"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
Over the last couple of weeks I've been reading through the book of Joshua. It's one of my favorite books in the Bible and Joshua is one of my favorite Old Testament heroes.
I was encouraged by his words of remaining strong and courageous as the Israelite nation got ready to finally enter the Promised Land; thoughtful when the men from each tribes collected stones from the middle of the dried up Jordan to build an altar to the Lord. I was enthralled by the story of Rahab and the fall of Jericho. I was saddened by the sin of Achan, gladdened by the people's repentance and their defeat of Ai. I was skeptical of the Gibeonites but can't say I would've acted any differently. Finally I celebrated with God's chosen people as they defeated the Northern and then Southern armies.
Then I got to Joshua 12. I reread the account of all the people that the Israelites had defeated and was bored to death. As I was reading I kept thinking about that verse in 2 Timothy. If all Scripture is useful for teaching etc. then what was the point of this chapter? Or the genealogies for that matter? Or some of the other passages that I consider boring?
And that's when God showed me. He didn't explain the purpose of the genealogies to me but He did tell me about Joshua 12. As I read the account of all the people that the Israelites defeated I remembered something. The Israelites didn't defeat all those kings and people on their own, God went before them and fought for them.
Right now I have a lot going on in my life. A lot of situations that I'm having to give over to God and ask Him to work out. Reading about all those defeated kings in Joshua 12 reminded me that God can resolve all the situations in my life too.
I don't know how all Scripture applies to each servant of God. I don't know if I'll ever really figure it out but I do know that God showed me how this passage in Joshua 12 applies to my life this time. And I have to believe that not only will He help me deal with the situations in my life like He defeated the kings in Joshua but also that He'll continue to show me how Scripture applies at different times in my life.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Sound Simple?
"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone."
Titus 3: 1,2
This sounds simple enough, right? It does, in principle.
Respect authorities and be obedient, be ready to do good, don't talk badly about people and be peaceable, considerate and gentle to everyone. It is rather simple but that doesn't mean it's easy. Still it's a good challenge.
Be obedient. Be ready to do good. Don't talk badly about people. Be peaceable, considerate and gentle towards everyone. I'm great at all of these things... for at least three seconds a day. On a good day.
The fact is that we are never going to be perfect but these are things we can stride towards. How different would our world be if we all made an effort to follow these principles? We can't change the world, but we can change ourselves. Maybe we should all make a little more effort to work towards these commands. I need to, want to try it with me?
Titus 3: 1,2
This sounds simple enough, right? It does, in principle.
Respect authorities and be obedient, be ready to do good, don't talk badly about people and be peaceable, considerate and gentle to everyone. It is rather simple but that doesn't mean it's easy. Still it's a good challenge.
Be obedient. Be ready to do good. Don't talk badly about people. Be peaceable, considerate and gentle towards everyone. I'm great at all of these things... for at least three seconds a day. On a good day.
The fact is that we are never going to be perfect but these are things we can stride towards. How different would our world be if we all made an effort to follow these principles? We can't change the world, but we can change ourselves. Maybe we should all make a little more effort to work towards these commands. I need to, want to try it with me?
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Good in the World
One of my favorite conversations in all of the Lord of the Rings movies is in the second movie. Frodo, discouraged and tired, wants to give up, he's been beaten down, doesn't believe he'll ever see home again and he's lost sight of why they're doing this in the first place.
He says to Sam, "What are we holding onto Sam?"
And Sam replies, "That there's good in this world Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for."
We live in a world filled with darkness. Often it's hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel. We get disillusioned, discouraged and downtrodden. We want to give up. What do we hold onto in those difficult moments?
As Christians we're told to hold on to the Lord. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
That doesn't mean that it's easy though. We live in a fallen world, one full on sin and pain and darkness. And yet God is in our world too. He's working every day in ways that we can't even see or understand. He's working to "... in all things God works for the good of those who love him, and have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
With all the attention the we give to our news channels it sometimes hard to see that the “Good News”, that is God’s plan for this world, is still on track. God give us a promise in Revelation that in the end he wins and all the bad news goes away. All across the world will be God’s Kingdom. It is worth reminding ourselves that God is in control and ultimately will overcome all adversity. For this we can praise and say hallelujah He will overcome.
One day God will lift his children up and bless them with goodness and peace. Hang in there he makes it worth the wait.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Loyal Friends
In the Lord of the Rings movies (did you really think we were done talking about those?) it's the friendships that stand out most to me.
Gandalf and his friendship with Froto is that of a protective father figure in someways. You see the aspects of the trust that Froto has in him and the love that Gandalf displays. You also see Gandalf get frustrated and Froto take on the "rebellious teenager" actions at some points. Ultimately you see love and trust strained and their relationship is damaged before being ultimately restored.
Legolas friendship with Aragorn is better understood if you read (or watch) the Hobbit movies and you see a bit about how it started. Again it's based on mutual respect but there's a brotherhood between the man and elf that goes deeper then you realize on the surface. Plus they're basically the two coolest characters in the entire fellowship. Just sayin'.
Legolas' friendship with Gimili is one of my favorites because it starts out as antagonism bordering on hatred. Elves and dwarves don't get along and these two characters aren't about to be the ones to change that long held animosity between the species! Until they are. As they travel, work and fight alongside each other they do learn to respect each other and ultimately become friends. They show that relationships that begin and thrive due to hardships are the ones that will last a lifetime.
Friendships between the Hobbits are some of my favorites. Merry and Pippin are hysterical. They're the definition of two peas in a pod. They're constantly up to no good. They sometimes seem like they're more trouble then they're worth but their loyalty is almost beyond compare. They would do anything for each other. They follow Frodo on a suicide mission because they refuse to let their friend go without them. Yes, maybe it starts out as them being bored and wanting to do something fun but as the story continues it becomes so much more. These are the two characters that more then any other, Frodo included, that you really get to watch go through the painful but amazing process of growing up, learning what you're made of and being so grateful for what you have.
Finally my favorite friendship, Sam and Frodo. Have you ever seen a more loyal friend then Sam? He almost drowns at one point because he refuses to let Frodo go to Mordor alone. It's not a one sided friendship though. Sam almost drowns because of his implicit trust in Frodo. He knows that Frodo is trying to protect him, protect everyone by going alone. Sam also knows that Frodo won't let him drown even if he's not happy about having to take him along. I could go on and on about their friendship but at least for now I'll keep it short. Loyalty is the main thing I see in their friendship. Loyalty and selfless love. The Bible says "Greater love have no one than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends". These two proved they would be willing to do that again and again.
Obviously these are movies and books. None of us are going to be taking the ring of power to the heart of Mordor and throwing it in the fire to be destroyed. We're not going to be battling orks or goblins or trolls. And, as cool as it might be, we're not going to be hanging out in Rivendell or fighting with the Riders of Rohan. What we do have is friends that are a gift from God.
Find good friends, whether they be older then you like Gandalf, younger like everyone else compared to the wizard, or the same age like the Hobbits. Find ones that love selflessly, are loyal, will get in your face when you need it, challenge you to do better, constantly encourage you, walk with you through the hard times and always offer a hand to lift you back up to your feet. When you find them, thank God for them, because will they may not be perfect but they know that you aren't either and they love you anyways. That's a gift worth keeping.
Gandalf and his friendship with Froto is that of a protective father figure in someways. You see the aspects of the trust that Froto has in him and the love that Gandalf displays. You also see Gandalf get frustrated and Froto take on the "rebellious teenager" actions at some points. Ultimately you see love and trust strained and their relationship is damaged before being ultimately restored.
Legolas friendship with Aragorn is better understood if you read (or watch) the Hobbit movies and you see a bit about how it started. Again it's based on mutual respect but there's a brotherhood between the man and elf that goes deeper then you realize on the surface. Plus they're basically the two coolest characters in the entire fellowship. Just sayin'.
Legolas' friendship with Gimili is one of my favorites because it starts out as antagonism bordering on hatred. Elves and dwarves don't get along and these two characters aren't about to be the ones to change that long held animosity between the species! Until they are. As they travel, work and fight alongside each other they do learn to respect each other and ultimately become friends. They show that relationships that begin and thrive due to hardships are the ones that will last a lifetime.
Friendships between the Hobbits are some of my favorites. Merry and Pippin are hysterical. They're the definition of two peas in a pod. They're constantly up to no good. They sometimes seem like they're more trouble then they're worth but their loyalty is almost beyond compare. They would do anything for each other. They follow Frodo on a suicide mission because they refuse to let their friend go without them. Yes, maybe it starts out as them being bored and wanting to do something fun but as the story continues it becomes so much more. These are the two characters that more then any other, Frodo included, that you really get to watch go through the painful but amazing process of growing up, learning what you're made of and being so grateful for what you have.
Finally my favorite friendship, Sam and Frodo. Have you ever seen a more loyal friend then Sam? He almost drowns at one point because he refuses to let Frodo go to Mordor alone. It's not a one sided friendship though. Sam almost drowns because of his implicit trust in Frodo. He knows that Frodo is trying to protect him, protect everyone by going alone. Sam also knows that Frodo won't let him drown even if he's not happy about having to take him along. I could go on and on about their friendship but at least for now I'll keep it short. Loyalty is the main thing I see in their friendship. Loyalty and selfless love. The Bible says "Greater love have no one than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends". These two proved they would be willing to do that again and again.
Obviously these are movies and books. None of us are going to be taking the ring of power to the heart of Mordor and throwing it in the fire to be destroyed. We're not going to be battling orks or goblins or trolls. And, as cool as it might be, we're not going to be hanging out in Rivendell or fighting with the Riders of Rohan. What we do have is friends that are a gift from God.
Find good friends, whether they be older then you like Gandalf, younger like everyone else compared to the wizard, or the same age like the Hobbits. Find ones that love selflessly, are loyal, will get in your face when you need it, challenge you to do better, constantly encourage you, walk with you through the hard times and always offer a hand to lift you back up to your feet. When you find them, thank God for them, because will they may not be perfect but they know that you aren't either and they love you anyways. That's a gift worth keeping.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
Your Time
In the iconic story of Esther there's always one line that jumps off the page at me.
"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 4:14
For those who don't know the story this is Mordecai speaking to Esther, who he raised, cautoning her that the Jews are about to be killed. He tells her that even though she's a queen she won't escape the fate and that she needs to use her position to help her people. When Esther says how scared she is to approach the king when she hasn't been summoned (it could mean her death) Moredecai tells her that if she doesn't help someone else will. But he tells her if help arises from elsewhere she'll still perish.
Right after this Esther asks for the Jews and her servants to fast and pray for 3 days before she approaches the king. Spoiler alert- it all works out in the end but you'll have to go read the story for yourself if you want to learn about all the twists and turns that God led His people through in order to use a young queen to save them from a horrible fate.
So what's the point?
Such a time as this.
What position are you in today and why has God placed you there? Are you there to help or bless others? Are you using your position to serve Him in what He's asking you to do or are you hidongin your palace out of fear? God has placed you where you are today. Don't forget that and WHE N He's calling you to do something remember Esther and ask God to give you the courage to do His task for you, because this might be your position and your time to step up for Him.
"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 4:14
For those who don't know the story this is Mordecai speaking to Esther, who he raised, cautoning her that the Jews are about to be killed. He tells her that even though she's a queen she won't escape the fate and that she needs to use her position to help her people. When Esther says how scared she is to approach the king when she hasn't been summoned (it could mean her death) Moredecai tells her that if she doesn't help someone else will. But he tells her if help arises from elsewhere she'll still perish.
Right after this Esther asks for the Jews and her servants to fast and pray for 3 days before she approaches the king. Spoiler alert- it all works out in the end but you'll have to go read the story for yourself if you want to learn about all the twists and turns that God led His people through in order to use a young queen to save them from a horrible fate.
So what's the point?
Such a time as this.
What position are you in today and why has God placed you there? Are you there to help or bless others? Are you using your position to serve Him in what He's asking you to do or are you hidongin your palace out of fear? God has placed you where you are today. Don't forget that and WHE N He's calling you to do something remember Esther and ask God to give you the courage to do His task for you, because this might be your position and your time to step up for Him.
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