"Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established." Proverbs 16:3 (NKJV)
There are subtle nuances in the words we read in today's bible. Most, however, escape us completely. The reason for this in large part is due to the fact that we are reading an English translation of another language. And though translators do the best they can to capture either word for word or thought for thought translation, depending on the version you use, there are times when meanings can only be approximated.
Consider how the above Scripture might be interpreted. Paul once said, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing," Romans 7:19 (NIV). We can all identify with this sentiment. We were raised to know right from wrong. Our bible teaches us the difference. The laws of the land are designed to communicate and enforce behaviors associated with society's definition of right and wrong. We still, however, find ourselves nudging our cars just over the speed limit. We still sin, sometimes willfully. And we still wonder why we do these things when we know better.
The word of the God says that if we just apply our minds to doing the things He has set before us to do, this will give us something good and beneficial to focus on, thus crowding out the desire to do otherwise. Done long and well enough, it becomes second nature and many unrighteous desires within us will simply fade away.
The word translated as "thoughts" can also be translated as "plans." Do you have a desire to be successful in any or all of your endeavors? How do you go about them? Is God a part of your plans? Did you seek Him out in prayer? Are the plans themselves godly? The word here also says that if you would focus on Him, align your will with His and submit to His commands, He will make your plans successful. How can you lose with God on your side?
Beloved, the subtleties dovetail in the most delightful ways. From this short verse alone, we can see the loving kindness of our benevolent God. We can see the purpose for which we were created. We can see solutions to our sin problems. We can see how to regulate our minds and gain focus. And we can see guarantees of success in whatever we purpose to do that is in keeping with His will. Just imagine the assurance that can be found in all of the other subtleties that exist in the Scriptures. We are barely scratching the surface.
One,
Lee
Showing posts with label assurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label assurance. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2014
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
God Still Speaks 7/30/2013
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." Hebrews 1:1-2
Many people claim that God has spoken to them and told them to do this or that. Many more people wonder if God has ever spoken to them. Most people assume that He has not, does not and will not speak to them. In fact, God has a long and varied history of communicating with man. In the Garden of Eden, He spoke with Adam and Eve directly. He spoke similarly to Noah. Abraham was spoken to directly as well as through the angel of the Lord. Moses was spoken to directly and through a burning bush. Joseph was spoken to by dreams and Peter had visions. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the point is that God speaks to us. And while some would ask, "Of course he spoke to all those guys thousands of years ago but what about me today?", the answer is that He still speaks!
Beloved, God desires that we get to know and love him. The only way to accomplish this is through communication. He has the power to choose whichever means to communicate that suits Him. Some will tell you that He no longer expresses Himself in dreams and visions. I am not prepared to limit God. He can do whatever He wants however He wants to do it to whom He wants to and whenever He wants to. But scripture is clear that despite all other means, discussed or not, He communicates through his word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is inspired [breathed] by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." The same breath that made us living souls literally authored the Bible. Further, we know that he has communicated through his son but did you know that Jesus is also known as "the Word?" John 1:1 informs us that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It is incontrovertible that God, Jesus and the Word are one. It is through and by this fact that God yet speaks to all of us to this day.
There is more to be said about hearing God's voice through the Spirit, circumstances, the words of others (such as sermons, songs and conversations) and various other ways. We must learn to tune in. Nevertheless, his voice is never farther away than your nearest Bible. Listen to what God has to say to you today.
Committed,
Lee
Many people claim that God has spoken to them and told them to do this or that. Many more people wonder if God has ever spoken to them. Most people assume that He has not, does not and will not speak to them. In fact, God has a long and varied history of communicating with man. In the Garden of Eden, He spoke with Adam and Eve directly. He spoke similarly to Noah. Abraham was spoken to directly as well as through the angel of the Lord. Moses was spoken to directly and through a burning bush. Joseph was spoken to by dreams and Peter had visions. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the point is that God speaks to us. And while some would ask, "Of course he spoke to all those guys thousands of years ago but what about me today?", the answer is that He still speaks!
Beloved, God desires that we get to know and love him. The only way to accomplish this is through communication. He has the power to choose whichever means to communicate that suits Him. Some will tell you that He no longer expresses Himself in dreams and visions. I am not prepared to limit God. He can do whatever He wants however He wants to do it to whom He wants to and whenever He wants to. But scripture is clear that despite all other means, discussed or not, He communicates through his word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is inspired [breathed] by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." The same breath that made us living souls literally authored the Bible. Further, we know that he has communicated through his son but did you know that Jesus is also known as "the Word?" John 1:1 informs us that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It is incontrovertible that God, Jesus and the Word are one. It is through and by this fact that God yet speaks to all of us to this day.
There is more to be said about hearing God's voice through the Spirit, circumstances, the words of others (such as sermons, songs and conversations) and various other ways. We must learn to tune in. Nevertheless, his voice is never farther away than your nearest Bible. Listen to what God has to say to you today.
Committed,
Lee
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
It Starts With Doubt 5/15/2013
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Gen 3:1
Both Adam and Eve had it clearly stated from God himself what they could do and what they could not do. It was the serpent who engaged Eve in a conversation that made her first experience doubt. She then begin to rationalize her own desires about the look, taste and effect of the forbidden fruit and ultimately fell into sin. How could such a thing have happened?
Beloved, as Christians, it is absolutely critical that we be firmly convinced of who God is, who we are in Him and what He has commanded. To be anything less makes us vulnerable to both the surreptitious attacks of the Enemy as well as our own internal weaknesses. The Hebrew writer has espoused that, "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him," Heb 11:6. God has given us His word and His commands are crystal clear. No one should be able to introduce doubt into our minds about His essentials. We must be steadfast, unmovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord. To allow doubt about what He has told us is to introduce tragedy.
Committed,
Lee
Both Adam and Eve had it clearly stated from God himself what they could do and what they could not do. It was the serpent who engaged Eve in a conversation that made her first experience doubt. She then begin to rationalize her own desires about the look, taste and effect of the forbidden fruit and ultimately fell into sin. How could such a thing have happened?
Beloved, as Christians, it is absolutely critical that we be firmly convinced of who God is, who we are in Him and what He has commanded. To be anything less makes us vulnerable to both the surreptitious attacks of the Enemy as well as our own internal weaknesses. The Hebrew writer has espoused that, "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him," Heb 11:6. God has given us His word and His commands are crystal clear. No one should be able to introduce doubt into our minds about His essentials. We must be steadfast, unmovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord. To allow doubt about what He has told us is to introduce tragedy.
Committed,
Lee
Friday, April 19, 2013
Reassurance 4/19/2013
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13
It is very human to doubt things about which we have no specific and tangible evidence. Those who believe are no exception. Upon hearing the claims of his fellow apostles about Jesus' post resurrection visit to them, Thomas famously said, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe,” John 20:25. Thomas had walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, was present when Lazarus was called to life from the dead and heard Jesus say that he would return from death, yet even he doubted. Jesus did indeed return and offered Thomas the opportunity to extract whatever proof he needed.
Beloved, one of the most amazing things about God is His provision of free will to humanity. This means that we have the ability to choose to believe or choose not to believe. We can accept God or we can reject Him. No one has been compelled to believe. There were some who were born for God's service but departed from Him such as Samson and Saul and others from common walks of life or even enemy status who became integral to the growth and spread of Christianity such as the apostles (including Paul). The point is that if you, of your own free will, choose to believe in and follow Christ, be 100% committed and assured. It is only when we fully embrace him that we can truly experience his love and accomplish his work.
Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed,” John 20:29. Have faith.
Committed,
Lee
It is very human to doubt things about which we have no specific and tangible evidence. Those who believe are no exception. Upon hearing the claims of his fellow apostles about Jesus' post resurrection visit to them, Thomas famously said, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe,” John 20:25. Thomas had walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, was present when Lazarus was called to life from the dead and heard Jesus say that he would return from death, yet even he doubted. Jesus did indeed return and offered Thomas the opportunity to extract whatever proof he needed.
Beloved, one of the most amazing things about God is His provision of free will to humanity. This means that we have the ability to choose to believe or choose not to believe. We can accept God or we can reject Him. No one has been compelled to believe. There were some who were born for God's service but departed from Him such as Samson and Saul and others from common walks of life or even enemy status who became integral to the growth and spread of Christianity such as the apostles (including Paul). The point is that if you, of your own free will, choose to believe in and follow Christ, be 100% committed and assured. It is only when we fully embrace him that we can truly experience his love and accomplish his work.
Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed,” John 20:29. Have faith.
Committed,
Lee
Monday, September 24, 2012
Belief is Not Enough 9/24/2010
"You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone." James 2:24
Talking the talk is an easy thing to do in life. Anyone can say anything they like. Anyone can make any claim they like. In order to be taken seriously, however, action must accompany the words.
Beloved, the same is true regarding our walk with the Lord. Anyone can claim to be a Christian. They may even go so far as to show up at worship. But is this enough? Is simply saying you believe enough to give the statement validity? James said, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder" Jas 2:19. What he implies is that belief is not righteousness in and of itself. Certainly no one would consider a demon who believes God exists to be righteous.
Belief is demonstrated by action. Faith is seen in deeds. We believe that airplanes can transport us safely around the world so we board them. We believe that our employers will pay us for our labor so we show up and work. We believe our beds will hold us so we get in them, rest and relax. If we believe that God exists and the Christ died for our sins, our deeds should demonstrate it. Broadly this can be accomplished through obedience to His will and word. Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. He that does not believe will be condemned" Mark 16:16. Because we believe, we obey the command to be baptized. Conversely, there is no need to obey this command if there is no belief.
Let us not judge one another's belief, but let us be fully convinced of our own by doing the things required of us out of love for Him who made us.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Talking the talk is an easy thing to do in life. Anyone can say anything they like. Anyone can make any claim they like. In order to be taken seriously, however, action must accompany the words.
Beloved, the same is true regarding our walk with the Lord. Anyone can claim to be a Christian. They may even go so far as to show up at worship. But is this enough? Is simply saying you believe enough to give the statement validity? James said, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder" Jas 2:19. What he implies is that belief is not righteousness in and of itself. Certainly no one would consider a demon who believes God exists to be righteous.
Belief is demonstrated by action. Faith is seen in deeds. We believe that airplanes can transport us safely around the world so we board them. We believe that our employers will pay us for our labor so we show up and work. We believe our beds will hold us so we get in them, rest and relax. If we believe that God exists and the Christ died for our sins, our deeds should demonstrate it. Broadly this can be accomplished through obedience to His will and word. Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. He that does not believe will be condemned" Mark 16:16. Because we believe, we obey the command to be baptized. Conversely, there is no need to obey this command if there is no belief.
Let us not judge one another's belief, but let us be fully convinced of our own by doing the things required of us out of love for Him who made us.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Help For Your Unbelief-7/6/2011 (rp)
"Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." Mark 9:24
Jesus' disciples had just failed at casting a demon that caused convulsions out of a young boy when the desperate father came to the Lord and asked him to do something if he could. Jesus replied that "all things are possible to him who believes."
Having faith in anything we cannot see with our own eyes and touch with our own hands can sometimes be difficult. As long as we are clothed in flesh, we will always be subject to its limitations. Matters of the Spirit do not come natural to us, yet as a moth to a guiding light, we are drawn to them.
We seek the Lord in all of his glory, wisdom, benevolence and love while sometimes doubting his very existence somewhere within ourselves. We sometimes think, "After all, it is possible that he exist(ed) but are all the things recorded about him literal and true? Can I really look forward to a heaven where I will see him or will we just cease to exist?"
If these thoughts sometimes float through your mind, don't be too hard on yourself. John the Baptist was once described by Jesus as the greatest man that ever lived. Consider this: "Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" Matt 11:2-3. John had seen with his own eyes, touched with his own hands, saw the Spirit descend on him like a dove, heard the voice of God acknowledge and identify him and he still had questions!
Surely if Christ's forerunner needed reassurance, we ourselves might have the same issue. In response, the Lord sent word back to him that was not a rebuke, but an assurance. He told John's followers to tell him what the Lord had been seen doing, not what he said.
Beloved, should your faith ever falter, consider the things the Lord has done in your life. Remember the prayers that have been answered. Remember the healing you have experienced. Consider the meals you have never missed and the children that make your heart swell. Most of all, remember the quiet times when it was just you and him. Remember what that communion and that peace felt like. It is still there. Always there. He is help for your unbelief.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Jesus' disciples had just failed at casting a demon that caused convulsions out of a young boy when the desperate father came to the Lord and asked him to do something if he could. Jesus replied that "all things are possible to him who believes."
Having faith in anything we cannot see with our own eyes and touch with our own hands can sometimes be difficult. As long as we are clothed in flesh, we will always be subject to its limitations. Matters of the Spirit do not come natural to us, yet as a moth to a guiding light, we are drawn to them.
We seek the Lord in all of his glory, wisdom, benevolence and love while sometimes doubting his very existence somewhere within ourselves. We sometimes think, "After all, it is possible that he exist(ed) but are all the things recorded about him literal and true? Can I really look forward to a heaven where I will see him or will we just cease to exist?"
If these thoughts sometimes float through your mind, don't be too hard on yourself. John the Baptist was once described by Jesus as the greatest man that ever lived. Consider this: "Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" Matt 11:2-3. John had seen with his own eyes, touched with his own hands, saw the Spirit descend on him like a dove, heard the voice of God acknowledge and identify him and he still had questions!
Surely if Christ's forerunner needed reassurance, we ourselves might have the same issue. In response, the Lord sent word back to him that was not a rebuke, but an assurance. He told John's followers to tell him what the Lord had been seen doing, not what he said.
Beloved, should your faith ever falter, consider the things the Lord has done in your life. Remember the prayers that have been answered. Remember the healing you have experienced. Consider the meals you have never missed and the children that make your heart swell. Most of all, remember the quiet times when it was just you and him. Remember what that communion and that peace felt like. It is still there. Always there. He is help for your unbelief.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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