A kitten may become enamored with their own tail and begin chasing after it. Puppies tend to run after any critter which enters their domain. Meanwhile, children follow a plethora of dreams until one captures their attention.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, 2 Corinthians 4:4.
Along the way, individuals may be deceived or simply unsatisfied when they get to the end of the rainbow. The apostle Paul refers to those who are blinded by the god of this world. Perhaps, Paul is eluding to those things in life that are appealing externally but lead to disappointment in the end.
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God, 1 Peter 2:16.
While driving home from work this week I heard the Britt Nicole song After You for the first time. The lyrics refer to the temptation to chase after worldly pursuits. Feeling empty, Britt realizes her she was chasing after the wrong things. Rather, a spirit of conviction has inspired her to begin running after God. May this blog and the song motivate you to start chasing after God’s will for this life.
The vigor of youth often breeds self-reliance. The concept of praying for healing is not relative, especially if good health has always been maintained. Thus, many young people will continue to press on without relying on God’s power to survive.
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise, Jeremiah 17:14.
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. This nickname comes from the messages Jeremiah often shared with Israel. The majority of the prophecies he receives from God we negative, focused on pending doom and punishment. Yet, there are some rays of hope, illustrating the power of prayer.
Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security, Jeremiah 33:6.
As for me, the older I become the more I need God’s help to get through each day. Over the last week, my vision has faded, unable to see or read letters unless the font is 48 is bigger. While I may need glasses, I still believe and cling to God’s power to deliver miracles. Whatever mountain standing in your way, may you find hope in God’s power to transform your current situation.
With the dawn of each new age, changes are made to adjust so that the world can understand what has happened in the past. In the context of the Bible, 3 distinct stages exist: oratory, letters and publication. The words of the Old Testament were passed on orally from one generation to the next. Hebrew families raised their children by regularly recounting stories of faith to guide their steps into adulthood. The celebration of Bar Mitzvahs for boys and Bat Mitzvah for girls culminates in years of biblical training by memorizing the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ, Romans 10:17.
During the first century, only the wealthy could afford education. Thus, illiteracy among the middle and lower class was high. As the Holy Spirit began to inspire authors to pen individual books of the New Testament, not many could read. Therefore, apostles, disciples and pastors read these letters during gatherings for prayer. This explains why the apostle Paul selects the phrase faith comes from hearing the word of Christ.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths, Proverbs 3:5-6.
The next age of faith began in 1450 following Johann Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press. This made the publication of Bibles accessible to common people. However, segments of the church do not embrace this initially. Major denominations like the Roman Catholic Church believed only priests could interpret the Bible correctly. The average Christian could not be trusted to handle the Word of God. This mindset and resistance led to the dark ages tainted by spiritual corruption.
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success, Joshua 1:8.
Today, we live in an age of over saturation. Multiple translations are available with a click of a mouse, downloading an app or read on a cell phone. This access in great for those who desire to grow their faith. Yet, there is a temptation to change translations until you make the Bible say what you want. Who knows what the next age may bring. Nonetheless, if you want to growth your faith, the best way remains by daily reading, studying and memorizing the Bible. This spiritual discipline often leads to putting faith into action.
Within a 48 hour period, my son Daniel experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Last Saturday he placed 5th in the state in Pole Vault earning St. Georges four points. After the final event, his school won the state track title by three points. On Monday, playing in an qualifier for the state golf tournament, Daniel fell 7 shots short. A few bad holes led to his demise.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us, Romans 5:3-5.
The apostle Paul writes about the role of failure in life. Disappointment serves as teachable moments. Failure allows suffering to change your perspective on life. If you deal with this in a mature manner, character is developed. If not fits of rage will likely follow. Each failure you endure allows growth to take shape. However, it only depends upon how you respond.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, Psalm 73:26.
No matter what you tell a younger generation, sometimes you have to let people learn the hard way. You can only hold someone’s hand so long. Eventually, you have to let the people you love sink or swim. Shielding children from failure will only hurt in the long run. Therefore, let go and let God use trials to strengthen the people you love.
Time can serve as a foe or a friend. When you are young, classes, days or months may drag on seeming endless. Yet, special moments are portions of time that you never want to end, savoring each second while it lasts. Unfortunately, all things in life will eventually pass.
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah, Psalm 39:5.
Human being shouldn’t be surprised by death. God created Adam out of dust and Job came to the realization from “ashes we were created and to dust we will return.” As great as celebrating the birth of a new child can be, the news of death can ruin your day. When I called my father to tell him Leanne was pregnant for the first time, he responded your grandmother is dead.
Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes, James 4:14.
The worst aspect of any passing is for those who don’t get the chance to say goodbye. My dog Autumn passed away earlier in the week after being part of the family for over ten years. While Autumn and I had our differences, it’s strange not seeing her by our bed each morning. Since my son Daniel was at a baseball game, he never got the chance to say a final goodbye. Whether its a person or a pet, live each day like its your last so you take the time to say goodbye to those whom you love.
Frayed, ragged, shabby and tattered are synonyms for worn. While most people will visualize a physical condition, there are other ways to become worn. Counselors, psychologists and therapists can become emotionally overwhelmed by a patients life. Meanwhile, clergy, pastors and spiritual leaders may be shaken by the problems of their flock.
“Man is also chastened with pain upon his bed, and with continual strife in his bones;” Job 33:19.
When disease, illness or sickness strike individuals, just getting up for a moment can make someone exhausted. Depending upon the severity of a condition, physically features may be altered. Without a cure or medicine to improve, bodies will continue to deteriorate. In the passage below, time has a way of wasting away bodies.
His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and his bones which were not seen stick out, Job 33:21.
Currently, I find myself in a different state of worn. One that involves a loss of energy, passion and vigor for life. Trying to keep any type of positive momentum is a grind. Thus, I struggle to experience joy in this life. Perhaps I need to remember the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 embracing my weakness so that Christ may be strong.
It’s been fifty years since Aretha Franklin introduced her version of Respect. This hit song has been part of advertisements, commercials and movies. One of my favorite synonyms for respect is reverence. This is one of these terms which been forgotten, rarely practiced anymore.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor, Romans 12:10.
Unfortunately, the popularity of social media has gradually flushed respect down the toilet. Every day Twitter wars disregard decency to bully, defame and lash out at those with whom you disagree. While the Bible encourages individuals to outdo others in a positive manner, this message is either ignored or simply scoffed at.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you,” Exodus 20:12.
The reason why respect is vanishing can be found in one of the ten commandments. When individuals begin to dishonor fathers and mothers, this decision opens the door to every area of life. No one is immune resulting in a culture that trashes everyone or everything in sight. Atheists helped kick God out of American public schools in the 1960’s. Fifty years later respect is one of the casualties of this war on religion. If you want to keep respect alive, start honoring fathers and mothers and maybe, just maybe respect will survive.
One of my common expressions at work is “that’s a strange one.” The context is based upon items and products that I stumble upon which I have never heard of before or seen. Many people have the same response to the Bible, especially when you read a term that doesn’t make any sense initially.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit, Galatians 5:25.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he makes a distinction between the Sinful Nature and the Spirit. If you read chapter five from the beginning you will find there is an internal battle going on. What you want to do and what God desires for you to carry out. Those who live according to the world’s standards give into self gratification. Meanwhile, those who truly decide to follow Christ must internally die to self to allow God’s Spirit to reign.
But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand, Job 32:8.
Elihu of the Old Testament is the first person to make this comparison. Yet, Elihu is referring to signs of spiritual understanding. When someone demonstrates or speaks words of wisdom, its not just the Spirit within mankind. Rather, godliness comes forth through the breath of the Almighty God. May this be your goal in life by yielding control so that the Holy Spirit will shine through you.
One of my junior high teachers used a familiar saying to address students who were about the cross an invisible line. Interrupting just before individuals earned a detention, promptly exclaiming, “that’s far enough.” Unfortunately, obedience and respect appear to be at an all time low. Instead, excuses, justification and victimization now reign.
Then Eli’hu the son of Bar’achel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; Job 32:2.
While listening to a heated discussion, a young man felt compelled to share his own two cents. Apparently, Job was lacking humility. Instead of accepting the hardship dealt by God, Job began to justify his own actions. Maybe Job did not do anything to receive the ordeals sent his way, but Elihu felt that Job is disrespecting God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
One of the greatest examples of justification occurs while watching replays of penalties in sports. Most of the time athletes complain to officials, “I never touched them.” Yet, replays often reveal guilt. In real life, no one is without fault. All have sinned. Thus, if justification continues, countless individuals will deny and reject the only One who will come to their rescue, Jesus Christ the Lord.
Wanting and having are two things in life that young people sometimes have to learn the hard way. Before graduating high school, many children are pampered, given cell phones, maybe a car, food and shelter by generous parents. Yet, college serves as a open book test for life as wanting and actually having are two different things.
But whenever the judge died, they turned back and behaved worse than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them; they did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways, Judges 2:19.
Some students gain weight quickly unable to say no to endless all you can eat buffets. Others turn to partying to be the popular person on campus. Temptations lurk around every corner with no guardian or parent to tell you no. Thus, over a short period of time, people change. As poor decisions undo your upbringing, you might reach a point where what’s good for you may not be right for me.
Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did, 1 Corinthians 10:6.
One day the apostle Paul noticed that some of the people whom he led to Christ began to repeat the sins of their past. To get everyone’s attention Paul provides a history lesson from the Old Testament. Without using a hell and brimstone message, Paul urges this church to learn from past mistakes. Whether its Adam and Eve in the Garden or the Judges who did what was right in their own eyes, each tarnished their faith. In view of this warning, may you cling to that which is right so that what feels good does not corrupt your soul.
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