The Dividing Line: The Sufficiency of Scripture

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires,

they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say

what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and 

turn aside to myths."

2 Tim. 4: 3-4

I have spent much time over the past few years reflecting upon the state of the church in America and the West.  I have read broadly.  I have engaged with the news of the day.  I have sat with folks with whom I disagree about the proper and biblical way to deal with our current cultural directions.  I have tried to understand.  I have come to a conclusion.  

The defining issue in today's church 

remains the doctrine of scripture.

What does this mean?  Here are some diagnostic questions.

Do you believe that God has spoken clearly to reveal His character and will?  Do you believe that God's will on most moral issues is knowable?  Do you believe Jesus is who He said He is?

Why are these questions so important?  We have come to a point where "evangelical" believers don't share an understanding of how to answer them.  We are speaking past each other because many in "evangelical" churches and denominations have radically shifted their answers to these questions.

How so?

I can hear people saying often, "Christianity is all about Jesus.  All you have to do is believe in Him.  All this other moral and ethical teaching of scripture is not important.  It is all about Jesus."

Well, I could not agree more.  The problem is that many take Jesus so lightly!  Even among those who say it is all about Jesus there can be a dismissal of Jesus' life and teaching.

Jesus was all about promoting human flourishing.  He understood that humanity was in need of complete and total redemption.  He understood the sinful human condition.  He came to speak into that condition.  He came to live a perfect life and die an undeserved death to answer the greatest need of sinful humanity.  He came to define human flourishing in relationship to God and God's glory.  The result was incredible.

In Jesus is forgiveness, but also 
a changed heart, a renewed mind, and a clarity of purpose.

Changed.  Transformed.  Made new.  Renewed.  Revived.  Restored.

Don't those words sound great?  Jesus came to give us grace to live a life of human flourishing.  A life that we were meant to live.  A life of meaning and purpose.  A life in line with how we were created to be.

The question is what does such a life look like?  How do we define "human flourishing?" 

Here is the rub.  Here is where the importance of scripture comes in.  I have heard often, "It is all about love."  Well, love needs some definition.  Even as a culture, we have defined that "controlling" love can be abusive.  So, what is true love?  What are proper expressions of love?

Jesus defines love and he affirms that scripture defines 

the proper expressions and understanding of true love.

Jesus began his ministry by affirming the importance of scripture.  To deny the authority of the bible is to deny the authority of Jesus.  As he states in Matthew 5: 17-18

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;

I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, 

not the smallest letter,

not the least stroke of a pen,

will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

The winds of cultural thought have turned against the authority of scripture to define love, marriage, truth, and righteousness.  As a culture, we will reap the whirlwind from these cultural tides.

What I don't get is how churches and many "religious teachers" think they should join in our cultural destruction.  God is not mocked.  In other words, 

beware of any church or teacher that does not take scripture seriously.

In our fallen condition, even believers might differ in interpretation.  Yet, truly redeemed folks agree on 98-99% of all doctrine.  Those minor points in which we disagree are really not important.  They are like an intramural scrimmage.  We have way more important things to deal with.

Like what?

Our culture, our friends, our families are often not flourishing.  Many are living in darkness and walking into increasing darkness.  It is not loving to encourage people to walk deeper into sin.  In doing so, we are encouraging folks to live in pain, struggle, brokenness, and death.

In other words, Christians and Christianity cannot approve of what scripture defines as sin.  These are the marks of a false church and false faith.  Doing so it not loving.  It is the opposite of love.  

It is time for the Church to be the Church.  
It is time for believers to be believers.
It is time to learn, to believe, and to embrace what scripture says.

                                                    "Jesus and the Pharisees"
                                                    Jacob Jordaens 1593-1678 

Beware of false teachers...

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires,

they will gather around them a great number of teacher to say

what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and 

turn aside to myths."

2 Tim. 4: 3-4

I have spent much time over the past six month reflecting upon the state of the church in America and the West.  I have read broadly.  I have engaged with the news of the day.  I have sat with folks with whom I disagree about the proper and biblical way to deal with our current cultural directions.  I have tried to understand.  I have come to a conclusion.  

The defining issue in today's church 

remains the doctrine of scripture.

Do you believe that God has spoken clearly to reveal His character and will?  Do you believe that God's will on most moral issues is knowable?  Do you believe Jesus is who He said He is?

Why?  I can hear people saying (and I have as I have listened carefully), "It is all about Jesus.  All you have to do is believe in Him.  All this other moral and ethical teaching of scripture is not important.  It is all about Jesus."

Well, I could not agree more.  The problem is that many take Jesus so lightly!  Even among those who say it is all about Jesus there can be a dismissal of Jesus' life and teaching.

Jesus was all about promoting human flourishing.  He understood that humanity was in need of complete and total redemption.  He understood the sinful human condition.  He came to speak into that condition.  He came to live a perfect life and die an undeserved death to answer the greatest need of sinful humanity.  He came to define human flourishing in relationship to God and God's glory.  The result was incredible.

In Jesus is forgiveness, but also a changed heart.

Changed.  Transformed.  Made new.  Renewed.  Revived.  Restored.

Don't those words sound great?  Jesus came to give us grace to live a life of human flourishing.  A life that we were meant to live.  A life of meaning and purpose.  A life in line with how we were created to be.

The question is what does such a life look like?

Here is the rub.  Here is where the importance of scripture comes in.  I have heard often, "It is all about love."  Well, love needs some definition.  Even as a culture, we have defined that "controlling" love can be abusive.  So, what is true love?  What are proper expressions of love?

Jesus defines love and he affirms that scripture defines 

the proper expressions and understanding of true love.

Jesus began his ministry by affirming the importance of scripture.  To deny the authority of the bible is to deny the authority of Jesus.  As he states in Matthew 5: 17-18

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;

I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, 

not the smallest letter,

not the least stroke of a pen,

will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

The winds of cultural thought have turned against the authority of scripture to define love, marriage, truth, and righteousness.  As a culture, we will reap the whirlwind from these cultural tides.

What I don't get is how churches and many "religious teachers" think they should join in our cultural destruction.  God is not mocked.  In other words, 

beware of any church or teacher that does not take scripture seriously.

In our fallen condition, even believers might differ in interpretation.  Yet, truly redeemed folks agree on 98-99% of all doctrine.  Those minor points in which we disagree are really not important.  They are like an intramural scrimmage.  We have way more important things to deal with.  Our culture, our friends, our families are not flourishing.  We cannot encourage people to walk deeper into sin.  We cannot approve of what scripture defines as sin.  These are the marks of a false church and false faith.  Doing so it not loving.  It is the opposite of love.  

It is time for the Church to be the Church.  It is time for believers to be believers.

                                                    "Jesus and the Pharisees"
                                                    Jacob Jordaens 1593-1678 

The Bible as our Surest Means of Grace Part 2

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." 

James 4:8

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, 

for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness." 

2 Tim 3:16 

In yesterday's post, I presented a way of reading scripture and praying that I recommend for anyone who struggles with how to apply the bible to their every day life.  I aimed the post at new believers and not yet believers, but I also know many of us who have known Jesus for years struggle with the same issues.  

Please understand that I know it is easy to be confused and discouraged with anything new.  Learning how to read and apply the bible is not something that just comes naturally.  It is a new task or discipline that we must learn through focused practice.  I want to offer one means of gaining this focused practice!

Please also understand that there is much in the bible that can be confusing.  Here is some examples of basic but almost universal questions that arise when someone begins reading the bible.  Why does God kill all those people in the OT?  Why does Jesus make the Christian life so hard in the Sermon on the Mount?  Why are some books of the bible so hard to understand?  Rest assured that there are good solid answers to each question!  The key is to seek out the answers while learning how to walk with God in grace and mercy.  Do not give up as many do!

No matter what others may do, each of us are responsible and called to develop a relationship with the Living God.  Sometimes, I do wish others could do it for me.  I must also confess that sometimes I do not wish or desire such a relationship.  When I am tired, weary, or sick, I often find my desire for God is low. In fact, there have been seasons of life where I lacked an intensity for God's presence.  All of us will go through such times.  When this occurs, repent and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into God's presence.  Remember that the promise of scripture still stands:  "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4:8  The key is understanding how to draw near to the living God!

As I presented yesterday, this is where scripture and prayer draw us close to the Living God.  First and foremost, you might need to change the way you read the bible.  It is not a novel, but the active and living Word of God.  Read it reflectively, with an open heart and mind.  I also encourage you to read it while praying for wisdom and for God to give guidance (Pro 2:1-6 gives a good model).

In addition to the gospels, I also encourage folks to read in the Psalms and Proverbs.  The Psalms are located right in the middle of the modern bible.  These 150 Psalms are the OT prayer book.  They are model prayers, and they are great for focusing my thoughts and prayers toward God and toward gaining His perspective.  Prayerfully reading one or two a day will be plenty!  When you get to Psalm 119, it might even take three or four days!  (Ps. 119 has 176 verses!)

For over 20 years, I have also read a chapter in Proverbs each day.  There are 31 chapters, so one per day for a month works out great.  These Proverbs never grow old!  I find and have found much practical wisdom in their pithy statements of general truth.

Let me give an example of how to use the Proverbs to listen to God.  Several times in my life, as I read through Proverbs one verse at the end of chapter 21 has jumped off the page as I read it.  

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."

In prayer, I have asked the Lord, what does this mean?  I remember one time, the Lord poured such encouragement into my heart and life.  He affirmed that the difficulties I was going through was part of the "making ready for battle."  He encouraged me that ultimately He would give the victory.

Just this past December, the same verse gave me a different encouragement.  As I was reading the chapter, not too carefully I might add, again this verse jumped off the page.  I was reminded of the busyness of the fall season.  There have been many trips to complete, pages to write, sermons to prepare, and decisions to make.  Overall, I was not been stressed or overloaded.  I was thankful for each opportunity that the Lord presented.  I believe the Lord used me in building His kingdom as I interacted with many different folks.

So, what did I learn as the Lord brought this to mind?  First, He has prepared me, like a well-armored war horse for writing and the ministry.  I praise Him for this!  Yet, completion of writing and ministry always will be by His blessings, not my supposedly great preparation or abilities.  In fact, without His help, I can assure you nothing in ministry would succeed.  I cannot labor in such a way that I see lives ultimately changed.  My victory rests with the Lord.

I have learned this lesson many times, but I have to keep learning it.  I am forgetful.  I am drawn to repentance for the times I have walked in my strength instead of the Lord's.  I look to Jesus for mercy and grace.  I believe my victory and rest comes by walking with Him.  He gives me grace!  As it overflows, I am transformed so I can offer that grace to others.

Friends, our success in life or in coping with difficulties rests not in our strength- not even our "spiritual" strength and knowledge.  It rests in Jesus working in and through us, by His grace, to equip us, strengthen us, and empower us to be His witnesses in the world.  His power and grace comes as we repent of our self-effort and ask Him to work in and through us for His glory.

Second, I was challenged to remember that a grace-filled life must be a God-centered life.  It is not about me nor what I can do.  It is about the Lord and His grace working through a cracked and frail earthen pot!  May He receive the glory.

In encourage you to start the practice today of reflectively reading and praying through scripture!

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable 

for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness." 

2 Tim 3:16

Sometimes we just need a guide to help us start understanding how all of scripture fits together!  You mostly likely cannot go wrong if you read through the very practical OT wisdom literature and the gospels!

The Surest Means of Growing in Grace

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." 

Pro. 21: 31

Today I wish to speak of an important topic: how do we use the bible to grow in grace?  I know that the bible can be a confusing and huge book for those not familiar with its contents.  Many folks pick up the bible and starting reading in Genesis.  By the time they get to the middle of Exodus (if they make it that far), they are bored, confused, and ready to give up the whole book!  I do not blame them.  These OT stories without their redemptive content make little sense.

I have also met many who profess faith in Christ, but they have never been able to develop the habit nor taste for reading God's Word.  In fact, this is an epidemic among believers!  I encourage you to go further up and deep into your walk with God.  The bible is our surest and greatest means of grace.  Please do not neglect a proper use of scripture to help you grow in your knowledge and experience of God, to protect you from the schemes of the evil one, and to help you increase your wisdom for everyday living.

I suggest that a new believer, a not quite yet believer, and a believer who struggles to really understand the bible start somewhere other than Genesis when they begin to learn about the bible.  All of the scriptures are useful, but some of them require some background knowledge before their true message can be understood.  Do not let this discourage you!  Start by getting some of that background knowledge!

First and foremost, start reading in the gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John at the beginning of the NT.  In these books, an honest reader will encounter the person of Jesus.  Read a chapter.  Take your time and ask the Lord to give you wisdom as to what the message means.  The bible is not a novel to be finished, but a message from God to be listen to and transformed by.  Read and think of your life. Ask God for wisdom.

After reading in the gospels, I encourage folks to take some time to pray.  I remember the first time I engaged in this pattern.  I closed by eyes and began to tell God all about my concerns.  I prayed for everyone and everything I could think of.  When I finished, I had prayed for only 5 minutes.  I have heard stories of folks praying for hours.  How is this possible?!

I have since learned that prayer is not just me telling God about my concerns, but also learning how to listen.  At this point, scripture actively works to transform.  As I read the gospels, I ask God for wisdom.  When thoughts come to mind, I pray about them.  I ask for wisdom with people and situations.  I also find that ideas and thoughts come to mind from the scripture that help me get perspective.  Often this perspective concerns my heart and attitude!

Here is where the gospel informs my reading.  As I encounter Jesus, He often uses the Word of God to drive me to repentance.  I see my failings.  I repent of these failings, and I look to Him for mercy.  Praise be to God, He gives it!  This love poured out to me, which is the gospel promise, then allows me to see other differently.  It gives me new perspective.  It gives me love to give to others.

I also find that God will use the scriptures to encourage me as I have made good choices.  He uses His word to give me an insight before I encounter something unexpected in a day.  In other words, God's word is active in the life of those who seek Him and His wisdom.  Please seek Him and His wisdom!

This post is growing long, so I will offer some more encouragement and insight about the bible in tomorrow's post.  I will conclude by stating that God's word is life-changing.  I implore you to pick it up and read it reflectively.  It will change your life as you read it asking the Lord for wisdom.  As the writer of Hebrews states, 

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." 

(Heb 4:12)

Using the Bible to Meet with God

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." 

James 4:8

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, 

for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness." 

2 Tim 3:16 

In yesterday's post, I presented a way of reading scripture and praying that I recommend for anyone who struggles with how to apply the bible to their every day life.  I know that there is much that can be confusing.  I also know that many folks have been led astray into believing very weird ideas that someone told them were scriptural.  Let's get beyond that!

No matter what others may do, each of us are responsible and called to develop a relationship with the Living God.  Sometimes, I do wish others could do it for me!  It does require that I desire such a relationship.  Sometimes I do not!

When this occurs, repent and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into God's presence.  Remember that the promise of scripture still stands:  "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4:8  The key is understanding how to draw near to the living God!

As I presented yesterday, this is where scripture and prayer draw us close to the Living God.  First and foremost, you might need to change the way you read the bible.  It is not a novel, but the active and living Word of God.  Read it reflectively, with an open heart and mind.  I also encourage you to read it while praying for wisdom and for God to give guidance (Pro 2:1-6 gives a good model).

In addition to the gospels, I also encourage folks to read in the Psalms and Proverbs.  The Psalms are located right in the middle of the modern bible.  These 150 Psalms are the OT prayer book.  They are model prayers, and they are great for focusing my thoughts and prayers toward God and toward gaining His perspective.  Prayerfully reading one or two a day will be plenty!  When you get to Psalm 119, it might even take three or four days!  (Ps. 119 has 176 verses!)

For over 20 years, I have also read a chapter in Proverbs each day.  There are 31 chapters, so one per day for a month works out great.  These Proverbs never grow old!  I find and have found much practical wisdom in their pithy statements of general truth.

Let me give an example of how to use the Proverbs to listen to God.  Many times in my life, I have read through Proverbs chapter 21.  Sometimes a verse jumps out at me, and other times it just passes me by.  Last month as I was reading, the Holy Spirit drew me to a verse at the end of the chapter.  As I was reading, not the most carefully I might add, this one jumped off the page.

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."

In prayer, I asked the Lord, what does this mean?  I was reminded of the busyness of the fall season.  There have been many trips to complete, pages to write, sermons to prepare, and decisions to make.  Overall, I have not been stressed or overloaded.  I am thankful for each opportunity that the Lord has presented.  I believe the Lord used me in building His kingdom as I interacted with many different folks.

So, what did I learn as the Lord brought this to mind?  First, He has prepared me, like a well-armored war horse for writing and the ministry.  I praise Him for this!  Yet, completion of writing and ministry always will be by His blessings, not my supposedly great preparation or abilities.  In fact, without His help, I can assure you nothing in ministry would succeed.  I cannot labor in such a way that I see lives ultimately changed.  My victory rests with the Lord.

I have learned this lesson many times, but I have to keep learning it.  I am forgetful.  I am drawn to repentance for the times I have walked in my strength instead of the Lord's.  I look to Jesus for mercy and grace.  I believe my victory and rest comes by walking with Him.  He gives me grace!  As it overflows, I am transformed so I can offer that grace to others.

Friends, our success in life or in coping with difficulties rests not in our strength- not even our "spiritual" strength and knowledge.  It rests in Jesus working in and through us, by His grace, to equip us, strengthen us, and empower us to be His witnesses in the world.  His power and grace comes as we repent of our self-effort and ask Him to work in and through us for His glory.

Second, I was challenged to remember that a grace-filled life must be a God-centered life.  It is not about me nor what I can do.  It is about the Lord and His grace working through a cracked and frail earthen pot!  May He receive the glory.

In encourage you to start the practice today of reflectively reading and praying through scripture!

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, 

for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness." 

2 Tim 3:16

Sometimes we just need a guide to help us start understanding how all of scripture fits together!  You mostly likely cannot go wrong if you read through the very practical OT wisdom literature and the gospels!

Getting into the Bible

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." 

Pro. 21: 31

Today I wish to speak of an important topic: how do we use the bible to grow in grace?  I know that the bible can be a confusing and huge book for those not familiar with its contents.  Many folks pick up the bible and starting reading in Genesis.  By the time they get to the middle of Exodus (if they make it that far), they are bored, confused, and ready to give up the whole book!  I do not blame them.  These OT stories without their redemptive content make little sense.

I suggest that a new believer or a not quite yet believer start somewhere other than Genesis when they begin to learn about the bible.  All of the scriptures are useful, but some of them require some background knowledge before their true message can be understood.  Do not let this discourage you!  Start by getting some of that background knowledge!

First and foremost, start reading in the gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John at the beginning of the NT.  In these books, an honest reader will encounter the person of Jesus.  Read a chapter.  Take your time and ask the Lord to give you wisdom as to what the message means.  The bible is not a novel to be finished, but a message from God to be listen to and transformed by.  Read and think of your life. Ask God for wisdom.

After reading in the gospels, I encourage folks to take some time to pray.  I remember the first time I engaged in this pattern.  I closed by eyes and began to tell God all about my concerns.  I prayed for everyone and everything I could think of.  When I finished, I had prayed for only 5 minutes!  I have heard stories of folks praying for hours.  How is this possible?!

I have since learned that prayer is not just me telling God about my concerns, but also learning how to listen!  Here is where scripture actively works.  As I read the gospels, I ask God for wisdom.  When thoughts come to mind, I pray about them.  I ask for wisdom with people and situations.  I also find that ideas and thoughts come to mind from the scripture that help me get perspective.  Often this perspective concerns my heart and attitude!

Here is where the gospel informs my reading.  As I encounter Jesus, He often uses the Word of God to drive me to repentance.  I see my failings.  I repent of these failings, and I look to Him for mercy.  Praise be to God, He gives it!  This love poured out to me, which is the gospel promise, then allows me to see other differently.  It gives me new perspective.  It gives me love to give to others.

I also find that God will use the scriptures to encourage me as I have made good choices.  He uses His word to give me an insight before I encounter something unexpected in a day.  In other words, God's word is active in the life of those who seek Him and His wisdom!  Please seek Him and His wisdom!

This post is growing long, so I will offer some more encouragement and insight about the bible in tomorrow's post.  I will conclude by stating that God's word is life-changing.  I implore you to pick it up and read it reflectively!  It will change your life as you read it asking the Lord for wisdom!  As the writer of Hebrews states, 

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb 4:12)

Advice to New Believers about the Bible Concluded

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." 

James 4:8

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, 

for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness." 

2 Tim 3:16 

In yesterday's post, I presented a way of reading scripture and praying that I recommend for anyone who struggles with how to apply the bible to their every day life.  I know that there is much that can be confusing.  I also know that many folks have been led astray into believing very weird ideas that someone told them were scriptural.  Let's get beyond that!

No matter what others may do, each of us are responsible and called to develop a relationship with the Living God.  Sometimes, I do wish others could do it for me!  It does require that I desire such a relationship.  Sometimes I do not!

When this occurs, repent and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into God's presence.  Remember that the promise of scripture still stands:  "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4:8  The key is understanding how to draw near to the living God!

As I presented yesterday, this is where scripture and prayer draw us close to the Living God.  First and foremost, you might need to change the way you read the bible.  It is not a novel, but the active and living Word of God.  Read it reflectively, with an open heart and mind.  I also encourage you to read it while praying for wisdom and for God to give guidance (Pro 2:1-6 gives a good model).

In addition to the gospels, I also encourage folks to read in the Psalms and Proverbs.  The Psalms are located right in the middle of the modern bible.  These 150 Psalms are the OT prayer book.  They are model prayers, and they are great for focusing my thoughts and prayers toward God and toward gaining His perspective.  Prayerfully reading one or two a day will be plenty!  When you get to Psalm 119, it might even take three or four days!  (Ps. 119 has 176 verses!)

For over 20 years, I have also read a chapter in Proverbs each day.  There are 31 chapters, so one per day for a month works out great.  These Proverbs never grow old!  I find and have found much practical wisdom in their pithy statements of general truth.

Let me give an example of how to use the Proverbs to listen to God.  I began writing this post yesterday, but I realized it was way to long for a one day post.  Yesterday, as I read Proverb chapter 21 the Holy Spirit drew me to a verse at the end of the chapter.  As I was reading, not the most carefully I might add, this one jumped off the page.

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."

In prayer, I asked the Lord, what does this mean?  I was reminded of the busyness of this fall season.  There have been many trips to complete, pages to write, sermons to prepare, and decisions to make.  Overall, I have not been stressed or overloaded.  I am thankful for each opportunity that the Lord has presented.  I believe the Lord used me in building His kingdom as I interacted with many different folks.

So, what did I learn as the Lord brought this to mind?  First, He has prepared me, like a well-armored war horse for writing and the ministry.  I praise Him for this!  Yet, completion of writing and ministry always will be by His blessings, not my supposedly great preparation or abilities.  In fact, without His help, I can assure you nothing in ministry would succeed.  I cannot labor in such a way that I see lives ultimately changed.  My victory rests with the Lord.

I have learned this lesson many times, but I have to keep learning it.  I am forgetful.  I am drawn to repentance for the times I have walked in my strength instead of the Lord's.  I look to Jesus for mercy and grace.  I believe my victory and rest comes by walking with Him.  He gives me grace!  As it overflows, I am transformed so I can offer that grace to others.

Friends, our success in life or in coping with difficulties rests not in our strength- not even our "spiritual" strength and knowledge.  It rests in Jesus working in and through us, by His grace, to equip us, strengthen us, and empower us to be His witnesses in the world.  His power and grace comes as we repent of our self-effort and ask Him to work in and through us for His glory.

Second, I was challenged to remember that a grace-filled life must be a God-centered life.  It is not about me nor what I can do.  It is about the Lord and His grace working through a cracked and frail earthen pot!  May He receive the glory.

In encourage you to start the practice today of reflectively reading and praying through scripture!

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness." 2 Tim 3:16

Sometimes we just need a guide to help us start understanding how all of scripture fits together!  You mostly likely cannot go wrong if you read through the very practical OT wisdom literature and the gospels!

Advice to Young Christians and Not Yet Believers about the Bible

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." 

Pro. 21: 31

Christmas is almost here!  It is lightly snowing in Maine, all the shopping is done, and my last ministry responsibility is over until Christmas Eve (except music practice).  Yea!  I hope each of you experience the same joy and anticipation.

Today I wish to speak of an important topic: how do we use the bible to grow in grace?  I know that the bible can be a confusing and huge book for those not familiar with its contents.  Many folks pick up the bible and starting reading in Genesis.  By the time they get to the middle of Exodus (if they make it that far), they are bored, confused, and ready to give up the whole book!  I do not blame them.  These OT stories without their redemptive content make little sense.

I suggest that a new believer or a not quite yet believer start somewhere other than Genesis when they begin to learn about the bible.  All of the scriptures are useful, but some of them require some background knowledge before their true message can be understood.  Do not let this discourage you!  Start by getting some of that background knowledge!

First and foremost, start reading in the gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John at the beginning of the NT.  In these books, an honest reader will encounter the person of Jesus.  Read a chapter.  Take your time and ask the Lord to give you wisdom as to what the message means.  The bible is not a novel to be finished, but a message from God to be listen to and transformed by.  Read and think of your life. Ask God for wisdom.

After reading in the gospels, I encourage folks to take some time to pray.  I remember the first time I engaged in this pattern.  I closed by eyes and began to tell God all about my concerns.  I prayed for everyone and everything I could think of.  When I finished, I had prayed for only 5 minutes!  I have heard stories of folks praying for hours.  How is this possible?!

I have since learned that prayer is not just me telling God about my concerns, but also learning how to listen!  Here is where scripture actively works.  As I read the gospels, I ask God for wisdom.  When thoughts come to mind, I pray about them.  I ask for wisdom with people and situations.  I also find that ideas and thoughts come to mind from the scripture that help me get perspective.  Often this perspective concerns my heart and attitude!

Here is where the gospel informs my reading.  As I encounter Jesus, He often uses the Word of God to drive me to repentance.  I see my failings.  I repent of these failings, and I look to Him for mercy.  Praise be to God, He gives it!  This love poured out to me, which is the gospel promise, then allows me to see other differently.  It gives me new perspective.  It gives me love to give to others.

I also find that God will use the scriptures to encourage me as I have made good choices.  He uses His word to give me an insight before I encounter something unexpected in a day.  In other words, God's word is active in the life of those who seek Him and His wisdom!  Please seek Him and His wisdom!

This post is growing long, so I will offer some more encouragement and insight about the bible in tomorrow's post.  I will conclude by stating that God's word is life-changing.  I implore you to pick it up and read it reflectively!  It will change your life as you read it asking the Lord for wisdom!  As the writer of Hebrews states, 

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb 4:12)