Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.
God had just told Abram to look all around. north, south east and west. God promised all the land he could see would be his and that of his offspring. Then God tells Abram to check it out, walk through it from end to end and side to side. Take it all in and see the magnitude of what God had in store for him.
I can't say that God has audibly spoken a huge promise like this one to me about what may be ahead for my life. But what this verse says to me right now is that I need to look around at all the promises He has already kept, at all the blessings He has poured into my life. It is always a good thing to walk through the length and breadth of all God has done in my life. Hasn't He always been faithful even in my darkest hours? Isn't the thread of His workings woven throughout the fabric of my life? The answer is obviously a resounding yes. By walking through the "land" He has already given to me I see the magnitude of His greatness and the extent to which He will go to show His love for me. My response should be just like Abram's. Go, pitch a tent, build an alter.
So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Genesis 12:16-17
He (Pharaoh) treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai.
Let me get this straight. Abram, through who all the peoples on the earth will be blessed lies to Pharaoh and tells him Sarai is his sister. Pharaoh, thinking she is free for the taking because of Abram's deceit, takes Sarai as his wife. Abram greatly benefits from this lie and Pharaoh has diseases inflicting on him and his household because of all this. Pharaoh obviously treated Abram well, blessing him and not cursing him, so why wasn't he blessed and became diseased instead? Did God get this one wrong? Is the wrong party here being punished?
What's the lesson here? That God condones deception as a means of blessing those He has chosen? That actions taken when relying upon words spoken by a person of God's choosing are not to be trusted? That lies aren't any big deal to God, or at least weren't yet because the 10 Commandment hadn't been given yet?
This is one of those stories that really doesn't make complete sense to me. Abram hatches this plot to protect himself and sort of protect Sarai. If he really believed God's promise and trusted Him, shouldn't Abram have been severely dealt with for his lack of faith and for taking matters into his own hands by means of deception? Is what I've had drilled into me through my Christian upbringing been wrong? That holding firm to my faith through the tough times, making the right choices may bring about suffering for a season but will build my faith in the long term? That God's grace is not a license to sin? That God may quickly remove His hand of blessing when I transgress because He is a just and holy God who does not reward sin?
As a parent I often seem to make decisions that seem inconsistent or unfair to my children. I'll come down heavy handedly on one kid and seemingly ignore the same infraction by another. A child will seem to get a more severe punishment by reacting to a wrong by another child while the initial instigator of the incident appears to get off with no discipline. When filtered through their experience, level of maturity and understanding, many of my parenting decisions don't seem to make much sense. But one thing they do know is I love them very much and want what is best for them.
Granted, I am extremely imperfect and flawed. But God is not. He is perfect in every way. And His ways are far exceeding anything I can comprehend or understand. But, without a doubt, I know He loves me and desires my best. I can question things when they don't make sense. But the bottom line is He is God and knows what He is doing even when I don't.
Let me get this straight. Abram, through who all the peoples on the earth will be blessed lies to Pharaoh and tells him Sarai is his sister. Pharaoh, thinking she is free for the taking because of Abram's deceit, takes Sarai as his wife. Abram greatly benefits from this lie and Pharaoh has diseases inflicting on him and his household because of all this. Pharaoh obviously treated Abram well, blessing him and not cursing him, so why wasn't he blessed and became diseased instead? Did God get this one wrong? Is the wrong party here being punished?
What's the lesson here? That God condones deception as a means of blessing those He has chosen? That actions taken when relying upon words spoken by a person of God's choosing are not to be trusted? That lies aren't any big deal to God, or at least weren't yet because the 10 Commandment hadn't been given yet?
This is one of those stories that really doesn't make complete sense to me. Abram hatches this plot to protect himself and sort of protect Sarai. If he really believed God's promise and trusted Him, shouldn't Abram have been severely dealt with for his lack of faith and for taking matters into his own hands by means of deception? Is what I've had drilled into me through my Christian upbringing been wrong? That holding firm to my faith through the tough times, making the right choices may bring about suffering for a season but will build my faith in the long term? That God's grace is not a license to sin? That God may quickly remove His hand of blessing when I transgress because He is a just and holy God who does not reward sin?
As a parent I often seem to make decisions that seem inconsistent or unfair to my children. I'll come down heavy handedly on one kid and seemingly ignore the same infraction by another. A child will seem to get a more severe punishment by reacting to a wrong by another child while the initial instigator of the incident appears to get off with no discipline. When filtered through their experience, level of maturity and understanding, many of my parenting decisions don't seem to make much sense. But one thing they do know is I love them very much and want what is best for them.
Granted, I am extremely imperfect and flawed. But God is not. He is perfect in every way. And His ways are far exceeding anything I can comprehend or understand. But, without a doubt, I know He loves me and desires my best. I can question things when they don't make sense. But the bottom line is He is God and knows what He is doing even when I don't.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.
Cain was angry because his offering, unlike his brother's, was not looked upon with favor by the Lord. Was this because Cain's offering was comprised of fruits of the soil rather than of animals? I don't think so. In the translation I read of this chapter, verses three and four say that Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil, where Abel brought fat portions and some of the firstborn of his flock.
Though unstated in this passage, I have to believe that both Cain and Abel were taught what is acceptable as an offering to God. Cain had to know the high standard required otherwise this would probably be an instructional verse as to what is right rather than one about doing what is right.
When I bring an offering, whether monetery or otherwise, when I give of my time, talent or resources, are they acceptable and looked upon with favor? Or am I caving to the sin crouching at my door? My attitude and posture when it comes to my various offerings are a clear indication of who, or what, rules over me.
Cain was angry because his offering, unlike his brother's, was not looked upon with favor by the Lord. Was this because Cain's offering was comprised of fruits of the soil rather than of animals? I don't think so. In the translation I read of this chapter, verses three and four say that Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil, where Abel brought fat portions and some of the firstborn of his flock.
Though unstated in this passage, I have to believe that both Cain and Abel were taught what is acceptable as an offering to God. Cain had to know the high standard required otherwise this would probably be an instructional verse as to what is right rather than one about doing what is right.
When I bring an offering, whether monetery or otherwise, when I give of my time, talent or resources, are they acceptable and looked upon with favor? Or am I caving to the sin crouching at my door? My attitude and posture when it comes to my various offerings are a clear indication of who, or what, rules over me.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Genesis 3:22-23
Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”-- therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.
Adam and Eve had access, even permission, to eat from the tree of life before they disobeyed and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. A few questions rattling around in my brain: If they never ate from either tree, would they have lived forever? Or only if they ate from the tree of life? Is the curse of death a direct result of the sin of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or indirect since they were banished from the garden and therefore no longer had access to the tree of life? Is this "man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil" really a statement about knowledge or perhaps something else?
I'm kind of thinking perhaps when man chooses to determine for himself what is good or evil rather than yielding in obedience to the Creator, God, he is setting himself up as his own god. It is in this way that he becomes like the "one of Us" to which God refers. It's clearly visible in our society today how "individualized" good and evil have become. Each person has their own standard of what is right and fair and good for themself. And they often judge others by yet another standard the serves only to elevate themself.
I need to ever be on my guard for that mindset that gets me thinking I can determine what is good or evil for me based on a current situation or my own interests. My anchor for truth, my source for discernment, my reference point for good and evil always must be God and his Word and His Spirit and not something completely inside myself. I have put out my hand and taken from the tree of life. That tree is a rugged cross and it's fruit is the the battered body and poured out blood of Jesus.
Adam and Eve had access, even permission, to eat from the tree of life before they disobeyed and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. A few questions rattling around in my brain: If they never ate from either tree, would they have lived forever? Or only if they ate from the tree of life? Is the curse of death a direct result of the sin of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or indirect since they were banished from the garden and therefore no longer had access to the tree of life? Is this "man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil" really a statement about knowledge or perhaps something else?
I'm kind of thinking perhaps when man chooses to determine for himself what is good or evil rather than yielding in obedience to the Creator, God, he is setting himself up as his own god. It is in this way that he becomes like the "one of Us" to which God refers. It's clearly visible in our society today how "individualized" good and evil have become. Each person has their own standard of what is right and fair and good for themself. And they often judge others by yet another standard the serves only to elevate themself.
I need to ever be on my guard for that mindset that gets me thinking I can determine what is good or evil for me based on a current situation or my own interests. My anchor for truth, my source for discernment, my reference point for good and evil always must be God and his Word and His Spirit and not something completely inside myself. I have put out my hand and taken from the tree of life. That tree is a rugged cross and it's fruit is the the battered body and poured out blood of Jesus.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
John 6
Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii (eight months' wages) worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” John 6:5-7
Knowing what He was going to do anyway, Jesus asked Philip a question to "test" him. Hmmmmm. More questions than answers here. Why even ask? Didn't Jesus also know what Philip's answer would be as well? Do you think Philip passed or failed the test? If Philip's faith, as it seems to me here, was so lacking in regards to what Jesus could do in this "impossible" situation, is my lack of faith in the impossible situations I encounter also something that will not hinder Jesus from doing miracles? Was the miracle done in spite of Philip's lack of faith or in order that Philip's faith (as well as others') would become more solid? Does faith even factor into the equation of miracles? How often does Jesus "test" me? Every day? Is every choice a test?
Another thought I extracted as I read this. What if the people were reversed here and Philip was asking Jesus how to deal with this crisis? After all, wasn't Jesus the leader of this band? Often when in a tough situation, it seems to be my natural bent (any probably that of many others) to "ask" Jesus what I should do while already knowing what I am planning on doing. Gee that's got to frustrate Him. It should also throw up a huge red flag inside myself that tells me if I already know what I'm going to do before I even talk it over with Jesus, then I need to examine who is really on the throne in my life because there clearly is more I need to yield to His control.
Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii (eight months' wages) worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” John 6:5-7
Knowing what He was going to do anyway, Jesus asked Philip a question to "test" him. Hmmmmm. More questions than answers here. Why even ask? Didn't Jesus also know what Philip's answer would be as well? Do you think Philip passed or failed the test? If Philip's faith, as it seems to me here, was so lacking in regards to what Jesus could do in this "impossible" situation, is my lack of faith in the impossible situations I encounter also something that will not hinder Jesus from doing miracles? Was the miracle done in spite of Philip's lack of faith or in order that Philip's faith (as well as others') would become more solid? Does faith even factor into the equation of miracles? How often does Jesus "test" me? Every day? Is every choice a test?
Another thought I extracted as I read this. What if the people were reversed here and Philip was asking Jesus how to deal with this crisis? After all, wasn't Jesus the leader of this band? Often when in a tough situation, it seems to be my natural bent (any probably that of many others) to "ask" Jesus what I should do while already knowing what I am planning on doing. Gee that's got to frustrate Him. It should also throw up a huge red flag inside myself that tells me if I already know what I'm going to do before I even talk it over with Jesus, then I need to examine who is really on the throne in my life because there clearly is more I need to yield to His control.
Monday, February 15, 2010
John 5
"For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgement to the Son...
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life...
..."As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." John 5:22, 24, 30
In order for there to be such a thing as judgement, there must be a standard, something to be measured against. The ultimate standard is to do God's will. "Do not eat from this tree." The first standard, law, command that, once broken, lead humaniity down the path of choosing our own will over that of God. Then came the Law. But the Law couldn't save us. It could only serve to show us in a more tangible way how we do not measure up to the standard God has for us. The Law was co-opted by the religious leaders and turned into merely a bunch of external rules to be kept unto itself to prove by their unrighteous judgement a man's "holiness" rather than as an instrument for discerning what is God's will for how we should live our lives. Was God's will really that a person not carry any furniture or that nobody be healed on a Sabbath? Did walking further than the laws perscribed, as interpreted by the religious leaders, accurately reflect how inclined towards God a man's heart was?
Jesus, fully God, fully man. His judgement is righteous because as God, He knows what the Father's will is and as man, He lived it out perfectly. Who better to be a judge, knowing both the standard of God and the temptations of sin that pull at the flesh. But He didn't just live out the perfect life and turn around and say to us, "See, it can be done so now you do it." He offered up His perfect, sinless life for mine full of disgusting, twisted, evil, currupt, sinful, rebelious, darkness. My sin on Him as he hangs on the cross and while His righteousness covers me. All any of us need to do is hear His words and believe. He's really getting a raw deal if you ask me. Look at Him on the Cross. Stare. Don't avert your eyes. Take a good, long look.....
So, so unworthy of His mercy and love. So very deserving of His judgement and condemnation. I am completely unable to fully grasp it. In my pitiful state I find it impossible to accept... nearly.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life...
..."As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." John 5:22, 24, 30
In order for there to be such a thing as judgement, there must be a standard, something to be measured against. The ultimate standard is to do God's will. "Do not eat from this tree." The first standard, law, command that, once broken, lead humaniity down the path of choosing our own will over that of God. Then came the Law. But the Law couldn't save us. It could only serve to show us in a more tangible way how we do not measure up to the standard God has for us. The Law was co-opted by the religious leaders and turned into merely a bunch of external rules to be kept unto itself to prove by their unrighteous judgement a man's "holiness" rather than as an instrument for discerning what is God's will for how we should live our lives. Was God's will really that a person not carry any furniture or that nobody be healed on a Sabbath? Did walking further than the laws perscribed, as interpreted by the religious leaders, accurately reflect how inclined towards God a man's heart was?
Jesus, fully God, fully man. His judgement is righteous because as God, He knows what the Father's will is and as man, He lived it out perfectly. Who better to be a judge, knowing both the standard of God and the temptations of sin that pull at the flesh. But He didn't just live out the perfect life and turn around and say to us, "See, it can be done so now you do it." He offered up His perfect, sinless life for mine full of disgusting, twisted, evil, currupt, sinful, rebelious, darkness. My sin on Him as he hangs on the cross and while His righteousness covers me. All any of us need to do is hear His words and believe. He's really getting a raw deal if you ask me. Look at Him on the Cross. Stare. Don't avert your eyes. Take a good, long look.....
So, so unworthy of His mercy and love. So very deserving of His judgement and condemnation. I am completely unable to fully grasp it. In my pitiful state I find it impossible to accept... nearly.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
1 Kings 17-19; Colossians 2
Colossians 2: 20
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?
I'm pretty sure this speaks to the man-made rules the religious leaders imposed. It's so very easy to keep up apperances by doing and saying all the right things or by not doing the wrong things. But these rules are completely meaningless. They only benefit those who wish to judge righteousness based on the external. It's all pride based and self promotion.
It's not that God gives us a moving, elusive target and that there are no rules. But unlike the "basic principles of this world" by which men judge, God looks upon the heart. Is how I live my life an outflow of loving and serving God and loving and serving others? Am I immitating the culture around me or Christ?
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?
I'm pretty sure this speaks to the man-made rules the religious leaders imposed. It's so very easy to keep up apperances by doing and saying all the right things or by not doing the wrong things. But these rules are completely meaningless. They only benefit those who wish to judge righteousness based on the external. It's all pride based and self promotion.
It's not that God gives us a moving, elusive target and that there are no rules. But unlike the "basic principles of this world" by which men judge, God looks upon the heart. Is how I live my life an outflow of loving and serving God and loving and serving others? Am I immitating the culture around me or Christ?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
