Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The OT

Rom 15:4-6 "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I recently heard a person say: "I never read the Old Testament." Ouch. They don't know what they are missing. One thing that I know that they are missing is patience and comfort. The word for patience means constancy or steadfastness. The OT gives us patience. The OT gives us stability. The OT gives us consistency.

Not only that but it gives us comfort. The word for comfort also means encouragement and edification. The OT allows us to be encouraged as we see how God was at work in people's lives and how He can work in our lives today.

It all boils down to learning. What was written before was written so we can learn. How can you not get into the OT? If it is going to instruct me, if it is going to give me stability, if it is going to encourage me...I am cheating myself if I ignore or avoid it.

Why does the OT do this? Because it is from God. It is from the very heart of God. It is from the very mouth of God. ("All Scripture (OT and NT) is God breathed..." 2 Tim 3:16) and since it is from the heart and mouth of God it will reflect His character, which is also patience and comfort. Just look at this:

"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion...May He grant your according to your heart's desire and fulfill all your purpose." Ps 20:1-4

Just a random selection from the Psalms, but look at that. God's answer, God's defense, God's help, God's strength, God's fulfillment in my life.

The end result...unity. Like minded toward one another, with one mind and one mouth all glorifying God together. Trouble in this area? Get into the word together. Don't ignore any of it. Study it together. Read it together. Meditate on it together. It will bring comfort, encouragement and unity, to the ultimate glory of God.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Here We Go

This is a departure from my regular Blog, but I think it is necessary.

On November 7th I wrote about Appeasement on my Blog. I said that we need to stay tuned to see if Congress' Health Care legislation would fund abortion. Now my prediction is coming true. There is an end around going on over abortion funding in this bill. Thank God for Bart Stupak. The poor guy is getting nailed over his principled stand. People are calling him at 2-3 in the morning swearing at him and his family over this issue. (See www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35928063/ns/politics-health_care_reform ) Unreal. Our government and country are going down the tubes fast.

It is time to call (if you can get through) 202-224-2131, fast and pray.

Footnote after the vote: Appeasement was the name of the game. I hate to admit it, but this whole charade was called in my Blog on November 7th. I don't know if Bart Stupak knows something we don't know about Executive Orders...I pray that he does. Otherwise, they pulled one over on him as well and he will regret the day that he and the other pro-life Democrats voted for this legislation.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Sprinting After Peace and Edification

Rom 14:19 "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another."

Talk about reminders. I need to be reminded that this is what I am to do. I am to pursue, to run after, to earnestly seek the things that bring about peace and tranquility, and the things that build others up.

More times than I would like to admit I am drifting the other way. Drifting is a good word. It is not a pursuit to confront or hurt. It is a gradual, sneaky drifting. It happens and I don't realize it. It happens and I call it "speaking the truth in love". That can be used as an excuse to prove a point or to show that I am right. I have a tendency to gravitate that way. I don't run after this. I don't pursue this. It just seems to happen. The problem is that this is not being controlled by the Spirit of God. It is being controlled by my flesh.

Instead, I need to make a conscious effort to pursue those thngs that are going to create peace. I need to run after those things the build others up. I need to be positive and not negative.

The word for pursue implies work. It implies discipline. It implies effort. It implies a mindset that is aware of the battle that we are in. I can't get lazy. I can't just let things happen. I must discipline myself to sprint after peace and edification. When I am tempted to think the worst, don't. When I am prone to speak a negative word, don't. Instead, quickly run after peace. Quickly run after encouraging others.

Not only that, but do this even when negativity is not an issue. Make edification a natural part of my life and speech. Just be an encourager. Speak life into the lives of thers. Speak a word that will build them up. Tell them "thank you", or "you look great", or "what you said was perfect", or "your help was what we all needed", or "I see God really working in your life", or take what is perceived to be negative and put a positive spin on it.

Pursue this. Run after this. Sprint after peace and edification.