Philemon
I just noticed that I had to revise the last day of the reading plan to ensure that I indeed read the whole bible in the 9 months. So today's reading included Esther 7-10, Proverbs 17, Philemon (the whole book), and Luke 20:9-26. That's it! We have finished the journey!
I would just like to comment briefly on Paul's letter to Philemon. Paul requested that Philemon welcome back a runaway slave who had become a Christian while he was away from Philemon. The outcome isn't clear, as we are only privy to Paul's request, not Philemon's response. However, we know the right response - welcome back the one who wronged you with open arms, especially since Onesimus (the runaway slave) was repentant. We must extend grace to those who have wronged us, just as Jesus did. Even if they aren't requesting forgiveness, we should respond in grace and love. This may have been a tough ask for Philemon, and for us, and we'll have to rely on God's strength to help us make that move. Just remember though, it can be done!
Proverbs
Just a side note on Proverbs 17:17, which says "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." I never saw the connection between the two parts of the verse before, but now I have realized something. When it says that a friend loves at all times, there should be a focus on the fact that a good friend is with you not only in the good times, but also in the bad. Since a brother is "born for adversity" that means that the brother will be with you in troubled times, like a friend is. I'm not sure why I didn't clue in to this before now, but there you go. It pays to re-read your bible!
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Don't fear those who can kill the body
Luke
Check out Luke 12: 4-7. Somehow, it's easy to start thinking that the person who can kill the body and send someone to hell might be Satan, and we should be afraid. But Satan can't send anyone to hell. Only God does that. So when Jesus said not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, Satan is part of that crowd. Instead, we need to fear God, who can send both body and soul to hell. But unless we have rejected God, we don't need to fear him in the sense that he might suddenly just send someone to hell. He will care for us, as this passage goes on to say, and looks after us more than the sparrows. God will forgive us. So we don't have anything to fear, except to approach God in awe for his grace and mercy.
Check out Luke 12: 4-7. Somehow, it's easy to start thinking that the person who can kill the body and send someone to hell might be Satan, and we should be afraid. But Satan can't send anyone to hell. Only God does that. So when Jesus said not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, Satan is part of that crowd. Instead, we need to fear God, who can send both body and soul to hell. But unless we have rejected God, we don't need to fear him in the sense that he might suddenly just send someone to hell. He will care for us, as this passage goes on to say, and looks after us more than the sparrows. God will forgive us. So we don't have anything to fear, except to approach God in awe for his grace and mercy.
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Lord's favour
Psalm 85
This Psalm reminded me of the compassionate, forgiving, and loving nature of God. I was still thinking about yesterday's post on trust, and so this psalm seemed to say to me that God does deserve our trust for all the great things he has done. More than that, even when we don't rely fully on him, he will still forgive us for our folly and restore us to his fellowship. Here are the verses that speak to this issue in particular. Feel free to look up the rest of the psalm.
This Psalm reminded me of the compassionate, forgiving, and loving nature of God. I was still thinking about yesterday's post on trust, and so this psalm seemed to say to me that God does deserve our trust for all the great things he has done. More than that, even when we don't rely fully on him, he will still forgive us for our folly and restore us to his fellowship. Here are the verses that speak to this issue in particular. Feel free to look up the rest of the psalm.
Psalm 85:1-3 - You showed favor to your land, O Lord; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.
Friday, November 12, 2010
The blind man
Key verse
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
John
I like this story about the blind man (I read the whole thing). I find it amusing that he asks the Pharisees if they want to be Jesus' disciples as well. He stays true to Jesus, his healer, even though he gets accosted by the Pharisees. Don't doubt the power of Christ, even if you bombarded by criticism and hatred.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
John
I like this story about the blind man (I read the whole thing). I find it amusing that he asks the Pharisees if they want to be Jesus' disciples as well. He stays true to Jesus, his healer, even though he gets accosted by the Pharisees. Don't doubt the power of Christ, even if you bombarded by criticism and hatred.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
He's on time
Key verse
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
What can we take from that verse? If you're in a place where you've asked something of God, and he hasn't responded, maybe there's something else that he's working out in the background so that he can give you what you're asking for. In order to achieve your miracle, there may be a lot of other little actions that you aren't even thinking about that have to happen first. God has the perfect time in mind, and is looking out for your best interests, so just wait and trust.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
What can we take from that verse? If you're in a place where you've asked something of God, and he hasn't responded, maybe there's something else that he's working out in the background so that he can give you what you're asking for. In order to achieve your miracle, there may be a lot of other little actions that you aren't even thinking about that have to happen first. God has the perfect time in mind, and is looking out for your best interests, so just wait and trust.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Ekhah! (Oh How!)
And so begins the book of Lamentations, a series of poems outlining the Jews' mourning for the destruction of Jerusalem. It will be interesting to see whether this book ends in hope or sadness.
John 6:68 - Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
-The Twelve Disciples couldn't bear to leave Jesus, even if his teachings were hard, because they knew the truth about his message. He truly was the Messiah, and promised eternal life and forgiveness of sins for all who believe in him. There's no where else to turn.
John 6:68 - Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
-The Twelve Disciples couldn't bear to leave Jesus, even if his teachings were hard, because they knew the truth about his message. He truly was the Messiah, and promised eternal life and forgiveness of sins for all who believe in him. There's no where else to turn.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Potter's House
Key verse
John 3:8 - The wind blows wherever it please. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Jeremiah
Thoughts on chapter 18, about God as a potter.
God's unchanging nature does not mean that he cannot change his plans. His love for all mankind means that he will change his plans for us if we act in accordance to his will. If we go outside his will, then he will guide us back or we will suffer the consequences. Now those who believe in such doctrines as predestination and fate may see this as God's plan never changes, but what he says he will do and what he ends up doing were all a part of the final scheme anyway. Regardless, we know that if we ask forgiveness, God will grant it to us.
James
According to a footnote in my Bible, the priests had to wash their hands and feet before approaching God in the tabernacle. James exclamation "wash your hands, you sinners" therefore makes sense, as we should cleanse ourselves, and make our hearts right with God as we come to him.
Ecclesiastes
If you are struggling to make sense of Ecclesiastes, consider reading "Living on the Ragged Edge" by Charles Swindoll. I have just started reading this book and it is very useful. It explains how Solomon, having the money and freedom to do as he pleased (as he was the king), was able to experience everything under the sun, just as we would like to do sometime. Wouldn't you appreciate the opportunity to break free from societal pressures and just do what you want, without a care in the world? That's what Solomon did, and he provided us with his journal. But what he found out was that a relationship lived "horizontally", without a focus on God, was worthless. We have to be right with God, and do our best to live "vertically", for life to make any sense and to get any sort of lasting satisfaction.
John 3:8 - The wind blows wherever it please. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Jeremiah
Thoughts on chapter 18, about God as a potter.
God's unchanging nature does not mean that he cannot change his plans. His love for all mankind means that he will change his plans for us if we act in accordance to his will. If we go outside his will, then he will guide us back or we will suffer the consequences. Now those who believe in such doctrines as predestination and fate may see this as God's plan never changes, but what he says he will do and what he ends up doing were all a part of the final scheme anyway. Regardless, we know that if we ask forgiveness, God will grant it to us.
James
According to a footnote in my Bible, the priests had to wash their hands and feet before approaching God in the tabernacle. James exclamation "wash your hands, you sinners" therefore makes sense, as we should cleanse ourselves, and make our hearts right with God as we come to him.
Ecclesiastes
If you are struggling to make sense of Ecclesiastes, consider reading "Living on the Ragged Edge" by Charles Swindoll. I have just started reading this book and it is very useful. It explains how Solomon, having the money and freedom to do as he pleased (as he was the king), was able to experience everything under the sun, just as we would like to do sometime. Wouldn't you appreciate the opportunity to break free from societal pressures and just do what you want, without a care in the world? That's what Solomon did, and he provided us with his journal. But what he found out was that a relationship lived "horizontally", without a focus on God, was worthless. We have to be right with God, and do our best to live "vertically", for life to make any sense and to get any sort of lasting satisfaction.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
He is not here... (That may sound odd, but read on!)
Key verse
Luke 24:5-6 - "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
Luke
24:12 - Peter saw the empty graveclothes and heard from the women what they had seen, and yet still wondered what had happened to Jesus. History gives us great clarity because I can't see how there could be any other conclusion than Jesus rising from the dead. Living there at that time, seeing it happen before my eyes, I think resurrection could certainly be a possibility in my mind. After all, Jesus had already done a number of miracles, including bringing the dead back to life. Certainly knowing what I know now, if I saw something like that again, I feel like I would also believe in new life. However, I could be overly optimistic about this, and in the shock of the moment, perhaps I would simply be utterly confused. It's difficult to reach a sure answer on these hypothetical.
Here's a tidbit from Clarke's Commentary on a different section of this verse."Peter seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but Wrapped together in a place by itself. All these circumstances prove that the thing was done leisurely; order and regularity being observed through the whole. Hurry and confusion necessarily mark every act of robbery."
Hebrews
11:40 - God planned something better for his people. It's hard not to want to charge ahead and make sure we get what we want in this life. We have got to rely on God because ultimately it is going to be God orchestrating everything anyway, and he sees everything, knows everything. Even when it looks like we're going to lose out on something, probably like Peter felt when he saw Jesus die, before he saw the empty clothes and began wondering, even when it looks that bad, God's in control! And we can take heart in that.
Isaiah
God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. This idea ties right in to the readings from Hebrews and Luke. We only see a part of the picture. When God freely pardons us, we can't see the whole thing. When he forgives someone we don't think should be forgiven, we aren't seeing what God is seeing, and we certainly aren't thinking what he is thinking! He is so far above us. That's a good perspective to have, so that we can try and see the world from his point of view, at least a little bit, so that we can better understand what we're supposed to do.
Luke 24:5-6 - "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
Luke
24:12 - Peter saw the empty graveclothes and heard from the women what they had seen, and yet still wondered what had happened to Jesus. History gives us great clarity because I can't see how there could be any other conclusion than Jesus rising from the dead. Living there at that time, seeing it happen before my eyes, I think resurrection could certainly be a possibility in my mind. After all, Jesus had already done a number of miracles, including bringing the dead back to life. Certainly knowing what I know now, if I saw something like that again, I feel like I would also believe in new life. However, I could be overly optimistic about this, and in the shock of the moment, perhaps I would simply be utterly confused. It's difficult to reach a sure answer on these hypothetical.
Here's a tidbit from Clarke's Commentary on a different section of this verse."Peter seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but Wrapped together in a place by itself. All these circumstances prove that the thing was done leisurely; order and regularity being observed through the whole. Hurry and confusion necessarily mark every act of robbery."
Hebrews
11:40 - God planned something better for his people. It's hard not to want to charge ahead and make sure we get what we want in this life. We have got to rely on God because ultimately it is going to be God orchestrating everything anyway, and he sees everything, knows everything. Even when it looks like we're going to lose out on something, probably like Peter felt when he saw Jesus die, before he saw the empty clothes and began wondering, even when it looks that bad, God's in control! And we can take heart in that.
Isaiah
God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. This idea ties right in to the readings from Hebrews and Luke. We only see a part of the picture. When God freely pardons us, we can't see the whole thing. When he forgives someone we don't think should be forgiven, we aren't seeing what God is seeing, and we certainly aren't thinking what he is thinking! He is so far above us. That's a good perspective to have, so that we can try and see the world from his point of view, at least a little bit, so that we can better understand what we're supposed to do.
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