Thoughts on Christ and His Word

Jesus commanded us to "Go and make disciples".  Which of course implies we need to be one before we can make one. Then He told us how; "teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you".  So I teach them what to do and they go out and do it.  But there is a missing ingredient here that is easily missed --- faith.  Faith is the link between KNOWLEDGE and PRACTICE.  Knowing something in my head doesn't automatically make me practice that rule or value.  I must believe that indeed God said to do it and that He's got my best interest in mind.  This is why Hebrews says: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  Hebrews 11:6 In order to please God I must believe that He exists and that He is Loving (" he rewards those who earnestly seek him ").  When I believe those two things I will obey anything He tells me to do.  F

God brings discipline and trials into our lives in order to increase our faith and bring out the character of Christ in us. Yet even as God brings discipline on us he sets limits on what will happen to us. Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations 3:22 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." So just like God set a limit on what Satan could do to Job, he sets limits on all our discipline and troubles that He sends or allows to come our way. He also sets a time limit for the discipline and trials.  These will only last for a season. Jeremiah also wrote "For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.  Lamentations 3:31-32 So for us what we need to learn to do is to wait quietly for God to finish the work he started through the trials, the discipline and the troubles. Lamentations 3:26 says "It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.&q

Does man have free will to choose God or does God move a man's heart so that he must choose God? Jer 24:7 - I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jer 29:13 - You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. These verses seem to answer the question in contradictory ways. And so do many verses in Scripture point to two different and opposite conclusions. This falls into what can be called an antinomy. Antinomy: A contradiction between two apparently equally valid principles or between inferences correctly drawn from such principles.  Miriam Webster Dictionary A contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a paradox. Oxford Dictionary What to us are irreconcilable principles, to God its not a problem because He's got a bigger brain. Let's accept what God has said and move on.

Is God happy today? Should I be happy today? Clearly God is angry at sin.  Paul wrote that "the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" Rom 1:18 But having a big picture/eternal perspective, God is a happy and satisfied God. Because He knows that in the end everything works out according to His purpose. While carrying  the cross Jesus had joy in His heart (Heb. 12:2) as He looked forward to the day  when all his redeemed children would be with Him in heaven forever. The purpose of the Apostle John writing the book of Revelations was to give us comfort in our trials and troubles knowing that everything will work out in the end - we are going to be with Jesus forever. First will meet Jesus in the air, then we get a brand new perfect body.  Then we get to rule a new Earth with Him for 1000 years and for the grand last scene,  we will spend the rest of eternity walking with Jesus d

It's hard to describe what a real man looks like nowadays. Many women are trying to turn men into women and some women are trying to become more like men. God describes a certain group of men from a town called Jabesh Gilead as "valiant men", a trait which God seems to praise. When Saul was first made king of Israel the town of Jabesh Gilead was surrounded by an enemy army. They asked for the surrender of the city and to gouge out the right out of every man. The people of Jabesh Gilead sent for help throughout Israel. King Saul led the Israelites and defeated the enemy force, thus  saving Jabesh Gilead from capture and humiliation. Fast forward to the end of King Saul's life. The Philistines fought the army of Israel and King Saul, his sons, and his army were defeated. The Philistines cut off Saul's head and hung his body and the body of his sons on the outside wall of a nearby town. When the men of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul... &qu

David battled against feelings of revenge throughout his life. When King Saul pursued David on several occasions, twice David had an opportunity to kill him, but he would not touch the one the Lord had anointed king over Israel. In both cases he simply put it in the hands of God. He believed that God would judge between them and that God would bring about justice in the in His time. (1 Sam. 24:12) In 1 Samuel 25 David wants to take revenge against a man named Nabal. Nabal refused to send supplies to David even though David had protected his men and his livestock. But this man was ungrateful and wicked. So David descended with 400 men to attack and kill Nabal and all the men with him. Nabal's wife Abigail intercepted David with a lot of food and supplies. She spoke to him very intelligently and encouraged him not to take revenge on Nabal. She reasoned with David that if he killed Nabal and all his men, that he would have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed

How active is God in the heart of people? 1 Samuel 24 has two fascinating verses that reveal the answer to this question from the perspective of two Old Testament characters: v.10 - [David said] This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ v.18 -  [Saul said] You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. Both David and Saul shared a common belief that God is actively involved in the hearts of men and women. It was God who made Saul desire to use the bathroom and he moved Saul to choose the very cave where David was hiding. Both believed that God delivered Saul into David's hand. God actively moved in Saul's heart to put him right where he wanted him. Of course God did not want David to kill Saul. Rather this was a test of David

Joy is elusive. Trials, troubles, and tribulations suck the joy right out of our lives. So here's a thought I just read on how to thrive in the midst of life's storms: "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things." -Kay Warren

Have you ever wanted to say to somebody "You're crazy"?  This happens when someone's perception of reality is so off base that you almost can't believe what you're hearing come out of their mouth. I'm sure that in the case of the priest Ahimelech, he wanted to shout to King Saul "You're crazy". Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." "Yes, my lord," he answered.  Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?"  Ahimelech answered the king, "Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household?  1 Samuel 2

Some people become your enemies unbeknownst to you. They will speak evil of you, hate you, and desire very bad things for you. You may not consider them an enemy, but envy, hatred and bitterness in their hearts make them consider you their enemy. This is what happened between David and King Saul. Saul envied David's fame and success. The people loved him and sang songs about him. This admiration of David made Saul jealous. So he desired evil for David and even tried to kill him. All the while David's actions worked for the good of King Saul and all Israel. Envy and jealousy will always make us enemies of others, even of people who love us and do good things for us. When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days. 1Sam. 18:28-29

Have you ever gotten tired of the work and responsibilities you carry on your shoulders? Then come to Jesus. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus isn't taking off the yoke and putting it on you. He is inviting you to put yourself on the other side of the yoke he is wearing. So you don't have to carry your burdens alone. He's going to be there right by your side helping you to move in the right direction, staying on the right path, and moving at the right pace. Jesus wants to be our partner working together to build His kingdom and help you successfully navigate the trials of life.

Judges 7:2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her... After God had weeded down the army to 300 men He sent Gideon to attack the Midianites. After the battle had begun and they were routing the Midianites Gideon's men were hungry exhausted yet they continued the pursuit. Gideon and his men asked for help from two cities but neither would help them. But God in His mercy gave them strength and they pursued the Midianites and overtook them. 15,000 Midianite soldiers were fleeing from a force of 300. The Midianites had a 50 to 1 advantage. But they were already defeated in mind and spirit. God had convinced them of Gideons invincibility and their inevitable  doom. God's glory is revealed more when there's less humans trying to take it. God wants to do great things through us but He also wants that we give Him all the glory.