Today is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
His own disciples did not understand that he would resurrect, when he died on the cross they split up and went their own ways, rather dejectedly. They had expected him to live forever, to raise up the Israelites and to overthrow the Roman (and other oppressors) rule. God, on the other hand, had a different idea (all along). His idea was that he wanted to save ALL PEOPLE. Not just the Israelites, not just the "good people", but all people.
To do that, someone had to pay for that, and then God had showed the people that he would one day bring them ALL back to live with him (that is what the resurrection showed).
Anyway! God loves you even if you do not believe in Him. I don't know if you (as a non-believer) can take solace in that or not, but I hope you consider the implications...
HAPPY EASTER!
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Monday, December 23, 2019
Matthew 7:6
So while reading Matthew, I came upon the "judgement" section of the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus takes this subject very seriously (well really anything he talks about He is serious about) as indicated by the "Hypocrite!" stuck in the middle.
Basically He is saying stop Judging people for the wrong reasons. If you are judging to "show that someone has a problem" or that you are somehow better than they are... you have got it all wrong. YOU (we all) have issues. Maybe we don't have the same issue as someone else, but no one is clean. "Take a better look at yourself before you try to 'help' someone else."
But notice that Jesus says NEVER JUDGE... he is cautioning us against judging from a wrong state of heart or mind. It is something to be very cautious about... and I see it all the time, and no doubt commit the same all the time.
But then we come to verse 6. I had to read a bunch of commentaries by venerated Christians to try and understand this one. I came away with two concepts: The softer of the two is "don't share the truth to people who are not ready for it"... in other words don't preach at them (at least that is what I get from that, I am probably wrong) if they are not in a place to receive it. The other is a little stronger and that is don't share with people who are just looking for fodder or an argument to fight with you... people who already do not value the Truth (the word of God) and instead want to tear it apart at every turn. What is the point? It fuels them in the wrong direction (further away from God) and it bothers you.
Still, coming from a 1st person perspective, does this apply to the part about judging where you are applying scripture, or should I say throwing scripture at someone? Or does this come from a 3rd party perspective of seeking Truth (or NOT seeking it)? That is why I am thinking it is actually a segue from smacking people with scripture vs. seeking out Truth. I am probably waayyyyy wrong.
Anyway, that is what I got out of it. It pretty much applies to all social media these days.
Matthew 7:1-6 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
Do Not Judge
7 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. 3 Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye. 6 Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
I understood 1-5 easily enough but was always a little confused about verse 6. It felt as though it did not belong to previous verses, and it definitely did not belong to the following verses about seeking. Although in a WAY it was a segue... from Judging to Sharing.Jesus takes this subject very seriously (well really anything he talks about He is serious about) as indicated by the "Hypocrite!" stuck in the middle.
Basically He is saying stop Judging people for the wrong reasons. If you are judging to "show that someone has a problem" or that you are somehow better than they are... you have got it all wrong. YOU (we all) have issues. Maybe we don't have the same issue as someone else, but no one is clean. "Take a better look at yourself before you try to 'help' someone else."
But notice that Jesus says NEVER JUDGE... he is cautioning us against judging from a wrong state of heart or mind. It is something to be very cautious about... and I see it all the time, and no doubt commit the same all the time.
But then we come to verse 6. I had to read a bunch of commentaries by venerated Christians to try and understand this one. I came away with two concepts: The softer of the two is "don't share the truth to people who are not ready for it"... in other words don't preach at them (at least that is what I get from that, I am probably wrong) if they are not in a place to receive it. The other is a little stronger and that is don't share with people who are just looking for fodder or an argument to fight with you... people who already do not value the Truth (the word of God) and instead want to tear it apart at every turn. What is the point? It fuels them in the wrong direction (further away from God) and it bothers you.
Still, coming from a 1st person perspective, does this apply to the part about judging where you are applying scripture, or should I say throwing scripture at someone? Or does this come from a 3rd party perspective of seeking Truth (or NOT seeking it)? That is why I am thinking it is actually a segue from smacking people with scripture vs. seeking out Truth. I am probably waayyyyy wrong.
Anyway, that is what I got out of it. It pretty much applies to all social media these days.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
On the duality of scripture...
Don't you hate it when someone pulls out scripture and quotes it to you, totally out of context?
Whenever people (non-believers) throw scripture in an attempt to disprove something I am saying or to prove a point they are trying to make that is the first thing that comes to my mind: CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING!
Much of the New Testament is chock full of quotes from the Torah. (I think I am using that correctly, I might not be). Jesus and the Apostles reference OT scripture frequently. There are even points where you question whether or not they are using it correctly based on YOUR understanding of the scripture, but you must always remember their context, who they were, how the Bible was used then, and the fact that their context included a physical representation of God who died on a cross and rose to offer some final lessons before ascending to heaven, shedding even MORE light on old text.
And here's my proof: "Lord, the king finds joy in Your strength."
I am using old-style quoting. :) This is the first verse of Psalm 21 (see my previous post on Psalm 22). Psalm 21 is a piece of scripture that had meaning to David hundreds of years before Jesus was born but it seems oddly familiar to a Christian as being indicative of GOD'S victory on the cross. It is as if the Psalmist wrote this knowing what would happen in the future. This is what I mean when I mention the duality of scripture.
Scripture isn't REALLY dual natured, it is what it is, but it is enduring. The thoughts and reasons behind ancient scripture can still be applied today (even scripture that seems irrelevant to this day and age has a message behind it that you need to ponder. Read it in the context of the time, the location and the state of the people to whom it refers and you will most likely be able to better understand what it means).
Scripture speaks to the will and nature of God; it is eternal.
[edit]
Psalm 21
1 Lord, the king finds joy in Your strength.
How greatly he rejoices in Your victory!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not denied the request of his lips.
3 For You meet him with rich blessings;
You place a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked You for life, and You gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great through Your victory;
You confer majesty and splendor on him.
6 You give him blessings forever;
You cheer him with joy in Your presence.
7 For the king relies on the Lord;
through the faithful love of the Most High
he is not shaken.
8 Your hand will capture all your enemies;
your right hand will seize those who hate you.
9 You will make them burn
like a fiery furnace when you appear;
the Lord will engulf them in His wrath,
and fire will devour them.
10 You will wipe their descendants from the earth
and their offspring from the human race.
11 Though they intend to harm you
and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.
12 Instead, you will put them to flight
when you aim your bow at their faces.
13 Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength;
we will sing and praise Your might.
[edit]
Psalm 21
1 Lord, the king finds joy in Your strength.
How greatly he rejoices in Your victory!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not denied the request of his lips.
3 For You meet him with rich blessings;
You place a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked You for life, and You gave it to him—
length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great through Your victory;
You confer majesty and splendor on him.
6 You give him blessings forever;
You cheer him with joy in Your presence.
7 For the king relies on the Lord;
through the faithful love of the Most High
he is not shaken.
8 Your hand will capture all your enemies;
your right hand will seize those who hate you.
9 You will make them burn
like a fiery furnace when you appear;
the Lord will engulf them in His wrath,
and fire will devour them.
10 You will wipe their descendants from the earth
and their offspring from the human race.
11 Though they intend to harm you
and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.
12 Instead, you will put them to flight
when you aim your bow at their faces.
13 Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength;
we will sing and praise Your might.
Psalm 22
In my ongoing read through of the Bible, I have reached Psalm 22, arguably my favorite and one of the most important (to me anyway) Psalms. The book of Matthew, the Gospel which convinced me when I was younger that Jesus is God and that the Bible speaks Truth, records that just before Jesus dies on the cross he speaks "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Each Gospel ends slightly differently and I should note that each Gospel READS differently. All share some similarities but parts of the text (not just the end) vary in sequence and in content. Some people believe this is a problem (those who tend not to believe in Jesus, really) but remember, these are written accounts from different eye witnesses and it is PERFECTLY natural for each account to vary quite a bit. People focus on what is important to THEM or what catches their eye or ear. But back on topic.
At the end of Matthew it is written that Jesus references Psalm 22. Back then, people did not reference books, chapters and verses, they simply indicated a section of scripture by stating the first verse. SOME people believe that Jesus actually recited all of Psalm 22 on the cross and the writer was simply referencing that instead of writing the entire Psalm, but I think it likely he was simply referencing the verse as he was hung on a cross and such a long Psalm would be difficult to recite in His state.
So what did Jesus say with his dying breath?
I won't post up Psalm 22 here... you can look it up and read it for yourself (is that rude? Sorry I am not trying to be rude). But BASICALLY it is both descriptive of His end and a statement as to the present and future when He dies. If you've read Psalm 22 you understand what I mean. It is as if the writer sat at the foot of the cross writing the Psalm. The end of the Psalm is indicative of what happened next: Jesus arose, and fulfilled God's purpose, and the Word was shared from generation to generation. Really, it's Jesus final footnote on who He really is.
O.K. Maybe I will post Psalm 22 (a Psalm written by Kind David) for your reading pleasure (HCSB version):
Each Gospel ends slightly differently and I should note that each Gospel READS differently. All share some similarities but parts of the text (not just the end) vary in sequence and in content. Some people believe this is a problem (those who tend not to believe in Jesus, really) but remember, these are written accounts from different eye witnesses and it is PERFECTLY natural for each account to vary quite a bit. People focus on what is important to THEM or what catches their eye or ear. But back on topic.
At the end of Matthew it is written that Jesus references Psalm 22. Back then, people did not reference books, chapters and verses, they simply indicated a section of scripture by stating the first verse. SOME people believe that Jesus actually recited all of Psalm 22 on the cross and the writer was simply referencing that instead of writing the entire Psalm, but I think it likely he was simply referencing the verse as he was hung on a cross and such a long Psalm would be difficult to recite in His state.
So what did Jesus say with his dying breath?
I won't post up Psalm 22 here... you can look it up and read it for yourself (is that rude? Sorry I am not trying to be rude). But BASICALLY it is both descriptive of His end and a statement as to the present and future when He dies. If you've read Psalm 22 you understand what I mean. It is as if the writer sat at the foot of the cross writing the Psalm. The end of the Psalm is indicative of what happened next: Jesus arose, and fulfilled God's purpose, and the Word was shared from generation to generation. Really, it's Jesus final footnote on who He really is.
O.K. Maybe I will post Psalm 22 (a Psalm written by Kind David) for your reading pleasure (HCSB version):
1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Why are You so far from my deliverance
and from my words of groaning?
2 My God, I cry by day, but You do not answer,
by night, yet I have no rest.
3 But You are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You;
they trusted, and You rescued them.
5 They cried to You and were set free;
they trusted in You and were not disgraced.
Why are You so far from my deliverance
and from my words of groaning?
2 My God, I cry by day, but You do not answer,
by night, yet I have no rest.
3 But You are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You;
they trusted, and You rescued them.
5 They cried to You and were set free;
they trusted in You and were not disgraced.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by people.
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me;
they sneer and shake their heads:
8 “He relies on the Lord;
let Him rescue him;
let the Lord deliver him,
since He takes pleasure in him.”
scorned by men and despised by people.
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me;
they sneer and shake their heads:
8 “He relies on the Lord;
let Him rescue him;
let the Lord deliver him,
since He takes pleasure in him.”
9 You took me from the womb,
making me secure while at my mother’s breast.
10 I was given over to You at birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
making me secure while at my mother’s breast.
10 I was given over to You at birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
11 Do not be far from me, because distress is near
and there is no one to help.
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong ones of Bashan encircle me.
13 They open their mouths against me—
lions, mauling and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are disjointed;
my heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength is dried up like baked clay;
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You put me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
a gang of evildoers has closed in on me;
they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones;
people look and stare at me.
18 They divided my garments among themselves,
and they cast lots for my clothing.
strong ones of Bashan encircle me.
13 They open their mouths against me—
lions, mauling and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are disjointed;
my heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength is dried up like baked clay;
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You put me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
a gang of evildoers has closed in on me;
they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones;
people look and stare at me.
18 They divided my garments among themselves,
and they cast lots for my clothing.
19 But You, Lord, don’t be far away.
My strength, come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my only life from the power of these dogs.
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued me
from the horns of the wild oxen.
My strength, come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my only life from the power of these dogs.
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued me
from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers;
I will praise You in the congregation.
23 You who fear Yahweh, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him!
All you descendants of Israel, revere Him!
24 For He has not despised or detested
the torment of the afflicted.
He did not hide His face from him
but listened when he cried to Him for help.
I will praise You in the congregation.
23 You who fear Yahweh, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him!
All you descendants of Israel, revere Him!
24 For He has not despised or detested
the torment of the afflicted.
He did not hide His face from him
but listened when he cried to Him for help.
25 I will give praise in the great congregation
because of You;
I will fulfill my vows
before those who fear You.
26 The humble will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise Him.
May your hearts live forever!
because of You;
I will fulfill my vows
before those who fear You.
26 The humble will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise Him.
May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember
and turn to the Lord.
All the families of the nations
will bow down before You,
28 for kingship belongs to the Lord;
He rules over the nations.
29 All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down;
all those who go down to the dust
will kneel before Him—
even the one who cannot preserve his life.
30 Their descendants will serve Him;
the next generation will be told about the Lord.
31 They will come and tell a people yet to be born
about His righteousness—
what He has done.
and turn to the Lord.
All the families of the nations
will bow down before You,
28 for kingship belongs to the Lord;
He rules over the nations.
29 All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down;
all those who go down to the dust
will kneel before Him—
even the one who cannot preserve his life.
30 Their descendants will serve Him;
the next generation will be told about the Lord.
31 They will come and tell a people yet to be born
about His righteousness—
what He has done.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Sown among thorns...
I don't know about you but the world really has its fingers in me. I absolutely must have my time to play games, go off-roading/geo-caching, etc. I strive for the latest software or hardware technology, at least to what I can afford. I enjoy my hobbies.
Now, there is nothing wrong with those things, but are they what is most important? Are they what I should focus on?
When the commonly reviled Jehovahs Witnesses come to my door I don't say "not now," or "thanks but no thanks," because I see in them a willingness to do the Lord's work that I often lack. Instead I talk with them for awhile, offer them drinks, etc. There are a few who are regulars now that come by to talk and we enjoy our talks. Sometimes they leave me with research to do, sometimes I leave them with some research. It's nice.
But they always remind me how wrong my life is and how unwilling I am to adjust and adapt to what the Lord has in store for me.
From Mark 4 (NET Bible - Parable of the Sower explanation):
4:18 Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 4:19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing.
Now, there is nothing wrong with those things, but are they what is most important? Are they what I should focus on?
When the commonly reviled Jehovahs Witnesses come to my door I don't say "not now," or "thanks but no thanks," because I see in them a willingness to do the Lord's work that I often lack. Instead I talk with them for awhile, offer them drinks, etc. There are a few who are regulars now that come by to talk and we enjoy our talks. Sometimes they leave me with research to do, sometimes I leave them with some research. It's nice.
But they always remind me how wrong my life is and how unwilling I am to adjust and adapt to what the Lord has in store for me.
From Mark 4 (NET Bible - Parable of the Sower explanation):
4:18 Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 4:19 but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing.
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