Genesis 6 transitions from genealogy to the state of the world. Mankind is corrupt, and in the entire world, only Noah is found to be righteous before God. God is grieved over man's wickedness, and He gives man a set amount of time to turn back to Him before judgement in the form of a flood. God selects one man, the only righteous man in the world, to be the new start of the human race. In a sense, God is recreating. Sin is not being destroyed, but we are starting with a righteous man.
This righteous man is tasked with saving life on earth. He is taking pairs of every animal so that the animal life can continue. He is taking his three sons and their wives so that human life can repopulate the earth. God gives specific instructions for how salvation is going to be granted from the flood, an ark made of gopher wood, with specific dimensions, decks, and openings.
God's patience with sin will reach it's limit, and it will be dealt with. Only the righteous will be saved, but that salvation comes from God, and He is very specific in how salvation is attained. God is grieved by sin. God is just towards sinners and the righteous. God is specific about salvation. That is what Genesis 6 tells us about God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, February 25, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 6.11-22
Man is wicked, God is grieved, and mans time is limited. In all the world, Noah alone is righteous and finds favor with God. Because of God's justice, Noah will not face the same judgment as the rest of the world. God commands Noah to build an ark in order to preserve his life, the lives of his family, and the lives of the animals. Noah will be saved because of his righteous lifestyle, and because of the favor he has found with God he is going to be allowed to save other lives as well.
God gives Noah specific instructions as to how to build the ark. The dimensions are specific, the decks are specific, the building materials are specified. God gives instructions on who is to be on the ark, how the animals are to be gathered. God gives instructions for food and promises to establish His covenant. Salvation is granted to Noah, but he isn't left to figure it out, God specifies exactly what Noah is to do.
God does not leave us to figure out how to be saved, He specifies exactly what to do. Let us live righteously before God and follow His instructions for salvation.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God gives Noah specific instructions as to how to build the ark. The dimensions are specific, the decks are specific, the building materials are specified. God gives instructions on who is to be on the ark, how the animals are to be gathered. God gives instructions for food and promises to establish His covenant. Salvation is granted to Noah, but he isn't left to figure it out, God specifies exactly what Noah is to do.
God does not leave us to figure out how to be saved, He specifies exactly what to do. Let us live righteously before God and follow His instructions for salvation.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 6.8-10
Genesis 6 has described the wickedness of humanity and God's reaction to it. God is grieved that He ever made man, and He has put a time frame on the time man has left to turn to back to Him before He destroys His creation. But not all humanity is wicked, not all humanity grieves the heart of God, "Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord".
God does not group all humanity together into a single unit of wickedness, there is a righteous man, and he is set apart by God. Noah walked with God, and therefore he found favor in the eyes of God. God holds each man accountable for his own actions. While the majority of the earth was corrupt and wicked, Noah continued to pursue God, walking in righteousness, and as a result, Noah found favor with God.
Those who walk with God in the midst of the wicked will not be grouped with the wicked by God. Let us choose to walk with God so that we may find favor with God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God does not group all humanity together into a single unit of wickedness, there is a righteous man, and he is set apart by God. Noah walked with God, and therefore he found favor in the eyes of God. God holds each man accountable for his own actions. While the majority of the earth was corrupt and wicked, Noah continued to pursue God, walking in righteousness, and as a result, Noah found favor with God.
Those who walk with God in the midst of the wicked will not be grouped with the wicked by God. Let us choose to walk with God so that we may find favor with God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, February 18, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 6.5-7
Several years ago on a blog that I have stopped writing on I wrote a post about God's feelings toward our sin. For a long time I felt like God was angry with me whenever I would sin, but over the years that thought has changed. I think that when we sin God is saddened. Here in Genesis 6, as God surveys the wickedness of man, man that He has created and invited into relationship with Himself, God is grieved. The Hebrew word is `atsab and it means "to hurt, pain, grieve, displease, vex".
When people sin, choosing to live in wickedness it hurts God, paining Him, and causes Him to grieve. It displeases Him that we choose to live in a way that is harmful to ourselves, harmful to others, and vexes Him as to why we would choose anything other than Him, as He offers us what is absolutely best, better than anything we could possibly imagine. Our sin saddens God greatly, and there is only so much of it He will put up with.
God is grieved by sin, and as a result He blots out sin. God was sorry that He had made man because of how man chose to live. God was deeply wounded by the decisions that they had made, and so God decided that enough was enough.
Let us refuse to live in a way that grieves the heart of God. Let us choose to choose Him, rejecting wickedness, and embracing all that He has for us.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
When people sin, choosing to live in wickedness it hurts God, paining Him, and causes Him to grieve. It displeases Him that we choose to live in a way that is harmful to ourselves, harmful to others, and vexes Him as to why we would choose anything other than Him, as He offers us what is absolutely best, better than anything we could possibly imagine. Our sin saddens God greatly, and there is only so much of it He will put up with.
God is grieved by sin, and as a result He blots out sin. God was sorry that He had made man because of how man chose to live. God was deeply wounded by the decisions that they had made, and so God decided that enough was enough.
Let us refuse to live in a way that grieves the heart of God. Let us choose to choose Him, rejecting wickedness, and embracing all that He has for us.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, February 15, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 6.1-4
Man is beginning to fulfill God's original intention, fill the earth and subdue it. Genesis 6 has brought about discussion, questioning who the "sons of God" are, with many looking at them as some sort of angelic being. However, if we look at the nature of the text, all of God's judgment is focused on humanity, with no consequences being given to any sort of angel. Therefore, these are humans, marrying and procreating, filling the earth with humans as God intended.
The situation has changed from the creation; sin has entered the world and corrupted humanity. The humans who are being born are infected with sin, and their actions reflect this infection. God, patient and gracious as He is, does not destroy humanity, but He does put a time frame on this mercy. "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." Many have taken this verse statement to mean that no human will ever live longer than 120 years, only problem with this is that after this statement there were people who lived longer than 120 years, look at the length of Abraham's life. Here, God is saying that judgment will be postponed 120 years; man has more than a century to turn to God.
God is gracious, patient, and merciful, but there is only a window of opportunity to accept these attributes of His nature. There is a set amount of time for man to receive the mercy of God, turning to Him and accepting His grace. God will patiently endure man's shortcomings, but not indefinitely. In Genesis 6, humanity was given 120 years, each of us has been given a set amount of time, but unlike the flood generation, we don't know how long we have.
Let us turn to God while we are able, because one day it will be too late.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
The situation has changed from the creation; sin has entered the world and corrupted humanity. The humans who are being born are infected with sin, and their actions reflect this infection. God, patient and gracious as He is, does not destroy humanity, but He does put a time frame on this mercy. "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." Many have taken this verse statement to mean that no human will ever live longer than 120 years, only problem with this is that after this statement there were people who lived longer than 120 years, look at the length of Abraham's life. Here, God is saying that judgment will be postponed 120 years; man has more than a century to turn to God.
God is gracious, patient, and merciful, but there is only a window of opportunity to accept these attributes of His nature. There is a set amount of time for man to receive the mercy of God, turning to Him and accepting His grace. God will patiently endure man's shortcomings, but not indefinitely. In Genesis 6, humanity was given 120 years, each of us has been given a set amount of time, but unlike the flood generation, we don't know how long we have.
Let us turn to God while we are able, because one day it will be too late.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 5
Genesis 4 ends with the introduction of the line of Adam that would eventually lead to Jesus. Genesis 5 shows that line, hitting the highlights, but not every member which is why Biblical genealogies don't work to date the age of the earth. Genesis 5 restates that God both made man, and that He made man in His image. Genesis 4 showed that there were those who did not walk with God, rejecting Him, and living outside of His presence. But there were those who chose to call on the name of God, seeking Him, and walking with Him.
God desires an intimate walk with man; He made man for this specific purpose. However, He does not force man to walk with Him. He allowed Cain to leave His presence, but when man has desired to call upon Him, He has answered. The level of intimacy we have with God depends on what level of intimacy we want with God. Enter Enoch, a man who lived 365 years, and walked with God so closely that He simply was taken by God.
God will let us leave if that is what we choose, or He will walk so closely with us that we lose ourselves in Him. God wants deep intimacy with each of us, but He will not force us. He pursues us, and invites us to pursue Him; He wants to walk with us, but never makes us join Him.
What type of relationship do you want with God? Do you want the walk of Cain, who went out from the presence of God? Do you want the walk of Lamech, who misunderstood what God does? Or do you want the walk of Enoch, who walked so closely with God that God simply took him?
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God desires an intimate walk with man; He made man for this specific purpose. However, He does not force man to walk with Him. He allowed Cain to leave His presence, but when man has desired to call upon Him, He has answered. The level of intimacy we have with God depends on what level of intimacy we want with God. Enter Enoch, a man who lived 365 years, and walked with God so closely that He simply was taken by God.
God will let us leave if that is what we choose, or He will walk so closely with us that we lose ourselves in Him. God wants deep intimacy with each of us, but He will not force us. He pursues us, and invites us to pursue Him; He wants to walk with us, but never makes us join Him.
What type of relationship do you want with God? Do you want the walk of Cain, who went out from the presence of God? Do you want the walk of Lamech, who misunderstood what God does? Or do you want the walk of Enoch, who walked so closely with God that God simply took him?
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, February 11, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 4
Genesis 4 focuses on the nature of man's post fall relationship with God. Two sons are born, the first births, and they both present offerings to God. One has his offering accepted, while the other burns with anger as his is rejected. In that anger God warns him about the nature of sin, and danger of opening himself up to it, but he turns to murder, and is sentenced to live as a wanderer.
He goes out from the presence of God and lives life as he chooses. The line of descendants that follows does not follow God, or acknowledge Him outside of selfish need. Then we read about a third birth, another son, and the line from this son begins to seek God.
God must be pursued. He will not be taken in by simple gestures that do not offer all of us at our best. He will not force us to follow and serve Him, but offers a life of intimacy with Him that is available if we are willing to call on His name.
Sin desires to consume us, God desires intimacy with us. One will destroy us, taking everything we have, and the other will demand everything of us, but return abundantly more than what it may cost. Will we be ruled by sin or surrender to God? Will we pursue God or be consumed by sin?
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
He goes out from the presence of God and lives life as he chooses. The line of descendants that follows does not follow God, or acknowledge Him outside of selfish need. Then we read about a third birth, another son, and the line from this son begins to seek God.
God must be pursued. He will not be taken in by simple gestures that do not offer all of us at our best. He will not force us to follow and serve Him, but offers a life of intimacy with Him that is available if we are willing to call on His name.
Sin desires to consume us, God desires intimacy with us. One will destroy us, taking everything we have, and the other will demand everything of us, but return abundantly more than what it may cost. Will we be ruled by sin or surrender to God? Will we pursue God or be consumed by sin?
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, February 8, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 4.25-26
The line of Cain has run from God, seeing Him only as a source of vengeance to protect their lives. After verse 24, the story shifts away from Cain, and returns to Adam. Here the Bible says that God gave Adam another son, Eve is comforted in her grief over Able's murder, and the line of Seth is the line that pursues intimacy with God.
Genesis 4 concludes with these words, "Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord." In the garden, after man had disobeyed and sinned, God came looking for man, calling out to him. Here, man begins to seek after God, calling out to Him. Man's sin separated Him from God; God pursued man, and man rejected Him, giving in to sin. God drove man from the garden, but still sought to redeem him, providing for his needs in a way that could only be done by Him. God pursued man, and now man is beginning to pursue God.
God must be pursued. A.W. Tozer wrote a fantastic book on this topic, The Pursuit of God (highly recommend it, it's short but deep). Man choose to be enticed and mastered by sin, God has not given up on man, but man must choose who he is going to love and serve, and then must pursue that will all his being. God cannot be casually followed, neither can sin. Either way you're all in.
God has pursued us, and He must be pursued by us, will we chase after Him?
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Genesis 4 concludes with these words, "Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord." In the garden, after man had disobeyed and sinned, God came looking for man, calling out to him. Here, man begins to seek after God, calling out to Him. Man's sin separated Him from God; God pursued man, and man rejected Him, giving in to sin. God drove man from the garden, but still sought to redeem him, providing for his needs in a way that could only be done by Him. God pursued man, and now man is beginning to pursue God.
God must be pursued. A.W. Tozer wrote a fantastic book on this topic, The Pursuit of God (highly recommend it, it's short but deep). Man choose to be enticed and mastered by sin, God has not given up on man, but man must choose who he is going to love and serve, and then must pursue that will all his being. God cannot be casually followed, neither can sin. Either way you're all in.
God has pursued us, and He must be pursued by us, will we chase after Him?
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 4.15-24
Verse 16 says a lot, "Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden." He has lost the identity he had known all of his life, but was offered a new one from God; Cain was sentenced to be be a restless wanderer, and God marked him to guard his life. Cain could have spent the rest of his life wandering the world with God, but instead he leaves the presence of God and forges his own path.
Cain rejects what God has said, and rather than wandering, he builds a city. He has descendants, and his descendants continue the sin of Cain. Lamech kills two, a man and a boy, and claims God's protection over his own life; but no where in this section does it say that God was moving in the lives of any of Cain's offspring. Cain had rejected God, living in complete defiance to what God had commanded, and it does not seem that any of Cain's offspring ever returned to God.
God will allow us to go our own way; He does not force us follow Him. He gives us direction for the life that is best for us, showing us the path of redemption, but He does not force us to walk it. God allows us to live as we choose, but we will be accountable to Him for those choices. And the choices we make about God will have an impact on the attitudes our children and grandchildren have towards God.
What will be your attitude towards God?
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Cain rejects what God has said, and rather than wandering, he builds a city. He has descendants, and his descendants continue the sin of Cain. Lamech kills two, a man and a boy, and claims God's protection over his own life; but no where in this section does it say that God was moving in the lives of any of Cain's offspring. Cain had rejected God, living in complete defiance to what God had commanded, and it does not seem that any of Cain's offspring ever returned to God.
God will allow us to go our own way; He does not force us follow Him. He gives us direction for the life that is best for us, showing us the path of redemption, but He does not force us to walk it. God allows us to live as we choose, but we will be accountable to Him for those choices. And the choices we make about God will have an impact on the attitudes our children and grandchildren have towards God.
What will be your attitude towards God?
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, February 4, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 4.13-15
God has pronounced a sentence on Cain, be a restless wanderer who is unable to farm. Cain had taken a life that was not his to take, and God ends the life Cain has come to know. Cain was a farmer, a man connected to the land. He worked and toiled, and by the sweet of his brow the earth produced crops. His identity was wrapped up in the land and his connection to it. Now that has been stripped away. The identity that Cain has come to know and embrace has been stripped from him because he allowed sin to rule him.
Sin does that, it strips us of who we are and robs us of the life we are connected to. Had Cain mastered sin he could have stayed on his farm. He could have spent his life among the plants, turning a small part of it into a paradise, a small Eden amidst the wilderness. But Cain gave into anger which led to murder, and as a result the life he had known was over. He allowed sin to rule him and sin defined him.
God did not end Cain's life, but set him to wander the earth, but He didn't leave him without an identity. God gave His protection to Cain, appointing a sign, an identity, to him to guard his life. God is the source of identity.
Cain's identity was that of a farmer, and I imagine that God's rejection of his offering came as a blow to that human identity. Everything he had worked so hard for, everything he had invested himself into, all of it amounted to nothing. After that he killed his brother, and as a result the only identity he had known was taken from him. Now Cain has the chance to embrace a new identity, one bestowed on him by God, and had he embraced this, maybe we would remember him for something more than as the first murderer.
God is the source of true identity, and if we embrace what He offers we won't be remembered for the sins we commit.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Sin does that, it strips us of who we are and robs us of the life we are connected to. Had Cain mastered sin he could have stayed on his farm. He could have spent his life among the plants, turning a small part of it into a paradise, a small Eden amidst the wilderness. But Cain gave into anger which led to murder, and as a result the life he had known was over. He allowed sin to rule him and sin defined him.
God did not end Cain's life, but set him to wander the earth, but He didn't leave him without an identity. God gave His protection to Cain, appointing a sign, an identity, to him to guard his life. God is the source of identity.
Cain's identity was that of a farmer, and I imagine that God's rejection of his offering came as a blow to that human identity. Everything he had worked so hard for, everything he had invested himself into, all of it amounted to nothing. After that he killed his brother, and as a result the only identity he had known was taken from him. Now Cain has the chance to embrace a new identity, one bestowed on him by God, and had he embraced this, maybe we would remember him for something more than as the first murderer.
God is the source of true identity, and if we embrace what He offers we won't be remembered for the sins we commit.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, February 1, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 4.8-12
Genesis 4 records the first murder, and we see that God values human life. God has rejected Cain's offering and accepted Able's; Cain is angry God speaks to him, but instead of heading God's words and mastering sin, he kills his brother. The text says that Cain told Able what God had said, and then he attacks him and kills him. God speaks to Cain again, asking where Able is, and instead of denying and passing the blame like his parent's did, he side steps the question.
God values human life. Able's blood cries out to God, and just as God punished Adam and Eve in His justice, so here He punishes the sin of Cain. The ground received Able's blood from Cain, and now it will no longer offer anything to Cain. Cain, who was a farmer, one who cultivated the ground, now will wander the earth, unable to do what he has always done.
God, the author of life, holds life to be sacred. When life is taken, God demands an accounting of that life. God is the only one who can take life because He is the only one who can give life.
Let us value life, not taking by giving into sin, but mastering sin and rising up to defend life.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God values human life. Able's blood cries out to God, and just as God punished Adam and Eve in His justice, so here He punishes the sin of Cain. The ground received Able's blood from Cain, and now it will no longer offer anything to Cain. Cain, who was a farmer, one who cultivated the ground, now will wander the earth, unable to do what he has always done.
God, the author of life, holds life to be sacred. When life is taken, God demands an accounting of that life. God is the only one who can take life because He is the only one who can give life.
Let us value life, not taking by giving into sin, but mastering sin and rising up to defend life.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 4.6-7
Cain is angry, and God asks why. He points out that two paths lay before Cain, do well and have his countenance lifted, or don't and be devoured by sin. Then He points out that sin is waiting, crouching at the door waiting to strike, like a lion waiting to pounce, but that Cain must master it. Sin is there, waiting, desiring to rule Cain, but Cain is to master it. Just as man was called by God to rule over creation, having dominion, God now calls man to live with dominion over sin, mastering it, and living righteously.
God has always intended for man to live in righteousness. Before the fall, man lived in a state of righteousness; a state of perfect relationship with God. After the fall, sin became man's natural inclination, and now in order to live righteously man must master sin. The word used here in Genesis 4 is mashal means to rule, reign, or have dominion, and it is an attribute of God. Man is called to rule over sin as God does, dominating it, and giving it no place in his presence.
Sin desires man, it always has, and its waiting just outside the door. Before the fall, sin was prowling, looking for an opportunity to strike, which it did when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. The serpent was crafty, waiting for the right moment; now sin crouches at the door, every time you open it there is a struggle. God doesn't say, "Don't go outside" He says, "Master it!" God made this world for us, but before we can take dominion of it, we must first master sin. This is not something that man was able to do, we never could, and so God would come, dominate sin, and empower man to master sin so that we could reclaim the dominion of the world that was created for us.
God calls us to be who He created us to be, rulers of this world who live above sin. If we will do well, our countenance will be lifted, but if not, sin will consume us. Let us live well, masters of sin through the work of God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God has always intended for man to live in righteousness. Before the fall, man lived in a state of righteousness; a state of perfect relationship with God. After the fall, sin became man's natural inclination, and now in order to live righteously man must master sin. The word used here in Genesis 4 is mashal means to rule, reign, or have dominion, and it is an attribute of God. Man is called to rule over sin as God does, dominating it, and giving it no place in his presence.
Sin desires man, it always has, and its waiting just outside the door. Before the fall, sin was prowling, looking for an opportunity to strike, which it did when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. The serpent was crafty, waiting for the right moment; now sin crouches at the door, every time you open it there is a struggle. God doesn't say, "Don't go outside" He says, "Master it!" God made this world for us, but before we can take dominion of it, we must first master sin. This is not something that man was able to do, we never could, and so God would come, dominate sin, and empower man to master sin so that we could reclaim the dominion of the world that was created for us.
God calls us to be who He created us to be, rulers of this world who live above sin. If we will do well, our countenance will be lifted, but if not, sin will consume us. Let us live well, masters of sin through the work of God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, January 28, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 4.1-5
Time has passed since Adam and Eve were banished from the garden; we don't know how much time, and that's ok because that isn't the point of the text. Adam and Eve have entered a new stage of life, the stage of parenthood. They have two boys, boys who are different from each other, unique in their interests and outlooks. The oldest, Cain, takes care of plants, while his brother, Able, raises animals.
As time passes, both of them present an offering to God, Cain brings some of the crops he has grown, while Able brings part of the firstlings of his flocks. God rejects Cain's offering and accepts Able's. This is not a case of Cain needing to bring an animal sacrifice to God, there were several sacrifices under the law that called for plant based offerings. The issue is the nature of the offering. The text says that Cain brought an offering of the fruits of the ground, while Able's gift is specified to be from the firstlings of his flocks, and the best parts of the animal. Cain brings an offering, Able brings the best He can, and that is why God responds as He does.
God accepts the best we have to offer, and rejects everything else. When we offer anything to God, be it our time, abilities, or resources, what is the nature of what we offer? Do we give God intentional time, out of the best parts of the day, or the few spare minutes before we fall asleep? Do we give to God out of what we have earned, or only what is left over after everything else is taken care of? Do we give our service to God out of our strength, or only what is left over after we have pursued everything else? One of these God accepts, while the other He rejects.
God will not be an afterthought, allowing Himself to be fitted in to our lives when it is convenient, He is God, and accepts only the best we have to offer because it is what alone is worthy of Him. Let us seek to prioritize God, intentionally giving Him the best, not whatever we have laying around.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
As time passes, both of them present an offering to God, Cain brings some of the crops he has grown, while Able brings part of the firstlings of his flocks. God rejects Cain's offering and accepts Able's. This is not a case of Cain needing to bring an animal sacrifice to God, there were several sacrifices under the law that called for plant based offerings. The issue is the nature of the offering. The text says that Cain brought an offering of the fruits of the ground, while Able's gift is specified to be from the firstlings of his flocks, and the best parts of the animal. Cain brings an offering, Able brings the best He can, and that is why God responds as He does.
God accepts the best we have to offer, and rejects everything else. When we offer anything to God, be it our time, abilities, or resources, what is the nature of what we offer? Do we give God intentional time, out of the best parts of the day, or the few spare minutes before we fall asleep? Do we give to God out of what we have earned, or only what is left over after everything else is taken care of? Do we give our service to God out of our strength, or only what is left over after we have pursued everything else? One of these God accepts, while the other He rejects.
God will not be an afterthought, allowing Himself to be fitted in to our lives when it is convenient, He is God, and accepts only the best we have to offer because it is what alone is worthy of Him. Let us seek to prioritize God, intentionally giving Him the best, not whatever we have laying around.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, January 25, 2019
Reflections of the Quest
2018 was a rather frustrating year; there were some really good moments, but the last few months of the year were rough. While a large part of that was external circumstances beyond my control, part of it was a lack of direction. For three years I had been focused on identity; it drove everything I had done and studied, and at the end of that time I had a solid grasp, both head and heart, of what that looked like. I was focused in that time, doing well, moving towards a goal but enjoying and taking in every step of the journey. I knew that identity wasn't the ultimate destination, but I didn't rush on to the next thing. For once, I took time to celebrate it, enjoying it, but at the same time I knew the celebration would need to end so the journey could continue.
A large part of my vision quest has been getting focused for the next year of my life. This year I left the woods full of confusion. In the months since that day in July, I thought a lot about what Passion meant. Why hadn't I gotten a clear sense on my quest? Why had everything I had thought about for the past three years not lined up with where my mind had gone. I had no answers.
Towards the end of the Spring of 2018, God gave me the sense that I had a one year time frame, not fully sure what that means, but I feel like June 30, 2019 marks the end of that year. Part of what I had learned about identity involves intentionallity, not being passive and letting life happen, but going after things with purpose. In order to be intentional, I reached out to a couple men I respect and ask them if they would be willing to purposefully invest in my life over the next year, meeting on a regular basis to discuss certain topics, and help me continue to move forward. All of them were willing, and so I began to figure out exactly what I was looking for and what I wanted from them.
I had asked them to give me homework, and I've gotten a couple really good books that have given me great insights. One that really helped was Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar (highly recommend this one). As I read the chapters there was talk about King David, and where he began to shipwreck. Farrar points out that David didn't shipwreck that night with Bathsheba, but years earlier when he violated God's instruction that Israel's king was not to acquire many wives. Farrar points out that David shipwrecked when he took his second wife.
As I read the chapter (side note David has been the figure I've looked at for the Passion stage of my journey) something began to click. Passion isn't about my gifts, abilities, or calling, but instead it's about my relationship with God. The focus for this next stage is not on what I am feeling led to do, but instead on connecting more deeply with the One who gave me my identity. The point of Passion is about a deeper intimacy with God.
I wasn't focused on this that day on my vision quest, I was looking at what I needed to do, taking the focus partly off God and putting it more on to me. That was why nothing made sense that day, and that was why I left confused and frustrated. Identity helps me connect to God, it shapes how I connect to God, but it does not take my focus off of God and put it on action.
That realization brought so much clarification to my mind, at least for this area. As I've started, very slowly, on this next stage of the journey, I've found purpose and direction again. It hasn't been easy, the enemy doesn't want us to connect with God, and if finding identity was difficult, connecting on a deeper level with God is going to be even harder, which is why identity matters.
God gave me an identity, and that identity will lead me to connect with Him more deeply on this next stage as I chase Passion.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
A large part of my vision quest has been getting focused for the next year of my life. This year I left the woods full of confusion. In the months since that day in July, I thought a lot about what Passion meant. Why hadn't I gotten a clear sense on my quest? Why had everything I had thought about for the past three years not lined up with where my mind had gone. I had no answers.
Towards the end of the Spring of 2018, God gave me the sense that I had a one year time frame, not fully sure what that means, but I feel like June 30, 2019 marks the end of that year. Part of what I had learned about identity involves intentionallity, not being passive and letting life happen, but going after things with purpose. In order to be intentional, I reached out to a couple men I respect and ask them if they would be willing to purposefully invest in my life over the next year, meeting on a regular basis to discuss certain topics, and help me continue to move forward. All of them were willing, and so I began to figure out exactly what I was looking for and what I wanted from them.
I had asked them to give me homework, and I've gotten a couple really good books that have given me great insights. One that really helped was Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar (highly recommend this one). As I read the chapters there was talk about King David, and where he began to shipwreck. Farrar points out that David didn't shipwreck that night with Bathsheba, but years earlier when he violated God's instruction that Israel's king was not to acquire many wives. Farrar points out that David shipwrecked when he took his second wife.
As I read the chapter (side note David has been the figure I've looked at for the Passion stage of my journey) something began to click. Passion isn't about my gifts, abilities, or calling, but instead it's about my relationship with God. The focus for this next stage is not on what I am feeling led to do, but instead on connecting more deeply with the One who gave me my identity. The point of Passion is about a deeper intimacy with God.
I wasn't focused on this that day on my vision quest, I was looking at what I needed to do, taking the focus partly off God and putting it more on to me. That was why nothing made sense that day, and that was why I left confused and frustrated. Identity helps me connect to God, it shapes how I connect to God, but it does not take my focus off of God and put it on action.
That realization brought so much clarification to my mind, at least for this area. As I've started, very slowly, on this next stage of the journey, I've found purpose and direction again. It hasn't been easy, the enemy doesn't want us to connect with God, and if finding identity was difficult, connecting on a deeper level with God is going to be even harder, which is why identity matters.
God gave me an identity, and that identity will lead me to connect with Him more deeply on this next stage as I chase Passion.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
End of the Quest
I left the woods before the sun set, but not before I set down my index cards and pen, and simply watched the sunlight move across the lake. I didn't make any real progress on the next stages of my journey, and in so ways I felt more confused than when I had started this quest. This year was different from my previous two vision quests. Not only was this one significantly shorter, but on both of the other ones I felt that God had clearly spoken, giving me focus and direction for the coming year. With this one, I just felt lost.
I had gone into the woods to clear my head and process/sort out the things on my mind. All I really managed to do was get some practice hanging up my hammock in a semi-precarious location, and summarize what I had already known. These weren't bad things, but they really weren't what I had ventured into the woods for. I wanted God to show up like He had in the past, giving me clear insights into my life, speaking to me in a unique way, but all I really got was confusion, having no idea what to do next.
That isn't what I've come to expect from vision quests, but to be fair I hadn't realized I was on my vision quest at that moment. What took place there in my hammock by the lake would continue to unconsciously develop in me over the next several months, until one day in late fall it all started to make sense...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
I had gone into the woods to clear my head and process/sort out the things on my mind. All I really managed to do was get some practice hanging up my hammock in a semi-precarious location, and summarize what I had already known. These weren't bad things, but they really weren't what I had ventured into the woods for. I wanted God to show up like He had in the past, giving me clear insights into my life, speaking to me in a unique way, but all I really got was confusion, having no idea what to do next.
That isn't what I've come to expect from vision quests, but to be fair I hadn't realized I was on my vision quest at that moment. What took place there in my hammock by the lake would continue to unconsciously develop in me over the next several months, until one day in late fall it all started to make sense...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, January 21, 2019
Frustration
My mind was drawing a complete blank. I had spent three years on identity and I knew there was a next step, but the fact that I had no idea what that next step looked like was a really frustrating thing. I thought at this point I'd have a few things figured out, and I thought that it should come somewhat easy. It didn't.
I don't know how long I sat there in my hammock trying to figure out what to write down. I kept looking at the Bible references I had written, but that's all that was coming to me. I had come to the woods to sort through some ideas, and I was stuck on the second point. I decided to move on to the next one, the Destiny point, and so I started in the same place. I wrote down the key verse that I had been focusing on, then the summary of what I had come up with in my initial thoughts. There was just one problem, the stuff I was writing under the Destiny heading was stuff that I was thinking fit under the Passion heading. Now I was all confused.
What was I supposed to do now? I had finished with one part and I knew I needed to keep moving on this journey, but I had no idea what the next step looked like. And on top of all of that, what I thought the next step looked like was what I was now putting down for the step that followed it. Part of me felt like I was back at square one; the next steps either didn't make any sense, or looked completely different than I had expected...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
I don't know how long I sat there in my hammock trying to figure out what to write down. I kept looking at the Bible references I had written, but that's all that was coming to me. I had come to the woods to sort through some ideas, and I was stuck on the second point. I decided to move on to the next one, the Destiny point, and so I started in the same place. I wrote down the key verse that I had been focusing on, then the summary of what I had come up with in my initial thoughts. There was just one problem, the stuff I was writing under the Destiny heading was stuff that I was thinking fit under the Passion heading. Now I was all confused.
What was I supposed to do now? I had finished with one part and I knew I needed to keep moving on this journey, but I had no idea what the next step looked like. And on top of all of that, what I thought the next step looked like was what I was now putting down for the step that followed it. Part of me felt like I was back at square one; the next steps either didn't make any sense, or looked completely different than I had expected...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, January 18, 2019
Reflections
I sat there and part of me just took in the beauty of the scenery. I was back in the woods, but I had a clear view of the water. This side trail isn't very heavily used by other hikers so I wasn't disturbed as I watched the sunlight on the lake. I took out some index cards and began to write.
About a month earlier I had taken part in my own passage ceremony, marking the conclusion to the first part of my journey. I began to reflect on what I had learned, writing out Scripture references, summarizing key themes, connecting ideas, in some way to give clarity to my own mind, and also to begin consolidating all of this stuff on identity into notes in the hopes of being able to share it with other groups at retreats or seminars (I'm really hoping to begin moving in this direction once the current things I'm dealing with come to a conclusion).
I sat and wrote, really taking in what I had been through and learned over the past three years, kind of blown away about what God had done, but I also knew that this wasn't the end of the journey. As I finished the last 3x5 card on identity, I put the word "Passion" at the top of a new index card, wrote out the central verse that I've been coming back to with this word for the past few years, and then my mind drew a blank...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
About a month earlier I had taken part in my own passage ceremony, marking the conclusion to the first part of my journey. I began to reflect on what I had learned, writing out Scripture references, summarizing key themes, connecting ideas, in some way to give clarity to my own mind, and also to begin consolidating all of this stuff on identity into notes in the hopes of being able to share it with other groups at retreats or seminars (I'm really hoping to begin moving in this direction once the current things I'm dealing with come to a conclusion).
I sat and wrote, really taking in what I had been through and learned over the past three years, kind of blown away about what God had done, but I also knew that this wasn't the end of the journey. As I finished the last 3x5 card on identity, I put the word "Passion" at the top of a new index card, wrote out the central verse that I've been coming back to with this word for the past few years, and then my mind drew a blank...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Where to go?
One of my favorite areas to hike near where I live has a network that consists of around 20 miles of trails. This particular section of Ohio has amazing diversity in the forest and landscapes, as well as trail difficulty, and it is just an awesome place to escape. I needed to get away from the chaos of life for a little bit, and there is a lake I was drawn to in this area. I got to the trail head in the early evening, but still didn't know exactly where I wanted to set up my hammock and do some processing.
I was tired, so I didn't feel like doing the longer, and more difficult of the trail options. At the same time, I didn't want to simply do the short and easy trail around the lake. That left me with a trail I haven't hiked too many times. It isn't my favorite path; there isn't much too it, but it was the only real option I had since I felt like I wanted to watch the sun set over the lake. I hefted my pack onto my back and began to walk.
The entire time I was focused on where I was going to set up my hammock. I kept asking God, "Where do You want me to set up?" I hadn't gone more than 100 yards when I saw a place in my mind, and I knew that this was the spot god was sending me. It was close to where I was, maybe half a mile at most, and I turned around to head to the spot. I had a lot I wanted to process, and again, I was tired. The trail I was on was around 2.5 miles, and has one section with some steeper hills, and if I knew where I was going to go, why not head straight there?
As I turned to head there I felt that God was nudging me to turn back around and hike this trail. I wasn't sure why, but I decided to listen. I walked and was able to clear my head, I find that's what hiking does for me and that's why I do it most of the time.
I was looking through some pictures I took, and this trail really does contain a lot of beauty. There's this large field that gives an amazing view of the sky, that day it was a really vibrant blue. It had rained earlier that day, and I found mushrooms that had collected rain water. At the lowest point of this trail there is small stream that falls over rocks. The trail ends on the top of a hill that looks over another field, and at this time of the year there were several wildflowers growing. Why don't I hike this trail more often?
I headed back to the lake, my head finally cleared and overwhelmed by beauty, and found the spot I had seen. My hammock was set up, now it was time to process...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
I was tired, so I didn't feel like doing the longer, and more difficult of the trail options. At the same time, I didn't want to simply do the short and easy trail around the lake. That left me with a trail I haven't hiked too many times. It isn't my favorite path; there isn't much too it, but it was the only real option I had since I felt like I wanted to watch the sun set over the lake. I hefted my pack onto my back and began to walk.
The entire time I was focused on where I was going to set up my hammock. I kept asking God, "Where do You want me to set up?" I hadn't gone more than 100 yards when I saw a place in my mind, and I knew that this was the spot god was sending me. It was close to where I was, maybe half a mile at most, and I turned around to head to the spot. I had a lot I wanted to process, and again, I was tired. The trail I was on was around 2.5 miles, and has one section with some steeper hills, and if I knew where I was going to go, why not head straight there?
As I turned to head there I felt that God was nudging me to turn back around and hike this trail. I wasn't sure why, but I decided to listen. I walked and was able to clear my head, I find that's what hiking does for me and that's why I do it most of the time.
I was looking through some pictures I took, and this trail really does contain a lot of beauty. There's this large field that gives an amazing view of the sky, that day it was a really vibrant blue. It had rained earlier that day, and I found mushrooms that had collected rain water. At the lowest point of this trail there is small stream that falls over rocks. The trail ends on the top of a hill that looks over another field, and at this time of the year there were several wildflowers growing. Why don't I hike this trail more often?
I headed back to the lake, my head finally cleared and overwhelmed by beauty, and found the spot I had seen. My hammock was set up, now it was time to process...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, January 14, 2019
It Actually did Happen
I'm taking a short break from the book of Genesis and looking specifically at who God is. Since 2016, it has been my goal to spend a night alone in the woods, allowing myself to have time away from all distractions with God. I've taken to calling it my vision quest because my experience has been that God shows up, gives a clear sense of focus, and shows me where my attention needs to be for the immediate future.
In 2018, I never spent a night alone in the woods. I was planning on it, had every intention to do it, even had a plan on where to go, but it never happened. I kept putting it off, never making solid plans but having a lot of excuses as to why I was putting it off, and then it began to get cold. I had set plans for two different weekends in November, and both times something came up last minute. I got to the end of the year thinking that the vision quest didn't happen this past year, but as I began to reflect on the 2018 my mind went to an evening I spent in my hammock in early July.
I had been feeling the need to just escape everything for a little while and reflect on some things. The first weekend of July I took my pack, headed to a trail I haven't hiked a lot, it was actually the same trail I had lost my hammock on during the previous year's vision quest, and was able to spend some time reflecting on what God had been doing, and where HE was taking me.
Vision quest 2018 did not involved an over night in the woods, but God showed up and spoke to me just the same. And the fact that it was different than what I was expecting actually fits with what God showed me...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
In 2018, I never spent a night alone in the woods. I was planning on it, had every intention to do it, even had a plan on where to go, but it never happened. I kept putting it off, never making solid plans but having a lot of excuses as to why I was putting it off, and then it began to get cold. I had set plans for two different weekends in November, and both times something came up last minute. I got to the end of the year thinking that the vision quest didn't happen this past year, but as I began to reflect on the 2018 my mind went to an evening I spent in my hammock in early July.
I had been feeling the need to just escape everything for a little while and reflect on some things. The first weekend of July I took my pack, headed to a trail I haven't hiked a lot, it was actually the same trail I had lost my hammock on during the previous year's vision quest, and was able to spend some time reflecting on what God had been doing, and where HE was taking me.
Vision quest 2018 did not involved an over night in the woods, but God showed up and spoke to me just the same. And the fact that it was different than what I was expecting actually fits with what God showed me...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, January 11, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 3
In Genesis 3 a problem arises, the biggest problem the universe has ever known. Man disobeys God and as a result all of creation is cursed by sin. God is not taken by surprise when this happens; He isn't caught off guard or thrown into confusion. When man sins, God acts, and when God acts it is to begin bringing about restoration.
God always had man's best interest at heart. God created man for perfect fellowship with Him, and God would meet with man everyday to walk through the garden. When man sinned, he forfeited this intimacy with God, but God did not reject man. He gave man dignity, offering them the chance to own their sin. After this, He passes judgment, telling them the consequences of their sin. The things that took place as a result of Adam and Eve's act of disobedience were not God's doing, but the result of their sin. The results of broken relationship and unsatisfying toil, the feelings of shame and pain are not God's design, but the reality of sin twisting that which God made good, true, and beautiful. The state of this world is not God's design, but the result of sin.
In spite of disobedience, God shows mercy. He does for man what they cannot do for themselves and covers them with garments that will last. However, He does not relent on His judgment of sin. Adam and Eve are sent out of the garden, away from God's paradise and His presence. Man took perfection and ruined it (we really can't have nice things).
In Genesis 3 we see that man sinned, but we also see that God redeems. God had a plan for restoration, and that plans goes into effect immediately after the first sin is committed. The rest of the Bible tells of God's work of restoration. In Genesis 3 man is driven out of the garden, but the rest of the story tells of God's work to bring man back to the garden. God's work is bringing us back to Eden, that is where we were created to live, and that is where God is bringing us back to, paradise where we can walk with Him.
One day the whole world will be like Eden. One day we will be able to walk with God in the cool of day. That was His original intention, we just have to take the long way there.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God always had man's best interest at heart. God created man for perfect fellowship with Him, and God would meet with man everyday to walk through the garden. When man sinned, he forfeited this intimacy with God, but God did not reject man. He gave man dignity, offering them the chance to own their sin. After this, He passes judgment, telling them the consequences of their sin. The things that took place as a result of Adam and Eve's act of disobedience were not God's doing, but the result of their sin. The results of broken relationship and unsatisfying toil, the feelings of shame and pain are not God's design, but the reality of sin twisting that which God made good, true, and beautiful. The state of this world is not God's design, but the result of sin.
In spite of disobedience, God shows mercy. He does for man what they cannot do for themselves and covers them with garments that will last. However, He does not relent on His judgment of sin. Adam and Eve are sent out of the garden, away from God's paradise and His presence. Man took perfection and ruined it (we really can't have nice things).
In Genesis 3 we see that man sinned, but we also see that God redeems. God had a plan for restoration, and that plans goes into effect immediately after the first sin is committed. The rest of the Bible tells of God's work of restoration. In Genesis 3 man is driven out of the garden, but the rest of the story tells of God's work to bring man back to the garden. God's work is bringing us back to Eden, that is where we were created to live, and that is where God is bringing us back to, paradise where we can walk with Him.
One day the whole world will be like Eden. One day we will be able to walk with God in the cool of day. That was His original intention, we just have to take the long way there.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 3.22-24
God has passed judgment, showing His justice, and He has clothed Adam and Eve, showing His mercy, but now He follows through with His sentencing, banishing them from the garden. Because of man's disobedience, he cannot remain in paradise, enjoying a perfect relationship with God and eternal life. He is sent out of the garden to cultivate the ground, and the garden is placed under an armed guard so that man no longer has access to the tree of life.
God is consistent in what He says. He told the man in the beginning that he was free to eat form any tree in the garden but the one in the middle. If he disobeyed and ate from that tree, he would die. Man ate the fruit and death came. God passed judgment, and though He showed mercy, He did not allow sin to go unpunished. Because God is just, God has to be consistent; if He is inconsistent He is not just. Man sinned and as a result man was driven from the garden. They had been given eternal life, it was theirs to accept or reject, that was their choice, and they chose to reject it. When that happened, they were cut off from the source of eternal life.
God does what He says He will do. He punishes sin and blesses righteousness; He honors obedience and reproaches disobedience. God gives grace and He holds us accountable for our actions. God is consistent in all that He does, and everything He does lines up with His character.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God is consistent in what He says. He told the man in the beginning that he was free to eat form any tree in the garden but the one in the middle. If he disobeyed and ate from that tree, he would die. Man ate the fruit and death came. God passed judgment, and though He showed mercy, He did not allow sin to go unpunished. Because God is just, God has to be consistent; if He is inconsistent He is not just. Man sinned and as a result man was driven from the garden. They had been given eternal life, it was theirs to accept or reject, that was their choice, and they chose to reject it. When that happened, they were cut off from the source of eternal life.
God does what He says He will do. He punishes sin and blesses righteousness; He honors obedience and reproaches disobedience. God gives grace and He holds us accountable for our actions. God is consistent in all that He does, and everything He does lines up with His character.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, January 7, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 3.20-21
Man has sinned, God has passed judgment, and now He does what only He can do. When the Adam and Eve realized they were naked and felt shame for the first time they made coverings for themselves out of fig leaves. They made a human effort to deal with their sin, but as all human efforts it falls short. They picked leaves and sewed them together, making rough coverings for themselves, the issue is that these clothes wouldn't last. As soon as a leaf is picked from the tree it begins to die. Cut off from it's source of life it begins to wither, dry out, and will crumble. The efforts of man are insufficient, and God knows this. Because of His love for man, He does something about it.
God covers Adam and Eve with garments made from animal skin, clothing that will last, and clothing that cost the lives of animals. Sin brings death, man should have died that day, but instead his shame was covered by the skin of animals that died in his place. God does for man what man could not do for himself, and He puts in place His plan of restoration.
God is just, but God is merciful as well. He does not overlook sin and let it go unpunished. He deals with disobedience in a way that is just, in a way that sin must be dealt with. And at the same time He shows mercy, giving man the opportunity to be redeemed and live in a restored relationship with Him. God desires relationship with man, and He is constantly working to bring full restoration of that relationship.
Let us live in humility towards God's restoration. Let us realize that our feeble efforts will do nothing to bring us lasting or satisfying healing. Let us live in submission to God's justice, and rejoice in the mercy He shows.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God covers Adam and Eve with garments made from animal skin, clothing that will last, and clothing that cost the lives of animals. Sin brings death, man should have died that day, but instead his shame was covered by the skin of animals that died in his place. God does for man what man could not do for himself, and He puts in place His plan of restoration.
God is just, but God is merciful as well. He does not overlook sin and let it go unpunished. He deals with disobedience in a way that is just, in a way that sin must be dealt with. And at the same time He shows mercy, giving man the opportunity to be redeemed and live in a restored relationship with Him. God desires relationship with man, and He is constantly working to bring full restoration of that relationship.
Let us live in humility towards God's restoration. Let us realize that our feeble efforts will do nothing to bring us lasting or satisfying healing. Let us live in submission to God's justice, and rejoice in the mercy He shows.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, January 4, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 3.14-19
God is just, and this is evident in His dealing with the first deception and sin. When God confronts humanity about their disobedience, they are both quick to blame someone else. Adam blames his wife, the woman blames the serpent, and God deals with all three. None of them are innocent in this, and so God deals with all three.
To the serpent, the one who deceived them to sin, he is cursed above all other creatures, enmity is put between him and humanity, and there is the decree of an on going struggle but the ultimate victory lies with humanity as the serpents head will be crushed.
To the woman, the one who who deceived, she is given pain in child birth, her role as a life giver is now going to be difficult and full of pain, there will be sorrow in her role. Now instead of a partnership between man and woman, husband and wife, she will be subject to his leadership. She was to be a life giving essential helper, but she will have pain in child birth, a longing for her husband, and he will rule over her as they were to rule over creation together.
To the man, the one who stood by and did nothing, watching as all of this unfolded, the ground is cursed, as is his labor. Because he failed to lead his work will now be difficult and unfulfilling. life will be a struggle for him, and this struggle will result more difficulties. Then God reminds him that he is now mortal, subject to death, and will work the ground until he returns to it. The final statement of judgment puts man in his place, "For dust you and to dust you shall return." Man ate the fruit in order to become like God, but in spite of this desire and the efforts God reminds him that he is nothing more than dust. Man's efforts to advance himself have simple put him in his proper place. He enjoyed a high position of honor, God's crowning creation made in His image, but the desire to be like God, the refusal to act, have cost him this position.
God deals with all sin, the one who led others into sin, the one who was taken in by a lie, and the one who stood by and watched it all go down. God is just, and everyone is held accountable for their actions. Let us live in humble submission to the authority of God, knowing that He is just, and that everything will be dealt with by Him.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
To the serpent, the one who deceived them to sin, he is cursed above all other creatures, enmity is put between him and humanity, and there is the decree of an on going struggle but the ultimate victory lies with humanity as the serpents head will be crushed.
To the woman, the one who who deceived, she is given pain in child birth, her role as a life giver is now going to be difficult and full of pain, there will be sorrow in her role. Now instead of a partnership between man and woman, husband and wife, she will be subject to his leadership. She was to be a life giving essential helper, but she will have pain in child birth, a longing for her husband, and he will rule over her as they were to rule over creation together.
To the man, the one who stood by and did nothing, watching as all of this unfolded, the ground is cursed, as is his labor. Because he failed to lead his work will now be difficult and unfulfilling. life will be a struggle for him, and this struggle will result more difficulties. Then God reminds him that he is now mortal, subject to death, and will work the ground until he returns to it. The final statement of judgment puts man in his place, "For dust you and to dust you shall return." Man ate the fruit in order to become like God, but in spite of this desire and the efforts God reminds him that he is nothing more than dust. Man's efforts to advance himself have simple put him in his proper place. He enjoyed a high position of honor, God's crowning creation made in His image, but the desire to be like God, the refusal to act, have cost him this position.
God deals with all sin, the one who led others into sin, the one who was taken in by a lie, and the one who stood by and watched it all go down. God is just, and everyone is held accountable for their actions. Let us live in humble submission to the authority of God, knowing that He is just, and that everything will be dealt with by Him.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Who is God: Genesis 3.10-13
God is in the garden, searching for the man and woman. They didn't meet him at their usual spot, and so God goes looking for them. He immediately knows something is off, but He doesn't start accusing, He is direct, asking what has happened, and allowing them to confess. Both of them deny any responsibility, but God keeps asking until He gets to the root of the issue.
In these few verses we see a few things about God. First, God does not jump to accusations, He asks, giving people dignity and allowing them to own up to what they have done. God, even though He knows what has happened, does not start accusing, He allows people to confess.
Second, God is direct. He doesn't beat around the bush, but gets to the point. The man says he hid because he was afraid because he was naked, God asks who told him this, and then asks if he ate from the tree. When he says he did, even though he doesn't fully own it, God moves on to the woman, again asking, but asking directly.
Third, God gets to the bottom of the issue. God doesn't simply take the first answer He gets and start dealing out judgment, He hears all sides, and gets to the root cause. He asks the man who points to the woman. He asks the woman who points to the snake. God hears all sides, then He deals with the problem.
In all of this, we see that God is just. God listens, He is direct, and He deals with all those involved. God is just, and this will be seen more clearly in the next few verses...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
In these few verses we see a few things about God. First, God does not jump to accusations, He asks, giving people dignity and allowing them to own up to what they have done. God, even though He knows what has happened, does not start accusing, He allows people to confess.
Second, God is direct. He doesn't beat around the bush, but gets to the point. The man says he hid because he was afraid because he was naked, God asks who told him this, and then asks if he ate from the tree. When he says he did, even though he doesn't fully own it, God moves on to the woman, again asking, but asking directly.
Third, God gets to the bottom of the issue. God doesn't simply take the first answer He gets and start dealing out judgment, He hears all sides, and gets to the root cause. He asks the man who points to the woman. He asks the woman who points to the snake. God hears all sides, then He deals with the problem.
In all of this, we see that God is just. God listens, He is direct, and He deals with all those involved. God is just, and this will be seen more clearly in the next few verses...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
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