05-23-12 "Reverent Wonder" 1 Timothy 4:6-10

The passage I read was 1 Timothy 4:6-10

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy%204:6-10&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

⁸ For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

As I reflect:

The passage starts out talking about the previous few verses where Paul tells Timothy that there are deceiving spirits which teach things that aren’t true.  You and I often call those influenced by these spirits “false prophets”.  Paul says that if we point these out to the brothers and sisters we will be good ministers of Christ Jesus.  I gotta tell you I have a bit of personal experience on both sides of this situation. 

I have been the younger more immature Christian that is being told these things and I have also told other brothers and sisters about them.  Some of the earlier things I was told by mentors include being warned that Joel Osteen was a false prophet, Christmas is a pagan tradition (even as celebrated surrounding the birth of Jesus), Easter is pagan, Joyce Meyers is a false prophet, and several other huge eye opening truths in life.  Now, when I was first told these things, admittedly I had a great deal of doubt even though the info came from trusted mentors.  I still felt in the back of my mind that they were simply being judgmental or legalistic or had heard incorrect information from a conspiracy theorist in the theology phase of their life.  In fact I would sometimes thank them for the info but then go and do research to the contrary just to prove to myself that they were wrong and I could still celebrate whatever and listen to whomever I felt was right.  But, I was wrong.  In time I came to realize as my studies got deeper that I had been deceived by lying spirits.  My entire life was filled with seemingly little lies that were told to me from parents, books, teachers, strangers, advertisements, and the overall traditions of a nation and beyond that a culture that has existed since Satan’s first lie in the garden.  Because I spent a lifetime believing in certain traditions as holy, you can imagine I was defensive at first.  But despite my love of the traditions, my desire for truth was far greater and God revealed to me the lies I had fallen for.  After significant study and prayer (lasting several years on one particular topic), I found their warnings true. 

 I think back to those who told me the truth and today they are still trusted advisors and yet I still research a great deal of what they say (merely because we are all human and fallible).  But I didn’t realize then what a great task they took on when they told me those truths.  I since have heard of other brothers and sisters that have been lied to and believe in false prophets to be God’s servants.  I have come to those times in conversation when I must tell them the truth or be held accountable for saying nothing and allowing them to believe in a lie that could lead them astray.  

Let me tell you, not all “Christians” respond in the way I did when first told the truth.  It’s harder to share than you may think.  But we are told to nourish truth and be good ministers.  We are told to have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales.  We are told to train ourselves to be godly.  Doing this does require going through some uncomfortable self examination and many times we may find that what the world told us was real, was an illusion; what a “man of God” on stage said, was really deceit from a man that knoweth not Our Father; that our fun memories finding dyed eggs were really just idol worship of a false god.  Let us put these wives’ tales aside and be honest with ourselves and with each other.  Let us train ourselves to be godly and seek truth.  Let us labor and strive putting our hope in the living God and not in traditions of cultures that are foreign to the truth. 

05-01-12 "Hopeful Perseverance" Romans 5:1-5

The passage I read was Romans 5:1-5

You can find that passage here:

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

The verse that most stood out to me:

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings,because we know that suffering produces perseverance;⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hopedoes not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

As I reflect:

It’s too short a passage to just pick one verse that stands out, so I chose the whole thing as having stood out. Lol.  I actually quoted a portion of this passage yesterday not knowing it was on the agenda for study today.  We often discuss, study, and meditate on pushing through difficulties in our lives as followers of Christ.  Often the focus is on just persevering and how to do so by the Holy Spirit, but this passage is special to me because I am a “why” person.  When someone at work tells me to do something, often before I even consider beginning, I will ask “why”.  When one of my children has disobeyed me, it is often more important to me to know “why” rather than just jumping right into punishment.  When a stranger raises their voice at me and calls me all sorts of evil because of their cable not working, my first thought is “why is their cable this important”.  I am a why person.  I ask it about price increases globally, the introduction of sin in the garden, and when something breaks down.  This passage gives us insight as to “why” we suffer.

As Christians we can simply take it on the Word of God to rejoice when we suffer.  But from time to time, we may be tempted to ask God “why”.  Here, He has graciously offered us an answer in advance.  He doesn’t expect us to simply rejoice because someone says that the Bible tells us to.  He gives us the answer to the “why”.  We are not suffering in vain.  But we suffer because it produces perseverance.  We persevere because it produces character.  We have character built up in us so that we might understand and obtain hope.  And we have this hope of the work of the Lord in our life; the hope of His return; the hope of one day going to our eternal home with our Savior and it expresses to us His great love being poured into our lives through His Holy Spirit.  We don’t suffer in vain.  Nor do we persevere without end.  There will come a day when our suffering will cease and we will be with our Lord.  When you suffer and begin to wonder why you feel this way, know that the Lord is at work and is actually building and lifting you up that you may have hope and character.  You are being strengthened by the suffering you now endure.  It is with great purpose that we have trials and tribulations of all kinds.  I can rejoice in this knowing and trusting that it is part of God’s design to complete the work begun in me.  Rejoice with me as He also works in you.  

05-01-12 "Hopeful Perseverance" James 1:1-8

The passage I read was James 1:1-8

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:1-8&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

As I reflect:

This week’s focus is “hopeful perseverance”.  A common denominator among the passages chosen thus far is that hardship is not something to be sad about or even fearful of.   Rather the contrary, hardship is something to rejoice over because we know it is going to be used for our good.  In this 1^st part of James we read “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”  This reminded me of a few other passages from God.

Romans 5: ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Matthew 5: ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Romans 8: ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Those are of course just a few of the many that carry this same feeling.  At this point in the week my view of persecution isn’t just that it’s not bad, but that it strengthens in a way that nothing else can.  I would liken hardships and trials to a workout.  The best workouts for the human body are the ones where you push yourself beyond what you have previously done.  The reason for this is because the only way to improve upon you physical condition in a workout is to strive to do more each time.  Many times during a workout we may want to quit because it’s hard.  But if we persevere and push through those times, we find a since of accomplishment and a reward of better health for having done so.  We are very similar to this in our spiritual and mental lives as well.  The things that grow our spiritual and mental strength and abilities are often the things which we least desire or those which cause us the greatest discomfort.  But just as you push through when you want to quit at the ymca, we also must persevere when we are under mental, spiritual, and for many across the globe even physical attack.  For these times can be the very passage to our becoming stronger in our faith, hope, and daily work in the harvest.   Rejoice when times of hardship are upon you and trust in God.  He may very well be answering your prays to be a greater witness or to further His kingdom.  

05-01-12 "Hopeful Perseverance" Luke 8:4-15

The passage I read was Luke 8:4-15

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+8%3A4-15&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

As I reflect:

You know, I have read this particular parable many times and reflected from multiple angles on its meaning and application to our lives.  Never have I looked at it to consider perseverance though.  This was a first for me. 

At first I thought perhaps I will reflect on how the seed that fell on the path and was quickly eaten by birds, is an example of those who lack the ability to persevere against Satan’s crimes… But then I realized without God, they would have no way to persevere against the enemy.  Then I thought maybe the focus of perseverance lays among the thorny bushes.   These Christians should have persevered against the distractions, worries, and riches of the world.  But then again, they were never removed or separated from such things to begin with.  Their soil wasn’t prepared and cleaned.  I wondered if the topic would be better reflected on looking at seed among rocks.  But again I was left considering the obvious excuses for lacking perseverance.  The only option I found, was looking at myself.

I am the soil that is fertile.  In me I have the word which is the seed of my new life.  Here, in this soil I see the potential for all of the dangers that effected the other seeds but with one huge difference.  I find myself being looked after, watered, fed, protected from weeds and thorns.  I can take no credit for my soil; my heart, for it was by with great heart ache and pain that it was broken and prepared to receive the seed.  I didn’t choose God before He chose me.  Of this I am certain.  I never would have chosen to be humbled in the manner that it occurred.  I never would have chosen to be broken down and lose everything for the sake of finding new life.  This was God’s doing.  His Holy Spirit worked the field and prepared me to receive the Word of God. 

For those who believe today; who diligently seek Christ, we must persevere against thorns and weeds of the world that attempt to blind us and choke the word of God out of us.  We must persevere and watch for the enemy’s attempts to steal the truth we so fervently believe.  We must persevere against the climate of rocky terrain under scorching heat as we seek deeper root daily feeding on every Word that comes from God.  We are refreshed by His good grace being poured out on us a new each day.  May we grow and persevere that our Master be pleased with the fruitful crop we become.  May we also reach out to one another and help keep the garden free from distractions, lift one another up when weary, and keep watchful eyes over one another to protect each other from unseen attacks.  

05-01-12 "Hopeful Perseverance" Hebrews 12:1-11

The passage I read was Hebrews 12:1-11

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:1-11&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

As I reflect:

The topic for study this week is “hopeful perseverance”, and this is a great passage to start out with for that topic.  As I reflect, I see 2 main angles being discussed. 

1 – The race comparison (run with perseverance)

When one is running a race (and I’m no athlete any more but have a history of Martial arts competitions and Military exercises), it would be easy to simply stop when we get tired.  But we wouldn’t cross the finish line this way.  We would lose completely and it would have been better to have not shown up at all.  We are instead encouraged to run with perseverance.  These 1^st three verses give some key elements of how to do that. 

a. surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.  Here we see that we have encouragers (some who have struggled in far greater battles than our own).  We ought to receive their encouragement as we read their stories and see their own perseverance as well as when we hear them still today through those who surround us and share the Word of God through the encouragement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. 

b. Let us throw off everything that hinders us.  You wouldn’t run a race with 10 layers of clothing, a cold, a car strapped to your waist, and a back pack of bricks (though some might actually train this way).  No, you would throw off all that baggage and run well hydrated with little to no weight to restrain you and an outfit which allowed your body to breath.  Likewise as we run the race of a life lived for Christ, we want to throw off all that hinders that.  Sin.  As we recognize sin in our lives we are to throw it off so that our walk with Christ (our race) isn’t hindered.  I want to grow and become a better runner for the prize but will have great difficulty if I carry hidden weights and extra layers of clothing.  This race requires letting go of sin and holding very lightly to possessions that they may fall from your hand without regret when the Holy Spirit moves you.  Let’s lighten the spiritual and physical load and run without entanglement. 

c. Fixing our eyes on Jesus.  This is the prize.  We aren’t running to get into Heaven.  I don’t want it if Jesus isn’t there.  I’m running to fall at the feet of my blessed Redeemer who has taken my place, my shame, my pain, my punishment upon Himself that I may live free from the eternal damnation of sin.  This is my prize; that I might reach the finish line and hear from my Savior, “well done my good and faithful servant.”  I keep my eyes on this prize.  I see Him at the finish line and I look ever forward to His embrace.  With such a prize awaiting how could anyone stop running?

d. He endured the cross.  I am not only encouraged by the great mass of others who have already endured this race and also by those still setting the example today, but also by my Lord Who has already completed the race.  His prize is far greater because His race was infinitely harder.  He ran not only the race of life, but also took on the weights that we now lay down.  All that would hinder us, we lay aside as we receive grace from the one that carried all that we couldn’t.  I am encouraged knowing that Jesus did this as a man.  If He then endured far greater for my sake, then I may run this race focused and encouraged by Him already having faced every temptation along the way.  I know it can be done, because He did it.  I know He knows how it feels, because He felt it. 

2 – As a father disciplines his child…

Secondly I noted the comparison of God the Father in disciplining us to our earthly fathers disciplining us as children.  In my case it was usually my mom as I had several father figures but she was the one who was always there.  Many times when I was punished I can remember feeling angry and resenting her or even building up bitterness.  But looking back with an adult view of it all, I get it now.  Each and every punishment received was because I was in the wrong and needed correcting.  I was corrected not out of hate but love.  I was corrected not for everyone else’s sake but for my own so that I may grow up knowing right from wrong and the gifts that come from doing the right thing vs. the ill effects of doing wrong.  It is likewise in the way that the Lord holds us accountable for our actions.  Infinitely wiser of course, but same concept.  Because He loves us so dearly, He cannot then allow us to continue sinning because He knows the ill effects of that sin.  He then punishes, rebukes, corrects that we may know right from wrong and make a good choice.  He wants us to grow in wisdom and so He isn’t a silent God turned away from His children, but like an active Father in our lives He is ever present and guiding through His Holy Spirit.  Let us not grow bitter or angry with God because “the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Be encouraged in hopeful perseverance for this correction shows that He cares for you as His own child.  Let this then bring joy as you run the race marked out for you.