Passage of the Day: Colossians 1: 15 – 19 … 15 He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, …
My Journal for Today: Okay, we move from Paul’s strong declaration of Christ’s humanity and deity in Philippians 2 to another passage, this time in Colossians, the first chapter, where the Apostle stood strong for the reality and truth of Jesus Christ being the God-Man.
Today, in our post-modern culture, Christians are often challenged by those who deny Christ’s deity, just as Paul was when Epaphrus, the evangelist/founder of the church at Colosse, apparently wrote to Paul about the same type of ill-informed heresy we see now in our post-modern world. Paul writes, from prison in Rome, to his Christian brothers/sisters in Colosse, his spirited defense of true Christian doctrine to help Epaphrus and other Colossian believers to understand that teachings or beliefs which de-emphasize the preeminence of Christ and emphasize human knowledge/understanding distorting the true gospel are nothing but heresy, concocted by man to elevate himself and to humanize God. As we read in today’s text, Paul stood strong for the truth of Christ’s deity and authority over all things. Actually, today’s passage is a powerful exposition of God’s truth concerning Christology, … i.e., Christ’s deity and preeminent authority as LORD of all.
When we, as assertive believers, witnessing our faith, are confronted by those who choose to ignore the evidence of history and reject the deity of Christ (as I did for many years, calling myself “agnostic”), those who know and believe the truth must stand as was exhorted by Peter in 1st Peter 3: 15 – 16, when he wrote, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have [in Christ]. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” And today in our highlight passage in Colossians 1, we have a role model presentation of such a defense of the faith.
For years I did all I could to discount the witness of Christians who tried to stand for their faith when I challenged them with my doubts and questions. I would not listen to their testimonies of how Christ had brought them to a place of faith in His deity or from their stories of His transforming grace. But finally, in 1983, one such testimony of a young quadriplegic man who found His strength in Christ’s grace brought me to a place where I could reach out and find the truth of Christ’s Lordship. But it took many Christians, standing for their faith over many years to break through my veneer of egoism. So, you may encounter those, as I was, who will discount the truth of Jesus being God in the flesh. But stand in your faith! Stand like Paul did for the Colossians, telling the truth of Christ and how He has shaped and changed your life.
There’s great power in a personal testimony. In fact, one might argue about biblical interpretations, claiming (though falsely) that the Bible is irrelevant. But no one can argue with a strongly stated testimony. My testimony is mine! And no one can tell me that my belief in Christ has not changed my life. At 39, I was a hardened and cynical agnostic [probably more accurately called an “atheist”], deeply entrenched in habitual sin for most of my adult life. My marriage was almost broken; and my career was near the breaking point as well because of my spiritual weakness. And then came Christ; and my surrender to follow Him as my Lord changed everything. And here I am today, writing this as an Ordained Minister of the Gospel and an Elder in my church with a wonderful, renewed marriage and fulfilling life of ministry. Only Christ, and His Lordship in my life, could have shaped the person that is Bill Berry today. As they say down here in the South, “It’s a God thing!”
A mocker or disbeliever can misinterpret Scripture or foolishly deny the deity of Christ to my face; but, no one could tell me that my story isn’t true! And I hope that you will take any opportunity you might have into this upcoming New Year to declare to those who challenge Christ in your life so that you can let your story tell the truth about Christ’s deity and how He is transforming you.
And with that in mind, we will be exploring more of Paul’s exposition of Christ’s Lordship in his letter to the Colossians; so, yes, … stay tuned!
My Prayer Today: I will stand for You always, Lord. Amen
Showing posts with label apologetics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apologetics. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 04, 2011
December 4, 2011 … Christ’s Equality With God
Passage of the Day: Philippians 2: 6b [see highlight passage in bold/underlined] … 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
My Journal for Today: Today we focus on the second phrase in Phil. 2: 6; and it’s truly a remarkable truth, … one which the religious leaders who opposed Jesus in His day could not understand. Even today, with all the historical information we have, many people refuse to try to understand the truth about Jesus. And here’s where I think I have some empathy for the Pharisees of Christ’s day. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I hope that I wouldn’t have been so prideful in my position that I would be willing to plot the death of this One Who claimed to be The Messiah. But if I had learned about the God of Abraham the way the Pharisees had, with all the religious training and traditions of the day, it probably would have been difficult, if not impossible for me in that day to understand how this Jesus, the son of a simple carpenter in Nazareth, could claim to be One with “Elohim” or “Jehovah,” the God whom the Jews worshipped as the One true God.
And so, how could we expect the people of Christ’s day to understand how He, the God-Man, would be willing to release Himself from the holdings of glory and His favored position as the 2nd Person of the Trinity? And then to carry this through to the conclusion where we see Him completely fulfilling every one of the Messianic prophesies of the Old Testament, … becoming one of us, being rejected by His own, being humiliated and then, being executed so that His shed blood could allow all who believe in Him as Savior/Lord, by His grace, to share in His glory forever. How could the people of Christ’s day accept this because it’s difficult for theologians and religionists of today to get their minds around that truth as well?
Can any who might read this grasp and believe this greatest Christmas story ever told, where God, The Son, willingly decided to release Himself from His glorified place in the God-Head and become a babe in a manger … to grow to manhood … and to march to the cross so that the greatest gift of all time would become our “Christ Mass,” … this wondrous time when we can celebrate the birth of our Savior? I don’t think I will ever truly understand the full implications of what The Son of God did for me; but His humble decision to be incarnated into humanity, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His coronation, and His re-glorification have given me the picture I need to see of the One Whom I believe is Lord and Savior and the One Whom I know has given me eternal life.
It may be too much for my mind to grasp; but not my heart – which is His. I pray that you too have given, and EVERY DAY are giving, your heart to Him, and I pray that you’re celebrating – in this Advent season – the truth of what we’re learning in Philippians 2 … how God Himself was willing to become one OF us so that we could become one WITH Him.
And we’ll see even more of Him tomorrow; so, stay tuned!
My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord, to let go of my personal glory and to become a humble servant like You. Amen
9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
My Journal for Today: Today we focus on the second phrase in Phil. 2: 6; and it’s truly a remarkable truth, … one which the religious leaders who opposed Jesus in His day could not understand. Even today, with all the historical information we have, many people refuse to try to understand the truth about Jesus. And here’s where I think I have some empathy for the Pharisees of Christ’s day. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I hope that I wouldn’t have been so prideful in my position that I would be willing to plot the death of this One Who claimed to be The Messiah. But if I had learned about the God of Abraham the way the Pharisees had, with all the religious training and traditions of the day, it probably would have been difficult, if not impossible for me in that day to understand how this Jesus, the son of a simple carpenter in Nazareth, could claim to be One with “Elohim” or “Jehovah,” the God whom the Jews worshipped as the One true God.
And so, how could we expect the people of Christ’s day to understand how He, the God-Man, would be willing to release Himself from the holdings of glory and His favored position as the 2nd Person of the Trinity? And then to carry this through to the conclusion where we see Him completely fulfilling every one of the Messianic prophesies of the Old Testament, … becoming one of us, being rejected by His own, being humiliated and then, being executed so that His shed blood could allow all who believe in Him as Savior/Lord, by His grace, to share in His glory forever. How could the people of Christ’s day accept this because it’s difficult for theologians and religionists of today to get their minds around that truth as well?
Can any who might read this grasp and believe this greatest Christmas story ever told, where God, The Son, willingly decided to release Himself from His glorified place in the God-Head and become a babe in a manger … to grow to manhood … and to march to the cross so that the greatest gift of all time would become our “Christ Mass,” … this wondrous time when we can celebrate the birth of our Savior? I don’t think I will ever truly understand the full implications of what The Son of God did for me; but His humble decision to be incarnated into humanity, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His coronation, and His re-glorification have given me the picture I need to see of the One Whom I believe is Lord and Savior and the One Whom I know has given me eternal life.
It may be too much for my mind to grasp; but not my heart – which is His. I pray that you too have given, and EVERY DAY are giving, your heart to Him, and I pray that you’re celebrating – in this Advent season – the truth of what we’re learning in Philippians 2 … how God Himself was willing to become one OF us so that we could become one WITH Him.
And we’ll see even more of Him tomorrow; so, stay tuned!
My Prayer Today: Help me, Lord, to let go of my personal glory and to become a humble servant like You. Amen
Saturday, December 03, 2011
December 3, 2011 … Christ’s Deity Defended
Passage of the Day: Philippians 2: 6a [see highlight passage in bold/underlined] … 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
My Journal for Today: Yes, here we are with the same short sub-verse, … Phil. 2: 6a. However, I hope that you’re disciplining yourself to read and meditate on the entire passage of Phil. 2: 5 – 11 each day with me while we’re in this passage of Scripture. Who knows? If we use that passage a lot this month [and we will], we might all get to know Jesus more closely than ever before. Is that not reason enough to be meditating daily on this passage for this month?
So, as we focus on Phil. 2: 6a again, we’re looking into the centerpiece of our beliefs as a Christian in this statement about the deity of Christ. You see, one cannot claim to be a disciple of Christ without holding faithfully to the core belief that Jesus was Whom He claimed to be … the ever existent God Himself. If one also goes to a verse like John 8: 58, we read Jesus clearly referring to Himself as the eternal “I AM,” which was the equivalent of the term God used to name Himself to Moses in Exodus 3: 14. And so, the unbelieving Jews, hearing Jesus proclaiming Himself to be God (again see John 8: 58), should, according to their beliefs and practices, immediately pick up stones to kill Jesus, whom they felt would have been committing unpardonable blasphemy. And they did just that; but as we know [from John 8: 59], Jesus somehow hid himself from them because it wasn’t His time to die.
Actually, everyone is confronted with the ultimate question: “Is Jesus Who He claimed to be?” And if we declare ourselves to be “Christian,” we must believe that Jesus is One Who existed before Abraham existed (again as He claimed John 5: 58 – 59). Historically it’s easy to see that there was an historical Jesus of Nazareth, the adopted son of a carpenter, Who was born in Bethlehem and Who was crucified on that hill called Golgotha. But to be a born-again Christian, we have to buy into His claims of being One with His Father … and that He truly was and is God.
When the Apostle Paul was charging one of his young protégé, Titus (see Titus 1: 9), reviewing the characteristics of Christian leadership, Paul said that a leader in the church (and really he’s speaking to all Christians as well) must hold fast and stand faithful to the teachings we are describing herein – that Jesus Christ was – and is – the ever existent God, … the great “I AM.” We must be willing and able to stand for Christ’s deity, even in the face of the historical fact of this Man died so ignominiously in humiliation on the cross. So, as we read in Col. 1: 15 – 17 of Christ’s deity (also in Hebrews 1: 3), will we be defenders of the truth of Christ’s deity?
Now we have to ask ourselves, “Do we live up to the declaration of Romans 1: 16, which says, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ!’? “ I leave it to you to decide where you stand.
But, stay tuned … there’s more!
My Prayer Today: My dear Jesus, I stand with You as the Lord God! Amen
9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
My Journal for Today: Yes, here we are with the same short sub-verse, … Phil. 2: 6a. However, I hope that you’re disciplining yourself to read and meditate on the entire passage of Phil. 2: 5 – 11 each day with me while we’re in this passage of Scripture. Who knows? If we use that passage a lot this month [and we will], we might all get to know Jesus more closely than ever before. Is that not reason enough to be meditating daily on this passage for this month?
So, as we focus on Phil. 2: 6a again, we’re looking into the centerpiece of our beliefs as a Christian in this statement about the deity of Christ. You see, one cannot claim to be a disciple of Christ without holding faithfully to the core belief that Jesus was Whom He claimed to be … the ever existent God Himself. If one also goes to a verse like John 8: 58, we read Jesus clearly referring to Himself as the eternal “I AM,” which was the equivalent of the term God used to name Himself to Moses in Exodus 3: 14. And so, the unbelieving Jews, hearing Jesus proclaiming Himself to be God (again see John 8: 58), should, according to their beliefs and practices, immediately pick up stones to kill Jesus, whom they felt would have been committing unpardonable blasphemy. And they did just that; but as we know [from John 8: 59], Jesus somehow hid himself from them because it wasn’t His time to die.
Actually, everyone is confronted with the ultimate question: “Is Jesus Who He claimed to be?” And if we declare ourselves to be “Christian,” we must believe that Jesus is One Who existed before Abraham existed (again as He claimed John 5: 58 – 59). Historically it’s easy to see that there was an historical Jesus of Nazareth, the adopted son of a carpenter, Who was born in Bethlehem and Who was crucified on that hill called Golgotha. But to be a born-again Christian, we have to buy into His claims of being One with His Father … and that He truly was and is God.
When the Apostle Paul was charging one of his young protégé, Titus (see Titus 1: 9), reviewing the characteristics of Christian leadership, Paul said that a leader in the church (and really he’s speaking to all Christians as well) must hold fast and stand faithful to the teachings we are describing herein – that Jesus Christ was – and is – the ever existent God, … the great “I AM.” We must be willing and able to stand for Christ’s deity, even in the face of the historical fact of this Man died so ignominiously in humiliation on the cross. So, as we read in Col. 1: 15 – 17 of Christ’s deity (also in Hebrews 1: 3), will we be defenders of the truth of Christ’s deity?
Now we have to ask ourselves, “Do we live up to the declaration of Romans 1: 16, which says, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ!’? “ I leave it to you to decide where you stand.
But, stay tuned … there’s more!
My Prayer Today: My dear Jesus, I stand with You as the Lord God! Amen
Saturday, July 02, 2011
July 2, 2011 … Assurance: Objective or Subjective?
Passage of the Day: 2nd Corinthians 13: 5 … Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
My Journal for Today: I don’t know about you; but for anyone reading this, today’s verse is a daunting challenge from Paul to the early church and to us by extension. Looking at the assurance of our salvation this month, I will be studying, with John MacArthur’s help and biblical insights, the testing of my (our) faith.
In Christendom, this has always been a contested issue. Early Roman Catholic believers contended, as they do even today as well as many other “works-oriented” religions, that salvation was [and is in doubt between any believer and God to the end of life and assurance of that salvation could not be known by the professed Christian. However, sixteenth century Reformers, men like Luther, Calvin, Knox, and Swingli, changed the heart of Christianity by asserting that believers had definite ways to establish the grounds for the assurance of salvation.
John MacArthur points out, and I agree, that our assurance of being saved can be established both objectively and subjectively with the former being based on the finished work of Christ and our faith in the promises of Scripture (see 2nd Cor. 1: 20 – 22 - below). The subjective basis for our assurance comes from our faith in the ongoing work of God’s Spirit, which includes His convicting and sanctifying ministries through God’s Holy and perfect Word (see Romans 15: 4).
SCRIPTURE: 2nd Cor. 1: 20-22 … 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
SCRIPTURE: Romans 15: 4 … For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
We will see this month (yes, I’ve been reading ahead) that, as today’s text proclaims, we can – and we should – test ourselves as Christians, based on the truth of God’s word; and we will see that we can – in fact (i.e., objectively) – KNOW that we are saved.
Many years ago, one of the first questions my mentor asked me was, “Are you saved, Bill?” Like the immature Christian I was at the time, I responded, “I think so (with a question mark in my voice as I replied).” He admonished me, as I will anyone whom may be reading this, by saying, “You ought to have that question settled.” And over the next twelve years of weekly and biweekly meetings with him, I learned and internalized that I am completely and definitely saved. And so, if you have any doubts about this or you know of others who might be in a quandary about such matters, come along with me this month and I will be drawing out the answer to the that question for you as well.
As I said, another reason to follow this devotional thread this month would be to be more effective in helping others know that they are saved (or not). As 1st Peter 3: 15 asserts, we need to be ready to answer the questions of others, especially when they doubt their own salvation. So, I look forward to this venture together this month so that we all can know that we know that we know that we know we’re saved!
My Prayer Today: O Lord, I thank You for knowing, beyond doubt, that You have saved me. Amen
My Journal for Today: I don’t know about you; but for anyone reading this, today’s verse is a daunting challenge from Paul to the early church and to us by extension. Looking at the assurance of our salvation this month, I will be studying, with John MacArthur’s help and biblical insights, the testing of my (our) faith.
In Christendom, this has always been a contested issue. Early Roman Catholic believers contended, as they do even today as well as many other “works-oriented” religions, that salvation was [and is in doubt between any believer and God to the end of life and assurance of that salvation could not be known by the professed Christian. However, sixteenth century Reformers, men like Luther, Calvin, Knox, and Swingli, changed the heart of Christianity by asserting that believers had definite ways to establish the grounds for the assurance of salvation.
John MacArthur points out, and I agree, that our assurance of being saved can be established both objectively and subjectively with the former being based on the finished work of Christ and our faith in the promises of Scripture (see 2nd Cor. 1: 20 – 22 - below). The subjective basis for our assurance comes from our faith in the ongoing work of God’s Spirit, which includes His convicting and sanctifying ministries through God’s Holy and perfect Word (see Romans 15: 4).
SCRIPTURE: 2nd Cor. 1: 20-22 … 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
SCRIPTURE: Romans 15: 4 … For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
We will see this month (yes, I’ve been reading ahead) that, as today’s text proclaims, we can – and we should – test ourselves as Christians, based on the truth of God’s word; and we will see that we can – in fact (i.e., objectively) – KNOW that we are saved.
Many years ago, one of the first questions my mentor asked me was, “Are you saved, Bill?” Like the immature Christian I was at the time, I responded, “I think so (with a question mark in my voice as I replied).” He admonished me, as I will anyone whom may be reading this, by saying, “You ought to have that question settled.” And over the next twelve years of weekly and biweekly meetings with him, I learned and internalized that I am completely and definitely saved. And so, if you have any doubts about this or you know of others who might be in a quandary about such matters, come along with me this month and I will be drawing out the answer to the that question for you as well.
As I said, another reason to follow this devotional thread this month would be to be more effective in helping others know that they are saved (or not). As 1st Peter 3: 15 asserts, we need to be ready to answer the questions of others, especially when they doubt their own salvation. So, I look forward to this venture together this month so that we all can know that we know that we know that we know we’re saved!
My Prayer Today: O Lord, I thank You for knowing, beyond doubt, that You have saved me. Amen
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
2009 – Day 257.Sept 15 – Things That Matter
Passage of the Day: Job 27 … Linked for study …
My Journal for Today: Today, as Chapter 27 of Job’s life unfurls, and as we read our hero standing up for God’s truth in the face of the humanistic drivel which had been fed to him by his “friends,” Swindoll asks a very important question of anyone reading this passage. He asks, “What comes to your mind when you think about God.”
Because it is absolutely true that our concept of God will heavily impact our world view; and ultimately it will effect who we are and the decisions we make. Remember the adage from Proverbs 23: 7 in the NKJV, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Job, in Chapter 27 begins to stand even more strongly for God and what he knows of God, speaking out forcefully about what he KNOWS about God from his past relationship with his God. His stand had obviously been forged into his mind and heart years before this moment in time where he has lost everything which was dear to him, including his own health and wellness. We will stand for God only to the degree that we know God.
And I totally agree with Swindoll that this apologetic from Job in Chapter 27 is a good example of the reason for Scripture memorization. If you believe, as I do, that The Bible – all of it – is God’s very word; and if Scripture for you is as it is declared in 2nd Tim. 3: 16, God’s inspired truth, then it follows that if much of God’s truth is buried deep in your heart, you will rely on that truth when circumstances are confusing and when untruth is paraded before you.
That’s where Job is at the time of Chapter 27; and many untruths are being spouted forth from his “friends.” But then in this Chapter we read a broken man speaking Godly truth into the gap of dishonor and distortion. Knowing God and His truth and having a deep abiding relationship with God has shaped Job into a man who can stand for God in the face of untruths shaped by Satan and the world.
My dear one, do you have God’s truth deeply buried in your heart so that you can avoid untruth and distorted human logic? That’s the prescription given by the Psalmist in Psalm 119; and it’s one in which I personally believe strongly. We can – and will – stand for truth and more likely avoid sin in our lives if/when we bury much of God’s word in our hearts (see Ps. 119: 9-11).
I hope we’ll all become like Job when we’re faced with unGodly untruth. And I pray that we’ll all be able to declare, with confidence, that God’s word is a light unto our life (see Ps. 119: 105). So, … I hope we, like Job, shine that light of truth so that all who stand in darkness can see it.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, Your word is a lamp unto my path and a light unto my path. Amen
My Journal for Today: Today, as Chapter 27 of Job’s life unfurls, and as we read our hero standing up for God’s truth in the face of the humanistic drivel which had been fed to him by his “friends,” Swindoll asks a very important question of anyone reading this passage. He asks, “What comes to your mind when you think about God.”
Because it is absolutely true that our concept of God will heavily impact our world view; and ultimately it will effect who we are and the decisions we make. Remember the adage from Proverbs 23: 7 in the NKJV, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Job, in Chapter 27 begins to stand even more strongly for God and what he knows of God, speaking out forcefully about what he KNOWS about God from his past relationship with his God. His stand had obviously been forged into his mind and heart years before this moment in time where he has lost everything which was dear to him, including his own health and wellness. We will stand for God only to the degree that we know God.
And I totally agree with Swindoll that this apologetic from Job in Chapter 27 is a good example of the reason for Scripture memorization. If you believe, as I do, that The Bible – all of it – is God’s very word; and if Scripture for you is as it is declared in 2nd Tim. 3: 16, God’s inspired truth, then it follows that if much of God’s truth is buried deep in your heart, you will rely on that truth when circumstances are confusing and when untruth is paraded before you.
That’s where Job is at the time of Chapter 27; and many untruths are being spouted forth from his “friends.” But then in this Chapter we read a broken man speaking Godly truth into the gap of dishonor and distortion. Knowing God and His truth and having a deep abiding relationship with God has shaped Job into a man who can stand for God in the face of untruths shaped by Satan and the world.
My dear one, do you have God’s truth deeply buried in your heart so that you can avoid untruth and distorted human logic? That’s the prescription given by the Psalmist in Psalm 119; and it’s one in which I personally believe strongly. We can – and will – stand for truth and more likely avoid sin in our lives if/when we bury much of God’s word in our hearts (see Ps. 119: 9-11).
I hope we’ll all become like Job when we’re faced with unGodly untruth. And I pray that we’ll all be able to declare, with confidence, that God’s word is a light unto our life (see Ps. 119: 105). So, … I hope we, like Job, shine that light of truth so that all who stand in darkness can see it.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, Your word is a lamp unto my path and a light unto my path. Amen
Saturday, September 05, 2009
2009 – Day 247.Sept 05 – Stay With The Truth
Passage of the Day: Job 21 … Linked for study …
My Journal for Today: Chuck Swindoll is right on target today, emphasizing what we can learn from Job’s response to the slander and innuendo from Zophar, who had used half-truths to accuse Job of some hidden wickedness in Job 20. And so, we can learn from Job’s response in Job 21.
And first we must know that Job avoided reactions based on feelings and came back to Zophar, responding with truth, truth, and more truth. You can sense the strength and calmness in Job’s discourse in Chapter 21 as our fallen hero calmly lays out an apologetic which is based in absolute truth.
This is a lesson in standing for truth which we, as Christians, must learn and use in a day which has become so hostile to believers. If you stand for Christ and the truth of the Gospel these days, you will ultimately be confronted with those who will spout untruth about Jesus or the Bible; and many of them will tell you that you have no right to speak about your faith in public, mocking what we believe as Christians.
And so, when this happens, how do you respond? Well, you do what Job did in today’s highlight chapter. You stick with the truth and calmly stand up for what is right. And I believe the best way to do this is by using testimony based in Scripture. Every Christian needs to be able to give his/her testimony. No one can argue with how the truth has affected you personally. They may assail you from their own personal beliefs, as Zophar did with Job; but Job just came back with a calm argument from his own experience and his knowledge of truth.
As Swindoll, rightly states: “Respond [to slander or false accusation] with true facts and accurate information, knowing the nature of your accuser. … Speak truth!” And there is no better source of truth when we stand for our faith than God’s word. And so, you will not be as vulnerable to the accusations from the world, the ploys of Satan, or from your own deceitful heart (i.e., the flesh) if you are well versed in the truth from God’s word. That’s why my mentor, years ago, took me slowly and deliberately through a season of Scripture memory. He knew that one day I was going to get into a battle for truth in my life; and he wanted my heart and mind to be so filled with the truth that I could use it as the sword of the Spirit, just as Paul teaches in Eph. 6: 17b, … just like Jesus Himself did when he was confronted by Satan in the wilderness (see either Mark 4 or Luke 4, the latter linked for your review).
If Job’s style of argumentation is good enough for Jesus, then I feel it’s good enough me, don’t you? Job used it effectively in today’s study. I pray that we’ll all be able to stand for truth as he did, using the method our Master used to combat the lies of Satan.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help Your servants to be able to calmly and powerfully stand for truth using Your word whenever our enemies come against You with untruth. Amen
My Journal for Today: Chuck Swindoll is right on target today, emphasizing what we can learn from Job’s response to the slander and innuendo from Zophar, who had used half-truths to accuse Job of some hidden wickedness in Job 20. And so, we can learn from Job’s response in Job 21.
And first we must know that Job avoided reactions based on feelings and came back to Zophar, responding with truth, truth, and more truth. You can sense the strength and calmness in Job’s discourse in Chapter 21 as our fallen hero calmly lays out an apologetic which is based in absolute truth.
This is a lesson in standing for truth which we, as Christians, must learn and use in a day which has become so hostile to believers. If you stand for Christ and the truth of the Gospel these days, you will ultimately be confronted with those who will spout untruth about Jesus or the Bible; and many of them will tell you that you have no right to speak about your faith in public, mocking what we believe as Christians.
And so, when this happens, how do you respond? Well, you do what Job did in today’s highlight chapter. You stick with the truth and calmly stand up for what is right. And I believe the best way to do this is by using testimony based in Scripture. Every Christian needs to be able to give his/her testimony. No one can argue with how the truth has affected you personally. They may assail you from their own personal beliefs, as Zophar did with Job; but Job just came back with a calm argument from his own experience and his knowledge of truth.
As Swindoll, rightly states: “Respond [to slander or false accusation] with true facts and accurate information, knowing the nature of your accuser. … Speak truth!” And there is no better source of truth when we stand for our faith than God’s word. And so, you will not be as vulnerable to the accusations from the world, the ploys of Satan, or from your own deceitful heart (i.e., the flesh) if you are well versed in the truth from God’s word. That’s why my mentor, years ago, took me slowly and deliberately through a season of Scripture memory. He knew that one day I was going to get into a battle for truth in my life; and he wanted my heart and mind to be so filled with the truth that I could use it as the sword of the Spirit, just as Paul teaches in Eph. 6: 17b, … just like Jesus Himself did when he was confronted by Satan in the wilderness (see either Mark 4 or Luke 4, the latter linked for your review).
If Job’s style of argumentation is good enough for Jesus, then I feel it’s good enough me, don’t you? Job used it effectively in today’s study. I pray that we’ll all be able to stand for truth as he did, using the method our Master used to combat the lies of Satan.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, help Your servants to be able to calmly and powerfully stand for truth using Your word whenever our enemies come against You with untruth. Amen
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