggle with Doubt

Praying is often not on the top of the list for those who are wrestling with doubts. They may feel resentment or bitterness toward God. Some could also feel ashamed of their doubt, assume the Lord does not want to hear from them.

But talking to God is what we should be doing when we are struggling with different feelings and questions about faith. He is not afraid of our doubts or tough questions. Instead of giving the Lord the silent treatment, we need to “gird our loins” and take time to pray when our heart is blocked by doubt.

Scripture shows us many examples of this, especially in the Psalms. David and other psalmists cried out to the Lord, sometimes in sorrow, pain, or anger.

Consider Psalm 10, in which the psalmist asks God, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1).

Or consider the prayer of Heman the Ezrahite, “Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?” (Psalm 88:14).

These individuals took their questions, emotions, and struggles to the Lord in pleas and prayers. He inspired these prayers and preserved them in His Word.

We also have the example of the man with the demon-possessed son in the Gospels. He wanted his son to be freed from the oppression of the evil spirit.

Yet, his faith was not overly strong. He told the Lord Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22, my emphasis added).

Christ affirmed that anything is possible for the one who believes (Mark 9:23).

At this, the man cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Like this man, and the psalmists, we can cry out to God, asking Him to help us with our unbelief and doubts.

None of us are immune to questions, not even believers.

Therefore, praying is not reserved only for when we feel joyful and filled with strong faith.

It also for when we are tired, weak, and doubting.

2. Reflect on What the Bible Says about the Lord’s Character

Although we can have questions about many things in life, the main doubts that people experience are centered on the Lord.

Individuals look at all the evil in the world, and the suffering in their lives, and they want to know why God would allow these things to happen.

If God is all-powerful, then why does He not stop the evil?

And if He is good, then why do people suffer?

The character of God is brought into question.

This is why we should use this opportunity to examine what we believe about God and what the Bible teaches.

Lots of people have faulty assumptions and beliefs, some of which could even have been passed onto them by a church or pastor.

Such views should be questioned and brought into scrutiny – to compare the view with God’s Word.

Asking these questions about evil, suffering, and the goodness of God, then, gives us a chance to delve deeper into the truth of the Bible.

For example, some Christian circles commonly teach that the Lord gives a good life to those who serve Him but punishes those who do wrong with suffering.

The ideology is: “If you do what is right, you will experience a good life. But whenever you sin, God will punish you.”

Of course, in this sense, “good” is usually defined by worldly standards as having wealth and a comfortable life.

The Lord, thus, is presented as a doting grandfather figure who has a vengeful streak.

Another way that people often depict God is some sort of monster – delighting in inflicting pain.

Some churches emphasize rule-keeping and fear of God so much that they distort His biblical character.

People see a God of wrath who does not care about a person’s suffering and has probably sent it because he or she is not checking off religious lists well enough.

Questioning views like this is actually something we should do. 

Scripture presents a much different view of God than these two examples.

He is not a God who sends suffering or delights in evil.

He is the Lord who made all things good in the beginning – it was humankind who sinned and brought sin and death into the world.

In the Lord’s compassion and mercy, He made a promise to provide a solution and heal our brokenness (Genesis 3:15).

This He did by sending His Son into the world (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

As fully God and fully man, Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying for our sins. 

The cross and empty tomb are the answer to the problem of evil and suffering.

God is not a doting, vengeful grandfather or a monster.

He is the loving, merciful, just, holy, death-defeating Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us.

We might still have questions about what we see in the world.

However, the reminder that God is good, loving, and has taken action to save us is comforting and encouraging in a season of doubt.

Perhaps today is a day to refocus where you are looking.

How can you more adeptly keep your eyes on Jesus?

3. Study Areas of God’s Word That Address Questions and Doubts

When individuals are facing difficulties with their faith, it is common for them to avoid reading the Bible, just as they often stop praying.

But like talking to God, we need to listen to Him by reading His Word. For there are many areas in Scripture that address questions and doubts.

One such area, which has already been mentioned, is the Psalms.

During a season of asking “why,” the Psalms give us relatable prayers that can comfort us.

We may even find ourselves praying a psalm regularly, or gleaning strength from specific passages. 

Psalm 77 can offer us a place to start, in which we read about Asaph crying out to God in distress. He was honest about his pain, but also directed his thoughts back to God to remember all that the Lord had done in the past.

After asking multiple questions, he said, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” (Psalm 77:11).

Choosing to dwell on what God did in the past strengthened Asaph’s faith, and it can strengthen ours.

Another area of the Bible to study when doubt overwhelms us is the book of Job.

Evident in Job’s story is the theme of evil and suffering as we read about Satan causing the loss of Job’s servants and livestock (Job 1:13-17), the death of his children (Job 1:18-19), and his struggle with painful sores (Job 2:7).

Throughout the book, we read various explanations about his suffering that are presented by his friends – the main one being that Job had sinned which is why he encountered trouble in life (Job 4:7-9).

Yet, the book emphasizes that Job had not sinned against the Lord (Job 1:8, 22; 2:10). As we read this biblical account, we are shown that sometimes in life, we will not fully understand why things happen to us. But one thing we can know – The Lord is a powerful, awesome, and good God (Job 38-41).

These books of the Bible, and many others, can help us when our faith feels small, or we have questions for God.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions and Seek the Truth

During the times we doubt God’s goodness or have questions of “why” swirling in our heads, we can allow these feelings to push us to seek truth.

So many of us can fear asking questions about faith or examining our beliefs.

We are afraid that doing so is wrong.

But if we ignore these areas and trudge on, not building our faith on a solid base, then when another cat. 5 storm in life comes, we will likely find greater destruction in its wake.

Instead of shoving questions and doubts aside, we need to acknowledge them and commit ourselves to finding the truth. Jesus encouraged us that those who seek will find (Matthew 7:7-8).

Experiencing doubts is an opportunity for us to cut away unbiblical ideas and reframe our thinking according to the truth of God’s Word.

Thankfully, there are tools we can use as we take the brave step to ask questions and seek answers.

Numerous apologetic materials exist that cover a variety of topics. Whether we have questions about creation/evolution, the problem of evil and suffering, the reliability of Scripture, or the historicity of Jesus’ ministry, among others, we can find sources that help us study these issues from a biblical viewpoint.

Of course, we should not limit ourselves to only scholarly materials, like textbooks. Many people find creative works, such as fiction and poetry, to be just as faith-building as academically intense books or lectures.

C. S. Lewis credited imagination and works of literature, especially Phantastes by George MacDonald, as part of his faith journey toward placing faith in Christ.

Similarly, author Sarah Clarkson has noted how The Lord of the Rings saved her faith when she faced a diagnosis of OCD, struggled with disillusionment with the church and God.

As she stated in this same interview for Word on Fire, “Such novels teach us to look beyond the evil and anger, the grief and despair of the broken world.”

Whether scholarly-based, creative, or a combination of both, God can use many different sources to bolster our faith in Him.

5. Stay Connected to Other Believers

Finally, when we find ourselves flailing with unbelief, we need connection to other believers.

Multiple passages in Scripture encourage the church to strengthen the spiritually weak (James 5:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

We should not take this term (spiritually weak) negatively, as if we have a fault.

Rather, we can be grateful that provision has been provided.

The Lord included these instructions in Scripture because He knows there are times when we will struggle with faith.

In His grace, He provides the company of other believers to strengthen and encourage us.

Specifically, we can benefit from sharing our questions and concerns with a trustworthy, mature follower of Christ.

He or she has walked through similar times of doubts and can share insights and suggestions – or perhaps just a listening ear and loving presence.

Although friends and family members may be available to talk with, the perspective of a mature Christian can inspire and challenge us in healthy ways.

He or she will listen to our doubts, but also ask thought-provoking questions, confront faulty assumptions.

Such a relationship is truly an iron-sharpening one (Proverbs 27:17).

Having a Christian mentor come alongside us when our heart is blocked by doubt can remind us there is hope.

We do not have to be alone as we ask difficult, yet important questions or as we seek biblical truth.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 13 Lexham English Bible

Trust in the Salvation of Yahweh
For the music director. A psalm of David.[a]

13 How long, O Yahweh? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel[b] in my soul,
and sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider[c] and answer me, O Yahweh my God.
Give light to my eyes
lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 and lest my enemy should say, “I have overcome him,”
lest my enemies rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But as for me, I have trusted in your steadfast love.[d]
My heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
6 [e] I will sing to Yahweh
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Invest in Eternity; ‘Their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.’ 2 Corinthians 8:1–4

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 The Message

The Offering

8 1-4 Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Are you a person who plans and saves and strategizes for your retirement years?

It seems most people will take the time to invest in their long term future on earth yet give little thought or consideration to investing in their eternal home.

Our retirement years are few, but our eternity is a much, much longer time. 

It would be prudent of us to have an eternal perspective and invest into your life beyond this short term temporal existence.

The most important investment we can make into heaven is to bring people with us. There is nothing we take to heaven when we die except other people.

Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10).

Do we live our lives with the understanding that every soul is precious to God?

Jesus stated that if a man has one hundred sheep, and one goes astray, He will go after the one and rejoice much when the one is found.

Jesus went on to say in Matthew 18:14, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

He was showing the importance of even one person being saved.

It takes effort to share the gospel with others but Proverbs 11:30 says, “He that wins souls is wise.”

The Bible actually says we are wise when we win people to Christ!

God wants us to have His perspective and His heart for others, try to influence as many people as possible for the kingdom. One of the ways we can naturally be a good witness for Jesus is to be aware of how we represent Him on our jobs.

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

If you want to be a witness to your employer, employees, put in extra effort every day. Show up on time, refrain from negative talk and grumbling, and do your job with excellence. When the opportunity arises to share your faith, your witness in front of other will win you their respect and their attention.

It’s unfortunate that it often takes a tragedy, a severe illness or a catastrophic event to have a conversation with someone about God and the afterlife. How wonderful it would be to see far more people live their lives with the hope and joy of Jesus in their lifetime, and not just when their life is near its end.

Do you believe that having a discussion about God will be uncomfortable and possibly produce some difficult questions?

If you said yes, you are right.

However, in your procrastination, you may miss the only opportunity to have a conversation with someone before it is too late. Would the potential discomfort be worth it if that person found their way to heaven? Of course, it would.

When a person does not know Jesus, there is usually an overwhelming fear that comes as their days draw near to the end.

I have personally observed this so many times in visiting people in the hospital.

They are suddenly ready to listen and be open to the truth.

That can be the only time someone is willing to talk about heaven. 

If you are ever faced with this situation, with someone you care about, do not miss the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

You can help someone find peace with God. You can lead someone to full  assurance of salvation and confidence of an eternal home in heaven.

The question is, Are we spiritually astute enough to see this time as a time of eternal opportunity? The stakes are high. The eternal destinies of multitudes at stake.

Every player is needed. We are in the army of God! We do not want to miss the opportunities to be low-profile, high-impact players on the King’s Team. We are hard playing for imperishable crowns to bring glory to the King of Kings.

How indescribably beautiful and so immeasurably valuable it is to wonder how beautiful God is, make investments in eternity by changing the life of another!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 19 The Message

19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When do we survey the indescribable shame, total ugliness of the Cross? Hebrews 12:1-3

Hebrews 12:1-3 Lexham English Bible

The Example of Jesus’ Suffering

12 Therefore, since[a] we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us[b], let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself,[c] so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

How many crosses do you own?

Where are they, and in what style? Writing and recording this today, I could see several crosses around me. There is the cross I wear around my neck and the wooded one around my neck; I also have a wonderfully hand-crafted cross of nails hanging on my wall. These crosses are all simple, artistic and beautiful.

Such majestic representations of the cross pair well with the regal language we use to describe it.

We may speak about the victory we received or how the simple cross testifies to  salvation, love, and forgiveness.

We might sing about the Old Rugged Cross and cherish it deeply.

A favorite hymn of my church growing up described the cross as erected on “some green hill far away outside the city wall.”

It all seems quite regal, quaint, and nostalgic, doesn’t it?

Don’t get me wrong—there is truth in all of this. The cross is a moment of victory, and love and forgiveness coming our way because of it. But there is a deeper too often overlooked truth we must remember: Jesus’s cross was ugly.

Jesus did not die upon some majestic religious symbol.

In the ancient world, the cross was a brutal execution tool, reserved for those deemed unworthy of respect or dignity.

Written in Roman law was the decree that no Roman citizen could be killed on the cross.

The cross was reserved for the worst of the worst, declaring them less than nothing.

The reason why Jesus died on the “green hill far away outside the city wall” wasn’t because this was a place of scenic beauty; no, it was a place wherein the crucified could be mocked. It was the place of the skull, signifying how cut off the crucified was from all life, love, and relationships, and provision for life.

When Jesus hung upon the cross, those standing by Jesus didn’t muse about the love of God; they mocked him.

They derided him.  

They insulted him. “You who could save others, save yourself!” they jeer.  

“Come down from the cross, if you can,” they cry. And that grand sign above Jesus, “This is the King of the Jews,” was not written as some statement of faith. This was Pilate declaring defeat over any would-be Israelite King. 

No. Jesus didn’t take on that which was beautiful or majestic, as if it were something easy and dignified. He endured the cross, taking on its shame.

On the cross, Jesus took upon himself everything that makes us squirm, recoil, and feel uncomfortable.

But it was this that testifies to who Jesus is.

Intersecting Faith and Life

Jesus shows his true nature; reveals his fullness as the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord of all, not because he escapes the cross, nor transforms it into some easy, much desirable symbol.

No, He proves who he is, the salvation he brings by hanging there and taking upon himself not an easy or beautiful cross but of derision, mockery, shame.

Jesus scorns all that the cross represents; he shows that he is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith precisely because he understands this is the will of His Father God, obediently endures the cross, takes it on, and does not forsake it.

The cross, therefore, is the symbol of faith precisely because it is ugly, extreme, and a symbol of shame, abandonment, and derision.

The cross represents everything not beautiful, majestic, nor surrounded by pleasantry and Ease.

It symbolizes faith because it is into that place that Jesus entered.

it is into that place we all must enter and utterly embrace and own the moment.

So, as you think about the cross, dare to take a moment and be uncomfortable today.  Dare to be affected. Dare to recognize the very scorn and derision that Jesus felt as he hung brutally beaten and bloodied, dying on the cross for you.

And allow that fact to teach you Jesus doesn’t, will not ever wait for you to feel comfortable and victorious. Jesus doesn’t stand on the sidelines of life trying to avoid the mess. He comes to you in the very place where you should feel the very harshest derision, the utmost profound guilt, and the worst ever shame.

The ugliness of the cross means that Jesus embraces you in all the places where you feel ugly. 

So, look to Jesus. Embrace the cross and uncover how Jesus’s love meets us.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Suffering and Waiting for Deliverance

For the music director; according to The Doe of the Dawn. A psalm of David.[a]

22 My God, my God why have you forsaken me?
Why are you far from helping me, far from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I call by day and you do not answer,
and by night but I have no rest.[b]
3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors[c] trusted you;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you and were saved;
they trusted you and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by humankind and despised by people.
7 All who see me mock me.
They open wide their lips;
they shake the head, saying:
8 “He trusts Yahweh.[d] Let him rescue him.
Let him deliver him because he delights in him.”
9 Yet you took me from the belly;
you made me trust while on my mother’s breasts.
10 On you I was cast from the womb.
From my mother’s belly you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me
because trouble is near;
because there is no helper.
12 Many bulls have encircled me;
mighty bulls of Bashan have surrounded me.
13 They open their mouth against me
like a lion tearing and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax;
it is melted within me.[e]
15 My strength is dry like a potsherd,
and my tongue is sticking to my jaws;
and you have placed me in the dust of death.
16 Because dogs have surrounded me;
a gang of evildoers has encircled me.
Like the lion[f] they are at my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones;
they gaze, they look at me.
18 They divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.[g]
19 But you, O Yahweh, do not remain distant.
O my help, hasten to help me.
20 Rescue my life from the sword,
my only life from the power of the dogs.[h]
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion,
and from the horns of the wild oxen answer me.
22 I will tell your name to my brothers;
inside the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who revere Yahweh, praise him!
Glorify him, all you seed of Jacob,
and be in awe of him, all you seed of Israel,
24 because he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted,
and has not hid his face from him;
but he listened to him when he cried for help.
25 From you is my praise.
In the great assembly,
I will pay my vows before those who revere him.
26 The afflicted will eat and will be satisfied.
Those who seek him will praise Yahweh.
May your[i] heart live forever.
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to Yahweh.
All the families of the nations
will worship before you.
28 Because the kingship belongs to Yahweh,
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the healthy ones[j] of the earth will eat and worship.
Before him all of those descending into the dust will kneel,
even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
30 Descendants[k] will serve him.
Regarding the Lord, it will be told to the next generation.
31 They will come and tell his saving[l] deeds
to a people yet to be born, that he has done it.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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What would it look like for the Holy Spirit to be at work in the ministry of a particular congregation? Acts 17:11

Acts 17:10-13 New American Standard Bible

Paul in Berea

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, [a]and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, [b]for they received the word with [c]great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore, many of them believed, [d]along with a significant number of  prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

How do we know if a preacher is doing a good job?

Do we say the preaching is good because it says what we want to hear, or is it good because we hear what the Bible teaches?

Sometimes our understanding of the gospel can grow narrow or get watered down, and we can fail to embrace the whole counsel of Scripture.

Sometimes in our efforts to protect ourselves from deception, we can close ourselves to new insights from Scripture.

Paul and Silas were bringing to the Jews in Berea a new interpretation of the person and mission of the long-awaited Messiah.

They taught that Jesus was the Messiah, that he suffered and died for the sins of the world–and, indeed, for the sins of the Bereans as well.

Instead of resisting or discarding what they heard, the Jews in Berea examined the Scriptures in close detail in order to know if Paul and Silas’s interpretations were true. They had used their available Scriptures as their standard for truth.

Question: What would it look like for the Holy Spirit to be at work in the life of a particular congregation?

In other words, if the Holy Spirit was truly present with us and active among us, what signs or evidences would we see of his presence and activity?

Some would look for passionate singing, people raising their hands in worship, maybe even people bowing down during worship.

These folks would cite a phenomenon like the 2023 “Asbury Revival” in Wilmore, Kentucky.

Best I can tell, the predominant feature of this revival was a prolonged worship service where an ever-changing group of students refused to leave the chapel.

Others (of a more charismatic stripe) would look for some kind of wild activity like people running the aisles, people speaking in tongues, or people laughing hysterically.

Some in this group would look for signs and wonders, people being slain in the Spirit, prophetic words, and dramatic healings.

Still others in this group would expect exorcisms and encounters with demons.

To be clear, my question is less based on experience, more based on Scripture.

Based on the biblical teaching about the person and the work of the Holy Spirit, what would we expect to see, hear, and experience if the Holy Spirit was truly at work in a local congregation.

I think Scripture points us to at least 7 realities.

The people of God will be focused on the Word of God. 

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of truth” who would help the disciples remember the things Jesus taught (John 14-16).

Luke tells us the early church was devoted to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42).

Paul clearly says that the only people who can receive the truth of God are the people who have the Spirit and are taught by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:11-16).

Most importantly, the Bible itself claims to be authored by the Holy Spirit working through human authors (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Make no mistake, when the Holy Spirit is at work in a church, the Children of God will be hungry – not for dreams and visions and words of prophecy – but the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God.

People will feel deep, genuine, abiding conviction of sin. 

In John 16 Jesus spoke plainly about his “going away” so that the Helper could come to the disciples.

Speaking about the Holy Spirit, Jesus promised, “when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8)

Only the Holy Spirit can work conviction that is deep, genuine, and abiding.

In contrast, man is quite capable of manipulating shallow, manufactured, temporary feelings of remorse.

Paul talks about this very issue in 2 Corinthians 7 when he contrasts “godly grief” that is brought about by the Holy Spirit and “worldly grief” that only ends in death. When the Spirit is at work in a congregation, the people in that congregation will experience “godly grief” that leads to repentance and life.

The miracle of regeneration will result in conversions. 

In the Old Covenant, the prophet Ezekiel looked forward to the day when the Spirit of God would remove hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36).

He looked forward to a day when the Spirit of God would bring life to those who were hopelessly dead in sin (Ezekiel 37).

That hope was brought to fruition in the work of regeneration (John 3).

Jesus told Nicodemus that no one would see the kingdom unless they were born again, and he explained that this new birth was the work of the Spirit of God.

The new birth is God’s work (1 Peter 1:3), and it is a work that God brings about through the preaching of the Word of truth (James 1:18).

Left to ourselves we are dead in sin, but the miracle of regeneration gives us life that leads to faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10).

When the Spirit is at work, blowing like the wind and granting new birth, people who are dead in sin will be converted and saved.

The people of God will fix their eyes on Jesus. 

All too often, churches that boast about the work of the Holy Spirit have their eyes fixed on the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, however, clearly told his disciples that it was the work of the Holy Spirit to glorify the person and work of God the Son – “He will glorify me,” Jesus said (John 16:14).

This focus on Jesus fits perfectly with Paul’s teaching in Romans 8 where we learn that the Holy Spirit is given to us to help us in sanctification.

That is, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to conform the people of God to the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29).

This is why Paul can say “for those who love God all things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28).

It’s also why the author of Hebrews can confidently call the people of God to fix their eyes – not on the Holy Spirit – but on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

When the Spirit is at work in our midst, he will call us to look to Jesus.

The people of God will be serious about killing sin. 

Romans 8:13 is one of the most challenging texts in all of Scripture – not because it’s hard to understand, but because of the call it places on our lives.

Paul says, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)

This isn’t legalism or Phariseeism or works-based-salvation.

Paul has laid those charges to rest in Romans 3-5.

Paul here is simply explaining what will happen in the life of a person who has trusted in Jesus and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

They will kill sin.

Paul’s teaching here in Romans 8 is echoed in Galatians 5 and 1 Corinthians 6.

Believers will walk with the Spirit and not according to the works of the flesh.

Believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and their lives will increasingly reflect the holiness of the Spirit.

Rest assured, those who are experiencing the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit will be serious about obedience, discipleship, and holiness.

The people of God will be passionate about missions. 

After his death and resurrection, Jesus spoke the words we commonly know as “The Great Commission” …

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

How is it that Jesus, who was going away and ascending to heaven, would be “with” his disciples to the end of the age.

Clearly the book of Acts indicates that the promised presence of Jesus became a reality in the sending of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28 reminds us that the precious promise about Jesus’ presence is directly tied to the clear command to make disciples.

Thus, those who enjoy the presence of Jesus through the person of the Holy Spirit will be people committed to making disciples of all nations.

The people of God will long for the return of Christ. 

Throughout Romans 8, as Paul talks about the work of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification, Paul also points us forward to the future hope of Christ’s return, the resurrection of our bodies, our heavenly inheritance, our final glorification.

Paul points to this future hope in Romans 8:11, reminding us that the Spirit who dwells in us now will raise our bodies in the future work of glorification.

He also points to this hope in Romans 8:17, when he talks about the Spirit’s work of assuring us of our adoption and our future inheritance – an inheritance that will be ours when we are “glorified with him.”

Paul circles back to this point in Romans 8:26-30 where he begins by telling us the Spirit helps us in our weakness and concludes by talking about the certainty of our future glorification.

When the Spirit is at work in a church, that church will long for the return of Christ and the glorification of believers (Revelation 22:20).

We are also challenged today to embrace the wide truth of the entire Scriptures.

The people in Berea, as our text explains, carefully examined the Scriptures to make sure Paul’s teaching was true.

Smart people need to be wise people, and wise people need to be listened to, talked with, questioned, and accepted if what they are saying is the truth.

Have we made God too small?

Have we limited our understanding of Scripture to only the most familiar parts of the Bible?

Have we placed more confidence in our tradition than in the living Word of God?

What is the foundation of our faith and practice?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 119:105-112 New American Standard Bible

Nun

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and I will confirm it,
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am exceedingly afflicted;
[a]Revive me, Lord, according to Your word.
108 Be pleased to accept the [b]voluntary offerings of my mouth, Lord,
And teach me Your judgments.
109 My [c]life is continually [d]in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your Law.
110 The wicked have set a [e]trap for me,
Yet I have not wandered from Your precepts.
111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever,
For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even to the end.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Greatest Transfer of Trust; “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you will live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!” Acts 16:25-31

Acts 16:25-31 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer[a] called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

It started with an earthquake that forced prison doors to open. A jailer’s world literally crumbling around him unto death by his own sword. In that moment of desperation, he discovered what we all eventually find – our strength will never be enough. “What must I do to be saved?” His question pierced the darkness.

For centuries, religion had made salvation complicated. Endless rules. Constant striving. Never quite measuring up. But on that night, in a prison of all places, heaven’s answer rang with breathtaking simplicity: “Believe in the Lord Jesus.”

Not “get better first” or “prove yourself worthy.” Not “try harder” or “do more.” Just believe. Just Trust. Just Receive.

In that moment, a prison became a sanctuary, and a hardened jailer discovered what countless hearts have found since – when we stop trying to save ourselves by our own severely limited resources, we quickly find the One who already has.

That same invitation lights up every dark place today: believe in Jesus.

One of the most important keys to being an effective witness for Christ is to be constantly on the lookout for open doors and open hearts.

We need to ask God for opportunities to share our faith, and we need to keep watch as God opens doors for us.

For the apostle Paul, every place he went was a potential mission field.

Even behind the closed doors of a prison Paul and Silas found open doors for sharing their faith.

First they sang hymns to God at midnight, and later they shared the story of Jesus with the jailer.

Jails have a way of hardening a person’s heart. The seamy side of life can leave one calloused and impenetrable. But the earthquake brought the jailer to his knees both physically and spiritually. He was scared, open, receptive, softened by the circumstances. Paul, Silas, saw the opportunity for a spiritual harvest.

Part of being an effective witness is being able to discern when people are open to hearing the good news. Be 100% assured that God is at work tilling the hard-packed soil of people’s hearts. The Holy Spirit is right now doing his spadework in the lives of many people around us.

That’s why we must always be ready to share the message of Jesus’ love. As 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

1 Peter 3:13-18 The Message

13-18 If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

Let grace do what all our striving never could.

1 Peter 3:15-16 Amplified Bible

15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. 16 And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].

The fact that you’re reading these devotions suggests that you probably have some idea of what it means to be saved.

Saved is a familiar word, and yet it can mean different things to people in different places along the journey of faith.

For some, it can mean going back to church.

For others, it may mean agreeing with certain ideas in Christianity.

For yet others, being saved may mean being willing to feel guilty over sins they used to take pride in.

As God leads us, each faith-growing experience inevitably involves some kind of minor surrender—as when you face a crisis and seek direction, looking to God to sustain you along the way.

If you let God lead, guide and direct you along a series of surrenders, you’re eventually going reach a “tipping point” where something inside you realizes that you simply need to hand everything over to the God who’s been guiding you through the fog.

You can tell this has happened when you start worrying less about getting God’s help for what you want and instead start to wonder what he really wants for me and you. Instead of wanting God to find your way, you’re first seeking his way.

Have you been saved like that?

Ask Yourself:

  • What does it mean to move beyond knowing about Jesus to truly believing in Him?
  • How has simple faith in Jesus changed your perspective on life?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 13 English Standard Version

How Long, O Lord?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Why it is good for us to be reminded what happens when we take the Bible Out of Context? 2 Timothy 2:14-18

2 Timothy 2:14-18 New King James Version

Approved and Disapproved Workers

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [a]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [b]idle babblings, for they will [c]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

It seems that whenever anyone quotes from the Bible, it is automatically out of context, or that whatever the Bible says, Christians just believe the opposite.

For example, It says homosexuality is wrong – Christians don’t. It says women should not speak in church – Christians don’t believe this either. Have I now found the right context, do I believe the opposite of whatever the Bible says?

I think one of the biggest issues that we have in Christianity today is that so many “Christians” are biblically illiterate and very liberal in their theology.

So they don’t know or comprehend what the Bible says, and even when they do, they will pick and choose what they want to believe, usually based on feelings, friends’ experiences, or cultures outside the Church.

Actually, I am glad to mention the 1 Corinthians text in your question. For, in response to it, if you put it into the correct context, you will see that the belief of women not speaking at all in church is in fact taking that little paragraph out of context.

1 Corinthians is a reply letter from Paul to the Corinthians. Part of it is what was reported to Paul from members of Chloe’s house-church, and part of it was in response to a previous letter written to him asking about certain issues.

In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, Paul is addressing the need for order and quiet during the worship service.

Understanding the Bible IN Context

In the context of this passage, the women did not understand everything being preached…it was over their heads.

But instead of asking their OWN husbands (v.35), they were asking other men and other women’s husbands, disrupting the order worship and disturbing the men they were asking, who really wanted to listen.

Notice, IN CONTEXT, Paul tells them they should shut up and wait until after they get home, where they should ask their OWN husbands for understanding.

Paul says it is disgraceful for them to speak in church because the focus is supposed to be fully on the Lord…their disturbances are preventing this (this is also in sync with Paul’s talk about the head coverings).

If you have doubt of this, then notice women were not the only ones Paul tells to shut up in service, but also prophets who were speaking out of turn, as well as those speaking in tongues without interpreters…something you will experience in many tongues-promoting churches, and you will notice the rebuke from Paul if you keep this paragraph in the context in which it was written.

So you see, Paul was not saying that women (in general) should not speak in church (indefinitely), but that these particular women needed to quiet their mouths during worship so as to stop disrupting the focus from Christ.

Misconceptions By Reading the Bible Out Of Context

As for homosexuality, you are correct in saying that it is wrong.

However, I suggest so many people attack gays with the Bible that people’s compassions cause them to see scripture incorrectly, judging it or counting it wrong.

Then they start believing whatever they want (or feel is right), instead of what the Bible actually says.

I think if they were to focus on 1 Corinthians 6:11 (“And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, sanctified, and justified…”), instead of the verses before it, they will see that it is not a means of tearing gays down in particular,

but helping the Corinthian Christians understand such is not the behavior of those within the Body of Christ — there is supposed to be a transformation by the Holy Spirit — a cleansing, sanctification, justification, and transformation.

Those behaviors mentioned in this chapter are those of the culture outside the Church, thus are unacceptable among those called to be Holy, as God is Holy.

On that note, notice also that Paul does not only mention homosexuals, but many other types of people, also (wrongdoers, idolaters, adulterers, the sexually immoral, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers).

I suggest it is wrong when somebody pulls out parts of scripture and goes after certain groups mentioned in the text, leaving out the others mentioned (notice, people will focus on gays, but say nothing to their buddies who get drunk every weekend or their friends living with their “hetero”-sexual partners).

Sin is sin, and it leads to death, period.

Everybody needs to acknowledge their sin, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord (and their Lord and Savior) if they wish to be cleansed from sin.

Also, you cannot lead somebody to repentance by “attacking” them with the Bible, and nor will they recognize their need to repent if sin is continuously candy-coated as something less serious and deadly than it is, by people who claim to know the only One who can save them from it.

What Happens When You Take the Bible Out of Context?

2 Timothy 2:14-18 The Message

14-18 Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.

Ever felt confused or misled when reading Scripture? You’re not alone. In this sobering reminder, we’re warned of common mistakes believers make when interpreting the Bible—from ignoring the original language to ripping verses out of context. Before you build your beliefs, learn how to study God’s Word carefully, prayerfully, and accurately—because accurate truth really matters.

The Bible also says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” So how can anyone claim sinless perfection?

Be very careful to study to understand the languages of the Bible.

Secondly, don’t take a single verse and run with it out of context. Many people have made that mistake.

Some even say, “I’ll just open the Bible, and whatever verse my eyes land on—that’s the verse for me today.”

But Scripture isn’t a lottery.

You need to read the Bible consistently, daily, and in its entirety.

Always ask yourself these questions:

-Who were the original readers?
-What was the author trying to communicate to them?
-What issues or problems were being addressed?

For example, the Apostle Paul was often answering specific questions sent to him by the churches, like the one in Corinth.

Understanding the context of those questions is essential.

Again, don’t isolate a verse.

Do not put it through a vegetable chopper or a deli meat slicer.

Read it in its full context.

Check it against https://www.blueletterbible.org/

Check it against https://www.biblestudytools.com/concordances/strongs-exhaustive-concordance/

Only after doing that should you apply it to your own life. But don’t start by asking, “What does this mean to me?” That can easily lead you astray.

Instead, ask:

-Why was it written?
-What is the context?
-How can I rightly apply this truth today?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 119:9-16 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

9 How can young people keep their way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
    do not let me stray from your commandments.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
    so that I may not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I declare
    all the ordinances of your mouth.
14 I delight in the way of your decrees
    as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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How Does God Use Flowers to Teach Us about Himself? ‘Walk out into the fields, look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen such color and design quite like it?’ Luke 12:25-28

Luke 12:27-28 The Message

25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

“April showers bring May flowers” is a phrase I heard my mother say all too often. She was obsessed with flower gardens and had a green thumb to match.

My childhood was filled with days running around our 40 acres of country, I’d run through meadows of unbelievably vivid colors blowing in the wind, flowers were everywhere. Our property was an oasis for all types, kinds, and colors.

My most vivid memory is the joy I felt when I was with mom walking through those flowers she loved.

As a child, I was not a believer and did not think about what flowers symbolize.

These past 20 plus years, in my marriage, my walk of faith and the realization that I too am obsessed with flowers, my thoughts about them have blossomed. 

God created flowers for His children for many reasons.

They represent many aspects of the Christian walk.

I want to take time and examine what flowers symbolize, the spiritual truths they convey, how we learn more about the character of God from flowers. 

Floral Symbolism in the Bible

Flowers are vibrant and majestic.

They are beautiful symbols of so many aspects of life.

In the Bible, flowers often represent beauty and glory.

In Song of Solomon 2:2 it is written “Like a lily among thorns, so is my darling among the young women.” Solomon uses the lily flower in this poetic verse to illustrate that the lily is a flower so beautiful, it stands out among thorns.

In Luke 12:27, God uses the wildflowers to point out the beauty displayed on the earth.

“Consider how the wild flowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these.”

While flowers represent beauty and glory, they also represent mortality.

Myrrh is one such flower that symbolizes this idea beautifully. Myrrh is an old flower dating back to the Old Testament (Esther 2:12).

It was used as an aromatic for perfumes, and it comes full circle in Jesus’ life.

Jesus was presented myrrh at his birth (Matthew 2:8). Myrrh is then mixed with the wine the Roman soldiers gave him on the cross (Mark 15:23). As Jesus was being prepared for burial, myrrh’s used in the embalming process (John 19:39). 

Flowers are also used to symbolize divine provision and care for God’s children.

In Exodus 28, God gives instruction for the priestly garments Aaron and his sons needed to fulfill their duties.

In verse 33, God says to “make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn on its lower hem and all around it.”

God also used flowers such as mallow, mint, saffron, rye, cumin, caper berries, and dill to provide food and spices for His people.

Mint and dill were also used as tithes.

Flax is another flowering plant that was used to make linen for clothing. 

Flowers are also used to symbolize love, purity, growth, and restoration.

The rose and or crocus flower gives us hope for renewal (Isaiah 35:1).

Hyssop was used to purify and cleanse (Psalm 51:7).

Mandrakes are seen as a symbol of love and fertility. Its roots were often prepared and eaten as a fertility drug (Genesis 30:14, Song of Solomon 7:13).

Flowers were and continue to be the perfect symbol for the Christian life.

It is a beautiful life that gives us hope, renewal, a promise of provision, and an understanding of its fragility. 

Spiritual Truths Found in Flowers

The Bible is filled with teachings that provide us with essential spiritual truths.

What is the meaning of Luke 12:27?

Jesus is explaining that God has more important uses for our energy than worrying.

We have no good reason to panic about starvation, nakedness, or even death.

In Luke 12:24, He reminds a crowd that ravens neither work nor store food in barns, but God feeds them regardless.

Jesus spends his entire ministry sharing these truths with us.

When we read the words of Jesus, we witness the creative power He has.

Every flower that blooms on every plant comes from God.

He spoke them into existence.

That is powerful! The vibrant colors, the whimsical shapes, and the statuesque stems speak of His worthiness of our worship. 

Flowers remind us that our lives are transient and fleeting.

Every spring, summer, and autumn we enjoy the colorful blossoms as they unfurl their petals, but we know winter is coming and the blossoms will fade and disappear.

Our lives on Earth are but a vapor. Our worldly pursuits are temporary.

The old will pass away, but we have hope that one day we will be restored at the right hand of our Father. 

All flowers rely on sun and water for growth.

Sometimes we must give them a boost with fertilizer and spritz of pest deterrent.

If the flowers’ needs are not met, they do not grow.

Flowers are an ultimate example of dependence and humility.

We need God to guide our paths and keep us from harm. With Him, we can have no fear. He is our inspiration, encouragement, and only source of abundant life. 

God’s Character Displayed

What does consider how the wildflowers grow mean?

It could be translated as “examine carefully,” “observe well,” or “learn thoroughly.”

Jesus says: Examine the wildflowers carefully.

Learn thoroughly from them.

Jesus invites us to consider: what might these wildflowers have to teach us – the ones who don’t toil or spin and yet are clothed so beautifully?

Flowers symbolize many things.

They remind us of important spiritual truths. But the ultimate lesson we learn from flowers is better understanding God’s character. Our God is a caring God.

He created flowers to give us something exquisite to look at, provide for our basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter. Before God made man, God knew what we needed and cared enough to create it. 

Our God is also attentive to detail.

Each flower has a unique color, petal, leaf, and stem.

Some flowers are grown from seed while others are grown from bulbs.

Some flowers are dwarf varieties while some have double blooms.

The diligence God uses in the creation of flowers tells us that He is attentive to the details of our lives.

He has taken time to create us and prepare us for the plan He has for us.

We do not have to doubt Him because every detail is taken care of.

God boldly shows us His creative side when we observe flowers.

Watching the distinct stages of growth is amazing.

How creative is it to take a tiny seed that will sprout a plant that can grow as tall as six feet.

The array of colors tells us that we can be creative too. Flowers are useful for life-giving purposes, but they also are a way God makes our lives colorful. 

Commonly known as the Foxglove, Giant Shirley Digitalis comes in mixed colors. Foxgloves are tall plants with elongated, spotted, bell-shaped flowers of red, white and pink. Prefers shade in moderately rich soil.

Flowers also show off the transformative power God has.

Every flower God created has the power to transform our lives.

Flowers can turn a difficult day into a good one.

Flowers can be used to cleanse us when their aromas are used in soaps and perfumes.

They can put a smile on our faces.

Just as we are dirty with sin, God can transform our hearts, minds, and lives.

A plain field of grass can be plowed and filled with flower seeds and become transformed into a colorful, vibrant place.

Our plain lives can be made full and vibrant when we allow God to transform us. 

Final Floral Thoughts

What is the spiritual meaning of a wildflower?

The most significant meanings of wildflowers is their symbolism of unity.

These flowers grow together in natural meadows and fields, creating a beautiful tapestry of colors and scents. They remind us despite our many differences, we can come together to create community, something beautiful and harmonious.

Flowers are so much more than a stem with leaves and bloom.

They are a piece of God’s creation that symbolize purity, love, provision, and beauty. They are beautiful reminders that our lives are fleeting.

One day this Earth will be gone, and a new heaven and earth will take its place.

While we wait, we can only depend on God. 

The next time you see wildflowers in the field, tend the flowers in our garden, remember we serve a creative God. We serve a God that can transform our lives. 

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 46 The Message

46 1-3 God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
    the tremors that shift mountains.

    Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
    this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
    God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
    but Earth does anything he says.

7     Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
    breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything.”

11     Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Camel’s Challenge? “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Its far easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye for rich to enter God’s kingdom.” Matthew 19:23-24

Matthew 19:23-24 Amplified Bible

23 Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is difficult for a rich man [who clings to possessions and status as security] to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth and status] to enter the kingdom of God.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Jesus is emphatic: It is extremely difficult for the rich to embrace the radical call of discipleship in the Kingdom of God.

But, salvation does not depend on our ability, but on God’s generous grace.

The key point for us, however, is to be reminded about the dangers of wealth and possessions.

They can become our god, our stumbling block, our choking point, our diversion, our downfall as they become things we wont give up to follow Jesus.

From our vantage point, following Jesus’ radical call is impossible.

Fortunately, God has provided the Holy Spirit and fellow-Christians.

We all need the guidance of the Spirit and the strength of a dedicated Christian community to lead, guide, direct, and yield to Jesus’ call in all areas of our lives, including using our “poverty, wealth and possessions” to serve our neighbors.

Camels were one of the largest animals in the lands of the Bible.

Their ability to go without water is legendary.

Camels function like tractor trailers today because they can carry large amounts of cargo over great distances and harsh desert terrain.

In Biblical times, owning camels was a sign of wealth and many well-known individuals possessed them, Abram (Gen. 12:16), Jacob (Gen. 31:17), and Job (Job 1:3).

Jesus makes a spiritual point by referencing the size of a camel.

In Matthew 19:16–24, a rich young man approaches Jesus, asking, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

Jesus responds by highlighting the commandments, which the young man claims to have kept.

Then Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (v. 21).

The young man, saddened by his response, walked away because he had great wealth.

Jesus then turned to His disciples and said, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (vv. 23–24).

The imagery of a camel attempting to pass through the eye of a needle is intentionally jarring.

Since camels were the largest animals commonly seen in Israel at the time, His audience would know this would be uncommon and extremely difficult.

While some argue that the “eye of the needle” referred to a small narrow gate, it is much more likely it meant the minuscule eye of an actual sewing needle.

What does Matthew 19:24 mean?

It means Jesus was able to see that what came first in this man’s heart was his riches…. To follow Christ we have to give up everything that will take His place as God in our life. So be in riches or people or status or popularity and fame. If we cannot give that up, cannot walk or run away, we cannot be His disciple. 

This underscored the seemingly impossible task of entering God’s kingdom with a heart gripped by our “Golden Calves” material wealth and possessions.

Jesus had failed to separate the rich young man from his wealth. The trouble with possessions is that they can too easily possess us.

Jesus calls for radical change in our lives, a change that can seem unattainable.

However, he poignantly reminds us that, while something may seem utterly impossible for mortals, “for with God, all things are possible”.

Go Deeper

What are you holding on to that might hinder your spiritual growth? Consider what it means to “sell your possessions and give to the poor” in your own life?

In the name of God, the father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit

Praying …

Psalm 49

The Folly of Trusting in Riches.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

49 Hear this, all peoples;
Listen carefully, all inhabitants of the world,
2 
Both low and high,
Rich and poor together:
3 
My mouth will speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4 
I will incline my ear and consent to a proverb;
On the lyre I will unfold my riddle.

5 
Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the wickedness of those who would betray me surrounds me [on every side],
6 
Even those who trust in and rely on their wealth
And boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 
None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—
8 
For the ransom of his soul is too costly,
And he should cease trying forever—
9 
So that he should live on eternally,
That he should never see the pit (grave) and undergo decay.

10 
For he sees that even wise men die;
The fool and the stupid alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.
11 
Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever,
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have named their lands after their own names [ignoring God].
12 
But man, with all his [self] honor and pomp, will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.

13 
This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident,
And of those after them who approve [and are influenced by] their words. Selah.
14 
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead);
Death will be their shepherd;
And the upright shall rule over them in the morning,
And their form and beauty shall [a]be for Sheol to consume,
So that they have no dwelling [on earth].
15 
But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol,
For He will receive me. Selah.

16 
Be not afraid when [an ungodly] man becomes rich,
When the wealth and glory of his house are increased;
17 
For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
His glory will not descend after him.
18 
Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous—
And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 
He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never again see the light.
20 
A man [who is held] in honor,
Yet who lacks [spiritual] understanding and a teachable heart, is like the beasts that perish.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Who is My Family? These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will are my brother, my sister, and mother. Matthew 12:46-50

Matthew 12:46-50 New Revised Standard Version

The True Kindred of Jesus

46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’[a] 48  But to the one who had told him this, Jesus[b] replied, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Can I begin to imagine this scene? Jesus’ beloved family comes by as he is preaching. Here He seizes the chance to widen that fortunate group.

He is not callously denying or ignoring family ties, but is instead, extending them into the Kingdom of God with a gesture that is like an ordination. When he points to the group of disciples, can I imagine that I am standing among them?

What is there to reflect on, to meditate over, pray to the Holy Spirit for clarity?

Reflection:

Belonging to God is basic relationship, prior to all human relations. We came from God before we came from father and mother. (Psalm 139:13-18)

Psalm 139:13-18 Revised Standard Version

13 For thou didst form my inward parts,
    thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful.[a]
    Wonderful are thy works!
Thou knowest me right well;
15     my frame was not hidden from thee,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.
16 Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance;
    in thy book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    When I awake, I am still with thee.[b]

Still there are times during our journey of life when family goes second to God.

How would Mary have taken this statement?

Was she being diminished?

Her faith was deep and was strong enough to know her spiritual relationship to her Son was stronger even that the human mother-son relationship.

Reflection:

The relationship we have with Jesus is founded on something deeper than even the deepest human relationships of family.

We are the family of God and are brother and sister to Jesus when we try to do God’s will and to make God’s kingdom come.

Prayer deepens our appreciation of the values of the kingdom of God: justice, holiness, peace, compassion, faith, and love – all central to the life of Jesus.

Reflection:

I wonder what did his mother and family want to speak to him about?

The evidence is they were coming from home to take him back home. Jesus, with his radical teaching, and challenging religious views, was becoming an embarrassment if not a danger to his family.

Jesus’ way of life would lead him into opposition with those closest to him, his family.

Reflection:

Jesus counts me among his closest, his next-of-kin.

I show that this is my identity as I do the will of God.

When you hear the word family, what usually comes to mind?

Where I grew up, a family was generally made up of a husband and wife and their biological children.

Some families also had adopted children. Some couples did not have children, and some parents were separated or divorced. But the most common family in that time and culture was the nuclear family. In the Bible and in today’s world, though, it’s less common to find families fitting that biblical description.

When Jesus’ family tried to get a message to him as crowds gathered around him, he saw an opportunity for a teaching moment and said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus was helping his followers to describe a new kind of family, a community bound by something more powerful than the blood in our veins.

This is not a rejection of the biological family. It’s an invitation to a bigger, richer family—the family of God, with whom we live in the kingdom of God.

By this narrative text you and I are invited to meet family members in your own community/neighborhoods where you work and live, in my biological family, and in other family groups that are too often a hidden or invisible part of life.

May God’s Holy Spirit work in us all to recognize the beautiful gift of his family in the relationships and communities we are a part of—no matter how different or diverse they might be.

Reflection

I pray that I may do the will of God with joy and courage, perhaps praying the ‘Our Father’ as I now ask that God’s will be done in this world as it is in heaven.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 103:11-18 Revised Standard Version

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
    so the Lord pities those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
    upon those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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