Four well-aimed thoughts . . .

Genesis 6; Matthew 6; Ezra 6; Acts 6

Those who mock the Bible as a dusty old and irrelevant book don’t know what they are missing. I’ve been reading it for decades, asking God each day to give me what I need to hear. Each day He proves to me the truth that: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

Today is no exception. My devotional guide offers four chapters to read and each one of them gave me one item from the above list. First, Genesis reveals the expanding results of sin and God’s response to it . . .

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:1–8)

I’ve wondered who these sons of god were until realizing god should not be capitalized. In context, these were powerful men, made so by the pagan god, and no matter what that god might be, Satan backed it. This enemy was doing what he could to cause resistance to God and the result was sin so rampant that God regretted creating human beings. Serious stuff. However, one man was God-inclined and we know the story; he and his family were saved from a flood that destroyed all other people. I’m reminded to watch my own life. Even one sin can have terrible ramifications.

Ezra points to God’s mercy. The work on the temple had been halted by an Assyrian king, but God had given a prior king the heart to allow His people to rebuild it. They did the work then kept the Passover as instructed. The priests purified themselves, offered the sacrifice and “It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” (Ezra 6:19–22)

Matthew gave me a rebuke by reminding me how I sometimes feel pride in my heart over silly things, like I know the words of a hymn without needed to look at the overhead, or that I am praying or doing something that pleases God and hope that others notice. Today, He says this to me:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

Reading Acts is like a sidebar. My reaction to it also hints at pride instead of humility. The early church had a problem with taking care of hungry widows . . .  

And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2–4)

At first, I’m thinking preaching is more important than serving tables, but the qualifications are the same for both tasks. God says the body of Christ has no parts more important than others. I must not put anyone on a pedestal for any reason. This is pride in status.

God speaks. I need to be alert, to pay attention to any “hidden” attitudes that eventually show up in how I treat others. Look what one bite of fruit did to the world. Remember the mercy of God as He rebuilds His temple — which is now the hearts of His people. I’m to serve them in love, without pride or disrespecting anyone, focusing on how He wants to change me.

Understand the Bible?

Years ago a couple of ‘missionaries’ came to my door. Their main question was, “Where did you learn the meaning of the Bible?” I didn’t realize they wanted me to name my church so they could attack whatever flaws they perceived in it. But I had an answer. I told them that my teaching came from the Bible, not from people or a church. That upset them. They didn’t believe me. I realized later that in their minds no one can learn anything that way; it must be taught to them by a religious organization.

For that reason, these verses are particularly meaningful to me:

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 John 2:26–27)

Even though the Holy Spirit is the teacher, my church and other Christians often affirm to me what the Spirit has been telling me. This week I’ve been able to catch John MacArthur a couple of times. He is talking about how he knows what he knows about God. Basically, he says, “from the Bible” and because he is convinced it is inspired by God, it is the only reliable source.

He goes on to say what I know also, that the human mind cannot understand the things of God without the illumination from the Holy Spirit. He uses these verses, which I also believe give the answer to both issues:

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:10–16)

Both questions involve knowing the truth. Why does a Christian know what we know? Why do those without faith in Christ not understand what we know? The answers are above. Christians know because we have the Holy Spirit and are taught by Him. This is according to a promise Jesus made before He was crucified, resurrected and left this world:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17)

The second question is answered too. The unsaved person does not know or understand the things of God because that person does not have the Holy Spirit imparting spiritual truth to their heart and mind. Not only is this true, but God’s truth seems totally foolish to them. It does not make sense nor seem right or useful. Even hearing that this is what is happening does not make sense. In human independence, the sinner’s heart is convinced that he knows all he needs to know to run his own life.

This is a danger for me too. Even though I know the source of all things is my triune God, I can fall into assuming I can handle things. When I fail or become weak, God reminds me that this isn’t so. I need to rely on Him all the time and for everything.

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Jesus, I do look forward to the day when this battle with sin and relying on myself instead of You comes to an end. Here I get a taste now and then of what that will be like and love the freedom of walking in the Spirit. You are amazing and You do amazing things, even with such a sinner as I. Today’s challenge is to cooperate with You in every detail of life!

Today’s thankful list . . .

- that Jesus gives me His mind and thoughts as I need them.

- a day of rest now that my work has created a tennis elbow (no tennis though).

- hubby’s help to clean out a long-overdue junk drawer of hangers, nails, hooks, etc.

- a short nap during a hockey game (and being able to sleep through anything).

- healthy snacks like nuts and grapes.

- clean clothes and good food.

Understanding the Bible

When I was a new Christian, my sister (who had been saved before me) told me how to read the Bible. She said to start in the New Testament with the Gospel of John. Read it five times. Then read Romans two times. Then begin with Matthew and read it all.

She also told me how to get the most out of it. She said, “Read it until something stops you, a new thought, an idea that you understand, something fresh. Then write it in a journal. Also write what came to your mind while you were reading it.”

I followed her advice and still do. She didn’t explain it but both of us know that this way of reading is listening for the illumination that the Holy Spirit gives to His people. After going to Bible school and seminary, it still seems the best to figure out what God is saying. After fifty years of daily reading, He keeps opening my mind to new truth and giving me a deeper way of looking at truth He has already revealed.

This morning, I am again reminded of the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit when I read. If I don’t, I’m in danger of coming up with interpretations that are not what God intended. Peter says it this way:

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:15–18)

Not only did Paul write things that are hard to understand, so did many others who penned the thoughts of God. Besides that, Peter’s words are also true concerning how the Bible is often interpreted by those who think they can figure it out ‘all by myself’ and wind up twisting the truth God intended into error. As Peter says, this is not only disastrous for them, but can lead others astray.

Spiritual growth happens through the grace of God. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is also revealing Jesus Christ in such a way that lives are changed. The more I know Him, the greater the changes. This growth is sometimes painful as He shows me what I am like without Him, but it is also an adventure that brings me closer to Him and brings glory to God.

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Thank You Jesus for the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal You, to reveal truth, to make hard-to-understand passages in Your Word understandable. Thank You also for the most amazing reality — there is no end to it. I’ve read through the Bible dozens of times and see new things each time. I read it every day and am amazed how You bring fresh thoughts to my mind that bless me and bring praise to my lips. You are astonishing. May I glorify You this day and always.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit.

- the unfathomable depth of the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

- the hunger and excitement I feel each time I open the Book.

- safely getting out and home after winter’s first snowfall and terribly icy streets.

- a day of making charity quilts with like-minded seamstresses.

- hubby taking time to help me buy/load/unload and put away groceries.

- yummy carrot cake.