I Declare Truth

Posted on March 27, 2013 by glenn

I Declare Truth!

I am not a fan of all situation comedies on television. As a matter of fact I watch very few of them. With the few that I have followed it has been my m. o. to get interested in the sit com’s after they have gone into syndication. Such is the case with M.A.S.H., Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, etc. My latest interest is The Office. Now I warn you that in just about all the series, there are episodes that I choose not to watch because the subject matter is too offensive. But in most cases the shows are really funny. Such is the case with The Office.

So there is an episode with one of the lead characters, Michael Scott, facing dire money issues. Another of the characters tells him about this idea of bankruptcy. Specifically he suggests to Michael that he might need to declare bankruptcy. Then he could start all over. So Michael’s understanding is that all he has to do, and in fact he does, is loudly proclaim “I Declare Bankruptcy.” Funny. Of course, he was a simpleton and thought that that literally meant all he had to do was declare it and it would be done.

The Bible has an expression that is found in some form many times. The phrase is “calling on the name of the LORD.” I am afraid there is much misunderstanding about this phrase.

When Peter on the day of Pentecost was quoting from the Old Testament book of Joel (Acts 2:17-21), he said that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. So, as Michael Scott would say, does that just mean all we have to do to be saved is to verbally call on His name, just make that declaration?

Is that really what the expression means? If so, what do we do about a passage like Matthew 7:21? This passage says “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Here are people calling on His name who will be eternally lost. So surely, the expression means more than just a verbal recitation of the phrase.

Later in the sermon on Pentecost, the hearers that day were convinced they were guilty of sins. In verse 37(Acts 2), the text indicates they asked the question, “men and brethren what shall we do?” Again if the answer is a simple verbal response, Peter would have instructed them to call on the name of the Lord. The reader is encouraged to read verse 38 to note how Peter answered their question.

Later in the book of Acts, chapter 22 we find the phrase again. The context here is Paul defending himself against an angry mob. He recounts his own conversion and tells of his traveling on the road to Damascus (verse 6) when he was blinded by a bright light. The bright light was a miraculous way of Jesus getting his attention. Jesus then instructed him to go into the city and it would be told him what to do.

Going into the city as he was instructed, in verse 16 we find the instructions Paul received from a man named Ananias. It reads “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the LORD.” Thus our expression is noted.

Now there are some things we should note about this account.

1. Faith alone is not enough to save man. Paul had faith. The scriptures tell us he addresses Jesus as Lord. In verse 10, he asked “What shall I do, Lord?” And when he was told, he did it. I am convinced Paul was a believer at that point. Why would he do what Jesus told him to do if he didn’t believe? Yet verse 16 notes he still had his sins (and he was still blinded). Paul was not saved on the road to Damascus.

2. So what does “calling on the name of the LORD” mean in verse 16? The phrase is a modifying clause further describing the verbs that have been used. Namely, when Paul followed the instructions, i.e. arise, be baptized, wash away your sins; he was in effect calling on the name of the LORD. Calling on the name of the LORD was synonymous to being obedient to His commands.

3. Further, to examine the original Greek, we find the phrase “be baptized….” is in the middle voice. This means it is something one does for themselves as opposed to something done to them or for them by someone else. So it would be altogether appropriate to read this “arise, and have yourself baptized and wash away your sins.” Paul was expected to follow through with what he had been commanded to do.

Is faith necessary for our salvation? Absolutely. Hebrews 11:6 tells us without it (faith), it is impossible to please Him.

Is faith alone going to save us? Absolutely not. This is the Michael Scott mentality. Matthew 7:21 in its entirety reads, “Not everyone who says to Me, LORD, LORD, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Calling on the name of the LORD will save us as long as we understand there is more to it than proclaiming a faith in Him or verbally articulating that faith. That faith must be accompanied by obedience, i.e. doing the will of the Father in heaven.

Why is that so easy to see on a television show and yet so hard to understand in religion?

Posted in faith, salvation, submission | 1 Comment

Guilt

Posted on March 15, 2013 by glenn

The old man has to live with the young man’s deeds.

I think if younger Christians would really think about this wisdom it would prevent a lot of bad judgment. I heard this expression years ago. And I know the older I get the more wisdom I see in this modern day proverb.

Many faithful Christians struggle with their past. Guilt. The definition of guilt is an emotion that occurs when a person realizes they have compromised a moral standard.

Do you struggle with guilt? Could that guilt be a tool from GOD used to convict, correct or conform you because you are astray? Paul in 2 Cor 7:10 says that “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” Yes this godly sorrow is a good use of guilt.

This regret, godly sorrow, or guilt is not what I am referring to today. Rather I am referring to guilt or regret for wrongs we have done in our lives that have been dealt with scripturally. Meaning one has repented and sought forgiveness and still has trouble living with the past.

GOD forgives. Let us state that emphatically. When we repent and seek His forgiveness, it comes. We have elsewhere in our blogging explored how the scriptures portray forgiveness. That is a thrilling study. Just know within the proper actions on man’s part, GOD forgives.

Man forgives. Sometimes this is difficult to do but GOD would not command us to do something we are incapable of doing. Ephesians 4:32 instructs us to forgive one another even as GOD in Christ forgave you. Interesting the Greek word for forgave here is charizomai whose root word is charis. Charis is our word grace. Grace is GOD giving us what we need but do not deserve (forgiveness). And we likewise should be forgiving to one another. Remembering to extend what is needed not what is deserved. Forgiveness is grace in action. Man forgives.

GOD forgives and man forgives but there is a third component to consider. Self. We frequently struggle to forgive self. Often the last one to forgive is self. And sometimes it never happens.

Psalm 51 is a Psalm of David’s penitence. Note the various terms in the Psalm that refer to forgiveness: Blot out, wash me, cleanse me, purge me, make me, and restore me. And then in verse 14 he says “deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed.”

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed. Not only was David guilty of adultery with Bathsheba but he had her husband Uriah killed in the process (2 Samuel 11). David had bloodshed on his hands as well. But GOD delivered him from that guilt. This is not to say David was able to forget the incident. He was simply able to live with it and later was referred to as a man after GOD’S own heart (Acts 13:22).

Verses 16-17 of Psalm 51 notes it is not sacrifices and burnt offerings that appease the LORD but rather a broken, contrite heart. This is the attitude that is necessary for us to be able to deal with our past failures.

To overcome guilt one must adopt the attitude of the apostle Paul in Phil 3:13 where he says to forget those things which are behind. Difficult to do? Yes, but with GOD’S help it can be done!

Let us remember as Paul penned those words to the Philippians, he was in prison. He had much time to reflect on his life. What do you suppose he thought about as he looked back on his past? Do you think he ever thought about the episode we read about in Acts 7? The entire chapter 7 details Stephen preaching the truth. And the result according to verse 54 was the people were cut to the heart. And the people carried Stephen out of the city and stoned him. While they stoned Stephen we are told they laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. Saul later became known as Paul. Paul was either directly or indirectly participating in the execution. Do you think Paul remembered that episode? How could he forget?! How could he forget Stephen’s dying statement of “LORD, do not charge them with this sin.”

But yet here is Paul later in life able to say “forgetting those things which are past.” Now we are all guilty of sins in the past. We all have episodes of life we wish we could do over. But I doubt anyone reading this has participated in the killing of someone simply because they were preaching Jesus. Or having someone murdered just to have their wife.

If Paul and David can do it I can try. With GOD’S help I will overcome regrets I have of the past; failures I have experienced and would like to do over. Deliver me from the guilt.

And may I still remember that the old man will have to live with the younger man’s deeds.

Posted in forgiveness, judgement, memory, reflection | Leave a comment

Happy Pi Day

Posted on March 14, 2013 by glenn

Today is March 14. Now if you follow my blogs you must know that I am a former mathematics teacher so it will not surprise you for me to tie this date into a math formula. You see, the date 3/14 could be written as 3.14. Now if you are mathematically inclined you will recognize this as pi (π). So, happy “pi” day.

Pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle and its diameter. If you divide the circumference or perimeter of a circle by the diameter you will get pi. It is really neat because it doesn’t matter the size of the circle, the ratio is always the same. It is always pi.

Pi is what is known as an irrational number, that is, it is a number that cannot be expressed as the ratio of 2 integers. If you divide the 2 integers the result is a decimal number that keeps on going indefinitely the digits never repeating themselves. With Pi sometimes the fraction 22/7 is used but that is not an exact figure.

With pi there are computers that have calculated the number to trillions of decimal places. For most practical purposes it can be calculated using 3.14 but do realize that is not an exact number, i.e. a rational number.

Irrational numbers are numbers that are distinguished from rational numbers. Can’t the same thing be said about people? How about irrational people? Aren’t they distinguishable from rational people? Do you know anyone that you would characterize as irrational?

I have said in the past that you cannot reason with an unreasonable person. You cannot rationalize with someone who is irrational. So why do we try? Sometimes it is just best to choose your battles.

Realizing this helps one to see the wisdom of Proverbs 22:24-25, “Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.”

Sometimes it is just best to remove yourself from the presence and even friendship of one who is deemed irrational. 1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us, “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Choose your friends and associates carefully. They will have an effect on you. And though we may all have our moments of irrationality from time to time, I hope you are generally a rational person.

And if you are a rational person, then I hope you have a blessed “π” day. If you are an irrational person you probably don’t see the humor in my post today. Have a good day anyway!

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Sticks and Stones

Posted on March 8, 2013 by glenn

Sticks and stones may break my bones
But words will never hurt me.

Ah, the old childhood adage. We have said this hundreds of times. Our intentions were good. Perhaps we meant to help someone overcome a name calling incident. Whatever the case, this little rhyme is false. Words do hurt. Sometimes much more than sticks and stones ever could.

Wounds from sticks and stones will usually heal. Sometimes a heart broken by uncaring words will never heal. Young lives and personalities are shaped by the poor choice of words in the home.

What we are talking about here is criticism. The critic, one with a critical nature is always around. We have all dealt with them.

The root word of criticism is critic. This word comes from the Greek word kritikos meaning to judge. The critic judges and we most often associate it negatively. To express criticism is to find fault and this is often done with a mean unloving spirit.

The Dorothy Nolte poem begins “If a child lives with criticism, he learns to criticize.”

A researcher once concluded after many years of study, there are 4 danger signs in a marriage that could lead to divorce. One of the four is criticism. Be wary of developing a critical nature.

Words do hurt. Words can shape. Words are important. I recommend reading the 3rd chapter of James.

On the other hand words are a powerful source of encouragement. The word encourage comes from the Greek word paraklesis. The word para means by the side of, klesis comes from the word kaleo meaning to call. Thus the word paraklesis means a calling to one’s side.

Our words can be critical and damaging or they can be encouraging, i.e. giving courage.

May I suggest the following 7 “let us….” statements and the accompanying verses for meditation.

1. Let us remember that words, like a surgeon’s scalpel, can cut sharply. Thus let us choose our words with loving care in order that we may build up rather than tear down. Proverbs 12:18 – There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

2. Let us focus on self evaluation rather than other’s faults. Luke 6:41 – And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?

3. Let us be slow to ridicule. Proverbs 11:12 – He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.

4. Let us remember appearances can be deceiving. John 7:24 – Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

5. Let us be careful not to assume the worst. John 7:51 – Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?

6. Let us be known as a people with a positive disposition. Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

7. Let us be merciful in our speech as well as our actions. James 2: 12-13 – ¬So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

With our words we have the power to destroy or build. We have the power to criticize or encourage. Our words reveal the thoughts and intents of our heart. They reveal who we are. Let us be mindful of the impact our words have on those around us.

Posted in family, influence, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Aladdin Lamp

Posted on February 24, 2013 by glenn

Perhaps you remember the story from childhood of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp. It is one of the more famous stories from the 1001 Tales of the Arabian Nights. Aladdin is a young boy who comes in possession of a magic lamp. Along the way he must battle evil influences and make difficult choices. But in the end right wins out.

I know there have been many adaptations of this story. I remember an old Popeye cartoon, a Donald Duck cartoon, and of course a relatively recent Disney movie, Aladdin, just to name a few.

There would be many angles to draw Biblical truths from this story. If you know the story you remember that Aladdin is faced with making some difficult choices. Does he choose what is the easiest or does he choose what is right, that is, what he promised to do? Aladdin’s choice is in perfect keeping with the following verse.

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

Or perhaps we could consider Revelation 17:14. “These will make war with the Lamb and the Lamb will overcome them.” Right is going to win out. Even when it doesn’t appear as such, right will win out. Spoiler alert, right does win out for Aladdin.

But today I deviate a little from my norm. I just want to talk about the Aladdin Lamp. No, not the one in the story. There is actually a lamp known as the Aladdin Lamp. It is a kerosene powered lamp. I happen to own one. They are magnificent reminders of our past. It reminds us of a time before the incandescent bulb and electricity. A past that is unknown to most of us.

May I share the story of my Aladdin Lamp with you? As I do you will see that it is more than a historical relic that I own.

My maternal grandfather was a preacher in rural Winston County in the early 1900’s. He preached for a small church in the days long before electricity. This church could not meet in the evening hours because of a lack of light. Small kerosene lamps that were sufficient in the home could not produce enough light for a large room such as the church building.

Around the year 1917, my grandfather purchased a lamp that utilized technology that was fairly new at that time. The Aladdin Lamp Company had been established in 1908. This new lamp’s design allowed it to project light that would be equivalent to our 60 watt electric light bulb today. It works with a mantle much the same way a Coleman lantern does.

This lamp allowed the church to meet at night and was used until electricity made it obsolete some years later. In the process of time my grandfather stopped preaching at that church. And in the year 1974, he passed away during my junior year of high school at the age of 93. He is buried in the cemetery of that old church in Winston County.

A few years later, an older gentleman from that church brought my mother the Aladdin Lamp that Papaw Wakefield had purchased many years earlier. He told her the story of the lamp and said he wanted her to have it.

Many years ago my mother gave me the lamp and it is a cherished reminder of my past. Some time ago I restored the lamp so that it operates today as it did many years ago. I am humbled to open my bible and read by the light of my Aladdin Lamp.

We have so many conveniences available to us today that it shames us not to be better students of the word. I am reminded of the lengths to which previous generations went in order to worship. And now we complain if the air conditioning or heating is not set at just the right temperature. May we ever be mindful of our past.

Posted in family, memory, sacrifice | Leave a comment

It is not the critic who counts…

Posted on February 20, 2013 by glenn

“It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, and sweat, and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who actually strives to do the deed, who knows the great devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory or defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt

I have the above quote framed and hanging in my office directly in front of my desk. I remember cutting it off something that came in the mail years ago and having it matted and framed. This exemplifies how much this quote means to me. To be honest, I am a fan of quotations. But some really stick with you more than others. For me, this is one of those.

I guess we could call them Monday morning quarterbacks. Always second guessing the decisions of others. “Well if it had been me I would have done it this way.” No you wouldn’t. Because it probably could have been you but you chose to sit on the sidelines and watch while others took the risk. You are one of the timid and cold souls.

Read the account of Gideon in the book of Judges Chapter 7. And pay particular attention to verse 17:

And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do.”

Gideon was not one to sit on the sidelines. You do as I do. If he made a mistake it was going to be because he was out front leading. His face was marred by dust, and sweat, and blood. He would not be found sitting on the fence.

Consider the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians.

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:9

Note the verbs involved: learned, received, heard, and saw. He says you follow my example; you do.

When I was growing up I remember an adult in my life who would commonly say, “Don’t do as I do, do as I say.” Even as a child I knew that was a flawed logic.

I also remember reading once that one could pull a rope but you couldn’t push it. Lead me by example please. I don’t need you to tell me how it is done. Show me please. Give me an example. Don’t push me, get out front and lead me, pull me.

I must say I have been very fortunate in my life. I have had many mentors who showed me the way. I will be forever grateful.

And now I am in the stage of life that I need to be doing the leading. That doesn’t mean I don’t still need an example as well. But when I have the opportunity, I want my face to be marred with dust, and sweat, and blood. It is not the critic who counts…

In whatever position you are in life, choose your mentors wisely. If you are a young parent, model yourself after those who have successfully navigated those waters before you. If you are struggling with your spiritual walk, climbing the career ladder, facing illness, entering the twilight years, experiencing midlife crises, etc., find a mentor to whom you can look. They don’t even have to know about it. You just need the example to follow.

I remember my Teresa saying many times that when our children were growing up she looked for examples to follow. She looked for those women whose children were well behaved and well adjusted. She drew on their example. And more times than not, they did not realize they were being models to a younger couple raising two boys.

No, it is not the critic who counts. Everyone can criticize! In fact that is very easy to do.

I can tell you who counts. It is the one doing the doing. The one modeling the behavior. The one showing the way it is done. The one in the arena! The one whose face is marred with dust, and sweat, and blood. Just do as I do…

For each of these mentors in my past, I thank you.

Posted in discipleship, growth, influence, opportunity | Leave a comment

If I had it to do over again…

Posted on February 18, 2013 by glenn

My children are grown. But if I had my time to go over these are some things I would stress to them. I do not take full responsibility for all these ideas. They did not all originate with me. But I have given my approval and my twist on each thus I can readily endorse them.

1. GOD is real. The Bible begins with “In the beginning GOD.” There is no proof of His existence given yet Rom 1: 20 notes that even the creation proclaims a Creator. Moses in Deuteronomy 6 notes we should talk of GOD with our children in all areas of life. It should be a natural topic of conversation. If I were rearing my children again, I would do this even more than I did the first time around.

2. Bible is His word – Rom 10:17. And it produces faith. One’s faith will only be as strong as his time spent in the word. I am thankful my Teresa put an emphasis on the study of the word when the children were small. If I were rearing them again, this emphasis would be increased.

3. In a world of relativism, there are absolutes. Recognize evil and avoid it. 1 Thes 5:22, Prov 4: 14-15

4. There are consequences to decisions we make. Dan 1:8, Gal 6:7, Gal 5:22, 2 Tim 3: 16-17

5. Respect for authority. I am convinced this is one area that can cost our children their soul. The reason I say this is because one’s attitude toward parental authority will carry over to other forms of authority. The Ultimate Authority will determine our eternal destination.

6. Take Responsibility – Gal 6:5, Heb 5: 11-14, grow up and be a man, stop whining.

7. Happiness/contentment is not about the external circumstances. Phil 4: 10-14, Habakkuk, the entire book. (What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.)

8. You are unique. Be yourself – no one else can be – if you try to be someone else you will do a poor job. Don’t play the comparison game. Success is measured in how far you have come not where you are. Prov 22:6 states to train up a child in the way in which he should go. The “way” is not the way of salvation or else this verse would be proclaiming the impossibility of falling. The “way” described in this verse has to do with being a unique being with a particular set of traits. Teach your children to be who GOD created them to be. And of course we do this within His Word.

9. Balance – you need to be balanced in life. Jesus grew in 4 areas – Luke 2:52 – if this was good for Him then it will be good for you. The Pharisees were 1st Century extremists. There is danger in being too far left or right – the middle ground is a balanced approach.

10. Life is full of painful lessons – learn from them. Job 14:1

Posted in authority, family, growth, influence, opportunity | Leave a comment

The Pledge and the Prayer

Posted on February 7, 2013 by glenn

I can’t remember every single high school teacher I had, most but not all. And I remember very few college professors. However, I remember vividly every single elementary teacher. They each just had such an impact on me. Butler, Richardson, Horsley, Stockton, White, and Davis were my teachers. They were very different but they were each good teachers.

Her name was Juanita Richardson. She was my second grade teacher. She was a kind, gentle, older Christian lady. She was very soft spoken and you never doubted that she loved each of her students.

Her husband was converted very late in life due in part to her godly living no doubt. Mrs. Richardson was a living example of what we find in 1 Peter 3: 1-2. Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.

It was very nearly 50 years ago that I was in her second grade classroom. I have vivid memories of many things that year. But one thing stands above all the rest. It was how we began our day every day. This was a time very different than the world we live in today; a time before the courts and the powers of our government limited the open reference we could make to GOD and our religion.

The one memory that is above all the rest is that we began our day with the Pledge to the flag and then we recited the following prayer. I remember standing and facing the flag and then bowing our heads and reciting this prayer.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight O LORD my strength and my Redeemer.

I didn’t know it then but of course now I know this is the last verse of Psalm 19. It is one of my favorite passages. Think of how different our world would be if we could begin our day with this simple prayer.

First, consider the words of my mouth. If I could just control my tongue! Many of the problems I have encountered in life have been rooted in things I said. Read the third chapter of James and note how the tongue directs (horses and ships), destroys (fire), and displays the heart (out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing).

Next, consider the meditation of one’s heart. Solomon said “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. We are what we think about! Our actions are rooted first in our thoughts.

What if our desire was truly for our words and thoughts to be acceptable to Him? And to continue the verse, what if we truly considered Him as our source of strength, as our Redeemer? Do you think that would make a difference in our world?

And think of how different our world would be if all of our second graders across this great nation were led in this simple prayer by godly teachers at the beginning of every day.

Yeah 1964 was a time very different than today. We probably will never see the time when our classrooms will begin their day with this prayer. But there is nothing preventing me from doing so individually. GOD, help me today to use my tongue
and my thoughts in ways acceptable to YOU.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight O LORD my strength and my Redeemer.

And while you are in prayer today, thank GOD for those godly teachers and others in your life that have had an influence on you. There were many in my life but today I am especially thankful for Juanita Richardson.

Posted in God, influence, memory, reflection | 2 Comments

Living in the Past

Posted on February 3, 2013 by glenn

I remember several years ago when I was a new administrator at a school. Some of the changes that we had implemented were not very popular with some of the older teachers. These staff members had been there for a long time and had not been held accountable in some areas. They were very much ingrained in the philosophy of this is the way we have always done it. And they were reluctant to change. But changes were needed and it was not a popularity contest that we were conducting.

At any rate, one particular teacher made the following comment to me in a way that was obviously expressing her unhappiness. She said “Things sure aren’t the way they used to be.” Without thinking too much before I replied I simply said “No and they probably never were.” Well the changes were made and eventually everyone got on board.

Now truth be told we probably all have those feelings of “things sure aren’t the way they used to be.” We all have selective recall when it comes to remembering the past. Ask any older person and they will tell you about the good ole days. As a matter of fact I am probably old enough to recall the good ole days myself. As we remember the old days we sometimes remember it with our personal twist on it. And the older we get the better the old days were. We seem to forget there were problems then as well.

Sometimes I hear people complaining about today’s younger generation. But friends, if you lived through the sixties, surely you remember Woodstock, peace, hippies, drugs, make love not war, protests, antiestablishmentarianism, etc. The reality of this time period was not at all like watching an episode of Leave it to Beaver or Happy Days. No, there was serious unrest in the younger generation then and many of us were that younger generation!

And there is another side to the old days. Who among us does not have events in our lives that we regret? We all have painful experiences that we would love to do over again making better choices. Regret, guilt, pain, etc. is a part of everyone’s past. Yes, as we recall the past we all recall our failures.

But whether the past is a painful regret or a pleasant memory made even better with selective recall, the past is just that, it is the past. And no amount of longing, worry or attempts to bring it back will work. We need to leave it in the past. Certainly there are lessons to be learned from the past and I am not suggesting otherwise.

What I am suggesting is easier said than done but I believe it is necessary for us to be all GOD wants us to be today. Living in the past will rob us of the opportunity to make the most out of today. So what I am suggesting is to live for today. Let bygones be bygones. We cannot change the past. Don’t live with that mentality. It will destroy our ability to make the most of today. For that matter, so will trying to live in the future. We need to live today. Don’t let yesterday’s memory or tomorrow’s dreams steal your today.

Job said “Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when GOD watched over me.” (Job 29:2) GOD eventually reminded Job that HE was always watching over him. And through faithful service to GOD, Job was blessed again.

Let us rather be like the apostle Paul who said, “but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead…” (Phil 3:13)

It may not be easy but let us strive to forget those things behind us and live today with the blessed hope of the eternal things ahead.

Posted in discipleship, memory, time | 2 Comments

Texts, Contexts and Pretexts

Posted on January 30, 2013 by glenn

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” Luke 24:25 NKJ

I was recently asked about this verse by a sincere faithful member of the church. Her concern was that she was reading this scripture to say that those who believed the prophets were foolish. And taken alone one might see from where she was coming. She exclaimed to me that she believed the prophets. And of course I do as well. So what of the passage? Let us take a closer look.

A wise man once said that a text taken out of context becomes a pretext. Which simply means words taken out of their context leads the reader to false conclusions. Another way of saying this was suggested by a gentleman who gave a lecture entitled “Never read a Bible verse.” Of course he went on to suggest the idea of a singular verse was to be emphasized. That is, never read a single verse or lift a single verse out of its context. Certainly one must be careful to observe the surrounding verses or the context of any passage.

This is a much needed principle in our look at Luke 24:25. In the context, Luke 24 begins with the resurrection of the LORD on that Sunday morning. Verses 13 and following are details concerning the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus. The scripture tells us that the Risen LORD approached the two travelers. By Divine intervention they were not able to recognize Him. Jesus then begins to have a conversation with them.

In the course of their conversation they express their astonishment at the events that have transpired. Specifically, they mention the women who had gone to the tomb and found it empty. And finding no body, there were only angels who proclaimed that the LORD was alive. They found this to be incredulous and some of those with them had gone and found the tomb just as the women had proclaimed. They couldn’t believe it and had to see it for themselves.

So Christ then chastises them with the statement found in verse 25. He begins by calling them foolish. O foolish ones! Note the reason He called them foolish was NOT because they believed in the prophets. In fact it is just the opposite! It is because they DID NOT believe. Had they believed in the prophets, the events of the day would not have been so hard to believe. Actually they would have expected Him to be raised on the third day. A belief in the prophets would have made that an expectation rather than a surprise.

Christ further describes them as slow of heart. One translation refers to them as slow of wit and dull of heart. He rebukes them for not having the knowledge, understanding and faith to believe all the prophets had spoken. Again, if they had believed the prophets there would be no surprise at the resurrection of the Savior.

Christ did not leave them in such a state however. Verse 27 states that He beginning with Moses and all the Prophets explained in detail all the things concerning Himself.

Thank you LORD for your faithful word!

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