While believers are on the same spiritual wave length through the work of the Holy Spirit, it is true that there are topics of conversation that are interest to both believers and unbelievers ~ great literature, music, history, to name a few. However, there are also many topics which, while of interest to both believers and unbelievers, find them on opposite sides of the fence. For example, abortion, creation, justice to name another few.
While conversation with unbelievers on topics of mutual interest can be stimulating, ultimately, as believers, we should take every opportunity to share the gospel with them, this being the most important topic in all time and eternity.
Romans 10
13 For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.***
14 How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
16 "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
*** Romans 10
9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart ones believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.
Friday, July 31, 2009
hard, but safe
"Jesus showed us that confronting the world with TRUTH will never be easy, but that HE never changes and will be with us in ALL circumstances [both now and through all] eternity."
Matthew 5
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 28
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Matthew 5
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 28
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
who gets along?
Believers are not plugged into the same circuits as unbelievers. In the competition in the early days of PCs and Macs, never the twain could meet. Windows software and Apple software did not speak to 'each' other. And even today all programs are not compatible with each other by a long shot. So unbelievers can get along with each other pretty well, while they find us difficult to be comfortable with, not easy to get along with.
John 15
18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
John 15
18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
hard hearts ~~ hard of hearing
Paul is now in Rome and as always he makes contact with the Jewish leaders first. They are unaware of all that has gone on regarding Paul up to this point and they would like to know. So he fills them in.
Acts 28
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word:
28 Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!
Acts 28
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word:
"The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
26 saying,
'Go to this people and say:
Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.'"
28 Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
heartbreak and lostness
We believers have a constant heartbreak staring us in the face all the time, as we consider our unsaved loved ones. They have no idea of a heartbreak. They do not know they are lost and they revel in that ignorance ~~ we see that terrible lostness and fall on our faces before the Throne.
We have Paul's anguish in Romans 9:1-3
What about God's heartbreak at the time of Noah?
Genesis 6
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of men was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD was sorry that He has made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
In verse 22 we learn that...
Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.
Note Noah's OBEDIENCE.
We are told in Genesis 6:3b ...yet his [man's] days shall be one hundred and twenty years.
The witness of Noah and his family building this huge ark (what is that??!), when there had never been any rain on the earth up to that time, must have seemed ludicrous to everyone. We can imagine them shaking or scratching their heads whenever they happened by the ark-in-progress during those one hundred twenty years. But they never bowed the knee to their Creator.
What about Jesus' heartbreak as He looked out over Jerusalem?
Luke 19
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it
42 saying, if you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Matthew 23
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
38 See! Your house is left to you desolate;
39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more, til you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'"
The people of that time, like our unsaved loved in this time were not willing to...
Romans 10
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will never be put to shame."
This is the only thing that will make for your peace!
We have Paul's anguish in Romans 9:1-3
What about God's heartbreak at the time of Noah?
Genesis 6
5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of men was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD was sorry that He has made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
In verse 22 we learn that...
Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.
Note Noah's OBEDIENCE.
We are told in Genesis 6:3b ...yet his [man's] days shall be one hundred and twenty years.
The witness of Noah and his family building this huge ark (what is that??!), when there had never been any rain on the earth up to that time, must have seemed ludicrous to everyone. We can imagine them shaking or scratching their heads whenever they happened by the ark-in-progress during those one hundred twenty years. But they never bowed the knee to their Creator.
What about Jesus' heartbreak as He looked out over Jerusalem?
Luke 19
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it
42 saying, if you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Matthew 23
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
38 See! Your house is left to you desolate;
39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more, til you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'"
The people of that time, like our unsaved loved in this time were not willing to...
Romans 10
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will never be put to shame."
This is the only thing that will make for your peace!
responses to the claims of the gospel
Two posts ago, we looked at some unfortunately usual responses to the gospel. Here are two more which, if they weren't eternally tragic, would actually be funny.
You might want to read Acts 26. It is a great chapter with Paul's defense of the gospel and two responses to it.
Acts 26
24 As he [Paul] thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" (talk about 'off the wall'!)
25 But he [Paul] said,"I am not mad noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason."
Acts 26
{Paul to King Agrippa} 27 "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe."
28 Then Agrippa said to a Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (How unutterably sad...)
You might want to read Acts 26. It is a great chapter with Paul's defense of the gospel and two responses to it.
Acts 26
24 As he [Paul] thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" (talk about 'off the wall'!)
25 But he [Paul] said,"I am not mad noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason."
Acts 26
{Paul to King Agrippa} 27 "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe."
28 Then Agrippa said to a Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (How unutterably sad...)
Monday, July 27, 2009
can you hear me now?? sadly, no...
Believers find that they are irresistably attracted to the Word; it is a bottomless well or the endless expanse of the heavens. It is deep, it is without horizon. We saturate our minds and hearts with it.
Ephesians 5
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always in all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3
16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
As we do this we create more and more distance between our world view and the way we think and that of unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 4
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose mind the god of this age [Satan] has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5a For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,...
And yet we, as Paul, yearn to speak to them about the things of God and of salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hear Paul's broken heart...
Romans 9
1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites,...
How is he received by Athens?
Acts 17
16 Now while Paul waited...at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue...and the marketplace daily...
18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, "What does this babbler want to say?"...
19 And they took him...to the Aeropagus saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?"
20 For you are bring strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.
21 For the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but to either tell or to hear some new thing.
So Paul did just that on Mars Hill in Athens. (Acts 17:22-30)
What was their response?
Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." [But they never did]
33 So Paul departed from among them.
Proverbs 23:7a For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Jesus' thoughts on what is in a man's heart: Matthew 15:17-20 and Mark 7:18-23.
And finally, what should be in the hearts of believers?
Philippians 4:
8 And finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy ~~ meditate on these things.
Ephesians 5
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always in all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3
16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
As we do this we create more and more distance between our world view and the way we think and that of unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 4
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose mind the god of this age [Satan] has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5a For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,...
And yet we, as Paul, yearn to speak to them about the things of God and of salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hear Paul's broken heart...
Romans 9
1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites,...
How is he received by Athens?
Acts 17
16 Now while Paul waited...at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue...and the marketplace daily...
18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, "What does this babbler want to say?"...
19 And they took him...to the Aeropagus saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?"
20 For you are bring strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.
21 For the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but to either tell or to hear some new thing.
So Paul did just that on Mars Hill in Athens. (Acts 17:22-30)
What was their response?
Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." [But they never did]
33 So Paul departed from among them.
Proverbs 23:7a For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Jesus' thoughts on what is in a man's heart: Matthew 15:17-20 and Mark 7:18-23.
And finally, what should be in the hearts of believers?
Philippians 4:
8 And finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are noble, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy ~~ meditate on these things.
Friday, July 24, 2009
I can hear you ~~ you can't hear me
As believers, we are in a distinctly unique relationship with the world. We are able to understand the 'world's chatter', due to the fact that we were once in and of the world, but the world is totally unable to comprehend our 'language'. (1 Corinthians 2:14) The world communicates with worldly, 'under the sun' ideas ~ a language we once spoke exclusively. But now we 'have the mind of Christ' (1 Corinthians 2:16) through the indwelling Holy Spirit and the Word of God which He wrote as He moved men to write our 'treasure' (2 Peter 1:16-21) ~ the Word of God.
John 17
14 I have given them your Word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by the Truth. Your Word is Truth.
18 As You sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
John 17
14 I have given them your Word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by the Truth. Your Word is Truth.
18 As You sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
conversation and friends
"Any conversation, to be 'real', has to have the basis of faith in Jesus Christ." Have you ever noticed that when you see an old friend after a long time, who is a true believer, you can pick up the conversation with him/her as if you had just seen each other the day before. The same is true when you first meet a true believer, you can talk for hours. However, conversations with unbelievers are often hard to sustain for more than a short time!
Exodus 33
11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
2 Chronicles 20
7 Are you not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
John 15
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.
2 Corinthians 6
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?
Exodus 33
11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
2 Chronicles 20
7 Are you not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
John 15
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.
2 Corinthians 6
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
koinonia
As Christians, we share a very special fellowship with other believers as well as with God and His Son.
koinonia ~ This is a Greek word that occurs 20 times in the Bible. Koinonia's primary meaning is "fellowship, sharing in common, communion". The first occurance of koinonia is Acts 2:42, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia. Got Questions Ministry
1 John 1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life ~
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us ~
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full."
Bible Gateway
koinonia ~ This is a Greek word that occurs 20 times in the Bible. Koinonia's primary meaning is "fellowship, sharing in common, communion". The first occurance of koinonia is Acts 2:42, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia. Got Questions Ministry
1 John 1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life ~
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us ~
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full."
Bible Gateway
Saturday, July 18, 2009
who is wise and who is foolish??
The Biblical worldview can be contrasted with the secular postmodern worldview.
1 Corinthians 1
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
points of view
Christians are in a constant antithetical Biblical worldview which clashes on every point with the worldly view of non-believers.
1 John 2
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father in not in him. 16 For all that is in the world ~ the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life ~ is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father in not in him. 16 For all that is in the world ~ the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life ~ is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
advice
"never trust anyone over 30", or so thinks Rehoboam...
Solomon has died and Israel (mostly the ten northern tribes) has come to make an appeal to King Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Our story is found in 2 Chronicles 10.
Israel's appeal:
4 "Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."
He tells them to return in three days.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive saying, "How do you counsel me to answer this people?"
7 They spoke to him, saying, "If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."
8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.
and asked them what counsel they would give...
10 The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy',...say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!'
11 'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
hmmm...what advice will Rehoboam heed??
Israel returns:
13 The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.
14 He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men...
19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
Solomon has died and Israel (mostly the ten northern tribes) has come to make an appeal to King Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Our story is found in 2 Chronicles 10.
Israel's appeal:
4 "Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."
He tells them to return in three days.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive saying, "How do you counsel me to answer this people?"
7 They spoke to him, saying, "If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."
8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.
and asked them what counsel they would give...
10 The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy',...say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!'
11 'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
hmmm...what advice will Rehoboam heed??
Israel returns:
13 The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.
14 He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men...
19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
Monday, July 6, 2009
wisdom
2 Chronicles 1:7-12
7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
8 And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
9 Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
11 Then God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life -- but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king --
12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."
This passage of Scripture really struck me when I reading through it. I always wonder as I read about the course of Solomon's life, how a beginning like this could end so disasterously. But note, the two things he asks for are wisdom and knowledge, which is good as far as it goes. But wisdom can be a two-edged sword, read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Knowledge can also problematical, 1 Corinthians 8:1.
Had Solomon asked first to be a man after God's own heart, as his father David was [1 Kings 9:4-5], perhaps the widsom and knowledge that he had asked for would have borne positive fruit in the end. Read the sad ending of this story in 1 Kings 11.
I think it is interesting that immediately after granting Solomon's request:
"wisdom and knowledge are granted to you"
God says:
"And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."
With all the wisdom and knowledge available to him, he was not able to manage the challenge, or test if you like, of the "riches and wealth and honor" that the LORD had given him.
7 On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?"
8 And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
9 Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
10 Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"
11 Then God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life -- but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king --
12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."
This passage of Scripture really struck me when I reading through it. I always wonder as I read about the course of Solomon's life, how a beginning like this could end so disasterously. But note, the two things he asks for are wisdom and knowledge, which is good as far as it goes. But wisdom can be a two-edged sword, read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Knowledge can also problematical, 1 Corinthians 8:1.
Had Solomon asked first to be a man after God's own heart, as his father David was [1 Kings 9:4-5], perhaps the widsom and knowledge that he had asked for would have borne positive fruit in the end. Read the sad ending of this story in 1 Kings 11.
I think it is interesting that immediately after granting Solomon's request:
"wisdom and knowledge are granted to you"
God says:
"And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."
With all the wisdom and knowledge available to him, he was not able to manage the challenge, or test if you like, of the "riches and wealth and honor" that the LORD had given him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
