All posts by AttilaDimedici

November 26, 2013 Bible Study — Serve Others With Humility

November 25, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Daniel 2:24-3:30

Having received both a description of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and an interpretation of it from God, Daniel approached the man under orders to kill all of Nebuchadnezzar’s advisers on wisdom. Daniel told him not to carry out his orders because Daniel was able to tell the king the meaning of his dream. When Daniel was brought into Nebuchadnezzar’s presence the first thing he did was refuse to take any credit for the interpretation. Daniel told the king that no human agency has the ability to reveal the secret which the king was keeping. However, God knows all secrets and reveals them to whom He wills. The key lesson I take away from this passage is Daniel’s statement that he did not possess some special insight, not was he wiser than others. He was merely the one whom God had chosen to reveal His meaning to King Nebuchadnezzar. Do we have the same humility when God chooses to use us for His purposes?

The second part of today’s passage from Daniel is one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament. King Nebuchadnezzar set up a gold statue and issued a proclamation that everyone was to bow down to worship it. Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego refused to do so. When King Nebuchadnezzar found out, he confronted them. Nebuchadnezzar asked them what god would be able to save them from being thrown into a fiery furnace at his orders? Their response is one that I wish to emulate in all circumstances:

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us… But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.

The God whom I serve is able to rescue me from all troubles and hardships, but even if he does not, I will not serve or worship any god but the one true God.

1 Peter 4:7-5:14

This passage is full of important teachings. It starts by reminding us to have disciplined prayer lives, something I struggle with. It then tells us to demonstrate hospitality to our fellow believers in an ungrudging fashion. Peter then tells us to use whatever gifts God has given us to serve others with all of the strength we have, which also comes from God. Whether that gift is one of speech, or some other means of helping others, let us seek to use it to bring glory to God’s name.
We should not be surprised when we face trials and tribulations as a result of our faith. I will rejoice when I am insulted or persecuted because of my faith in Christ. God will not fail me in my trials any more than he failed Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego. Peter changes tack somewhat as he moves to his next exhortation. He tells us that elders, those with authority over others in the Church, should humbly use that authority to serve those others, while those who are younger should accept the authority of the elders. Let us serve one another with humility and humble ourselves before God, just as Daniel did. I will give all of my worries and cares to God because He desires good things for me and has the power to bring them into being. I will stand firm on the foundation which God has laid for me.

Psalm 119:81-96

We may face troubles and trials that seem to be beyond our endurance, yet God knows our limits. His love for us knows no bounds and His faithfulness is eternal. He will rescue us when the time is ripe. Let us humbly wait for His rescue for it will arrive in a timely fashion, even if not in the time we desire.

Proverbs 28:15-16

A wicked ruler is as devastating to those he rules over as a wild predator is to someone who is helpless. A ruler who oppresses his people is a fool, a wise ruler will hate corruption. This fits in with what Peter said about leaders in the Church. Those in a position of leadership, whether it be elders in the Church, or government officials, should use their authority to serve others, not to satisfy their own desires.

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November 25, 2013 Bible Study — Repay Evil With Blessing

November 24, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Daniel 1-2:23

The Book of Daniel begins with two accounts of Daniel’s faith (the first one included his three friends). In the first story, Daniel and his friends request that they be provided food which complies with Jewish dietary laws. The king’s chief of staff, Ahspenaz, was initially afraid to feed them anything other than the foods which the king had provided for the young men he was training. Daniel suggested a ten-day trial. After ten days, Daniel and his friends, who had eaten the kosher diet, looked healthier and better nourished than those who had eaten the king’s diet. Daniel and his friends did not choose their diet because they thought it was healthier for them. They chose their diet because they believed it was God’s command for them to do so. They had faith and they acted on that faith, despite the doubts of those around them. Am I willing to act in a similar fashion on my faith?
In the second story, King Nebuchadnezzar asks of his counselors something that is impossible for any human to accomplish. He asked them to explain to him the meaning of his dream, without telling them what the dream was. King Nebuchadnezzar was resolute that if his advisers had the powers they claimed, they should be able to tell him his dream and its interpretation. When they insisted that it was not possible for any man to do what he had asked, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that all of the wise men in the kingdom be put to death. Daniel and his friends had not been present when the king made his demand. When the commander of the king’s bodyguard came to kill Daniel and his friends, Daniel asked why the king had made such an order. Upon hearing the reason, Daniel requested of the king more time. Daniel and his friends then petitioned God for an answer to the king’s riddle. When God revealed the answer to Daniel, he did not immediately rush off to the king claiming what a puissant and wise man that he, Daniel, was. No, Daniel’s first response was to praise and thank God for revealing the secret to him. Once more, do I give credit to God when others honor me for merely being faithful to Him?

1 Peter 3:8-4:6

Peter instructs all believers to be of one mind in service to Christ, loving one another with compassion and humility. Rather than respond in kind when people insult us or commit evil acts against us, we should strive to bless them and bring about good to them. Peter points out that there will be few people who will desire to harm us if we are always eager to do good. If we do suffer for doing good, God will reward us. Let us not fear what those who do not know Christ fear. It is because of Christ that we do not fear what they fear and we should always be ready to explain this, but with humility and gentleness. It is our goal to provide an avenue for the Holy Spirit to convict them and convince them to also put their faith in Christ. I will strive to have the same attitude which Christ had. Being ready to suffer if that is what results from doing God’s will. Our friends who do not yet know Jesus will be constantly surprised that we do not join them in their self-destructive behaviors and may slander us as a result. Yet I have had enough of chasing after my own selfish desires and anxiously wish to seek and desire the doing of God’s will.

Psalm 119:65-80

If we truly believe God’s commands He will teach us good judgment and knowledge. Any suffering we experience will be good for us because it will teach us to obey God’s commands. I truly believe that God’s instructions are more valuable than any material wealth that I can possibly imagine. Doing God’s will brings greater happiness and contentment than any amount of wealth. God created me and put me where I am, I pray that He gives me the wisdom to do His will in this place and time. I pray that God will bring companions who will encourage me to fear Him and obey His word for it is only by obeying His word that I may avoid shaming myself before others.

Proverbs 28:14

Those who fear to do wrong because they fear God will be blessed, while trouble will abound to those who stubbornly refuse to consider, and thus fear, the consequences of their actions. What a great truth, when I was young, many of my friends thought I was wise because I often withdrew from bad actions before things went wrong and others got into trouble. However, the truth was that I feared getting caught more than I desired the anticipated joy of the action in question. Over time I learned that the reason that those in authority attempted to stop my fellows from doing many of those things was because doing them could all too easily lead to harm for those who did it (or for others).

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November 24, 2013 Bible Study — We Are Slaves To God

November 23, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Ezekiel 47-48:35

As Ezekiel finishes describing his vision of the new Temple, he describes a river which will flow out from the Temple and into the Dead Sea. He describes going along the river and crossing it every 1,000 cubits. At each crossing the river was significantly deeper until it became too deep to walk across and could only be crossed by swimming. The description is of a river of life which will bring new life to the Dead Sea, so that it will teem with fish. As I read the passage it seemed to be a figurative prophecy about the river of life in the New Jerusalem after Christ returns. Yet, the emphasis on the fact that the marshes and swamps will remain salty makes me wonder if it is a prophecy that will yet take place in this world.

1 Peter 2:11-3:7

Peter instructs us to live lives that are above reproach, so that even when unbelievers accuse us of doing wrong they will know that we behave honorably. Continuing in that line of thinking, Peter tells us to submit** to human authority because it is instituted to punish those who do wrong and honor those who do right. He goes on to tell slaves to submit to their earthly masters, wives to submit to their husbands, and husbands to be considerate of their wives and to treat them with respect because we are all equal before God. The theme running through all of this is that we as believers need to act honourably in all we do. God has given us freedom, yet we answer to God and may not use our freedom as a cover to do evil.

** I prefer the word “submit” here as used by the NIV and the NRSV (and most other translations) to the word “respect” used by the New Living Translation because it is possible to submit to authorities, even when they behave badly, but it is impossible to respect those who have not only failed to earn it but have acted in disreputable fashion.

Psalm 119:49-64

I rely on God’s promise to me. It is my source of hope. God’s promises are the only sure source of hope we can find. It is through meditating on His commands and following His instructions that we will find comfort in all that troubles us. O Lord, teach me Your decrees.

Proverbs 28:12-13

When the righteous are victorious, everyone considers it a cause for rejoicing. When the wicked rule, people hide because no one knows who will next suffer from their depredations. Those who conceal their sins will find them coming back to haunt them whenever they think they are about to succeed. Those who confess their sins and turn from them will find mercy and forgiveness.

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November 23, 2013 Bible Study — The Stone That Makes People Stumble

November 22, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Ezekiel 45:13-46:24

Ezekiel lays out the tax which the people are to give to their ruler. He then says that the ruler shall provide the sacrifices to be offered at all of the regularly scheduled worship services. From this we learn that the leaders are to provide for the people and assist them in coming before God. This passage provides yet another model of the rule that those who lead shall be servants of those being led.

1 Peter 1:13-2:10

Peter instructs us to think clearly and exercise self-control. He tells us to live as obedient children of God and not to living to satisfy our own desires. God has ransomed us with something more valuable than material wealth. He ransomed us with the lifeblood of Christ. We were thus cleansed from our sins and failures. Let us therefore love one another with a sincere and pure heart. I need to keep it in the forefront of my mind that God is using me as a building block to build His house/Temple, the place where He lives. I need to remember that I am always in a holy place because I am part of that holy place.
Peter points out that to those who trust and honor Christ He is the cornerstone, the linchpin of both their lives and the Temple of which they are a piece. However, to those who reject Christ, everything about Him is a cause for them to stumble and fall.

Psalm 119:33-48

I read this psalm and feel for those who reject Christ because following God’s commands is the only path that truly leads to happiness and fulfillment. I want the eagerness for God’s law to which the psalmist refers. O Lord God, help me abandon my sinful, shameful ways and follow your guidance. I will follow God’s ways and not be ashamed to speak of them, no matter who my audience, from the lowest to the highest. I will meditate on God’s commands.

Proverbs 28:11

The rich are always sure of their wisdom, but sometimes the poor are more discerning. Never make the mistake of refusing wise advice because the person giving it has suffered hardship.

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November 22, 2013 Bible Study

November 21, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Ezekiel 44-45:12

As Ezekiel completed his description of his vision of the Temple, he describes the rules for the priests and the allotment of land after the people return from exile. He instructs that the ruler is to have land of his own near the Temple to support himself and the rest of the land is to be divided up among the rest of the people. The rulers are to stop robbing and cheating the people. They are to use standard weights and measures that are the same for every person. The rules are to be the same for everyone and no one is above the law.

1 Peter 1:1-12

Peter reminds us that we were chosen by God and made holy by His Spirit. God has caused us to be born again and given a new start through the resurrection of Jesus. God will protect us by His power through our faith in the salvation which He is giving us through Christ’s death and resurrection. Then Peter gets to the meat of his introduction. We can rejoice, not despite our trials, but because of our trials. The trials we face will test and refine our faith. Despite the fact that we have not seen Jesus, we love Him and even though we do not see Him, we believe in Him. This belief and faith fills us with joy. I will declare that I have that joy in my trials, although that is sometime difficult.

Psalm 119:17-32

The psalmist asks God to open his eyes to see the truths contained within God’s instructions. I will ask the same of God, that He show me the wonderful things that come from following His law. These are not rewards, they are merely the natural consequence of living according to God’s commands. People may laugh, mock and hold me in contempt for doing so, but I will strive to be faithful to God’s commands. And here in the middle is a reminder of the source of so much of our sorrow and shame: we lie to ourselves. I will join the psalmist is asking God to keep me from lying to myself. The first step to pleasing God is to be honest with myself about my failures, neither minimizing them nor over-emphasizing them. I will cling to God’s laws and pursue His commands. As I do that God will increase my understanding.

Proverbs 28:8-10

If we do not listen to what God has to say to us, how can we hope to receive His answers to our prayers. Those who pray to God for aid, yet refuse to listen to and obey His instructions is a hypocrite and will never receive the answer they are looking for.

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November 21, 2013 Bible Study — Are You In Trouble? Then Pray

November 20, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Ezekiel 42-43:27

Ezekiel continued his description of the new Temple. When he finished viewing the entire Temple, he saw the glory of God enter the Temple in his vision. Then God spoke to him. God told him that the people of Israel had aroused His anger because they had sacrificed to idols and to the dead in His Temple. They had thought that because these were separated from the place where God’s glory resided by a wall, it was far enough. God told Ezekiel that not just the Holy of Holies was holy and not just the Temple, but the entire top of the mountain on which the Temple was built was holy and dedicated to God.

Since the New Testament tells us that our bodies are the Temple of God and that He lives within us, this passage sheds a whole new light on how we should approach holiness. It is not just our inner being that are dedicated to God’s holiness, but our whole being. We should surround ourselves with holiness. We need to get rid of every vestige of idolatry in our lives and the places we live. I will strive to cleanse my life, my house, my work-space of things that I may be tempted to worship in place of God.

James 5:1-20

I really need to claim the power of prayer which James speaks of in this passage. I just got laid off from my job. Yet I will continue to believe that God will provide. As James wrote, Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three and a half years. Then he prayed for rain and the rains returned. How hard can it be to trust God to provide my financial needs?

Psalm 119:1-16

The path to joy is to live with integrity by following God’s instructions. Today, as I read this in light of what is happening in my life and what James wrote about praying, I see that to some degree this psalm is telling me for what I should pray. I will pray that my actions consistently reflect God’s will. I will strive to obey His decrees and pray that He does not give up on me. I will remember that the key to staying pure and finding joy is following God’s will.

Proverbs 28:6-7

I choose to accept poverty if that is what it takes to remain faithful to God.

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November 20, 2013 Bible Study — What Causes Fights?

November 19, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Ezekiel 40:28-41:26

At the end of yesterday’s passage, Ezekiel was taken in a vision to the top of a very high mountain in the land of Israel. On the south side of the mountain there were buildings arranged in a way that looked like a city. In the vision he was met at the gate by a man with a face like glowing bronze who was holding a measuring string and a measuring rod. This man led him into a new Temple and measured its walls and rooms. Ezekiel described the measurements of the Temple, its walls, its rooms, and the various outbuildings associated with it.
As I read the passage today, I struggled to understand what God wanted me to understand out of this passage. Then something struck me. Ezekiel was describing an empty building in an empty city. This was a Temple and a city not built by human hands. Rather it was a city and Temple built by God that was waiting for the people of God to come into it to worship and fellowship with God. The Temple was waiting for Christ to come as our high priest and open it up for us by sacrificing Himself for our sins.

James 4:1-17

     James wrote here about the root cause of so much that is wrong in this world. He said that we fight, quarrel, and kill because we desire what we do not have. Further we do not have because we do not ask God for it. He then points out that even when we do ask, we do not get because we ask for things in order to use them for our own pleasure. While James was writing to Christians, this applies to everyone.
     He goes on to warn us that being friendly to the world, which we exhibit by desiring worldly pleasures rather than godly service, is antithetical to friendship with God. If we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, the devil will flee from us. All too often we get this exactly backwards. We submit to the devil and resist God. I will strive to humbly do as God wills me to do. Humility means that I will not speak out against my fellow believer, nor will I judge the decisions which they choose to make.
     One of the most important points James makes is at the end of today’s passage. He tells us that if we know what we ought to do and do not do it, it is as much sin as doing that which we know we ought not to do. A sin of omission is just as great as any sin of commission.

Psalm 118:19-29

Part of this psalm was quoted by Jesus to the Pharisees and as a result is often interpreted as a prophecy of His coming. I will not question that interpretation. However, as I read it today it struck me as having much more meaning than that. First the part which Jesus quoted:

The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.

As I read this it struck me that it is talking about how we humans so often reject some person, or action, or thing that God intends as the key element of His work in this world. But God’s will will not be thwarted and He will make that item the cornerstone and give it a place of honor in His work. We may be convinced that we know better, that this “stone” is inadequate for the place of honor, but God will not listen to us. He will do what He will do and when we see what He has done, it is wonderful. No matter what we think of them, the one who comes in the name of the Lord will be blessed.

THIS is the day which the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Won’t you please join me in doing so?

Proverbs 28:3-5

All too often we forget that the poor are sometimes the source of oppression of the poor. It is wrong to think that the poor are any less guilty of wickedness than the wealthy. The key to overcoming wickedness is fidelity to the law and to justice. The wicked are empowered when people reject lawful behavior, but struggle when people embrace lawful behavior. The wicked may speak of justice and fairness, but all they understand is power. On the other hand, those who seek God understand justice and integrate it into their plans, even when they do not speak of it.

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November 19, 2013 Bible Study — What’s In It For Me?

November 18, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Ezekiel 39-40:27

     At the end of yesterday’s passage, Ezekiel prophesied that in the distant future Gog, the ruler of the land of Magog, would gather his armies and attack the people of Israel when they are living at peace and apparently defenseless. As part of the prophecy, Ezekiel tells Gog that God will make Himself known to all the nations of the world by striking down the armies of Gog and his allies. Today’s passage continues that prophecy.
     In the 1970s I remember being told that the description of the aftermath of the battle sounded like the aftermath of a battle involving nuclear weapons. At the same time, many people connected the lands of Magog, Tubal, and Meschech to the Soviet Union. However, historically, these lands would have been in what is now Turkey and possibly extending through Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. I am not convinced that it matters that much where these lands are. I believe that the key thing about this prophecy is that a massive army will attack God’s people and be destroyed in a manner which will shock the entire world.
     This prophecy tells us that God shows Himself through history. That the time will come when a power will arise that is unstoppable. It will launch an attack that cannot fail against an enemy that is completely unprepared to defend itself. That unstoppable power will not only be stopped, it will be destroyed and the enemy whom it planned to plunder will instead thrive on the plunder it leaves behind. God is in control of history and He will have His way.

When I was growing up, the Soviet Union was a fact of life. Through high school and college the threat of nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was real. When Ronald Reagan said to Mikhail Gorbachev, “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall” no one believed it would happen, not even Ronald Reagan. Yet only a few years later that wall had been torn down.

James 2:18-3:18

     James continues his writing on faith by pointing out that if your faith is not reflected in your actions, any claims you make to having faith is worthless. If your faith does not cause you to take action it is of no value. We are not saved because we do good works, we do good works because we believe that we have been saved.
     James goes on to tell us that those who become teachers in the Church will be held to a higher standard than others. While we all make mistakes, the key to avoiding mistakes is to control what we say. Even things we say which seem like a small thing to us can influence our actions in ways which we later regret. We often find it easier to tame wild beasts than to control our own tongues. We praise God and our fellow man out of the same mouth which calls down curses. James tells us that this should not be.
     James continues by telling us to demonstrate our wisdom and understanding by humbly doing good works. There will be times when we are envious of others and/or seek to advance our own interests, but we should not boast about it when it happens. Rather, we should recognize these things as the evil which they are and seek to replace them with true wisdom. True, godly wisdom results in pure actions. It is peace-loving and considerate of others. True wisdom yields to others, is impartial and sincere. True wisdom asks, “How can I help?”, not “What’s in it for me?”

Psalm 118:1-18

I will give thanks to the Lord for He is good. In the middle of this psalm is a great phrase that we need to keep close to our hearts:

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?

When I read this, I remember a quote which I have seen in various forms, and which has been credited to Abraham Lincoln. Supposedly, when someone said to him that they trusted that God was on the side of the Union in the Civil War, Lincoln replied, “”Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My great concern is to be on God’s side.” That sums up the only sure way to know that God is on my side. That sure way is to be on God’s side. If my every desire is that God’s will be done, I can be assured that those desires will all be fulfilled. If we always seek to do God’s will, we can be further sure that, as far as we are successful, we will be doing what is right.

Proverbs 28:2

A nation whose people have no morals will never have a stable government. Wise and knowledgeable leaders will bring about stability by bolstering the morals of the people. When the moral decay of a nation has reached a certain point, the people will no longer tolerate leaders who exhibit moral fortitude.

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November 18, 2013 Bible Study — A Valley of Dry Bones

November 17, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Ezekiel 37-38:23

Ezekiel was given a prophecy containing the metaphor of a valley of dry bones. He was shown a valley full of nothing but bones scattered over the valley, not even complete skeletons any longer. God asks Ezekiel a rhetorical question, “Can these bones be made to live again?” The obvious answer is, “No.” But Ezekiel is a little wiser than most people and knows that the correct answer is, “Only You know the answer to that God.” God then tells Ezekiel to prophecy to the dry bones that God will attach tendons and muscles to them, cover them with skin, and breathe life into them. Ezekiel did as commanded and the bones came together to form skeletons, muscle and flesh formed over the bones, and skin formed over the flesh. But the, now, bodies did not come to life. God told Ezekiel to prophecy once more. He told him to prophecy to the winds to come and breathe life into these bodies. Ezekiel did as he was told and the bodies began to breathe and stood up, now forming a great and mighty army.
In this passage, the metaphor applied to the nation of Israel. Ezekiel was saying that it appeared to be dead and beyond resurrection. Yet God was going to bring it back to life as a mighty army. However, this passage is for all of us who think that some group or organization that can serve God’s purpose has died beyond reviving. Any body that lives to serve God will live, no matter how dried out and dead it may appear to human eyes. It is worth noting that this revival did not happen in a single step. Ezekiel prophesied the revival and the bodies reformed, but it was not until he prophesied to them a second time, calling on the Holy Spirit to inhabit the bodies that they came to life. In the same way, we need to recognize that the job is not done after one proclamation. I believe that God is calling on His servants to call this nation, and the world, to revival. This is not something that will happen in just a few short years, but will require a lifelong commitment from numerous people. If it is God’s will, I pray that He give me the gifts to lead such a revival. If it is not His will that I lead such a revival (which I fervently hope is the case, since I feel that I am completely inadequate to such a task) I pray that He shows me how I may aid the leader whom He is raising up.

James 1:19-2:17

How well this passage from James fits into the message I understood from the portion of Ezekiel I read today. We must be eager to listen to the word of God which He is speaking to us. This means listening to all of those around us, because how do we know through whom God will choose to speak if we do not listen to what they are saying. However, we need to take our time before we speak what we have heard and we must be cautious about becoming angry. Human anger does not serve God and does not lead us to behave righteously (Divine anger is another matter, but we must be cautious to ensure that any anger we express is truly from God). It is not enough to listen to the word which God speaks to us (no matter through whom He speaks it). Once we have heard, we are to act. God is calling us to be a people of action.
All too many people misunderstand James as saying that our actions save us. That is not his message. His message is the solid food that follows on after we have grown enough to eat it. When we were spiritual infants, we first need to drink the spiritual milk which tells us that we can not earn our salvation. Our salvation comes through our faith that righteousness is a free gift from God. However, James tells us that if we truly believe, this belief will influence our actions. If we truly believe that sinful behaviors lead to our unhappiness and that righteous behaviors will lead our happiness, we will stop sinful behaviors and begin righteous behaviors. You can tell what I truly have faith in by examining my actions. If I say one thing and do another, you can be sure that I do not truly believe what I said.

Psalm 117:1-2

I will praise God because His faithfulness and love towards us endures forever. Do I believe this enough to act on it?

Proverbs 28:1

Do I truly believe this? Am I willing to stand forth with boldness, assured that the wicked will flee? I pray to God that He give me the boldness to do as He wills and declare His word to all whom I meet.

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November 17, 2013 Bible Study — God Does Not Change

November 16, 2013 AttilaDimedici Leave a comment

Ezekiel 35-36:38

Ezekiel speaks a prophecy against Edom. He condemns the people of Edom for their hatred of the people of Israel and for the actions that hatred motivated them to take. I see two messages, or perhaps a specific message with a general application. The specific message is that those who hate the people of Israel, the Jews, and take action against them that is motivated by that hatred will face catastrophe. God will bring judgment on those who persecute His chosen people. While I believe that God has a special place in His heart for the Jewish people, I also believe that the message of this prophecy applies to all groups of people. Those who hate people because they belong to some group and take action against members of that group, despite the fact that the individual has done them no harm, will suffer God’s judgment. Such actions will come back to cause harm on the perpetrator.

James 1:1-18

     I have exactly the opposite opinion of the book of James to that held by Martin Luther. The book of James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. James starts by telling us to consider the troubles we face in this life as a source of joy. The troubles we face test us and teach us to persevere in our faith. Such perseverance causes us to rely more and more on God, and as we rely more and more on God, we realize that we can rely on Him for all things. If we lack the wisdom necessary to accomplish the tasks which God as set before us, we need only ask God and He will give us the needed wisdom and knowledge. When we ask God, we need to truly believe that He will answer our prayers. We should not be hedging our bets by seeking wisdom from sources other than God. I do not believe that this means that we do not accept the wisdom God sends us, no matter what route it comes to us by. Rather, this means that we reject “wisdom” that does not follow God’s principles, we do not choose answers to our problems that involve sinning. If we wish to operate with God’s wisdom we will reject all courses of action which derive from the philosophy that says, “You have to do what you have to do.”
     James also tells us that temptation does not come from God. We are tempted to sin by our own desires. It is by following our own will and desires that we fall into sin. This is why we must avoid placing ourselves in positions where our sinful desires will be aroused. On the other hand, that which is good and perfect in our lives comes from God. If we fill our time doing the things which God has called us to do, we will not have time to spend being enticed by our evil desires.
     James reminds us that God does not change. All too many times I hear it argued that the Church must change with the times. This passage I think is a direct answer to that argument. James says that God is the Father of heavenly lights and does not change like shifting shadows. This does not mean that the Church should never change, because nothing on this earth is perfect and we should constantly be seeking to transform ourselves into the perfect image of God. However, the Church should change from the prodding of the Holy Spirit, not from that of the spirit of this world.

Psalm 116:1-19

The Lord does indeed hear my voice. When my life troubled me and I was overwhelmed by my circumstances I cried out to the Lord and He provided me with relief. I have nothing which I can offer the Lord which He does not already have. All that He has done for me is of greater value than all that I possess and what I do possess is a gift from Him. I will praise His name because that is all that I have to offer Him for all the wondrous things He has done for me.

Proverbs 27:23-27

Manage your resources because accumulated wealth does not last forever. Carefully tend to those things which bring in what you need to survive so that if your wealth dries up, you will still be able to obtain food and shelter.

Fact and Fantasy

All posts by AttilaDimedici

November 26, 2013 Bible Study — Serve Others With Humility

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November 25, 2013 Bible Study — Repay Evil With Blessing

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November 24, 2013 Bible Study — We Are Slaves To God

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November 23, 2013 Bible Study — The Stone That Makes People Stumble

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November 22, 2013 Bible Study

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November 21, 2013 Bible Study — Are You In Trouble? Then Pray

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November 20, 2013 Bible Study — What Causes Fights?

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November 19, 2013 Bible Study — What’s In It For Me?

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November 18, 2013 Bible Study — A Valley of Dry Bones

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November 17, 2013 Bible Study — God Does Not Change

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