Jude 11
“Woe onto them for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the way of Balaam for reward, and perished after the gainsaying of Core.”
Cane - - The sacrifices of works rather than the sacrifice of blood.
Balaam - - Seeking to become rich in the doing of God's work.
Core - - Putting forward themselves to take the place of God's appointed leaders.
The book of Jude says to rebuke the wrongdoers in the church. Are such among us today? Do we see people expecting rewards for works? Do we see some seeking (and becoming) rich? Do we see some push aside others for their own eminence?
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Monday, August 10, 2020
TURNING GOOD INTO BAD
2 Corinthians 2
Paul writes, in verse 11 that, “no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his devices”. Is seems he is speaking of a situation about a person who is being over-punished. Paul might have set this punishment in motion via another earlier letter. The Corinthians went about to chastise this fellow. But Paul says in verse 6, “Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority.” It seems they were continuing to do so. Paul is saying ,”enough”. Overdoing it might cause the man to be overwhelmed; now the time has come to forgive and comfort (verse 7).
The Corinthians were doing a good thing in correcting wrong but once the correction was sufficient Satan took over by pushing them to continue the correction. Satan was encouraging something that was good initially to be run past its useful time so that it becomes bad.
We must be careful we do not overextend our righteous activity so that what was good in us (and against Satan) then becomes bad in us (and against God). We should act properly for God's cause. We must be careful that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Paul writes, in verse 11 that, “no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his devices”. Is seems he is speaking of a situation about a person who is being over-punished. Paul might have set this punishment in motion via another earlier letter. The Corinthians went about to chastise this fellow. But Paul says in verse 6, “Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority.” It seems they were continuing to do so. Paul is saying ,”enough”. Overdoing it might cause the man to be overwhelmed; now the time has come to forgive and comfort (verse 7).
The Corinthians were doing a good thing in correcting wrong but once the correction was sufficient Satan took over by pushing them to continue the correction. Satan was encouraging something that was good initially to be run past its useful time so that it becomes bad.
We must be careful we do not overextend our righteous activity so that what was good in us (and against Satan) then becomes bad in us (and against God). We should act properly for God's cause. We must be careful that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
NOT SITUATIONAL ETHICS
2 Corinthians 1:17
When we purpose things within ourselves it is "yes" or "no". But the purposes or promises of God are "yes"
We make up our minds according to the occasion and decide "yes" or "no" about something. It may be "yes" today but tomorrow the situation may change and it might be "no".
The promises of God are not made up to fit the situation but are decided beforehand. The situation agrees with what God has decreed, or it does not. For us as humans what is today "yes" may well be "no" tomorrow. We waffle and change our minds about the situation. We should make up our minds using God's everlasting principles as our base, and not with facts that change from day to day, or minute to minute.
For example, “Thou shalt not kill” never changes nor does the punishment for it, namely, the death of the killer. This applies to premeditated murder.
A man kills another man with a brick. Today we say he should be hanged: "yes". Tomorrow we look at his background: the brick thrower’s disadvantaged upbringing, he was beaten and abused all his life, he was half crazed with drugs; we reconsider and say he should not be hanged: "no". God's law does not change, period. If a man purposely sheds another man's blood, by the hand of other men must the killer’s blood be shed.
God allows leniency for situations such as accidents, self-defense and wartime battles. But he is not lenient about when the situation includes malice or forethought.
When we purpose things within ourselves it is "yes" or "no". But the purposes or promises of God are "yes"
We make up our minds according to the occasion and decide "yes" or "no" about something. It may be "yes" today but tomorrow the situation may change and it might be "no".
The promises of God are not made up to fit the situation but are decided beforehand. The situation agrees with what God has decreed, or it does not. For us as humans what is today "yes" may well be "no" tomorrow. We waffle and change our minds about the situation. We should make up our minds using God's everlasting principles as our base, and not with facts that change from day to day, or minute to minute.
For example, “Thou shalt not kill” never changes nor does the punishment for it, namely, the death of the killer. This applies to premeditated murder.
A man kills another man with a brick. Today we say he should be hanged: "yes". Tomorrow we look at his background: the brick thrower’s disadvantaged upbringing, he was beaten and abused all his life, he was half crazed with drugs; we reconsider and say he should not be hanged: "no". God's law does not change, period. If a man purposely sheds another man's blood, by the hand of other men must the killer’s blood be shed.
God allows leniency for situations such as accidents, self-defense and wartime battles. But he is not lenient about when the situation includes malice or forethought.
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
LAW MAKES SIN
One Corinthians 15 verse 56
"the sting of death is sin; The strength of sin is the law".
Why is the strength of sin the law? Because if there were no law, every action would be the same; there would effectively be no sin. The law identifies what sin is. Theoretically if you do not know what sin is, you cannot do sin. Take the example of a woman who dresses immodestly for the purpose of raising lust in men: if it were not a sin to incite sin in others and modest dress were not required, then low necklines, split shirts, high skirts, in tight clothes would not be sin. But if there is a dress code, then women who do not follow it are sinning (and the authorities are sinning if they allow it). The Bible says that, “. . . women adorn themselves in modest apparel . . .” (1Tim 2:9) Men are to: "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." (1Col 6:18)
Don't want to be told what to wear or not wear? Do away with the dress code. We might also say do away with "thou shalt not commit adultery" and "he that fornicates is joined unto a harlot sins against their own body"
We can ignore God's laws and his wishes, but we cannot appeal them nor strike them from the law.
"the sting of death is sin; The strength of sin is the law".
Why is the strength of sin the law? Because if there were no law, every action would be the same; there would effectively be no sin. The law identifies what sin is. Theoretically if you do not know what sin is, you cannot do sin. Take the example of a woman who dresses immodestly for the purpose of raising lust in men: if it were not a sin to incite sin in others and modest dress were not required, then low necklines, split shirts, high skirts, in tight clothes would not be sin. But if there is a dress code, then women who do not follow it are sinning (and the authorities are sinning if they allow it). The Bible says that, “. . . women adorn themselves in modest apparel . . .” (1Tim 2:9) Men are to: "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." (1Col 6:18)
Don't want to be told what to wear or not wear? Do away with the dress code. We might also say do away with "thou shalt not commit adultery" and "he that fornicates is joined unto a harlot sins against their own body"
We can ignore God's laws and his wishes, but we cannot appeal them nor strike them from the law.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
GREAT ENLIGHTENMENT
I pray that most of the population of the United States will at least know they have a choice to make about Jesus Christ. I want them to know that God sent Jesus to earth to die in their place for their sins, that he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, and that if they believe that they have an eternal place with him in heaven, and if they do not they will be eternally separated from God (otherwise known as “Hell”). A person becomes what we call “saved” by acknowledging what Jesus did for them, and asking Jesus to forgive and accept them
But I am not praying for “renewal” or “revival” (though these are certainly worthy to pray for). What I want I would term “Transformation” or “Enlightenment”. For me someone who is “renewed” or “revived” is already saved but has fallen short lately in the way he is behaving or thinking. He needs to have his thinking and acting “renewed” to his saved state. He needs to have his salvation revived as if being resuscitated in an operating room.
So I pray for a Great Transformation, a Great Enlightenment for the people of the United States.
But I am not praying for “renewal” or “revival” (though these are certainly worthy to pray for). What I want I would term “Transformation” or “Enlightenment”. For me someone who is “renewed” or “revived” is already saved but has fallen short lately in the way he is behaving or thinking. He needs to have his thinking and acting “renewed” to his saved state. He needs to have his salvation revived as if being resuscitated in an operating room.
So I pray for a Great Transformation, a Great Enlightenment for the people of the United States.
Monday, July 13, 2020
TOUNGUES OR NOT
One Corinthians 14
For all that people argue about speaking in tongues, this chapter minimizes tongues in favor of prophecy and understanding. It does not prohibit them. The greater need is for understanding.
Although I have never spoken in tongues, I suppose they could be for blessing and giving of thanks as suggested in verses 16 and 17. But any hearers of the speaking would not understand, there is no edification. Perhaps even the speaker does not himself understand, as is said in verse 14. For all that desire to speak in tongues we are supposed to desire more earnestly to edify the church.
Here is how clear speech comes (see verse 6):
- - Revelation - what is revealed by God.
- - Knowledge - what we know from reading the Bible and our experience
- - Prophesying - expounding God's will as he has told it to do you.
- - Doctrine - explaining our own understanding of God's will from Scriptures and life.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
DOORS
I recently made paintings of the front and back doors of the Bedford, Massachusetts house I grew up in.
When I was done, I made an analysis of how these doors were used and who used them. The front door was only for formal occasions and was rarely used. The side door was for general family use and for the reception of visitors and businesspeople. There was a cellar door too but only used for family activities.
I thought of other doors of houses in which I have lived and their uses. Our house in Gotha, Florida had three doors and we used all of them. The front for Family but also for receiving people. The side was for in-and-out access to the car and for play. The back door was for in-and-out and play but also to dispose of trash. Our current house in Windermere, Florida has two doors. The front is for reception and general in-and-out. The back is for family arrival and departure and access to garage.
You can think of our souls having doors too. There is a front door, which might be only for formal users. There might be a back door which may be hidden from most people. It might be only for family, or it might be closed but for a very few special people. It might be heavily guarded and never used by anyone but yourself. Or there might be many doors for other specialized users.
There is another door that is always present, the one God uses. You might not think of it as a door because what and who we are always open to God. God has this right to his door because he is the owner of the house. Most of the time he allows us to live thinking no one sees us, no one knows. But God always sees, and always knows.
God will never break your doors down; He gives you a choice of how you will live. There will be a time, however, when God repossesses your house and you will meet him face-to-face. We do not have the capacity to be fully ready for that day, there will always be some embarrassing mess we should have cleaned up. That is why we need to accept Jesus as our redeemer and trust He will keep his word: that if we believe he died in our place for our sins and rose again and He will receive us into everlasting live with Him. That is a door we can jointly own with God and will never be shut to us.
When I was done, I made an analysis of how these doors were used and who used them. The front door was only for formal occasions and was rarely used. The side door was for general family use and for the reception of visitors and businesspeople. There was a cellar door too but only used for family activities.
I thought of other doors of houses in which I have lived and their uses. Our house in Gotha, Florida had three doors and we used all of them. The front for Family but also for receiving people. The side was for in-and-out access to the car and for play. The back door was for in-and-out and play but also to dispose of trash. Our current house in Windermere, Florida has two doors. The front is for reception and general in-and-out. The back is for family arrival and departure and access to garage.
You can think of our souls having doors too. There is a front door, which might be only for formal users. There might be a back door which may be hidden from most people. It might be only for family, or it might be closed but for a very few special people. It might be heavily guarded and never used by anyone but yourself. Or there might be many doors for other specialized users.
There is another door that is always present, the one God uses. You might not think of it as a door because what and who we are always open to God. God has this right to his door because he is the owner of the house. Most of the time he allows us to live thinking no one sees us, no one knows. But God always sees, and always knows.
God will never break your doors down; He gives you a choice of how you will live. There will be a time, however, when God repossesses your house and you will meet him face-to-face. We do not have the capacity to be fully ready for that day, there will always be some embarrassing mess we should have cleaned up. That is why we need to accept Jesus as our redeemer and trust He will keep his word: that if we believe he died in our place for our sins and rose again and He will receive us into everlasting live with Him. That is a door we can jointly own with God and will never be shut to us.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
MANAGEMENT GIFTS
1 Corinthians 12, a lesson in management
This speaks of diversity of gifts but same spirit, differences of administrations but same Lord, diversity of operations but the same God. We can say that the Father represents operation, the Son represents administration and the Holy Ghost represents gifts.
Manifestation of the spirit can be in every (Christian) man or woman:
1. word of wisdom
2. word of knowledge
3. faith
4. healing
5. working of miracles
6. prophecy
7. discerning of spirits
8. tongues
9. interpretation of tongues
This is how a whole company or organization could be organized:
Operations - what we should do, where we should go
Administration - how we shall accomplish what the operator directs
Gifts - providing the things and services needed for getting the job done.
God is the manager and the supplier of all we need, and the equipment with which to do it. But he does it in a more meaningful and life-giving way than merely producing automobiles or frozen dinners. He supplies the reasons for being and the abilities to “do life”, to turn our existence into value.
This speaks of diversity of gifts but same spirit, differences of administrations but same Lord, diversity of operations but the same God. We can say that the Father represents operation, the Son represents administration and the Holy Ghost represents gifts.
Manifestation of the spirit can be in every (Christian) man or woman:
1. word of wisdom
2. word of knowledge
3. faith
4. healing
5. working of miracles
6. prophecy
7. discerning of spirits
8. tongues
9. interpretation of tongues
This is how a whole company or organization could be organized:
Operations - what we should do, where we should go
Administration - how we shall accomplish what the operator directs
Gifts - providing the things and services needed for getting the job done.
God is the manager and the supplier of all we need, and the equipment with which to do it. But he does it in a more meaningful and life-giving way than merely producing automobiles or frozen dinners. He supplies the reasons for being and the abilities to “do life”, to turn our existence into value.
Monday, June 29, 2020
SMALL FROM ALTITUDE
When I was working, I flew to many places in the country. As I looked down upon the earth from 35,000 feet the things of men were so small that only the largest buildings were obvious. It would have been difficult to pick out a semi-truck when looking at superhighways. Indeed, I never saw one. If a person were to stand in the middle of an intersection, and you were told where to look, you could not possibly see him. From the sky as the eye wanders over the rest of the earth you realize how insignificant the person would seem. The smallness of that person, that place, becomes astounding. Yet through such a means God saved the world. Think of God, Jesus, being in one human body.
The vantage point of the plane demonstrates a small part of the expanse of Gods comprehension. He comprehends what the human eye in the plane sees, and much more. Think of this single man Jesus who, while in the flesh, has the vantage point of the plane. ". . . and the Word became flesh and dwelt among men."
The vantage point of the plane demonstrates a small part of the expanse of Gods comprehension. He comprehends what the human eye in the plane sees, and much more. Think of this single man Jesus who, while in the flesh, has the vantage point of the plane. ". . . and the Word became flesh and dwelt among men."
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
TREE ON CLIFF
Here is a painting I did titled “Tree on Cliff”. The idea came from a photograph of an actual tree I saw in a business trip to Washington state. It looks precarious does it not? It looks to be hanging onto the cliff. What are roots holding onto? Are they deep enough? Can they hold on?
This reminds me of the parable of the seed sower. As you remember, the sower spreads the seed into four types of places: the wayside where birds ate them up immediately; the stony soil where the seeds could not last long; the soil among weeds where the competition and distractions were too great; and the good soil where the plants became well established and fruitful.
The good soil represents Jesus. He provides source of nourishment and a place to firmly anchor roots. The good soil results in much fruit.
The actual tree was smaller than the one the one shown in this painting. Other trees in the photograph had actually started to fall.
What does the picture make you think of? Will this tree eventually fall into the Water? If on rocky soil it will fall over into the water. If it is on good soil the tree will remain anchored and fruitful no matter how steep the cliff is. Jesus is good soil and allows us to hold in any sort of difficulty.
Are you planted in good soil?
Monday, June 22, 2020
WAITING TO EAT
1 Corinthians 11:21
I wonder if this verse is saying the Corinthians have church communion suppers at which people eat when they arrive without waiting to eat all together? Therefore there are times when one is full (drunken) and others (who have not yet eaten) are hungry. This shows a selfishness of one Christian not caring enough for another to eat together. "I’ll do what I do for me and let the others catch up". This type of thinking is only of yourself and what you can get or do for yourself. But we should be discerning of the body of the Lord Jesus when eating together as a Christian group. Everything should be done in a decent order as the Bible says. God, through Paul, sets up many ways of prayer proper Christian action,
- - Manners
- - The Lord supper
- - Tongues
- - Who to fellowship with
In verse 33 he instructs to "tarry one for another".
Some who are rich can well afford to wait, but do not. Some who are poor, who really need the food and arrive at the supper late, may not get fed because all is gone. Many others are not even thinking of the Lord at all.
I wonder if this verse is saying the Corinthians have church communion suppers at which people eat when they arrive without waiting to eat all together? Therefore there are times when one is full (drunken) and others (who have not yet eaten) are hungry. This shows a selfishness of one Christian not caring enough for another to eat together. "I’ll do what I do for me and let the others catch up". This type of thinking is only of yourself and what you can get or do for yourself. But we should be discerning of the body of the Lord Jesus when eating together as a Christian group. Everything should be done in a decent order as the Bible says. God, through Paul, sets up many ways of prayer proper Christian action,
- - Manners
- - The Lord supper
- - Tongues
- - Who to fellowship with
In verse 33 he instructs to "tarry one for another".
Some who are rich can well afford to wait, but do not. Some who are poor, who really need the food and arrive at the supper late, may not get fed because all is gone. Many others are not even thinking of the Lord at all.
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
HOW TO TELL THE TRUTH
Romans 16;17
There are those who cause divisions and offenses (stumbling blocks) because they proclaim something else other than the doctrine we have learned. We might use the example of Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, or Catholics (who go too far into Mary).
What we have left us is doctrine, a tradition of how scripture should be interpreted. We see how it has been interpreted by men. But is this tradition right? Men sometimes change things as it has been passed from one to another. Has it changed over the years?
Much of what we know about God is how he has been passed to us through other men. God works in man: they write about it. Scripture is not just a collection of men's writings about, it is a reporting of what God did in their presence. How close were these men to actual events? Were they eyewitnesses? Had they lived within 200 years after Christ lived? There have been many such writings. Out of all available writings who decided which were good and which were not?
In the development history of a Bible translation I am reading I look for:
- - Is it a translation or a paraphrase?
- - Was it done by a group of people, or was it done by just one person?
- - Was the group qualified to know the meaning and intent of the original languages?
- - Has the translation lasted for a long enough time for it to become known as trustworthy?
Here is why I think these points are important:
- - A translation is an attempt to recreate in the target language what was said in the original languages. A paraphrase is an author’s opinion about what a translation is trying to say. He is not working with original languages.
- - A translation by a group of people must me more reliable than a translation by a single person for one team member can test the others for accuracy and intent of the original language.
- - Each member of the translation team must have expertise in the language being translated.
- - A translation that has been in existence for a length of time has given opportunity for mistakes to surface and be corrected.
I will trust a translation for these reasons listed above. For years I have read the King James Version and lately I have been reading the New American Standard Version. When I was first saved I acquired and read a New English Version.
Except for being careful about the origins of a particular version, the version does not matter nearly as much as actually reading it. It is important to read the Bible - - and not just once in your lifetime. If it is God’s Word to us it should be important enough to read many times.
I read from the Bible every day.
There are those who cause divisions and offenses (stumbling blocks) because they proclaim something else other than the doctrine we have learned. We might use the example of Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, or Catholics (who go too far into Mary).
What we have left us is doctrine, a tradition of how scripture should be interpreted. We see how it has been interpreted by men. But is this tradition right? Men sometimes change things as it has been passed from one to another. Has it changed over the years?
Much of what we know about God is how he has been passed to us through other men. God works in man: they write about it. Scripture is not just a collection of men's writings about, it is a reporting of what God did in their presence. How close were these men to actual events? Were they eyewitnesses? Had they lived within 200 years after Christ lived? There have been many such writings. Out of all available writings who decided which were good and which were not?
In the development history of a Bible translation I am reading I look for:
- - Is it a translation or a paraphrase?
- - Was it done by a group of people, or was it done by just one person?
- - Was the group qualified to know the meaning and intent of the original languages?
- - Has the translation lasted for a long enough time for it to become known as trustworthy?
Here is why I think these points are important:
- - A translation is an attempt to recreate in the target language what was said in the original languages. A paraphrase is an author’s opinion about what a translation is trying to say. He is not working with original languages.
- - A translation by a group of people must me more reliable than a translation by a single person for one team member can test the others for accuracy and intent of the original language.
- - Each member of the translation team must have expertise in the language being translated.
- - A translation that has been in existence for a length of time has given opportunity for mistakes to surface and be corrected.
I will trust a translation for these reasons listed above. For years I have read the King James Version and lately I have been reading the New American Standard Version. When I was first saved I acquired and read a New English Version.
Except for being careful about the origins of a particular version, the version does not matter nearly as much as actually reading it. It is important to read the Bible - - and not just once in your lifetime. If it is God’s Word to us it should be important enough to read many times.
I read from the Bible every day.
Sunday, June 7, 2020
THE CHURCH DISTRACTING
Today (Sunday 7 June) I listened to two church services: one given via YouTube from the church I go to, and the other via YouTube from a large church in Orlando. There are reasons I go to one church and not to the other. I will talk of the large church first.
I will not attend the large church because of the music. It is too LOUD. Loudness does not make music more worshipful; it just makes it uncomfortable. To enhance the uncomfortable music, they use lighting. They use spots, moving beams, and streaming visual effects. To make these effects more visible they use smoke. This is all staged as a rock concert. For example, they use different stage levels for the musicians. All the vocalists stand in front in a line.
All this seems to me to be showmanship. They look excited, they jump, they yell the lyrics. Are they truly excited or is it just a stage act? What is the difference between this and a rock concert? This extends too to the announcements which seems to be hyped with faked excitement.
They also transition between the different segments with videos. Is all this technology necessary for an effective worship? Must this be done to reach today’s people? Will people not listen unless they are entertained?
Yet the actual preaching was well done. It had good content and was well delivered. All the stuff that went before (music, etc.) was a barrier to the content. Yet at the end of the preaching, while transitioning out to what followed, there was a keyboard droning behind the words muddling the speech. Why is that necessary?
The church where we attend is small, so it is possible to know everyone. The music is done by various people, not the same group every Sunday. The preaching is not always by the pastor but is sometimes done by others. The preaching today, for example, was well done by another, and very helpful. This type of freedom presents ministry opportunities to every member of the congregation.
At the big church ONLY the pro singers and musicians and ONLY the pastoral staff present the worship.
I will not attend the large church because of the music. It is too LOUD. Loudness does not make music more worshipful; it just makes it uncomfortable. To enhance the uncomfortable music, they use lighting. They use spots, moving beams, and streaming visual effects. To make these effects more visible they use smoke. This is all staged as a rock concert. For example, they use different stage levels for the musicians. All the vocalists stand in front in a line.
All this seems to me to be showmanship. They look excited, they jump, they yell the lyrics. Are they truly excited or is it just a stage act? What is the difference between this and a rock concert? This extends too to the announcements which seems to be hyped with faked excitement.
They also transition between the different segments with videos. Is all this technology necessary for an effective worship? Must this be done to reach today’s people? Will people not listen unless they are entertained?
Yet the actual preaching was well done. It had good content and was well delivered. All the stuff that went before (music, etc.) was a barrier to the content. Yet at the end of the preaching, while transitioning out to what followed, there was a keyboard droning behind the words muddling the speech. Why is that necessary?
The church where we attend is small, so it is possible to know everyone. The music is done by various people, not the same group every Sunday. The preaching is not always by the pastor but is sometimes done by others. The preaching today, for example, was well done by another, and very helpful. This type of freedom presents ministry opportunities to every member of the congregation.
At the big church ONLY the pro singers and musicians and ONLY the pastoral staff present the worship.
Thursday, May 7, 2020
WHEN COMFORT IS DANGEROUS
John 21
The disciples had been fishing all night and had nothing to show. While standing on the shore Jesus tells them to cast the net on the right side. They had already been fishing all night with no success. Now this stranger yells out to them to “Cast the net on the other side.” (As yet they had not recognized Jesus.) This was more work after a whole night’s work, what could this guy know, but they did it anyway. Now they caught so many the net broke. Sometimes it is not good to give in to comfort when a little more work needs to be done.
Jesus warned Peter that he would be persecuted when he was old; that he would, “be carried whither he would not.” This is after Peter had been told three times to feed the flock. Did he have to be told because it would be hard to keep himself focused on his work for God during persecution? When the persecutors would be seeking after him too “carry him” he would have the remembrance of “feed my lambs, feed my flock” to keep him applied to godly work, rather than saving his own skin - - or worse: giving up some godliness for the sake of comfort and peace.
The disciples had been fishing all night and had nothing to show. While standing on the shore Jesus tells them to cast the net on the right side. They had already been fishing all night with no success. Now this stranger yells out to them to “Cast the net on the other side.” (As yet they had not recognized Jesus.) This was more work after a whole night’s work, what could this guy know, but they did it anyway. Now they caught so many the net broke. Sometimes it is not good to give in to comfort when a little more work needs to be done.
Jesus warned Peter that he would be persecuted when he was old; that he would, “be carried whither he would not.” This is after Peter had been told three times to feed the flock. Did he have to be told because it would be hard to keep himself focused on his work for God during persecution? When the persecutors would be seeking after him too “carry him” he would have the remembrance of “feed my lambs, feed my flock” to keep him applied to godly work, rather than saving his own skin - - or worse: giving up some godliness for the sake of comfort and peace.
Monday, April 27, 2020
STILL WORKING ON DEVOTIONS
John 20
At 76 years old I’m still not one for a strong personal devotional time period, i.e. reading by myself. Yet all these married years, and a little before, 47 years in all, I have had family devotions, a daily Bible reading. This small thing has been great in my life . As God said, it has been the mustard seed that, though a tiny seed, grew to “a great tree with branches that the fouls of the air may nest in.”
Jesus, by the sacrifice, asks how important is your [job, animals, wealth, self-esteem, power, etc.] to you? More important than me? He answers the question of how important are we to him: we are important enough for him to give his only begotten son, important enough for him to die himself for us, important enough for him to give his spirit to dwell in us.
One thing I have confidence about: I KNOW what God thinks about a lot of things. Some would take me aside as being a “Christian Bigot”. They would say, “How can you be so arrogant as to say you KNOW what God thinks?” I would say to them, “What principles are a guide for your life? Any? Some favorite author or politician? Some particular group you belong to?” From reading the Bible I know right from wrong, good from bad, profitable from unprofitable. Each time I read the Bible I get yet more from it. I have been a better man to the world because of it – even to those who would say it's “just another book”.
At 76 years old I’m still not one for a strong personal devotional time period, i.e. reading by myself. Yet all these married years, and a little before, 47 years in all, I have had family devotions, a daily Bible reading. This small thing has been great in my life . As God said, it has been the mustard seed that, though a tiny seed, grew to “a great tree with branches that the fouls of the air may nest in.”
Jesus, by the sacrifice, asks how important is your [job, animals, wealth, self-esteem, power, etc.] to you? More important than me? He answers the question of how important are we to him: we are important enough for him to give his only begotten son, important enough for him to die himself for us, important enough for him to give his spirit to dwell in us.
One thing I have confidence about: I KNOW what God thinks about a lot of things. Some would take me aside as being a “Christian Bigot”. They would say, “How can you be so arrogant as to say you KNOW what God thinks?” I would say to them, “What principles are a guide for your life? Any? Some favorite author or politician? Some particular group you belong to?” From reading the Bible I know right from wrong, good from bad, profitable from unprofitable. Each time I read the Bible I get yet more from it. I have been a better man to the world because of it – even to those who would say it's “just another book”.
Monday, April 20, 2020
PUT THE BALL IN SOMEONE ELSE’S COURT
[[ To continue some thinking from a previous blog of 4 April 2020 . . . ]]
John 19
Pilate cared nothing for Jesus life; that mattered not at all to him. If Pilot could quickly get Jesus to admit he was King he could get a quick, easy judgment. He brought him out before the people in “Kings clothing” saying, "behold your King". But he had no evidence, only the troublesome fact that Jesus had said he was the son of God. Now pilot was sucked into Jewish religious matters. He tried to release him until the Jews said that Jesus made himself King in the place of Caesar. That was enough to let pilot off the hook and get Jesus crucified. In all this, the fact that an innocent man might die had no effect on Pilot’s thinking. He didn't want to do anything that would embroil him in legal wrangling for months to come. He wanted out of the Jewish religious arguments. Let it not be said that Pilot upheld a Jewish religious discrimination suit in a Roman court. That was a career-stopper.
John 19
Pilate cared nothing for Jesus life; that mattered not at all to him. If Pilot could quickly get Jesus to admit he was King he could get a quick, easy judgment. He brought him out before the people in “Kings clothing” saying, "behold your King". But he had no evidence, only the troublesome fact that Jesus had said he was the son of God. Now pilot was sucked into Jewish religious matters. He tried to release him until the Jews said that Jesus made himself King in the place of Caesar. That was enough to let pilot off the hook and get Jesus crucified. In all this, the fact that an innocent man might die had no effect on Pilot’s thinking. He didn't want to do anything that would embroil him in legal wrangling for months to come. He wanted out of the Jewish religious arguments. Let it not be said that Pilot upheld a Jewish religious discrimination suit in a Roman court. That was a career-stopper.
Friday, April 17, 2020
BUILDING BY LIZZIE
My wife has a blog called BUILDING BY LIZZIE. I own the domain name "Submissionisnotsilence.com" and intended to re-direct all clicks to it to the "Bulding by..." site. But I mistakenly directed it to "submissionisnotsilence.blogspot.com" Try the BUILDING BY LIZZIE site, it's more current.
Monday, April 13, 2020
STORE TROUBLE IN PRISON OR DEATH ROW
John 18
At the time of his trial no one handling Jesus cared anything about the truth - they all had other purposes for dealing with him. The Pharisees wanted him dead while Pilot just wanted this troublesome incident out of the way.
Pilot wanted Jesus off his back. Pilot couldn't get the Jews to handle him. The Jews wanted him crucified but under Roman rule they had no authority for capital punishment. They had to contrive some way to get it done by the Romans. So, they told Pilot he was claiming to be a king. This required a death sentence – no one could be king but Caesar. Taking up the Jews’ line he started by trying to get Jesus to admit he was a King. He was trying to get Him to admit some guilt, to accuse himself. “So, you’re a king then,” said Pilot. “You’re the one saying that,” said Jesus. Pilot could not get Jesus to incriminate himself. Finally he made a public statement that he found no guilt in Jesus. This apparently riled the people enough to make for a possible riot. Now a good Roman Governor can not have riots on his record so he released Jesus to the executioners.
At the time of his trial no one handling Jesus cared anything about the truth - they all had other purposes for dealing with him. The Pharisees wanted him dead while Pilot just wanted this troublesome incident out of the way.
Pilot wanted Jesus off his back. Pilot couldn't get the Jews to handle him. The Jews wanted him crucified but under Roman rule they had no authority for capital punishment. They had to contrive some way to get it done by the Romans. So, they told Pilot he was claiming to be a king. This required a death sentence – no one could be king but Caesar. Taking up the Jews’ line he started by trying to get Jesus to admit he was a King. He was trying to get Him to admit some guilt, to accuse himself. “So, you’re a king then,” said Pilot. “You’re the one saying that,” said Jesus. Pilot could not get Jesus to incriminate himself. Finally he made a public statement that he found no guilt in Jesus. This apparently riled the people enough to make for a possible riot. Now a good Roman Governor can not have riots on his record so he released Jesus to the executioners.
Friday, April 10, 2020
CORONA VIRUS, SHAMONA VIRUS!
We have lived a long time: have seen many things, experienced many things, and learned many things We have had the pleasure of seeing our grown children themselves diligently raising a family. We have had the pleasure of reading the Bible together aloud every day for all our married life, so we know what’s in there We have benefited from the fellowship of many believers and non-believers Both of us have been close to death’s door yet have been granted more engagement with life. Neither of us were afraid at those times since we knew what lay on the other side, and that that place is better than this
So, Corona Virus, Shamona Virus! God’s plans for us on this side the door or the other are excellent plans. And they are the best possible plans Jer_29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end"
Yet the young among us (meaning those less that fifty years old) may have trouble thinking this way. I understand the anxiety of being absent from their friends and family. What will happen to them? It is sometimes hard to really trust that what God may do is for the best. How can hardship be for the best? Some questions and doubts will never be answered until we are walking with Jesus in heaven.
So, Corona Virus, Shamona Virus! God’s plans for us on this side the door or the other are excellent plans. And they are the best possible plans Jer_29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end"
Yet the young among us (meaning those less that fifty years old) may have trouble thinking this way. I understand the anxiety of being absent from their friends and family. What will happen to them? It is sometimes hard to really trust that what God may do is for the best. How can hardship be for the best? Some questions and doubts will never be answered until we are walking with Jesus in heaven.
Monday, April 6, 2020
WHERE IS ZERO ON THE TIMELINE
John 17:6
This appears a very "Presbyterian" section because it speaks of some people in the world who are the Father’s, and some who are not. “. . . The men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they are . . .” And yet it does not say for sure there are only certain prescribed ones who will believe. The ones who are "the father's" may as well be the father's because they exercised their will to believe. God predestined the possibility for men to make a choice for him. The ones who did became the “predestined”.
God is the god of all time. He exists in the past, present and future. For him time is just another created thing that is controlled by him. How else can we explain the witness of the Angel in Revelation saying, “. . . there will be time no more . . .”
I can somewhat comprehend the pre knowledge of God in this manner: I am 75 years old. I know that at 75 that I have been in the Navy, have married, have had children, and worked for the US government. If I was like God, and time was something I created, I would exist also at the time I was born as well as the time period we call “Now”. Time is like a dot moving along a line. Creatures subject to time must stay on the dot, but God stands back a distance from the line and can see the dot, the beginning and the end of the line, and eternity before and after. So if I were like God, I could stand back from the line, while the dot was at 75 years, and see clearly the spot on the line at zero years and know that I would be in the future: be in the Navy, get married, have children, and work for the US government. If I were like God, I could proclaim all this to the zero year spot on the line. It would sound to the 0-year-old created me like predestination. It actually would be a recitation from an all-knowing source, who lives outside our boundaries of time, of the things I had done as a result of the choices I made.
This appears a very "Presbyterian" section because it speaks of some people in the world who are the Father’s, and some who are not. “. . . The men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they are . . .” And yet it does not say for sure there are only certain prescribed ones who will believe. The ones who are "the father's" may as well be the father's because they exercised their will to believe. God predestined the possibility for men to make a choice for him. The ones who did became the “predestined”.
God is the god of all time. He exists in the past, present and future. For him time is just another created thing that is controlled by him. How else can we explain the witness of the Angel in Revelation saying, “. . . there will be time no more . . .”
I can somewhat comprehend the pre knowledge of God in this manner: I am 75 years old. I know that at 75 that I have been in the Navy, have married, have had children, and worked for the US government. If I was like God, and time was something I created, I would exist also at the time I was born as well as the time period we call “Now”. Time is like a dot moving along a line. Creatures subject to time must stay on the dot, but God stands back a distance from the line and can see the dot, the beginning and the end of the line, and eternity before and after. So if I were like God, I could stand back from the line, while the dot was at 75 years, and see clearly the spot on the line at zero years and know that I would be in the future: be in the Navy, get married, have children, and work for the US government. If I were like God, I could proclaim all this to the zero year spot on the line. It would sound to the 0-year-old created me like predestination. It actually would be a recitation from an all-knowing source, who lives outside our boundaries of time, of the things I had done as a result of the choices I made.
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