Titus
Paul said that God brought us salvation that gives us the ability to have self-control, to live godly lives while we wait for the return of Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to purify for himself a people that are eager to do what is good (Titus 2:11-14). I read that, and it sounded great, but am I eager to do good? Not all the time! Sometimes it is such a chore. Why do we always have to put others ahead of ourselves?
In the end, it is more rewarding to do good. Proverbs has tried to teach us that over and over again. I think the desire has to be consciously cultivated, though. So that's something I'll be praying about - being eager to do good!
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The God of all comfort
2 Corinthians
The following passage from 2 Corinthians 1 brought to light (for me) a potential new way to think about suffering:
The following passage from 2 Corinthians 1 brought to light (for me) a potential new way to think about suffering:
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
4who
comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any
trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6If
we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are
comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient
endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
8We
do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we
suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far
beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
9Indeed,
in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we
might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
10He
has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On
him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on oura behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Our experiences aren't for us alone. What God has done in our lives should be shared with others to help them grow and mature. We aren't alone in the world. The stuff we've gone through, good and bad, can connect us with others. The comfort that God has given in all circumstances can be a powerful tool in ministering to others as we demonstrate that through God, we can endure all things.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Samson, a judge?
Judges
It's kind of interesting to read that Samson was considered a leader of the Israelites. It seems to me that he was just a capricious, somewhat angry, man who had a serious grudge against the Philistines. Granted, the Philistines were pagans and therefore mortal enemies of Israel, but Samson doesn't seem to have any sort of typical judge characteristics. He never offered wise advice, nor did he rally the troops and rout the Philistines completely. By God's Spirit, he was able to kill an inordinately large number of Philistines on his own, but to what end? What did his life demonstrate to the nation?
Perhaps the story was meant to show that in the end, Samson was more concerned with God's plan for his life than his own plan (womanizing, etc). Or that God has compassion on those who call out to him, as Samson did just before he brought down the pagan temple.
An article titled "Samson's Silver Spoon" by Bob Deffinbaugh summed up in more detail my curiosities about Samson. Basically, Samson had huge potential based on his birth (foretold by an angel, blessed by God as a Nazirite) and yet he squandered it. He sort of saved Israel, but not in a great way. Fortunately, in Jesus Christ we have a saviour who makes the grade, so to speak. In fact, only through Christ can we be saved, as mortal man cannot hope to aspire to be as righteous as God. We can see this through the story of Samson, since he started out so well, and yet didn't quite reach his potential. So don't rely on your own strength to carry you through, because it will inevitably fail. Rely on God!
It's kind of interesting to read that Samson was considered a leader of the Israelites. It seems to me that he was just a capricious, somewhat angry, man who had a serious grudge against the Philistines. Granted, the Philistines were pagans and therefore mortal enemies of Israel, but Samson doesn't seem to have any sort of typical judge characteristics. He never offered wise advice, nor did he rally the troops and rout the Philistines completely. By God's Spirit, he was able to kill an inordinately large number of Philistines on his own, but to what end? What did his life demonstrate to the nation?
Perhaps the story was meant to show that in the end, Samson was more concerned with God's plan for his life than his own plan (womanizing, etc). Or that God has compassion on those who call out to him, as Samson did just before he brought down the pagan temple.
An article titled "Samson's Silver Spoon" by Bob Deffinbaugh summed up in more detail my curiosities about Samson. Basically, Samson had huge potential based on his birth (foretold by an angel, blessed by God as a Nazirite) and yet he squandered it. He sort of saved Israel, but not in a great way. Fortunately, in Jesus Christ we have a saviour who makes the grade, so to speak. In fact, only through Christ can we be saved, as mortal man cannot hope to aspire to be as righteous as God. We can see this through the story of Samson, since he started out so well, and yet didn't quite reach his potential. So don't rely on your own strength to carry you through, because it will inevitably fail. Rely on God!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The secret things of God
1 Corinthians
What are the secret things of God? Google leads you to more than a million different sites that suggest the answer or provide a definition of their own version of the secret things of God. The top hit is a book by Henry Cloud - The Secret Things Of God: Unlocking The Treasures Reserved
For You. That book actually sounds kind of interesting.
I'm inclined to follow Barnes's interpretation that the secret is the gospel, the good news that God will save all mankind through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. God's plan was hidden in a mystery until the time of Christ, but now it has been made known to those he calls. It's still a mystery to unbelievers, and sometimes seems kind of mysterious to those who do believe! Justice is achieved through grace and mercy, and that is a mystery.
Fortunately, we don't need to try and solve the mystery or the secret anymore. That's what is life-changing - God has clearly shown us the way to salvation, if we care to see the truth. If we already have discovered the secret things of God, I believe it's our job to help others unlock the secrets for themselves.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Olive shoots and salvation
Consider this passage from Romans: Paul is talking about grafting in wild and cultivated olive shoots. Gentiles are the wild shoots and the cultivated ones are the Jews, who have grown up with a belief in God. Paul says that they were cut out of the tree because of unbelief (in Jesus) and we were grafted in, but we shouldn't take pride in this fact, because they can easily be re-grafted into the tree (of faith in Christ). Romans 11:30-32 states "Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."
That last sentence always confused me because of the word 'bound'. But we have to understand it not as an involuntary sinfulness, but as voluntary. God has allowed us to be disobedient (by our own choice), but in our sin he comes near and provides a way out - salvation by grace through Christ - and thereby shows his glory and majesty to all men.
That last sentence always confused me because of the word 'bound'. But we have to understand it not as an involuntary sinfulness, but as voluntary. God has allowed us to be disobedient (by our own choice), but in our sin he comes near and provides a way out - salvation by grace through Christ - and thereby shows his glory and majesty to all men.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Our salvation
Psalm 62:1-2
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The staff and salvation
Genesis
I was curious as to what Genesis 47:31 meant - "'Swear to me,' he [Jacob] said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff." Particularly the part about the staff interested me. What I found out was that out of 10 or so translations, the NIV was the only one that used 'top of his staff'. The rest talk about the head of the bed. However, the staff terminology comes from Hebrews 11:21 and the Greek version of the Old Testament, which makes more sense than the Hebrew version 'head of the bed'. In fact, as I found out from the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, the bed likely didn't have have a 'head' as it was just a mat, so top of the staff makes more sense. Clarke's commentary suggests that Jacob, in his old age, simply needed to lean on the staff for support, and he worshiped God because Joseph would be able to bring his bones back to his forefathers' resting place.
Matthew
In Matthew 9:13 Jesus says, "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
This verse reminds me that once we're saved, it's not the end. Jesus was always looking to speak to the sinners, to rescue them and bring them into new life. Once we've been rescued, we shouldn't sit on our laurels; we should go out and help Jesus extend God's kingdom on earth.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
It is hard for the righteous to be saved
It is hard enough for Christians to follow the way of Christ, let alone those who do not believe in Jesus. After some study, that is what I get from 1 Peter 4:18, which states the following:
And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
If you're curious in reading a little more on that yourself, click here.
And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
If you're curious in reading a little more on that yourself, click here.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
What precious blood
1 Peter 1 is packed with such inspirational verses! I'm sure the rest of the chapters will follow suit. After all, Peter wrote to the scattered Christians in what is now modern Turkey, encouraging them to continue on in their faith in spite of persecution.
Two verses that I would like to emphasize here is 1 Pet 1:18-19: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
These verses drive home the fact that our faith is so important, so precious, just like the blood of Christ. He died to save us. He didn't just fork over some extra cash to cover our sins. He gave his life! This is a good reminder to take our faith more seriously; to live a life that exemplifies the price that was paid for it.
Two verses that I would like to emphasize here is 1 Pet 1:18-19: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
These verses drive home the fact that our faith is so important, so precious, just like the blood of Christ. He died to save us. He didn't just fork over some extra cash to cover our sins. He gave his life! This is a good reminder to take our faith more seriously; to live a life that exemplifies the price that was paid for it.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Mercy, not vengeance
Key verses
Proverbs
29:15 and 17 - Too many people leave their kids to their own devices or expect video games and tv to educate them. Let's get back to family time and actually imparting personal/social skills and moral values to our kids so that our society doesn't continue to spiral out of control!
IsaiahThe Lord states in Isaiah 59:21 that the words he will impart to his people will not depart from their mouths, or from the mouths of their children forever. I thought this was kind of strange, because it seemed like that meant that God's word would remain silent forever. However, depart here doesn't seem to mean that they will not speak, but rather that God's word will always remain with them and when they do speak, it will be God speaking through them. We have a promise from God, then, that his Spirit will be in us and his words will always be in our mouths, ready to be proclaimed to whomever we meet, forever.
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." (60:1) Out of the online commentaries I have looked at, only one suggests in passing that this salvation may be from Babylonian rule, but even that theologian concludes, with the others, that this passage is referring to Christ coming to save his people. Just as in Isaiah 9, where the people walking in darkness saw a great light, Isaiah 60 proclaims the coming salvation and great light of Christ.
Luke
I wonder what it was about the breaking of the bread that made these two men on the road to Emmaus realize that it was Jesus with whom they were talking?
Hebrews
Abel's blood cried out for vengeance against Cain. Jesus' blood cries out to God for mercy so that we don't have to die. Let us try to mirror that approach, and extend mercy and grace to our neighbours today, rather than vengeance and annoyance.
Hebrews 12:28-29 - Therefore,
since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be
thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Proverbs
29:15 and 17 - Too many people leave their kids to their own devices or expect video games and tv to educate them. Let's get back to family time and actually imparting personal/social skills and moral values to our kids so that our society doesn't continue to spiral out of control!
IsaiahThe Lord states in Isaiah 59:21 that the words he will impart to his people will not depart from their mouths, or from the mouths of their children forever. I thought this was kind of strange, because it seemed like that meant that God's word would remain silent forever. However, depart here doesn't seem to mean that they will not speak, but rather that God's word will always remain with them and when they do speak, it will be God speaking through them. We have a promise from God, then, that his Spirit will be in us and his words will always be in our mouths, ready to be proclaimed to whomever we meet, forever.
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." (60:1) Out of the online commentaries I have looked at, only one suggests in passing that this salvation may be from Babylonian rule, but even that theologian concludes, with the others, that this passage is referring to Christ coming to save his people. Just as in Isaiah 9, where the people walking in darkness saw a great light, Isaiah 60 proclaims the coming salvation and great light of Christ.
Luke
I wonder what it was about the breaking of the bread that made these two men on the road to Emmaus realize that it was Jesus with whom they were talking?
Hebrews
Abel's blood cried out for vengeance against Cain. Jesus' blood cries out to God for mercy so that we don't have to die. Let us try to mirror that approach, and extend mercy and grace to our neighbours today, rather than vengeance and annoyance.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Salvation by death from death
Key verse
Hebrews 9:26 - "But now he [Christ] has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself."
Isaiah
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (43:1-3)
Hebrews 9:26 - "But now he [Christ] has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself."
Isaiah
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (43:1-3)
When I first read this passage, I was encouraged by God's salvation. Then I read it again, and realized that God's salvation comes when we need saving. Ultimately, we need saving from sin, which he has done for us. Beyond that, we need saving when we are walking through those trials of life. We will see terrible times in our day - that's the reality of sin's effect on our world. Even amidst the suffering, however, God will give us the strength to withstand the evil and be saved.
Proverbs
Verses 4 and 5 of chapter 26 require some thinking in order to make sense of them. After reading a few things from Clarke's commentary, I have discovered that you have to look at each verse a little differently. In the first case, you don't want to answer a fool according to his folly in the sense that you don't want to stoop to his level of not making sense, because then you won't make any sense yourself. However, you do want to use his folly (v. 5) to point out his illogical thinking so that he will hopefully see that he doesn't make any sense.
Hebrews
How did blood and death come to be the means by which we are saved?
What was it about the tree of good and evil that made death the only
means to overcome death? That is, in the Old Testament, other animals
had to die to save the Jews from an eternal death, and now Christ had to
die in the place of those animals to save all of humankind. Is this an
answerable question, or is it just the way things are?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Being faithful
Key verse
Hebrews 7:25 - "Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Luke
I'd like to think that if someone accused me of being a follower of Jesus, I would say yes. And I truly think I would, at least in today's society. However, if I put myself in Peter's shoes, what would I do? He clearly thought he would stay with Jesus to the end, and in once sense he did, after he got over this initial bout of fear. But at this critical period of Jesus' life, Peter abandons him. Perhaps Peter feared being caught and killed, or was it simply that he simply didn't want to be associated with someone who was no longer popular with the people. Regardless, I think there are a few lessons here. One is, while it is great to have second chances, as Peter did (we'll read about this later), it's so much more fulfilling to get things right the first time. The second lesson is to not make rash promises. We discussed this in Hebrews a couple days ago. If we decide we'll do something, let's just do it, in spite of the costs.
Proverbs
A house is built through wisdom, and made full with knowledge (24:3-4). This verse struck me, but now that I try to think about it more deeply, I'm at a loss for what to say. I'm trying to picture this in my mind... To me, a house is built through love and made full with that same love. Rooms are filled with memories of the relationships that took place in those rooms. Wisdom helps in keeping those relationships strong, and so through that, wisdom builds the home.
Isaiah
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress (33:2). It's one thing to say that this verse is comforting, but it is another to actually accept the truth of it. Do I think of God every morning and knowingly, willingly, place my trust in him, that he will be my strength for the day? More often, I get up and decide how I will go about my day. I need to take more time to place it in God's hands, because the only way I'll make it through the day with anything to show for it is through God. Moreover, when I am worried, distressed, or anxious, I need to give this to God and allow him to be my salvation. I need to let him come and wash over me with his peace. I need to take hold of his gift of love and realize that he is indeed all I need. When I ask for his strength and salvation, I need to truly accept it and live in that new reality.
Hebrews 7:25 - "Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Luke
I'd like to think that if someone accused me of being a follower of Jesus, I would say yes. And I truly think I would, at least in today's society. However, if I put myself in Peter's shoes, what would I do? He clearly thought he would stay with Jesus to the end, and in once sense he did, after he got over this initial bout of fear. But at this critical period of Jesus' life, Peter abandons him. Perhaps Peter feared being caught and killed, or was it simply that he simply didn't want to be associated with someone who was no longer popular with the people. Regardless, I think there are a few lessons here. One is, while it is great to have second chances, as Peter did (we'll read about this later), it's so much more fulfilling to get things right the first time. The second lesson is to not make rash promises. We discussed this in Hebrews a couple days ago. If we decide we'll do something, let's just do it, in spite of the costs.
Proverbs
A house is built through wisdom, and made full with knowledge (24:3-4). This verse struck me, but now that I try to think about it more deeply, I'm at a loss for what to say. I'm trying to picture this in my mind... To me, a house is built through love and made full with that same love. Rooms are filled with memories of the relationships that took place in those rooms. Wisdom helps in keeping those relationships strong, and so through that, wisdom builds the home.
Isaiah
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress (33:2). It's one thing to say that this verse is comforting, but it is another to actually accept the truth of it. Do I think of God every morning and knowingly, willingly, place my trust in him, that he will be my strength for the day? More often, I get up and decide how I will go about my day. I need to take more time to place it in God's hands, because the only way I'll make it through the day with anything to show for it is through God. Moreover, when I am worried, distressed, or anxious, I need to give this to God and allow him to be my salvation. I need to let him come and wash over me with his peace. I need to take hold of his gift of love and realize that he is indeed all I need. When I ask for his strength and salvation, I need to truly accept it and live in that new reality.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Deliverance for Israel
Isaiah
25:9 - In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."
Deliverance is coming for Israel!
Luke
I'm surprised that Jesus asked his disciples to get swords because later on when one of them uses a sword to cut off the ear of the enemy, Jesus says that whoever will live by the sword will die by the sword. Wouldn't it be better to not have any swords at all?
25:9 - In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."
Deliverance is coming for Israel!
Luke
I'm surprised that Jesus asked his disciples to get swords because later on when one of them uses a sword to cut off the ear of the enemy, Jesus says that whoever will live by the sword will die by the sword. Wouldn't it be better to not have any swords at all?
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Salvation: what needs to happen?
I've already posted on the reading for Hebrews for today, but the more I read this passage, the more a discussion ensued in my own mind.
I kept reading some online commentaries, and lo and behold, there was a phrase in Hebrews 5:9 that I skipped over without any thought. "He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him".
Clarke's commentary states that "he is the author and cause of eternal salvation only to them who obey him. It is not merely believers, but obedient believers, that shall be finally saved." This commentary is saying that we are ultimately only saved by being obedient to God and following his commands to go out into the world and preach the good news, grow in faith, and enlarge the kingdom of God here on earth. Does this mean that we must do more than just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved? Does believing in Christ encompass all these good works, or does it necessarily lead to these actions if you do truly believe in Christ? What does obedience to Christ mean? I believe this passage is saying that Christ has become the perfect Saviour for us and to receive this salvation, we must obey him. Obedience means to follow his commands, and he has commanded us to believe in him as Saviour for us to be saved. He has also commanded us to repent, and confess his name, and preach the good news.
There is a short little compilation of verses on this topic that can be found at this location. Let me know what you think about salvation and what it entails or requires. Jesus Christ did say to the thief on the cross that on that day, he would be with him in paradise. Does that mean the thief believed in Christ and obeyed his commands?
I kept reading some online commentaries, and lo and behold, there was a phrase in Hebrews 5:9 that I skipped over without any thought. "He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him".
Clarke's commentary states that "he is the author and cause of eternal salvation only to them who obey him. It is not merely believers, but obedient believers, that shall be finally saved." This commentary is saying that we are ultimately only saved by being obedient to God and following his commands to go out into the world and preach the good news, grow in faith, and enlarge the kingdom of God here on earth. Does this mean that we must do more than just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved? Does believing in Christ encompass all these good works, or does it necessarily lead to these actions if you do truly believe in Christ? What does obedience to Christ mean? I believe this passage is saying that Christ has become the perfect Saviour for us and to receive this salvation, we must obey him. Obedience means to follow his commands, and he has commanded us to believe in him as Saviour for us to be saved. He has also commanded us to repent, and confess his name, and preach the good news.
There is a short little compilation of verses on this topic that can be found at this location. Let me know what you think about salvation and what it entails or requires. Jesus Christ did say to the thief on the cross that on that day, he would be with him in paradise. Does that mean the thief believed in Christ and obeyed his commands?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Generosity, among other things
Key verses:
Isaiah 6:3 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
Luke 21:4 "All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Hebrews
Let me begin with the Hebrews passage, although that is the last one I read. I think what the author is saying here is that, in the past, God spoke to us through angels, and that message was important. BUT, he has now spoken to us through Jesus Christ and, since Christ is higher than the angels (as the author just argued in the previous chapter), we should listen to this greater message (hence, the great salvation in v. 3).
Luke
Note on Luke 21:6 - the destruction of the temple did come about in AD 70 when the Romans came and completely destroyed it.
Isaiah
Isaiah 8:12-13 showed me that there are always people around who want to distract you from the truth and get you to join their bandwagon.
For further investigation: who is Immanuel in Isaiah 7:14? The footnote in my bible suggests that it was a young boy living in the 700s BC. From our point of view, in the year of our Lord 2010, it's so easy to look through all of the Old Testament with the New Testament lens. I would have assumed that Immanuel in Isaiah 7 was referring to Jesus, but I will look into this further.
Proverbs
Proverbs 19:20 - a reminder to keep an open mind. Criticism or advice is sometimes hard to swallow, but it keeps us on the right track if we have the right attitude.
These proverbs have such good lessons for living life well! For instance, here's another one: "A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again." Be prudent about what you do (think before you act). How many times does a phrase like that get drilled into us, and yet how many hot-tempered people do you know (answer - perhaps too many?)? We have to actually live out what we're reading!
Life Application
What's one practice that I can take on today or in the days to come that will help drill into me what I have learned from today's reading? Greater generosity.
Isaiah 6:3 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
Luke 21:4 "All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Hebrews
Let me begin with the Hebrews passage, although that is the last one I read. I think what the author is saying here is that, in the past, God spoke to us through angels, and that message was important. BUT, he has now spoken to us through Jesus Christ and, since Christ is higher than the angels (as the author just argued in the previous chapter), we should listen to this greater message (hence, the great salvation in v. 3).
Luke
Note on Luke 21:6 - the destruction of the temple did come about in AD 70 when the Romans came and completely destroyed it.
Isaiah
Isaiah 8:12-13 showed me that there are always people around who want to distract you from the truth and get you to join their bandwagon.
For further investigation: who is Immanuel in Isaiah 7:14? The footnote in my bible suggests that it was a young boy living in the 700s BC. From our point of view, in the year of our Lord 2010, it's so easy to look through all of the Old Testament with the New Testament lens. I would have assumed that Immanuel in Isaiah 7 was referring to Jesus, but I will look into this further.
Proverbs
Proverbs 19:20 - a reminder to keep an open mind. Criticism or advice is sometimes hard to swallow, but it keeps us on the right track if we have the right attitude.
These proverbs have such good lessons for living life well! For instance, here's another one: "A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again." Be prudent about what you do (think before you act). How many times does a phrase like that get drilled into us, and yet how many hot-tempered people do you know (answer - perhaps too many?)? We have to actually live out what we're reading!
Life Application
What's one practice that I can take on today or in the days to come that will help drill into me what I have learned from today's reading? Greater generosity.
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