A teachable spirit

Current studies continue in Romans 1.  As this blogger is a "peculiar" (I Pet 2.9) individual, so an unusual topic caught my attention. 

Paul stated to the Romans that he was "debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."  Let's look at the definitions for "Greek and Barbarian."

In Webster's 1828 dictionary we read, "Greek - as pertaining to Greece or the Greek language."  Many philosophers, Socrates, Aristotle or Plato are still known for their vast wisdom and knowledge.  One of history's most famous warriors, Alexander the Great, was thought to be Greek.  So, Paul acknowledged much of his intelligence to the Greeks, of which he was a Roman citizen. But the Apostle did not stop there.  He also recognized indebtedness to the "uncivilized, lawless, unmannered Barbarians."  Webster's definition of these peoples are, "uncivilized person, one destitute of pity or humanity, unacquainted with laws or manners, foreign, wild, fierce."  

How is it that such a learned man as Paul could learn from "uncivilized people?"  

This writer believes it is because of the words in verse 16 and 17 of this chapter. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to EVERY one that believeth: to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'"  Quite simply, as the Lord lead Paul to preach the gospel, wherever he was or was led to go, he believed the Lord could touch the heart of Jew or Gentile, which included the Barbarians AND the Greeks.  The song writer said "I am so glad He included me."  Never despair of your earthly origin. Only seek the spiritual origin.  Are you "in Him?"  

To digress, the lesson is keeping a teachable spirit and this writer believes one can learn from any one or any circumstance.  In other words, if you are in Him you can keep a "teachable spirit." Below, read all the verses noted to this lesson.  God bless and keep you is my prayer.  

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (I Pet 5.5) 

Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured." (Pro 13.18)

Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost reacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (I Cor 2.13, 14)  

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. (Pro 12.1)

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. (Pro 9.9)

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (Pro 4.5)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Tim 3.16)

And the things that thou hast heard of me among man witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Tim 2.2)

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. An if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (I Jn 2.1-29)

And he said, How can I except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. (Acts 8.31)

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10.17)

For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. (Heb 12.6)

Train up a child in the way he SHOULD go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Pro 22.6)

Psa 1.1-6, Jms 1.1-27,  Hos 4.6, I Thes 5.14, Acts 17.11

What is a lie?

Current devotion finds this blogger in Acts 5.  The church was in it's infancy and while some may regard the "rules" harsh, it was in the interest of keeping the "bride of Christ," (Eph 5.25-27) clean and unspotted from the world." (Jms 1.27)  

In the account of Ananias and Sapphria, a man and wife who apparently had a bit of wealth, we find such a condemnation.  Acts 5 opens with "a certain man...with...his wife, sold a possession."  However, they "kept back of the price....and brought the rest" to the apostles.  Apart from a power unction from the Holy Ghost, it's not clear how Peter knew this man had not given all he said he had sold the "possession" for. 

Knowing this, the Apostle rebuked the man for holding back.  He censured the man's decision explaining "it was all yours to give and you told us how much you had to give." (5.4) So, "why did you hold back? You not only lied to us but worse, you lied to God.  The problem was not that the man had the possession but that the possession had the man.

For a believer, this is a dangerous, spiritual place to be in the economy of God.  The lesson seems harsh and unyielding but the point is made.  A believer brings reproach on the Lord when he or she does not live upright and honest. Acts 5.4 states, "thou hast not lied unto men, but.unto.God." "The wages of sin is death." (Rom 6.23)  We understand that lying was a sin but why should the deception cost the man and his wife their lives?

"Christ died for us 'while.we.were.yet.sinners.'" (Rom 5.6-11)  Many scriptures note the Lord's death and sacrifice for His people and their sins.  We will not labor those here except to point out what a price was paid for "the bride of Christ." (Eph 5.27)  The goal was to present a "spotless bride, unspotted from the world," to the Bridegroom.  Whilst we understand we can are not perfect we are to "strive" to be so. (Lk 13.24)

In truth, any deception, half-truth or misleading conduct mars the purity of things of God.  Thus, the example of death to this couple because of their deception was a warning to anyone who would choose this path for their lives as believers.  Much could also be said regarding further teaching about sanctification, justification and consecration for believers but suffice it to say this account is warning enough to those who would heed its message.

Preferring darkness to light

The title of this entry is a thought to ponder from every aspect of one's life.  Clearly, "light" is preferable to darkness because one can literally see where to go without stumbling.  However, today, the thought is to be examined from a spiritual perspective.

Isaiah said in 9.2, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

 Matthew repeated this in 4.16 when He said, "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."

Why would one "want" to "sit in darkness?"  We were created in His image. (Gen 1.27)  Literally, we have the big fireball in the sky to demonstrate a brightness unequalled by anything earthly. So, why would one choose "darkness rather than light?" (Jn 3.19)  The answer quite simply is "Because their deeds are evil." (Jn 3.)  The truth is we are born this way.  Our physical birth is demonstrative of just how "dark" our soul is to the Lord.  Babies cry when there is nothing wrong them! (Ps 58.3)

Don't you believe it when someone thinks you can do right by "following your heart."  That too, is dark. (Jer 17.9) The question becomes, "How can I 'walk' in light?"

First John 1.7 explains; "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin..."  

If being "cleansed from all sin" is the way to "walk in the light," then, How is this done?

Many scriptures may be expounded to answer this question. Below are just a few.  By far, the most significant, in this bloggers estimation, is that it is an act of grace on one who would believe. It is the Lord Himself who chooses whom to bestow such grace. (Jn 6.37)  I didn't write it but it's still there.

• Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us...by...regeneration...and the Holy Ghost (Tit 3.5)
• That is thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thing heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10.9)
• Neither is there salvation in an other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4.12)
• For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Eph 2.8)
• Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. (Jn 14.6)
• No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:... (Jn 6.44)

The truth is you cannot know His light unless He draws you to Himself by way of the Holy Ghost.  When He does, you must believe in His virgin birth, complete death on the cross, and most assuredly His resurrection from the dead.  All this and more too if you would "walk in light as He is in the light." (I Jn 1.7)

We are told to "call on Him while He is near...and may be found." (Isa 55.6)  When He "calls you or draws you," ask Him to save you.  Save you from yourself and hell.  He can never deny His Word which tells us He is "the way, the truth and the life..." (Jn 14.6)  There is no life, no light without Him.

You may prefer darkness to light or so you think.  But there is no true "life" or happiness without Him.

In His Name, my prayer and desire is that you know Him, today.  Ps 57.7

Where was He going?

 

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if not I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I Am, ye may be also." 

"Thomas saith unto Him, Lord (where are you going?). Jesus saith unto him, I Am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father..." Jn 14.1-7

It has been preached and believed, literally, since these words were penned and given into the hands of believers that the Lord was going to heaven to "build" mansions.  The disciples may have had a primitive understanding that He was going to die because of the Jews hatred of the Lord's claims that He was the Messiah but missed verse 6 when the Lord said, "no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."

The  statement "no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" begs the question How will He go to the Father?  Obviously, through death does an earthly believer go to the heavenly "place."

Broken down in this way, it is clear to this believer that the only "place" the Lord had not yet been at the time of these words was the Cross.  

If He is a Sovereign, eternal, with no beginning and no end, and He is, then how could He have literally been referring to "building" mansions after He went back "to the Father. Further, He even states in Chapter 14 and verse 16 that "...the Father (would) give (them) another Comforter..." Thus stating a time when He would not be with them.

The writer of this blog is a firm believer that "the place" the Lord was referring to is the Cross.  Read in this context, the Words take on an entirely different meaning.  However, since the disciples were clearly still in the dark about His death, He changes the subject, just a little and explains that when He is gone, they could "ask anything in His Name" (v14) and He would not "leave (them) comfortless" (v18) when He was gone from their sight.

Conclusion, "Where was He going?"  The Cross.

Humbly submitted in His Name

The Good Shepherd

 

Much could be said about the "Good Shepherd."  However, the thought that strikes this blogger today is the second verse in John 10; "But He that entereth in by the door IS the Shepherd of the sheep."  Only the true Shepherd comes by "the door."  Because He IS the door. (v9)  "I Am the door:.."  The false shepherd/prophet acts as "thief and robber."  If the door is closed, he finds another way.  Because he has no regard for the sheep, he finds a false way.

The Psalmist pointed out, "The Lord IS my Shepherd..." (Ps 23.1)  How is it the sheep go their way without fear?  Because "...Thou art with me."  (Ps 23.4)  Even in correction via the "rod and staff" there is comfort in knowing He knows the best way.

So many verses could be expounded on when thinking about "The Good Shepherd."  But today this blogger simply wants to meditate on the truth that HE IS Good and wants the best for His sheep.  Praise God, I am one of them!

Rejoice, rejoice.  Praise Him, Praise Him tell of His excellent greatness.  What a friend we have in Jesus. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.