Psalm 119:9 "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." ESV
I think each generation asks the same question - why are young people today so rebellious and apt to disobey? And why aren't they motivated like we were?
I'm sure my parents asked that question of my generation, which grew up in the tumultuous 60's and fashion-starved 70's. They wondered at the long hair and ratty clothes and the counter culture that deemed anyone over 30 suspect.
Now it's our turn - looking at today's generation we who are now parents wonder at the work ethic and the piercings and tatoos and we wonder why they don't trust us who now know it all and have an example for them to follow.
Well, truth be told - as we grow and learn from hard experience our perspective changes both on our own attitudes and on the attitudes of those who come after us. Each generation has their own rebellion, and it has to be different than the one from the generation before it or you couldn't call it rebellion and it wouldn't be as much fun!
I would like us to take a different tack on this issue and it comes from Psalm 119 quoted above. How can young people keep a pure way? The word "pure" comes from a Hebrew word that means "transclucent." I like that. When we are really young it seems we want to please our parents (most of the time) and are eager for a relationship with God. But as the world entices us we make bad decisions and our once clear conscience becomes clouded with sin.
The key is the Word of God, of course. That's what Psalm 119 is all about. The answers to all of life's questions are revealed in its pages. But what I find interesting is how the Word is applied. The ESV says to "guard" our lives according to the Word. That word "guard" is a Hebrew word that could literally mean to plant a hedge of thorns around something.
I love that picture. Have you ever gotten into the middle of a bunch of rose bushes? You try to move and you get poked by the thorns. Or like here in Oregon if you ever get tangled in a blackberry bush you can't get out without many cuts and torn clothes.
So God's Word then can help hedge our lives into a certain order. Now I'm not talking about legalism - punishing you if you stray from the path. I'm talking about so taking in God's Word that when the enticement from the world comes and tempts you to begin moving out of the character of the Lord that His Word will act like the prick of a thorn - warning you "don't go that way."
Anyway - just a thought for today.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
If God Loves Me, Why Does He Hurt Me?
Psalm 89:30-33
30 "If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
NIV
Sometimes it feels like when we make mistakes, fall into sin, do the wrong thing instead of the right thing - that God 1) doesn't like us anymore and 2) punishes us for what we've done.
First, it's important to note that you can't do anything to please God outside of Jesus Christ. The Bible cleary says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." and "all our righteousness are filthy rags." It's only through Jesus' goodness that we can be good. If you belong to Jesus when God looks at you He sees His Son and is pleased. Inside Jesus you always please God because Jesus always pleased God.
Now - that being said - it is possible to "grieve" God. Paul told us not to "grieve the Holy Spirit." The writer of Hebrews tells us that God disciplines us like a good father in order to create His character within us. Paul also said that whatever we do has a reaction - if we do fleshly things we'll get a reaction in the flesh: death. If we do things in keeping with God's character we get from the Spirit: life.
But what I wanted to point out from Psalm 89 is that even when we fail and God disciplines us - He still loves us. What parent cannot love his child even though that child must endure discipline for disobedience? Don't mistake discipline for dislike or lack of love.
God's love is everlasting - you can rest in that, even though you may undergo His woodshed from time to time.
30 "If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
NIV
Sometimes it feels like when we make mistakes, fall into sin, do the wrong thing instead of the right thing - that God 1) doesn't like us anymore and 2) punishes us for what we've done.
First, it's important to note that you can't do anything to please God outside of Jesus Christ. The Bible cleary says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." and "all our righteousness are filthy rags." It's only through Jesus' goodness that we can be good. If you belong to Jesus when God looks at you He sees His Son and is pleased. Inside Jesus you always please God because Jesus always pleased God.
Now - that being said - it is possible to "grieve" God. Paul told us not to "grieve the Holy Spirit." The writer of Hebrews tells us that God disciplines us like a good father in order to create His character within us. Paul also said that whatever we do has a reaction - if we do fleshly things we'll get a reaction in the flesh: death. If we do things in keeping with God's character we get from the Spirit: life.
But what I wanted to point out from Psalm 89 is that even when we fail and God disciplines us - He still loves us. What parent cannot love his child even though that child must endure discipline for disobedience? Don't mistake discipline for dislike or lack of love.
God's love is everlasting - you can rest in that, even though you may undergo His woodshed from time to time.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?
In some ways our world is backwards. You'd think that God would reward good people for doing good things and punish bad people for doing bad things. In fact, the opposite seems true.
Those who despise God and all that is good seem to be doing just fine, thank you very much. The rich get richer, and the evil seem to (almost) always get away with it and have a great time doing it.
It can almost be a stumbling block to those of us who have pledged our lives to Jesus Christ. We have recognized our faults, laid them down at the foot of the cross and asked for Jesus' sacrifice to cover and forgive our evil. Then we ask His Holy Spirit to come and in dwell in us, cleansing us and transforming us into His image.
In the meantime we suffer loss, run into hard times, get discouraged, lose our jobs and have money problems or health problems - or whatever. So what's going on?
Interestingly, Asaph, David's worship leader, had a similar experience. In Psalm 73 he wrote:
"My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
He goes on to talk about how they are fat and sassy (my free translation) and aren't worried at all about death. In fact, they scoff at God's very existence.
Asaph then says "all in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence."
It's almost like he is saying "was it really worth it?"
But a very interesting thing happens in verse 16:
"But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end."
The evil and those who reject God seem to do well because we are looking at them through the filter of the world's values. Money, security, possessions, pleasure - all are made to look good to us, but it is a special effect of the enemy.
We all have needs - for security, relationships, intimacy, etc. God knows this - but it is how we fulfill these needs that gets us into trouble. The world mistakenly thinks that by surrounding ourselves with money that we are secure - well, what if money were suddenly meaningless? People think that having power over people brings them worth, but what if your power simply vanished? People strive for pleasure in ungodly ways because it seems to fill this void for intimacy. But what if that and all other real needs are really met in God not in the world's values?
That's the secret truth of following God. There is also a secret folly - that is that following after the enemy's false answers to our needs leads not to life and happiness but death and sudden destruction.
":18 "Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin. "19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept way utterly by terrors."
The truth is that one of these days soon the earth, all money, position, power, and worldly pleasure is going to be swept away forever. The only sure thing then is going to be your relationship with God - and the only way to get that is through God's own Son Jesus Christ.
So if you don't know him - get to know Him today. If you do know Him and are troubled by the unrighteous success - go into God's sanctuary - see His perspective - and realize in Him you have everything you need forever!
Those who despise God and all that is good seem to be doing just fine, thank you very much. The rich get richer, and the evil seem to (almost) always get away with it and have a great time doing it.
It can almost be a stumbling block to those of us who have pledged our lives to Jesus Christ. We have recognized our faults, laid them down at the foot of the cross and asked for Jesus' sacrifice to cover and forgive our evil. Then we ask His Holy Spirit to come and in dwell in us, cleansing us and transforming us into His image.
In the meantime we suffer loss, run into hard times, get discouraged, lose our jobs and have money problems or health problems - or whatever. So what's going on?
Interestingly, Asaph, David's worship leader, had a similar experience. In Psalm 73 he wrote:
"My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
He goes on to talk about how they are fat and sassy (my free translation) and aren't worried at all about death. In fact, they scoff at God's very existence.
Asaph then says "all in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence."
It's almost like he is saying "was it really worth it?"
But a very interesting thing happens in verse 16:
"But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end."
The evil and those who reject God seem to do well because we are looking at them through the filter of the world's values. Money, security, possessions, pleasure - all are made to look good to us, but it is a special effect of the enemy.
We all have needs - for security, relationships, intimacy, etc. God knows this - but it is how we fulfill these needs that gets us into trouble. The world mistakenly thinks that by surrounding ourselves with money that we are secure - well, what if money were suddenly meaningless? People think that having power over people brings them worth, but what if your power simply vanished? People strive for pleasure in ungodly ways because it seems to fill this void for intimacy. But what if that and all other real needs are really met in God not in the world's values?
That's the secret truth of following God. There is also a secret folly - that is that following after the enemy's false answers to our needs leads not to life and happiness but death and sudden destruction.
":18 "Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin. "19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept way utterly by terrors."
The truth is that one of these days soon the earth, all money, position, power, and worldly pleasure is going to be swept away forever. The only sure thing then is going to be your relationship with God - and the only way to get that is through God's own Son Jesus Christ.
So if you don't know him - get to know Him today. If you do know Him and are troubled by the unrighteous success - go into God's sanctuary - see His perspective - and realize in Him you have everything you need forever!
Monday, May 22, 2006
The Attacks of A Friend
Most of the time we can anticipate or at least react to attacks from external situations - such as persecution at work for being a Christian, the enemy loosing some fiery missile against us - tempting us or we fall all on our own, or a circumstance that occurs to us - such as a car accident, loss of job, or illness.
In fact, these are the three major areas of trouble we encounter - trouble as part of the creation, trouble from our own weakness, or trouble as a result of our relationship with Christ.
We steel ourselves for the attack, pray against the enemy, are viligant and aware. But what happens when attack comes from a quarter we never expected - from a friend, confidant, or relative? We are usually totally unprepared, surprised, disallusioned, and devestated.
This has happened to me before - and happened to King David.
Psalm 55:12-14
2 For it is not an enemy who taunts me — then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me — then I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. ESV
How can you possibly prepare yourself to be attacked by someone on your "trusted list."? The short answer - you can't. If you suspected everyone all the time you would never have any close relationships. The truth is, a friend or a partner in ministry can do a lot of damage by words and actions and there's nothing you can do about it. Almost.
First, David asks for justice and victory from the Lord. In times when attack comes from an unexpected source, don't let the intense pain dull you to the reality of your advocate in God. Ask God to win the victory even over those close to you.
Does that mean you go on the attack yourself? I don't think so. You defend where you need to, but in the end, it is relying on God that sees you through, not smashing down your friend.
David goes on in Psalm 55:
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. ESV
The point is - let your pain and suffering be known to the Lord, cast it on His broad shoulders, ask Him for the ultimate victory - and you will not be moved. The word in Hebrew means to waver - to shake, slip, or fall. You may have been wounded, you may have been stabbed, you may have been hurt - but with God holding you up and you relying on Him - not on your relationship with others for your security - you will not stumble.
In fact, these are the three major areas of trouble we encounter - trouble as part of the creation, trouble from our own weakness, or trouble as a result of our relationship with Christ.
We steel ourselves for the attack, pray against the enemy, are viligant and aware. But what happens when attack comes from a quarter we never expected - from a friend, confidant, or relative? We are usually totally unprepared, surprised, disallusioned, and devestated.
This has happened to me before - and happened to King David.
Psalm 55:12-14
2 For it is not an enemy who taunts me — then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me — then I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. ESV
How can you possibly prepare yourself to be attacked by someone on your "trusted list."? The short answer - you can't. If you suspected everyone all the time you would never have any close relationships. The truth is, a friend or a partner in ministry can do a lot of damage by words and actions and there's nothing you can do about it. Almost.
First, David asks for justice and victory from the Lord. In times when attack comes from an unexpected source, don't let the intense pain dull you to the reality of your advocate in God. Ask God to win the victory even over those close to you.
Does that mean you go on the attack yourself? I don't think so. You defend where you need to, but in the end, it is relying on God that sees you through, not smashing down your friend.
David goes on in Psalm 55:
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. ESV
The point is - let your pain and suffering be known to the Lord, cast it on His broad shoulders, ask Him for the ultimate victory - and you will not be moved. The word in Hebrew means to waver - to shake, slip, or fall. You may have been wounded, you may have been stabbed, you may have been hurt - but with God holding you up and you relying on Him - not on your relationship with others for your security - you will not stumble.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Delight Yourself (in the Lord)
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
ESV
Sounds great, doesn't it? Of course, we only hear the "give you the desires" part of the verse. We think - I can get whatever I want - what's the formula. Oh - "delight myself" - I can do that.
But this verse is not what it might seem to us. I actually love this verse - not because I want to get what I want but because of what it means to my relationship to the Lord.
The word "delight" in the Hebrew is the word anag which means "to be soft and pliable." That gives a whole new spin on it. If I'm greedy and selfish and wanting my own way - I'm not going to get the desires of my heart. But if I'm soft and pliable in the Lord's hands, when I will.
So how does that work? I believe that as we yield ourselves in a wonderful two way love relationship with God - worshipping with abandon, learning and growing from His Word, praying without ceasing - seeking to be changed into His image - that He will begin to mold us to become more like Him. The more like God we become - the desires of our hearts will become like the desires of His heart.
Pretty cool, huh?
The Psalm goes on to say: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
The word "commit" means "to roll." The idea is to start a boulder rolling down a hill - you give it a push and you are committed, there is no turning back. So too with our lives - we roll them towards God - to His way, not our way - even if we would have taken another track for that boulder to roll in.
It says "he will act." God will move on your heart, take you towards his heart, mold your desires and then act to bring out what he has done into the open day so that others may glory in him.
ESV
Sounds great, doesn't it? Of course, we only hear the "give you the desires" part of the verse. We think - I can get whatever I want - what's the formula. Oh - "delight myself" - I can do that.
But this verse is not what it might seem to us. I actually love this verse - not because I want to get what I want but because of what it means to my relationship to the Lord.
The word "delight" in the Hebrew is the word anag which means "to be soft and pliable." That gives a whole new spin on it. If I'm greedy and selfish and wanting my own way - I'm not going to get the desires of my heart. But if I'm soft and pliable in the Lord's hands, when I will.
So how does that work? I believe that as we yield ourselves in a wonderful two way love relationship with God - worshipping with abandon, learning and growing from His Word, praying without ceasing - seeking to be changed into His image - that He will begin to mold us to become more like Him. The more like God we become - the desires of our hearts will become like the desires of His heart.
Pretty cool, huh?
The Psalm goes on to say: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
The word "commit" means "to roll." The idea is to start a boulder rolling down a hill - you give it a push and you are committed, there is no turning back. So too with our lives - we roll them towards God - to His way, not our way - even if we would have taken another track for that boulder to roll in.
It says "he will act." God will move on your heart, take you towards his heart, mold your desires and then act to bring out what he has done into the open day so that others may glory in him.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Honesty Really Is the Best Policy
I'm constantly amazed by David of the Bible. In many ways He is my hero - a man who loved God intensly, lived life intensly - failed and sought forgiveness, triumphed and gave God glory. He was king, priest, worship leader, and a mighty warrior.
In reading the first 30 or so Psalms I got a new appreciation for him - a man of intense honesty with God.
In Psalm 22 he cries out "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" (a Messianic Psalm that prophecied about Jesus on the cross). Then in Psalm 28 he says "Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy."
In Psalm 18 he writes: "I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt." And yet in Psalm 25 "Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness O Lord!"
Are these contradictions or even psychosis? No - they are the cries and yearnings of a man who lived his life naked before God. How often do we find ourselves posturing - before others and even to the Lord. We think that if we sound faithful and say it enough then it must be so.
David knew a secret - an honest and humble heart is heard by God through His Son Jesus. At times you may feel the wonderous joy of the forgiving grace of God and you cry out "I am blameless!" At times you might feel like the lowest scum on the earth when you fall into sin and you cry "God, have mercy on me."
Maybe at times you feel like the Lord is so close you could touch Him - and at other times you shout and he doesn't seem to hear or care.
My encouragement is to let it out - let your true and honest self out to Him. You may find, like David, that that kind of honesty can actually lead you from despair to triumph as you see God work in and through you - not because of how good you are but out of His mercy and strength.
In reading the first 30 or so Psalms I got a new appreciation for him - a man of intense honesty with God.
In Psalm 22 he cries out "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" (a Messianic Psalm that prophecied about Jesus on the cross). Then in Psalm 28 he says "Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy."
In Psalm 18 he writes: "I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt." And yet in Psalm 25 "Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness O Lord!"
Are these contradictions or even psychosis? No - they are the cries and yearnings of a man who lived his life naked before God. How often do we find ourselves posturing - before others and even to the Lord. We think that if we sound faithful and say it enough then it must be so.
David knew a secret - an honest and humble heart is heard by God through His Son Jesus. At times you may feel the wonderous joy of the forgiving grace of God and you cry out "I am blameless!" At times you might feel like the lowest scum on the earth when you fall into sin and you cry "God, have mercy on me."
Maybe at times you feel like the Lord is so close you could touch Him - and at other times you shout and he doesn't seem to hear or care.
My encouragement is to let it out - let your true and honest self out to Him. You may find, like David, that that kind of honesty can actually lead you from despair to triumph as you see God work in and through you - not because of how good you are but out of His mercy and strength.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Making a (Pre) Supposition
In Job 32, after Job's three friends have their go at Job, a younger man steps up to the plate. His name is Elihu. Elihu is all bent out of shape for this reason:
"He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong."
In other words - "we all know you're wrong Job, we just haven't found a good way to prove it!"
All four of them presupposed that they were right and Job wrong. In fact, they were all wrong - even Job gets some grief from God when He finally speaks. But God only rebuked Job for thinking that God owed him justice when in fact God owes man nothing. Job's friends, however, got pretty beat up and ended up having to bring sacrifices and beg Job to pray for them.
But how often do we in our own arrogance think that our opinions are correct and that the other person must be wrong - no matter whether I can prove it or not. A lot of people approach the Bible that way.
"A fish couldn't swallow a man, there couldn't have been worldwide flood, God didn't make the earth" and so on. So they throw out the whole thing based on a supposition. "If I can't wrap my human reason around a concept then it must be false and so therefore Jesus is false too."
As God shows up on the scene in Job 38, His first words practically are these "where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" How can we as humans boast about something we have no first hand knowledge of? Just because science can't prove something doesn't make it false.
In our modern day we get pretty puffed up but in reality we are just kids in a sandbox making presuppositions.
"He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong."
In other words - "we all know you're wrong Job, we just haven't found a good way to prove it!"
All four of them presupposed that they were right and Job wrong. In fact, they were all wrong - even Job gets some grief from God when He finally speaks. But God only rebuked Job for thinking that God owed him justice when in fact God owes man nothing. Job's friends, however, got pretty beat up and ended up having to bring sacrifices and beg Job to pray for them.
But how often do we in our own arrogance think that our opinions are correct and that the other person must be wrong - no matter whether I can prove it or not. A lot of people approach the Bible that way.
"A fish couldn't swallow a man, there couldn't have been worldwide flood, God didn't make the earth" and so on. So they throw out the whole thing based on a supposition. "If I can't wrap my human reason around a concept then it must be false and so therefore Jesus is false too."
As God shows up on the scene in Job 38, His first words practically are these "where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" How can we as humans boast about something we have no first hand knowledge of? Just because science can't prove something doesn't make it false.
In our modern day we get pretty puffed up but in reality we are just kids in a sandbox making presuppositions.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Is It Sin to be Depressed?
Job chapter 30 has an interesting verse.
Job 30:20-21
I cry to you for help and you do not answer me;
I stand, and you only look at me.
21 You have turned cruel to me;
with the might of your hand you persecute me. ESV
Job is talking to God - God Almighty. Remember earlier in the book when God was talking about Job He said:
Job 1:8-9
"Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" ESV
How could God think that of a man who would call God "cruel." It seems pretty obvious to me that Job is depressed. After all - he's lost most of his family, his wealth, and even his health. I'd be pretty bummed out if I were him.
Job's wife cajolled him to "curse God and die." Is calling God "cruel" the same thing as cursing Him? I don't think so. I think Job's wife wanted Job to break his relationship with God, but Job also said "I know my redeemer lives." Job can't deny the existance of God or his relationship with him - it would be like saying the earth doesn't really exist or that he isn't breathing air.
But now Job is depressed. He wasn't the only one. Think about David. That's right, King David. The "man after God's own heart" David. That man has some serious cases of the blues.
Psalm 6:6 I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears; ESV
Did David sin by being depressed? No. Neither did Job. Depression is the mourning over our perceived circumstances. It can have physiological causes, as well as emotional, spiritual, even circumstantial roots. But it's not sin.
We as a society, and maybe even more as Christians, have made a grave error when we equate our emotional state with our spiritual well being. Now I'm not advocating that we all go out and throw pitty parties - what I am saying is that as long as we have a relationship with God then we can be honest with Him about how we are feeling.
In fact - why would we be otherwise. God already knows our every thought anyway. You can't put on a smile and fool God. So why not just cry out to him like Job and David. Be bummed - be really really bummed - but be in a relationship with God.
That relationship, by the way, is only available through God's Son, Jesus Christ. Yes, even Jesus got depressed I think - and we know He didn't sin. Just read the account of the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26 or Luke 22. There Jesus cried out to God for relief - David also cried to the Lord for help as Job did as well.
That's the key when we are depressed - cry out to God for help, and then don't be surprise when He answers and fills you with joy.
Job 30:20-21
I cry to you for help and you do not answer me;
I stand, and you only look at me.
21 You have turned cruel to me;
with the might of your hand you persecute me. ESV
Job is talking to God - God Almighty. Remember earlier in the book when God was talking about Job He said:
Job 1:8-9
"Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" ESV
How could God think that of a man who would call God "cruel." It seems pretty obvious to me that Job is depressed. After all - he's lost most of his family, his wealth, and even his health. I'd be pretty bummed out if I were him.
Job's wife cajolled him to "curse God and die." Is calling God "cruel" the same thing as cursing Him? I don't think so. I think Job's wife wanted Job to break his relationship with God, but Job also said "I know my redeemer lives." Job can't deny the existance of God or his relationship with him - it would be like saying the earth doesn't really exist or that he isn't breathing air.
But now Job is depressed. He wasn't the only one. Think about David. That's right, King David. The "man after God's own heart" David. That man has some serious cases of the blues.
Psalm 6:6 I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears; ESV
Did David sin by being depressed? No. Neither did Job. Depression is the mourning over our perceived circumstances. It can have physiological causes, as well as emotional, spiritual, even circumstantial roots. But it's not sin.
We as a society, and maybe even more as Christians, have made a grave error when we equate our emotional state with our spiritual well being. Now I'm not advocating that we all go out and throw pitty parties - what I am saying is that as long as we have a relationship with God then we can be honest with Him about how we are feeling.
In fact - why would we be otherwise. God already knows our every thought anyway. You can't put on a smile and fool God. So why not just cry out to him like Job and David. Be bummed - be really really bummed - but be in a relationship with God.
That relationship, by the way, is only available through God's Son, Jesus Christ. Yes, even Jesus got depressed I think - and we know He didn't sin. Just read the account of the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26 or Luke 22. There Jesus cried out to God for relief - David also cried to the Lord for help as Job did as well.
That's the key when we are depressed - cry out to God for help, and then don't be surprise when He answers and fills you with joy.
Friday, May 05, 2006
The Truth? of the Bible
One of the most interesting things about the book of Job is that it is mostly a conversation among friends. Job has suffered personal tragedy and personal injury and disease. His "good" friends come along and offer him advice.
Mostly they say that Job must have sinned - that bad things only happen to bad people. But Job knows that he is righteous and doesn't buy into what they are saying. In the end God brings them all up short.
But I got to thinking. I believe that the Bible is true - every word. But that doesn't mean that every word is truth. The Bible accurately reflects what people say, even if it isn't true.
For example, Eliphaz the Temanite says to Job "Your own mouth condemns you, and not I." Yet God said that Job was righteous and not a sinner.
Why is this important? Because you can't simply take a Scripture, rip it out of context, and hold it up as if it is true. Satan said to Eve: "you will not surely die." That was a lie - yet it's in the Bible.
Just a word to the wise - know who is speaking. The Bible often makes it clear what is true and what is not.
Mostly they say that Job must have sinned - that bad things only happen to bad people. But Job knows that he is righteous and doesn't buy into what they are saying. In the end God brings them all up short.
But I got to thinking. I believe that the Bible is true - every word. But that doesn't mean that every word is truth. The Bible accurately reflects what people say, even if it isn't true.
For example, Eliphaz the Temanite says to Job "Your own mouth condemns you, and not I." Yet God said that Job was righteous and not a sinner.
Why is this important? Because you can't simply take a Scripture, rip it out of context, and hold it up as if it is true. Satan said to Eve: "you will not surely die." That was a lie - yet it's in the Bible.
Just a word to the wise - know who is speaking. The Bible often makes it clear what is true and what is not.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Satan's Power
I'm reading the book of Job right now. I know, depressing you say. Yes - that's true. But even Job has some good things to say. I noticed right away in the first chapters that when Satan comes before the Lord and asks to try Job that his power is limited.
It reveals to us what Satan can and cannot do - all with God's permission of course.
Satan can - cause physical objects to harm, even kill others (the house falling down on Job's kids), he can incite humans to commit violent acts in specific instances (the Sabean raiders). It seems he has some limited ability to manipulate natural phonemena (like "fire from God"), and even cause physical disease.
It doesn't mean we should fear Satan - he is really in the end only a pawn. But we should not underestimate him either.
The great news is that Satan was defeated by Jesus Christ!
It reveals to us what Satan can and cannot do - all with God's permission of course.
Satan can - cause physical objects to harm, even kill others (the house falling down on Job's kids), he can incite humans to commit violent acts in specific instances (the Sabean raiders). It seems he has some limited ability to manipulate natural phonemena (like "fire from God"), and even cause physical disease.
It doesn't mean we should fear Satan - he is really in the end only a pawn. But we should not underestimate him either.
The great news is that Satan was defeated by Jesus Christ!
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Welcome to my new blog
Here you will find musings on the Word of God, ministry, and religion. Much of the content here comes from my own journies through the Bible and little thoughts that randomly pop in my mind. I hope they are useful to you in your own spiritual journey.
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