I've been studying this passage lately and it may be one of the more powerful verses in the Bible. It's complete with information on who we are, who Jesus is and the amazing work he's done in our lives. What a great encouragement that Christ lives in us! We can do whatever God calls us to do because the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead also brought us from death to life and resides in us still.
1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
11.19.2007
11.13.2007
God Will Have His Way.
The title to this post could be taken a number of ways. It almost requires a subtitle in order to understand which direction it's going to go. "God Will Have His Way: You're Just Going to Have to Deal With It" is one option, but that's not at all where I am.
Last Monday my wife took a pregnancy test and it was positive. Just to make sure, she took another one, and then one more. All positive. Calls were made to family and they rejoiced with us about the news. Immediately you start planning. Is it going to be another boy, or maybe a girl this time. Do we need a minivan...of course. Then there were complications. The following Monday we went in for an ultrasound and were notified that there was no life. There was conception, yes, but there was never any development. We were devastated. Everything fell apart the night before because, in our hearts, we knew. The ultrasound confirmed what we already thought to be true.
There are times in the midst of trial that it seems as though you'll never climb out of it, like you'll be in that pit forever. And some people are. Some people are still in the pit of despair that they've been wallowing around in for ten years. I realized that when you're there you basically have two options. You can keep your head up and wait for the Lord's deliverance or you can put it down and dig your pit deeper and wider, just big enough to live in. We waited. The Lord delivered.
Is there pain? Yes. Is it difficult? Yes. But we have come to this beautiful understanding that God will have his way: and that's a good thing (that's the subtitle). We've learned about a hundred lessons through all this. One is how to make sense of James 1:2-3 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. The lessons learned in that trial were sweet because they were accompanied by the grace, love and presence of our Lord.
We also learned that God will use his church to administer some of his grace, love and presence. All of a sudden Galatians 6:2 became clear to me in a new way. "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." One of our first thoughts after knowing about our loss was, "How are we going to go back and tell everyone that we told." That's when I remembered this verse. God was making a way for us to have some built in support for this difficult time. Immediately we knew people would be praying for us, encouraging us and reaching out to us simply because they knew.
Finally, I learned more than anything that God is love (1Jn 4:16). Of course I knew this before, but I experienced it in a new light last week. We could have easily become embittered toward God, angry at him for not protecting the pregnancy. If we did, we would have understood him. We would have understood his power, but not his love. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. God will have his way and that's a good thing.
Last Monday my wife took a pregnancy test and it was positive. Just to make sure, she took another one, and then one more. All positive. Calls were made to family and they rejoiced with us about the news. Immediately you start planning. Is it going to be another boy, or maybe a girl this time. Do we need a minivan...of course. Then there were complications. The following Monday we went in for an ultrasound and were notified that there was no life. There was conception, yes, but there was never any development. We were devastated. Everything fell apart the night before because, in our hearts, we knew. The ultrasound confirmed what we already thought to be true.
There are times in the midst of trial that it seems as though you'll never climb out of it, like you'll be in that pit forever. And some people are. Some people are still in the pit of despair that they've been wallowing around in for ten years. I realized that when you're there you basically have two options. You can keep your head up and wait for the Lord's deliverance or you can put it down and dig your pit deeper and wider, just big enough to live in. We waited. The Lord delivered.
Is there pain? Yes. Is it difficult? Yes. But we have come to this beautiful understanding that God will have his way: and that's a good thing (that's the subtitle). We've learned about a hundred lessons through all this. One is how to make sense of James 1:2-3 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. The lessons learned in that trial were sweet because they were accompanied by the grace, love and presence of our Lord.
We also learned that God will use his church to administer some of his grace, love and presence. All of a sudden Galatians 6:2 became clear to me in a new way. "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." One of our first thoughts after knowing about our loss was, "How are we going to go back and tell everyone that we told." That's when I remembered this verse. God was making a way for us to have some built in support for this difficult time. Immediately we knew people would be praying for us, encouraging us and reaching out to us simply because they knew.
Finally, I learned more than anything that God is love (1Jn 4:16). Of course I knew this before, but I experienced it in a new light last week. We could have easily become embittered toward God, angry at him for not protecting the pregnancy. If we did, we would have understood him. We would have understood his power, but not his love. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. God will have his way and that's a good thing.
10.18.2007
You Should Read This. James
Do you ever read the Bible and it seems like God shines a huge light right on a specific text that opens up an entire passage or book? That happened to me today. I went to James, which I've been drawn to lately, with this question: "Where does the strength come from to do all these things that James calls us to do?" James is a great book, but it's different than a lot of the New Testament in that it doesn't spend a lot of time on the Holy Spirit or even Jesus. It spends more time on what a person looks like who follows Jesus and talks about wisdom more than any other New Testament book.
This morning it was leaving me with that perplexing question, so I told myself, "Start from the beginning and surely the answer will be in there somewhere." It turns out the answer was in the first paragraph. "If any of you is lacking wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault." My definition of wisdom had hindered me from understanding the meaning of this statement. My definition of wisdom had everything to do with understanding with your head. James definition has everything to do with understanding with your feet.
Let me explain what I mean. If you truly have a God-given understanding of how to live the Christian life that doesn't just mean you will follow that with action it means you are acting it out. The wisdom of God is full of power as well. If you are not acting out your faith then you don't have faith. It's not as if the wisdom is there and it's just not making it into your every day life. The wisdom is simply not there. Wisdom that God grants is full of strength to do the thing which He has shown you is right to do.
This unlocked the book for me and so I wanted to share it with you. If you go on to read the remainder of the book it all points back to this God-given-power-packed wisdom, contrasting it with the foolishness of man. In fact many of the passages in the book have an implied "you fool!" at the end of it. I'll give you an example of what I mean. James 1:23-24 reads, "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and...goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (you fool!)." Or how about this one. The passage demands impartiality toward rich and poor from a church that was apparently showing favoritism toward the rich. It concludes in 2:6-7 with this. "Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? (you fools!)"
I realize this is longer than the usual post, but it's exciting information that will help you understand James as well as live the Christian life. The power for living the life we should live comes from God. Here's the good news, if your lacking that power/understanding, you can ask God and he'll give it to you. There's no specific passage today, just go anywhere in James and pick one applying this idea of the wisdom of God. Here's a link to James if you want it. Have a great day!
This morning it was leaving me with that perplexing question, so I told myself, "Start from the beginning and surely the answer will be in there somewhere." It turns out the answer was in the first paragraph. "If any of you is lacking wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault." My definition of wisdom had hindered me from understanding the meaning of this statement. My definition of wisdom had everything to do with understanding with your head. James definition has everything to do with understanding with your feet.
Let me explain what I mean. If you truly have a God-given understanding of how to live the Christian life that doesn't just mean you will follow that with action it means you are acting it out. The wisdom of God is full of power as well. If you are not acting out your faith then you don't have faith. It's not as if the wisdom is there and it's just not making it into your every day life. The wisdom is simply not there. Wisdom that God grants is full of strength to do the thing which He has shown you is right to do.
This unlocked the book for me and so I wanted to share it with you. If you go on to read the remainder of the book it all points back to this God-given-power-packed wisdom, contrasting it with the foolishness of man. In fact many of the passages in the book have an implied "you fool!" at the end of it. I'll give you an example of what I mean. James 1:23-24 reads, "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and...goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (you fool!)." Or how about this one. The passage demands impartiality toward rich and poor from a church that was apparently showing favoritism toward the rich. It concludes in 2:6-7 with this. "Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? (you fools!)"
I realize this is longer than the usual post, but it's exciting information that will help you understand James as well as live the Christian life. The power for living the life we should live comes from God. Here's the good news, if your lacking that power/understanding, you can ask God and he'll give it to you. There's no specific passage today, just go anywhere in James and pick one applying this idea of the wisdom of God. Here's a link to James if you want it. Have a great day!
10.15.2007
Watch Your Mouth. James 3:3-12
My mouth got me into a lot of trouble when I was a kid (it still does occasionally, even today). The words you speak or write can have a huge impact on your life. This is true in the way that I'm sure most of you are thinking, like if you talk back to your boss or parents you will likely not enjoy the consequences. However, it's also true in other situations where we don't normally consider our words to have as much power. Like when an acquaintance asks us to do something we know we shouldn't do. We don't always understand the power of the word "no" in that situation. We don't see the power of the words we've been speaking up to that point that has given them the impression we are something we're not. Use your words well and use them wisely. Tame that tongue of yours and make it your master. It can come in real handy.
James 3:3-12
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James 3:3-12
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
10.11.2007
Hard but Good. Matthew 7:13-14
The narrow way may be harder, but the broad way is more burdensome. The strength to make it on the narrow path is in the journey. The value of the treasure makes the journey easy and removes the burden.
Matthew 7:13-14
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
10.09.2007
Hate the World, Not God. James 4:1-10
In this passage lies a stern warning against loving the world. The one who loves the world is called adulterous, double-minded and an enemy of God, all things I'd rather not be called. Loving the world prompts fighting among brothers and sisters because our heart is defiled and selfish.
There's hope! If you've found that you are in love with the pleasures of the world there is still time for you to repent, to mourn, to grieve and to humble yourself before God. God knows there is no greater life than the life that is hidden in him, and he desperately wants us to see in him the fulfilment of all our hearts desires.
James 4:1-10
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
There's hope! If you've found that you are in love with the pleasures of the world there is still time for you to repent, to mourn, to grieve and to humble yourself before God. God knows there is no greater life than the life that is hidden in him, and he desperately wants us to see in him the fulfilment of all our hearts desires.
James 4:1-10
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
10.08.2007
Faith Prompts Action. James 2:14-24
This is a convicting passage that calls us to action as Christians. If we say we believe Jesus saves from sins and makes us new people that are no longer to the depraved way of life we should live like it. If we say we follow Jesus, there should be some evidence of that. If not, our faith is dead. In other words, the faith we have has never resulted in any real life changing behavior. We look just like someone that has no faith at all. The questions we should ask ourselves is, "How am I different? What has God done in my life?"
James 2:14-24
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
James 2:14-24
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
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