A young couple brought their newborn child to church for the first time and hardly anybody noticed. Except for an old man and an old widow who got very excited. The old man believed he wouldn’t die until he had a very unusual experience. Today was the day!
The old woman lived at the church since the passing of her husband. When these two saw Joseph and Mary bringing the infant Jesus into the temple they did some crazy things. They excitedly took the baby, blessed the couple, prophesied and gave Mary some sad news. You can read all about it in Luke 2:25-38 but here is what is amazing and something I need to regularly remember. Continue reading →
Joshua 12 is a list of kings Moses and Joshua dispossessed to give the land to God’s people. It is tough to read thoroughly – actually I usually just skim it giving half an effort to pronouncing all those weird names.
But these were kings, powerful men, greatly feared. The stroke of their hand meant life or death. Their word was law. Surely they seemed like gods and probably were treated as such. Now, they are just nobodies in a list of nobodies that nobody wants to read because, frankly, nobody cares? Continue reading →
Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. 2 Timothy 3:12 (MSG)
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I run into Christians who are astounded when they encounter struggles, loss and pain in life. It always grieves (and frustrates) me when folks turn away from the Lord at the first “bump in the road”. Where do we get the idea that when we put our faith in Jesus all obstacles and opposition run and hide?
When a Roman accused a second century Christian of serving an impotent God because of all the hardships Christians suffered, Octavius, the believer, gave this response:
I’ve observed that in God’s house there are both garbage cans and golden cups – some folks fill their lives with slop and slime while other’s lives pour out blessing and treasure to everyone who knows them. Why the difference – why do some folks come to know the Lord and their lives change very little while others become sweet gifts to humanity? Does God bless some more than others? Does He reveal Himself more to some than others? Are the golden cups just “teacher’s pets” that get special favor from God while others struggle just to make it as His followers?
This passage helped me see what makes the difference.
…”Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:19-21)
“Those who cleanse themselves from the” wickedness mentioned in the previous passage “will be instruments for special purposes.” It is not God who determines if our life is full of slop or treasure. We make that decision. Our salvation is not based upon our efforts and righteous acts but how we are used, the outcome of our life, obviously is based upon whether we “cleanse ourselves” or continue to fill our eyes, hearts and minds with the sludge of this world.
Those who choose to feed at the slop bucket of this world will themselves become slop buckets (articles for common use) but those who cleanse themselves “will be instruments for special purposes”. Both will be used by God but I have to decide how I want God to use me, for special purposes or does he need to keep me hidden in the utility room because of the vileness I fill myself with? The choice is mine. The choice is yours.
__________________________ 2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
When I was in the Navy I remember a young lieutenant asking me this “profound” puzzler. “Can God do anything? Can He make a rock so big he cannot lift it?” As a young believer and a novice in God’s Word, I had no answer for him as he smugly walked away.
This is a rather common question asked by pseudo-intellectuals who think they have stumbled across a great chink in the Christian’s belief about the omnipotence of God. The answer to the question is quite simply, “No, there are many things God cannot do.”
For one thing, he cannot do something that is logically impossible such as make a rock so big He cannot lift it. Neither can he draw a square circle. For that matter, He can not do something that is impossible. Because the moment he accomplished the feat, it would no longer be impossible since He proved it was possible for Him.
But we don’t have to stoop to such nonsense to find things God cannot do. The Bible clearly says it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18) and that “He cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13), meaning violate His own nature or integrity. He can not stop being God. He can not stop being good. He cannot cease to exist – since existence is a component of goodness. I could go on and on listing things God can not do but I think you grasp the concept.
When Christians speak of God’s omnipotence or when Jesus assures us that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) we are not referring to either ludicrous scenarios that parade as profound discoveries of truth nor to things that would violate God’s very nature and character. Omnipotent is understood to be “possessing all power”. Simply put, that means God can do anything that can be done. He has the ability to perform any feat consistent with His character and nature.
This is one reason it is so vital that believers study the Word to know what God says about Himself and the world around us. As believers, we appear foolish when we try to defend God and ascribe to Him attributes that He does not even claim for Himself. “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) And remember, just because you do not know the answer and there seems there could be no answer, it does not mean a reasonable and logic answer is not out there and available to those who continue to diligently search God’s Word.
_________________________ Matthew 22:29
But Jesus said, “Your error is caused by your ignorance of the Scriptures and of God’s power!
When I was in the Navy I remember a young lieutenant asking me this “profound” puzzler. “Can God do anything? Can God make a rock so big he cannot lift it?”
This is a rather common question asked by pseudo-intellectuals who think they have stumbled across a great chink in the Christian’s belief about the omnipotence of God. The answer to the question is quite simply, “No, there are many things God cannot do.”
For one thing, he cannot do something that is logically impossible such as make a rock so big He cannot lift it. Neither can he draw a square circle. For that matter, He can not do something that is impossible. Because the moment he accomplished the feat, it would no longer be impossible since He proved it was possible for Him.
But we don’t have to stoop to such nonsense to find things God cannot do. The Bible clearly says it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18) and that “He cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13), meaning violate His own nature or integrity. He can not stop being God. He can not stop being good. He cannot cease to exist – since existence is a component of goodness. I could go on and on listing things God can not do but I think you grasp the concept.
When Christians speak of God’s omnipotence or when Jesus assures us that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) we are not referring to either ludicrous scenarios that parade as profound discoveries of truth nor to things that would violate God’s very nature and character. Omnipotent is understood to be “possessing all power”. Simply put, that means God can do anything that can be done. He has the ability to perform any feat consistent with His character and nature.
This is one reason it is vital believers study the Word to know what God says about Himself and the world around us. As believers, we appear foolish when we try to defend God and ascribe to Him attributes that He does not even claim for Himself.
___________________ 2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
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Run from…, run to… flee (run from) temptation but pursue, run after, righteousness, … etc. We are running a race but notice we are not meant to run this race alone. We are to be running with others – “along with” other believers. The NLT translates it like this, “Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” We are to choose our associations carefully (those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart), but we are to associate with others in our Christian walk.
Our pursuit of the Lord is not a “Lone Ranger”, “Me and Jesus Got Our Own Thing Going” affair. A believer who chooses to isolate himself from the Body of Christ will not grow to be a balanced, healthy believer any more than any human being who is cut off from outside contact grows to be balanced and well adjusted. We need each other. God designed it that way. It is not good that man be alone.
Following Jesus is more than just a matter of believing it is a matter of belonging – belonging to His Bride, His Body, His Church. In those “iron sharpens iron” relationships God applies heat and friction to our life, like we do to a knife when sharpening it, to sharpen us, rub off rough spots and smooth offensive aspects of our nature and character.
A knife that pulls away from the whetstone every time there is friction, or it gets hot or uncomfortable, will remain with a dull edge. Something will always be missing, incomplete. A believer that pulls away from relationship every time they are disappointed or their needs are not met or they are challenged, will remain dull, weak in their spiritual life. Something will always be missing, incomplete.
_______________ Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
1 Corinthians 8:1
We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
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This passage has been taken by some to justify ignorance or lack of formal training because “knowledge puffs up”. Obviously the Lord’s intent here is not to bash “knowledge” or training. Elsewhere, particularly in Proverbs, the Bible speaks so highly of knowledge and wisdom as a treasure. Proverbs 8:10 – “Choose … knowledge rather than choice gold.” Paul even laments those who have a zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2) and encourages study (2 Timothy 2:15). Yes, Jesus used “unlearned and ignorant men” (Acts 4:13) but he also chose Paul, one of the sharpest minds perhaps of all time and Dr Luke, a gentile, to write the vast majority of the New Testament.
Yes, God will use any available vessel, even a donkey, but Ecclesiastes tells us that education sharpens the tool and you can cut down a bigger tree with less effort if you take time to sharpen the ax.
Don’t minimize the importance of study and knowledge. It will not replace relationship but the more I know about my wife, the better my understanding of who she really is and not just who I think she is, the deeper our relationship can grow. Proper knowledge with a proper heart attitude can increase the depth of my relationship with the Lord just as it does in human relationships.
So what was Paul talking about here? The answer, as usual, is found in carefully reading the entire passage and putting this phrase in its proper context. But I’ll have to save that for my next post.
_____________ 2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Ecclesiastes 10:10
Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade.That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.
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A young couple brought their newborn child to church for the first time and hardly anybody noticed. Except for an old man and an old widow who got very excited. The old man believed he wouldn’t die until he had a very unusual experience. Today was the day!
