Yesterday we took our boys to see the the Cleopatra exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum Center. The artifacts are amazing and provided us numerous great opportunities to discuss the truth of the Bible with our boys. Several of the artifacts were from the time of Christ or very near to it. We were able to see a gold coin with the head of Caesar Augustus, the Caesar that called for the census in Luke 2:1 which caused Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem.
It was a great kick start for our study of Ancient History that we will be doing this year for school.
However, I was overwhelmed about halfway through the exhibit. Nearly every artifact was of a god or an instrument of worship of Egyptian gods. I have known of idol worship from scripture and history studies, but it smacked me square in the face.
Our preaching elder, Greg Birdwell, has been preaching through the book of Judges and the Idolatry of Man. It has been an amazing time of learning! Not until I saw this exhibit was I faced with the real, gut wrenching question. When I am long gone, what will be on exhibit for others to see? What will my exhibit show about who I worship? What will our generation's exibit show of our idol worship? I fear that the artifacts of my life may not point people to my worship of the One true God! The idols may change but the idol worship remains the same. Things, computer, cell phones, ipads, televisions, the latest kitchen gadget, cars, trucks, boats, even the houses that take more time to clean than we spend in the word or serving others can be idols that speak louder than our words. We can worship our careers, our self-sufficiency, our pride of life, and even our service.
I must begin today....I must not leave a legacy of idol worship! What is it that holds our attention more than God? What is it that you believe you could not live without? What do you treasure more than Christ? Let us take time to examine our lives and leave a legacy of worship of the One true God!
Showing posts with label Treasures in the Word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Treasures in the Word. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
My Thick Skull and the Powerful Word of God!
I have developed a pet peeve over the last few years. I have the amazing Women's Bible Study Leaders at Highview Baptist church to thank for it.
Their goal was to draw women closer to Christ through teaching them how to feast on the word through and Inductive Bible Study approach. Though this method is not new or fancy it helped me to develop my peeve, CONTEXT!
When studying the word of God I used to really like topical approaches, after all I thought they really helped me to understand application. I used to like to study "women's" bible study books by all those well known ladies. (I bet you could rattle a few names off the top of your head.) Now, I am broken! Or am I fixed....hmmmm! These types of studies nearly drive me insane now!! Why?
When participating in one of these studies I can't stop thinking! Thinking you think wouldn't be a bad thing but for me it is. Let me explain. Many (not all) of these types of studies tend to focus on some key verses that help to make the point the author or leader wishes to make. Not so bad, right.? Except I cannot stop thinking about context. Many tend to blatantly disregard the all important CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT!
The word of God is not meant to be used to prove our points. We are to study the word in it's context. If we fail to look at the word in the light of the context in which it was written we exponentially increase the likelyhood of wrong interpretation. The same goes for looking at commentaries on the word. Those that write the commentaries must be sure to write interpretation in light of its context.
We must not mindlessly read a commentary, bible study writer, or study bible notes and assume that author has remembered context.
The only way we will know about context is to do the work of STUDYING THE WORD! Not merely cursory reading, but truly consuming and digesting the word of God. Inductive study provides a framework with which we can really get at the meat of the word of God without loosing sight of context!
Many people today do not feel capable of studying the word for themselves, and I mean really studying the word! You do not have to be "capable" in order to study the word of God. You need to have a humble heart, a willingness to do the hard work of digesting the word and the rest is done by the word itself.
The Lord provided a clear description of the word and its power in Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." A friend once said to me, "If the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart, do you not think it is powerful enough to get through your thick skull?"
We must not relenquish our means for knowing our Lord and Savior to others. We must not surrender our understanding of His words to us to the thoughts of others. We must take hold of the word and wrestle with it until that sword is able to penetrate our thick skulls!
Their goal was to draw women closer to Christ through teaching them how to feast on the word through and Inductive Bible Study approach. Though this method is not new or fancy it helped me to develop my peeve, CONTEXT!
When studying the word of God I used to really like topical approaches, after all I thought they really helped me to understand application. I used to like to study "women's" bible study books by all those well known ladies. (I bet you could rattle a few names off the top of your head.) Now, I am broken! Or am I fixed....hmmmm! These types of studies nearly drive me insane now!! Why?
When participating in one of these studies I can't stop thinking! Thinking you think wouldn't be a bad thing but for me it is. Let me explain. Many (not all) of these types of studies tend to focus on some key verses that help to make the point the author or leader wishes to make. Not so bad, right.? Except I cannot stop thinking about context. Many tend to blatantly disregard the all important CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT!
The word of God is not meant to be used to prove our points. We are to study the word in it's context. If we fail to look at the word in the light of the context in which it was written we exponentially increase the likelyhood of wrong interpretation. The same goes for looking at commentaries on the word. Those that write the commentaries must be sure to write interpretation in light of its context.
We must not mindlessly read a commentary, bible study writer, or study bible notes and assume that author has remembered context.
The only way we will know about context is to do the work of STUDYING THE WORD! Not merely cursory reading, but truly consuming and digesting the word of God. Inductive study provides a framework with which we can really get at the meat of the word of God without loosing sight of context!
Many people today do not feel capable of studying the word for themselves, and I mean really studying the word! You do not have to be "capable" in order to study the word of God. You need to have a humble heart, a willingness to do the hard work of digesting the word and the rest is done by the word itself.
The Lord provided a clear description of the word and its power in Hebrews 4:12 "For the word
Monday, February 28, 2011
Where is your Treasure?
Where is your treasure? Or maybe a better question is what is your treasure? It is so very easy to have the things in this world block our vision of those things that have eternal value. For me the things that tend to block my vision are my bank account, the rising prices of everything, two very old cars, those that are blessed with much, health, whether or not my hair behaves that day. Yes, even the very small and insignificant can cause us to lose our eternal vision!
Jesus shares in Matthew 6:19-24.....
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where theives break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where theives do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
I am challenged everyday to keep my focus on the things that will last. My time in the word of God and Prayer needs to be my very first priority and treated like a treasure that I guard at all costs. My relationship with my husband needs to be more important than facebook time. My focus on my children and their growth to becoming Godly young men not stressing about having a picture perfect home. My focus needs to be on being the hands and feet of God in serving others instead of always worrying about my own needs.
My needs are not really needs.....they are WANTS! Wants for my own ease of life and convenience. I have been given much, much more than I need. Our pantry and freezer are full, we have more clothes and shoes than we need, we have a home that is comfortable and safe, we have each other.
Thank you Lord for reminding me that you are my provider and all I need to worry about is treasuring that which has eternal value!
Jesus shares in Matthew 6:19-24.....
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where theives break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where theives do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
I am challenged everyday to keep my focus on the things that will last. My time in the word of God and Prayer needs to be my very first priority and treated like a treasure that I guard at all costs. My relationship with my husband needs to be more important than facebook time. My focus on my children and their growth to becoming Godly young men not stressing about having a picture perfect home. My focus needs to be on being the hands and feet of God in serving others instead of always worrying about my own needs.
My needs are not really needs.....they are WANTS! Wants for my own ease of life and convenience. I have been given much, much more than I need. Our pantry and freezer are full, we have more clothes and shoes than we need, we have a home that is comfortable and safe, we have each other.
Thank you Lord for reminding me that you are my provider and all I need to worry about is treasuring that which has eternal value!
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