Romans 11
For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
34 For who can know the LORD’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?
35 And who has given him so much
that he needs to pay it back?
36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
I certainly don't know His ways. And it's not important to me anymore that I do. I believe, I trust, I choose to serve Him, and give all glory and honor to Him. His ways are perfect. His will, not mine, be done. Amen.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Matthew 11-13
Matthew 11
John the Baptist, the greatest of men born of women, but least in the kingdom of heaven. But even this great man must have wondered about Jesus while trapped in his dark, lonely cell. Like many Jews of the day, including the Apostles, maybe he thought Jesus had come to set up His kingdom right now and doubt had set in. Therefore he asks the question "Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?" Jesus answer is remarkable and is a direct reference to Isaiah 35:4-6. Jesus knew that John would recognize his credentials from the OT and ease his fear.
Matthew 13
I have to comment on Matthew 13:33. For eight years now I've pondered over, studied, prayed about, asked at least five different pastors about, and read numerous commentaries about this verse. I've gotten many different answers. I still don't have my answer. Does the leaven represent evil, or the gospel, or something else? What does the woman represent? It's driving me nuts. My translation says she hid the leaven, others say she put in the leaven. Translators can't even decide. Anyway... :) that's what I've got to say about that.
John the Baptist, the greatest of men born of women, but least in the kingdom of heaven. But even this great man must have wondered about Jesus while trapped in his dark, lonely cell. Like many Jews of the day, including the Apostles, maybe he thought Jesus had come to set up His kingdom right now and doubt had set in. Therefore he asks the question "Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?" Jesus answer is remarkable and is a direct reference to Isaiah 35:4-6. Jesus knew that John would recognize his credentials from the OT and ease his fear.
Matthew 13
I have to comment on Matthew 13:33. For eight years now I've pondered over, studied, prayed about, asked at least five different pastors about, and read numerous commentaries about this verse. I've gotten many different answers. I still don't have my answer. Does the leaven represent evil, or the gospel, or something else? What does the woman represent? It's driving me nuts. My translation says she hid the leaven, others say she put in the leaven. Translators can't even decide. Anyway... :) that's what I've got to say about that.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Isaiah 23-28 Judgment
Isaiah Chapters 13-23 have to do with prophecies of judgment on the nations. Isaiah 24 is prophesying judgment on the world. The "Great Tribulation". 25-27 is about the millennium after the Great Tribulation. Amazes me how much Scripture there is about the end times. I used to think it was only Revelation that dealt with that subject. It's all over the Bible. I think I'm only just now scratching the surface. Only thing I know for sure at this point...Jesus is coming back and no one knows when.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Job 9-10
Jessica and Dave got it. What an amazing God we have. Who am I to question Him? I can't understand His ways. He is greater than I can comprehend. Can I reason with Him? You and I are no different than Job in being loved by God. The difference is that Job really believed.
I choose to believe and unlike Job I am going to plead to Christ that He not allow me to suffer like Job. But, I need to be firm in the faith that when suffering comes, I can praise Him. I choose to believe that, like Jessica said, He is God and I am not.
I choose to believe and unlike Job I am going to plead to Christ that He not allow me to suffer like Job. But, I need to be firm in the faith that when suffering comes, I can praise Him. I choose to believe that, like Jessica said, He is God and I am not.
Job 9,10 It's all about Jesus
As I sit here in my quiet time this morning I can feel God's presence and His peace. It started as I started reading Chapter 9. Not to be dramatic but there are some times when I read God's Word and it brings me to the point of tears...good tears. God's Word is so amazing to me. I've read these Chapters many times but not until this morning did they affect me like this. They exploded on me. They bypassed my brain and went straight to my heart. God revealed more of Himself to me and I feel like some of the characters in the Bible who fall on their faces in His presence. I just want to worship Him.
These are the verses that spoke to me the most:
"But how can a man be righteous before God?"
"God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?"
”He does great things past finding out,Yes,wonders without number."
"If He takes away, who can hinder Him?"
"Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?”
“How then can I answer Him, And choose my words to reason with Him?"
"For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge."
“For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together."
"Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both."
"Let Him take His rod away from me, And do not let dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him, But it is not so with me."
I just put them all together. It seems as if Job is pleading for a Savior. He's begging for mercy from the judge, he wishes God were a man so he could answer him, he's wishing for a mediator. Sounds like a longing for Jesus to me. I think that's why I got emotional. I realized that all the things Job was pleading for...we have. We have Jesus. I can't even put into words how grateful I am for that. Thank you LORD, thank you Jesus.
These are the verses that spoke to me the most:
"But how can a man be righteous before God?"
"God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?"
”He does great things past finding out,Yes,wonders without number."
"If He takes away, who can hinder Him?"
"Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?”
“How then can I answer Him, And choose my words to reason with Him?"
"For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge."
“For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together."
"Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both."
"Let Him take His rod away from me, And do not let dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him, But it is not so with me."
I just put them all together. It seems as if Job is pleading for a Savior. He's begging for mercy from the judge, he wishes God were a man so he could answer him, he's wishing for a mediator. Sounds like a longing for Jesus to me. I think that's why I got emotional. I realized that all the things Job was pleading for...we have. We have Jesus. I can't even put into words how grateful I am for that. Thank you LORD, thank you Jesus.
February 2, 2012 Job 9-10
As I sit here reading the woes of Job from the comfort of my ivory tower, I do not know the pain or suffering Job endured... I felt I had to make that disclaimer.
9- It amazes me how God is about the details... He recorded here for us a conversation between these men that is very elaborate with picture words that describe God's character.
9:2 ... But how can a mortal be righteous before God? Case and point!
10- My foot note stated that Job was starting to wallow in self-pity... "our pain lures us toward feeling sorry for ourselves, at this point we are only one step from self-righteousness" OUCH! This is where we keep track of how unfair that our situation is and what has happened us. We take our eyes off of God and focus on the circumstance we find ourselves in. I need to look and see what I can learn from situation and how it can be used in my life and how it will grow me. God IS God, I am not.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Psalms 12-14 Fools
Psalm 14:1 says "The fool says in his heart there is no God" I have a hard time believing that anyone really believes there is no God. As a matter of fact, I don't believe it. I do believe there are millions(billions) who don't want to believe in God. They don't want to believe in sin either. How convenient. I think Scripture clearly says that anyone who claims "non belief" is a liar. Some verses:
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.
Most(not all) atheists I've had discussions with on this topic are what the world considers intellectuals. Their god is their intellect. I think I'll trust the one true God on this one. "The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God." Atheists - Fools participating in foolishness.
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.
Most(not all) atheists I've had discussions with on this topic are what the world considers intellectuals. Their god is their intellect. I think I'll trust the one true God on this one. "The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God." Atheists - Fools participating in foolishness.
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