The Importance of reading the entire Bible.

Throwback Thursday 6-3-21

The Good Word

Often times as Christians we get confused. We are uncertain on an issue so we go to a Pastor or watch a video or read an article to figure out the answer to questions.

Sometimes though the Pastor’s view differs from the article you just read. Both the Pastor and the author of the article quoted scripture, so who is right? This can led to more confusion, frustration and even anger. Sometimes people even fall away from the Church or God because they don’t know what to believe anymore.

It’s very easy for someone to manipulate scripture to fit their idea. Many times its unintentional, they saw a verse and ran with it. But God doesn’t work that way.

You have to read the full Bible not just one verse. It can seem overwhelming but don’t let that effect you. Call out to the Lord for help with your reading.

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Real and True Love

Luke 6:32-36 English Standard Version

³² “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Think about the message in Jesus’ words.

In the modern age how easy is it to only love people who love you.

Those who agree with you, who like the same things, look like you, talk like you, heck are you.

Think about how easy it is on social media to love the people who you want to love.

I know someone who doesn’t feel accepted right now so they go on Facebook and people digitally support them with love and they respond back with the same love.

I’m not saying that is wrong but is it real and true love?

No.

Real and true love is when you see that person not just in their polished public selves but also in their dark times both past and present and chose to love them anyway. However while also not catering to and enabling the darkness.

Now there maybe a person that shows you no care, no love or even look at you as their enemy, love them anyway that is real and true love.

In reality only God can fully love like that.

We have to imitate His love to the best of our abilities and thank God that He loves in ways we can’t even fathom.

Now for those who are looking for someone who truly loves and cares about them what you need to look for is the people I previously mentioned, those who despite all of the bad things you have done chose to love you anyway and are there to help.

You must look for the real and true love.

Have a Blessed and Loving Week,
Chris

Scripture Reading Plan:

Monday – Isaiah 6:1-8

Tuesday – Psalm 29

Wednesday – Romans 8:12-17

Thursday – John 3:1-17

Take Jesus As He Is

Jesus was a first century Jewish Rabbi who was a son of a carpenter. He is also God.

You who are reading this are neither of those things.

Stop trying to fit Jesus into your world view, instead make Jesus and the Bible your world view.

If you try hard enough you can make the Bible say anything you want, instead of doing something so foolish, how about you take the Bible as it is written?

Take Jesus as He is.

It is not your job to manipulate scripture to prove why you feel a certain way or do a certain thing.

It is your job to submit to God and His Word.

This is not directed at one particular group or thought process. I don’t care what your theological, political or moral preferences are.

If you truly claim to follow Christ, than follow Christ. Don’t use the Bible and Jesus’ words to fit your lifestyle or world view.

Let God and the Bible form your world view and mold your lifestyle around it.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Don’t Form Your Own Bible

I’ve written before that people use the Bible to justify their opinions rather than use the Bible to form their opinions. They will say “I feel this. Jesus said this and that matches how I feel.” But they ignore the other things Jesus said or did so that way they can live how they want. This leads people to walking around with their own version of Jesus’ character and the Bible.

That is why it is so important to remember the Bible is not going to tell you one answer that relates to all issues. You have to cross reference and know the situation otherwise you are missing so much in the Bible.

You can’t take one or two scripture and think it’s the end all be all of life. If you do then you will end up with a very tiny Bible.

Know the Bible, know the situation and use your discernment to determine how to react in a Christian manner.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

PS-Here is Heritage Baptist Church’s Online Services

The Importance of Rest II

Labor Day was just last week a day designed for the worker to have a day of rest and be celebrated. Unfortunately now a days it seems like most or at least too many are not given that day off. Quite the contrary actually many stores and businesses say it is one of their busiest days or weekends of the year.

Two years ago I wrote a blog called, “The Importance of Rest”. Unfortunately I feel that things have gotten worse in the world when it comes to rest and not better. I know for me personally I continue to struggle with recognizing the importance of rest. This past week I went to bed later and later and woke up earlier and earlier. Not good. By the end of the week I felt sick every time I returned from work due to the lack of sleep.

Luckily I have been resting well this weekend and been able to get better.

A lot of us were forced to take a rest this year for an extended period of time but for most the stress of their jobs, finances or a desire to just keep busy kept them from resting and they were more tired than ever despite being stuck at home.

I said this in my previous blog on this subject, I can’t begin to tell you the importance of rest.

It is true.

We know we are not greater than God and yet God chose to rest and told us to do the same.

You need to rest, so do so not because anyone else tells you but because God tells you to.

So rest in the arms of the Lord and Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

PS-Here is a link to Bible verses on rest.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/rest-bible-verses/

Use The Bible To Form Your Opinions

It is becoming common place to see Christians getting into arguments with other Christians over the internet.

The arguing often gets into a scripture battle where people use the resources we have to find Bible verses to present their case.

Now that seems like a great thing and it can be. However some are using the Bible in reverse by taking their already formed opinions and using scripture to justify them.

What’s wrong with that you might say?

Well in some instances the verse that gets quoted has nothing to do with their argument and is being used out of context because they jumped in the middle of scripture without knowing what the scripture is referencing.

The proper way to use scripture is to read the Bible first then form your opinion based on scripture. Do this and you will be following God’s word.

It is crucial to understand God’s word and I will show you why in the Temptation of Jesus.

Matthew 4:1-11(English Standard Version)

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”

Did you see that in the second temptation? Satan was using scripture to tempt Jesus. But Jesus of course knew the Word better than the enemy.

So remember that and know scripture that way the enemy can’t use it against you or even use you to present a distorted version of scripture to your brothers and sisters.

I have one more point I want to make in that we also need to handle disagreements better. Lets be the unified body of Christ and not cause division by lashing out at each other in anger over opinions on matters. Let’s discuss matters with love and compassion.

So that way the world sees us as the light and not more darkness.

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris.