Passage of the Day: 1st Peter 4: 15 [NIV] … 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
1st Peter 4: 15 [NASB]: … Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; …
1st Peter 4: 15 [KJV]: … But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
My Journal for Today: Today I’ve listed three versions of today’s verse (1st Peter 4: 15), embedded in the passage we have been discussing the past days from 1st Peter 4. And here we read Peter, by God’s inspiration, helping believers to see that we have many troubles or trials in this life; but we don’t need to be creating them on our own by doing unlawful, sinful, or meddlesome things.
Certainly we know that if we create our own problems by doing such things as breaking the law (e.g., murder or theft), we can expect that the governments of the world, instituted by God (see Romans 13), would likely be a big part of our “troubles” or circumstances if they had to prosecute us for our unlawfulness; and most certainly if that were our lot in life, we be in a barrel of troubles. But the latter phrase in 1st Peter 4: 15 indicates that we can also “shoot ourselves in the foot” in this life by becoming “busybodies” or “troublesome meddlers” in the affairs of others as well (see the NASB or KJV versions).
Of course, God’s word does encourage our concern and HEALTHY involvement in the lives of others. For example, Paul exhorts Christians to think of more than their own affairs and to reach out to help others in Phil. 2: 3 – 4 …
SCRIPTURE: Phil. 2: 3 - 4 … 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
However, Paul is not saying here to become “troublesome meddlers” in the lives of others, … to what the Greek term, “allotriepiskopos {pr. - al-lot-ree-ep-is'-kop-os}” in today’s verse refers. Actually either of the KJV or the NASB renderings is, in my estimation, more accurate than the NIV’s simple translation of “meddler.” The Greek term above really means someone who creates problems by making themselves as a supervisor or “controller” in the affairs of others. Paul actually joined Peter in this exhortation of avoidance in hindering the lives of others in 1st Thes. 4: 11 …
SCRIPTURE: 1st Thes. 4: 11 … Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, …
Both Peter and Paul, therefore, were saying that we, as Christians, must do all we can to avoid creating our own trials or troubles in life by doing things which are illegal, foolish, and/or meddlesome, especially where we are trying to control the affairs of others. In this regard, especially in the light of Christians becoming involved in civil disobedience, we must be very sure that our actions, in the Name of Christ, are truly within God’s will and purpose and not just done to make the lives of non-believers troublesome.
My Prayer Today: Let me be a helper, Lord … and not a hinderer. Amen
Showing posts with label troubles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label troubles. Show all posts
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
May 18, 2011 … Reassurance in the Midst of Trials
Passage of the Day: 1st Peter 4: 12 [NIV] … 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
1st Pet. 4: 12 – NASB … Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeals among you , which come upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; …
My Journal for Today: I like the way that the NASB version takes the phrase “painful trial,” translated in the NIV above from the Greek; and expands the translation. By referring to “fiery ordeals,” which seemingly tests the believer over a longer period of time, the NASB reference is much more explanatory and fits the historical context more readily. The NASB rendering calls the sufferings being experienced by the 1st century readers as “fiery ordeals … which comes upon you for your testing.” To me this is much clearer than the NIV reference to “painful trials”, especially in the context of the suffering of the Christians in Peter’s day, many of whom were being burned alive by Nero and became pitch-covered human torches for their faith.
This image is much like that of Psalm 66: 10, which states clearly the metaphor of life, at times, being like a “fiery trial,” which burns in our life for a season of time to help refine us …
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 66: 10 … For You, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver.
When you know how precious metals are refined, the word picture and metaphor for life becomes very applicable. The gold/silver ore is melted over a fire; and the dross (i.e., impurities) float to the top where the metal-smith skims off the impurities, leaving the refined, purified gold or silver. When we face the “fires of life,” as did those to whom Peter was addressing, we are purified by these “fiery trials;” and this is the essence of the sanctification process. That’s why belief in the truth of Romans 8: 28 [I hope you’ve memorized that scripture by now!] is severely tested when we are put to the test of fire in our life.
And so we read Peter reminding those in the “fiery trials” of life not to be surprised or dismayed. The Apostle Paul wrote in much the same way about the testing or trials of life in 1st Cor. 10: 13, where he said, “No temptation [also accurately translated “test, trial, or tribulation,” depending on the life circumstances] has seized you except what is common to man.” These Apostles wanted their Christian readers to grasp the expectation that these 1st century believers would suffer for their faith or have “fiery trials” in their lives so that God could purify them into the completeness and purity of Christlikeness.
Tomorrow in the Peter’s next verse (see 1st Peter 4: 13), we will read that these “fiery trials” should actually cause us to “rejoice,” because they are our participation in the sufferings of/for Christ. But I’ve been reading ahead; … more on that tomorrow >>>.
My Prayer Today: Lord, help me to see You in the furnace of life. Amen
1st Pet. 4: 12 – NASB … Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeals among you , which come upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; …
My Journal for Today: I like the way that the NASB version takes the phrase “painful trial,” translated in the NIV above from the Greek; and expands the translation. By referring to “fiery ordeals,” which seemingly tests the believer over a longer period of time, the NASB reference is much more explanatory and fits the historical context more readily. The NASB rendering calls the sufferings being experienced by the 1st century readers as “fiery ordeals … which comes upon you for your testing.” To me this is much clearer than the NIV reference to “painful trials”, especially in the context of the suffering of the Christians in Peter’s day, many of whom were being burned alive by Nero and became pitch-covered human torches for their faith.
This image is much like that of Psalm 66: 10, which states clearly the metaphor of life, at times, being like a “fiery trial,” which burns in our life for a season of time to help refine us …
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 66: 10 … For You, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver.
When you know how precious metals are refined, the word picture and metaphor for life becomes very applicable. The gold/silver ore is melted over a fire; and the dross (i.e., impurities) float to the top where the metal-smith skims off the impurities, leaving the refined, purified gold or silver. When we face the “fires of life,” as did those to whom Peter was addressing, we are purified by these “fiery trials;” and this is the essence of the sanctification process. That’s why belief in the truth of Romans 8: 28 [I hope you’ve memorized that scripture by now!] is severely tested when we are put to the test of fire in our life.
And so we read Peter reminding those in the “fiery trials” of life not to be surprised or dismayed. The Apostle Paul wrote in much the same way about the testing or trials of life in 1st Cor. 10: 13, where he said, “No temptation [also accurately translated “test, trial, or tribulation,” depending on the life circumstances] has seized you except what is common to man.” These Apostles wanted their Christian readers to grasp the expectation that these 1st century believers would suffer for their faith or have “fiery trials” in their lives so that God could purify them into the completeness and purity of Christlikeness.
Tomorrow in the Peter’s next verse (see 1st Peter 4: 13), we will read that these “fiery trials” should actually cause us to “rejoice,” because they are our participation in the sufferings of/for Christ. But I’ve been reading ahead; … more on that tomorrow >>>.
My Prayer Today: Lord, help me to see You in the furnace of life. Amen
Sunday, May 01, 2011
May 1, 2011 … Why Sufferings and Trials
Blogger's Note: This month my use of John MacArthur's daily devotional book, Strength for Today leads me into a study of the things in life we'd like to avoid ... trials, troubles, and temptations. Anybody identify? Come along; and let's grow together >>>
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Passage of the Day: Job 5: 7 … Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
My Journal for Today: Trials, tribulations, temptations, testing, troubles … all the big “T”s that we’d like to avoid in life. Yet somehow, intuitively, we know that we’re going to face all of these “Ts.” This month I’ll be looking at these, again with John MacArthur’s help from his devotional book, Strength for Today. And to begin this, we go to the #1 book in the Bible on troubles and trials; and that, of course, is in the study of the life of Job, which, according to scholars much more knowledgeable that I am, is the oldest book in the Bible and the account of God’s exemplary “trouble child,” who was the subject of Satan’s ire and became God’s example for all mankind of handling trials and tests.
It’s very easy for any of us to get down when suffering or trials visit our lives. Right now, as I write this, the area where I live has been wracked with tornadoes and floods. Hundreds have died and are homeless because of the devastation; and as the Mississippi River rises close to us, many more may be forced out of their homes very soon. Trials, troubles, and tribulations! … The truth of today’s verse, along with all that Job faced, reminds us that tribulations are just a part of life. We’re all going to face them at some time and in some fashion in our walk on this earth. And so, knowing this, we must guard against letting the challenges of life get us down.
Jonah (see Jonah, Chapter 4) and Elijah (in 1st Kings 19: 1 – 14), both prophets of God, let their anguish over trials in their respective lives cause them to even pray to die. And I would expect that some of you reading this may have been at that point sometime in your life. But fortunately for these two, and perhaps you, God doesn’t always answer “YES” when we pray for things that we don’t need or shouldn’t have.
But we have to remember the wonderful words of our Savior … (from John 16: 33) …
SCRIPTURE: John 16: 33 … "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
And even though our trials may not be as intense as those of Job or others in the Bible, we can also take heart from the magnificent promises of two passages of scripture that I rely upon almost daily to deal the challenges of my life or of those whom I love. Let me post them here, because I think I’ll be making reference to them more than once during this month as we talk about dealing with the troubles of life. Please note and meditate on 1st Cor. 10: 13 and 2nd Cor. 12: 9 … and I would exhort you to have these two deeply planted in your minds/hearts …
SCRIPTURE: 1st Cor. 10: 13 … No temptation [also translated “test, trial, or tribulation”] has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
SCRIPTURE: 2nd Cor. 12: 9 … But He [Jesus] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore [Paul writes], I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
God’s always there for me, no matter what the trial may be, … no matter how tough it is for me to handle, … God is there, faithfully, to give me the strength so that I may stand up under the challenges I face. And I need not fear because God will always be there to lift me up when I am down [find and meditate on Deut. 31: 8 and Isaiah 41: 10 on your own].
My Prayer Today: Thank you, Lord, for always being there to lift me – in ANY trial. Amen
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Passage of the Day: Job 5: 7 … Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
My Journal for Today: Trials, tribulations, temptations, testing, troubles … all the big “T”s that we’d like to avoid in life. Yet somehow, intuitively, we know that we’re going to face all of these “Ts.” This month I’ll be looking at these, again with John MacArthur’s help from his devotional book, Strength for Today. And to begin this, we go to the #1 book in the Bible on troubles and trials; and that, of course, is in the study of the life of Job, which, according to scholars much more knowledgeable that I am, is the oldest book in the Bible and the account of God’s exemplary “trouble child,” who was the subject of Satan’s ire and became God’s example for all mankind of handling trials and tests.
It’s very easy for any of us to get down when suffering or trials visit our lives. Right now, as I write this, the area where I live has been wracked with tornadoes and floods. Hundreds have died and are homeless because of the devastation; and as the Mississippi River rises close to us, many more may be forced out of their homes very soon. Trials, troubles, and tribulations! … The truth of today’s verse, along with all that Job faced, reminds us that tribulations are just a part of life. We’re all going to face them at some time and in some fashion in our walk on this earth. And so, knowing this, we must guard against letting the challenges of life get us down.
Jonah (see Jonah, Chapter 4) and Elijah (in 1st Kings 19: 1 – 14), both prophets of God, let their anguish over trials in their respective lives cause them to even pray to die. And I would expect that some of you reading this may have been at that point sometime in your life. But fortunately for these two, and perhaps you, God doesn’t always answer “YES” when we pray for things that we don’t need or shouldn’t have.
But we have to remember the wonderful words of our Savior … (from John 16: 33) …
SCRIPTURE: John 16: 33 … "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
And even though our trials may not be as intense as those of Job or others in the Bible, we can also take heart from the magnificent promises of two passages of scripture that I rely upon almost daily to deal the challenges of my life or of those whom I love. Let me post them here, because I think I’ll be making reference to them more than once during this month as we talk about dealing with the troubles of life. Please note and meditate on 1st Cor. 10: 13 and 2nd Cor. 12: 9 … and I would exhort you to have these two deeply planted in your minds/hearts …
SCRIPTURE: 1st Cor. 10: 13 … No temptation [also translated “test, trial, or tribulation”] has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
SCRIPTURE: 2nd Cor. 12: 9 … But He [Jesus] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore [Paul writes], I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
God’s always there for me, no matter what the trial may be, … no matter how tough it is for me to handle, … God is there, faithfully, to give me the strength so that I may stand up under the challenges I face. And I need not fear because God will always be there to lift me up when I am down [find and meditate on Deut. 31: 8 and Isaiah 41: 10 on your own].
My Prayer Today: Thank you, Lord, for always being there to lift me – in ANY trial. Amen
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