I can show the world that I am a disciple of Christ by keeping my hair short, carrying a KJV Bible tucked neatly under my arm, wearing a blue blazer and khaki's, not smoking, not drinking and not swearing... right?
My Bible tells me something entirely different. I show the world that I am disciple of Christ a much different way... in John chapter 13, Jesus states, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
So, you mean I can wear my jeans??
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
It's Easy to be Pro-Choice
I am not much of a bumper sticker person, but I saw a great one the other day. It said, "It's easy to be pro-choice when you're not the one being killed". Interestingly, at about the same time I heard one of my favorite conservative talk show hosts saying that he believes that abortion is wrong, except for incest, rape, and the life of the mother in jeopardy.
I wondered at that point the following: Why are we pro-life anyway? Is it that we are against the murder of innocent babies? That sounds like too easy of an answer. So, are we against SOME of the murders of the pre-born, or are we against ALL of them. Are we FOR these unborn children, or aren't we? Yes, we grieve over rape and incest... and yes, we struggle over the life issues with the mother... but how convenient for us to to say that these children are more expendable than other children. That makes us sound like we're... uuhhh... pro-choice, doesn't it. It's easy to be pro-choice... when you're not the one being killed.
I wondered at that point the following: Why are we pro-life anyway? Is it that we are against the murder of innocent babies? That sounds like too easy of an answer. So, are we against SOME of the murders of the pre-born, or are we against ALL of them. Are we FOR these unborn children, or aren't we? Yes, we grieve over rape and incest... and yes, we struggle over the life issues with the mother... but how convenient for us to to say that these children are more expendable than other children. That makes us sound like we're... uuhhh... pro-choice, doesn't it. It's easy to be pro-choice... when you're not the one being killed.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
A very common passage in Proverbs - quoted very often - is Proverbs 3:5-6. Say it with me class: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight". Most Christians know it. Most Christians have it memorized. Most of us can say it without thinking. But maybe that is a problem - saying it without thinking. I was convicted pretty harshly when I read what Charles Bridges had to say about this passage.
Listen to what this great man of God says: "It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the most ordinary matters of the day without [God's] counsel. He loves to be consulted. Therefore take all thy difficulties to be resolved by Him. Be in the habit of going to Him in the first place - before self-will, self-pleasing, self-wisdom, human friends, convenience, expediency. Before any of these have been consulted, go to God at once. Consider no circumstance to clear to need His direction". Wow. That gives a fresh new meaning to 'in all your ways acknowledge Him'.
Listen to what this great man of God says: "It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the most ordinary matters of the day without [God's] counsel. He loves to be consulted. Therefore take all thy difficulties to be resolved by Him. Be in the habit of going to Him in the first place - before self-will, self-pleasing, self-wisdom, human friends, convenience, expediency. Before any of these have been consulted, go to God at once. Consider no circumstance to clear to need His direction". Wow. That gives a fresh new meaning to 'in all your ways acknowledge Him'.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Is Wisdom Obtainable?
"A penny saved is a penny earned". Now there's some wisdom we can all live by, especially in these rough economic days. I am studying the book of Proverbs, and the writer of the book has some other bits of wisdom we could certainly use, whether the economy is booming or not. Wisdom for young people, wisdom for 'seasoned' people. Wisdom for decisions in money, relationships and parenting. But how do we obtain this wisdom?
1). Seek wisdom. Proverbs 2:3 tells us to seek after wisdom as we would seek after silver and hidden treasures. If I had a valuable coin and I lost it, I would look high and low for it. I would be on a non-stop mission to find it. I wouldn't stop until it was found. So should we search for wisdom. Asking God for wisdom (James 1:5) is part of that seeking.
2). Give attention to wisdom. Proverbs 2:2 and 4:1 indicates that we need to 'make our ears attentive' and 'give attention to' the words of wisdom. That means listening, hearing, understanding, watching.
3). Love wisdom. Proverbs 4:6. Would we give attention to wisdom... would we seek wisdom... if we did not develop and cultivate a love for it? It makes sense if we love wisdom, we will pursue hard after it.
4). Prize wisdom. Treasure it. Proverbs 4:8. Similar to loving wisdom, those who highly esteem wisdom will most certainly obtain it.
The God of wisdom is ready and willing to grant wisdom to those who incline their ears to understanding, to those who are diligent in their seeking, to those who love, prize and treasure this unspeakable gift.
1). Seek wisdom. Proverbs 2:3 tells us to seek after wisdom as we would seek after silver and hidden treasures. If I had a valuable coin and I lost it, I would look high and low for it. I would be on a non-stop mission to find it. I wouldn't stop until it was found. So should we search for wisdom. Asking God for wisdom (James 1:5) is part of that seeking.
2). Give attention to wisdom. Proverbs 2:2 and 4:1 indicates that we need to 'make our ears attentive' and 'give attention to' the words of wisdom. That means listening, hearing, understanding, watching.
3). Love wisdom. Proverbs 4:6. Would we give attention to wisdom... would we seek wisdom... if we did not develop and cultivate a love for it? It makes sense if we love wisdom, we will pursue hard after it.
4). Prize wisdom. Treasure it. Proverbs 4:8. Similar to loving wisdom, those who highly esteem wisdom will most certainly obtain it.
The God of wisdom is ready and willing to grant wisdom to those who incline their ears to understanding, to those who are diligent in their seeking, to those who love, prize and treasure this unspeakable gift.
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