Hello everyone.
It's Christmas Eve. Soon I will be in the kitchen making cornbread and pie for tomorrow's big dinner. I thought that I would take some time to continue the story of Samson. My hope is that soon my blogging will catch up with my Bible study. So here we go:
We pick up the story after Delilah cuts off Samson's hair, he becomes like any other man and is captured by the Philistines. Judges 16:21 tells us that the Philistines then blinded Samson, then bound him and set him to grinding their grain while in their prison. But here is what they do after that, They would go to the temple of their false god, Dagon and thank him for delivering their enemy into their hands. At times they would bring Samson out as a form of entertainment, so that they could laugh and rejoice in their victory over this man of God. Because of his weaknesses and sins Samson gave the enemies of his people and the enemies of God reason to rejoice. He made the true seem small, and made the false god, Dagon seem the victor. Praising Dagon, they said: "Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands."
What I want us to think about here is how the Philistines were using him as entertainment, laughing at Samson and his God. Samson was in the position that he was in because of his weaknesses: He didn't listen to advice, he didn't take his vows seriously, he began to think to highly of himself, forgetting that his power really came from God, not himself. Plus, I've never even mentioned how easily he could be played by an attractive woman (which could be a whole other lesson.) We need to think about this. We all have weaknesses. We all have sins that dog us and are difficult to overcome. How much effort do we make to overcome them. If our efforts are on the level Samson put forth to overcome, we may put ourselves in a position some day, where the enemies of God are laughing at us. We do not want worldly people celebrating our downfall.
It's kind of depressing, so I will try to nose up the plane a little. We know the story and its bittersweet ending. Samson regains his faith
and God returns his strength. He pushes the pillars of of the temple
down, killing everyone in it. In this one act he shut the mouths of
those who were laughing at God. Sadly, Samson is killed as well. But he is remembered for his faith in Hebrews 11:32, the chapter we refer to as the Faith Hall of Fame. To this point Samson has served as a bad example. I haven't had much good to say about him, but in spite his many weaknesses, the Hebrew writer lists him along side Gideon, David and Samuel as men of faith. So if we have been messing it up, we can make start making changes now so that God's enemies do not have the opportunity to rejoice.
Tom
Monday, December 24, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Turning Strength in Weakness Part 4
Hello.
It's almost Christmas. Today is the first day of an 11 day weekend for me and my family. I have trying to get some things done around here today, and to continue the story of Samson is the last item on today's agenda.
When we last looked at Samson he had made a series of mistakes that had risen out of his refusal to listen to his parents, a lack of seriousness about his vows to God and a lack of real spiritual relationships. Today thoughts about Delilah and how he literally turns his strength into weakness because he forgets where his real power comes from.
The story of Samson and Delilah begins in Judges 16:4. Samson marries Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines offer Delilah a great deal of money to find out the secret of Samson's strength. Delilah asks him the secret first in 16:6. Samson doesn't really seem to take any of this stuff seriously and makes something up, telling her that if someone ties him with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, that he would become as weak as any other man. So after he falls asleep, with the Philistines hiding in the room, she binds him with bowstrings. Then she yells, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you." Samson jumps up and snaps the bowstrings like they were thread. Delilah gets angry and continues to pester Samson. So he makes something else up, which she, of course, tries and again fails. The third story that Samson makes up in verse 13 and 14. If you try to visualize this, it pretty hilarious. It's almost like Samson is trying to what he can get he to believe. Any way. He tells that if she weaves the seven braids of his hair into the fabric on a loom and tighten it with a pin, he would become weak. So she does, and again yells, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you." He jumps up, strong as ever. In my mind's eye, I see Samson ready to fight the Philistines dragging a loom along in his hair.
Any way, Delilah pesters him until he tells her the truth. Verse 16 says, she nagged him until he was sick to death of it. He tells her that if she cuts his hair he will become as weak as any other man. Now this is the point where I started thinking, "Samson, how stupid are you?" He has to know that she is going to do shave his head. She already done far more ridiculous things. So Samson gives up the one of his vows that he seemed to take seriously.
Now here is what I want you to think about. Samson had told her that if she cut his hair, he would lose his strength. He understood to be true intellectually and he told her any way, knowing that she was going to do it. never-the-less, after she cut his hair and shouted, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you," he jumped up thinking he would shake the Philistines off, just like he always had before. I think that Samson had lost sight of where the power was really coming from (God) and really been trusting the wrong source of power (himself).
It is important for us to realize that the power in our own lives comes from God. When we start trusting in our power we are in for trouble. Samson lost sight of this and had a colossal fall. Unfortunately for Samson, in this part of the story he only serves as an example of what not to do.
Tom
It's almost Christmas. Today is the first day of an 11 day weekend for me and my family. I have trying to get some things done around here today, and to continue the story of Samson is the last item on today's agenda.
When we last looked at Samson he had made a series of mistakes that had risen out of his refusal to listen to his parents, a lack of seriousness about his vows to God and a lack of real spiritual relationships. Today thoughts about Delilah and how he literally turns his strength into weakness because he forgets where his real power comes from.
The story of Samson and Delilah begins in Judges 16:4. Samson marries Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines offer Delilah a great deal of money to find out the secret of Samson's strength. Delilah asks him the secret first in 16:6. Samson doesn't really seem to take any of this stuff seriously and makes something up, telling her that if someone ties him with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, that he would become as weak as any other man. So after he falls asleep, with the Philistines hiding in the room, she binds him with bowstrings. Then she yells, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you." Samson jumps up and snaps the bowstrings like they were thread. Delilah gets angry and continues to pester Samson. So he makes something else up, which she, of course, tries and again fails. The third story that Samson makes up in verse 13 and 14. If you try to visualize this, it pretty hilarious. It's almost like Samson is trying to what he can get he to believe. Any way. He tells that if she weaves the seven braids of his hair into the fabric on a loom and tighten it with a pin, he would become weak. So she does, and again yells, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you." He jumps up, strong as ever. In my mind's eye, I see Samson ready to fight the Philistines dragging a loom along in his hair.
Any way, Delilah pesters him until he tells her the truth. Verse 16 says, she nagged him until he was sick to death of it. He tells her that if she cuts his hair he will become as weak as any other man. Now this is the point where I started thinking, "Samson, how stupid are you?" He has to know that she is going to do shave his head. She already done far more ridiculous things. So Samson gives up the one of his vows that he seemed to take seriously.
Now here is what I want you to think about. Samson had told her that if she cut his hair, he would lose his strength. He understood to be true intellectually and he told her any way, knowing that she was going to do it. never-the-less, after she cut his hair and shouted, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you," he jumped up thinking he would shake the Philistines off, just like he always had before. I think that Samson had lost sight of where the power was really coming from (God) and really been trusting the wrong source of power (himself).
It is important for us to realize that the power in our own lives comes from God. When we start trusting in our power we are in for trouble. Samson lost sight of this and had a colossal fall. Unfortunately for Samson, in this part of the story he only serves as an example of what not to do.
Tom
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Turning Strength into Weakness Part 3
Hello Everyone.
I'm going to continue the story of Samson tonight. Now last we looked, Samson had refused tolisten to his parents, even thought they were righteous people. He had broken at least one vow by touching a dead body and perhaps more. In the very least we could see that Samson did not take his vows very seriously.
So as the story continues in Judges 14:5, Samson goes down to Timnah again with his parents, this time to get married. At the wedding the Philistines provide Samson with thirty companions. At the party he takes vow-breaking actions and turns them into a riddle. You are probably familiar with the story. The riddle has a wager on it of thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. These thirty companions ultimately threaten Samson's wife, that if she doesn't get the answer for them, they will burn her house down upon her and her family. Through her tears, she eventually gets the answer and gives it to the Philistine "companions." So Samson has lost the bet, he goes to a different Philistine town, kills thirty men and takes their clothes, gives the clothes to his "companions" and goes home.
Later, he returns to Timnah to get his wife only to find out that she had been given to another man. Samson gets angry and gets his revenge. The Philistines get their revenge by burning his former wife's house down with her and her family in it. Samson gets even more revenge, including killing a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey. Samson makes mistake after mistake, all along the way and hundreds die, including the woman he loved.
After all that happens during and after his wedding, I wondered this: "Doesn't he have any friends?" Samson goes to his wedding day, and the enemies of God have to provide people to stand up with him. Wendy and I have been married for over twenty years, but I still remember my wedding very well. I had a lot of friends there. Most people do. And I believe that if I had been at my wedding reception making a fool of myself, that one of my friends would have pulled me aside and said, "Tom, you're making a fool of yourself." Samson apparently did not have any relationships like that. Things might have turned out differently if he had someone there at his wedding to say, "hey bro, maybe this riddle isn't such a good idea. Making light of your vows to God and turning them into a foolish riddle may not be the way to go."
So, we have ask ourselves, then, who are the friends in our lives that are helping us move in the right direction? Are we listening to them? Samson's story could have turned out very differently had he listened to righteous people.
Tom
I'm going to continue the story of Samson tonight. Now last we looked, Samson had refused tolisten to his parents, even thought they were righteous people. He had broken at least one vow by touching a dead body and perhaps more. In the very least we could see that Samson did not take his vows very seriously.
So as the story continues in Judges 14:5, Samson goes down to Timnah again with his parents, this time to get married. At the wedding the Philistines provide Samson with thirty companions. At the party he takes vow-breaking actions and turns them into a riddle. You are probably familiar with the story. The riddle has a wager on it of thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. These thirty companions ultimately threaten Samson's wife, that if she doesn't get the answer for them, they will burn her house down upon her and her family. Through her tears, she eventually gets the answer and gives it to the Philistine "companions." So Samson has lost the bet, he goes to a different Philistine town, kills thirty men and takes their clothes, gives the clothes to his "companions" and goes home.
Later, he returns to Timnah to get his wife only to find out that she had been given to another man. Samson gets angry and gets his revenge. The Philistines get their revenge by burning his former wife's house down with her and her family in it. Samson gets even more revenge, including killing a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey. Samson makes mistake after mistake, all along the way and hundreds die, including the woman he loved.
After all that happens during and after his wedding, I wondered this: "Doesn't he have any friends?" Samson goes to his wedding day, and the enemies of God have to provide people to stand up with him. Wendy and I have been married for over twenty years, but I still remember my wedding very well. I had a lot of friends there. Most people do. And I believe that if I had been at my wedding reception making a fool of myself, that one of my friends would have pulled me aside and said, "Tom, you're making a fool of yourself." Samson apparently did not have any relationships like that. Things might have turned out differently if he had someone there at his wedding to say, "hey bro, maybe this riddle isn't such a good idea. Making light of your vows to God and turning them into a foolish riddle may not be the way to go."
So, we have ask ourselves, then, who are the friends in our lives that are helping us move in the right direction? Are we listening to them? Samson's story could have turned out very differently had he listened to righteous people.
Tom
Monday, December 10, 2012
Turning Strength into Weakness Part 2
Hey everyone.
I am at home today, with Aaron, who is slowly recovering form a bout of pneumonia. Any way, I thought that I would continue the story of Samson. Last post, I talked about how Samson did not listen to his parents, who were ultimately more righteous than he was. As we continue through the story we will see how much trouble he could have avoided if he had listened to his parents.
The next part of the story we can see that Samson does not take his vows to God very seriously. Going back to Judges 13 and the appearance of the angel, we see in v. 7 that Samson was to be a Nazirite. Now, Numbers 6 tells us the vows that a Nazirite must take. First, they don't cut their hair. Second, they do drink wine, or eat grapes or raisins. Third, they cannot touch a dead body. These are Nazirite vows that someone would take over a period of time as a sign of dedication to God. But, Samson was to do this for life.
OK, as the story continues, Samson is walking with his parents to Timnah where his Philistine bride awaits. He goes off by himself into a vineyard and kills a lion with his bare hands. On his second trip to Timnah, he revisits the vineyard and finds honey in the carcass of the lion. He takes the honey and then gives some to his parents. Here is where we realize that Samson does take his vows to God very seriously. He breaks one of his vows by touching the dead lion's body. One also has to wonder what a guy who has vowed to God that he would not drink wine or eat grapes is doing wandering around a vineyard. It seems that the only vow he took seriously was the hair vow. We can be the same way, though. We can justify almost any behavior. We get as close to the line (of sin) as possible and as long as we don't cross it, we think that it is OK. It's foolish though, if we flirt with sin, eventually it will win. God told Cain, in Genesis 4:7, "sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you." Do we realize that sin desires to have us. It is wise then to stay away from it. In other words, if you don't eat grapes, stay out of the vineyard.
Later, at his wedding party, Samson who has definitely broken one vow, and messed around with breaking another, turns his vow-breaking into a riddle to entertain his wedding party. The riddle leads from one disaster to the next. Again Samson turns strength into weakness because he does take his vows before God very seriously.
Tom
I am at home today, with Aaron, who is slowly recovering form a bout of pneumonia. Any way, I thought that I would continue the story of Samson. Last post, I talked about how Samson did not listen to his parents, who were ultimately more righteous than he was. As we continue through the story we will see how much trouble he could have avoided if he had listened to his parents.
The next part of the story we can see that Samson does not take his vows to God very seriously. Going back to Judges 13 and the appearance of the angel, we see in v. 7 that Samson was to be a Nazirite. Now, Numbers 6 tells us the vows that a Nazirite must take. First, they don't cut their hair. Second, they do drink wine, or eat grapes or raisins. Third, they cannot touch a dead body. These are Nazirite vows that someone would take over a period of time as a sign of dedication to God. But, Samson was to do this for life.
OK, as the story continues, Samson is walking with his parents to Timnah where his Philistine bride awaits. He goes off by himself into a vineyard and kills a lion with his bare hands. On his second trip to Timnah, he revisits the vineyard and finds honey in the carcass of the lion. He takes the honey and then gives some to his parents. Here is where we realize that Samson does take his vows to God very seriously. He breaks one of his vows by touching the dead lion's body. One also has to wonder what a guy who has vowed to God that he would not drink wine or eat grapes is doing wandering around a vineyard. It seems that the only vow he took seriously was the hair vow. We can be the same way, though. We can justify almost any behavior. We get as close to the line (of sin) as possible and as long as we don't cross it, we think that it is OK. It's foolish though, if we flirt with sin, eventually it will win. God told Cain, in Genesis 4:7, "sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you." Do we realize that sin desires to have us. It is wise then to stay away from it. In other words, if you don't eat grapes, stay out of the vineyard.
Later, at his wedding party, Samson who has definitely broken one vow, and messed around with breaking another, turns his vow-breaking into a riddle to entertain his wedding party. The riddle leads from one disaster to the next. Again Samson turns strength into weakness because he does take his vows before God very seriously.
Tom
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Turning Strength into Weakness
Hello readers. It took me a couple of months to tell the story of Gideon. I am going to tell the story of Samson. My hope is to tell this story in somewhat less time. We will see. I keep waiting for life to be less hectic, and I keep getting disappointed.
Now, some of you who read the title, probably said to yourself that I had the title backwards, that in Christ, we turn weakness into strength. And if I were writing about Paul, you would correct. However, I am writing about Samson, a guy who was given immense talent, particularly physical strength and managed to turn it into weakness. To be fair to Samson, he is listed in Hebrews 11 among the faithful, but far too often, Samson serves an an example of what not to do. So over my next few posts I will share some of these in hopes that we can learn from them.
First lesson: Listen to righteous people. If you read Judges 13, you see Samson's parents, Manoah and his wife, whom the angel of Lord appears to. Judges 13:1 tells us that they were living in a time when Israel was doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and had been delivered into the hands of the Philistines, but we can see that within this time of evil, Manoah and his wife are righteous. We can tell by the way that they interact with God's messenger and their response to God's message. They are to raise Samson as a Nazarite. Which they do.
By chapter 14, Samson is an adult and he is going about in Philistine territory when he sees a Philistine woman and fell for her. He returns to his father and tells his father to get this woman for his wife. His father objects. He recognizes the Philistines as the enemy of God's people, and says to his son, "Isn't there an acceptable woman among our people?" Manoah wasn't being racist here, he was being wise. The philistines worshiped a different god, called Dagon, and Manoah who had spend years preparing Samson to serve the true God, did not want to see his son married to someone who worshiped Dagon. If you know the rest of the story, you know that Samson should have listened to his father. Beginning with the trip down to the Philistine city of Timnah to get married, Samson makes one mistake after another that costs numerous lives including the life of the woman he loved so much. It could have been avoided, had he listened to his more righteous father.
As the story continues in my next post, think about all of the tragedy that could have been avoided, had Samson been willing to listen to righteous people and had not been simply led around by his desires.
Happy Thanksgiving
Tom
Now, some of you who read the title, probably said to yourself that I had the title backwards, that in Christ, we turn weakness into strength. And if I were writing about Paul, you would correct. However, I am writing about Samson, a guy who was given immense talent, particularly physical strength and managed to turn it into weakness. To be fair to Samson, he is listed in Hebrews 11 among the faithful, but far too often, Samson serves an an example of what not to do. So over my next few posts I will share some of these in hopes that we can learn from them.
First lesson: Listen to righteous people. If you read Judges 13, you see Samson's parents, Manoah and his wife, whom the angel of Lord appears to. Judges 13:1 tells us that they were living in a time when Israel was doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and had been delivered into the hands of the Philistines, but we can see that within this time of evil, Manoah and his wife are righteous. We can tell by the way that they interact with God's messenger and their response to God's message. They are to raise Samson as a Nazarite. Which they do.
By chapter 14, Samson is an adult and he is going about in Philistine territory when he sees a Philistine woman and fell for her. He returns to his father and tells his father to get this woman for his wife. His father objects. He recognizes the Philistines as the enemy of God's people, and says to his son, "Isn't there an acceptable woman among our people?" Manoah wasn't being racist here, he was being wise. The philistines worshiped a different god, called Dagon, and Manoah who had spend years preparing Samson to serve the true God, did not want to see his son married to someone who worshiped Dagon. If you know the rest of the story, you know that Samson should have listened to his father. Beginning with the trip down to the Philistine city of Timnah to get married, Samson makes one mistake after another that costs numerous lives including the life of the woman he loved so much. It could have been avoided, had he listened to his more righteous father.
As the story continues in my next post, think about all of the tragedy that could have been avoided, had Samson been willing to listen to righteous people and had not been simply led around by his desires.
Happy Thanksgiving
Tom
Monday, November 5, 2012
The questioner part 5
After all this time, I'm finally going to finish the story of Gideon. Initially, Gideon had shown himself to be quite fearful, questioning God and asking for signs. But God says from the beginning that Gideon is a mighty warrior, and is incredibly patient with him as Gideon's faith grows and we see in Gideon the mighty warrior that God saw all along.
We left off with Gideon leading 300 men against a vast Midianite army and defeating them. In Judges 8:4-13, we see Gideon and his 300 men chasing the 15,000 Midianites that they didn't kill in battle. Gideon stops in the town of Sukkoth and asks for supplies. They ask if he had the hands of the Midianite kings, and refuse to help. He goes on to Peniel, another Israelite city, and gets the same response. Why do these towns refuse to help Gideon? They are still afraid of the Midianites and they think Gideon will lose. Then they would have deal with the Midianites. If they had helped Gideon, that would go badly. Without their help, Gideon defeats the rest of the Midianites.
Here is what I get from this story. Gideon was changed man. He was no longer afraid, but more importantly he was not going to allow the fear and faithlessness of others change his faith.
Tom
Saturday, September 29, 2012
The Questioner, Part 4
Hey everyone.
It has been three weeks since I last wrote anything. The beginning of the new school year has been very busy for me. I am the supervisor of me department and I am teaching a course in AP European History. Those two things have kept me pretty busy. So it has taken me a very long time to tell you the story of Gideon, something I finished studying all the way back in in August. So today I will give you part 4 and hopefully very soon after I will give you part 5 and then finally be ready to move on.
So here it is. If you remember, God has come to Gideon calling him a "mighty warrior." To this point Gideon has not seemed like much like a mighty warrior, constantly questioning God and asking for signs that God is able to do what he says. Gideon has however been an obedient, if somewhat reluctant, warrior. Doing what God has said, in spite of his fear.
In Judges 7 God whittles Gideon's army down to 300 men. We know from Judges 8:10 that the Midianite army numbers around 135,000. Gideon starts with 32,000 men. This is a ratio of around 4 to 1, but God says Gideon has too many men, even though he is the one that is severely outnumbered. So they tell everyone who is afraid to go home. 22,000 men leave. Gideon is now down to 10,000 men and is outnumbered 13.5 to 1. God says it is still too many men. So when God takes the number down to 300, he has given Gideon an army that is outnumbered about 450 to one. God is setting Gideon up to finally understand that He is God and that therefore there is no reason for Gideon to fear.
So what happens next. The night before the battle God gives Gideon one more sign that He is with him. Gideon didn't ask for this one, but God gave it to him any way. God tells Gideon that if he is still afraid that he should go down to the edge of the Midianite camp and the He would give Gideon a sign then he would no longer be afraid. God was likely hoping that Gideon would not need the sign; that he had overcome fear. Gideon had not yet overcome. He had to be terrified to go to the edge of his enemy's camp, but to his credit, he went.
When he arrives at the edge of the Midianite camp, he overhears a conversation. One Midianite soldier says he has a dream in which a big loaf of barley bread comes rolling into the camp and knocks down his tent. (Try to visualize the dream.) The soldier's friend tells him, "this can only be the sword of Gideon. God has given the whole camp into his hands." So Gideon overhears the saying that God was delivering them into his hands. Gideon bows down right there at the edge of the Midianite camp, with their 135,000 soldiers, and worships God. He is no longer afraid. He has now grown to trust God no matter what. He goes back rallies his 300 men and defeats the Midianite army with torches, jars and trumpets. It took some time, but now we can see the warrior in Gideon that God saw all along.
Tom
It has been three weeks since I last wrote anything. The beginning of the new school year has been very busy for me. I am the supervisor of me department and I am teaching a course in AP European History. Those two things have kept me pretty busy. So it has taken me a very long time to tell you the story of Gideon, something I finished studying all the way back in in August. So today I will give you part 4 and hopefully very soon after I will give you part 5 and then finally be ready to move on.
So here it is. If you remember, God has come to Gideon calling him a "mighty warrior." To this point Gideon has not seemed like much like a mighty warrior, constantly questioning God and asking for signs that God is able to do what he says. Gideon has however been an obedient, if somewhat reluctant, warrior. Doing what God has said, in spite of his fear.
In Judges 7 God whittles Gideon's army down to 300 men. We know from Judges 8:10 that the Midianite army numbers around 135,000. Gideon starts with 32,000 men. This is a ratio of around 4 to 1, but God says Gideon has too many men, even though he is the one that is severely outnumbered. So they tell everyone who is afraid to go home. 22,000 men leave. Gideon is now down to 10,000 men and is outnumbered 13.5 to 1. God says it is still too many men. So when God takes the number down to 300, he has given Gideon an army that is outnumbered about 450 to one. God is setting Gideon up to finally understand that He is God and that therefore there is no reason for Gideon to fear.
So what happens next. The night before the battle God gives Gideon one more sign that He is with him. Gideon didn't ask for this one, but God gave it to him any way. God tells Gideon that if he is still afraid that he should go down to the edge of the Midianite camp and the He would give Gideon a sign then he would no longer be afraid. God was likely hoping that Gideon would not need the sign; that he had overcome fear. Gideon had not yet overcome. He had to be terrified to go to the edge of his enemy's camp, but to his credit, he went.
When he arrives at the edge of the Midianite camp, he overhears a conversation. One Midianite soldier says he has a dream in which a big loaf of barley bread comes rolling into the camp and knocks down his tent. (Try to visualize the dream.) The soldier's friend tells him, "this can only be the sword of Gideon. God has given the whole camp into his hands." So Gideon overhears the saying that God was delivering them into his hands. Gideon bows down right there at the edge of the Midianite camp, with their 135,000 soldiers, and worships God. He is no longer afraid. He has now grown to trust God no matter what. He goes back rallies his 300 men and defeats the Midianite army with torches, jars and trumpets. It took some time, but now we can see the warrior in Gideon that God saw all along.
Tom
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Questioner, Part 3
Hey everyone.
Well, I survived two camps and the start of the school year. Today is my birthday, I'm 49. Tonight I would like to jump back into the story of Gideon, and share more lessons that I have learned from him. It has been a while since I wrote my last post, so just to remind you, God calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," but in everything we have seen about Gideon so far, he does not really seem like one.
In Judges 6:33-40 Gideon continues to question God, and God continues to be very patient with Gideon. This time, Gideon says, "If you will save Israel by my as you have promised," then asks God to do the famous "fleece" test. And he doesn't ask once, he asks twice. What is he really asking God, here? He is asking, "God, are you really going to do what you say you are going to do?" or maybe, God, can you do do what you say you are going to do?" At the root of his question was , is God good for his word? He asks God to complete an impossible task, and God does it, twice.
Gideon was having a hard time trusting God's promise to him. Do you ever have a difficult time trusting God's promises. Heb 6:18 tells us that God can't lie, so if he makes a promise, he has to keep it. Gideon ultimately learns that God is good for his word and has the power to back it up. My own experiences as a disciple back that concept up as well.
So God proved to Gideon with his "fleece" test that he can do anything, but to be honest, Gideon still doesn't look like much of a warrior. But God is not done with Gideon yet.
Side Note: I have heard of people who have "put out the fleece." My advice is that it may not be the best way to make decisions. God agreed to Gideon's fleece test, that doesn't mean he has agreed to yours. I think a better idea would be to pray intently about something, and ask God to make his will so obvious that even you can't miss it.
Tom
Well, I survived two camps and the start of the school year. Today is my birthday, I'm 49. Tonight I would like to jump back into the story of Gideon, and share more lessons that I have learned from him. It has been a while since I wrote my last post, so just to remind you, God calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," but in everything we have seen about Gideon so far, he does not really seem like one.
In Judges 6:33-40 Gideon continues to question God, and God continues to be very patient with Gideon. This time, Gideon says, "If you will save Israel by my as you have promised," then asks God to do the famous "fleece" test. And he doesn't ask once, he asks twice. What is he really asking God, here? He is asking, "God, are you really going to do what you say you are going to do?" or maybe, God, can you do do what you say you are going to do?" At the root of his question was , is God good for his word? He asks God to complete an impossible task, and God does it, twice.
Gideon was having a hard time trusting God's promise to him. Do you ever have a difficult time trusting God's promises. Heb 6:18 tells us that God can't lie, so if he makes a promise, he has to keep it. Gideon ultimately learns that God is good for his word and has the power to back it up. My own experiences as a disciple back that concept up as well.
So God proved to Gideon with his "fleece" test that he can do anything, but to be honest, Gideon still doesn't look like much of a warrior. But God is not done with Gideon yet.
Side Note: I have heard of people who have "put out the fleece." My advice is that it may not be the best way to make decisions. God agreed to Gideon's fleece test, that doesn't mean he has agreed to yours. I think a better idea would be to pray intently about something, and ask God to make his will so obvious that even you can't miss it.
Tom
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Questioner, Part 2
Hey everybody
Leaving in the morning for Teen Camp. I thought I would share one more time before going. I will continue the story of Gideon out of Judges 6. Gideon wasn't afraid to question God, and God was very patient with Gideon. Altogether, God gives Gideon four signs that he is with him and that Gideon has no reason to fear.
The first of these signs comes when Gideon asks God to show him a sign that it was really God speaking to him. (6:17 - 23) Perhaps Gideon feared that this was some one else's voice speaking to him, just claiming to be God, or perhaps he was just afraid to do what God was telling him. but either way, Gideon wanted prof that this was coming from God. Perhaps we can be like this as well, when we question God's will in our lives. "How can this really be your will God?" I've said it, have you?
Any way, Gideon prepares meat and bread and sets it on a rock. The angel of the Lord touches it with his staff and flames shoot up out the rock and devour it all. As signs from God go, this one must have been very cool to watch. So Gideon gets his proof.
Going on from there, God tells Gideon to go break down his father's alter to Baal, build a proper alter, then cut down the Asherah pole (which was made of wood) and use it for the fire for the offering. Now God has been reassuring Gideon that he is with him and that Gideon does not need to be afraid. However, Gideon is still afraid, so he goes at night and tears down the alter and pole. Notice that Gideon is fearful, but he is still obedient. He does what God tells him to, which is good, but he does it in the least risky way possible. God is telling Gideon that he is a warrior, but he does not look or feel like one yet.
Gideon's hometown is very angry and want to kill him, but God manages to work it out for Gideon that there are no repurcussions. Plus, he gets a cool nickname out of the deal.
Are we like Gideon, , fearful, trying to be disciples with easiest way possible. Well, if that is case, then, also like Gideon that is a warrior inside there trying to break out. Fearful or not, Gideon was obedient. let's do the same, and allow God to stretch our faith the way he ultimately stretches Gideon's.
The Lord is with you mighty warrior.
Tom
Leaving in the morning for Teen Camp. I thought I would share one more time before going. I will continue the story of Gideon out of Judges 6. Gideon wasn't afraid to question God, and God was very patient with Gideon. Altogether, God gives Gideon four signs that he is with him and that Gideon has no reason to fear.
The first of these signs comes when Gideon asks God to show him a sign that it was really God speaking to him. (6:17 - 23) Perhaps Gideon feared that this was some one else's voice speaking to him, just claiming to be God, or perhaps he was just afraid to do what God was telling him. but either way, Gideon wanted prof that this was coming from God. Perhaps we can be like this as well, when we question God's will in our lives. "How can this really be your will God?" I've said it, have you?
Any way, Gideon prepares meat and bread and sets it on a rock. The angel of the Lord touches it with his staff and flames shoot up out the rock and devour it all. As signs from God go, this one must have been very cool to watch. So Gideon gets his proof.
Going on from there, God tells Gideon to go break down his father's alter to Baal, build a proper alter, then cut down the Asherah pole (which was made of wood) and use it for the fire for the offering. Now God has been reassuring Gideon that he is with him and that Gideon does not need to be afraid. However, Gideon is still afraid, so he goes at night and tears down the alter and pole. Notice that Gideon is fearful, but he is still obedient. He does what God tells him to, which is good, but he does it in the least risky way possible. God is telling Gideon that he is a warrior, but he does not look or feel like one yet.
Gideon's hometown is very angry and want to kill him, but God manages to work it out for Gideon that there are no repurcussions. Plus, he gets a cool nickname out of the deal.
Are we like Gideon, , fearful, trying to be disciples with easiest way possible. Well, if that is case, then, also like Gideon that is a warrior inside there trying to break out. Fearful or not, Gideon was obedient. let's do the same, and allow God to stretch our faith the way he ultimately stretches Gideon's.
The Lord is with you mighty warrior.
Tom
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
The Questioner
Hello everyone.
I'm gearing up for camp. I've got some thoughts to share with you before I go. I've been looking a Gideon, whose story is told in Judges 6, 7 and 8.
So here is the background on Gideon's story: The Israelites had turned away from God again and this time he handed them over to the Midianites. Now the Midianites were so oppressive that the Israelites were living in the mountains and hiding in caves. (Judges 6:1-6) The Midianites would show and destroy everything the Israelites had.
OK. So Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress when the angel of the Lord shows up. Gideon is hiding just like everybody else. Never-the-less, the angel greets him, "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." Interestingly, Gideon was not afraid to ask questions of the representative of God. The angel (and God, as well) listens to Gideon's question and is very patient with him.
Gideon's response to the angel was two questions (paraphrased). First, "if God is with us, why have all these bad things happened to us?" that "what has happened to the wondered our fathers have told us about?" Since I often ask similar questions, I will throw my own modern-day versions out there and see if anyone other than me identifies with Gideon here. I ask the first question like this: "Well God I am trying to please, why isn't life easier for me? Why do you allow these difficult things to happen?" The second question goes something like this: "Why does all the awesome stuff happen to somebody else? "When is it going to be my turn?"
I notice that God's response to Gideon's questions doesn't really seem to answer them, but in truth is does. Response to Gideon's questions: "Go on the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" The answer to my own questions is the same. It doesn't matter if I don't have all of those things I think I need. I am to work to accomplish God's will with whatever I have (good or bad) and allow God to make up the difference. This was God's plan.
Gideon responds to God in complete insecurity (Judges 6:15) basically saying, "Who am I?" You ever felt like that? I have? God's response was about the same. It really didn't matter who Gideon was, it mattered who God was. If Gideon would just allow himself to b used by God, the victory would be his. It is a valuable lesson. It really isn't about how strong I am, because God will make up the difference.
The story of Gideon has a lot of good lessons. More to come.
The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.
Tom
I'm gearing up for camp. I've got some thoughts to share with you before I go. I've been looking a Gideon, whose story is told in Judges 6, 7 and 8.
So here is the background on Gideon's story: The Israelites had turned away from God again and this time he handed them over to the Midianites. Now the Midianites were so oppressive that the Israelites were living in the mountains and hiding in caves. (Judges 6:1-6) The Midianites would show and destroy everything the Israelites had.
OK. So Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress when the angel of the Lord shows up. Gideon is hiding just like everybody else. Never-the-less, the angel greets him, "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." Interestingly, Gideon was not afraid to ask questions of the representative of God. The angel (and God, as well) listens to Gideon's question and is very patient with him.
Gideon's response to the angel was two questions (paraphrased). First, "if God is with us, why have all these bad things happened to us?" that "what has happened to the wondered our fathers have told us about?" Since I often ask similar questions, I will throw my own modern-day versions out there and see if anyone other than me identifies with Gideon here. I ask the first question like this: "Well God I am trying to please, why isn't life easier for me? Why do you allow these difficult things to happen?" The second question goes something like this: "Why does all the awesome stuff happen to somebody else? "When is it going to be my turn?"
I notice that God's response to Gideon's questions doesn't really seem to answer them, but in truth is does. Response to Gideon's questions: "Go on the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" The answer to my own questions is the same. It doesn't matter if I don't have all of those things I think I need. I am to work to accomplish God's will with whatever I have (good or bad) and allow God to make up the difference. This was God's plan.
Gideon responds to God in complete insecurity (Judges 6:15) basically saying, "Who am I?" You ever felt like that? I have? God's response was about the same. It really didn't matter who Gideon was, it mattered who God was. If Gideon would just allow himself to b used by God, the victory would be his. It is a valuable lesson. It really isn't about how strong I am, because God will make up the difference.
The story of Gideon has a lot of good lessons. More to come.
The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.
Tom
Friday, July 20, 2012
This one is for the ladies
Hey everyone.
As I have continued in my study of Judges, I have come to the story of Deborah in Judges 4 and 5. The clear heroes of this story are two women: Deborah and Jael. Here is the background to the story: As they seemed to always do, after the death Ehud, the Israelites return to evil ways. God allows another power to oppress them, this time it is the Canaanites. They are oppressed by Canaan for twenty years. The king in Canaan is Jabin and the commander of his army is Sisera.
God raises up a new prophet and leader in Israel, her name is Deborah. We know that Deborah was both a wife (Judges 4:4) and a mother (Judges 5:7), and from reading the two chapters about her, we can tell that she was clearly a very impressive person.
Deborah summoned Barak and told him that God had instructed that he should form an army and lead them against Sisera, and that God had given Sisera into his hands. Barak is hesitant and says that he would do it only if Deborah went with him. Deborah agrees to go with him, but tells him that because he asked this that the glory that would have been his would be taken from him and given to a woman. Now Barak did ultimately do as God instructed and so gained the victory and is even mentioned in Hebrews 11, what we often refer to as the Faith Hall of Fame, but initially Barak seems to have more confidence in Deborah than he does in God. Because of this, the glory that would have been his is taken from him just as Deborah prophecied. That glory goes to Jael, the wife of Heber, who kills Sisera. Sisera, in cowardly fashion, runs from the battlefield when it is clear that his army is being routed, and hides in the tent of a woman. Jael allows him to fall asleep in her tent and then drives a tent peg through his head. So Israel is saved from Canaan by two heroic women and one reluctant man.
An interesting side note comes toward the end of Deborah's song which is recorded in chapter 5. Deborah imagines Sisera's mother looking out the window, waiting for his return and wondering what is taking him so long. One of her ladies responds that it must be taking a long time to divide up the women. It is interesting that women like Deborah or Jael were just considered a part of the plunder, prizes for the warriors, as though they were objects rather than people. In many ways our society hasn't changed all that much. Many men still objectify women, but clearly God does not. He places great value on women and is more than willing to use them for his great purposes.
Tom
As I have continued in my study of Judges, I have come to the story of Deborah in Judges 4 and 5. The clear heroes of this story are two women: Deborah and Jael. Here is the background to the story: As they seemed to always do, after the death Ehud, the Israelites return to evil ways. God allows another power to oppress them, this time it is the Canaanites. They are oppressed by Canaan for twenty years. The king in Canaan is Jabin and the commander of his army is Sisera.
God raises up a new prophet and leader in Israel, her name is Deborah. We know that Deborah was both a wife (Judges 4:4) and a mother (Judges 5:7), and from reading the two chapters about her, we can tell that she was clearly a very impressive person.
Deborah summoned Barak and told him that God had instructed that he should form an army and lead them against Sisera, and that God had given Sisera into his hands. Barak is hesitant and says that he would do it only if Deborah went with him. Deborah agrees to go with him, but tells him that because he asked this that the glory that would have been his would be taken from him and given to a woman. Now Barak did ultimately do as God instructed and so gained the victory and is even mentioned in Hebrews 11, what we often refer to as the Faith Hall of Fame, but initially Barak seems to have more confidence in Deborah than he does in God. Because of this, the glory that would have been his is taken from him just as Deborah prophecied. That glory goes to Jael, the wife of Heber, who kills Sisera. Sisera, in cowardly fashion, runs from the battlefield when it is clear that his army is being routed, and hides in the tent of a woman. Jael allows him to fall asleep in her tent and then drives a tent peg through his head. So Israel is saved from Canaan by two heroic women and one reluctant man.
An interesting side note comes toward the end of Deborah's song which is recorded in chapter 5. Deborah imagines Sisera's mother looking out the window, waiting for his return and wondering what is taking him so long. One of her ladies responds that it must be taking a long time to divide up the women. It is interesting that women like Deborah or Jael were just considered a part of the plunder, prizes for the warriors, as though they were objects rather than people. In many ways our society hasn't changed all that much. Many men still objectify women, but clearly God does not. He places great value on women and is more than willing to use them for his great purposes.
Tom
Monday, June 25, 2012
Unlikely heroes
Hey everyone.
The Hugheses are leaving in the morning for a grand vacation. We are going to Illinois for my Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary, then to Texas for the World Discipleship Summit. An exciting road trip.
Any way, I wanted to share a little bit from what I have learned from Judges before I go. Judges 3 tells two stories, Ehud and Shamgar. Both saved Israel. During Ehud's time Israel was being oppressed by the Moabites. The Moabites oppressed Israel for 18 years before the Israelites finally cried out to God for help. Ehud is God's chosen deliverer. Ehud visits Eglon, king of Moab. He tells him that he has a special message for hm from God that he needs to deliver privately. Ehud stabs Eglon with a sword, and Eglon is so fat that Ehud shoves the sword inside him completely and loses the sword inside of Eglon and the fat closes over it. Ehud escapes because Eglon's servants think that he is just taking a long time going to the bathroom. The Bible says that they wait to the point of embarrassment before unlocking the room. This time allows Ehud to escape and rally the Israelites who attack and turn the tables on Moab. Here is something I found interesting. Judges 3:15 says that Ehud was a left-handed man. Several commentaries that I looked tell me that the word that was translated as left-handed could have also meant "crippled in the right hand." It is not certain, but is quite possible, based on what I have read, that God's choice for deliverer was a man with a fairly significant handicap.
OK, now let's look at Shamgar. The Bible devotes one verse to his exploits. It simply says that he killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad and saved Israel. Pretty good. Just so you know, an oxgoad was an 8 foot stick that was sharp on one end and flattened on the other. The sharp end was for poking the oxen that pulled the plow, and the flat end was for cleaning dirt off of the plow. Shamgar was likely a farmer. The farmer became a warrior and saved his people.
Sounds like neither man was someone we might have selected to be the heroes of Israel, yet God chose them. Why? Because in a nation where very few people had much of a heart for God, they did, and that was all God needed in order to work.
Tom
The Hugheses are leaving in the morning for a grand vacation. We are going to Illinois for my Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary, then to Texas for the World Discipleship Summit. An exciting road trip.
Any way, I wanted to share a little bit from what I have learned from Judges before I go. Judges 3 tells two stories, Ehud and Shamgar. Both saved Israel. During Ehud's time Israel was being oppressed by the Moabites. The Moabites oppressed Israel for 18 years before the Israelites finally cried out to God for help. Ehud is God's chosen deliverer. Ehud visits Eglon, king of Moab. He tells him that he has a special message for hm from God that he needs to deliver privately. Ehud stabs Eglon with a sword, and Eglon is so fat that Ehud shoves the sword inside him completely and loses the sword inside of Eglon and the fat closes over it. Ehud escapes because Eglon's servants think that he is just taking a long time going to the bathroom. The Bible says that they wait to the point of embarrassment before unlocking the room. This time allows Ehud to escape and rally the Israelites who attack and turn the tables on Moab. Here is something I found interesting. Judges 3:15 says that Ehud was a left-handed man. Several commentaries that I looked tell me that the word that was translated as left-handed could have also meant "crippled in the right hand." It is not certain, but is quite possible, based on what I have read, that God's choice for deliverer was a man with a fairly significant handicap.
OK, now let's look at Shamgar. The Bible devotes one verse to his exploits. It simply says that he killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad and saved Israel. Pretty good. Just so you know, an oxgoad was an 8 foot stick that was sharp on one end and flattened on the other. The sharp end was for poking the oxen that pulled the plow, and the flat end was for cleaning dirt off of the plow. Shamgar was likely a farmer. The farmer became a warrior and saved his people.
Sounds like neither man was someone we might have selected to be the heroes of Israel, yet God chose them. Why? Because in a nation where very few people had much of a heart for God, they did, and that was all God needed in order to work.
Tom
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Determined
Hello everyone.
I haven't written anything in a while. It's been so long in fact that I finished my study of Colossians, and have started a study of the book of Judges. As I am sure you know Judges picks up where Joshua leaves off. So early in Judges we see the generation after Joshua and how things went for them.
Joshua's generation had been devoted to the Lord but did not completely drive out some of the nations in the Promised Land. That remainder of the job was to be finished by next generation, but they did not seem to take the task too seriously. Here is what is says regarding the Canaanites in Judges 1:27, "But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land." Here is what it says in Judges 1:35, "And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim."
If you asked an Israelite of the time why they allowed these nations to stay, he might respond, "Well, they were determined to stay." But what isn't being said is that apparently the Israelites were not all that determined to drive them out. If they at least had equal determination to the Canaanites and the Amorites, they would have driven them out, because they had God on their side. The fact they allowed these "determined" nations to remain led to now end of trouble for Israel for generations to come. Had they been more determined to be obedient to God, perhaps they would have had less trouble in the coming generations.
But does this mean for us? Realize that there are forces at work that are pretty "determined" to lead us astray or lead us into sin. But if we are just as determined to stay out of sin, understanding that God is on our side, won't He give us victory?
Any way, a little something to think about.
Tom
I haven't written anything in a while. It's been so long in fact that I finished my study of Colossians, and have started a study of the book of Judges. As I am sure you know Judges picks up where Joshua leaves off. So early in Judges we see the generation after Joshua and how things went for them.
Joshua's generation had been devoted to the Lord but did not completely drive out some of the nations in the Promised Land. That remainder of the job was to be finished by next generation, but they did not seem to take the task too seriously. Here is what is says regarding the Canaanites in Judges 1:27, "But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land." Here is what it says in Judges 1:35, "And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim."
If you asked an Israelite of the time why they allowed these nations to stay, he might respond, "Well, they were determined to stay." But what isn't being said is that apparently the Israelites were not all that determined to drive them out. If they at least had equal determination to the Canaanites and the Amorites, they would have driven them out, because they had God on their side. The fact they allowed these "determined" nations to remain led to now end of trouble for Israel for generations to come. Had they been more determined to be obedient to God, perhaps they would have had less trouble in the coming generations.
But does this mean for us? Realize that there are forces at work that are pretty "determined" to lead us astray or lead us into sin. But if we are just as determined to stay out of sin, understanding that God is on our side, won't He give us victory?
Any way, a little something to think about.
Tom
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Fullness
Hey everyone.
I would like to share a concept with you that I saw while studying Colossians. It is a concept that disciples are going to already understand, but I want to make sure that I teach it to my children or to someone that I am reaching out to and studying the Bible with. The concept is pretty simple. It is that "full is better than empty."
Here is what it says in Col. 2:8-10: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness."
Paul tells us that the thinking or philosophy of the world is hollow. In other words, it is empty. He compares these empty philosophies with the fullness that is in Christ. If you think about good things, we will always choose full over empty. Would you rather your wallet be full or empty? Would you rather your gas tank be full or empty? Would you rather your refrigerator be full or empty? Generally I choose full. Full is better than empty. So we are trying to get people to choose full lives in Christ over empty lives in the world.
The problem is that Paul also says that these worldly philosophies are deceptive. How are they deceptive? They are empty things posing as full things. The world is constantly reaching out with its emptiness trying to convince people that it is full. It's like the chocolate Easter Bunny that you think is solid, but when you bite into turns out to be hollow. The chocolate still tastes good, but the hollowness is somewhat disappointing. For example, that party lifestyle that seems to promise so much fun and happiness, really delivers very little. Yet we are bombarded with it constantly, and so are our children. Perhaps you and I see through it, but most people do not.
I pray for own children that they will have that kind of perception, to see the lures of the world for what they really are: hollow. Much better that we can all find real joy and full lives in Christ. Because we all understand that full is better than empty.
Tom
I would like to share a concept with you that I saw while studying Colossians. It is a concept that disciples are going to already understand, but I want to make sure that I teach it to my children or to someone that I am reaching out to and studying the Bible with. The concept is pretty simple. It is that "full is better than empty."
Here is what it says in Col. 2:8-10: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness."
Paul tells us that the thinking or philosophy of the world is hollow. In other words, it is empty. He compares these empty philosophies with the fullness that is in Christ. If you think about good things, we will always choose full over empty. Would you rather your wallet be full or empty? Would you rather your gas tank be full or empty? Would you rather your refrigerator be full or empty? Generally I choose full. Full is better than empty. So we are trying to get people to choose full lives in Christ over empty lives in the world.
The problem is that Paul also says that these worldly philosophies are deceptive. How are they deceptive? They are empty things posing as full things. The world is constantly reaching out with its emptiness trying to convince people that it is full. It's like the chocolate Easter Bunny that you think is solid, but when you bite into turns out to be hollow. The chocolate still tastes good, but the hollowness is somewhat disappointing. For example, that party lifestyle that seems to promise so much fun and happiness, really delivers very little. Yet we are bombarded with it constantly, and so are our children. Perhaps you and I see through it, but most people do not.
I pray for own children that they will have that kind of perception, to see the lures of the world for what they really are: hollow. Much better that we can all find real joy and full lives in Christ. Because we all understand that full is better than empty.
Tom
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Holding it all together
Hello everyone.
This post is short and sweet, but I think you'll like it. In Col. 1:17 it says, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." The context here is that Paul is talking about the supremacy of Christ. Jesus had created everything, whether visible or invisible. It was created by Him and for Him. He is supreme. What I want to focus on is the statement Paul makes that says that Jesus holds all things together. There are some obvious things that we think of here. That Jesus holds the church together and that Jesus holds creation together can be seen clearly from the context here. But I want us to think about how Jesus holds everything together on a more personal level.
Not only does Jesus hold the Earth together, but he holds my life together. Within my life, he holds my marriage together, he holds my family together, he even holds my career as a teacher together, often working things out for me in ways I could have never expected. And everything that I do, I am better at it, if I allow Jesus to be supreme in it. (This year, the Hugheses are going to the World Discipleship Summit in San Antonio. Jesus is even holding my vacation together.) I can see Jesus at work in big and small ways, holding my life together for me. I hope you can too.
Tom
This post is short and sweet, but I think you'll like it. In Col. 1:17 it says, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." The context here is that Paul is talking about the supremacy of Christ. Jesus had created everything, whether visible or invisible. It was created by Him and for Him. He is supreme. What I want to focus on is the statement Paul makes that says that Jesus holds all things together. There are some obvious things that we think of here. That Jesus holds the church together and that Jesus holds creation together can be seen clearly from the context here. But I want us to think about how Jesus holds everything together on a more personal level.
Not only does Jesus hold the Earth together, but he holds my life together. Within my life, he holds my marriage together, he holds my family together, he even holds my career as a teacher together, often working things out for me in ways I could have never expected. And everything that I do, I am better at it, if I allow Jesus to be supreme in it. (This year, the Hugheses are going to the World Discipleship Summit in San Antonio. Jesus is even holding my vacation together.) I can see Jesus at work in big and small ways, holding my life together for me. I hope you can too.
Tom
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Joyfully Giving Thanks to the Father
Hey everyone.
This post will conclude my examination of Col. 1:1-13. We have looked at three things that please God in every way: Bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God and being strengthened according to his glorious might. Finally we come to the last one, Joyfully giving thanks to the Father.
Paul gives us a lot to be thankful for right here in this passage. Let's look at a few of them:
Some other thoughts on this:
II Cor. 2:14 "Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ." It's like Jesus is leading a victory parade that we are a part of. Life as a disciple is good, it's victorious and we should be joyfully thankful.
I Thes. 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances." It is easy to be thankful when everything is going well. Not as easy to be thankful when things are difficult. However, if we are to obey this command, there will be times when he have difficulties (perhaps the Lord's discipline) to be thankful for. Time for a quiz: Who says this, "But I with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you." Don't know? Jonah says it while in the belly of the big fish. (Jonah 2:9) Jonah had his issues, but he understood here to be grateful for the Lord's discipline.
Ps 107:8, 15, 21, and 31 all say the same thing. "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind." We have a lot to be thankful for. God has done wonderful deeds for us, and has given us big things (salvation, the church, marriage, families) and small things (coffee, chocolate and french fries are ultimately his inventions) that we should be grateful for. Our gratitude pleases him.
Tom
This post will conclude my examination of Col. 1:1-13. We have looked at three things that please God in every way: Bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God and being strengthened according to his glorious might. Finally we come to the last one, Joyfully giving thanks to the Father.
Paul gives us a lot to be thankful for right here in this passage. Let's look at a few of them:
- He has qualified us to share in the inheritance. (Awesome)
- He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. (Also Awesome)
- He has brought into the kingdom of the Son he loves. (Even more Awesome)
- Jesus has provided us with redemption and forgiveness of sins. (It is like a Grand Slam of Awesomeness)
Some other thoughts on this:
II Cor. 2:14 "Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ." It's like Jesus is leading a victory parade that we are a part of. Life as a disciple is good, it's victorious and we should be joyfully thankful.
I Thes. 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances." It is easy to be thankful when everything is going well. Not as easy to be thankful when things are difficult. However, if we are to obey this command, there will be times when he have difficulties (perhaps the Lord's discipline) to be thankful for. Time for a quiz: Who says this, "But I with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you." Don't know? Jonah says it while in the belly of the big fish. (Jonah 2:9) Jonah had his issues, but he understood here to be grateful for the Lord's discipline.
Ps 107:8, 15, 21, and 31 all say the same thing. "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind." We have a lot to be thankful for. God has done wonderful deeds for us, and has given us big things (salvation, the church, marriage, families) and small things (coffee, chocolate and french fries are ultimately his inventions) that we should be grateful for. Our gratitude pleases him.
Tom
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Being Strengthened
Hey everyone
I'm on Spring Break, so I have a little bit more time to write. So I am going to continue my discussion of Col. 1: 10-13, by talking about "being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience." (Col. 1:11)
I think that the first that I notice here is that it is not a command to "Be Strong." It is that we allow God to strengthen us, or better yet, be our strength. He is the one work, but he works in us and through us. He is the strength. Think about Joshua. In Josh. 1:7-9, God commands Joshua to "Be strong and courageous." But God tells him to be strong because "the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua was commanded to be strong, just as he was commanded to obey God's word. He was also guaranteed success, but it is important to understand that all of this was couched in a guarantee that God would be with him. Again the strength came from God.
It is a good thing that we can look to God for strength and allow him to strengthen us. I Cor. 1:25 tells us that God's weakness is stronger than my strength. It is a good thing that I not have to rely on my own. Consider Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength."
Let's look at a couple of ways that God strengthens us. Heb. 13:9 "It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace." Understanding God's grace strengthens us. Heb. 12:7-13. God's discipline strengthens us, if we allow ourselves to be trained by it.
Consider also II Cor. 12:1-10. Paul boasts, not in his strengths, but in his weaknesses. Why? Because he gets it. God is so much greater than he is. God's grace is sufficient. God can take Paul's weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Paul's weaknesses allow God to be glorified rather than Paul. That is why Paul could say, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Cor. 12:10)
So I understand then from this scripture that it pleases God if we allow him to work in our lives. We submit to his discipline and enjoy his grace. Then we become strong because of Him.
One last note: I notice that allow God to work also brings us some good benefits. At the end of v. 11, allowing God to strengthen us according to his glorious might, brings us endurance and patience, certainly two good qualities to have. Endurance and patience mean that we will never give up on ourselves or on other people.
Tom
I'm on Spring Break, so I have a little bit more time to write. So I am going to continue my discussion of Col. 1: 10-13, by talking about "being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience." (Col. 1:11)
I think that the first that I notice here is that it is not a command to "Be Strong." It is that we allow God to strengthen us, or better yet, be our strength. He is the one work, but he works in us and through us. He is the strength. Think about Joshua. In Josh. 1:7-9, God commands Joshua to "Be strong and courageous." But God tells him to be strong because "the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua was commanded to be strong, just as he was commanded to obey God's word. He was also guaranteed success, but it is important to understand that all of this was couched in a guarantee that God would be with him. Again the strength came from God.
It is a good thing that we can look to God for strength and allow him to strengthen us. I Cor. 1:25 tells us that God's weakness is stronger than my strength. It is a good thing that I not have to rely on my own. Consider Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength."
Let's look at a couple of ways that God strengthens us. Heb. 13:9 "It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace." Understanding God's grace strengthens us. Heb. 12:7-13. God's discipline strengthens us, if we allow ourselves to be trained by it.
Consider also II Cor. 12:1-10. Paul boasts, not in his strengths, but in his weaknesses. Why? Because he gets it. God is so much greater than he is. God's grace is sufficient. God can take Paul's weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Paul's weaknesses allow God to be glorified rather than Paul. That is why Paul could say, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Cor. 12:10)
So I understand then from this scripture that it pleases God if we allow him to work in our lives. We submit to his discipline and enjoy his grace. Then we become strong because of Him.
One last note: I notice that allow God to work also brings us some good benefits. At the end of v. 11, allowing God to strengthen us according to his glorious might, brings us endurance and patience, certainly two good qualities to have. Endurance and patience mean that we will never give up on ourselves or on other people.
Tom
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Growing in the Knowledge of God
Hey everyone
I am continuing to look at Col. 1, where we can see how to please God in every way. Today we will look at scriptures about how we can grow in the knowledge of God.
Now, I'm going to begin by telling you a story. My good friend Angelo, has an identical twin named Lorenzo. Lorenzo is an acquaintance, while Angelo is a good friend. One day at a cookout, they tried to trick me, as each acted like they were the other one. But I didn't fall for it, because I knew Angelo well enough to know the subtle differences between the two. How did I come to know Angelo so well. We had spend a lot of time together. We had eaten together, prayed together, spend time in the Word together, even been to the Emergency Room together. I had grown in my knowledge of Angelo. OK, so the principal is the same here. If you want to grow in your knowledge of God, you have spend time with Him, reading and studying his Word and praying.
Here are a few other things to think about is we strive to grow in our knowledge of God. In the book of Ezekiel, God says 55 times, "you will know that I am the Lord," or "they will know that I am the Lord." One thing that God wants us the know about him is that he is the Lord. His word is supreme and we need to do what he says.
Now, while we need to understand Lordship, at the same time we need to understand love. I John 4:7-12 tells us that "God is love," and that we should love one another. Verse 8 says that if we do not love, we do not know God. So in our effort to grow in the knowledge of God, we can do so by submitting to his lordship, but also by loving each other.
One last thought. John 1:18 tells us that no one has ever seen God, but that Jesus has made him known. So we can know God as we look at Jesus. With that, we see in Colossians 1:28-29, Paul says that Jesus is the one that we "proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone." He says that they do this to "present everyone fully mature in Christ." As we strive to grow in our knowledge of God, we help each other become mature (or grow), as we share about Jesus. Education theory tells us that the best way to learn something is to teach about it. You retain more. As we teach others about Jesus, they benefit, but so do we.
Tom
I am continuing to look at Col. 1, where we can see how to please God in every way. Today we will look at scriptures about how we can grow in the knowledge of God.
Now, I'm going to begin by telling you a story. My good friend Angelo, has an identical twin named Lorenzo. Lorenzo is an acquaintance, while Angelo is a good friend. One day at a cookout, they tried to trick me, as each acted like they were the other one. But I didn't fall for it, because I knew Angelo well enough to know the subtle differences between the two. How did I come to know Angelo so well. We had spend a lot of time together. We had eaten together, prayed together, spend time in the Word together, even been to the Emergency Room together. I had grown in my knowledge of Angelo. OK, so the principal is the same here. If you want to grow in your knowledge of God, you have spend time with Him, reading and studying his Word and praying.
Here are a few other things to think about is we strive to grow in our knowledge of God. In the book of Ezekiel, God says 55 times, "you will know that I am the Lord," or "they will know that I am the Lord." One thing that God wants us the know about him is that he is the Lord. His word is supreme and we need to do what he says.
Now, while we need to understand Lordship, at the same time we need to understand love. I John 4:7-12 tells us that "God is love," and that we should love one another. Verse 8 says that if we do not love, we do not know God. So in our effort to grow in the knowledge of God, we can do so by submitting to his lordship, but also by loving each other.
One last thought. John 1:18 tells us that no one has ever seen God, but that Jesus has made him known. So we can know God as we look at Jesus. With that, we see in Colossians 1:28-29, Paul says that Jesus is the one that we "proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone." He says that they do this to "present everyone fully mature in Christ." As we strive to grow in our knowledge of God, we help each other become mature (or grow), as we share about Jesus. Education theory tells us that the best way to learn something is to teach about it. You retain more. As we teach others about Jesus, they benefit, but so do we.
Tom
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Bearing Fruit in Every Good Work
Hey everyone.
A few days ago, I looked at Col. 1:10-13 where Paul talked about living a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing him in every way. I am taking the time to look at each one of these things, because like you I want to please God.
The first one that Paul lists is, "bearing fruit in every good work." If I am going to please God in every way, we have to ask myself, "How can I do this?" I think I have to answer two questions to really understand this. First, what does Paul mean when he says "every good work"? I found this exact phrase two other times in the New Testament. One in II Cor. 9:8, it says, "having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Interestingly, the context of this scripture is giving. In v. 7 Paul says, "God loves a cheerful giver." One pleasing fruit that we can bear is giving.
The other place where the phrase, "every good work" is found is in II Tim. 3:16-17 where it tells us that the word of God equips us for every good work. Now, there is no way to make a comprehensive list of every good work, but this scripture tells me that being in God's word can prepare for whatever good work I might be involved in. Compare that to Ps. 1:1-3, where it says that those who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked and who meditate on the law of the Lord are like a tree planted by water, that bear fruit in season. According to Ps 1, if we want to bear fruit, we must be in the word and we need to have good counsel.
We also need to consider what it means to bear fruit? Does it mean to produce the fruits of the spirit in our lives? Yes it does. Does it mean to make disciples? Yes. Those are the things we usually think about when we talk about fruitfulness, and God does want us to bear these fruits. But are there more fruits that we can bear. I have already mentioned the fruit of giving, Here is another one, Matt. 3:8 and Luke 3:8 say the same thing. "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." We also produce fruit when we repent. Another important thing to remember comes John 15 where Jesus talks a lot about fruitfulness. He tells us that He is the vine and we are branches. If we want to bear fruit he must remain in him. We need to be rooted in him to produce fruit. (Jn 15:8 also tells us that by our fruit we show ourselves to be his disciples. Jn 15:15-16 he tells us to produce fruit that will last.)
I'll end with this. Ps. 104:13 says, "He waters the mountains from his upper chambers, the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work." The "He" referred to here, is God. God asks us to produce fruit, but God also produces fruit, and it is very satisfying.
Tom
A few days ago, I looked at Col. 1:10-13 where Paul talked about living a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing him in every way. I am taking the time to look at each one of these things, because like you I want to please God.
The first one that Paul lists is, "bearing fruit in every good work." If I am going to please God in every way, we have to ask myself, "How can I do this?" I think I have to answer two questions to really understand this. First, what does Paul mean when he says "every good work"? I found this exact phrase two other times in the New Testament. One in II Cor. 9:8, it says, "having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Interestingly, the context of this scripture is giving. In v. 7 Paul says, "God loves a cheerful giver." One pleasing fruit that we can bear is giving.
The other place where the phrase, "every good work" is found is in II Tim. 3:16-17 where it tells us that the word of God equips us for every good work. Now, there is no way to make a comprehensive list of every good work, but this scripture tells me that being in God's word can prepare for whatever good work I might be involved in. Compare that to Ps. 1:1-3, where it says that those who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked and who meditate on the law of the Lord are like a tree planted by water, that bear fruit in season. According to Ps 1, if we want to bear fruit, we must be in the word and we need to have good counsel.
We also need to consider what it means to bear fruit? Does it mean to produce the fruits of the spirit in our lives? Yes it does. Does it mean to make disciples? Yes. Those are the things we usually think about when we talk about fruitfulness, and God does want us to bear these fruits. But are there more fruits that we can bear. I have already mentioned the fruit of giving, Here is another one, Matt. 3:8 and Luke 3:8 say the same thing. "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." We also produce fruit when we repent. Another important thing to remember comes John 15 where Jesus talks a lot about fruitfulness. He tells us that He is the vine and we are branches. If we want to bear fruit he must remain in him. We need to be rooted in him to produce fruit. (Jn 15:8 also tells us that by our fruit we show ourselves to be his disciples. Jn 15:15-16 he tells us to produce fruit that will last.)
I'll end with this. Ps. 104:13 says, "He waters the mountains from his upper chambers, the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work." The "He" referred to here, is God. God asks us to produce fruit, but God also produces fruit, and it is very satisfying.
Tom
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Pleasing Him in Every Way
Hey everyone.
In my own study, I have began a study of the book of Colossians. I found something interesting that I thought I would share with you.
In Col. 1:10-13 it says: "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints of the kingdom of light."
Now, as this is written in English, this is one very long sentence. It has a phrase "that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way." This is followed by a colon and then it begins a list. If I am understanding the grammar here correctly, Paul is telling us how to live a life worthy of God and please him in every way. If Paul wrote this today, it might come in bullet points, like this:
Over my next few posts, I want to examine each bullet point above, and see what we may do to accomplish this and please God in every way.
More to come.
Tom
In my own study, I have began a study of the book of Colossians. I found something interesting that I thought I would share with you.
In Col. 1:10-13 it says: "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints of the kingdom of light."
Now, as this is written in English, this is one very long sentence. It has a phrase "that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way." This is followed by a colon and then it begins a list. If I am understanding the grammar here correctly, Paul is telling us how to live a life worthy of God and please him in every way. If Paul wrote this today, it might come in bullet points, like this:
- Bearing fruit in every good work.
- Growing in the knowledge of God.
- Being strengthened according to his glorious might (so that you might have great patience and endurance.)
- Joyfully giving thanks to the Father.
Over my next few posts, I want to examine each bullet point above, and see what we may do to accomplish this and please God in every way.
More to come.
Tom
Monday, February 27, 2012
Never Stand Alone
Hey everyone.
As I have continued my study of II Timothy, I wanted to share something with you from chapter 3. In the first 9 verses of II Timothy 3 Paul has painted a picture of some unholy men who may appear godly but deny the power of God. They are the kind of men who try to take advantage of people, and Paul likens them to Pharaoh's magicians back in Exodus. He tells Timothy to have nothing to do with such men.
Then starting in v. 10-11 he draws a comparison between these unspiritual men and himself. he tells Timothy that he knows all about Paul's way of life, purpose, faith, love and the like. Paul then talks about how Timothy knew of the persecution Paul endured in the cities of Antioch, Iconium and Lystra and how God rescued him from all of those troubles.
So to better understand what Paul was talking about, I went back to the book of Acts to see what type of persecution he endured. So here is what happens:
In Antioch (Acts 13:13 - 52) - Paul and Barnabas teach in the synagogue and people like their message, until a number of the Jews see the crowd that Paul is getting, become jealous and start stirring up trouble, and Paul and Barnabas are expelled from the region. In spite of their expulsion, the word of the Lord spread (13:49) and the disciples were filled with the Spirit. (13:52)
In Iconium (Acts 14:1--7) - Paul goes next to Iconium, where he and Barnabas go to the synagogue to teach, but those who rejected their message stirred up trouble for them and there was a plot to stone them. The plot was revealed and Paul and Barnabas fled the city.
In Lystra (Acts 14:8-20) - They go next to Lystra where the people think that they are gods and try to worship them. Those that had created trouble for Paul and Barnabas in Antioch and Iconium came to Lystra and stirred up trouble for them. The people of Lystra dragged Paul out of the city, stoned him and left him for dead. Acts 14:20 says however that after the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city, then left for Derbe.
So back in II Timothy, Paul refers to these three cities where Paul was kicked out, threatened, stoned and left for dead. His response to this was that the Lord rescued him from all of this. (Acts 14:21 says that after teaching in Derbe he returned to those three cities to encourage the disciples there to remain faithful.) Paul was an amazing guy. No matter what the situation he really relied on God. His persecution, make my troubles seem so small. No one has ever thrown a rock at me because of my faith.
Later in II Timothy 4:16-17, Paul says that at his first defense, no one came to his support. It seems so sad, that Paul had no one with him at his trial, but his says in v. 17, "But the Lord stood by my side." No matter what Paul just looked to God, and that was enough.
Tom
As I have continued my study of II Timothy, I wanted to share something with you from chapter 3. In the first 9 verses of II Timothy 3 Paul has painted a picture of some unholy men who may appear godly but deny the power of God. They are the kind of men who try to take advantage of people, and Paul likens them to Pharaoh's magicians back in Exodus. He tells Timothy to have nothing to do with such men.
Then starting in v. 10-11 he draws a comparison between these unspiritual men and himself. he tells Timothy that he knows all about Paul's way of life, purpose, faith, love and the like. Paul then talks about how Timothy knew of the persecution Paul endured in the cities of Antioch, Iconium and Lystra and how God rescued him from all of those troubles.
So to better understand what Paul was talking about, I went back to the book of Acts to see what type of persecution he endured. So here is what happens:
In Antioch (Acts 13:13 - 52) - Paul and Barnabas teach in the synagogue and people like their message, until a number of the Jews see the crowd that Paul is getting, become jealous and start stirring up trouble, and Paul and Barnabas are expelled from the region. In spite of their expulsion, the word of the Lord spread (13:49) and the disciples were filled with the Spirit. (13:52)
In Iconium (Acts 14:1--7) - Paul goes next to Iconium, where he and Barnabas go to the synagogue to teach, but those who rejected their message stirred up trouble for them and there was a plot to stone them. The plot was revealed and Paul and Barnabas fled the city.
In Lystra (Acts 14:8-20) - They go next to Lystra where the people think that they are gods and try to worship them. Those that had created trouble for Paul and Barnabas in Antioch and Iconium came to Lystra and stirred up trouble for them. The people of Lystra dragged Paul out of the city, stoned him and left him for dead. Acts 14:20 says however that after the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city, then left for Derbe.
So back in II Timothy, Paul refers to these three cities where Paul was kicked out, threatened, stoned and left for dead. His response to this was that the Lord rescued him from all of this. (Acts 14:21 says that after teaching in Derbe he returned to those three cities to encourage the disciples there to remain faithful.) Paul was an amazing guy. No matter what the situation he really relied on God. His persecution, make my troubles seem so small. No one has ever thrown a rock at me because of my faith.
Later in II Timothy 4:16-17, Paul says that at his first defense, no one came to his support. It seems so sad, that Paul had no one with him at his trial, but his says in v. 17, "But the Lord stood by my side." No matter what Paul just looked to God, and that was enough.
Tom
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Why I'm so normal.
Hey everyone.
I'm going to share with you a brief self-assessment. I think that I am a pretty normal. I think that other people see me as reliable, as someone they can count on. I hope that this is accurate. (If it is not please break it to me gently.)
Any way, assuming that my self-assessment is accurate, the question I want to think about today is, "How did I get that way?" In II Timothy 1:7 it says: "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." This is a great verse and many lessons can be drawn from it, but I want to focus on the spirit of self-discipline. When I read this verse in the King James Version, the word "self-discipline" is translated as "a sound mind." A sound mind is an awesome thing and is somewhat different from self-discipline. So which is it? I looked it up the Greek word "sophronismou" in the Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of New Testament Words. Guess which one it means. Both. Warren Wiersbe described the word this way in his commentary Be Faithful, "it describes a person who is sensibly minded and balanced."
God has been giving me this spirit of "sophronismou" (sound mind and self-discipline) for a little over 24 years now. Why am I so normal? How have I become someone that can be counted on? Because God has been working on me and made me that way. I hope that God has been making you "sensibly minded and balanced" too.
Tom
I'm going to share with you a brief self-assessment. I think that I am a pretty normal. I think that other people see me as reliable, as someone they can count on. I hope that this is accurate. (If it is not please break it to me gently.)
Any way, assuming that my self-assessment is accurate, the question I want to think about today is, "How did I get that way?" In II Timothy 1:7 it says: "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." This is a great verse and many lessons can be drawn from it, but I want to focus on the spirit of self-discipline. When I read this verse in the King James Version, the word "self-discipline" is translated as "a sound mind." A sound mind is an awesome thing and is somewhat different from self-discipline. So which is it? I looked it up the Greek word "sophronismou" in the Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of New Testament Words. Guess which one it means. Both. Warren Wiersbe described the word this way in his commentary Be Faithful, "it describes a person who is sensibly minded and balanced."
God has been giving me this spirit of "sophronismou" (sound mind and self-discipline) for a little over 24 years now. Why am I so normal? How have I become someone that can be counted on? Because God has been working on me and made me that way. I hope that God has been making you "sensibly minded and balanced" too.
Tom
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Hey everyone
It is time for my second post on my new blog. I am still trying to figure a lot of this out, as I am clearly not as smooth with the technology as Ross. Any way, I hope you enjoy it.
I found this interesting. In II Timothy 1:10, Paul says that Jesus destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Pretty cool. What this is telling me is that Jesus reveals immortality, or eternal life, but also reveals a "life" to us that is not eternal life, but this life. In other words, Jesus shows us how to live. The world is full of unhappiness and death, but Jesus has conquered all of that for us, and revealed life to us, both in this life and in the life to come.
Last week, when I was finishing up I Timothy, I noticed this in I Tim. 6:17, where it says, "to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." This tells me that God is at work on my behalf, giving me a life that I can enjoy. (And the truth is, I do really enjoy my life. I hope you enjoy yours.) As Paul is nearing the conclusion of I Timothy in I Tim. 6:19, he tells Timothy that people should "take hold of the life that is truly life."
If I put these three verses together, this is what I take away from it. God really wants us to put our hope and trust in Him, and he wants us to live good lives and be happy. So we put our hope in God's eternal life, and strive to live enjoyable lives now. That is what Jesus offers, so take hold of it.
Tom
It is time for my second post on my new blog. I am still trying to figure a lot of this out, as I am clearly not as smooth with the technology as Ross. Any way, I hope you enjoy it.
I found this interesting. In II Timothy 1:10, Paul says that Jesus destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Pretty cool. What this is telling me is that Jesus reveals immortality, or eternal life, but also reveals a "life" to us that is not eternal life, but this life. In other words, Jesus shows us how to live. The world is full of unhappiness and death, but Jesus has conquered all of that for us, and revealed life to us, both in this life and in the life to come.
Last week, when I was finishing up I Timothy, I noticed this in I Tim. 6:17, where it says, "to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." This tells me that God is at work on my behalf, giving me a life that I can enjoy. (And the truth is, I do really enjoy my life. I hope you enjoy yours.) As Paul is nearing the conclusion of I Timothy in I Tim. 6:19, he tells Timothy that people should "take hold of the life that is truly life."
If I put these three verses together, this is what I take away from it. God really wants us to put our hope and trust in Him, and he wants us to live good lives and be happy. So we put our hope in God's eternal life, and strive to live enjoyable lives now. That is what Jesus offers, so take hold of it.
Tom
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Hey everyone.
Welcome to my first blog.
I read something in I Timothy 6:6 that I have been thinking about a lot, and I wanted to share it. The verse itself says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." This statement by itself is really good, but it is even better if we understand the context in which Paul says it. He is talking about the love of money.
Paul says in verse 5 that some preach out of a desire for financial gain, using their supposed godliness as a means to make a profit. In verse 6 however Paul says that real gain, or real wealth is godliness combined with contentment. There is a contrast here between those who seek money and those who seek godliness. Money can't buy contentment. Paul goes on to say that we should be content with food and clothing. (These are the two things Jesus promises us in Matt 6 if we seek his kingdom first.) Those who aren't content with those things fall into a trap, according to Paul (verse 9).
There is nothing wrong with having money or possessions, or buying newer or better thing. But in my own experience I have thought at times, "If I only had this thing, I will really be happy." But then when I got it, I didn't find happiness, just a desire for something else. It is much better that we should learn to be content with whatever God gives us. Because godliness combined with contentment is gain that money can't buy.
Tom
Welcome to my first blog.
I read something in I Timothy 6:6 that I have been thinking about a lot, and I wanted to share it. The verse itself says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." This statement by itself is really good, but it is even better if we understand the context in which Paul says it. He is talking about the love of money.
Paul says in verse 5 that some preach out of a desire for financial gain, using their supposed godliness as a means to make a profit. In verse 6 however Paul says that real gain, or real wealth is godliness combined with contentment. There is a contrast here between those who seek money and those who seek godliness. Money can't buy contentment. Paul goes on to say that we should be content with food and clothing. (These are the two things Jesus promises us in Matt 6 if we seek his kingdom first.) Those who aren't content with those things fall into a trap, according to Paul (verse 9).
There is nothing wrong with having money or possessions, or buying newer or better thing. But in my own experience I have thought at times, "If I only had this thing, I will really be happy." But then when I got it, I didn't find happiness, just a desire for something else. It is much better that we should learn to be content with whatever God gives us. Because godliness combined with contentment is gain that money can't buy.
Tom
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