Tag Archives: Christianity

Daily Bible Study

September 07, 2014 Bible Study — Give Generously

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:24-25

    Be careful about befriending and associating with people who have trouble controlling their temper. their lack of control will tend to rub off on you. We learn to behave like our friends and those we associate with. Let us choose our friends and associates accordingly. Let us befriend and associate with those who behave in a godly way so that we learn from them to behave accordingly.

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Psalm 51:1-19

    Only by God’s mercy can we be cleansed from our sin. Ultimately, all of our sins are against God, it is to Him we must answer. Only God has the standing to hold us morally responsible. Other people are our equals and have no moral authority over us, except that which is derived from God.
    Nevertheless, we are all sinners before God. None of us have the ability to redeem ourselves, we cannot do so by offering sacrifices. We cannot make up for our sins by doing good, since whenever we are not doing good we are adding to our burden of sin. It is only when we recognize our sin and brokenness that we can approach God. It is when we call on God to heal our sin, contrite for our failure to live according to His desire that we will receive His forgiveness and healing. If we call out to God with remorse for our sins, He will create a pure heart within us and renew our spirits. Keith Green wrote a great song based on this psalm. I often sing it to myself when I desire to call upon the Holy Spirit to take over my life, something I do not as often as I should.

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2 Corinthians 9:1-15

    Paul reminds the Corinthian Church of the importance of following through on projects which we propose and get others enthusiastic about, something I often struggle with. When we suggest to others an idea about how we as a group can serve God, it is important that we do our part (this does not mean that we cannot suggest something to others that we do not feel God calling us to, as long as we make that clear from the start).
    This passage is often used by those who preach variations on “Prosperity Gospel”, the idea that doing God’s will is a way to achieve health and wealth. The key to that misreading is the mistaken idea that God’s blessings are primarily material in nature. God’s blessings are only occasionally material in nature. When God gives us great material wealth, it is not a blessing, it is a tool. When God gives us physical well-being it is so that we can use that to carry out His work. God does not give us material wealth and good health in order for us to spend it on ourselves and our pleasures. He gives us those things so that we can use them to serve Him. However, the more we use the resources God gives us to serve Him, the more opportunity He will give us to serve Him. So, let us use the resources God gives us to serve Him in whatever way that we can. What I have is not my own, it is God’s to be used to further His Kingdom.

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Song of Solomon 5-8:14

    Having told us not to awaken sexual desire until the time is right (and the person is right), the writer talks about the dangers of playing hard to get. If you play hard-to-get with the person you love, you may find that they believe you and move on. Do not play games when God brings the person meant for you into your life.
    The poem suggests that brothers should protect their sisters from predatory men, from men who will attempt to take advantage of them sexually. If their sisters are sexually inexperienced, they should block those who try to take advantage. If their sisters are sexually active, they should strive to block men from taking advantage. I will say that sisters should do the same for their brothers. There are women who are sexually predatory as men. We should strive to encourage those we care for to settle for nothing less than a monogamous, life-long relationship with the person of the opposite sex God intended for them (although we should recognize that God has called some to be celibate their entire life).

Daily Bible Study

September 06, 2014 Bible Study — Avoid the Appearance of Impropriety

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:22-23

    Those who exploit the poor and use the courts to oppress the needy will face God’s judgement. The poor may not have the means to resist the efforts of the wealthy and the needy may be unable to mount a defense in court, but God will bring ruin on those who take advantage of this fact.

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Psalm 50:1-23

    God appreciates when we make offerings to Him. Giving of our wealth pleases Him. However, He does not need our money nor our resources. What He truly desires is that we serve Him. If we refuse to follow God’s commands, if we approve of the actions of thieves and adulterers, if we speak evil and lies, if we slander those closest to us, God will not be bought off by offerings and sacrifices. What God truly desires from us is that we be thankful for what He has given us, that we follow the path He has shown us. Let us live righteously, then, and only then, God will approve of our sacrifices and offerings.

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2 Corinthians 8:16-24

    This passage reminds us of the importance of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety when handling money donated for charitable use. Even Paul, for all of his stature in the early Church, was careful to make sure that he was accompanied by people who were not beholden to him while he transported monies donated for the relief of the believers in Jerusalem. He was careful to make sure that not only did he do what was right in the sight of God, but in the sight of man as well.
    This lesson is all too often forgotten by those entrusted with monies intended to do God’s work, and sometimes by those who give those monies, it is just as important that we be seen to be handling that money appropriately as it is to be actually doing so. When doing the Lord’s work it is just as important to avoid the appearance of impropriety as it is to avoid impropriety. One of the reasons it is important to avoid the appearance of impropriety is that it is all too easy to slip into misusing funds, or other improprieties, when no one can see if we are doing something inappropriate.

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Song of Solomon 1-4:16

    The Song of Solomon is a celebration of sexual love between a man and a woman. It speaks of the sensual nature of such love, but it emphasizes the importance of waiting until the time is right to experience such love. The time is right when both parties are captivated solely by the other. Not captivated in the sense we usually use the term when discussing sexual love, but captivated as in captured and unwilling to risk losing the other person. The right time for sexual love is when both parties are unwilling to consider other sexual partners for fear of losing/weakening their relationship with the one that matters.
    This passage also tells us that the appropriate place for sexual love is in private, not hidden from others, but reaching fulfillment when in private.

Daily Bible Study

September 05, 2014 Bible Study — Give Joyously

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:20-21

    Those words which teach us to be honest and speak the truth are words of wisdom and we should listen to them carefully and hold them close to our hearts.

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Psalm 49:1-20

    We have no need to fear when trouble comes and we are surrounded by enemies who boast great wealth and power. For all of their wealth, the richest people in the world cannot ransom themselves from death. No matter how rich they are, they will not convince God to accept payment to deliver them from death. Fame and wealth will not last. None of us will take our wealth with us when we die. No matter how big the monument we build to ourselves, sooner or later we will be forgotten. The wicked may seem to thrive in this life, but they too will die and face God’s judgement.

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2 Corinthians 8:1-15

    If we sincerely love the Lord we will give to aid those in need. How much we give is a personal decision. Some will feel led to give more than others. In this letter Paul holds up as an example the believers in Macedonia. He reports that despite facing trials for their faith and being poor, they begged for the opportunity to give towards the needs of the believers in Jerusalem. We should give out of what we have in order to help those who are in need. He makes an important point here. He discourages them, and us, from giving so that others will live easily while we experience hardship. This runs directly counter to those occasional “Superstar” preachers who dress in designer suits while encouraging those who listen to their sermons to give until it hurts.
    Let us give joyously and even to the point of sacrifice, but let us give to help those who are genuinely in need, not to support those who are living more than well.

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Ecclesiastes 10-12:14

    Foolishness corrupts everything around it. You can act with care and wisdom only to have a single foolish decision destroy your carefully laid plans. You can easily identify a fool by casual observation, yet despite this, people often choose to emulate them. From time to time, we will see fools put into positions of authority and the wise put into a position where they can only watch things go wrong. This always ends badly.
    Any task with a potential reward has risks. The greater the reward for the task, the greater the risk. However, with some wise planning the risk and effort needed can be minimized. It is good to work hard, but not when a little thought and wisdom could make the job easier.

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September 04, 2014 Bible Study — Godly Sorrow

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:17-19

    Listen to the words of the wise and keep them close to your heart. How can you tell if the words you hear are wise? They will teach you trust and serve God. Memorize such sayings so that they will always come to mind when you need them.

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Psalm 48:1-14

    When the psalmist wrote this I believe that he was thinking of Jerusalem, but for me this psalm is about the Kingdom of God, both as embodied by the Church today and as it will be in eternity. Let us praise God because of His greatness. The powers of this earth have and will join forces in an attempt to destroy the Church, but they will fail. They will gather their forces and strike out against God’s people, but just when they seem to be victorious God will strike them down. He will destroy those who conspire against Him and His people. Let us praise God for His glorious acts.

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2 Corinthians 7:8-16

    Not all sorrow is a bad thing and sometimes it is necessary to hurt someone’s feelings for their own good. When Paul first sent his letter calling the Corinthian Church to account, he regretted doing so. He felt bad because he knew that they would be hurt by some of the things he said. However, he realized that those things needed to be said. In the end he was glad that he had taken the risk because they listened to his words and repented of their sins. Yes, he hurt their feelings and made them sorrowful, but that hurt and that sorrow caused them to change their behaviors. As a result, both he and they experienced even greater joy.
    We should not feel bad about causing people sorrow that leads them to repentance. And we should not be angry because someone confronts about our sins. One of the most important points to remember is that Paul did not confront the Church in Corinth to make himself bigger or more important. He confronted them because he could see that they were tearing themselves apart in their efforts to one up one another.

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Ecclesiastes 7-9:18

    The theme continues. It is better to spend our time at funerals than at parties. Sorrow and sadness make us better people. The wise spend a fair amount of time thinking about death, while those who spend all of their time thinking about having a good time are fools. Let us not strive to constantly distract ourselves from things which cause us sorrow. God will use our sorrow and sadness to show us how we should change our lives to serve Him better.
    It is better to be wise than foolish, but sometimes you have to things as they come and not fret about the consequences (but only sometimes). In time, we will all die (unless the Lord returns first), so we should enjoy life while we yet live. There is so much more in this passage, that I cannot bring it all out.

Daily Bible Study

September 03, 2014 Bible Study — Do Not Partner With Unbelievers

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:16

    There is not much to be said about this proverb. Getting rich by oppressing the poor will end badly. The poor do not have much, so in order to get wealthy you need to oppress large numbers of them. At some point, they will realize that they outnumber their oppressors. On the other hand, the rich have a lot. attempting to gain wealth because you have gained their favor through gifts is a losing game. Each time you give them gifts to gain their favor, you will have to give more than the last time. Eventually, you will need to give more in gifts than you can gain from the favor thus curried.

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Psalm 47:1-9

    Clap your hands, shout for joy as you praise the Lord. Let us be loud and exuberant in our praise. Let no one doubt who we worship and what we believe. All the earth is the Lord’s and He will bring every nation under His rule. We are not called to go about our business quietly with no one knowing Who we worship. Let us praise the Lord so all the world will know what great things He has done.

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2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7

    Paul warns us against partnering with unbelievers. When I was growing up this passage was often presented as an argument against a Christian dating, let alone marrying, a non-believer. While this passage certainly does teach against that, that is not the main thrust of what Paul is saying. Paul is telling us not to make “common cause” with unbelievers in striving to accomplish our goals. All of our goals are subservient to spreading the gospel and serving God. Whatever goal we are seeking, we are seeking because it serves one or both of those purposes. Since non-believers are not seeking to further either of those goals, any place where they share a common goal with us will diverge from what we hope to accomplish. This does not mean that we are to fight them on issues where we agree, merely that we should not partner with them in attempting to achieve those goals.

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Ecclesiastes 4-6:12

    People are often motivated to work hard out of envy of others. Sometimes the desire to have more than others leads people to oppress those around them. If you strive alone for material possessions for your own pleasure you will soon realize that it is meaningless and depressing. You are better off partnering with someone and working together with them. One person alone can be easily overwhelmed, but two people can help each other up and keep each other warm against the cold. Two standing together can withstand great hardship. Three are even stronger.
    When you come before God to worship, focus more on listening for His guidance than on requesting His aid. If we fear God and listen to His instructions, we will be less likely to have needs to bring before Him in prayer.
    When low-level officials are corrupt, do not be surprised to discover that such corruption goes to the highest levels of government. Every one with authority will use that power to serve their own interests. Unless higher officials hold low level officials accountable and low level officials hold high level officials to high standards corruption will run rampant. Those who love and seek wealth never have enough. They will seek and strive for more, losing it all in the end because we can take none of it with us when we leave this earth. Nothing we can do or say will have any meaning unless we do it to bring glory to God.

Daily Bible Study

September 02, 2014 Bible Study — Now is the Day of Salvation

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:15

    Children will behave foolishly until someone uses corporal punishment to teach them to behave differently. Children do not learn to behave well, or wisely, without discipline.

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Psalm 46:1-11

    This psalm contains powerful imagery. The earth may tremble and the mountains may crumble, but if we put our trust in God we will be secure. The world may be falling apart around us, but God is still in control. The psalmist tells us that a river brings joy to the city of God and that God dwells there. because God dwells there it will never be destroyed. The natural tendency is to read that as referring to heaven, and that is not wrong. However, I believe that the city of God is where the people of God dwell.
    The nations may be in chaos, crumbling around us. But the city of God will remain secure. Those who dwell with God will have stability and peace, perhaps not as the world understands it. When I think of this psalm, I think of the Christian martyrs who went to violent, painful deaths singing hymns of praise to God, singing of the joy of worshiping Him.
    There is yet more to this psalm. It reminds us that, in the middle of our chaotic lives, we need to slow down and remember God.

Be still and know that I am God

This phrase is the basis of a simple and wonderful hymn. One that is out of copyright, so I can list it here:
1 Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am God.

2 I am the Lord that healeth thee.
I am the Lord that healeth thee.
I am the Lord that healeth thee.

3 In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust.
In Thee, O Lord. I put my trust.
In Thee, O Lord, I put my trust.


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2 Corinthians 6:1-13

    I try to avoid doing this, yet time and again I find myself thinking as I begin writing on a passage, “There are two messages in this passage.” Why two? Why don’t I see three? Don’t they teach preachers to always have three points? Yet I keep finding myself with two points in these passages. Which brings us to today’s passage in 2 Corinthians.
    We must remember that there is urgency in the Gospel message. The time to preach the Gospel is now. The time to accept God’s grace is now. We need to remember that today is the day of salvation, tomorrow may be too late. This is my biggest failing as a follower of Christ. I lack of sense of urgency in preaching the Gospel to those around me. I pray that the Spirit move in me and give me a greater sense of urgency in attempting to reach my friends for Christ.
    I just realized that the second message is related more closely to the first than I thought. Paul had that sense of urgency I lack. He was willing to be beaten, face angry mobs, be put in prison, go without food, work himself to exhaustion. All of this so that he might reach one more person with the Gospel message. He was willing to serve God equally if people honoured him, or despised him, whether people praised him or slandered him. His heart ached for those who did not respond to the Gospel message, yet he was filled with joy because of those who did. I beg the Spirit to move in me so that I too will preach the Gospel with urgency.

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Ecclesiastes 1-3:22

    I am both troubled and fascinated by the book of Ecclesiastes. I am troubled by the fact that it talks about how meaningless everything is. On the other hand, that very message is what led me to the Lord. Everything we can attempt is meaningless. We may seek wisdom, but we can never learn all there is to know. No matter how much wisdom we acquire, we will make mistakes. And ultimately, those who are wise will die much the same as those who live foolishly. We can pursue pleasure, but there is no satisfaction to be found in pleasure. It will leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled. We can work hard and acquire great wealth and/or accomplish great things. But in the end our wealth will end up going to others and our accomplishments will be left in the hands of those who do not appreciate them (or worse, take them for granted).
    Chapter three begins with some verses which have great meaning for me, partly because my wife and I included this on our wedding favor. For me the song by The Byrds “Turn, Turn, Turn” has always conveyed what this passage means to me (and fits it into how I read today’s passage from 2 Corinthians). There is a right time for everything. A time to be born and a time to die. There is a time for every purpose under heaven. And today is the day to turn to God and accept His grace. There is a time for peace on this earth and that time will arrive when enough people accept and embrace the Gospel. Today is the day, and as The Byrds sing in that song, I swear it is not too late. God is calling you now. Nothing else you can do will give your life meaning.

Daily Bible Study

September 01, 2014 Bible Study — Live For Him Who Died For Us

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:14

    An immoral, adulterous woman (or man) will say things which inevitably lead those who listen to them into a dangerous trap. Those who have already made God angry will fall into that trap.

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Psalm 45:1-17

    I never noticed before what a good psalm this is for a wedding.

  • Advice to the groom: Love justice and hate evil
  • Advice to the bride: Forget your people and family in order to cling to your husband

    • Too much can be easily made of both pieces of advice, but this psalm represents a good starting point for giving a couple getting married good advice.

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    2 Corinthians 5:11-21

        If we truly understand what it means to fear the Lord we will work to convince others to do the same. In order to accomplish this we must be sincere before God, who can see all of our motives and actions. We may hide some of our motives and actions from people, but we cannot hide them from God. If all of our motives are forthright and open those who hear our testimony and preaching will know that we are sincere. They may think that we are crazy, but I am willing to be crazy if that is what it takes to bring glory to God. On the other hand, there are times when we must show that our beliefs coincide with reality and logic (I need to write a blog on the importance of that for Christian faith some time).
        Whether we are acting in ways that seem crazy, or showing how doing God’s will is the only way to be truly sane, Christ’s love should be what is controlling our lives. Christ died for everyone, so let us die to ourselves and live for Him. Rather than seeking that which will give us pleasure, I will do that which brings glory and pleasure to Christ. God has reconciled us to Him. Having done so, He has given us the task of bringing His message of reconciliation to others. God has made us His ambassadors. As His ambassadors we are His personal representatives. In this role, our actions reflect directly on God, let us act accordingly. We are here to call on others to be reconciled with God. It is our responsibility to act towards others as God Himself would act.
        I like looking at the way both the NIV and the NLT translate verse 20. The NIV says that we “implore” others to be reconciled with God while the NLT says that we “plead” with others to come back to God. Both of these translations give the sense that there is little, or nothing, we are not willing to sacrifice if only the one we are speaking with will be reconciled to God. What am I unwilling to sacrifice, to give up permanently, in order for another person to come to Christ? How can I learn to be willing to surrender that to God as well?

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    Job 40-42:17

        When Job finally gets what he asked for, a chance to speak with God face-to-face, he recognizes that he was in the wrong. Job realizes that when he questioned God, he was demonstrating his ignorance and foolishness rather than posing legitimate questions for God. This is the reaction that every person has when they finally find themselves before God. When in the presence of God we all realize that when we questioned what God has done it was because we did not know enough to understand, that we are incapable of truly understanding. Job recognized his sin and fully repented his arrogance.
        Having humbled Job, God turns to his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. He tells them that their words were even further from the truth than what Job had said. God instructs them to ask Job to pray for them. Noticeably absent from the list of those corrected by God is Elihu. The conclusion of the Book of Job is why it is important to read through the Bible multiple times. We can easily lose track of which things said by which person in the Book of Job (and elsewhere) represents things we should follow and which things represent misunderstandings about God.

Daily Bible Study

August 31, 2014 Bible Study — Looking Beyond Our Pain and Suffering

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here. As I read today’s passages, I sensed a theme and a thread running through them. But as I wrote my thoughts about them, that thread eluded me. I pray that the Spirit work through the words I did write in order to convey the message He has for those who read this.

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Proverbs 22:13

    There are people who constantly imagine dangers which preclude them doing actual work. Accomplishing anything involves a certain amount of risk, but those who wish to avoid any effort always imagine the risk to be greater than it is.

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Psalm 44:9-26

    The psalmist reminds us that sometimes hard times come upon those who are faithful to the Lord. There are times when we will face trials and difficulties because of our faithfulness to God. However, God will not forget us and will deliver us when His plans are complete.

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2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10

    We may face troubles because of our faith and because we preach the Gospel to others. However, let us never allow such troubles to silence us. As a matter of fact, Paul tells us that if we truly have faith, we will feel compelled to tell others about the Gospel despite any troubles which might ensue. As more people hear the Gospel message, some of them will recognize God’s grace to deliver them from their sins (which cause them misery). The result of this will be an outpouring of thanksgiving bringing glory to God.
    In the meantime, let us not focus on the difficulties and troubles which we experience in this life, rather, let us focus on the glory which will follow. In the grand scheme of things, the troubles we face today are small things that will last only a short time. They will soon be gone. We cannot truly see the glory to which God is bringing us, but it will last for all eternity. Currently, we live in bodies which are breaking down and falling apart. As we get older, we acquire pains and are less able to accomplish physical tasks. Our current bodies are like tents, great for a temporary shelter, but not a permanent place to live. When these bodies will no longer serve and we die, God will give us bodies that are like houses, a place to live permanently. It is not that we seek the death of our current bodies, rather we should crave the new, eternal bodies which God will grant us. While the death of our earthly bodies will bring an end to our suffering and pain, let us not seek death. While we are yet in these bodies we can serve God and do good so that others may come to know and worship Him. Let us not fear death because when it arrives for our bodies, we will then be at home with the Lord.

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Job 37-39:30

    Elihu goes into the conclusion of his monologue by stating that thinking about God’s power causes him to tremble with fear. Further, our imagination is not capable of conceiving the extent of God’s power. What we can see of His power is but a small sample of its grandeur. We do not have the ability to even make a coherent argument before God, let alone make a case defending our actions before His judgement. We cannot even look directly at the sun on a clear day, how can we hope to present ourselves before God?
    Finally, God Himself answers Job’s complaints. God asks a list of questions which demonstrate how our limited knowledge and wisdom leave us unable to understand all that God does. We cannot hope to comprehend all of the things which God does because we do not have sufficient knowledge. There are things which go into the actions God chooses to take that are not only beyond our knowledge, but beyond our ability to know.

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August 30, 2014 Bible Study — Treasure In Jars of Clay

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:10-12

    The way to avoid discord is to get rid of those who mock others. A wise leader seeks out those who surround themselves with honest people and speak graciously. Those who acquire knowledge before reaching a conclusion or making a plan will find that God guides their path, but those who act treacherously will find their plans constantly thwarted.

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Psalm 44:1-8

    We have heard what God did in the past. He granted victory to those who faithfully served Him. It was not their might, skill, or knowledge which led them to victory. It was God who destroyed their enemies, causing them to make mistakes and miscalculate at key junctures. In the same way, we will not be victorious because of our abilities. I know that my skills will not get me through. I will rely on God to bring about success. I know that if I do His will, I cannot fail.

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2 Corinthians 4:1-12

    As we preach the Gospel, let us not use tricks or deception. Let us plainly state what it is we have to say. If anything about the Gospel is misunderstood, let it be because those listening took it out of context or chose to misinterpret our words, not because we attempted to slip something past those listening without them noticing. There is no need for us to keep parts of the Gospel a secret from those who do not choose to accept it. As I read this, I think of those groups and organizations which keep some of their teachings secrets for only those initiated into the group to know. That is not the way in which the followers of Jesus are to act.
    The followers of Jesus speak the Gospel message as a lamp in the darkness, visible to all who look. We speak the message from God as frail, imperfect people. The success of the Gospel message is not because of the strength and power of those who preach it. Any power which we have comes from God Himself, not from our feeble selves.

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Job 34-36:33

    Job’s other three friends argued that Job was being punished because he was a sinner. Elihu takes a different tack. He does not attempt to identify Job as a sinner. Rather he argues that God is wise and just. Elihu condemns Job, and anyone else who does the same, for claiming that God is causing him to suffer unjustly. Elihu was angry because Job had said that it was a waste of time to try to please God. Instead, we should confess to God our sins, if we know them, and promise to turn from them. If we do not know what we have done that is wrong, let us beg God to show us so that we can turn from those sins as well. God watches how people live, nothing is hidden from Him. God knows what evil people commit and hears the cries of the needy. He will bring justice on those who do wrong. Who are we to judge when God does not deliver the judgement we think others deserve?
    Elihu points out that, no matter what Job had done before, he sinned by speaking angry words about God and failing to respect the Almighty. The question is not “What is in it for me?” The question is, “What is the right thing to do?” I do not strive to do the right thing because I will be rewarded for doing so. I strive to do the right thing because it is the right thing…or at least, that is how I believe that I should act. We cannot tell God how to act and have no right to tell Him that He has done wrong. We cannot possibly understand the reasons God does what He does. So, let us praise Him for His mighty acts, recognizing that He will do what is right, even when we do not understand.

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August 29, 2014 Bible Study — Our Competence Comes From God

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For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:8-9

    When people begin promoting injustice, they are setting the stage for a calamity which will rebound upon them. The rage which they promote as a weapon against their opponents will break just as they need it most.
    In contrast, those who share their goods with those in need will be honoured. These two proverbs show two different ways in which people can seek to work with the poor. On one hand, we have those who encourage the poor to rage against those who have more and can be perceived as holding the poor back. Those who do this are not fighting injustice, they are promoting it. On the other hand, we have those who strive to aid the poor, giving of their time and resources to help the poor find their way out of poverty. The former will find that the rage they have generated as a tool or a weapon will break in their hands, leaving them defenseless against the attacks they have called upon themselves. The latter will be honoured.

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Psalm 43:1-5

    When everything and everyone seems to turn against you, seek out God. Follow the light of His word and depend on His loving care. Praise Him and the salvation that comes from Him. Then He will lead you to His holy place where you can take joy in Him once more. All may conspire against you, but if you follow God’s light their conspiracy will fail. Praise God, even when you feel depressed and He will bring you back to joy.

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2 Corinthians 3:1-18

    If we are truly following Christ we do not need to tell others of our faithfulness. We do not need to write letters that describe how wonderful we are. Those that matter will know how God works through us and will pass that on to those who need to know. We can be confident in the same way in which Paul was confident. His confidence was not in his own ability. Rather, he was confident that God would accomplish His goals through him. Let us not trust in our own abilities, nor think that our success shows how wonderful we are. Let us instead trust in God and let our successes be evidence to those around us of how wonderful God is.
    Just as Paul was, we too have been made ministers of a new covenant, a new way to approach God. The old way was one based on following the letter of the Law. The new way is based on following the Spirit, which gave the Law in the first place. The Law arrived shiny and bright, but those attempting to follow it to the letter found they needed to cover it over. This resulted in the Talmudic tradition of putting a “fence around the Law.” They needed to come up with ever more convoluted regulations in order to avoid breaking the Law as things changed and the direct application of the letter of the Law became less obvious in the new circumstances. We, however, have the Spirit directing us. We do not seek to follow the letter of the Law, rather we seek to allow God’s Spirit to direct us to do His will. We do not need a “fence around the Law” because we are not seeking to follow the letter of the Law, rather we seek to follow the Spirit, who gave us that Law in the first place.

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Job 31-33:33

    Job finishes his final monologue with a list which sounds much like Jesus’ teachings, especially the parable of the sheep and the goats. Job lists off a list of sins which he has not committed. The majority of Job’s list is about treating others well and with respect. The only other sins he really mentions are greed, which he identifies as idolatry, and sexual immorality. This part of Job’s monologue is a good guide for us to live by.
    When Job is finished the youngest of his friends speaks. Elihu was angry because Job had justified himself rather than God, while the other three had failed to refute Job, yet they condemned him. Elihu had waited to allow his elders to speak first. However, wisdom comes from God, so those who are older are not always wiser than youth. Elihu answers Job’s complaints that God does not speak. God does indeed speak, sometimes in one way, other times in another. God uses many ways to speak to us. If we do not hear God speak, it is because we refuse to listen. God seeks to deliver His message to us so that we will turn from sin to the light and avoid the destruction which sin brings.