Day 72
Hebrews 4:1-13 NIV
1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” 6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.9 There remains, then, a Sabbath‑rest for the people of God;10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double‑edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
The Word of God is...
I just wanted to focus on the last section of this scripture. The Word of God is "living and active" "Sharper than any double-edged sword". The Word of God "penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow." The Word of God "it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart".
Living and active -
Many people read books and novels that seem to come to life as they begin to envision some element of the character's life and relate to the emotions of the passages. The Bible is different, it doesn't simply inspire our imaginations though it can inspire us to dream bigger. God's Word is a live because it has the power to make the dead live! The Word is alive because it never grows old or irrelevant. It is active because the Word continues to work as generation after generation discovers the truth of the Word. It is active because it isn't just some man inspired words on a page but it is God's Word made alive by the Holy Spirit. We read God's Word again and again but always seem to find something new and relevant for our situation. Even when we pull out the Old Testament classics that we have been reading since we were children we seem to find new nuggets that challenge and inspire us.
Sharper than a double-edged sword -
The Word of God is like a sword because it can cut away the undesirable areas of our heart. The Word trims away the flesh and awakens the spirit to it's truths. The Word of God cuts to the quick when we are lost or guilty of a sin against God, this sharp word inspires us to confess and repent.
The Word Penetrates and divides -
God's Word can break through even the hardest of hearts as the Holy Spirit directs and convicts. The Word penetrates and divides, since God communicates with us spirit to spirit the Word of God is contrary to the flesh and appeals directly to the spirit. This Word is absurd to natural thinking but when it penetrates to the spirit it has the ability to awaken the dead and cause us to experience the new birth.
Judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart -
The Word of God is our guide and it judges us when we read it with an open heart. It is through this judgment that we are able to escape a final judgment and be found without Christ. The Word quickly reveals the character of God and exposes the weak areas of our spiritual walk. The Word of God speaks to the heart of man, it reveals the purpose of our hearts.
This is powerful Word that we are dealing with tonight. Paul has said it all here by showing us the importance of God's Word. It is important to read it and then digest it. It is important that we learn this Word and speak it. This Word quickens our faith. The faith that pleases God. While no one can mandate that we read God's Word we can say that in order to grow in Christ as we should be we cannot simply depend upon Sunday morning sermons to give us all the Word we need.
Blessings,
Pastor Larry
Showing posts with label the Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Word. Show all posts
Daily Reading March 5 2010 from 1 Timothy 6:1-10 NIV
Day 54
1 Timothy 6:1-10 NIV
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them. 3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Work Relations -
This title might seem like a stretch when Paul is actually speaking about slaves and owners but it is worth mentioning that the advice given here would be very appropriate for employees and managers. Slaves/workers respect your master/boss! Show the respect your superior deserves and remember you are working for the Lord regardless of your job. When we, as employees, demonstrate a good work ethic we glorify God. On the other side of this issue supervisors should treat employees with respect and compassion again showing the goodness of God with their actions. I have worked with both kinds of "Christian" the one who gave all they had understanding who they were working for and the complaining poor witness that hurt the cause of Christ. Matters like this one today and several Paul has addressed here in the book of 1 Timothy has Paul stepping on some toes.
False Doctrines -
The Apostle Paul did not pull any punches and I wonder if his methods would be received by today's church. Paul's greatest concern was obviously pleasing God and not pleasing men. Paul demonstrates this care for God's direction and word in verse 3 "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. As you know this isn't the first mention we have seen of false teachings. Obviously there was a great issue with individuals trying to corrupt the gospel that Paul had presented so effectively. It's almost as though Paul was followed by those trying to cause dissension. The Apostle here speaks very harshly of these false teachers who claim to be followers of God, he says they are conceited and have no true understanding. They quarrel, are full of envy, cause strife, use corrupt speech, they are suspicious, and they use their religious practices as a means of financial gain. The Apostle Paul doesn't dispute the right of these and other ministers to make a living from their ministry he is disputing their use of God's name to make themselves rich. They love money and things more than they love God and they pollute the truth with their greed. He concludes this section with "some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith". This message is not just for ministers, preachers and teachers but for all believers. Money isn't the only thing that should be mentioned in this list because many things can come between us and God. Paul is reminded Timothy and other believers to keep our focus on Christ and the truth of the Word of God.
Conclusion -
I pray you have been enjoying each of these teachings and devotional writings. Some times we get caught up in a very short list of biblical items but this book shows the diversity of God's Word and demonstrates that there are answers in the Word for every matter we deal with. God's Word was and is meant to be used as a guide. This Word never gets out of date though it was written so long ago. This living Word still teaches, changes, and transforms just as it did two thousand years ago. As we read God's Word today and do so prayerfully it speaks to every area of our life. I have always been amazed as to how the Holy Spirit can take one passage or one sermon and say so many different things to so many different people. We can usually find something that changes us in any sermon we here if we are attentive to the Spirit and are seeking to be more like Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Larry
1 Timothy 6:1-10 NIV
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them. 3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Work Relations -
This title might seem like a stretch when Paul is actually speaking about slaves and owners but it is worth mentioning that the advice given here would be very appropriate for employees and managers. Slaves/workers respect your master/boss! Show the respect your superior deserves and remember you are working for the Lord regardless of your job. When we, as employees, demonstrate a good work ethic we glorify God. On the other side of this issue supervisors should treat employees with respect and compassion again showing the goodness of God with their actions. I have worked with both kinds of "Christian" the one who gave all they had understanding who they were working for and the complaining poor witness that hurt the cause of Christ. Matters like this one today and several Paul has addressed here in the book of 1 Timothy has Paul stepping on some toes.
False Doctrines -
The Apostle Paul did not pull any punches and I wonder if his methods would be received by today's church. Paul's greatest concern was obviously pleasing God and not pleasing men. Paul demonstrates this care for God's direction and word in verse 3 "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. As you know this isn't the first mention we have seen of false teachings. Obviously there was a great issue with individuals trying to corrupt the gospel that Paul had presented so effectively. It's almost as though Paul was followed by those trying to cause dissension. The Apostle here speaks very harshly of these false teachers who claim to be followers of God, he says they are conceited and have no true understanding. They quarrel, are full of envy, cause strife, use corrupt speech, they are suspicious, and they use their religious practices as a means of financial gain. The Apostle Paul doesn't dispute the right of these and other ministers to make a living from their ministry he is disputing their use of God's name to make themselves rich. They love money and things more than they love God and they pollute the truth with their greed. He concludes this section with "some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith". This message is not just for ministers, preachers and teachers but for all believers. Money isn't the only thing that should be mentioned in this list because many things can come between us and God. Paul is reminded Timothy and other believers to keep our focus on Christ and the truth of the Word of God.
Conclusion -
I pray you have been enjoying each of these teachings and devotional writings. Some times we get caught up in a very short list of biblical items but this book shows the diversity of God's Word and demonstrates that there are answers in the Word for every matter we deal with. God's Word was and is meant to be used as a guide. This Word never gets out of date though it was written so long ago. This living Word still teaches, changes, and transforms just as it did two thousand years ago. As we read God's Word today and do so prayerfully it speaks to every area of our life. I have always been amazed as to how the Holy Spirit can take one passage or one sermon and say so many different things to so many different people. We can usually find something that changes us in any sermon we here if we are attentive to the Spirit and are seeking to be more like Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Larry
Friday, March 5, 2010
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