"The Truth" - 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 3 John 1,

"The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth."

In John's salutation to Gaius in this letter, he identified this man as someone he loved "in the truth."

Truth was important to the apostle John. He commended Gaius as one whom he had heard was faithful to the truth, verse 3, and that it brought great joy to John that his "children" walked in truth. Possibly Gaius was one that John had led to the Lord himself.

John goes on to say that believers should work together "for the truth", verse 8, that believers ought to work in concert to that end.

There are two contrasting individuals John highlights to Gaius in this letter, Diotrephes and Demetrius. Diotrephes was apparently someone who had seized control of the fellowship John was concerned about. He had spread malicious rumors about John and his team, and refused to welcome them, considering himself the most important of all, even above apostolic authority, "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us." Verse 9. He also excommunicated members of that fellowship that wanted to welcome other believers.

In contrast, John points to a man named Demetrius. Demetrius had a good name with John and his team (and everyone), and consistent with John's focus on truth, personified truth as commending him as well. John referred to his comments about Demetrius as truthful, something Gaius would know.

In John 14:6, John quotes Jesus as saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." We see in Acts 9:2, 19:9, 19:23, 24:14, 24:22, that the church, the gospel enterprise, God's plan of redemption, taking the name "the Way". Here in 2 John I get the feeling that the apostle John is using "the truth" synonymously with "the Way", in a manner of, "the Truth."

How does it sound to you?

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 Truth - 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 2 John 1-2,

"The elder,
To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the
truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— because of the
truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever..."

Here in John's salutation, truth is on his mind. He says he loves his
readers in "the truth" along with all who know the truth. He explains
that truth lives in him and his readers and that it will be that way
forever.

He also says that the Father and Jesus Christ will be with them "in
truth and love." He notes that some of his readers walk in "the
truth" as God commands.

In verse 7 he expresses his concern about deceivers that had gone out
into the world. He warns his readers not to lose what they had worked
for, presumably by abandoning the truth to follow these deceivers. He
explains that those not continuing in "the teaching of Christ" do not
have the Father - are not saved and are not going to receive any
reward from God.

Merriam-Webster defines truth as the "body of real things, events, and
facts: actuality." It goes on to explain, "the property of being in
accord with fact or reality."

The fight against truth has been the essence of the devil's work, his
trade, from the dawn of mankind. We see it in his effort to get Adam
and Eve to question what God had told them in the garden.

Paul talks about the "lawless one" that will come before Jesus
Christ's return. Notice how truth and the opposite of truth play out
in this future setting: "The coming of the lawless one will be in
accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of
power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways
that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because
they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God
sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and
so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have
delighted in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.

It certainly feels like there is a whole lot of the opposite of truth
that surrounds us today. John's admonition in this short letter could
not be more appropriate for our day!

The answer to the question Pilate asked of Jesus, "What is truth?" is
very simple. He answered that question in his prayer to the Father,
"Sanctify them [his disciples] by the truth; your word is truth." John
17:17.

The word of God: Learn it, know it, live it, love it, be loyal, strong
and courageous in 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!

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.

God Keeps Us Safe! - 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 1 John 5:18,

"We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him."

Here is something I wrote about this verse in July, 2007:

Here is, yet again, a wonderful reassuring comment from John. It is God himself who keeps me safe within his family! In verse 13 he says he writes what he does so that those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith may know we have eternal life. Now he says that God himself (some commentators feel the reference is to God the Father, others to Jesus Christ – either way it is God) keeps us safe!

If left to myself I would have no assurance I could make it as a child of God. If it were up to me to perform at a certain level of spirituality I might not make it in. No doubt there are many who have a misguided notion that one day they will demand their entrance into the resurrection of life because as believers they performed certain spiritual disciplines, led an exemplary life, exercised their wills by "hanging in there" till the end, demonstrating their fitness for life in the Kingdom.

Not me. I freely confess I do not have it within myself to "keep myself" in the family of God through spiritual acumen. Thank God he has given me the Holy Spirit who transforms me. Thank God he has provided the Scriptures and wonderful brothers and sisters who encourage me in the faith. Thank God he superintends my relationship with him, keeping me in him, keeping me from being harmed, misguided, enticed or drawn away by "the evil one." Thank God for his grace toward me!!

This reminds me of so many passages of Scripture where we are told it is God himself who keeps us safe, who keeps us in him till that day. As Jude puts it, "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his presence without fault and with great joy…" Jude 24. Paul points to the assurance we have that God himself will keep us to the end in 1 Corinthians 1:8,9. There he claims it is due to the very faithfulness of God! "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

How wonderful is the grace of God! It is by this grace I have been saved through faith, not by anything I have done. And it is by this grace that one day I will stand in the resurrection of life! From the first day of my salvation to resurrection day, it is his grace that gets me there! I'm looking forward to seeing you all there as well on that day!

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's Strength Dwells Within Us! - 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 1 John 4:4,

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

Here is something I wrote on this passage in June of 2007:

John speaks of false prophets and teachers that have gone out into the world. He calls these "antichrists" and in chapter 2 he points out that they attempt to lead the faithful astray. John says his readers have overcome these false prophets and teachers.

As I look at this verse this morning I notice how it is that his readers have overcome these false teachers and prophets. I note it is not because they have read the latest book on "overcoming". I note also that it is not due to the "spiritual muscles" his readers might have, or "spiritual disciplines" his readers might engage in, or the pastor they listen to on Sunday mornings or anything whatsoever that is innately from within them. Not that any of these things are not helpful, but He says his readers overcome these false prophets and teachers because "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Because God resides within believers we have all that we need to overcome anyone who would attempt to lead us astray.

I am reminded of Paul's observation, "Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?" 1 Corinthians 4:7. It is God who provides us spiritual wisdom and strength. My weakness is the canvas upon which God's strength is displayed. As Paul says in his second letter to the church in Corinth, 12:9-10, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

This morning I take great encouragement that it is the strength of God in my weakness that makes me an "overcomer". Jesus Christ is greater than anyone in the world and upon God's own faithfulness he assures me he will keep me strong and blameless till the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:7-9.

I think our God is wonderful and how wonderful it is that whatever spiritual strength I need, I have it within me as it is God who dwells within me! Just how wonderful is 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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We Are Called the Children 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 1 John 3:1a,

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

Here is something I wrote about this in June of 2007:

As I think of my participation in the kingdom of God many thoughts come to mind. In some ways I can liken it to membership in other organizations where I am "accorded the rights, privileges and responsibilities thereto." But, as we all know, our participation in the kingdom of God is so much more than that.

We consider ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ. We are followers of him – his students. We think in terms of ourselves as God's servants, belonging to him and hopefully available for his purposes to serve him and one another. As the subjects of God's kingdom we populate his kingdom and participate in his objectives. Jesus told his disciples, "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:14-15. And, so, we consider ourselves "friends" of Jesus Christ.

All these things we are but there is much more! Here John exclaims that we are called children of God! Jesus told Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3. In 1 John 3:9 John makes a point that we have been "born of God". It is hard to miss the excitement in John's voice as he says, "How great the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!"

This word the translators have used in this verse in the NIV says it so well, "lavished". God has "lavished" his love on us by calling us his children! The online Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "lavished" as "expending or bestowing profusely; expended or produced in abundance; marked by profusion or excess". John, in his excitement, claims that our God has poured out his love on us profusely by calling us his children!

How wonderful is this! Paul tells us in Romans 8:29, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." To be considered as a brother, as a sister of Christ strains my ability to consider and yet that is told me what we are! In this same chapter of Romans in verses 16-17a we read, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…" Wow!

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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Jesus Christ: Our Defense From God's Judgment! - 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 1 John 2:1,

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."

Here is something I wrote on this verse in May, 2007:

It is before our Heavenly Father that we are culpable for our sins. He tells us in Jeremiah 9:24, "I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." Not just kindness but also justice and righteousness. In Revelation 20:15 we read, "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." This is the payment for sin. As we are told in Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death."

But Jesus taught us in John 5:24, "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." This is how our names are entered into the "book of life". Those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith are now, and forever will be, free from the consequences of sin. We still face physical death as our bodies are yet to be redeemed (see Romans 8:23-25) but we now celebrate our eternal life because Jesus Christ has become a sacrifice of atonement for our sins.

John tells us here that if we do sin, if we disappoint God, ourselves and others, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense. He has paid the penalty for all of our sins. John goes on to say in verse two that Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Paul also tells us in Romans 8:31b-34, "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

Jesus Christ speaks to the Father in our defense! Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us! Paul also tells us in Romans 8:26 that the indwelling Holy Spirit is also interceding for us! What a team we have on our side! He keeps us from falling and will present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy! Jude 24.

How could there be any more wonderful news than 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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God Welcomes Us Into Fellowship With Him!

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 1 John 1:1-4,

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete."

Here is something I wrote about this passage in October, 2004:

 

Some people make much of the circles they move in, their friends, associates, etc. While many of us cannot say that we live among the movers and shakers of our culture and society, it can't be denied that the people we "hang with" are an important aspect of our lives. 

And look at who has opened their "circle" to us! God the Father and Jesus Christ have extended an invitation to enjoy fellowship with them and the rest of God's family – and not just as friends and associates - far beyond that – as members of God's own family!! 

This is no "arms-length" relationship either. He has opened his arms and his family to us to join him in fellowship. A fellowship that is marked by eternal life as his children!! "Joy complete"!! What a God!

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 Intentional Scriptures - 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 2 Peter 3:15-16,

"Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction."

Here is something I wrote about this passage in August, 2018:

Peter here observes that the delay Jesus Christ has made before returning to earth and bringing this present age to a close provides for more people to enter into his family. God is building his kingdom! This is what this age is all about.

There will be no procreation in the next age, that only happens here. The successive generations of mankind have provided opportunity for the growth of the kingdom of heaven. Once the Lord has decided he has all the souls he desires for his kingdom, the end of the age will come. This is why Peter says, "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation..." One day a baby is coming that will be the very last baby to ever be born... and that day is headed our way at some point!

What catches my eye this morning is Peter's comment about Paul's writings. Paul wrote thirteen letters that compromise a large part of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. These writings Peter calls Scripture. The term is a theologically technical one referring to the sacred library of writings that have been acknowledged as specifically inspired by God. He says that "ignorant and unstable people" distort Paul's writings as they do "the other Scriptures." Many people today outright reject what the Scriptures have to say. I offer you the notion that our culture as "evolved" on the practice of homosexuality as an example. People do so to their own peril. "Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 as an example.

The Scriptures, because they are inspired by God, are inerrant and authoritative. They are intentional by God to reveal himself to mankind and to express what he wants mankind to know and understand. As God is our Creator and the judge of all mankind when this age comes to a close, this means the inspired writings of Paul, as well as Peter and all the other books in our Bibles are vitally important. Our understanding of them and responding to them in reverent fear will determine how each and every one of us will spend eternity.

Just thinking about that should cause everyone to dust off their Bibles and become intimately acquainted about what they have to say - about anything and everything.

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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Know the Scriptures! - 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 2 Peter 2:3,

"In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories."

Here is something I wrote on this verse in September, 2018:

In Peter's observation of the false teachers that will come, he notes they exploit God's people. How are these false teachers able to exploit believers?

Peter says two things about false teachers: they "introduce destructive heresies",  and they display "depraved conduct", verse 1. As such, the predetermined and unavoidable future for these false teachers will be an eternity spent in hell, verse 9.

Peter describes these teachers as those who exploit people with lies, who follow the "corrupt desire of the flesh", they despise authority, they are bold and arrogant, they "heap abuse on celestial beings", they blaspheme, they have "eyes full of adultery", experts in greed, etc.

How are such people able to exploit God's people? In chapter three, Peter says he wrote because he wanted to remind us of "the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles." 2 Peter 3:2. This was Peter's purpose in writing. He wanted us to be spared of being exploited by these false teachers and his remedy is to remind us of the Scriptures!

As believers in Jesus Christ, it is not enough to go to church on Sunday and listen to a message by someone who has spent the week studying God's word. We need to be that person who studies God's word ourselves. All of us. Getting it second hand just isn't going to do it

And, if we ever develop the conceit that somehow we can spot the false from the true when it comes to teachers without spending time in the Scriptures ourselves, we are going to find ourselves at odds with Peter and his concerns for us today.

Paul could not have put it more clearly, "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. 

Both Peter and Paul implore us all to be studying the Scriptures for ourselves. When we don't, we ought not fool ourselves: we become available to the exploitation by false teachers. Do not let yourself be left in that position! Know the Scriptures and be equipped!

May we all open our Bibles and discover God's truth this week!

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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All We Need - 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 2 Peter 1:3-4,

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

Here is something I wrote on this in October 2005:

 

Jesus Christ has revealed himself to us in his word, the Bible. He has also given us the Holy Spirit who dwells within each of us and who illuminates our hearts and minds as we spend time in his word. Here, Peter tells us that through our knowledge of him, his power gives us everything we need for life and godliness. Over the years I have heard plenty of folks tell me I needed something in addition, that I need some experience or someone's program or some other teaching.

 

But I read in 2 Timothy 3:15-17, "… you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

 

I want the "Real McCoy ''. I don't want to be side-lined chasing down the rabbit trails of other people's good ideas. This morning I am in appreciation of how simple our Lord has made our walk with him. His way provides for participation in the divine nature and provides escape from the evil desires of the world and its corruption. Our simple walk with him directed by his word (our knowledge of him) provides for "very great and precious promises" and will result in "a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

 

How wonderfully our Lord has provided for us everything we need for life and godliness!!

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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Got Humility? - 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 1 Peter 5:5b-6,

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."

Here is Peter's admonition to his readers as he refers to Proverbs 3:34: be humble!

The dictionary defines humility as freedom from pride or arrogance. It comes from a Latin word meaning "low". Paul admonishes his readers, "Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." Romans 12:16.

Humility, the state of being humble, carries great benefits for us in the things of God. The book of Proverbs has a number of things to say in regard to humility.

"He [God] mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed." Proverbs 3:34, (the passage Peter refers to above).
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2.
"Wisdom's instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor." Proverbs 15:33.
"Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." Proverbs 18:12.
"Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life." Proverbs 22:4.

In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Not only did he claim to be humble himself, he also called his hearers to be humble, "Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."Matthew 23:12.

In Ephesians 4:2, Paul says, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." In Philippians 2:3 he says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves," In one of my favorite passages on the lifestyle Paul points to for believers, he says, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12.

James tells us that humility comes from wisdom, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13. He also points out that if we want the Lord to give us a lift (as Peter does in our verse above), he tells us to be humble, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10.

In addition to Peter's passage above, he said earlier in his letter, "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8.

Clearly humility is a spiritual virtue that is important in our lives as believers and carries with it great benefits!

Got humility?

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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Forsaking What Is Inconsistent - 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 1 Peter 4:3-5,

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."

Peter reminds his readers that, as they are now members of the kingdom, it should be expressed in their lifestyles. He points out that at one time, before they came to know the Lord, they were given to a worldliness as expressed in things like "debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry."

These believers that Peter speaks to had earlier lived among the pagans and engaged in the same things their fellow cohorts engaged in. They became members of the Lord's kingdom by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. As they did so, the change in the direction for them was a turn to Jesus Christ which necessarily brought a turn from worldliness. This is the very definition of repentance. It is then inconsistent for a believer to live a lifestyle that doesn't reflect his new life in Jesus Christ.

Paul provides a similar admonition, In Romans 12:2 he says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Later, in Romans 13:11b-14, he goes on to say, "The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."

Peter says those of the world who live consistent with their sinful nature will have to give an account of themselves to God. I am reminded of the sobering reality the writer of Hebrews points out, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13.

The wonderful thing for us is that we will not have to pay the penalty for those things as we are forgiven of them! Now that those things are forgiven by God, they now need to be forsaken by 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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Marital Heatlh and Harmony - 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 1 Peter 3:1-7,

"Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."

Marital relationships are the bedrock of the success or failure of the family. God designed marriage and family for his purposes when he created mankind. It is through the family and the gospel (the redemption provided by Jesus Christ) that God is building his kingdom: the human race physically propagating itself through marriage and family, and the kingdom of God propagating itself through the gospel within the hearts and lives of those brought into the world.

The destruction of the family with broken marriages and the resulting issues brought into people's lives clearly have an impact on the way God has designed things. It leads to anything other than our well-being. With our sinful natures and plenty of help from the spiritually dark side, marriages and families are always subject to risk.

Peter brings a much needed admonition in this passage. Wives are to submit to their husbands and husbands are to love and respect their wives. If we were to follow God's direction through Peter for us, that bedrock of success for the family will be greatly enhanced. Likewise, the rejection of this teaching will have its damaging effect on the success of our marriages and families.

I note Peter refers to Sarah, who lived 2 millenia before he wrote this. His reference spans beyond any cultural setting and is universal for all mankind, anywhere for all ages. Abraham and Sarah lived a nomadic lifestyle during a patriarchal age that preceded the nation of Israel and was quite a different cultural setting Peter was accustomed to. We live in another day than Peter, yet his instruction is just as much for us today as it was in his day, no matter what outrage it might inspire in the hearts of sinful and rebellious mankind.

Paul provides the very same admonition, "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Ephesians 5:22-33.

Of course, instead of reading our own mail, we read our spouse's. That leads to problems.  Wives are told to submit to their husbands. That is for her, it is her instruction from the Lord. Husbands are not told to make their wives submit to them, they are told to love and respect their wives. Husbands simply cannot make their wives submit to them, and, likewise, wives simply cannot make their husbands love and respect them. However, when we both do our part we have been given, it can have an impact to bring those things about. Note how Peter begins his passage above by teaching that the wife can influence even an unbelieving husband by doing her part.

What might happen if the husband did his part?

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's Authorities - 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 1 Peter 2:13-17,

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

Here is good apostolic direction for us believers today. Peter tells us to submit ourselves to the civil authorities. We are to "show proper respect" to them, to "honor" them.

In case you were not aware of it, the Roman emperor Nero blamed Christians for the "Great Fire of Rome" in 64AD, about the time Peter wrote this letter. He was no friend of the young church, and yet Peter recognized God's desire for believers to submit to these very authorities.

Paul explains why in Romans 13:1-6, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing."

You mean to say the current culprit in the White House or the governor's mansion is someone God wants me to honor, to obey, to submit to? This is exactly what Peter and Paul tell us as apostles of Jesus Christ!

I may not like the authorities, I may not agree with them, but we are not asked to. We are asked to honor and obey them. I am reminded of what Jesus taught in this regard, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Mark 12:17.

God has established civil authority and we are to honor and obey it. As we live among the lost in this life we should work toward those things God would be pleased with, say for instance, participating in eliminating the practice of abortion, to influence society, etc. Yet, as we do so, we don't want to forget what both Peter and Paul had to say in our engagement with civil authority.

I think we find a hint as to why this is so important when Peter says, "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people." The promulgation of the gospel has always been the chief assignment to the church by the Lord. We see this pointed to in many ways in the New Testament writings. The church is not to get side-tracked or create unneeded disruptions as it takes the gospel to the people. The offense of the gospel is quite enough offense on its own.

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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Shielded By God's Power! - 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 1 Peter 1:3-5,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."

Here is something I wrote on this passage in December, 2004:

 
This passage is so far reaching to me! Our hope is a living hope in the resurrection. Not an "I sure hope it happens" type of hope, but an "I can't wait for when it happens" type of hope. 

Our resurrection brings an inheritance that will always and forever remain untarnished, pristine as it will "never perish, spoil or fade". It is kept for us and we are just as surely kept for him as we are "shielded by God's power." 

Both we and our inheritance in Jesus Christ are untouchable. Whatever may attempt to take either us, or anything we have in Jesus Christ, would have to get past God's power and that just isn't going to happen! 

What a God to provide us such sure and certain promises!

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.

Our Astonishing Riches In The Resurrection! - 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 James 5:1-3,

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days."

Here is something I wrote about this passage in March of 2011:

I suspect we could view anyone who has riches as "rich people". I feel I have been blessed in many ways, and I suspect that there have been and are many who would look at my lifestyle as one of a rich person, say, someone from Haiti. I certainly don't feel that way. 

I consider myself as something of an average joe who enjoys what he has and doesn't really pine for much else. But the reality is that I have been blessed in many ways. James throws a caution my way relative to that when he speaks of the fleeting nature of possessions in this passage. Not only are we here for a short time, but our "stuff" is very temporary as well.

In thinking of these things, I can't help but think in terms of James' admonition to the poor in James 1:9, "The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position." It is not that there will simply be a tremendous blessing for all who enter into the resurrection of life as far as "stuff" goes, but our lives will be incredibly blessed in so many ways!

We will live our lives for an eternity in God's very presence. That thought is a difficult one to wrap my mind around. Our Creator, the One who designed us, who brought us into existence, gave us life, will be in our very presence! We will finally be able to approach him with all the questions we might have about anything and everything. I read in Revelation 21:3-4, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

We will also live among people who not only are no longer energized by a sinful nature, but are filled with and reflect all of the wonderful qualities of God. The fruit of the Spirit will be ours in an abundance in our relationships with one another. Things like, "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23, What would it be like to find this in all we came upon as we walk down the street? As Paul tells us in Romans 8:29, "those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." And, John tells us in 1 John 3:2, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." This will be true for all of us!

My thoughts also drift toward the inheritance that will be ours. It is the very inheritance that Jesus Christ receives from our Heavenly Father, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ..." Romans 8:17. I can't begin to think of what all this might mean, but it certainly is enticing to think about. We receive this inheritance because God determined beforehand to give it to us, "he [God] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will..." Ephesians 1:5. There Paul uses language like "lavished on us", "the riches of God's grace", "his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves", etc.

In John 14:2-3 Jesus tells us, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

Jesus also told his followers, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." Matthew 19:28-30.

Musing on what will be ours in the resurrection is something that has to be fascinating no matter how much we have been blessed with the fleeting riches found in this life!

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.

How To Receive What We Ask For In Prayer - 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 James 4:2b-3,

"You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Here is something I wrote about this passage in February 2011:

James observes that some of his readers do not receive what they ask for in prayer and tells them why: they ask for the motive of spending what they get from God on their "pleasures". He has already provided a previous reason why prayers go "unanswered" in 1:6-8. There he says that those lacking faith will not receive anything from God, "... when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

For me, a caution against asking for things in prayer with wrong motives is a cause to examine myself. I always feel challenged with passages such as this because they strike so close to home. Are my concerns God's concerns? Is my agenda God's agenda? Or, when I ask for things from God, am I simply asking God to get onto my agenda to help me pursue the things I want without regard to what his desires are, his agenda?

This, of course, leads me to think in terms of God's motives and his agenda. James wrote to some who didn't receive the things God has for us because they asked "with wrong motives". After some honest self-examination of my own motives, it dawns on me that life isn't all about me and I best get the focus beyond myself and onto God if I hope to have any motives that are pure enough to warrant God responding to my requests.

As I look to God, what do I see? What are the kinds of things that motivate God? What are his character traits that drive his agenda? James is not silent here. He tells us about God. He speaks of God as "the Lawgiver and Judge", the one able to save and destroy. He is "standing at the door!", James 4:12 ; 5:9. James tells us the Lord is coming back, "the Lord's coming is near" as a motivation to keep ourselves from grumbling against one another.

James tells us evil is entirely absent from God. He tempts no one with evil and, of course, he cannot be tempted by evil as well. James 1:13. As we take the Scriptures together, we discover that our very definition of evil is that which is not consistent with God himself. His character and nature is the very definition of good and that which is contrary is evil.

James quotes the book of Proverbs as he also tells us something very important about our relationship with God, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6.

We see God is a giver of good and perfect gifts, James 1:17. He gives the "crown of life" to those who love him, 1:12, and offers wisdom freely and generously, 1:5. God has chosen to give those in this life who are some of the poorest among us to be "rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him." James 2:5.

One passage in James' letter that I find very insightful of what can be found about God is James 3:17-18. There James speaks of the characteristics of the wisdom that God gives. The wisdom he gives is "pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." This speaks volumes to me about our wonderful God. James tells us that those who have received God's wisdom are peacemakers who "raise a harvest of righteousness" as they sow in peace.

A wonderful summation James provides is that as we face suffering, we need to remember that the Lord is "full of compassion and mercy", James 5:11.

If I am interested in God answering my prayers, I best find all I can about him to ensure my motives fall into line with who God is and what drives his agenda.

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.

"Wisdom" from the Devil; Wisdom from 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 James 3:14-17,

"If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not
boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down
from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you
have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil
practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good
fruit, impartial and sincere."

Here is something I wrote on this passage in January 2010:

James speaks of two kinds or types of wisdom. Each comes from a
different source, reflecting that source and are starkly opposite one
another. The one comes from the devil and the other comes from God.
You will recall that James encouraged those lacking the wisdom from
God to ask him for it. God gives his wisdom "generously to all without
finding fault". James 1:5. However, anyone approaching God for wisdom
must be a believer, James 1:6.

As James describes the characteristics of these two wisdoms, their
sources become evident as each reflects the character of whom they
come from. The "wisdom" from the devil results in the harboring of
"bitter envy and selfish ambition." It is "earthly, unspiritual, of
the devil." James also speaks of "disorder and every evil practice."
In contrast, the wisdom from God is "pure; then peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and
sincere." What a contrast here!

Often, when listening to anyone (and what a crowd this is!) who
appoints themselves to speak to us of life and how it should be lived,
they betray the wisdom from which they speak. I have found that not
only listening to what is said, but how it is couched reveals the
source of the "wisdom" behind what is said. I am certain you have as
well. I do note here that James is telling me to look at myself...
Clearly, this is James point, we need to observe how what is said is
framed. As casted, does it reveal envy, selfish ambition, disorder,
evil practice? Or, on the other hand, is it pure, peace-loving,
considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and
sincere?

As I consider the characteristics of these two "wisdoms" I can't help
but acknowledge how wonderful one is over the other. It is just like
my God to reflect his wonderful qualities in the expression of his
nature through the gifts he gives as in the wisdom he freely gives to
believers who ask.

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.

"Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment!" - 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 James 2:13b,

"Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

Here is something I wrote on this passage in January 2011:

As James speaks of keeping the "royal law" found in Scripture, James 2:8, he speaks to the issue that when we express mercy toward others it manifests the mercy we receive from God.

The royal law, "royal" because it is the King's law, our "King of kings and Lord of lords" law, is to "Love your neighbor as yourself". It comes from Leviticus 19:18, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."

Our Lord Jesus Christ identified this as one of the greatest of the commands of the Scriptures. When approached by one of the teachers of the law, he was asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus' response was, '"The most important one' answered Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these.'" Mark 12:28-31.

Paul refers to this "royal law" in Romans 13:9 and Galatians 5:14 as summing up all the law. He concludes this command is the fulfillment of all the law in our treatment of others in a "single command".

James tells us that "judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful." James 2:13a. His point is not that we can avoid the judgment of sinners at the end of the age if we have mercy toward others, that we can earn eternal life. Rather, as we read in 1 John 4:19, "We love because he [God] first loved us", when we express mercy toward others it manifests the mercy we receive from God. Those who have received God's mercy manifest it in their treatment of others.

The fascinating and exciting part in all this is that from God's perspective, "mercy triumphs over judgment!" Our God is both a God of judgment and a God of love. Neither of these qualities of his will ever be thwarted. However, the love of God has found a way to satisfy the judgment of God and secure his mercy for us through the substitutionary death of his Son Jesus Christ for our sins. Because Jesus Christ took our sins on himself, "Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

How wonderful is 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!

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.

Excitement In This Fading Life! - 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 James 1:11a,

"For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed."

Here is something I wrote about this verse in January, 2011:  

James makes this observation about rich people. They should not take pride in the "high position" they have in this life as this life is going to fade away. The rich man will "pass away like a wildflower".

The reality is, of course, if we live long enough, we will all wither away in this life. This life is temporary, and in the scheme of things really is very short. When I was young, I felt that a life span of 60, 70 or 80 years was an eternity. Now that I'm in my 60's [now 70s!] I realize how short a life span really is. The picture James paints for us, "the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant, its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed" is true not just for the rich folks, the people in Jame's cross-hairs, but for all of us. The destruction of beauty in my life is certainly not something I've lost any sleep over, no danger there for me. Nevertheless, like everyone else who has reached the prime of life, I look forward to the fading sunset of life as it winds down for me, as this life "withers the plant."

While this could be a very discouraging reality to face for many, for me it is a reminder that beyond the door of death awaits resurrection! All God intended for us for an eternity is waiting for all who trust in the Lord! Fullness of life, purposefulness in living life to the fullest, the hindrance of the sinful nature, its consequences, its ugliness and judgment, all left behind! Beauty, rapture in the immediacy of the Lord in our midst, eternal pleasures at his right hand (Psalm 16:11) will all be ours as we leave this life of a sinful world at enmity with God struggling under his judgment.

As my life under this sun fades like a wildflower, the excitement of all that will be ours in the resurrection springs from the hope that is ours: our certain eternal life that awaits 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.