Not Eating My Hat - Ruminatinating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 1:3-5,

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'day,' and the darkness he called 'night.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day."

Here is the account of the first day of God's creation week. This passage follows the first two verses of Genesis which says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." I note days and nights were not yet a feature the earth existed in, just a formless and empty and dark existence. The circadian 24 hour cycle of day and night was not yet in place as we read Genesis 1:1-2..

I note the first two verses are provided us without reference to time. We don't know when God created the heavens and the earth and what the period of time was between the account provided us of that and the first day of God's creation week as quoted above. Minutes, days, weeks, months, years, millenia? No reference to the time frame between Genesis 1-2 and Genesis 3-5.

We do read the following in Genesis 2:1-3, "Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

A careful reading of Genesis 2:1-3 doesn't add much to our understanding of the time that transpired between Genesis 1:1-2 and God's first day of his creation week provided in Genesis 1:3-5. It simply tells us that God completed the creation of the heavens and earth, as well as his six days of creation (which fills the remainder of the first chapter of Genesis) and then he "rested" on the seventh day.

God's first day of creation does provide for our 24 hour day. That it is a 24 hour day is further expressed as "there was evening and there was morning, the first day."

There is a lot to be said here and there is a lot to be learned here. One thing I am quite certain of is most everything I learned in public school in the 50's and 60's regarding the origin of things, an old earth of millions of years, evolution of the species... all that stuff, it all turns out to be junk science. The geological column with strata identifying epochs measured in the hundreds of millions of years, the clues the fossil record provides us, the ages of dinosaurs, etc. all junk science.

I encourage everyone to get informed on what it is you think you know about the origins of things. Things like the processes that created the Grand Canyon, the formation of petrified organic material, coal, etc. are all having to be reconsidered based on what today's science is learning from the processes observed (yes, observed!) from the volcanic activity of Mount. St. Helens, as well as other evidences that advancements in scientific observations and conclusions are providing.

It turns out that Moses had it all right all along. I suspect the fake science I was exposed to was an effort to distance our culture from recognizing the hand of God in creation. In quoting Psalm 19:4, Paul tells us the creation speaks to us of God's existence, "Their [the heavens and the skies] voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Romans 10:18. Their voice tells us of God's existence and that we are accountable to him.

Anyway, there is no legitimate view of the Scriptures apart from recognizing God's creation as that of an initial creating of "the heavens and the earth" and then a subsequent period of six twenty-four hour days of creation, followed by a day of rest. As for me, I am entirely convinced of a "young earth" - 6 to 8 thousand years? - that has been shaped and formed by a world-wide cataclysmic flood that took place maybe 5,500 years or so ago. 

No unproven, unreproducible, and unobserved  "evolution". The universe and all it contains, including everything we see on earth was a personal creation, by the Son of God, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3.

If those are not six consecutive twenty-four hour days (as we know them today) of God's creative activity in Genesis 1, I'll eat my hat!

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!

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Who Were the Nephilim? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 6:4,

"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown."

Who were these boys? The passage tells us they were "heroes of old, men of renown." They were also the offspring of "sons of God" and "daughters of humans."

The word "Nephilim" is related to the verb "to fall" in Hebrew. Some find meaning from that. However, it turns out there are a number of views of what exactly is meant by those identified as Nephilim. Beyond that, there seems to be even more speculation as to what the phrase "sons of God" refers to in the passage. (Not much debate, obviously, over what "daughters of humans" means.)

The NIV uses the phrase "daughters of humans" where a number of other translations use the phrase "daughters of men." As such the NIV lends itself, (in my mind anyway) to the idea that female humans were having relations with other-than-humans and having offspring: the Nephilim.

There really are a number of good articles on the web that provide background on various views on the Nephilim and who the sons of God were. One such site is "answersingenesis.org", found here https://answersingenesis.org/bible-characters/who-were-the-nephilim/   

Here is a great summary of the four main interpretive alternatives commonly found among expositors that I just swiped from their site (although the table can be found in a number of places) :

Name	View in short
Fallen angels view	Satan and/or his fallen angels bred with human women and had offspring that were called Nephilim.
Fallen angels overtook men view	Fallen angels and/or Satan possessed men and caused them to breed with women.
Sethite view	The sons of God were the godly line from Adam to Seth down to Noah, and the Nephilim were fallen children who sought after false gods.
Fallen men view	Godly men (sons of God) took ungodly wives, and their descendants (Nephilim) followed after the false gods, rejected God, and fell far from God in wickedness.

For me, perhaps not as titillating, intriguing and exciting  as other perspectives, I have a hard time with the notion of angels, demons and the like having sex with human women. My reason is that the assumption that because there are other beings out there that God has created (or devolved from what he created) does not automatically mean they all have features and capabilities as we humans do. I note a comment Jesus made about both angels and something of our estate in the resurrection:

"The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels." Luke 20:34-36.  

Marriage is not a feature in the resurrection which clearly indicates we will no longer be procreating and being just like the angels, since we won't die, the kingdom of God will remain permanently populated with no need for procreating.  

There are a number of issues in the Scriptures where we just don't have the answers, although we  may feel strongly about our perspectives on them. This is one of those.

What are your thoughts about this?

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!

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Old Methuselah! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 5:25-27,

"When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died."

Chapter five of Genesis contains the record of ten generations, from Adam to Noah. One of the interesting characters we meet is Enoch. Enoch had the shortest life of the group, a whopping 365 years! The longest living man on record is Enoch's own son, Methuselah, who lived 969 years. We are told that Enoch had "walked faithfully with God" and then he disappeared because God took him away. He, apparently, was a man who did not experience death. I assume he had the shortest life of the group because the Lord snached him away.

Adam was still alive when Enoch lived. Adam was 622 years old when Enoch was born (if my math is correct, maybe you should check me on that). Adam went on to live until he was 930 years old, which means he was around long enough to see Enoch's son, Methuselah, and Methuselah's son Lamech (who was the father of Noah).

Lamech didn't have Noah until he was 187 years old, so Adam missed Noah and the great flood.

One of the interesting things I see is that the longest living man on record, Methuselah, died the same year as Noah's flood. The flood came when Noah was 600 years old, Genesis 7:6. Did Methuselah die in Noah's flood? Or, was the flood timed by God to happen at the advent of Methuselah's death? I'm guessing the latter, but what do I know? What we do know is that by this time, we are told, "human beings began to increase in number on the earth", Genesis 6:1. They had become so wicked that, "The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled." Genesis 6:6. Therefore, the flood!

I think there are some very interesting things to see in this chapter! You need to check it out...

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!

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Cain's Choice - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 4:6-7,

"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.'"

Cain was a farmer and Abel was a rancher. As such, Cain must have traded in fruits and vegetables and the like, while Abel must have brought those fantastic ribeye steaks to market. When it came time to bring an offering to God as thanksgiving in worship of the Lord and/or or to implore the Lord for a fruitful year, Cain brought the fruit of his labor and Abel did likewise.

We are told the Lord did not accept Cain's offering, but he did Abel's. The Lord clearly communicated to Cain that he could bring an an offering the Lord would accept if he did what was "right". However, rather than listen to the Lord, rather than deciding to do what the Lord wanted, Cain simply became angry. He took his brother, Abel, out in the field and murdered him. God had told Cain, "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." Unfortunately, rather than ruling over the sin in his life, sin ruled over his life.

It all sounds kind of insane, doesn't it? Just about as insane as a lot of the sin we see all around us today. This is that sinful nature all mankind inherits from one generation to the next due to that first rejection of God by Adam and Eve in the garden.

Paul makes an observation of this as we experience what we have inherited of it, "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me." Romans 7:14-23.

Here is why God sent his Son to pay for our sins. We, like Cain, are defective and live our lives in defeat by the sin that indwells every last one of us!

If we embrace him in faith, God will forgive us our sins! This is the "good news"!

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!

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Good Stuff; Bad Stuff- Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 3:1-6,

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden"?' The woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die."' 'You will not certainly die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."

Here is the account of the temptation of Eve by the serpent. There are a number of things to learn from this account, but there is one that sticks out to me this morning beyond others. That is this: a false but convincing notion that God wants to keep us from "good stuff".

The serpent's approach to Eve was based on questioning God's word, "Did God really say...", verse 1. Eve answered honestly, "God did say...", verse 3. Then the serpent made the accusation to Eve that God was lying to her, "You will certainly not die", verse 4.

We are told that it was those attractive things about the forbidden fruit that drew Eve. She saw the fruit of the tree was good for food, that it was pleasing to the eye and also for gaining wisdom. It all looked like "good stuff" to Eve - stuff that God forbade Adam and Eve to partake in. In my mind she must have made the transition in her thinking that God was keeping her from this good stuff, and determined to not let him keep her from it.

It was a huge misreading by the couple of the context within which Adam and Eve had their communion with God. It resulted in their rejection of God in favor of the "good stuff" the serpent used to entice Eve with.

All of it a lie. Here is the truth: "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." James 1:16-18.

God does not keep the truly "good stuff" from us! He is the One who gives us the "good stuff". The serpent, as well as our own sinful condition, is who attempts to keep God's good stuff from us by attracting us to those things that are always harmful for us - the "bad stuff".

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!

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Fallen and Pursued! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 3:6-7,

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."

Here in two short verses is the account of the fall of mankind from God's good graces, from God's predetermined will for this couple and God's purposes in his creation of mankind.

Following the serpent's influence with Eve and Eve's influence with Adam, they both turned against their Creator, reached out for the forbidden fruit and instigated the great tribulation mankind has lived in ever since. Apart from these two verses, how difficult it would be for us to understand the nature and purpose of Jesus Christ being born into the human family and suffering on the cross! I don't know if we could understand the book of Romans, let alone the entire New Testament and so many other things if these two verses were not provided us.

Certainly God was not unaware this was going to take place when he created mankind with a free will to exercise. In God's eternal counsel, in creating mankind in the first place, he desired a people for himself. Not a people without passion and desire, not a people that were simply puppets or robots or whatever. He wanted a people to commune with, people who want him as much as he wants them. A people to share his heart with, his love with. That can only come by filling his kingdom with people who desire him.

This is the story of God's creation of mankind and the peril they willingly placed themselves in. Throughout the remainder of the Scriptures, right through the book of Revelation, we learn of the stunning ways in which God redeemed a people for himself from this fallen condition while expressing his heart of love.

Such an amazing story!

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!

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Adam and Eve (Not Steve!) - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 2:24,

"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."

God designed marriage and we have the implementation of it here for the first time, with the first couple, Adam and Eve: one man and one woman united as "one flesh".

Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 19:5. He was asked by some Pharisees about divorce, looking to trip him up. Jesus' response also included Genesis 1:27, "male and female". Not male and male and not female and female. Male and female. Marriage is to be between a man and woman only, joined together with the intent of permanence, "Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." Matthew 19:6.

In that it is God who joins a man and woman together, he both defines and establishes the marriage. It matters not one whit that our previous president "evolved" on the issue of same-sex marriage, it was not within his purview to redefine it. It is God's and God's alone. In any event, homosexuality is "detestable" in God's sight, "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." Deuteronomy 18:22. That verse sits right beside the one next to it, verse 23, "Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion." I think you get the picture: homosexuality resides in the same neighborhood as bestiality. 

When it comes to divorce, Jesus taught no divorce except for sexual immorality, Matthew 19:9. Therefore, divorce has no place among believers. Believers have no business sleeping around or divorcing their spouse. Anyone who says otherwise is not being truthful about the Scriptures. Paul provides some additional teaching in this area in 1 Corinthians 7, especially in the case of an unbeliever wanting to leave the marriage with a spouse who has become a believer. I can't count the number of times I have seen a brother or sister twist themselves into a pretzel to prove their spouse was not a believer so they could feel they would continue to have "God's blessing" as they pursued a divorce.

In any event, here is where the institution of marriage begins, and it is with Adam and Eve (not Steve!).

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!

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The Amazing Breath of God - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 2:7,

"Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

God first formed man's body, and then "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." It wasn't until that "breath of life" was breathed into him that man became a living being. For us to become a living being requires a physical body with life breathed into it - something that only God provides.

Today we see incredible medical and biological advances where tissues, etc. can be created. However, that spark of life, that "breath of life" is something that is not at all reproducible apart from that original breath of life God breathed into Adam. It is only the transmission of that original breath God breathed into Adam that we have succeeding generations - that we live today.

The day comes when that physical body returns to the earth (because of our sin) and that breath of life from God that has eventuated into our own personhood transitions into the next age, an eternal age. For some, a transition into eternal bliss (those who embrace Jesus Christ in faith), for others (those who reject Jesus Christ) a transition into everlasting judgment and suffering.

We will all take up renewed bodies as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15. A resurrection will take place that joins our share of the breath of life with what he calls a "spiritual body", "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." 1 Corinthians 15:42-44.

Contemplating these things is just an amazing exercise for me, as I am sure it is for all of us.

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!

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Serving Mother Earth? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 1:28,

"God blessed them [mankind] and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"

We live in a day where "Mother Earth" is celebrated and even worshipped. "Earth Day" has been established for us to consider the importance of saving the planet from mankind. It seems as though mankind is considered a stain on this otherwise pristine and glorious orb that needs protection from human touch. It has even been suggested that mankind pursue moving itself from earth to some sustainable environment to be created on Mars, or some other place, in order to protect Mother Earth (how we wouldn't destroy Mars in the process I guess is to be answered by someone else.)

Consequently mankind's needs are subordinated to the needs of the planet. Whatever mankind has to sacrifice in order to protect Mother Earth is expected. Water is diverted from farmers in favor of some kind of snail darter (or whatever), responsible fire protection is rejected in favor of leaving the wide open spaces pristine and untouched by human hands - resulting in catastrophic fire damage and planned electrical outages scheduled. I'll bet you could come up with a dozen or so examples of how the needs of mankind are subordinated to the importance of keeping Mother Earth from being tainted or corrupted by us.

As many do, I certainly support caring for the creation in responsible ways. And, I am sure there are many who participate in environmental initiatives with good hearts and the best of intentions. However, there are an overwhelming number of people today who have no clue as to where earth came from and its intended purpose, and yet feel no restraint in seizing what they consider to be the moral high ground in how Mother Earth is to be treated.

One thing they do not recognize is what Moses says here in Genesis 1:28. The earth is not here for us to live in subservience to it, but is to be subdued and filled by mankind. The writer of Hebrews tells us that the Son of God created all things and he maintains all things, Hebrews 1:1-3. We are not alone in our care of earth.

It is just like sinful man to get everything turned around backward. Just muzing here...

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!

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Gender Identity - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 1:27,

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

Gender identity falls under the purview of our Creator. God created mankind, and did so by creating two types: male and female. Just as we do not have the choice to determine whether we are a horse or a dog or a cat, we do not have the choice to determine our gender. There is not one gender among mankind, nor is their three or four or any other number but two.

If one is confused about their gender, all they have to do is drop their pants and take a look at what is there (prior to any surgical mutilation). We come into life as male or female and nothing can be done to change that.

We live in a day where the notion is otherwise. Our culture is constantly bombarded with the psychopathic notion that we can change our gender. The very definition of psychosis is a departure from reality. We are all asked to jettison reality for a fantasy notion that communicates the rejection of our Creator.

For me: No thank you! I'm not participating. All who do so take a huge step in their rejection of God.

God created us male and female and we come into life representing that reality. Rejecting that really is truly a "doctrine of demons." Count me out!

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!

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Do you Know the Names? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 28:16,

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go."

Following Jesus' resurrection, he instructed his disciples to meet with him in Galilee. 

I note that the twelve disciples of Jesus have been reduced by one: Judas Iscariot who betrayed him and then went and hung himself in remorse. These remaining eleven disciples are those we see functioning as the apostles of Jesus Christ in the book of acts, taking the gospel to a lost and fallen world.

Here is something fun to muse over: in the book of Revelation we read, "The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Revelation 21:14. The city in this verse is the New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from God. We are told the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem have the names of the twelve apostles of the lamb. What are those names?

In Matthew 10:2-4 we read, "These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him." These are the original twelve. However, it's a good bet Judas Iscariot's name is not one of the twelve names on the foundations of the New Jerusalem.

It is reasonable to assume the remaining eleven disciples will have their names there, but who is the twelth? In Acts we read that the always impetuous Peter had the disciples gathered with him select a replacement for Judas Iscariot, "Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles." Acts 1:26.

However, following this, in Acts 2:14, we see the apostles called as a group (in the 2011 version of the NIV) "the Eleven". Why are they not referred to as the Twelve now, since they chose Matthias to replace Judas? (On the other hand we see them called the "Twelve" in Acts 6:2)

We see another apostle added to the roster by the Lord himself - unlike the addition of Matthias that Peter instigated. Jesus Christ confronts a man named Saul on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:1-19. Saul's name is changed to Paul who introduces himself in his letter to the church in Rome, "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God ..." Romans 1:1. He begins his letter to the Galatian churches declaring God sent him as an apostle, "Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead ..." Galatians 1:1.

Interesting, isn't it? Now we have thirteen apostles?

Realizing that not all the activities of Peter and others we read of in the book of Acts were without mistakes (see Galatians 2:11-14. Paul says, "When Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned, verse 11.) 

I'm thinking the twelve names on the foundations of the New Jerusalem will be the eleven, with the addition of Paul and not Mattias. But, what do I know? The Scriptures don't say.

What names do you think will be on the foundations of the New Jerusalem?

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!

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Choosing Unwisely - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 27:3-5,

"When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 'I have sinned,' he said, 'for I have betrayed innocent blood.' 'What is that to us?' they replied. 'That's your responsibility.' So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself."

I can't even begin to conceive the destruction this man Judas brought upon himself! In his avarice he sold out Jesus by conspiring with the Jewish leaders to bring them to him in the dead of night, to have him arrested and taken for crucifixion. This man who followed Jesus for 3 years without apparently ever understanding who he was, and never embracing him in faith, got 30 pieces of silver for the deed.

Jesus said of Judas earlier that night, "But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Matthew 26:24. What horrific words!

Judas didn't enjoy his 30 pieces of silver for long. He became seized with remorse, took the silver back to the chief priests and found anything but sympathy: "What is that to us?" His partners in crime had little use for him now. All alone and seized with such a great remorse he threw the silver into the temple, went out and hanged himself and discovered what it means when the Son of God says it would have been better for you had you not been born in the first place!

Here is a man who made appalling choices that led to his miserable demise and discovered what it means when 'it can't get any worse than this!'

Yet, so many today share in a similar fate. Given Jesus' words, I suspect Judas' eternity is one of the worst anyone exists in, but look at the choice:  "They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:42, or "... you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11b.

It's a choice we all get to make. Let's hope we all choose better that Judas!

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!

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Peter's Bad Rap? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 26:33-34,

"Peter replied, 'Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.' 'Truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.'"

This exchange took place between Jesus and Peter on the Mount of Olives just following his last supper with his disciples. Jesus had announced they would all fall away from him and then quoted Zechariah 13:7, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."' It all turned out exactly as Jesus said it would. When Judas showed up with the crowd that arrested Jesus that night, the disciples were scattered and Peter denied Jesus three times.

Jesus quote of Zechariah 13 pointed to a perfect fulfillment of that prophecy that spoke to other things as well.  

Like much of the fulfillment of prophecy, partial aspects of a specific prophecy have their fulfillment in special ways. Here is how Zechariah 13:7 looks, "Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!' declares the Lord Almighty. 'Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.'"

In looking at Peter's triple denial of Jesus that night, I have a thought that is only conjecture on my part. A lot has been said about Peter's denial of Jesus and the flaws within him to do such a thing. I'm not so sure about that all that. Look at Zechariah's prophecy, "the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones." What if the Lord had a hand in Peter's denial? The Lord said he would turn his hand against the shepherd's little ones.

Why would the Lord do such a thing? In continuing my conjecture, the death of Jesus Christ was to be the singularly most important event to ever have taken place on planet earth. Nothing among mankind begins to approach the significance, the momentous importance of the payment for all mankind's sins that Jesus wrought on that cross. It was not to be obscured as some kind of retaliation by the Jewish leaders against a mob of rebels. Possibly the Lord scattered his disciples to prevent such an obscurity? If that be the case, what possibility did Peter have but to deny the Lord to prevent his share in the judgment that was coming Jesus' way?

Consequently, with a thief on either side of him, (communicating other things) we see Jesus, alone among all his disciples lifted from the earth on that miserable cross to die a horrific death to take the payment for my sins and your sins.

As I say, just conjecture here on my part. Has Peter had a bad rap among many? What do you think?

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!

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Get Ready! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 25:11-13,

"Later the others [five foolish virgins] also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' But he [the bridegroom] replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

This comes from the parable of the ten virgins. If you recall the story, there were ten virgins who went out to meet a bridegroom they expected some time during the night. Five were wise with lamps filled with oil and five were foolish having no oil in their lamps. At midnight when the bridegroom was near, the five foolish asked for oil from the wise. The wise pointed out they couldn't give any because there might not be enough to go around. They told the foolish ones to go buy some.

The bridegroom arrived before the foolish virgins could return with oil filled lamps. The door was shut behind the bridegroom and the five wise virgins and the foolish ones were refused entry.

Interpretations for this parable are all over the board. Some believe all ten virgins represent believers in the parable. Some believe the five wise were believers and the five foolish were unbelievers, unprepared for the Lord's coming. Some believe the oil represents the Holy Spirit, some believe this or that about why all ten were asleep. One of the fascinating things to me is to watch how so many seek to find relevance and meaning over every last little bit of detail. I'm not sure that is the best way to approach our understanding of Jesus' parables.

The very clear conclusion Jesus sought for us to glean from this parable is that he is going to return and we all best be ready and prepared for his coming!

Get ready!

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!

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Of Times And Seasons - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 24:33,

"Even so, when you see all these things [signs at the end of the age], you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I [Jesus] tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

At the end of his earthly ministry, just before his crucifixion, Jesus was in Jerusalem and as he was leaving the temple area, his disciples came to him and asked him two questions of timing: when will the destruction of the temple take place and when will the end of the age come when Jesus comes again.

The answer to both questions are interwoven in this chapter. The destruction of the temple came in 70 AD, and, of course, the end of the age is something we still await. In addition to some signs to watch for as that day approaches, Jesus made two interesting observations.

His first observation is that no one knows the timing of his return, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Verses 36-39.

If anyone tells you they know when the Lord is coming, ignore them. They don't know what they are talking about. Some so-called "Christian" groups have had their beginnings, at least partially, on the basis they thought they knew the date the Lord would be coming. As an example, the Seventh Day Adventists had their (the Millerites) beginnings based on such foolishness in the 19th century.

The other observation, conversely, is that we, as believers, should know the season. "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things [signs Jesus gave to watch for], you know that it [the Son of Man coming] is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Verses 32-35.

I have two of my own observations. It seems there have always been those in every generation who thought the Lord was coming in their lifetime. The other is, many generations never realized or had a full appreciation for the historical significance of the times they were living in.

Matthew 24 is a chapter we should all be well-educated in.

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!

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Insufferable Religious Leaders - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 23:5-7,

"Everything they [religious leaders] do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by others."

Jesus warned people about the religious leaders of the day, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. He pointed out their hypocrisy just prior to pronouncing seven devastating woes on them.

In pointing these things out, he identifies their insincerity and fake piety. Here he points out their arrogance and pomposity through pretensions. Do we have that today?

I think we have many wonderful and sincere folks in full time ministry today, as well as many who are engaged in other occupations. However, I think I won't get much push-back when I say I also think there are others who appear quite like the leaders in Jesus' day that he castigated.

It seems to be easy to ferret out if someone has the affliction Jesus describes above. Challenge them on something, even if you agree with them on it! It doesn't even have to be something you feel strongly about, just something they do. How they respond will tell you all you need to know - which leads me to me.

When someone might confront me on something I have said or a point I have made, how do I feel? Threatened? Defensive? A need to lash back? Or, on the other hand, do I have a desire to help the other one see what it is I am seeing for their ultimate good? Do I care about bringing them along out of concern for their own best interests?

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!

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Leaving the Experts Speechless! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 22:45,

"If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"

I find Matthew 22 to be fascinating! It begins with a parable, the Wedding Banquet, that follows on the heels of the last parable in the preceding chapter, the Parable of the Tenants.

In the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus announced that, although initially offered to the nation of Israel, the administration of the kingdom of God was now going to be taken from them and given to others (the Gentiles), "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." Matthew 20:43.

 As I say, the next parable at the beginning of this chapter is the Wedding Banquet, in which Jesus tells the story of guests invited to a wedding (the offer of the kingdom of heaven to the nation of Israel) who refused to come and mistreated the servants (the prophets) sent out to call the guests when the time had come. The same point in the previous parable is made: after destroying the refusing guests, the king of the banquet invited others. In this parable, however, we learn that just because an invitation has gone out does not mean automatic entry. In the parable one of the new guests was found without wedding clothes and so was cast out of the banquet. "'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:13-14. This being a reference that entrance into the kingdom of God is going to require a standing of righteousness before God as represented by clothing. (That standing before God comes through faith in him.)

It is what follows this parable in the chapter that really catches my attention this morning. Accounts are given of the religious leaders trying to trap Jesus with three "trick" questions, followed by Jesus responding with his own question that shut them down, "No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions." Verse 46.

The religious leaders questions had to do with paying tax to Caesar, marriage in the resurrection and what the greatest commandment might be. The questions they asked really were well thought out and designed to delegitimize Jesus. However, no man is a match for the Son of God. As I say, he crushed them with his answers.

And then, to finish them off, he asked them a question, from Psalm 110:1, about how David could call a descendant of his "Lord". "If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" They were all left speechless! This is a must read!

If you are looking for something beyond fascinating, look no further!

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!

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When God Walks Out the Door... - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 21:38-44,

"'"This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance." So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?' 'He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,' they replied, 'and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.' Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures:

"The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes"?

'Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.'"

The above passage is from Jesus' parable of the tenants. I will leave the reading of it to you, found in Matthew 21:33-46.

The parable is a momentous announcement to the nation of Israel, the leaders of the Jews, and the world as a whole that the kingdom of heaven, at first offered to Israel, will shortly be taken from Israel as a nation and be given to others. In this parable Jesus explains what will take place, why this is to take place, and what the outcome will be, "kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." Verse 43. All these things have taken place exactly as Jesus explained them through this parable and his explanation of it.

Although oblivious to spiritual things, the chief priests  and Pharisees knew this was spoken against them, "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them." Verse 45. What is so fascinating to me about how Jesus couched this parable, is that he led them to proclaim God's need to do it! (Of course without them realizing they were proclaiming the appropriateness of God doing such a thing to them, "'He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,' they replied, 'and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.'" Verse 41.)

This is a very significant passage, and together with other Scriptures, such as Romans 11, etc. we can learn clearly what God has done and will be doing with the church in the hands of Gentiles, and what is to become of the nation of Israel.

Just a fascinating passage!! You've got to read it!

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!

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God Rewards! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 20:20-23,

"Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 'What is it you want?' he asked. She said, 'Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.' 'You don't know what you are asking,' Jesus said to them. 'Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?' 'We can,' they answered. Jesus said to them, 'You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.'"

 The mother of Zebedee's sons was Salome, a disciple of the Lord, and her sons were James and John. Together with Peter, James and John formed what we might view as Jesus' "inner circle" (as seen on the mount of transfiguration, etc.). As might be expected, the other ten were somewhat resentful of this bold or brash (depending on your reading of it) request. Somehow or another, I suspect Peter might have had something to say. 

While she might be viewed with a bit of distain (again, depending on your reading of it) for such a request, she was certainly fully invested in Jesus' kingdom as a great woman of faith, and carried the love of a mother for her sons. I suspect this was not some kind of attempt to seize places of honor in the kingdom for some nefarious reason, as it was done within the knowledge of all and that Salome was a true disciple that followed the Lord all the way, as seen by her presence at Jesus crucifixion, Mark 15:40, and who accompanied Mary Magdalene in going to Jesus' tomb with spices having an angelic encounter there, Mark 16:1-8 as they were told of his resurrection.

In any event, we learn from the episode (without a lot of certainty) that at this point Salome may still have had the impression that Jesus' kingdom would be an earthly kingdom to be established forthwith. 

We also learn from Jesus' response that positions in the kingdom of heaven (at least some) are appointed by God the Father, who has prepared certain ones for such roles. And, given Jesus' question of Salome's sons, if they could "drink the cup I am going to drink", those appointments by the Father might reflect some sacrificial devotion the Father may call such persons to.

The take away for me is that God rewards those he calls upon no matter the difficulty he calls them to.

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 reply and let me know.  

All About the Heart - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 19:8,

"Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning."

God gave Israel his law through Moses. When he did so, Israel entered into a covenant with God, and Moses' successor reminded the nation to keep the law. "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." Joshua 1:8.

Astonishingly, the nation had drifted so far from God over years that they lost the law. In the days of King Josiah, when an effort was begun to refurbish the temple, the high priest discovered it in the temple.

By the time Jesus appeared, following horrific action by God six centuries earlier when he had Jerusalem destroyed together with the temple, and a small remnant deported into captivity, Israel finally embraced the law and even built a "fence" around it (the traditions of the elders), so that if the traditions were kept, one would keep himself from coming close to breaking the law.

However, they failed to understand that the law was a tool God was using to draw the Israelites to himself. In reality they could not keep the law. No one can. Therefore Paul wrote, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." Romans 3:20. The law proves we are sinners, incapable of living our lives on a godly standard (the law), and so those who wish eternal life must throw themselves at God's mercy, found at the foot of the cross - to embrace his payment for our sins.

The impossibility of keeping the law was a key message of Jesus' sermon on the mount. All a man had to do was to look at a woman and the stirrings of lust crossed the threshold of adultery. If one got angry, that was grounds for a conviction of murder.

What becomes clear is that Jesus' message was a message about the heart. It is seen in this chapter of Matthew in three ways. Pharisees came to challenge him on the legalities of marriage and divorce and Jesus spoke of the heart in the above passage. The disciples rebuked people bringing children to Jesus for his blessing and he rebuked his disciples pointing to the importance of anyone coming to him to have the heart of a child. A rich man looking for his ticket into heaven by being a do-gooder is told by Jesus to have compassion on the poor by giving his possessions to them.

This morning I am again reminded that it is all about the heart. Approaching God as if he were approachable on the basis of rules and regulations comes short of the matter. It is those rules and regulations that should help us find our heart's condition to prepare us for his mercy.

After all, if a man is doing quite nicely, thank you very much, why does he need mercy? Why does he need someone paying for his sins?

It is all about the heart. 

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!

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From the Heart: Not Fake - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 18:35,

"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Peter, Jesus' outspoken disciple, asked how many times he should forgive a brother or sister that might sin against him. Jesus answered with the poignant "Parable of the Unmerciful Servant."

Jesus' answer of not seven times (that Peter offered), but seventy-seven (or seven times seven) was meant to make clear his followers need to always forgive and never stop forgiving. However, it is the very last three words he used to explain himself that separates the men from the boys when it comes to forgiving: "from your heart."

It must be from the heart! We do not come into this life with such hearts. Our hearts are dominated by a sinful nature that precludes an ability to forgive others when they have harmed us in some way. At least that was the way I came into this life. Maybe you had a different experience.

I had to have a "heart transplant" to meet the expectations the Lord has of those who are his. When I embraced Jesus Christ in faith the Holy Spirit took up residence in my heart to bring about a much needed change. We read about the kinds of things the Holy Spirit does in our hearts when he comes to dwell within, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. Along with these are other qualities, such as an ability to genuinely forgive others when they have wronged us.

I am reminded of Colossians 3:12-14, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

These things are the matters of a redeemed heart. We might try to fake it. We can have outward appearances of such things. But when the Lord says "from your heart", you simply can't fake that.

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!

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The Voice to Listen To - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 17:5,

"While he [Peter] was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!'"

Jesus took Peter, James and John up on a high mountain and while they were up there Jesus was transfigured. We are told his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Moses and Elijah joined them, talking with Jesus.

I can't begin to imagine how dramatic the scene must have been for Peter, James and John! Peter began to offer to put up three shelters, I assume to observe the Feast of Tabernacles. While he was speaking, suddenly a "bright cloud" surrounded them and God the Father's voice came from within the cloud saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Again, I can't begin to imagine the shock and awe Peter and his friends experienced! "They fell facedown to the ground, terrified." Verse 6.

In reading of the account, I am reminded of the opening words of the writer of Hebrews, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:1-3a.

God the Father says, "This is my Son... Listen to him!" The writer of Hebrews tells us "in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son".

Jesus Christ, and him alone, is the voice of God we all need to be listening to! There are a lot of voices out there that are demanding of us to be their audience. Who are you listening to?

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 reply and let me know.  

What is Real? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 16:24-27,

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.'"

The above verse is often thought of in terms of priorities. What is most important? Your life here on earth with all the benefits it can provide, or life in the hereafter with all the benefits it can provide?

This morning this passage, while speaking to priorities, speaks to me more about clarifying what reality really is. Rather than weighing what might be the best experience to pursue (earth with its pleasures versus heaven with all it provides), Jesus appears to me to be pointing to the choice we have to make regarding which understanding of reality to embrace.

Obviously, if there is no God, if there is no heaven, if there is no resurrection, then squeezing all we can out of this life would be best. However, if those things really exist: God, heaven and resurrection of the dead, then living this life in terms of what enhances the next is clearly the best, "whoever loses their life for me will find it."

If there exists any reality that is not real or genuine, it has to be this life. God created mankind and placed them in the garden of Eden. Mankind turned its back on God and was thrust into this existence in which we find ourselves. The nature of this existence, as designed by God, cloaks his presence. We can't see God or touch God. He can only be perceived through faith. We cannot see the spiritual dimension with its realities and inhabitants, but it is there - all around us.

If there is any temporary "make-believe", it is this life. To give our lives for this earthly existence at the expense of the eternal and true reality would be a foolish choice.

"Whoever loses their life [this earthly life with its rewards] for me will find it [what life was meant to be by our Creator]."

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!

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Are You Still So Dull? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 15:16,

"'Are you still so dull?' Jesus asked them."

This rebuke from Jesus was directed to his own disciples. As we might expect, it was the candid Peter who asked a question of Jesus about what he meant concerning what defiles a man.

The rebuke anticipates there is a reasonable length of time where various aspects of the things of God should be acquired. I'm quite certain not all things. We will never plumb all the depths when it comes to our understanding of the things of God. However, that does not negate the reality that there are things we should know within a reasonable length of time.

The writer of Hebrews speaks to this when he said, "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so." Hebrews 5:11-6:3.

As believers, God has an expectation we will avail ourselves of the Scriptures he has provided us for us to this end. Paul encouraged Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. Here we see the part the Scriptures are to have in our lives so that we do not find ourselves "so dull". Paul goes on to tell Timothy, "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.

Somewhere along the way too many have determined a study of the Scriptures is the pastor's job done on behalf of believers. No, it isn't. It is the pastor's job to get folks into the Scriptures so that the Lord will not have to rebuke us: "Are you still so dull?"

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!

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Politics or Religion? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 14:1-5,

"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, 'This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.' Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: 'It is not lawful for you to have her.' Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet."

Does this account appear to be political or religious in nature? 

It certainly has a political tone in that John threatened Herod's position by accusing him of "impeachable" deeds (taking his brother's wife) creating the potential for resistance to his rule from the people. Additionally, Herod harbored a great concern for not violating the will of the people in taking action against John, "he was afraid of the people". While Herod was the ruler, he nonetheless made attempts to avoid the opposition of the people he ruled. Politics.

On the other hand, the account certainly has its religious tone. John's condemnation of Herod for taking his brother's wife was based in the law God had given Israel. Additionally, Herod recognized the people considered John a prophet of God. Herod also considered Jesus might be John "risen from the dead" after he had beheaded him. Religion.

My position is there is no real distinction between the "political" and the "religious". From a conceptual viewpoint, I recognize a person's politics to be the public expression of their spiritual condition. Differences in political thought do not flow from differences in intelligence or education, but from differences in what a person has given himself to in a spiritual sense.

Likewise, I see the political turmoil mankind is inevitably engaged in as the outworking of conflict in the spiritual realm on display in the world. "Team Cain" and "Team Abel" whether in the spiritual or temporal context have been in conflict from the opening chapters of the book of Genesis and continue yet today.

For me politics and religion are one and the same. Which team do you play for?

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!

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What Is the Kingdom of Heaven Like? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 13:44,

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."

Seven occasions in Matthew chapter 13, Jesus is quoted as saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like..." Each parable provides some aspect of truth regarding the kingdom of heaven. In this way he communicated to us those things he wanted us to know - things we would not or might not otherwise know. Had Jesus not talked about what the kingdom of heaven is like, our understanding of it would be so much the less otherwise.

In this instance, Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is so valuable, it's worth far outstrips any other assets we may have, combined. It speaks to the value all should place on entering into it, possessing it, existing in it.

Whatever we may have in this life, even if it's value is estimated in 10 figures, no matter the satisfaction, the fulfillment, the joy it might bring, the kingdom of heaven is something that has such worth, all is worth exchanging for it.

It seems to me there are two principles that figure into that equation. The first is what the kingdom of heaven provides. The kingdom of heaven infinitely transcends anything we could possibly possess or enjoy in this life. The other is that the time we have here on planet earth is extremely short compared to eternity. Not much time to enjoy the things of this world, no matter the value to us. The choices we make in life will have eternal consequences.

And, yet, look at what all so many are choosing for themselves other than kingdom of heaven for all eternity! It is simply bizarre to me!

How wonderful the Father's love for us is that he offers his kingdom to us! The wonderful riches of the lavish inheritance he so graciously and generously offers us!

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 reply and let me know.      

Perfect Enduring Healing! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 12:15,

"Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill."

After healing a man with a shriveled hand in a synagogue on the Sabbath and being aware the Pharisees were plotting how they could kill Jesus, he withdrew with a large crowd in tow. Matthew tells us here that Jesus healed all who were ill.

From the text the natural assumption is that all who were in that crowd that were ill were healed by him. Clearly he had the power to heal. Jesus Christ is, after all, the Son of God. He can heal anyone he decides to.

So, my thought is, why didn't he just heal everybody - not just those in the crowd, but all who were alive that day? How about for all time? Why didn't Jesus just end illness and infirmity right there?

Perhaps you might find that somewhat silly. However, he could have done it and he didn't. We read of further healings Jesus performed following this account in Matthew's gospel. So, the question remains, why didn't Jesus just end all suffering at the time by providing a "blanket" healing - eradicate illness altogether?

The answer, of course, is that he had no intention of doing so. If we follow the text carefully, we find incidences of healings he employed to establish his credentials as the Son of God. Other places we see he chose to communicate his compassion - an important trait he wants us all to know about as the Savior of the world. In the case of the man with the shriveled hand, he was making an important point with the religious leaders of the day.

God's plan is that he offers us healing in the resurrection. We all cast off this body of sin and illness and death, and for those of us who have embraced him in faith, he provides us a renewed resurrected body that will not be subject to illness, infirmity and death. Listen to Paul's exciting words about this: "I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—  in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'"

This is a "healing" like no other!

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 reply and let me know.