I saw a story on the Today Show this morning about blogger Rachel Held Evans who wrote a book about "Living as a Biblical Woman". Maybe it is similar to the book "The Year of Living Biblically" by A. J. Jacobs. Evans lived by Old Testament laws for festivals, food, drink, bodily functions, etc. She twisted the meaning of Proverbs 21:9; "It is better to live on the corner of a roof, than to live with a contentious woman." By going up on the corner of her roof "to pay penance" for being contentious, instead of sending her husband up there to get away from her when she was being contentious. I think she was trying to show that we aren't to live literally under the law, by being absurd, but what she said may have confused those who watched her sound bite on a network news program.
Last week in this blog, I talked about reading the Bible, praying for insight, remembering who it was originally was written to, thinking about the type of literature the portion you are reading is, and applying the truth to your life and acting on what God has revealed to you. There is much of the Biblical record that teaches history and lists rules for God's chosen people to set them apart. I do believe that all of God's Word is valuable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, I also believe that we now live under the finished work of Christ and have a relationship with God through Him, so we no longer live under the law. God is concerned with our hearts, not rules.
When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:37-40). To live Biblically we need to remember God in all we do and we need to remember the needs of others, just like we remember to care for our own needs.
What does it look like to live Biblically? How am I suppose to live to glorify God? Is it all too difficult to figure out? Does God want everyone to be the same? What did Jesus mean that His yoke is easy and his burden is light? Living Biblically like Evans did, was a heavy burden of rules (A.J. Jacobs said he found over 700 rules when he read through the Bible for his year long experience). If you love Jesus as your Savior you obey him out of that love relationship. I live for Him who died for me out of a thankful heart. He gave everything so that I could be made right with God. I am in relationship, a child of the King! I don't do it perfectly, I don't have to, Jesus paid the debt that I could not pay. I am free to live for Him under grace. He empowers me to love when I yield to His Spirit.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians speaks to the fact that we obey God in response to the salvation we have already received. Paul's prayer in Ephesians chapter one says, "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." (Eph 1:15-23).
Later in the same letter, Paul continues in prayer for these people, "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:14-21).
If you want to live Biblically, confess your need for Jesus to be your Savior and follow the Spirit's leading in your life. Love God and Love Others. All other laws hang on these two things. Read the first three chapters of Ephesians, pray these prayers for yourself, thank God for what he has done for you and in you. Read the last three chapters of Ephesians to see how to live out your faith in the church, in your family, in the workplace and how to be strong in the Lord.
Praying for you. Talk to you again soon.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Happy People
"Truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy. (James 1:25)
Daily Bible reading keeps me in range of God's voice. The more I read, the more I understand God's story, His character, His heart. I need to pray for the desire to read and for the Holy Spirit to illumine what I read.
The Bible is God's love story. The Bible was recorded by men, who were inspired by God Himself. The Bible claims to be the very Word of God. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Certainly there are obscure and confusing passages, but that is one more reason to read the Bible in entirety to get the big picture. Struggling with something that you have read? Pray for understanding. God is asking us to live in the grace of what we do understand. God wants to nourish us spiritually, He gave us His truth that is "able to build you up" (Acts 20:32).
The Bible is God's love story, of how He created people for relationship, how people chose to sin against God and how God planned to redeem people back from sin. The Old Testament looks forward to a Savior, the New Testament looks back to how God would bring a Savior out of the nation that He set apart. The final chapter in the story we look forward to, when Christ will come again to make all things new. All creation will praise Jesus who gives all glory to god the Father.
Do I matter to God? Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so! Dive in read the Gospels. Read the Psalms, read the doubt and the faith. Read the description of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, then read the description of the crucifixion of Jesus. The Bible says, "Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.....we have now been justified by the blood" (made right through what Jesus did) (Romans 5:6, 8).
Warren Wiersbe says, "We use the Bible devotionally when we allow it to speak to us personally as we are taught by the Spirit of God (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15). All Scripture was not written to us, but it was written for us."
I heard a story about a dad asking his daughter to go clean her room. First, notice the relationship, she was his daughter. You are God's child when you trust by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The girl went to her room and came back a little later and said, "Dad I memorized what you said." The faither was surprised "you memorized what I said?" "Yes", the girl answered, "Go and clean your room." "That's great the father replied, "did you do it?" "No", she answered, "but I discussed what you said with my girlfriends. We all agree, Great Words!"
The Bible is God's story, He wants you to enjoy an abundant life as His follower. The Bible does contain Great Words. But don't just read the Bible, memorize it and spend time with others discussing it, do what it says. Show Him that you love Him by spending time hearing Him speak to you through His Word. Pray His word back to Him. Act on what you do understand. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (James 1:22-24).
The Bible says, that we will grow in our understanding, you won't understand everything, but God wants you to know and understand Him. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish things behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully know. And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. but the greatest of these is love."
The Bible says, you will be happy when you study and obey. Jesus told His followers, "if you love me you will obey me." He said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock" (Matthew 7:24-27. Truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy (James 1:25).
Trust and obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Daily Bible reading keeps me in range of God's voice. The more I read, the more I understand God's story, His character, His heart. I need to pray for the desire to read and for the Holy Spirit to illumine what I read.
The Bible is God's love story. The Bible was recorded by men, who were inspired by God Himself. The Bible claims to be the very Word of God. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Certainly there are obscure and confusing passages, but that is one more reason to read the Bible in entirety to get the big picture. Struggling with something that you have read? Pray for understanding. God is asking us to live in the grace of what we do understand. God wants to nourish us spiritually, He gave us His truth that is "able to build you up" (Acts 20:32).
The Bible is God's love story, of how He created people for relationship, how people chose to sin against God and how God planned to redeem people back from sin. The Old Testament looks forward to a Savior, the New Testament looks back to how God would bring a Savior out of the nation that He set apart. The final chapter in the story we look forward to, when Christ will come again to make all things new. All creation will praise Jesus who gives all glory to god the Father.
Do I matter to God? Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so! Dive in read the Gospels. Read the Psalms, read the doubt and the faith. Read the description of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, then read the description of the crucifixion of Jesus. The Bible says, "Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.....we have now been justified by the blood" (made right through what Jesus did) (Romans 5:6, 8).
Warren Wiersbe says, "We use the Bible devotionally when we allow it to speak to us personally as we are taught by the Spirit of God (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15). All Scripture was not written to us, but it was written for us."
I heard a story about a dad asking his daughter to go clean her room. First, notice the relationship, she was his daughter. You are God's child when you trust by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The girl went to her room and came back a little later and said, "Dad I memorized what you said." The faither was surprised "you memorized what I said?" "Yes", the girl answered, "Go and clean your room." "That's great the father replied, "did you do it?" "No", she answered, "but I discussed what you said with my girlfriends. We all agree, Great Words!"
The Bible is God's story, He wants you to enjoy an abundant life as His follower. The Bible does contain Great Words. But don't just read the Bible, memorize it and spend time with others discussing it, do what it says. Show Him that you love Him by spending time hearing Him speak to you through His Word. Pray His word back to Him. Act on what you do understand. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (James 1:22-24).
The Bible says, that we will grow in our understanding, you won't understand everything, but God wants you to know and understand Him. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish things behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully know. And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. but the greatest of these is love."
The Bible says, you will be happy when you study and obey. Jesus told His followers, "if you love me you will obey me." He said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock" (Matthew 7:24-27. Truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy (James 1:25).
Trust and obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Safekeeping All Valuables
"...for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day" 2 Timothy 1:12 NASB.
Do you trust that God is in control? In His Sovereignty and through His Love, He cares for all His children. Nothing can touch the Christian that hasn't come through His hand. Your future is secure. No matter what you are battling, or who you are worrying over, God can be trusted to care for you and your loved ones.
Jesus said, "I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens, God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Luke 12:22-26.
I worry about my children and my grandchildren. But aren't they more valuable than the birds? God asks me to trust Him with them. He asked me to be open handed with my very first child, I knew from the beginning that she was a gift from God that I was only God's caretaker of this precious life. Every child belongs to God, I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him. I have entrusted my soul to Him, by faith in Christ Jesus. I have entrusted my loved ones to Him. I have entrusted the Church, universal and each local congregation that I love, to Him.
This is not an attitude of "oh well I can't do anything about this anyway, I'll let go and let God." No, it is an attitude of recognizing that the One who I offer things to with an open hand is trustworthy. First and foremost I offer Him all of me, I trust Him with my soul, my life, my loves. I trust Him with the blessings He pours out on my life. I trust Him with the struggles and the sorrows He brings my way. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:35-39.
I have no fear because I know that God is watching over those I love. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" 3 John 4. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. I have confidence in Him.
Do you trust that God is in control? In His Sovereignty and through His Love, He cares for all His children. Nothing can touch the Christian that hasn't come through His hand. Your future is secure. No matter what you are battling, or who you are worrying over, God can be trusted to care for you and your loved ones.
Jesus said, "I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens, God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Luke 12:22-26.
I worry about my children and my grandchildren. But aren't they more valuable than the birds? God asks me to trust Him with them. He asked me to be open handed with my very first child, I knew from the beginning that she was a gift from God that I was only God's caretaker of this precious life. Every child belongs to God, I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him. I have entrusted my soul to Him, by faith in Christ Jesus. I have entrusted my loved ones to Him. I have entrusted the Church, universal and each local congregation that I love, to Him.
This is not an attitude of "oh well I can't do anything about this anyway, I'll let go and let God." No, it is an attitude of recognizing that the One who I offer things to with an open hand is trustworthy. First and foremost I offer Him all of me, I trust Him with my soul, my life, my loves. I trust Him with the blessings He pours out on my life. I trust Him with the struggles and the sorrows He brings my way. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:35-39.
I have no fear because I know that God is watching over those I love. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" 3 John 4. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. I have confidence in Him.
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