What Do You Know About His Word?

 

I had a boomerang actually from Australia. It hasn't shown up since we packed for remodeling, but it used to make me think of a verse. Do some oddities make you think of specific verses? Totally unconnected, really:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 KJV)

That reminds me that God doesn't specifically need me - or you - to see that His word gets out to other people. I know this because of another verse:

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14 KJV)

There are truths in each and every verse in the Bible, but they are better understood when taken in context. That's something I've stressed over the the years I've posted my thoughts on verses. You, yes - you, the one person reading this right now - you need to read the chapter these verses sit in so you will know who is speaking. The writers of the biblical books are varied by location, reasoning, messages, but all are inspired by our Lord for us:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)

Excellent reference - but you should read more because knowing who Timothy was to Paul, who Paul was and why he was writing to Timothy, and why Paul wrote more books of the New Testament than anyone else.

Next in line as a prolific New Testament writer is John. He gave us testimony of what he saw walking around the Holy Land with Jesus. The world knows what Jesus said to Nicodemus:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Here you need to know who Nicodemus was, why he was asking questions of Jesus. It would also be good to know what he asked and Jesus said:

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (John 3:9-10 KJV)

Do you know the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai? Find them here and read Exodus 20:2-17. Or in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Or even Leviticus 19:3-4, 11-13, 15-16, 30, 32 - but getting a complete link was difficult. You are on your own looking up those verses.

You don't have to go to Matthew - or read any one of dozens of my blogs with these verses - to know what Jesus said about the Commandments:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

Did you know that before? Did you know Christianity believes these two are necessary to show that we have done what was needed to be saved? In addition to John 3:16 above, scriptures include what is necessary:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Showing our faith is necessary. James included why we do works:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:17-18 KJV)

But those works come because we love God and our neighbors. Salvation comes first - as it did to the thief on the cross. And to a jailer who asked, and Paul answered with words and works:

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:30-33 KJV)

That is salvation simplified. It does not address growing in the Lord's desires for your life in relationship with mankind. That takes Bible study, which translates into looking beyond the one or two verses I've included above. It takes reading those verses in context to who was speaking/writing, what was going on around them, what God said before - and after. The Bible includes bad examples as well as good ones.  It also shows the results, the consequences, of the bad examples. Do not believe because the Old Testament allowed multiple wives and subjugation of of women that it was God's plan. That doesn't even fit Matthew 22:39, does it. Certainly doesn't fit:

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:4-6 KJV)

I suggest starting with the King James Version - not the 1611 that is hard to read, but one published today - not a newer translation. KJV with multiple versions is a good study book - I have a four version, two on each page so that they are easily compared. Some from last century omit specific verses used for well over 400 years in English. Some of the deletions are very important. Know which ones in a singe glance with a four version. Be like the Bereans and study the Old Testament for Christ, too: Acts 17:10-13. 

Find out what faith is in Hebrews 11 then read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) to see the good works Jesus did. Follow up with the Acts of the Apostles, and their letters to churches. I assure you, it can take a life time of learning and doing what God has in mind for you - and me.

Just remember, He promises His word will not return to Him void. It will, through us, "prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." 

Weeping For The Children - And More

 

Michelangelo's La Pieta

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. (Jeremiah 31:15 KJV)

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. (Matthew 2:17-18 KJV)

There was weeping for children, again, this week. And for their teachers. And for the husband of one teacher, who proved to us that broken hearts can kill. There are many articles regarding Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as Broken Heart Syndrome. There is hope, if the patient is treated for a heart attack in time.

We've all been weeping - and politicizing, and debating, and outright arguing over "Why," "How," "What can be done," "Why does this keep happening"? Those questions have been asked for years - and if an accurate accounting is needed, click here for incidents going back to 1764. The earliest of these have specific reasons. Including:

The first known mass shooting in the U.S. where students were shot, was on April 9, 1891, when 70 year old, James Foster fired a shotgun at a group of students in the playground of St. Mary's Parochial School, Newburgh, New York, causing minor injuries to several of the students. The majority of attacks during this time period by students on other students or teacher, usually involved stabbing with knives, or hitting with stones.

The deadliest mass murder of school children in the United States did involve one gun:

May 18, 1927 Bath, Michigan School treasurer Andrew Kehoe, after killing his wife and destroying his house and farm, blew up the Bath Consolidated School by detonating dynamite in the basement of the school, killing 38 people, mostly children. He then pulled up to the school in his Ford car, then blew the car up, killing himself and four others. Only one shot was fired in order to detonate dynamite in the car. This was deadliest act of mass murder at a school in the United States.

These acts were not condoned then, any more than the deaths of the Uvalde children are condoned. We do see more of these acts, though. You will also see "prayer was kicked out of schools" as a reason for this. I beg to differ with you, and agree with an article from Freedom Forum Institute:

It’s true that in the aftermath of the Engel decision, some school administrators took things too far by prohibiting constitutionally protected student religious expression. Of course, other administrators and school boards practiced civil disobedience by continuing school-sponsored religious practices in defiance of the Court’s ruling.

But in recent decades, most public school officials have begun to get religion — and prayer — right. They (finally) understand the difference between government speech promoting religion — which the establishment clause prohibits — and student religious speech, which the free-exercise and free-speech clauses protect.

Visit most public schools today and you are likely to see students praying around the flagpole, attending religious club meetings, giving each other religious literature, saying grace before lunch, talking about their faith in class discussions and in other ways expressing their religious convictions.

In fact, there is more student religious expression in public schools today than at any time since the 19th century. Far from being “kicked out,” God goes to school today through the First Amendment door.

My question to my readers has to do with personal convictions, not what our different levels of government did or did not do. Have you done this in your home:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:7 KJV)

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 11:19 KJV)

As we learn the background of each of the shooters, there appears to be a lack of stable family units as well as societal difficulties for each one. We cannot write laws that will ensure this will not happen again. No amount of legal action will stop the next person intent upon killing. Removing every gun in this country would only change the weapon used.

The first murder in the Bible is described without naming a weapon:

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. (Genesis 4:8 KJV)

We don't know the subject nor wording of their conversation, but we do have what God had just said to Cain:

And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Genesis 4:6-7 KJV)

The error was not Abel's. The anger was definitely Cain's. And, God's punishment was not death, but separation from God. We do not have to live with that separation simply because Jesus died on the cross. However, we can remain separated from God without loving Him and praying to Him.

Are you praying with your loved ones, adult and children, to keep a close relationship with God? In the King James Version New Testament, there are 135 verses with a form of the word "prayer." In the Old Testament, the count was 275.

Seems to me that as God inspired the writers, prayer was very important. Pray - everywhere, any time, any place, but especially with children. Let us not be among those who fail to show God's love and continuity.

The Rest Of The Story

From White House archives & Wikipedia Commons
A White House photo of radio personality Paul Harvey being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The photo was taken by Shealah Craighead and is cropped.

I hope you know someone who can tell you about Paul Harvey and his "Rest of the Story" from his radio program. I'm blessed to have heard his program many times, as well as to know someone who was the subject matter of one, and the community that actively supported her after a tragic accident.

Yesterday, my blog told a bit about why so many people write about Jesus, and how the Bible was written by so many inspired by God to get a message through all time that God loves this and He gave Himself, a lamb as a sacrifice. Now I want to tell you a bit more about this Lamb of God. I first saw that title in the book of John, describing an incident during John the Baptist's baptismal service:

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. (John 1:19-27 KJV)

 Okay, that's a long leading scripture for when John saw Jesus coming to the river:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. (John 1:29-30 KJV)

That seems very specific - here's the very person I was talking about - the Lamb of God. If you don't know about the crucifiction and resurrection, please continue reading through the book of John in the Bible, then come back and I'll be right here with the rest of the story that John wrote:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:1-3 KJV)

We learn a lot in these three verses. God showed events to John, who recorded as a witness to what he saw and heard. Then we are given a promise - we will be blessed by reading and hearing the words of this prophecy, and keeping what is written by John. Then John described the risen Lord in Heaven:

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:13-16 KJV)

Then comes letters to seven churches before we meet the Lamb, who is deemed worthy:

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:12-13 KJV)

In the next chapter, the Lamb opens the seals. The End of Days begins.

Revelation contains 27 verses that has "lamb" in them. From chapters 5 to 22, the Lamb is the center of attention. I know you would receive a blessing for reading the entire book simply because it says so in the beginning. I also know I'm going to give you a hint about the rest of the story:  The Lamb Wins, and I'm not the only person who believes that wholeheartedly!! 

Also - I do no advertising here, and get absolutely nothing from Amazon or authors should you find their blurbs interesting enough to buy. This is not a job for me - it is a calling to introduce you to a book where you will find blessings - and how to live abundantly eternally. Join me in reading, please.

It Depends

 

Back in 2012 I wrote a blog that included mention of a software quality control class I had taken. The instructor's name was Rick. The first thing Monday morning was that he was going to give us the answer to every question he would ask us during the week he taught us. He said, write this answer down and be ready to refer to it. Then he said:  It depends, Rick.

I do believe we can leave off his name, but the two word answer replies in a number of other situations, doesn't it? 

"What do you want for dinner?" "It depends on what's in the pantry."

"Can we match this yarn?" "It depends whether or not we can match the lot number."

"When will we get home" "It depends on whether or not we can leave now. 

And the list will be a long one because there are so many variations. 

If you ask a person who identifies as a Christian, "What must I do to be saved?" You will get a wide variety of answers depending on which denomination they belong. As I type this, I realize many will stop reading right here because they know they have the answer - but how can you be certain?

Let me introduce you to the book I've been encouraging you pick up and read, because the anwer is given quite clearly in multiple places, and the only thing it depends upon is faith. Let me skip around as the questions come to mind - but I'll start with:

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13 KJV)

Please take time to look at these scriptures in context to be certain I'm not reflecting a meaning from my own mind. The entire Bible was written that men might know God, and believe in what He said. Believers do have favorite scriptures and know the verses around them. The Bible says of itself:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

The scripture Paul referenced is what we see as the Torah and the books of what we call the Old Testament. It were those scriptures Luke referred to in Berea:

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:10-12 KJV)

What they believed was that Jesus was the Son of God, prophesied in Jewish scripture, soon to be confirmed in Christian scripture:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 KJV)

That's what Paul and Silas told the keeper of their prison when he found the doors open and was ready to kill himself when Paul stopped him, saying none of the prisoners were gone:

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:28-31 KJV)

Paul preached this in synagogues and city streets, and in letters to churches:

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:28-31 KJV)

To learn of Jesus, Christ, we have to know when God promised that he himself would provide a lamb for sacrifice:

And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:7-8 KJV)

That was fulfilled in John 3:16. John the Baptist knew it much earlier, as John the Disciple wrote:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29 KJV)

I could continue for many pages, but this is already long. Tomorrow I'll spend some time on the end of the story.

Consider Your Ways

This photo was taken at Rolla, Kansas. You'll find many of these of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas where much was sown, and for good reason, little was brought in. If you read Haggai, you'll understand the problem wasn't a dust bowl but Israel's relationship to God at that point in time:

Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.  (Haggai 1:5-7 KJV)

I wrote a note in Sunday School class a few weeks ago about this verse in Haggai, as it appeared to me to mirror our country at this moment. So I went looking for the concept of "wages to put it into a bag with holes. I went along a "rabbit track" and maybe have taken it too far. I ended up on a page of Johnathan Swift's "Political Lying" essay. I had a good visit, though, that not only fits into Haggai's time, Ovid's time, but also fits for us today. Oh, Ovid? Here's what he wrote (among close to tons of other things):

Equibus hi vacuas implent sermonibus aures,

Hi narrata ferunt alio: mensuraque ficti

Crescit, et auditis aliquid novus adjicit auctor.

Illic Credulitas, illic temerarius Error,

Vanaque Laetitia est, consternatigue Timores,

Seditioque recens, dubioque auctore Susurri.

With idle tales this fills our empty ears;

The next reports what from the first he hears;

The rolling fictions grow in strength and size,

Each author adding to the former lies.

Here vain credulity, with new desires,

Leads us astray, and groundless joy inspires;

The dubious whispers, tumults fresh designed,

And chilling fears astound the anxious mind.

Ovid, Metamorphoses, XII 56-61

I didn't take time to see who translated the latin, and to rhyme, but the meaning is clear. Gossip accompanies politics. Fictions grow, credulity is strained, both joy and fears accompany rumors.

Let's clear a bit about how following Christ fits into political campaigns. What did Jesus say about government:

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. (Matthew 22:17-21 KJV)

There is nothing else in the gospels where government is mentioned. Oh, tax collectors are mentioned, but only in relation to their own interactions with Jesus and admission of error, careers went unchanged. There was no discussion of Roman governmental errors. Even Herod, who killed children, was not railed against nor overthrown. There were such groups in Jesus' time, but neither He nor His followers were noted for doing more than convincing individuals to live as He, and they were inspired to example.

On the other hand, we are told to "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's," therefore we are to be involved in government as we are called. Daniel was certainly involved in governments:

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:48 KJV)

That lasted through changes of rulers and kingdoms. Such an example tells us that some people are called into governmental service just as any other field. Specifically, people in authority are to be seen as ordained by God. That is so hard to understand, but it is specific:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1 KJV)

It is easy to say these words meant pastors in churches - but that doesn't seem to be the case as we continue reading in chapter 13. Thankfully, in our country and many others, those in highest power are subject to authority given to citizens, who not only have the right to speak, but to vote, and even to change the authority in power - within the governing laws. We also have the privilege to speak out when persons in authority no longer operate within legal boundaries.

We need to be considering our ways because we've been given instructions as to how to live. Jesus was specific on the first commandment out of the Ten:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

Paul was just as specific regarding the second:

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Romans 13:8-9 KJV)

The dedication of Paul's life to spreading the gospel speaks of his own love for God. For his reaching out to individuals and teaching that God's love was for them and that following His instructions would provide for them eternally. This from a man imprisoned for doing just that!

That should make us give serious thought to the Messiah, Jesus, who said:

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. (Matthew 22:31-33 KJV)

Frankly, I remain astonished today as when I first understood that this world is temporary. No matter how long it has been here, nor how long it will be here, it is temporary. As individuals, David said it so well:

For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. (Psalms 90:9 KJV)

And the greatest astonishment comes when we realize that God is interested in each individual story, ready to welcome our souls in the same manner as the prodigal's father in Luke 15:11-32. 

Aren't we very much as the Israelites to whom Haggai prophesied? Complained about? We do much and have little. Let's take time to consider our ways, asking God's guidance for what needs to be changed within ourselves.

Adding Growth

 

Here's an example of adding. The top and bottom numbers are to be added together. The answer will hold one more number than either of the numbers being added, so the teacher knows the expected answer.

Which reminded me of our Pastor's May first message about the elements of Christian growth. When we become Christians, we don't understand all the possilities at the same time. We definitely do not become perfect. Anyone who expects Christians to be perfect because God directs all of their daily movements doesn't understand God, Christians, or life itself.

Christians were first called so in Antioch:

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26 KJV)

This was before the gospel was being preached to gentiles. According to verse 19, 

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. (Acts 11:19 KJV)

Oh, some gentiles accepted that good news with open arms, but most didn't. Christians were persecuted. Petere was aware of this when he wrote:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:1-2 KJV)

Definitely written to Christians who accepted that Jesus was the Messiah promised throughout Jewish scripture. They knew God made and kept promises because it had been written down since Moses (Oh, yes - I have notes on that for a future blog!) The Bereans searched those same scriptures and became Christians. (Acts 17:10-12)

That's the beginning - then we grow through Christ's teachings to be more like Him, though we cannot do miracles. He still does, though, changing us as we follow, and Peter has some excellent growth instructions:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, 

add to your faith virtue; 

and to virtue knowledge; 

And to knowledge temperance; 

and to temperance patience; 

and to patience godliness; 

And to godliness brotherly kindness; 

and to brotherly kindness charity. 

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

(2 Peter 1:4-8 KJV)

We begin with faith:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

I use that verse often, because it is the very base of Christianity. If you have faith that these three verses: Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, and John 3:16, you have the faith needed to add virtue. Virtue is showing high moral standards - the ones God has inspired in His word, just as he inspired these from Peter.

May I suggest that reading His word will not only help move from faith to virtue, but will continue growth as you become fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Here a Little/There a Little

 

I was caught by a phrase in a verse: "here a little and there a little." I've heard that concept for such a long time. Here are the verses:

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isaiah 28:10-13 KJV)

The "title" on Isaiah 28 is "Judgment on Ephraim and Jerusalem. One commentary explains it as:

"The prophet here complains of the wretched stupidity of this people, that they were unteachable and made no improvement of the means of grace which they possessed; they still continued as they were, their mistakes not rectified, their hearts not renewed, nor their lives reformed. Observe,

I. What it was that their prophets and ministers designed and aimed at. It was to teach them knowledge, the knowledge of God and his will, and to make them understand doctrine (Here the commentary inserts verse 9: Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. (Isaiah 28:9 KJV) then continues the comment:)  This is God's way of dealing with men, to enlighten men's minds first with the knowledge of his truth, and thus to gain their affections, and bring their wills into a compliance with his laws; thus he enters in by the door, whereas the thief and the robber climb up another way.

II. What method they took, in pursuance of this design. They left no means untried to do them good, but taught them as children are taught . . .

By the time I read this, I'm on my way to a familiar New Testament chapter:

 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3 KJV)

Paul is explaining to Corinthians what they should have learned while he was with them. Instead, he is having to write an explanation that he expected they would have grown from baby Christians (milk drinkers) to grown Christians able to chew on meatier knowledge and able to "digest" what he taught. Obviously that hadn't or there wouldn't be the envy, strife and division. That's a carnal Christian - who mighit well act as though Christ was not really for their lives.

The author visits that same thought in the book of Hebrews:

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV)

Jesus was sent first to the Hebrew Nation, to Israel. Jesus said so:

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24 KJV)

Paul, who did not follow Christ until after the Resurrection, knew this, too:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16 KJV)

Jesus is the Messiah the Jews were promised, then He was shared with the whole world. When he answered the Canaanite woman about being sent to Jews, she had faith that the Messiah was intended for everyone, even the least among mankind. The faith of the mustard seed size. The faith that believed Jesus was exactly who He said He was.

Are we one of those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil? Can we stop asking the questions of an entry-level Christian and accept the responsibility of following His will, insstead of our own? Can we do the simplest of lists laid before us:

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 

Rejoice evermore. 

Pray without ceasing. 

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

Quench not the Spirit. 

Despise not prophesyings. 

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

(1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 KJV)