Thinking this thanksgiving morning about iron, magnets and faith. The Earth has a magnetic field. Free floating magnets will seek to align with that field and point magnetic north. They also produce a field themselves. There are only a small group of elements that 'hold' magnetism. Iron is one of them.
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 ESV
The iron in you affects the iron in me. The faith in you affects me and vice versa. It can magnetized me when I have lost my charge (aligning influence). Intense heat causes iron to lose a magnetic charge but it can become remagnetized.
Many believers in one place believing with a freeing message that lets them float to align with the mind of God is an amazing unique thing.
Ancient seafarers used compasses to align themselves and safely navigates the seas. Faith can do that for us also.
I'm studying to align myself to God this morning. I'm going to be around people today and I want to have a strong 'magnetic charge' of faith so I can be a blessing and not a curse. Doctrine without power is dangerous and fragmenting. Grace causes freedom. Power and freedom are an amazing combination aren't they?
"If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy." 1 Corinthians 7:13-14 ESV
This passage is talking about marriage and divorce but doesn't it also speak about the magnet-like power of a believer. One believing parent can bring temporary 'alignment' to a child that has no faith field of their own yet. A person can have a sanctifying influence in a household. The visitor brings Jesus in but the person who lives in that home has Him reside there.
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Thursday, November 28, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
The Need For Fresh Wisdom
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." - James 1:5-8 ESV
- No one is disqualified from getting wisdom from God because of a pre-existing condition
- God gives generously
- God won't 'reproach' those who ask. He won't taunt, revile or 'make fun' of anyone. Shame should not prevent anyone from asking
- The doubter disqualifies themselves
- Doubt creates instability that resembles a ship tossed in a storm
- Doubt is functioning in an identity that is split into two opposing 'minds'
- The doubter must not 'suppose' (an interesting word that means think but it is a verb in the middle voice so the person is also the recipient of the action of the verb) that they will receive anything from the Lord. I think the word 'suppose' is key to understanding this passage properly
- Asking 'in faith' is a key component. No one is disqualified but not everyone gets wisdom. Asking with a particular mindset is needed
The author is inspired by God and He is telling us something here. He is giving us the ability to problem-solve with God.
This is a great passage to talk to God about. We can't be in that 'in faith' pocket apart from that dynamic.
I lack wisdom. My day is far from cut and dry. I love that I can come agenda-free to God and say, 'I want to collaborate with you.' and He is available to that. The disciples didn't 'suppose they would receive anything' from Jesus and when they did He gently rebuked them. He was for them but His actions were not centered around them. He was seeking to save and redeem what was lost. I want that wisdom today. I want to be free from arguing with myself about myself and worrying that a won't have what I need if things don't turn out a certain way.
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- No one is disqualified from getting wisdom from God because of a pre-existing condition
- God gives generously
- God won't 'reproach' those who ask. He won't taunt, revile or 'make fun' of anyone. Shame should not prevent anyone from asking
- The doubter disqualifies themselves
- Doubt creates instability that resembles a ship tossed in a storm
- Doubt is functioning in an identity that is split into two opposing 'minds'
- The doubter must not 'suppose' (an interesting word that means think but it is a verb in the middle voice so the person is also the recipient of the action of the verb) that they will receive anything from the Lord. I think the word 'suppose' is key to understanding this passage properly
- Asking 'in faith' is a key component. No one is disqualified but not everyone gets wisdom. Asking with a particular mindset is needed
The author is inspired by God and He is telling us something here. He is giving us the ability to problem-solve with God.
This is a great passage to talk to God about. We can't be in that 'in faith' pocket apart from that dynamic.
I lack wisdom. My day is far from cut and dry. I love that I can come agenda-free to God and say, 'I want to collaborate with you.' and He is available to that. The disciples didn't 'suppose they would receive anything' from Jesus and when they did He gently rebuked them. He was for them but His actions were not centered around them. He was seeking to save and redeem what was lost. I want that wisdom today. I want to be free from arguing with myself about myself and worrying that a won't have what I need if things don't turn out a certain way.
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
Contend For This
"Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." - Jude 1:3-4 ESV
That word translated 'contend' is only used once in the scriptures and it basically means to go above and beyond to take possession of some object or preserve a reputation or legacy.
Verse four tells us that the fight is between freedom to indulge ourselves as being a central focus and Jesus. We are told to 'war' to keep Him and what he has accomplished central.
That is so convicting to me. Can we read the Gospels and then do anything we please? All things are lawful but not all things are profitable.
Walking with Jesus in liberty is the 'faith' that was first delivered to the Saints. Those disciples followed Him and they went where He took them. That is a walk worth fighting for.
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That word translated 'contend' is only used once in the scriptures and it basically means to go above and beyond to take possession of some object or preserve a reputation or legacy.
Verse four tells us that the fight is between freedom to indulge ourselves as being a central focus and Jesus. We are told to 'war' to keep Him and what he has accomplished central.
That is so convicting to me. Can we read the Gospels and then do anything we please? All things are lawful but not all things are profitable.
Walking with Jesus in liberty is the 'faith' that was first delivered to the Saints. Those disciples followed Him and they went where He took them. That is a walk worth fighting for.
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Times Of Temptation
Temptation is an interesting thing. I quit a hobby activity last July because it was occupying to much of my time and replacing activities that invigorated my spiritual walk but lately I have been tempted to take it back up again. I got rid of the equipment I had used but I find myself looking around for new equipment. Nothing has changed about it being a time waster but in my restlessness I'm 'tempted'. I sometimes have to talk myself away from the threshold of entering back into that activity. I want to 'write myself a pass' knowing no good will come of it.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
This is really good news for me right now. I feel like I need to escape. Saying, 'No, I'm not doing that' isn't easy at times.
I'm going to activitely believe God for the projects in my life and in other people's lives that don't seem to be progressing and take the 'trust in Jesus' escape of faith that goes against sight knowing that faith motivated action and confession please God and glorify Him in the long run.
He is able. I don't have to settle for less than His best.
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"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
This is really good news for me right now. I feel like I need to escape. Saying, 'No, I'm not doing that' isn't easy at times.
I'm going to activitely believe God for the projects in my life and in other people's lives that don't seem to be progressing and take the 'trust in Jesus' escape of faith that goes against sight knowing that faith motivated action and confession please God and glorify Him in the long run.
He is able. I don't have to settle for less than His best.
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Saturday, November 9, 2019
Motive Descriptors
Thinking today about 'motive descriptors'... words that describe what something is doing (ex. 'a wave' = water moving a certain way, a hand moving to signal someone. A wave isn't a thing. It is a motive descriptor).
If we make motive descriptors 'things' we will have strange nonsensical ideas and expectations and it is very easy to do just that.
Light is also a motive descriptor. It doesn't move. There is no speed of light. That is like saying the speed of green. There is a speed of illumination. It takes about 8 minutes for the sun to illuminate the Earth. The sun we see is the sun as it was 8 minutes ago. A proton is the 'crashing of a light wave.' It isn't a tiny pebble. Understanding that changes everything.
Then we can apply that concept to 'a certain sound'. The source is God's mouth and we can tell by the content (living word order). Doctrine can be dry and murderous. The certain sound gives life to the hearer. The power comes from the source.
Love isn't a thing. Without a loving person it doesn't exist. The lover loves. God is 'love' is such a profound statement. Love can not and does not exist without Him. He is the lover that illuminates. His love is shed abroad in our hearts. Wow!
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If we make motive descriptors 'things' we will have strange nonsensical ideas and expectations and it is very easy to do just that.
Light is also a motive descriptor. It doesn't move. There is no speed of light. That is like saying the speed of green. There is a speed of illumination. It takes about 8 minutes for the sun to illuminate the Earth. The sun we see is the sun as it was 8 minutes ago. A proton is the 'crashing of a light wave.' It isn't a tiny pebble. Understanding that changes everything.
Then we can apply that concept to 'a certain sound'. The source is God's mouth and we can tell by the content (living word order). Doctrine can be dry and murderous. The certain sound gives life to the hearer. The power comes from the source.
Love isn't a thing. Without a loving person it doesn't exist. The lover loves. God is 'love' is such a profound statement. Love can not and does not exist without Him. He is the lover that illuminates. His love is shed abroad in our hearts. Wow!
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