Some notes:
The first few verses are a great reminder that kharma isn't real. Romans 3:23 says we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God.
The next few versesreminds us that after we take root as Christians, we have to start bearing fruit or we aren't really what we think we are. Powerful stuff. What fruit am I bearing?
Working on the Sabbath. This is a tough one. It is so easy to go all legalistic like the pharisees and wind up with a special oven that has a Sabbath Mode so you don't have to push a button to eat. (But I guess that opening the oven isn't "work"). This is the mindset that turned the pharisees from helping people on the sabbath. On the flip-side, how often do I pay attention to the 4th commandment? We have system Sunday at work, but I'm not a typical participant. However, do I tend to my property and my home - yes, fairly often. I need to think about this and work on it.
The mustard sees and yeast analogy are pretty awesome when it really comes down to it. The kindom of God - the maker of the heavens and earth is this tiny little thing that can permeate everything and change its very nature. Wow.
The narrow door is a great way to refocus and remind you of fear of the Lord. I'm a Christian and am assured of my salvation, but gosh, sometimes I feel like I'll be banging on the closed doors screaming, "Moses, Jesus, pu-leeeease let me in!"
Memory verses:
Luke 16:13
John 3:16
John 1:1-3
John 16:4
Matthew 28:19-20
Romans 3:23
Ephesians 2:8-9
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Luke 12:49-59
In reading these two sections a few things struck out at me. The first was a reminder that we really need to be careful to exegete when we read scripture. I have a feeling that a great many people have used Luke 12:59 to justify a concept of purgatory. Its worrysome whenever people overfocus on a single verse out of context - and it happens a lot.
The second thing that struck me was the "not peace, but division" section (Luke 12:49-53). Its a point worth dwelling on. While jesus saves, he does not create a cum-bi-yah circle of hapiness for everyone. He creates conflict between those who believe and those who don't.
Application: This is a great reminder that no matter how close I am with someone, I should never let them get in the way of my relationship with Christ, even if it means conflict.
Memory verses for today (building on previous list)
Matthew 28:19-20
Romans 3:23
Ephesians 2:8-9
The second thing that struck me was the "not peace, but division" section (Luke 12:49-53). Its a point worth dwelling on. While jesus saves, he does not create a cum-bi-yah circle of hapiness for everyone. He creates conflict between those who believe and those who don't.
Application: This is a great reminder that no matter how close I am with someone, I should never let them get in the way of my relationship with Christ, even if it means conflict.
Memory verses for today (building on previous list)
Matthew 28:19-20
Romans 3:23
Ephesians 2:8-9
Monday, August 30, 2010
Luke 12:35-48
This is the call to faithful stewardship. And a faithful steward I have not been. It's been close to two months since my last entry. I've been in a trough in the past few months, but the fog is lifting and I'm starting to get back on track.
When JB died, my great friend Ryan reminded me of a saying he heard from Blake at Watermark, "Know your theology before you go in." It was basically saying that we can't wait for the emergency to learn what we need to say at that moment. We nned to know what to say so that when the tragedy hits, we have a response. This is so true is is laughably simple. Get into the Word while your life is calm so that when it isn't you are armed.
Today, I will get armed.
Today, I've been memorizing the following verses:
John 3:16
John 1:1-3
John 16:4
When JB died, my great friend Ryan reminded me of a saying he heard from Blake at Watermark, "Know your theology before you go in." It was basically saying that we can't wait for the emergency to learn what we need to say at that moment. We nned to know what to say so that when the tragedy hits, we have a response. This is so true is is laughably simple. Get into the Word while your life is calm so that when it isn't you are armed.
Today, I will get armed.
Today, I've been memorizing the following verses:
John 3:16
John 1:1-3
John 16:4
Monday, July 19, 2010
1 Corinthians 7:1-16
I fell off the wagon. It's been about a month since I've done any real studying. That being said, I haven't been completely out of the Word. Nightly bible reading with my son, occasional verse look-ups for discussions or encouragement, etc.
The theme of this section is equality in marriage. The awesome part of this is how radical this was. This was the original feminism. One husband, one wife - the end of polygamy. Man fulfils his duty, woman hers. Husband's body doesn't belong only to himself. Likewise with her. Men (gender neutral) now were equals, regardless of gender, and especially in marriage.
It also highlighted the importance of believers holding to the standard even when the other partner is not a believer. Gosh, that worked well for Caren :)
The theme of this section is equality in marriage. The awesome part of this is how radical this was. This was the original feminism. One husband, one wife - the end of polygamy. Man fulfils his duty, woman hers. Husband's body doesn't belong only to himself. Likewise with her. Men (gender neutral) now were equals, regardless of gender, and especially in marriage.
It also highlighted the importance of believers holding to the standard even when the other partner is not a believer. Gosh, that worked well for Caren :)
Monday, June 21, 2010
1 Corinthians 6
You are somewhere on that list.
Sexually immoral, idolator, adulterer, male prostitute, homosexual, theives, greedy, drunkard, slanderer, swindler.
Yup, we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. This list is a good reminder that while we may not be all of them, we are at least one of them and that makes us no better than anyone else that is something else on the list.
The Good News is that "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
I don't want to fluff over 6:12-20. My body is a Holy Temple. That is powerful stuff and my goal this week is to keep it at the front of my brain.
Sexually immoral, idolator, adulterer, male prostitute, homosexual, theives, greedy, drunkard, slanderer, swindler.
Yup, we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. This list is a good reminder that while we may not be all of them, we are at least one of them and that makes us no better than anyone else that is something else on the list.
The Good News is that "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
I don't want to fluff over 6:12-20. My body is a Holy Temple. That is powerful stuff and my goal this week is to keep it at the front of my brain.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
1 Corinthians 5
Context, Context, Context.
1 Conrinthians 5 strikes me as a passage that could be easily abused and misused. Most people tend to extract the "a little yeast" nugget from this chapter. However, I think there is a much bigger thing going on. Verse 9 says "I have written to you to not associate with sexually immoral people, not meaning...[usual sinners, or everybody]" Verse 11 takes it to another level: "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who...[does a longer list]"
Two observations about this:
1. Sexual sin takes a very unique position. God obviously views it as holy and something to be very careful with. I don't think this is because he is a prude. It is because he loves us and knows that our most base animal instincts, those parts of our makeup that are least human, are where we can get into the most trouble.
2. Paul is making a strong point here. If you can't handle the simple, easy instruction, don't back down - make it an even higher standard. That way, when you fall short (and you will) you will arrive at the lower, required standard. In other words set yourself up for success. Realize your sinful nature - don't give in to it, but be aware enough to know that you won't conquer it (but by the power of Christ).
1 Conrinthians 5 strikes me as a passage that could be easily abused and misused. Most people tend to extract the "a little yeast" nugget from this chapter. However, I think there is a much bigger thing going on. Verse 9 says "I have written to you to not associate with sexually immoral people, not meaning...[usual sinners, or everybody]" Verse 11 takes it to another level: "But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who...[does a longer list]"
Two observations about this:
1. Sexual sin takes a very unique position. God obviously views it as holy and something to be very careful with. I don't think this is because he is a prude. It is because he loves us and knows that our most base animal instincts, those parts of our makeup that are least human, are where we can get into the most trouble.
2. Paul is making a strong point here. If you can't handle the simple, easy instruction, don't back down - make it an even higher standard. That way, when you fall short (and you will) you will arrive at the lower, required standard. In other words set yourself up for success. Realize your sinful nature - don't give in to it, but be aware enough to know that you won't conquer it (but by the power of Christ).
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
1 Corinthians 4
Well, I fell off the wagon. Here's to starting up again. Romans 7:18 states "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."
Lets just say that I knew this blog was good, but I just couldn't bring myself to it. Now, back to Corinthians.
"Indeed, I do not even judge myself" What a powerful, compact, downright liberating thing to be able to say! In that one little sentence, you can shed off low self-esteem, guilt, anxiety, and fear. Not only does relationship with Christ compel us to not judge others, we don't even get to judge ourself. In essence, combining this with Romans 7:18 shows that we can't even perform well enough for ourselves, much less God, but that is a good thing, not something to fear.
Lets just say that I knew this blog was good, but I just couldn't bring myself to it. Now, back to Corinthians.
"Indeed, I do not even judge myself" What a powerful, compact, downright liberating thing to be able to say! In that one little sentence, you can shed off low self-esteem, guilt, anxiety, and fear. Not only does relationship with Christ compel us to not judge others, we don't even get to judge ourself. In essence, combining this with Romans 7:18 shows that we can't even perform well enough for ourselves, much less God, but that is a good thing, not something to fear.
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