Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Monday, June 14
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
It's hard to stand up against a world so bent against faith, at least faith in something unseen. We tend believe in ourselves, and the only unseen thing we believe in is what we hope to achieve. So, logically we tend to shift away from an unseen force that guides us; and if we do ascribe to an unseen force it is one that is random enough to manipulate. The hardest part about faith is the loss of control. If we believe enough in ourselves that we can overcome an opponent, we are hoping that our effort is greater than theirs, or we are luckier than they. Yet, true faith is more than that. Faith comes from a place when you know you are less than your opponent. Faith comes from a place of losing. Faith comes from a place when you realize what you bring to the table is not enough.
Here's the problem for us. When I say us, I mean modern Christianity in the first world. The problem is, we have the luxury of bringing a lot to the table. The truth is, we are like a well trained sports team who can't keep our heads in the game. We have the right equipment, and we may even know how to use it; but we need more than just drills and expensive stuff. We've lost the heart and soul of the game. We've become more bent on looking good and being seen as the best, that we've forgotten why we are playing. We've bet our assurance and confidence on our selves. We've decided that by what we do, say, have, etc. we can, by ourselves, triumph.
Jesus, during His time on earth, continually healed people because of their faith. Paul urges us to live by faith. Faith is the think that sets us apart. Despite how bad it looks to the world, we are going bet all our chips on God and not on ourselves or anything man can do.
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Monday, June 14, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Deuteronomy 11:1
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Friday, June 11
Deuteronomy 11:1 You must love the LORD your God and obey all his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands.
Too often I look at verses like this one as an order shouted by our commando God in 'boot-camp' churches where fear reigns. The truth is much deeper and sweeter. To look at this verse I want to put it in some context first. The reason being is sometimes Jesus can be used as the Sunday school answer to why we should obey; but Deuteronomy was written long before Jesus came down to earth. Let's think about why the Hebrew nation would love God.
The nation was established with Jacob/Israel's twelve sons. Then one of those sons was sold into slavery and brought to Egypt. Through God's provision that son rose to be the second in charge. He used his position to save his family and therefore the nation of Israel from a seven year famine. Generations later the Jewish identity was reestablished as the Egyptians put them under their feet and used them as slave labor. The Hebrews renewed their worship of the One true God, Who then sent Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. To free them from bondage. To end their slavery. So, as Moses bartered for their freedom God showed up and showed Pharaoh it was time to let his people go. There is a prevailing arguement that because of the loss of all the first born children in Egypt, the reigning Pharaoh died (being himself a first born) and a new Pharaoh came to power. This Pharaoh pursued the Jews into the desert after having already granted their freedom. God showed up and opened up a sea for them to cross on dry land, then drowning the pursuing Egyptians.
God then leads them through the wilderness. He disciplines them, feeds them, sustains them, He loves them. While doing all this He gives them His laws through Moses. When reading the verse in context it seems that the Hebrews don't really need a reminder, they should be forever grateful to their God; but they aren't. These Hebrews are living in a wilderness. Too often they took their eyes of their Lord and realized that their surroundings were very bleak. They could not see the land they were promised and focused instead on the barren land around them. They were unsatisfied living off of what God gave them, they wanted more.
Sound familiar? When have you lost sight of God's provision and felt lost in a wilderness? I know it's not easy when you're standing in a barren land, being laughed at by the world and even your fellow sojourners because you want to follow God fully.
Remember this, God loved you first. God came down to save you from your slavery to sin. He came to take you home. Yes, this life is full of brokenness; but we cannot forget that we are traveling out of here. If we believe and follow Him we will love Him and we will arrive at Home in the promised land.
Friday, June 11
Deuteronomy 11:1 You must love the LORD your God and obey all his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands.
Too often I look at verses like this one as an order shouted by our commando God in 'boot-camp' churches where fear reigns. The truth is much deeper and sweeter. To look at this verse I want to put it in some context first. The reason being is sometimes Jesus can be used as the Sunday school answer to why we should obey; but Deuteronomy was written long before Jesus came down to earth. Let's think about why the Hebrew nation would love God.
The nation was established with Jacob/Israel's twelve sons. Then one of those sons was sold into slavery and brought to Egypt. Through God's provision that son rose to be the second in charge. He used his position to save his family and therefore the nation of Israel from a seven year famine. Generations later the Jewish identity was reestablished as the Egyptians put them under their feet and used them as slave labor. The Hebrews renewed their worship of the One true God, Who then sent Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. To free them from bondage. To end their slavery. So, as Moses bartered for their freedom God showed up and showed Pharaoh it was time to let his people go. There is a prevailing arguement that because of the loss of all the first born children in Egypt, the reigning Pharaoh died (being himself a first born) and a new Pharaoh came to power. This Pharaoh pursued the Jews into the desert after having already granted their freedom. God showed up and opened up a sea for them to cross on dry land, then drowning the pursuing Egyptians.
God then leads them through the wilderness. He disciplines them, feeds them, sustains them, He loves them. While doing all this He gives them His laws through Moses. When reading the verse in context it seems that the Hebrews don't really need a reminder, they should be forever grateful to their God; but they aren't. These Hebrews are living in a wilderness. Too often they took their eyes of their Lord and realized that their surroundings were very bleak. They could not see the land they were promised and focused instead on the barren land around them. They were unsatisfied living off of what God gave them, they wanted more.
Sound familiar? When have you lost sight of God's provision and felt lost in a wilderness? I know it's not easy when you're standing in a barren land, being laughed at by the world and even your fellow sojourners because you want to follow God fully.
Remember this, God loved you first. God came down to save you from your slavery to sin. He came to take you home. Yes, this life is full of brokenness; but we cannot forget that we are traveling out of here. If we believe and follow Him we will love Him and we will arrive at Home in the promised land.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
One Day at a Time
I changed the name of my blog a couple weeks ago. I feel like it encapsulates where I want to be in my faith and life. I want to focus on each day to see what God wants me to do. This is a humbling experience and I'm not really pulling it off perfectly, but that's the point. I need to be in a place of faith. It's too easy to not rely on faith in America. It's too easy to get distracted. I'm tired of distractions and rabbit trails that lead nowhere good. Life is too short, and since I want mine to have purpose I am relying on God, one day at a time.
I hope you enjoy reading the scripture commentaries I've been posting. I want them to encourage and help you. I know they have been helpful for me as I write them.
I hope you enjoy reading the scripture commentaries I've been posting. I want them to encourage and help you. I know they have been helpful for me as I write them.
James 2:19
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Wednesday, June 2
James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
I know this verse very well. I've heard it many times adding fuel to the inquisition fires (small and large). Today I want to shy away from using this as a faith-tester verse. I want to look at it as an applicable verse - a life changing verse. This is not a license to gossip and judge, this is an internally searching verse.
If you love cars, do spend all your time sailing? If you love art, do you spend all your time studying equations? If you love Jesus, do you spend all your time sinning?
I'm not saying we should all ascribe to a list of rules so that we don't sin. The rules, though good, are not what we need to follow. We need to follow Jesus. Why? Because when you look at the rules He's asking us to obey you see that He really loves us.
I have to ask myself, "if we follow Jesus Christ, who died to save us, why is Gandhi the modern standard for 'good deeds'?" I'm not asking for Christians to have that kind of fame, but I am asking why we are not on the front lines of global activism. Jesus came to save the lost and stood against the establishment. Why? Because they forgot who they were supposed to be ruling. Jesus came as the answer to economic stability, environmental sustainability, political calm, etc. His Love will conquer all.
His love is the answer, and if we believe that shouldn't we be acting on it? The way you act will be different to the way I act; but inactivity is not an answer. As Paul said, "Christ's love compels us, (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV)" therefore we go and do good things.
Wednesday, June 2
James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
I know this verse very well. I've heard it many times adding fuel to the inquisition fires (small and large). Today I want to shy away from using this as a faith-tester verse. I want to look at it as an applicable verse - a life changing verse. This is not a license to gossip and judge, this is an internally searching verse.
If you love cars, do spend all your time sailing? If you love art, do you spend all your time studying equations? If you love Jesus, do you spend all your time sinning?
I'm not saying we should all ascribe to a list of rules so that we don't sin. The rules, though good, are not what we need to follow. We need to follow Jesus. Why? Because when you look at the rules He's asking us to obey you see that He really loves us.
I have to ask myself, "if we follow Jesus Christ, who died to save us, why is Gandhi the modern standard for 'good deeds'?" I'm not asking for Christians to have that kind of fame, but I am asking why we are not on the front lines of global activism. Jesus came to save the lost and stood against the establishment. Why? Because they forgot who they were supposed to be ruling. Jesus came as the answer to economic stability, environmental sustainability, political calm, etc. His Love will conquer all.
His love is the answer, and if we believe that shouldn't we be acting on it? The way you act will be different to the way I act; but inactivity is not an answer. As Paul said, "Christ's love compels us, (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV)" therefore we go and do good things.
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