Romans, Countrymen...

Some like paint-drying. Some like grass-growing. Some like cat-bathing. Some even like room-temperature-coffee...

Them's all good and great...however, I get jazzed about 8,000 pages of J.M.Boice's Expositional Commentary on Romans!

Anyone else? Anyone?

What are you reading? Fiction, non-fiction, prose, poetry, history, biography? Lewis, Knowles, Zacharias, Fitzgerald, Miller, Paul the Apostle...? Who are you reading and how are they shaping your heart, soul, mind and strength? Even Sherlock Holmes has strengthened my faith.

Though nothing replaces the extremity of style, topic, personal challenge and truth as the Word.

Representin' the Text...

Jesus discussed creation in Genesis. Mark 10

Jesus compared his journey to Jonah's. Matthew 12

He also spoke about Sodom. Matthew 11

He referenced the Prophet Daniel. Matthew 24

Noah's Ark is discussed. Matthew 24

Jesus quotes Isaiah (several times). Matthew 24

He notes hells reality. Mark 10

He acknowledges the reality of Moses and gives him credit for the Torah. Mark 12

Though I realize this is an oversimplified deduction...is it possible to acknowledge that Jesus is who He claimed to be, 'the way, truth and life' and not believe in the creation story? or Noah and the flood? or the reality of Hell? or Jonah and the whale?

Did Jesus lie and simply 'play along' with the ancient tales in order to connect with His audience? In His human nature did He truly believe in these fictitious stories? Did He truly fulfill hundreds of prophecies, live a miraculous-sinless life, raise from the dead and yet misrepresent the OT? If so, then do these theories alter His righteous character?

Do you doubt the trustworthiness of the OT and yet follow Christ? Then ask yourself - 'What insight do I have, above and beyond the Christ, the Scriptures, the Spirit, that allows me a more 'trustworthy' vantage point than that of the Creator?'

Now if Jesus is the Messiah.
And He assumed the reality of even the wildest OT stories.
And you believe in Jesus.
Then it stands to reason that you can trust the entirety of the Scriptures.

'I praise You, Father...that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants' (Matthew 11:25) - the wisdom of this world doesn't compare to the open heart and mind of the faithful.

Word of Beard

'Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!' Psalm 107

Six times within this psalm this phrase is repeated almost directly. Six times we're told that in the midst of pain, hunger, stormy destruction, wandering in wastelands, distress and darkness, rebellion, distance from God in our souls, etc...Six times we're reminded that in these conditions His love is yet unfailing and eternal.

His wonders are apparent in the sand and the trees and your children and the existance of, awareness of and desire for...love. His love endures forever - Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

Go Ahead...Point that Finger

'Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?' Job 40:8

'If this God allows ________ to happen he is clearly not a God I want to follow.' Many of us have heard or even said this regarding some offense or pain that affects us personally, philosophically, emotionally. That God is unfair, unjust or simply blind and ineffective in real life...this is usually our own attempt at making sense of life yet in the process putting our wisdom and worldview far above the Eternal God.

My view of justice is based on 30 years of life in Midwest America, a democratic-republic, ideas of equality, tolerance, rational explanations and a loving God in a naturalistic environment. I have one legal, cultural, social, religious point of view in world full of views. Who am I to corner the market on justice? Who am I to stand outside creation and point a finger, scolding the Lord for living out to a system I don't fully understand?

But our thoughts are not like His. Our ways are not like His. (Isa. 55:8)

We will never understand each and every action taking place upon the earth and beyond. Though when we're united with Christ our minds/attitudes/hearts/worldviews are renewed and can begin to fathom His total sovereignty over the good and the bad, the righteous and the evil.

'Good teacher,' says a young man to Jesus who immediately corrects him, 'No one is good - except God alone.' If no one is inherently virtuous but the Lord can we really justify our imperfect actions and thoughts and beliefs in light of perfection? Now if you don't believe in God then who cares about justification right? But if there is a God, as all of creation signifies, then discrediting His righteousness is a far more dangerous undertaking.

Aaahh - 'to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.' (Tim. 1:17)

Word of Beard

'Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?' Job 40:8

This is the Lord's thunderous response to Job and his friends.

He either is or He isn't sovereign over the universe and all it's happenings. If He is then He is perfectly just in all His ways, he makes no mistakes, falsely accuses no one and yet is wise in how He allows pain and suffering to affect our lives. If He isn't...

Good ole Christian...

'Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.'

Knowing your Bible isn't simply what every good Christian should do is it?

Paul says that 'skillfully dividing the word - handling it rightly' tests and approves us as faithful, unashamed disciples. It shows whether we are on the right track, speaking truth in context, not wavering or babbling fluff. He reminds Timothy of the Gospel he taught, he reminds him to beware false teachers, he even passes on a 'trustworthy saying' and all this before challenging him (us) to handle the Word of Truth with eternal care.

Jacob Neusner explains how Jewish students wrestle with the word, 'This one proposes, that one disposes. This one forms a proposition in response to what the Torah says, and that one says why this one is wrong...' and so on to form a symphony of students attempting to handle the Scriptures carefully.

Peter understood this wrestling and challenged believers to remember, 'If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God' (1 Peter 4:11). Be a student of Truth. Handle the word well. We all teach it the moment we share it with one, one-hundred or one-thousand people.

So continue doing your best with skill.
Constantly present yourself to God for service.
Live daily with an attitude defined by the grace and truth of Christ.
Pray continuously that you may proclaim it clearly, as Paul eagerly desired.

2 Timothy 2:15
Judaism's Theological Voice - Jacob Neusner

Word of Beard

'If I have put my trust in gold - if I have rejoiced over my great wealth - if I have highly regarded nature so that my heart was secretly enticed to worship...then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.' Job 31:24-28 RDV

Yet, when our trust, wealth and worship are His and His alone...How ridiculously good are even the worst of times because we know that He Is, He Was and He Will Be.