The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 16:2-3,
"When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."
These words Jesus spoke to a group of Pharisees and Sadducees who had come to Jesus to ask him for a sign from heaven. They wanted him to prove who he was.
In his answer to them, he chastised them for being unable to "read", or interpret what had come upon them at his advent. Here was the Messiah who had come, bringing the kingdom of God with him, and they were hopelessly unable to understand, to perceive what they beheld. Being unable to absorb or embrace what confronted them, they asked for a sign from Jesus... something was afoot but they were simply incapable of comprehending it.
I suspect within the church there are varying levels of understanding concerning what God is doing in the world today. How might we not be caught in the same predicament as the Pharisees and Sadducees? Do we fully comprehend what God is doing in the world today? Do we understand the events taking place on the world stage? Do we understand what God may be doing in the lives of the people around us? Do we understand just what it is that God may be doing in our own lives?
I feel pretty confident that it is only through a close study of the Scriptures in the context of faith that we may have any hope of knowing God, knowing what he is like, knowing what he has done in the past, what he is currently doing as well as his intentions for the future.
Knowing the Scriptures, learning from them in the context of faith in their own lives might have been useful to these theologians who approached Jesus. It wasn't that they didn't know the Scriptures, but that they were unable to unlock the spiritual wisdom and insight the Scriptures provide in the absence of their own faith.
I am reminded of Paul's second letter to Timothy where first he observes of him, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." 2 Timothy 1:5. Then his exhortation to him, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."
These words Jesus spoke to a group of Pharisees and Sadducees who had come to Jesus to ask him for a sign from heaven. They wanted him to prove who he was.
In his answer to them, he chastised them for being unable to "read", or interpret what had come upon them at his advent. Here was the Messiah who had come, bringing the kingdom of God with him, and they were hopelessly unable to understand, to perceive what they beheld. Being unable to absorb or embrace what confronted them, they asked for a sign from Jesus... something was afoot but they were simply incapable of comprehending it.
I suspect within the church there are varying levels of understanding concerning what God is doing in the world today. How might we not be caught in the same predicament as the Pharisees and Sadducees? Do we fully comprehend what God is doing in the world today? Do we understand the events taking place on the world stage? Do we understand what God may be doing in the lives of the people around us? Do we understand just what it is that God may be doing in our own lives?
I feel pretty confident that it is only through a close study of the Scriptures in the context of faith that we may have any hope of knowing God, knowing what he is like, knowing what he has done in the past, what he is currently doing as well as his intentions for the future.
Knowing the Scriptures, learning from them in the context of faith in their own lives might have been useful to these theologians who approached Jesus. It wasn't that they didn't know the Scriptures, but that they were unable to unlock the spiritual wisdom and insight the Scriptures provide in the absence of their own faith.
I am reminded of Paul's second letter to Timothy where first he observes of him, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." 2 Timothy 1:5. Then his exhortation to him, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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