Potential - Apples and Bibles

I can’t remember the date I made 30 of these little stand up frames. They were for a 2010 ladies retreat our church had planned, and my talk was on potential. I wrote a blog about the potential of one apple seed. Every one of us has potential. Right now there are hugely divided concepts on how to consider our personal potential, but my thoughts had to do with our potential in spreading the gospel. Maybe it bears repeating after ten years:

Jesus spoke with His disciples about mustard seeds a couple of times. I used to have one in a glass globe on a bracelet as a reminder of the potential in the smallest of faith.

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. (Luke 17:6 KJV)

I’ve been thinking about potential.

I was looking at apple seeds -- odd looking, elongated and varied in size. Their fruit is good to eat and nutritious, though eaten in large quantity, apple seeds themselves are poisonous. Yet singly, each seed has the potential to repopulate the species across our planet. That's what caught my attention -- potential.

Of course, that's true of any seed, but the apple reminds me more of humans than most others. Their fruit can be pleasantly sweet, or pungently sour; suitable for snacking or better for baking. Whole apples can be stored for months, dried sections keep for a year. Apples are nutritious; they can be eaten raw or cooked; baked whole or made into apple butter; juiced to drink or made into jellies or vinegar.

We enjoy the trees for the beauty of their flowering, their fruit and for shade. We would miss them if they all suddenly vanished. If there was one remaining seed, it would have the potential to provide new trees, new fruit, then new seeds to plant even more. John Chapman took this to heart and became the American legend Johnny Appleseed.

But, most tree seeds do not produce a plant resembling the parent. Grafting is necessary. When you purchase an apple tree from a nursery, you'll find a grafting scar, Just as Romans 11 speaks of branches “graffed” onto the tree, necessary to provide the right fruit.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (Romans 11:22-23 KJV)

These examples show us potential – the potential of providing a strong plant with good fruit and spreading it around the world.

We must look at our own potential. Are we capable of producing good fruit? Could we repopulate the gospel over the entire earth?

How prepared are we to fulfill this potential? If we had to, how much of the Bible could we reproduce? Can we name each of the books? How many verses are memorized? Do we know the Roman Road?

How many references do we know to support our doctrinal beliefs? Do we speak of these outside our church? Do we study to learn more? To share more?

Take a serious look at potential – of service to our Lord, of supporting salvation for others. Grow that potential, with the strength and support of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5 KJV)

Shipwrecked

By Dariusz Jemielniak ("Pundit") - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

I chose this modern photo to remind me that shipwrecks aren’t ancient. In the book of Acts, Luke describes a shipwreck he experienced with Paul. I wonder if Paul thought of that when he wrote to Timothy:

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (1 Timothy 1:19 KJV)

When we see this in action - a person who had stated a faith in Christ as savior and Lord, yet turned their back to all Christianity stands for - it is saddening to see the pictures they share, defining the shipwreck  of their life.

It is difficult to comprehend since it can happen after passing years of training in college, questioning by pastor’s, serving as a church’s Pastor, then tossing it aside for a life that confirms scripture:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:15-20 KJV)

I remember what scriptures tell us happened to a real tree that bore no fruit:

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
(Matthew 21:18-19 KJV)

I would venture to say that particular fig tree was hewn down and case into a fire, wouldn’t you? It was useless as a fruit tree. We are given the fruit of the Spirit – the characteristics a Christian should be showing - in Galatians and again in Ephesians:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (Ephesians 5:9 KJV)

If we live with goodness, righteousness, and truth, surely we have the love, joy, peace – all the spiritual gifts gained by loving God and our neighbors. We are also told what things are not part of God’s Spirit, nor should they be part of a Christian’s life:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 KJV)

We are also told what we should do with those who choose the fruit of the flesh:

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. (Ephesians 5:11-13 KJV)

And, we are told what we should do ourselves:

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  (Titus 2:11-12 KJV)

There are so many more verses to help us, but none of them tell us to take on the burdens of those who have chosen the fruit of the flesh. Jesus is ready to exchange their heavy burden for one that is light – He promised, and He is faithful:

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23 KJV)

Statements of Fact

There are several statements of fact in the Bible, as Micah wrote above. I like Joshua’s statement:

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15 KJV)

Jesus also made statements, among them are several I depend upon:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 KJV)

It’s the “will” that makes a difference to me. The definition given this verb is "expressing the future tense; and expressing inevitable events; and expressing facts about ability or capacity. There are several other definitions of this simple four-letter word, at least six as a verb, and more as a noun. What does it mean to you?

As I read in Micah, Joshua, and Matthew, it is a statement that the described action will take place. That’s a tiny bit different from John’s use when Jesus was talking 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 we don’t see “will”, but there is “should not”, which Strong’s definition of G3361 is:

μή
Transliteration:  mē
Pronunciation:  may
A primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial);

Why would this verse use “should not” instead of “will”? I wonder if the explanation can be found in:

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19 KJV)

Believing should also mean responding – and sometimes believing doesn’t responding to God, just as the devils in the verse above. James addresses that, too, to help us see the difference between those who profess a belief, and those who have faith in God:

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)

We believers are examples to others – the emphasis in the following verse is mine, bold to tie the two together – Paul and his companions’ behavior being an example to follow:

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 KJV)

Which is why we hold our religious leaders to a biblical standard, and are very disappointed when that standard is ignored. There are some biblical standards that are statements of fact. Jesus made such statements.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  (John 3:5 KJV)

Those statements of fact tell me who He is – this one tells me who we are:

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. (Matthew 22:31-32 KJV)

That’s an awesome statement!

Believing can be difficult. There are many who do not, and are eager to tell Christians how wrong they are. Those persist in their belief that God never did exist and absolutely does not exist today. But if you can accept one verse as a possibility, and read the Bible with prayers for understanding, it will make such a difference that you can believe that:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

Finished

Remember what Jesus said while on the cross?

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30 KJV)

He had not removed the yoke Rome had laid on Israel. Similar yokes had been added over the previous centuries, and each one had been exchanged for another – and more would come. The Messiah had not released Israel from bondage. Yet His message would be carried on until it literally spanned the world. What was that message? The same one that went out at Eden, was repeated in Egypt, and reiterated by Jesus:

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)

Yes, indeed. You will see this in a lot of my blogs. Obviously it’s worth repeating because the concept is written across the Bible. If it’s that important for God to remind us, it is equally important for us to remember it.

I believe I am responsible for what I do and where I do it. I also believe I am accountable to God. Remember what King David said:

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:4 KJV)

David certainly knew guilt, confessing it not only to God but to those around him. Contrition and repentance. Sorrow for the error, and determination not to make that same error again.

Basically, that’s what Jesus suggested we do before our God on a regular basis:

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:7-13 KJV)

The world remains much as it was when our Lord taught His disciples as they walked together. The only schedules then had to do with holy days through the year, and one special day where our Lord’s work was perfectly – finished.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30 KJV)

The Greek for “finished” (G5055) was used 26 times in KJV. But “finisher” (G5051) was only used once, in the lead verse.

The KJV translates Strong's G5051 in the following manner: finisher
1. a perfector
2. one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith

Appropriate, isn’t it? The perfect finish to the perfect plan of salvation. Follow what’s laid out and we can join Paul in saying:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7 KJV)

What Offends You?

How many times do we hear, “Oh, I hate that!” Does that really mean an intensely passionate dislike – or do we feel upset, annoyed, or resentful. With all of the recent articles regarding people protesting [insert anything you’ve read about recently]. It made me think more of their being offended rather than the intense, passionate dislike which defines hate.

It also reminds me of how the Bible addresses being offended as well as offending. James leads into an example with:

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2 KJV)

The following verses address how we work to bridle our tongue to keep from being offensive, and how easy it is to fail:

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (James 3:5-6 KJV)

John 16:22-59, where Jesus speaks of being the Bread of Life, caused murmurings among His followers. His response to them was a question:

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? (John 6:61 KJV)

It became very obvious that some were offended. From our perspective, I wonder what they found offense in His words, and in His response for them to:

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? (John 6:66-67 KJV)

Eleven of the twelve did not leave. We know what the one did. Was it all for money? If so, that wasn’t much, even for that time. Certainly isn’t sufficient to betray a friend. But apparently Judas was offended that Jesus was NOT what he expected. Obviously, the religious leaders were offended because Jesus told them they were not what God expected. Yet chapter 16 begins with Jesus’ goal:

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. (John 16:1 KJV)

During Jesus’ preparation for betrayal, the disciples were told that they would be offended because of Him. Peter’s answer was included twice in the gospels:

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. (Matthew 26:33 KJV)

But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.  (Mark 14:29 KJV)

Peter’s failure is also included. And ours is somewhere, too, isn’t it? Hopefully not in the hearts of people we have offended. Which means we need to bridle our tongues – though we’ve just read how hard that is! Is it true impossible? As James wrote, must we be perfect?

As usual, the Bible has the answer – and this may not be the one you remember.  There are two others:

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (Luke 18:27 KJV)

Remember, the New Testament is based on what exists in the Old. There we find the “How to not be offended”:

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psalms 119:165 KJV)

Thanks be to God that this verse does not say: " . . . they which keep thy law . . ." It is easy to love God’s laws once we study them and realize their base:

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 22:37-40 KJV)

Look over the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:2-17, or take time to read all of the laws in the Pentateuch. Did you find one not based on loving God or our fellowman? Isn’t that all that is required when we walk humbly with our Lord, as written in Micah 6:8?

Forgotten Baseball

The Cubs did not win the World Series in 1918, and attendance fluctuated, with the low of 15,238 for the sixth game – and final chance for the Cubs. But it’s the first game in Comiskey Park that has a biblical lesson for us today. In the Wikipedia article, we read:

During the seventh-inning stretch of Game 1, the band began playing "The Star Spangled Banner" because the country was involved in World War I. The song would be named the national anthem of the United States in 1931, and during World War II its playing would become a regular pre-game feature of baseball games and other sporting events.

It wasn’t the national anthem then. That didn’t happen until 1931, so our nation has had more time without this national anthem than with it. Odd, then, isn’t it, that in confrontations over racism, it is controversial? My thought is that we’ve forgotten how it was perceived in 1918, if not the battle in which it was written.

So, how is that biblical? Try this verse:

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. (Exodus 1:8 KJV)

The book of Genesis contains the story of Joseph, but Exodus opens years after Joseph helped Egypt’s Pharaoh feed nations during famine. Do you know that story? Could you find it easily in the Bible?

Moses was concerned about people forgetting the words God gave him, but God had a plan:

Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. (Deuteronomy 4:10 KJV)

With repetition:

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 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 6:6-7 KJV)

Even a third time – which to means adds importance and meaning:

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. 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 11:18-19 KJV)

What have we failed to teach our children? It’s not simply that a hundred-year-old song became our National Anthem, but that that event brought our country together during a dark time of world wide war. Men from many countries were dying far away from their homes, and there appeared to be no end to it. Making peace came at a great price. Ending what an anarchist’s bullet precipitated took years and took twenty million lives, as well as leaving 21 million injured.

We’ve forgotten that a mere generation later that was repeated with eighty-five million deaths. 85,000,000.  Because men did not teach their children that the cost of war includes death.

Today in the United States, most of the peaceful protests have ended in casualties. Some in deaths. The protesters see that as inevitable, and will continue to use the same methodology. They are told by their supporters that it is necessary when frustrations grow too long unreleased. But, I believe we’ve forgotten to teach generations why the anthem was important to people from 1918 through the 1950’s, and we've forgotten to teach them about God.

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10 KJV)

There has been more than one generation – and not only in our country – who have not taught their children about the Lord:

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10 KJV)

Have we been telling our children and our children’s children of the Lord’s work in our lives? Is there nothing in our lives that can be attributed to the Lord’s intervention? There certainly is in my life. Now, I’m concerned – not for my children, nor for the most part for my grandchldren, but I have great-grandchildren. I am blessed to say that each one of them knows their grandparents love the Lord and have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. That is a huge blessing, but is the world's view stronger?

I’m concerned that there are fewer people in the world that believe, that share their faith. I do see a remnant, but I also see a falling away. There can be two outcomes, as I see the biblical teachings, one is a revival with more people sharing God’s love and His word – or, His return. Are you prepared for either occurrence?

How Many Books Do You Read?

That’s a photo of the Kansas City Public Library. Do you visit your city’s library? I can’t because I don’t live in a city. However, I do get to borrow books from our county seat’s library, and I can use any other city’s library simply by walking in. They are used by a good number of people, but not all their activities are centered around book reading.

It seems a goodly number of people no longer read books. Their information is taken in spurts - headlines, memes, messages, graphics, cartoons, or even from photographs with distinctive captioning. Picking up a book to read is often based on one’s favorite author, scholarly subject, or required class reading (for example, Yale's Eng321 requires reading Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte.)

Not everyone has a Bible verse read to them as a child. Fewer have memorized a verse from the Bible as a child. I don’t remember going to church until I eleven – when we moved back to my parents’ home state. Yet, there is one photo in their album where the four of us are dressed in Easter finery at least a couple of years before that. When we settled in Tulsa, it was within walking distance to Immanuel Baptist Church at Third and Xanthus. We made that walk a lot! And memorized a number of verses.

This morning a couple of notices came through YouVersion where friends had completed plans for specific verses. Some plans are for spiritual growth, others for overcoming sorrow, still others address specific personal needs. A few are plans to read the entire Bible through in a specified time period. Some of those are annual plans where the entire Bible is completed in a year. My favorite of those is the Chronological Bible. The order of the books printed in the Bible are not the order in which they were written, neither in the Old nor New Testament. So where should one begin reading?

That’s an excellent question for anyone unfamiliar with the Bible’s full message. Is the answer Genesis? At least that defines what God did:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

But it does little for who God is. If you ask a Christian, I hope they send you to . . .

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8 KJV)

. . .  simply because that’s the best definition of God. However, we also need to know God is just, among other attributes:

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4 KJV)

Then there is the problem of biblical terms: Garden of Eden, Covenant, Abrahamic religions, stairway to heaven, cherubim, seraphim, born again, baptism, anointed, Passover, Seder, Wise Men. There are so many terms that really sound “not of this world,” and basically – they aren’t. God is a spiritual being, as Jesus explained:

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24 KJV)

Then how did God have a Son? How did Jesus mother become pregnant. We have to go back to Genesis 1:1, where God created the heavens and earth. Jesus tell us:

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26 KJV)

Did you notice that we’ve skipped around through a number of different verses? Why? Because they are the short versions of valid truths that are found across the Bible. So, why are they truth and not simply history?

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)

Not all scripture are examples to follow, but are examples of what happens when people ignore God and encounter consequences for their action. That’s why scripture must be read in context and studied to see today’s applicability to our lives.

My ending questions: How many books do you read? If you can finish those, how about reading the Bible. I would recommend the King James version in YouVersion – specifically the Chronological plan for the first full reading. You are welcome to become a Contact and share with me as you read. And I welcome questions. I can’t answer them expect by going to the Bible and seeing what is said there. Then for the really hard ones we can ask our Pastor. There is always help in understanding God’s Word.

(That’s another question: What is God’s Word, and what is God’s word? I answered that one a few blogs back. Most likely will answer again in the future.)