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.
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Friday, June 11, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Job 5:11
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Friday, June 4
Job 5:11 He [God] gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.
Passages like these have caused some to leave the faith completely. For some it has caused struggle. I have struggled; because it sounds so good until I look at the world. Then like many I begin to question, which leads to doubt, which for some leads to not believing at all. How do you answer, "Where was God when my mother died? during the holocaust? in war? etc." Pick the scenario; but when you look at the raw brokenness of life, trite words and phrases learned in Sunday School seem empty and useless. Where is God? He is there; but maybe not in the way you think He is.
The Bible is often described as a love story, albeit an odd one sometimes and maybe that's because it's a Hebrew love story not a Hollywood love story. God created us in His image and loves us. He made us His people. We rebelled. He loves us so much He wants to be married to us. So, His son came down to pay the price for us. Then He left to prepare a place for us. So, He sent us His Holy Spirit. To dwell in us. See, in Gensis when Adam and Eve are married by God, there is a verse that reads: "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one (Genesis 2:24, NLT)." This is God's picture of marriage. Paul describes the church as a "a pure bride to one husband—Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, NLT)." If we are the bride of Christ then we are to be united to Him as ONE! We are to be ONE with GOD!! Paul even describes the Church as the body of Christ! "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)."
Isn't that wonderful! We are one with our savior Jesus Christ our Lord and God.
Isn't it sobering. Think about it.
We are His body. We are His body. We are His body.
Do you get it yet? I'm still struggling to grasp it fully; because if I really am part of His body, doesn't that mean that I represent Him. His Holy Spirit is supposed to be in me, and I'm supposed to be His body...yeah, well look at my life and tell me if I really look like Christ. The answer is no.
Christ's love has redeemed me. Christ has promised Himself to me, and as a token He has provided the Holy Spirit, which is like having Christ anyway because the Holy Spirit is the third part of the same God. So, I'm free from who I was and now I'm part of the body of Christ. We have overused that word and it means something different now. Think about what that word really means! Because right now the 'body' of Christ has Parkensons. We are not listening to Christ our head at all! And that is why this verse is not relevant to our world. That is why people leave the Church. That is why we are the biggest hypocrites in town. That is why others have to step in the gap and do our job - healing the sick, visiting the widows, orphans, and prisoners, clothing the homeless, feeding the hungry, saving the lost, stopping human trafficking, ending wars, fighting against injustice, etc., etc., etc. and another never ending etc.!
But there is an end to injustice and suffering, and we have the key. It is Christ. Through Christ we enter into the presence of our Lord, we enter heaven. It is our love for the one who loved us first, and loves us still, which must compel us to be like Him and to do and be and speak the good news.
Friday, June 4
Job 5:11 He [God] gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.
Passages like these have caused some to leave the faith completely. For some it has caused struggle. I have struggled; because it sounds so good until I look at the world. Then like many I begin to question, which leads to doubt, which for some leads to not believing at all. How do you answer, "Where was God when my mother died? during the holocaust? in war? etc." Pick the scenario; but when you look at the raw brokenness of life, trite words and phrases learned in Sunday School seem empty and useless. Where is God? He is there; but maybe not in the way you think He is.
The Bible is often described as a love story, albeit an odd one sometimes and maybe that's because it's a Hebrew love story not a Hollywood love story. God created us in His image and loves us. He made us His people. We rebelled. He loves us so much He wants to be married to us. So, His son came down to pay the price for us. Then He left to prepare a place for us. So, He sent us His Holy Spirit. To dwell in us. See, in Gensis when Adam and Eve are married by God, there is a verse that reads: "This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one (Genesis 2:24, NLT)." This is God's picture of marriage. Paul describes the church as a "a pure bride to one husband—Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, NLT)." If we are the bride of Christ then we are to be united to Him as ONE! We are to be ONE with GOD!! Paul even describes the Church as the body of Christ! "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT)."
Isn't that wonderful! We are one with our savior Jesus Christ our Lord and God.
Isn't it sobering. Think about it.
We are His body. We are His body. We are His body.
Do you get it yet? I'm still struggling to grasp it fully; because if I really am part of His body, doesn't that mean that I represent Him. His Holy Spirit is supposed to be in me, and I'm supposed to be His body...yeah, well look at my life and tell me if I really look like Christ. The answer is no.
Christ's love has redeemed me. Christ has promised Himself to me, and as a token He has provided the Holy Spirit, which is like having Christ anyway because the Holy Spirit is the third part of the same God. So, I'm free from who I was and now I'm part of the body of Christ. We have overused that word and it means something different now. Think about what that word really means! Because right now the 'body' of Christ has Parkensons. We are not listening to Christ our head at all! And that is why this verse is not relevant to our world. That is why people leave the Church. That is why we are the biggest hypocrites in town. That is why others have to step in the gap and do our job - healing the sick, visiting the widows, orphans, and prisoners, clothing the homeless, feeding the hungry, saving the lost, stopping human trafficking, ending wars, fighting against injustice, etc., etc., etc. and another never ending etc.!
But there is an end to injustice and suffering, and we have the key. It is Christ. Through Christ we enter into the presence of our Lord, we enter heaven. It is our love for the one who loved us first, and loves us still, which must compel us to be like Him and to do and be and speak the good news.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Word on the Way - Commentary
Word on the Way is a passage sent out daily by Way.FM
Sometimes it is easier for me to understand the Bible by writing out my thoughts. This is part of my walk. If you read this I hope you get something out of it. Let He who created both you and me have the glory.
Wednesday, May 19
Proverbs 24:12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, "Look, we didn’t know।" For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
Seriously? You mean I can't get away with that? I can't believe that we really dupe ourselves into believing we didn't know. Or worse that we have a right to do xyz. We go around hurting people because we think we're oblivious. Really?
The best excuse is "it just happened!" No one really buys it, but you have to otherwise you can't use it yourself. It's like the infamous "I don't remember" or "I forgot". We use them to take the guilt off of ourselves, but the truth is we're guilty! We are guilty because we knew what we were doing. It's almost like there are two 'Falls'. The one where Adam and Eve sinned against God is the reason why the world is broken. But then there's this other Fall. It's the one that you and I go through everyday. It's when we choose to go against what we know is right. When we say 'no' to integrity and say 'yes' to self indulgence then we Fall again. This is why the world is still broken.
We're guilty and we deserve all the punishment God can throw at us!
But He won't!
That's the Gospel! That's why Jesus came! Because you're guilty and you know it! No matter how long you spend trying to deceive yourself into thinking you're not!! God is telling you, "I know you're guilty! I know you messed up! But I don't care! Stop trying to impress me! Stop trying to not look guilty! You are! But I'm here to take the guilt away. Here! I give you my son to die in your place! Now you are free!"
Sometimes it is easier for me to understand the Bible by writing out my thoughts. This is part of my walk. If you read this I hope you get something out of it. Let He who created both you and me have the glory.
Wednesday, May 19
Proverbs 24:12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, "Look, we didn’t know।" For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
Seriously? You mean I can't get away with that? I can't believe that we really dupe ourselves into believing we didn't know. Or worse that we have a right to do xyz. We go around hurting people because we think we're oblivious. Really?
The best excuse is "it just happened!" No one really buys it, but you have to otherwise you can't use it yourself. It's like the infamous "I don't remember" or "I forgot". We use them to take the guilt off of ourselves, but the truth is we're guilty! We are guilty because we knew what we were doing. It's almost like there are two 'Falls'. The one where Adam and Eve sinned against God is the reason why the world is broken. But then there's this other Fall. It's the one that you and I go through everyday. It's when we choose to go against what we know is right. When we say 'no' to integrity and say 'yes' to self indulgence then we Fall again. This is why the world is still broken.
We're guilty and we deserve all the punishment God can throw at us!
But He won't!
That's the Gospel! That's why Jesus came! Because you're guilty and you know it! No matter how long you spend trying to deceive yourself into thinking you're not!! God is telling you, "I know you're guilty! I know you messed up! But I don't care! Stop trying to impress me! Stop trying to not look guilty! You are! But I'm here to take the guilt away. Here! I give you my son to die in your place! Now you are free!"
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