week of 10/19/11 5th recorded HighQuest Colossians 3:12-17

The passage I read was Colossians 3:12-17

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A12-17&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

As I reflect:

This passage starts off with a qualification for the remainder of the passage. “God’s chosen people”, is a title that encompasses anyone who has repented and believed on Jesus as Lord of their life (responding in such a manner to reflect this belief). If that sounds like you, then you have been grafted into the vine that is the body of Christ and are now an adopted chosen of God. Therefore, there is a way that we ought to act.

When one comes to Christ and receives the Holy Spirit, what witness would they be of the power of God if they remained the same? Rather, when we receive this great adoption we begin to emulate our Savior just as He emulated His Father while He was among us in human form. This is true of us in human relationships as well. If you have ever found yourself in a respect of someone else and desired to be like them, then you began studying their practices and following their examples; be it that of a role model, mentor, pastor, father figure, or (as it is in our case) The King of Kings. Surely in desiring to be like one who is perfect, we would find no room for hatred, cruelty, arrogance, impatience, unforgiveness, and chaos. Instead we begin reflecting that same forgiveness and love that God showed us and just as He was and is compassionate, kind, gentle, patient, and forgiving still, so we are to be to others. If that sounds like a difficult list, then simply focus on one thing first… Love. Paul states that love will bind all of these characteristics together and it makes perfect since. I can snap at someone impatiently at work and then think to myself, “was that a loving response?”. A loving response requires all of those characteristics that we are to reflect from our God.

I think these first 3 verse are very similar to the idea of treating others how you want to be treated with the exception of the fact that you are already being treated that way by Our God who loves us. Think of the parable Jesus told in Matthew 18:21-35. Be to others as your Heavenly Father has been to you.

The remaining 3 verses seem to be about community. These verses use several greek words that in English we have defined as individual in character, whereas in greek they are in fact meant to be accumulative of 2 or more individuals. For instance the peace of Christ in verse 15 is not speaking about “your” individual sense of peace with Christ but rather “our” peace of Christ among each other as a body of believers. The idea of these last 3 verses is very similar to the idea of a Christ centered marriage. One can be a Christian husband to a Christian wife and still not have a Christ centered marriage. To be Christ centered would require that that Christian husband and Christian wife not individually follow Jesus, but rather come together and grow as an individual unit made of 3 parts (Holy Spirit, man, woman). This is much the message of verse 15-17. We as a body of believers tend to far too often care mainly about only our own growth, and we are instead to be focusing our attentions on treating each other as members of one body, holding each other up and growing as one unit Christ centered. If we can do this, then everything we do can in fact be done in the name of Jesus Christ and we can then be thankful for everything that we do. As it stands, this is and as far back in history as can be remembered always has been a huge down fall of the church. We seem to find it impossible to act as a body of believers in one flock following one shepherd. I suppose it is as much a blessing as a curse in that the reason is our individuality. But, there will be a day…

My response to the Lord:

Father, I look forward to the day when we are all brought together in eternity for your glory. I thank you for making me an individual as I thank you also for my brothers and sisters who are as much different from myself as I am from them. I pray that despite our differences and perhaps even because of our differences we would learn to work together as a complete body of Christ being humble, compassionate, kind, gentle, patient, loving, and holy even as you have been and continue to be to us. May we bear love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as fruit of your great work in us that others may see your light and taste of your goodness. Lord of Lords, please make evident in me for your glory sake, the present power of the Holy Spirit you have given me and guide and teach me to do your will as I desire to please you with my life. In Jesus’ name.

week of 10/19/11 4th recorded HighQuest Philippians 3:17-21

The passage I read was Philippians 3:17-21

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:17-21&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

As I reflect:

Paul was saying to follow his example as he was following Christ’s example, and thus we also ought to follow Christ’s example. Paul explains that there are in fact many enemies of the cross and I think that if any of us take a good look around, we will see that this is something that hasn’t changed much. The only difference now is that many of the enemies are professing to be God’s followers. But as we are taught in the word, there is a way to easily tell the difference in those that simply profess Jesus as Lord vs. those who follow Jesus as their Lord. The word says you tell the difference by their fruit. Paul very lightly touches on that here saying in verse 20 that we are citizens of Heaven. He says this not only to point out that we look forward to the return of our Savior, but also to shine light on the fact that we are not of this world. We may be here temporarily, but we are not of here. We are enabled spiritually to act, and think differently than the rest of the human race just as one day, when our bodies are transformed by Christ, we will also look differently than the rest of those carnally minded humans.

This passage to me, stands out as a statement of not only what spiritual transformation has already occurred in our lives as followers of Christ, but also as a reminder of what physical transformation will one day occur. May our current humble bodies be ever obedient to the will of our Spirit in Christ Jesus.

My response to the Lord:

Father, as we eagerly await the return of your Son, may your Holy Spirit guide and empower us to bring our own minds and bodies under the control of your will just as Jesus Christ has power to bring everything under His control. May our spiritual transformations in you be the light that the lost see and not the broken outer shell that one day you will rebuild. Help me Father, to be a light and salt, that others might also one day be spiritually and eventually physically transformed by your great power and love. In Jesus’ name.

week of 10/19/11 3rd recorded HighQuest Romans 8:7-14

The passage I read was Romans 8:7-14

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:7-14&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

¹⁰But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

As I reflect:

Ah yes, the age old issue of crucifying the flesh; causing ones mind and body to bend to the will of spirit. Why is it soooo hard to tell the body what to do? We tell our hand and arm to reach for and grab tooth brush and tooth paste and proceed to brush our teeth with no issues controlling our body whatsoever. Why then is it not just as easy to tell our eyes not to look upon that which corrupts our heart? Why is it difficult to sacrifice what we have come to enjoy in the secular world as to be sanctified? Shouldn’t this be just as easy as when we tell our body to brush our teeth? Paul answers these questions saying that our mind is governed by our flesh and that our flesh is hostile to God. That’s the NIV, but in the KJV it is said in this way, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Wow! “Enmity” against God… Can you imagine that? Here we are trying to have a relationship with and live in a way that is pleasing to God whom our mind and body have animosity with. Enmity is shortly defined as a typically mutual hatred or ill will and it’s found to be synonymous with animosity, antagonism, bitterness, bad blood, and several other words we would never want to describe any portion of our relationship to Christ. So our problem is that God has given us physical as well as spiritual laws by which we ought to in faith abide by and yet our body and mind used to do so are in a state of hostility to His will for us. Sounds like an impossible way to be successful at serving our Most High God doesn’t it? Thankfully, we have a not so secret weapon that helps us wage war; will power against will power in this battle.

Paul explains that we as believers are no longer in that realm where flesh is victorious, but we are now primarily able to be guided by the Spirit of God that lives in us. This concept is one of personal identity as we once were identified as the bodies and minds that encompassed who we were as a person, but now we are identified by our spiritual change having began a journey of new creation within our spiritual selves. In other words (as I believe Paul once stated), if my body sins it is not I who sins but my body. For I do not chose that which is carnal any longer. Taking that a step further here, we see we don’t even have an obligation to allow that. We can live instead according to the Spirit of God, being led by Him and overcoming the desires of the body for misdeeds. This is a good news to any who have wondered what that next step in personal transformation may hold for them. God never intended to save us from only part of ourselves. Instead, He does intend for us to put forth effort so that in our will to overcome the body we may see His wonderful glory as He multiplies our efforts and grants us victory in His Holy Spirit. You see, at this part of our transformation, we have learned that we cannot do it alone and now we desire to be obedient, faithfully step forward in our attempts to do so, and rely on His Spirit in us to empower that forward step for victory.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, I pray for all believers who are adopted by you, may you not allow a single one of us to fall stagnant in growth. Instead Lord, I chose to faithfully believe in your word that the work you have begun, you will complete within each of us. My God, your Spirit empower and guide us in this constant battle against our flesh and against a world of carnal thinking. May we be ever increasing in victories giving you all the glory. In the name of Yeshua I pray. Amen.

week of 10/19/11 2nd recorded HighQuest Romans 12:1-2

The passage I read was Romans 12:1-2

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1-2&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

As I reflect:

Paul starts off here urging us in light of God’s mercy to offer ourselves (our bodies) as living sacrifices. I believe here that there is a power of mercy being demonstrated for it’s effectiveness to change someone. I know of a story where a drunk person chose to drive and ended up colliding with another vehicle and killing a family’s daughter. In court that man that drove drunk was very apologetic and humble and in need of mercy. The family who lost their daughter just happened to be Christian and when they were faced with how to react to losing their loved one due to someone else breaking the law, they set the example of a true disciple of Christ and not only did they chose not to press any charges, but they also publically stated that they fully forgave him. Since that time, the man has not only not made the same mistake again, but he now spends time on a regular basis with this family of God and is considered by them to be like a son. This type of mercy has power. I have no doubt that the man’s behavior was changed permanently because of the great mercy he received. Something like that reaches into our very depths and it breaks a heart of stone bringing great change. Likewise is Paul’s point here. The world wants us to point fingers, punish, hate, eye for an eye mentality… But God says that we because of His great mercy ought to be changed. We are to be set apart from the world for God because of the great mercy He has shown us in that while we were yet sinners and deserved death, He gave His Son for us as a living sacrifice. We are to be different, transformed by the renewing of our mind (the way we think and perceive). We are to now be offered to God as a living sacrifice by the way that we live. We are to live pure and holy that others may be able to see what God’s perfect will is through what He does in us. In essence, this passage is saying that because we have been given mercy, we are to become the example of that mercy and also an example of holiness set apart for the God we serve so that others too may come to receive salvation, gaining faith by the huge difference they see in us.

My response to the Lord:

Jehovah – Yahweh, you have shown me great mercy and given divine salvation. My Adonai, I owe to you my life as a living sacrifice. I owe to you even more than this, but this I have to give; that I should be set apart from the world and be sewn into your vine producing new fruit in a world where the vines have shriveled and died. May you receive all the glory and be lifted high by how you are seen in me. May others be brought nearer to you by the mercy I show them as your mercy drew me in also. I pray that you would break hearts of stone and ice by your merciful acts of righteousness and that you by your great power would rebuild in love those who are without your salvation. Jehovah-Rapha, be healer of all nations and shine through your children to reach the lost. May I be a willing participant, unconfirmed to the practices of this world. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

week of 10/19/11 1st recorded HighQuest Ephesians 5:1-10

The passage I read was Ephesians 5:1-10

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A1-10&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

As I reflect:

My version (the NIV) starts off with, “follow God’s example,” but I have read it before in another version as “be imitators of God”. It is yet another memory verse for many Christians. The reason for this is because it separates us from men. We are not told to imitate other people, even those who appear to have greater deeds or morals than ourselves. We are instead told to follow the example of Christ. 1 Peter 1:15-16 states, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” I more than appreciate this because it gives me an aim that lacks judgment. For there is nothing in Christ for me to fall into judgment of. He (unlike any other possible leader/mentor on earth) has never failed. If I in childlike imitation am to do what I see done, then I would not want to follow anyone else.

Verse 3 and 4 go on to discuss in contrast the actions of the secular world and that these actions/words/thought processes have no place in those that are walking with the Lord. I don’t think Paul is saying that to become a saint you must not do these things. Instead, he is in a day of great sexual impurity and immorality (much like today) saying that as a saint these things ought not be a desire of your heart any more. After all, what joy does a person of the kingdom have in a vex of this world? Or what does a pure person desire of impurity? For those who have been cleansed have now seen the filth of such things and have no desire to again become ensnared in the muck and mire that they have been saved from. Simply put, we don’t live like we are holy as to become holy, but rather because we are made holy in Christ, we live in the way a saint ought to live.

Continuing with that separation thought of saint vs non saint, Paul speaks of the accountability of the person who chooses to stay in such a mindset as to take joy in those sinful ways. He says, “No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a person is an idolater – have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” This is a pretty self explanatory and straight forward verse making all the wider the line that separates the saved and unsaved by the way they chose to live and the outcome of where they also thusly chose to go. I greatly appreciate verse 6 and 7 as it clarifies the line of separation all the more.

I have often questioned how close to get to those who chose to continue in such immorality. I do want to be a witness to them, but sometimes struggle as to how close I need to get/stay to be an effective witness in their life. Here, I am told there is the wrath of God that is coming for those who are disobedient. This makes me want to be around them all the more as to take every opportunity to lead them away from disobedience and into a relationship that changes them from the inside out. However, I am also cautioned here to not partner with them. I believe this is similar to saying use discernment when choosing who is your friend vs. who is your mentee vs. who is unreceptive to your witness and thus you have no part in continuing in their presence. It’s a hard line to draw sometimes, though I have found it is sometimes a needed line. Though I don’t yet count myself as having perfected where and when to draw this line, each verse live verse 7 that I come across brings me one step closer and helps me to improve my discernment on the matter.

The last 3 verses seem to sum up well a great deal of our purpose. We are to be light to a world that is dead in the dark. We are to be fruitful. And finally, we are to find out what pleases the Lord. (the assumed un written is to then “do” what pleases the Lord)

My response to the Lord:

My Father in Heaven, I do have a genuine desire to please you. I know that it is impossible to do without faith because your word says so. And so my efforts to please you all stem from taking the word which you have given to me, believing what it says in faith, and applying it to my life daily. May this please you. I often wonder if at some points in my life I can count my action as a reason that you may have smiled in Heaven. It is a most pleasing thought, that somehow my humble efforts may have brought you happiness with your servant. The effort my children sometimes put into making a card or completing a project doesn’t lead to a product in itself that causes me to smile. Rather it is their effort of love that consumes me in joy. I hope it is the same with you; that your children here can make daily choices designed to please you and that it brings you joy to know that it is our desire to cause your smile. Lord, in an environment that is increasingly excepting not only sexual immorality, but every type of impurity and even making light of and joking about these things, may your Holy Spirit work in and guide me to be set apart and shine a light during those times when I might otherwise be tempted to take part. Continue to set me apart for your work Lord. In Jesus’ name.

week of 10/12/11 5th recorded HighQuest Philippians 2:5-11

The passage I read was Philippians 2:5-11

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%202:5-11&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

The whole thing.. ;0D

As I reflect:

I think every portion of this passage is a memorization verse. Lol. This is just an incredible passage that not only reminds me of the example that Jesus is to everyone that claims discipleship after Him, but also how we ought to treat one another.

This passage teaches me humility, and that in being humble I am lifted up by my God. It teaches me to be obedient no matter the cost because it is better to be obedient and lose everything but God, than to be disobedient and have everything but Him. It reminds me of not only who I am but also who I serve; that if He can become so lowly for me, I ought to become all the more lowly for my fellow human, being a good example of willing servitude; that He who gave His life for me wants me to lay my life down for the sake of others seeing Him. This is not supposed to be just a onetime reminder, but a daily reminder of how one who follows after Jesus ought to live themselves as a reflection of Him to this world. Our values are better shown then told.

My response to the Lord:

Help me to be a light for you Father God. I am so often tossed and turned by the waves that I forget my purpose and begin to live for myself. May you guide me always to be humble and keep a servant’s heart that others may see you in me, for I alone am nothing worthy of sharing, but it is you in me that gives me value. May I remember where the treasure lies in this broken clay. In Jesus’ name.

week of 10/12/11 4th recorded HighQuest Romans 5:6-15

The passage I read was Romans 5:6-11

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:6-11&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

As I reflect:

I chose 6 as the verse that most stood out to me but in all honesty it would be 6, 7, 8, & 11. Lol. This passage, though short, is packed full of power and many will probably recognize verse 8 as a common memory verse for good reason.

Verses 6-8 define us as the undeserving stating that we are powerless, ungodly sinners and yet He died for us. This type of statement I believe is designed to teach us that His love wasn’t something we earned or that can be earned from anything that is in us, but rather that His love comes only from reasons in Him. This swings the door wide open for all who recognize that they are unworthy to come to the feet of God and receive His free gift. It really doesn’t get any more inviting than that. I’ve never met anyone who looked at me and could list all of my most horrifying secret sins as easily as all my obvious short comings and then say that despite my failures and the fact that I deserve death, they love me enough to take my place under the guillotine. Jesus is the only one who loves us enough to make that offer. We don’t have to be righteous or good to be offered new life.

The last 3 verse seem to rather plainly say that if He is that gracious, that loving, that wonderful to us when we were His enemies, than how much more now that we are His children.

My response to the Lord:

I see it Father, I do. I see your love abounding. I know your timing was and is perfect as you saved me at just the right moment. As your enemy, you saved me out of your own love for me. Now, as your servant; as your friend I see the great blessings you have filled my life with. Thank you for my salvation. Thank you for my life, my family, my friends, patience, compassion, understanding, discernment… Thank you for all that you have and are doing in, through, and around me.

week of 10/12/11 4th recorded HighQuest Romans 5:6-15

The passage I read was Romans 5:6-11

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205:6-11&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

As I reflect:

I chose 6 as the verse that most stood out to me but in all honesty it would be 6, 7, 8, & 11. Lol. This passage, though short, is packed full of power and many will probably recognize verse 8 as a common memory verse for good reason.

Verses 6-8 define us as the undeserving stating that we are powerless, ungodly sinners and yet He died for us. This type of statement I believe is designed to teach us that His love wasn’t something we earned or that can be earned from anything that is in us, but rather that His love comes only from reasons in Him. This swings the door wide open for all who recognize that they are unworthy to come to the feet of God and receive His free gift. It really doesn’t get any more inviting than that. I’ve never met anyone who looked at me and could list all of my most horrifying secret sins as easily as all my obvious short comings and then say that despite my failures and the fact that I deserve death, they love me enough to take my place under the guillotine. Jesus is the only one who loves us enough to make that offer. We don’t have to be righteous or good to be offered new life.

The last 3 verse seem to rather plainly say that if He is that gracious, that loving, that wonderful to us when we were His enemies, than how much more now that we are His children.

My response to the Lord:

I see it Father, I do. I see your love abounding. I know your timing was and is perfect as you saved me at just the right moment. As your enemy, you saved me out of your own love for me. Now, as your servant; as your friend I see the great blessings you have filled my life with. Thank you for my salvation. Thank you for my life, my family, my friends, patience, compassion, understanding, discernment… Thank you for all that you have and are doing in, through, and around me.

week of 10/12/11 3rd recorded HighQuest Hebrews 9:11-28

The passage I read was Hebrews 9:11-28

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+9%3A11-28&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

28 So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

As I reflect:

There is a clear message here that once upon a time we would have to make blood sacrifices to cover our sins and because we were imperfect we would have to do this continually as we continued to make mistakes. Christ however does not have to die multiple times on the cross to pay for each of our sins each time we fall, but rather His one time sacrifice bore the weight of all of our sins for all time. And not only outwardly so, but also deep within us cleansing even our very conscience of the filthy soot left by sin.

This entire passage is demonstrating the eternal work on the cross as both a fulfillment of the old testament/covenant (a cashing in of the IOU to those who had practiced atonement for sin by blood sacrifice and covering) and as an everlasting promise to those who in faith would take up their crosses and follow Him from that point forward as well. I am one of those whose life not only here but in eternity has been severely impacted by the work Jesus did that is being spoken of here. And I look forward to and eagerly wait for the second time He will appear, apart from sin, for salvation.

My response to the Lord:

My Savior Jesus, I thank you for your work on the cross; for bearing the complete weight of my sin knowing already that I would one day come to call you my King. You have covered me once and for all time that I may be cleansed and forgiven. I thank you. With all that I am, I thank you.

week of 10/12/11 2nd recorded HighQuest Galatians 3:10-14

The passage I read was Galatians 3:10-14

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203:10-14&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

As I reflect:

Although I chose verse 11 as my “stood out to me” verse for the more obvious reasons, verse 12 also stands out to me. Verse 12 states the quote, “The person who does these things will live by them”. Though Paul is referring to living by the law and dying by the law (being dead in our sin), this passage reminds me of “live by the sword, die by the sword” and stands out to me as a message with even more impact than these famous words from our Lord. Similar in results, living by the law (not to be confused with doing our best to follow it) will lead to our ultimate death. It is a curse to try our hand at this for the wrong reasons. Following the law because we think it makes us holy or worthy of eternity with God in any way will lead us into worked based salvation, which we know is no salvation at all. This is especially true when we consider who impossible it is for us to maintain following every part of the law of God. Failure and thus eternal separation would be eminent. Paul doesn’t just point out the failing view that some of his recipients lived by, but he also offers us the alternative preferred perception, “the just shall live by faith.” It’s important that Paul shares this quote from Habakkuk 2:4 with them and with us. It serves as a reminder when we start getting caught up in the performance meter that Christianity can become that performance is in fact different than faith living. Though in our walks we are to strive and run as if to win this race, “the just shall live by faith” reminds us that our run doesn’t merit our salvation. This quote not only reminds us not to become caught up in a worked based salvation mentality, but it also serves as an encouragement when we can’t see that is to come or when we may wonder what the unseen work is that God is doing in us at that moment. This is a phrase that I believe would benefit us all to mention several times a day as a reminder to ourselves of how we ought to live. Without this faith; if we had the ability to live blamelessly by the law, then Christ’s redeeming work on the cross would have been in vain. It was this work on the cross that redeemed us allowing us to receive the blessing of Abraham – this promise of the Spirit through faith.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, I thank you for redeeming me by your Son’s actions on the cross. I thank you that I don’t have to live in the curse of knowing that if at any given time I fail at even just one commandment I am doomed for all eternity. I am thankful for that grace you have extended that I be removed from that cursed law of sin and death and granted your blessed Holy Spirit to walk with and guide me here. Help me to live in a just manner, doing your will. In Jesus’ name.

week of 10/12/11 1st recorded HighQuest Romans 3:21-26

The passage I read was Romans 3:21-26

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A21-26&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

As I reflect:

A common verse with a common problem.

Most believers have heard of and perhaps even memorized Romans 3:23 which says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”. But when we quote a verse we are to be cautious of quoting it out of context and in any way changing it’s meaning. I wonder how many believers know the context of this often quoted verse? It seems to be often used as the “don’t judge me because you sin too” verse. But that’s not the context. I see our righteousness being discussed here, not our judgment. 21 and 22 are talking about how we are made righteous not because of our selves but through faith it is given from God and is freely available to anyone who would share in that same faith in Jesus Christ. In verse 24 we are told all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. These closely surrounding verses help us to place verse 23 in the context it was meant for. It is a verse that communicates our likeness in both our need for and availability to accept Christ’s redemption and righteousness through faith. It’s not a “don’t judge me” verse but is rather a verse of recognition of our universal need and proper direction of glory to God for just where “our” righteousness comes from… Have you ever seen the picture of Jesus standing behind a man whose head is bowed as Jesus lays a white shining rode over the man’s shoulders? That picture is of what we are reading here. Christ because of His holiness and His deeds laid a covering of His righteousness on us (like clothing). We don’t deserve glory for it and shouldn’t be deceived by the “name it and claim it” generation of preachers that lead flocks to believe they deserve this righteousness and can claim themselves as holy because of it.

Verse 25-26 go one to more define what redemptive work was done by Christ’s sacrifice and why. This was not only an act of compassion, but a demonstration of righteousness and justification for those who have faith in Jesus.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, I recognize that apart from you I am nothing but sin. It is your righteousness that covers me and it is a free gift that you alone offer. There is nothing I can do to earn this pure covering that you have given through your redemptive work on the cross and in me. Thank you for your sacrifice of atonement Lord.

week of 10/05/11 4th recorded HighQuest Ephesians 2:4-10

The passage I read was Ephesians 2:4-10

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A4-10&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

As I reflect:

This passage starts off with a correction of many a believers thought’s that we have in some way earned God’s love for us. Note that every version you read of verse 4 states that it was because of God’s great love… No version found will state, “because of our great deeds we earned God’s love”. Nope. So many songs question what we have done to deserve His love. The answer is simply, “nothing”. Nothing we have done has earned His love for us and we have no right to take some sort of prideful credit for it as if we merited such mercy or compassion. This becomes even more apparent as Paul continues in verse 5 stating the time frame that we were made alive in Christ. He says that is was, “when we were dead in transgressions.” That reminds me of Romans 5:8 which says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Both Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:5 make it clear that we were sinners and thus we had no just deserves to God’s love. This is given simply out of His own compassion on us. Otherwise Paul would not have been able to go on saying that it is by grace that we have been saved.

There is a common pair of verses often memorized with an uncommon revelation for many. That pair verses is 8&9. I even remember that I memorized these at a Christian camp as a youth. I remember that my motive for memorizing them was to gain a patch which showed my hard work in memorization. I surely had the wrong intentions and as I look back find it quite ironic that I tried to earn merit by memorizing verses that say it cannot be earned but is a free gift so that no one can boast. I thank God now that that meaning has been made clear in my life.

For the focus of this week (being “faith”), I chose verse 8 as having stood out the most. Verse 8 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

You know, so many people that I have met and conversed with have shared how hard it is to have faith when times get rough or when things aren’t going our way. But I believe that if you have a strong relationship with the living God there is no doubt or struggle in the middle of those storms because you fully trust in Him. However, I feel the truest test of faith is in trusting and accepting the revelation that God loves you enough to die for you even though we are such filthy, wretched men… This is where real faith begins; accepting His unmerited grace and compassion on an undeserving world.

My response to the Lord:

Yahweh, thank you for loving us even though we are so undeserving. We have merited nothing but a fearful expectation of hell fire and yet you have out of your own great love for us shown us mercy. Not only that, but you have been gracious and compassionate and blessed us so abundantly beyond our needs. My knees shake as I approach your throne each time I pray. How does one stand in front of their kinsman Redeemer knowing what they have been saved from and at what price their salvation came? I fall to my knees and I thank you life my life laid down. I am yours.

week of 10/05/11 3rd recorded HighQuest 2 Kings 5:1-14

The passage I read was 2 Kings 5:1-14

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+5%3A1-14&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

As I reflect:

In my heavily paraphrased words, this is a story of one leader sending one of his injured men of great value to a rival leader to be healed in a way that neither leader sees as a possibility. An alternate perception might say this was to start a war. The injured man however is heavily afflicted by his skin disease and thus far more likely to believe or at least give every method a shot before giving up on being healed. I see a man of God ask the injured man to do something that is simple and would be obvious to everyone as an impossible means by which to be healed. I believe the man of God did this to prove that only God would do the healing, but at the same time there was effort required of the diseased man. A long story short, Naaman at some point did doubt, but thanks to the wise words of his servants he was obedient and was healed.

Not just a story, but something that actually happened in history, there is much to be learned here. Personally, I think the larger lessons are that “faith without works is dead” and “obedience can be key in reaping good”. How would this story have differed if Naaman believed his servant about the prophet but never journeyed to meet him? Or what if Naaman had not been obedient and dipped himself those 7 times in the Jordan? It is our responsibility to answer the calling God places on our life, much as it is also our responsibility to seek His will for us. I think at times God tells us to do something simple when we are expecting to be shown some grander vision with fireworks involved. But we need to be obedient and faithful with even the small and simple things trusting fully the God has a reason and that His plan is without error. Note how the servant’s faith started it all? She didn’t say there might be someone who could help. She said, “He would cure him of his leprosy.” What faith.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, help me to be faithful even with a little that you might be pleased. And if you should chose to give me more, than may I be as faithful with that as well. May others see my faith by my works that you may be glorified in me. I ask of your Holy Spirit for the will to follow through in obedience… even when it seems odd to me to do so. I want to be used by you and be a blessing to your kingdom. In Jesus’ name.

week of 10/05/11 2nd recorded HighQuest 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

The passage I read was 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A1-10&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

7 For we live by faith, not by sight.

As I reflect:

Paul in the previous chapter has just finished discussing some of our unseen traits. He talked about us being broken (cracked if you will) jars of clay with a great treasure inside of us. He also wrote about how outwardly we are fading away, yet inwardly we are being renewed each day. The point being made is the focal point we ought to have is not on the seen, but the unseen. Paul continues this approach in our passage.

He discusses our temporary body as we live here on earth (the seen) and our eternal and true body that we will have in our eternal home (the unseen). I think that this takes faith. Living in such a way as to trust in what is unseen takes a great deal of faith. Imagine the trust fall where you face a friend or family member and ask them to catch you. You then turn around and are unable to see them as they are now behind you. Then with your arms out to your sides you fall backwards without moving your feet to catch yourself and you have to trust them to catch you. Ok, that requires some small measure of trust in the person that says they will catch you. But, what if you never saw that person? What if someone else told you they were behind you and ready to catch you, but you had not seen them with your own eyes yet to verify that they were really there for you? A much greater faith is required for this scenario. We walk and live our lives day to day knowing that the unseen is very present on all sides of us. We know that there battles being fought by the fallen angels and the angels from Heaven. We know that we are being tempted by whispers from the enemy and that we walk with the Holy Spirit of God who encourages us to use the Word to destroy the lies our enemy tells. And we trust that we are not the bodies that people see us in. We are instead supernatural beings having a temporary natural experience and we recognize this by faith, looking forward to being home in our eternal bodies one day. We can also live in such a way as to have no fear of death because for us it is only the death of our temporary coverings as we pass on to greater things. In fact, we look forward to it as a release from the sufferings, hardships, trials, tribulations, and sin we experience only in this body and as a taking hold of who we truly are in Christ. And most of all we look forward to being absent from our temporary bodies because it means that we will be in the presence of God. It is because we are at home in this temporary body that our belief and trust in God is by faith. For when we go home it will no longer be a matter of faith but of seeing and being in the presence of the One on Whom we believed.

As I reflect on this, I can’t help but to see how others view us. For they see a people that trust in something other than themselves and yet they see no evidence of that “something” existing. We on the other hand can look nowhere in which there isn’t evidence of our Creator’s existence and desire to meet with us. May we salt the oats well, causing by our faith is our unseen God and by the evidence of His great works in and through us, a desire for others to come nearer to Him. This passage gives us not only the goal of being a good witness while in this body, but specifically to with all of our actions aim to please our Lord knowing that one day we will give an account of our actions before Him. I say witness because it is one of the things that we won’t be able to do once we are in His presence. I am focusing on what I can do while in this body, having faith that His Holy Spirit walks the path with me, guiding me that I might live in a way pleasing to my God.

My response to the Lord:

Holy Father, You are worthy of so much more than my life. But if it can be pleasing to you then I willingly lay down all that I am for your service. May your light be seen. May you be glorified in my actions and words. May my faith in you have a lasting effect on others that they may also be drawn to you Father. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to you my God. I pray your Holy Spirit guide and teach me that when I give account before You, You be well pleased. In Jesus’ name.

week of 10/05/11 1st recorded HighQuest John 6:22-40

The passage I read was John 6:22-40

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A22-40&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

As I reflect:

In verse 22 the first question by the Tiberians was asked. They asked, “when did you get here?”

Jesus didn’t answer that question but rather he explained to them why they came (as they didn’t actually have a desire to know when Jesus got there). He tells them that they are after the food that He had offered on the opposing side of the lake to the multitudes. He confronts them on that thinking, encouraging them instead to seek a different food – that which leads to eternal life… Spiritual food.

They then ask the 2^nd question, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Some believers are still doing this today. They are convinced that they can impress their way into Heaven by meeting enough checks on some kind of performance list. The truth is however that we all fail on our performance evaluation. And so Jesus again corrects them by refocusing from works to faith. He is trying to show them (though they remain blind) that they are seeking earthly food to be fulfilled and likewise that they are seeking to do earthly works to earn salvation. The truths that He offers is that they need to be seeking spiritual food and have life changing faith in the Word.

week of 09/28/11 5th recorded HighQuest Romans 2:1-11

The passage I read was Romans 2:1-11

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+2%3A1-11&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

As I reflect:

Paul is yet5 again making a comparison here for our benefit that we may know that we are no more righteous for our own good morals than those evil doers he speaks of in Romans 1. A humbling though for sure. We, as those with better morals, have no more excuse to tolerate in ourselves the sin placed by the enemy. Remember, “if you break even one law, then you are a law breaker and have broken them all.” (Paraphrased of course). Paul goes right into the topic of passing judgment (not to be confused with righteous judgment – something every discerning believer is called to do in love). Passing judgment is a process by which we condemn; write off, and slam the gavel to sentence a person for their sin. When we do this, we place ourselves in the seat that is meant only for God. We ought to instead make a righteous judgment (an assessment with discernment if you will), and then in love approach our struggling brother and help them to stand, bring them to pray in repentance, encourage them to walk upright before the Lord, and remind them that we too fall on a daily basis and need the Holy Spirit to help us walk. Paul says of the passing of judgment that we (because we also sin) are in fact passing as much judgment on ourselves. When we do this, again we are placing ourselves in a position which is not ours and we condemn ourselves in the act.

Paul drives the point home as he explains that in thinking higher of ourselves than we ought and by placing ourselves as “superiors” over our less moral compadres, we have in fact ignored the very characters and acts of God that were designed to bring us to a humble place of repentance. God’s goodness should lead us to recognize our lack of goodness and thus drive us to repent. His mercy should cause in us a reverence before Him, and His forbearance should cause in us a long suffering before men that we should be compassionate on others as God has long suffered our immorality before Him.

The passage goes into an area that can be confusing to the new believer because it can (at surface value) look like a works based salvation. Paul here is not dealing with works, but with the heart behind them. A heart change is surely required in trusting and confessing Jesus as Lord and repenting of our sins. The point of Paul describing the rendering according to deeds isn’t to suggest that a moral man will receive more than the obvious sinner. Rather it is to point out that the moral man and the obvious sinner alike both have a fearful expectation of wrath be it not for the grace of God. We know this because the verbiage is suggestive that the only way to Heaven is via perfected righteous acts throughout our entire life, living without any sin… But we know that this is unachievable even for the most moral of men and thus we cannot merit Heavenly entrance via our deeds. A great point Paul uses here to re focus us, reminding us that we are just as guilty before our just God and deserve wrath for all of our own evil. What a great way to humble a servant of God and mold him to help others that haven’t yet taken a hold of God’s grace and mercy.

This passage is wrapped up perfectly with a summary of the message as Paul tells us again that God is not partial. He doesn’t show favoritism. He is just. If you sin, a payment must be made for that sin. For the believer, the payment was Jesus’ blood. For the unbeliever, they have only to believe and repent for us to be alike.

My response to the Lord:

I am humbled Father. I have failed in many ways but this one strikes a chord on my heart especially. I have sinned before you in placing myself as a superior of others who turn their head from your Word. I am no better and I repent of such thoughts. Forgive me Father. I pray you continue to mold my view to have more compassion, less judgment, more love, more forgiveness of others… Just as you have had for me. I thank you always for your mercy that you not punish me though I am so deserving of wrath. I thank you always for your grace, that you continuously give good that I am undeserving of. Teach me to be more like you Abba. In Jesus’ name.

week of 09/28/11 4th recorded HighQuest 2 Corinthians 7:6-12

The passage I read was 2 Corinthians 7:6-12

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+7%3A6-12&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

As I reflect:

“In sin, the pleasure passeth, the sorrow remaineth; but in repentance, the sorrow passeth, the pleasure abideth for ever. God soon poureth the oil of gladness into broken hearts.” (Trapp)

Paul in writing this 3^rd letter to the Corinthian Christians rejoices not in that they were sorrowful or feeling sorry for their previous actions, but rather he rejoices in that this was a Godly sorrow that drove them to repent.

It hurts my heart to see fellow believers sinning and not counting it sin. But I rejoice when they finally realize that they were living in sin and become sorrowful for that. I rejoice not in their sorrow, but in the fact that the sorrow was a sign of a deeper conviction and because of that they will repent and grow. This is an exciting thing to get to see. I understand where Paul is coming from in this passage. I can parallel some situations in my own life to this.

It can be rough confronting another Christian on the topic of sin in their life, but we are called to do just that. Matthew 18:15 says, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” (this is of course the goal – that your brother would in fact listen to you) Leviticus 19:17 says, “Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.” Luke 17:3 says, “So watch yourselves. ‘If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” 1 Corinthians 5 goes even deeper on the matter. But the point is that God has given us a responsibility to do just what Paul did. He wrote a letter (in love) that confronted his brothers and sisters in Corinth who sinned so greatly during his last visit that he was left with no choice but to do so. I’m sure his heart was torn on the manner because he didn’t know how the letter would be received. I understand this. I have had Christian brothers and sisters who were in sin and needed to know. But I have always felt uneasy approaching them about it because most people have a certain pride to themselves that make it very hard to accept gentle rebuke. Paul didn’t know if this letter would cause them to grow increasingly upset with him (as his last visit kind of rowled things up a bit) or if they would receive the rebuke and make heartfelt decisions to change for the better; to turn away from sin and run to the Living God.

How relieved and joyful must his heart have been when Titus returned with the wonderful news of the way his message was received. I too would rejoice had a Godly rebuke from me caused a brother or sister to become sorrowful for their sin and repent from it. I would rejoice not in the sorrow, but in what the sorrow brought about. Praise God for turning even the worse of feelings into something useful; a driving force to achieve something so beautiful. That’s my God.

My response to the Lord:

Dear God, thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for driving me to repentance on that dark quite night so long ago. I remember still the weight I carried and how hard it was to stand beneath the pressure of who I was and how I had lived. I remember that feeling inside of me when I recognized just how wretched I was for the first time. It drives me still to repentance today. May I never sin and not be quickly driven to repentance. Lord, drive me to repentance always that I may never stray from you. Use my brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, strangers and friends alike if I should sin and not see the snare my foot is in. Drive me also in love to tell others so that they too would have the choice to be set free from the snares of our enemy. I love you Father, and I don’t want to sin against you and I know that my fellow believers love you as I. I trust you now and forever as our Father to raise us well, rebuking our wrongs and guiding us to your rights. In Jesus’ name.

week of 09/28/11 3rd recorded HighQuest Luke 18:9-14

The passage I read was Luke 18:9-14

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A9-14&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

As I reflect:

I have to admit I have been both of the people Jesus spoke of in this parable. The important part and the overall point here to repent of sinful pride and present yourself humble before God. This isn’t something I’ve just done once, but like the last study I did this is an effort that needs to be continuously made. The flesh isn’t going away until I move into eternity and so until that time I must continue battling; nay, waging war against the flesh. A large part of that war is against things like lust, love of money, selfishness, doubt, hopelessness, judgment, and of course pride. These types of things are not often in your face, loud and obvious type attacks. These are creeper sins. They sneak in slowly over time doing damage along the way and often by the time you realize they exist, they’ve done extensive damage already. It’s beneficial to keep guard against such sin sneaking into your life. Beneficial because sin hurts us and those around us often destroying our witness and being used as a tool for the enemy to make us feel distant from God. But it’s also beneficial to keep guard against such sin because Jesus says, “those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

My response to the Lord:

My God, thank you for hearing my prayers. You truly are the most High King of Kings and I have no qualifications that allow me to approach your throne. I am so thankful that you not only hear me, but that you call me your child… You have adopted me. And now both as your servant and as your child and friend I ask you to keep me from becoming confident in my own righteousness and judging others in an unholy manner. I trust you as my Friend, my Master, My Father, and My God to guide me in such a way that if there is anything good found in me I give you the glory always. May I not fall into the temptation of exalting myself and becoming prideful. In Jesus’ name.

week of 09/28/11 2nd recorded HighQuest Luke 13:1-5

The passage I read was Luke 13:1-5

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+13%3A1-5&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

As I reflect:

No one person deserves salvation or death more than any other person, but all equally deserve death for their sins. All likewise have a free choice to repent or perish. The words of this passage had a very real meaning for those listening. For it was not even one generation of time before Jerusalem was destroyed and many who were present for this message came face to face with the outcome of their choice from that day. Some had repented, but others perished for an eternal separation from God. Neither the people present for the message, nor those whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices, nor those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them knew when their end would come.

This message should have even more impact on us today knowing not what tomorrow brings and yet having the choice to repent and know our Creator in a very real way. Jesus didn’t water this message down but made it very clear that we are all guilty and deserve death. “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

My response to the Lord:

Lord, in my studies I have found that the Greek words for the first and second time “repent” is used in this passage, there are different definitions. One indicates a one time event and the other indicates a continuing verb. Lord, may I continue to turn from my sins and never find comfort in them or believe the false promises the enemy makes while tempting me to commit them. Lord, drive me away from my sins and empower me to overcome them by your Holy Spirit working in my life. In Jesus name.

week of 09/28/11 1st recorded HighQuest 2 Peter 3:1-13

The passage I read was 2 Peter 3:1-13

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A1-13&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

11 & 13

As I reflect:

There is a pattern to the general population on earth. We are not to liken ourselves after that pattern. Instead, we out to live holy and godly lives and keep with His promises. We are to think and perceive differently as we see things not through the blinders of the enemy, but we have been given sight and can now look through the eyes of God on all matters. We do not lean on what man says but we trust with our lives what God says.

I gotta be honest. This passage was part of a week of studying repentance, and though I see the correlation, for me it is instead completely about trusting that God will do what He said He will do. Last week we took a look at sin and one of the lessons very clearly laid out a major tool of Satan in his attacks against believers and potential believers alike. That tool was doubt. This passage clearly wages war against such an attack and I believe that If Peter can make such a strong stand against the nay sayers sayings that we ought to be able to in faith do the same still today. Do not let doubt enter your mind, but instead be faithful without wavering and know that God will complete the work He began fulfilling every promise made along the way.

My response to the Lord:

Father, I have just come out of a seemingly long trial and I am still fairly unsure of what the purpose of the trial was. Though I have recognized some benefits in my own characteristics as well as in the possibility of being moved by you to new places. One such difference I notice is that my faith in your word and work in us is stronger than before. I am not so easily convinced by the world’s face values and I thank you for heightening and building into my views, understandings, and wisdom. May I be molded ever more to your image Father. Thank you for your work in me. I believe on you.

week of 09/21/11 5th recorded HighQuest Romans 7:14-15

The passage I read was Romans 7:14-25

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A14-25&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

&

20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

As I reflect:

I greatly understand the struggle Paul explains here. I understand what God’s written word says and what His living Word wills for me and I desire to do this will. However, I (like Paul and like most believers) find myself struggling daily against my flesh. The very soul of my being belongs to and is completely sold out for Christ. My mind is made up and I will follow Him completely without wavering for I owe Him my life and I gladly lay it down. I love God with every fiber of who I am… However, my flesh…That’s a different story. My flesh is not under the full control that I desire it to be and I find it making choices I don’t condone. There is very much two different parts to me and the one that I identify with and count my identity in is the part of me that is 100% for Christ. My flesh in failing I look forward to leaving behind when I go to receive my new body and meet my Savior. When finally my struggles are over and my body is no longer raised in a finite and sinful world.

The other note was in blame. Though I don’t use it as an excuse to sin, it is certainly good for me to know that based on my commitment to Christ, when I sin un-willfully, I can separate myself from that knowing that it is not me but my flesh which falls. May I learn all the more to control the flesh and bend it also to the will of the Lord.

My response to the Lord:

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

week of 09/21/11 4th recorded HighQuest James 2:6-13

The passage I read was James 2:6-13

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A8-13&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

Hard to pick just one verse that sticks out to me here. Every verse seems to stand out as the most meaningful. If I had to pick, I’d say verse 8 or 13.

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 13 Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

As I reflect:

First off James is dealing with our sense of favoritism in this passage. Specifically that we aren’t to have any. If you love the rich person and show them the best seat at your dinner but don’t treat the poor man the same, then you cannot excuse yourself saying that you were just showing the rich man the treatment you should. Being nice to the rich man isn’t the problem with that. Not treating the poor man the same is the problem. Just think, God chose some very incapable, hated, lowly people to qualify for a multitude of callings. For example: He chose me.

Not only does he deal with the favoritism between people, but also favoritism of commands or laws (also known as selective obedience). Think about it paralleled to a job today. If you go to work and think you are any better than a co-worker who always breaks many rules and yet you continuously break even just one rule, then you are in the wrong and may just as easily be fired for the breaking of that one rule as your co-worker may be fired for breaking many. When you find yourself standing in line at the unemployment office and you notice your ex-co-worker in line with you, you may better note the similarity in your both. It is likewise with the law of God. If you break even one commandment, you are as guilty as had you break them all. This however isn’t stated in a way as to cause guilt or condemnation but rather in such a way as to enforce the idea of not being able to perform in a righteous and deserving manner on your own. You will eventually in some way sin, and when you do you are as guilty and as in need of grace as anyone else. In this way the passage is wrapped up with sharing mercy in the same way you receive mercy from God. Don’t be partial giving mercy to one person and not to another. This is the same principal through the entire passage. For me, this passage deals with favoritism and makes clear that it can easily be a sin.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, may you help me to be transparent not only with others but also with myself. May I not show others favoritism but rather treat everyone as you treat me. May I be merciful and giving. May I forgive and love unconditionally. Lord, I ask you to do these things through me because in my flesh I know I cannot alone. Please Lord provide in me the type of light you want to shine, the type of message you want delivered. In Jesus’ name.