New Testament

Doers not just Hearers

January 23, 2023 By Annette1 2 Comments

James is such a practical little book isn’t it? I think almost everyone I know is quite familiar with this section of James were we are reminded to be doers not just hearers.

James 1:19-25 (esv)

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Doers not just Hearers

Before we get to the be doers not just hearers section James reminds of some important attributes we should keep in mind.

We need to be people who are

quick to hear
slow to speak
slow to anger
receivers in meekness of the implanted word

Every time I read those words I think…man… I have so far to go in that regard! I am quick to listen to people, but sometimes I’m also so quick to talk! The need to shut my mouth more often is needful!

As we do these things we also need to put off all filthiness and rampant wickedness. Do I make a point of doing this? Do I actually put aside things that I know don’t please God or do I just say, well, he’ll forgive me anyways? Gah… sometimes I say the latter though I know better. Forgiveness isn’t for the deliberately unrepentant is it? So let me work more to be the person God wants me to be… one who puts off the filth/sin that has no deliberate place in my life. How to do that? Meekly accept God’s word into my life. That’s what we need to do.

That leads into James’ next thought. Be doers not just hearers. Make what you hear from God matter! Otherwise it’s like making a point of forgetting what you have seen.

By putting into practice what God is teaching us we become better at putting the garbage in our lives aside don’t you think? And then, in our actions, blessing is shown!

Come Back to Your Senses

January 16, 2023 By Annette1 2 Comments

I read these words from First Corinthians 15 and I like Paul’s statement “Come back to your senses!” It’s reminiscent of my mom saying “Smarten up, you know better!”. and that seems to be basically what Paul is saying. Let’s go on and see eh?

I Corinthians 15:29-34

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,

for tomorrow we die.”

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

Come Back to your senses

So Paul has been putting together an argument about the validity of Christ’s resurrection. I’ll let you read the preceding passage for yourself.

In todays’ verses Paul asks why would someone risk their life for something that isn’t true? That doesn’t even make sense to do! And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? ³¹I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³²If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained?

A person does not put themselves in hard places for something that you know not to be true! If all of Paul’s other arguments didn’t make sense that one should eh?

For tomorrow we die?

He continues with

If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”

If none of what Paul talks about, if Christ didn’t rise from the dead, then nothing matters. And if it doesn’t matters…. we might as well do whatever we want. Eat, drink, follow our own base instincts and do whatever cause death will come. And then it’s just the end (at least that’s the implication eh?)

Paul is clear here… don’t mess around. You want to be a person of good character… believe truth! You want to be a good character don’t hang around with people that lack in character. And well.. honestly.. just come to your senses and STOP SINNING. Stop being ignorant of who God is. Consider him! Stop placing yourself in a position of shame.

I read all this and it causes me to stop and think eh? Do I remember that yes, Christ died. But more importantly that he rose from the dead? Have I truly considered the implications of that? Sometimes I think I just take it for granted, but here’s Paul talking about why it’s the reason that he willing risks his life.

Am I willing to risk my life? It sounds horrible… but honestly I don’t want to die. And yet, I know I love God and because of him I’m getting bolder at showing my faith at work. Yet within Christian circles I have no issues living out my faith, but sometimes, in the greater world, I find myself faltering. I need to be much bolder! I need to keep Christ’s death and resurrection central to my thinking. That would help don’t you think?

The Holy Spirit’s Guidance

January 5, 2023 By Annette1 4 Comments

Did you know that I used to have a couple of friends that were on the mission field? I used to want to be on the mission field as well. I sometimes wonder what leads people to a certain area to minister in and today’s lesson speaks to that. It’s all got to do with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Acts 16:6-10 (ESV)

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Holy Spirit’s Guidance

The Holy Spirit’s guidance is what I see going on in this passage. Paul et al, had their own plans, but weren’t able to do them. The Holy Spirit nixed their plans to go into Asia, and stymied their goal of heading into Bithynia. So it’s a case of.. now what?

The now what turned into a vision where a Macedonian man was saying “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” I’d call that an invitation to go to Macedonia just like Paul and his companions did!

And yes I know! I do. I know that not everyone gets a vision making their direction clear. But what this passage does show is GOD AT WORK. It shows us how clearly the Holy Spirit guides his people. This shouldn’t be a shock should it?

We find throughout scripture that God helps his people. The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead, so helping us is part of what he does.

In Galatians 5 we learn more about walking with the Spirit. ^“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” The Spirit helps us to know what we should or shouldn’t do, but we need to do our part too right? We need to purpose to do the things he wants of us you know?

Application

So I’m trying to think here because I want to see this well in my life. And I do I think. Like the other day when I wanted to change the price tag on a coat and didn’t. That was the Holy Spirit’s prompting. But it’s just a little thing you know? Well.. okay, perhaps not little, but more like ordinary… part of me having to remember whose I am you know?

But sometimes I wonder would I be able to tell for sure about something big. Like an really big decision. Would I need a vision like Paul did? Would I just have a deep heart knowledge of rightness? It’s probably just me stressing over nothing since the Lord is gracious to me all my life. Always making his presence known when I so need him to make himself known. He let his people know right? Through one way or the other… whether it a closing firmly of the door (like when Paul knew not to go to Asia), or through a vision (going to Macedonia), or just a deep heart knowledge that this is the right thing to do.

God, moves in us through the Holy Spirit, guiding us to be the people as like him as we can be. Rather cool eh? At least I think so. 🙂

Why Jesus Did You?

January 3, 2023 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

From the ESV, in Matthew 16, I get this question: Why Jesus Did you?

Matthew 16:13-20

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

why Jesus Did you. text on snowy ground with question mark

So I’d ask why Jesus these three questions:

Why did you need to ask the disciples who people thought he was?
Why did you need to ask the disciples who they thought you are?
And why did you charge them not to tell people who he was?

Questions 1 and 2.

It Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me you know? Wouldn’t Jesus already have known what people were thinking? So then what point was he trying to make with the disciples? Was he trying to reassure them that their thinking was correct? I think I need to look into this with some additional resources.

Well that wasn’t helpful! I got all kinds of discussion on the district of Caesarea Philippi and why the crowds would say what they did. Nothing on what the mindset of Jesus might have been. And I guess that we can’t really know can we?

But when John gets it right, Jesus gives him an “atta boy” AND tells him how he got that knowledge. I almost missed that eh? For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

God is the one who does it you know. God is the one who intervenes into a person’s life and helps them see truth. And perhaps that tidbit was the whole point of the question asking. So that Jesus could point his disciples to truth. God’s action in their lives matters to their salvation.

It’s not your or my decision to follow Christ. It’s God’s action in our lives that makes our salvation possible. HIS action.

And because of his action in Peter’s life Jesus could tell him. you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Do we Realize the Power?

So this makes me of course ask another question… Do we as believers realize the power that we have at our fingertips? Jesus gave all this power to Peter. It doesn’t mean he gives all that power to everyone (doesn’t say that here does it?) But it goes back to yesterday right? We have to remember who fights our battles for us. It’s GOD. It always comes back to God. God who fights our battles, God who says to us tell this mountain to move by faith and it will move! So think about that a bit.

As believers we can do so much more. We can BE so much more. We have God on our side, God who moves mountains, leads by cloud and fire, feeds manna, stops rivers, and does all this amazing stuff. AND changes the hearts of his people. This is the God we follow and cleave our service and loyalty too.

Question 3

And then he closes this section with telling his disciples to NOT tell anyone who he was. This makes no sense to me. Was it a timing issue I wonder? Something that needed to wait until after his death? We aren’t told in the passage why he issued that charge to them. But he did this often. Healing people of leprosy or blindness… don’t tell who did this.

Hmm… I wonder. You know how some people like to take credit for what they do and want everyone to know it? Glory hogs I think you’d call them? Jesus wasn’t a glory hog. He just came to be about his father’s business. Telling people about God and the things of God. Teaching, preaching, healing etc. Always and forever pointing people to God. I wonder if that was the point.

So What is Your Take Away?

When you read this passage do you see God? Does it make you more aware of his power and action in your life? Do you wonder along with me about why Jesus did you ask those questions and make those demands? And perhaps have found some answers in my thought processes here?

Follow Me!

April 1, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Oh wonders! Did you know we’re on the last few verses of John? Time has passed well I think hasn’t it? Anyways, last time Jesus asked Peter three times about his love for him. Today we’ll finish off the book of John.

John 21:20-25

²⁰Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²²Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” ²³So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁵Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

What Scripture Says

Peter has heard that he will die for the Lord. That’s got to be startling. In the aftermath of that news Peter sees the disciple that Jesus loved following them. This same disciple had leaned up against Jesus during their last supper and had asked “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” But that isn’t the point of this conversation, the point is that Peter was wondering what would happen to this particular disciple.

Jesus’ response was “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

Jesus pointed Peter back to where his focus should be. Following him.

Of course, people being who they are, and how easily we assume ideas, spread the idea that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that is NOT what Jesus had said. He said “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

The disciple that Jesus loved is the same disciple who bore witness about everything here. He wrote the book of John. Ergo we know the disciple that Jesus loved was John. John’s testimony is known to be true.

Jesus did a whole lot of other things. John tells us that if all of them were written down, the world could not hold the books written.

Questions

I know I supposed that Peter might have been shocked/startled at Jesus’ revelation that Peter would die for him. I wonder though, if he was feeling a bit “put out about it too”. This wondering is based in Peter’s questioning Jesus about the fate of John.

Why it was important to bring up the conversation at the last supper. Scripture was never written blindly.

Pondering this passage

I love how Jesus pointed Peter back to himself. I am reminded of how often I will profess my love for the Lord. I’ll have a purpose in mind again, and then it happens. I get distracted. That’s, I think, what happened to Peter. He sees this other disciple and knows that Jesus loves him. Jesus just told Peter that he would die for him.

Peter had been wounded by Jesus asking him three times about his love for him. Gives him three tasks to do. Then tells Peter he’ll die. So a wounded, startled Peter sees John and wonders… what will happen with John?

In that wondering he took his eyes off his own professed love. He loves Jesus. Wants to do whatever Jesus asks of him. But here in this moment, he is distracted.

Happens to me. And I’ll beat a dollar it happens to you too. You know you love the Lord, but “oh look, it’s shiney”! Those moments happen to all of us. Doesn’t mean you don’t love him. And did you notice that Jesus didn’t say “Peter, do you love me?” He didn’t. He in essence said “Never you mind him, focus on your task. FOLLOW ME.”

Like when a momma in training her boys gives one son a task, and then to the “what about Joe?” Says never you mind, Go sweep the floor like I asked.

Let’s try not to get distracted, but rather to just do as the Lord commands. Follow him. Not minding how he asks others to do the same deed. Our focus needs to be on what the Lord has given for us to do.

Simon Peter’s Eagerness

March 18, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Do you remember how the bible was written to encourage belief? Pretty neat those verses eh? Today John continues to write with John 21:1-14.

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Scripture Speaks

We know that after Jesus’ resurrection he appeared to Mary, some of the disciples and then to all of the disciples. He then goes on to reveal himself to the disciples again, this time by the by the Sea of Tiberias.

The way he revealed himself was by standing on the shore as Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee and two others were fishing. They had gone out when Simon Peter had said to them, “I am going fishing.” They were out all night without catching a thing.

So here it’s coming up sunrise, Jesus was standing on the shore but the disciples didn’t know who he was yet. He asked them, “Children, do you have any fish?”

They told him no, so he told them to, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”

They cast it catching an immense amount of fish. So many they couldn’t pull it. This caused the disciple that Jesus loved to call out “It is the Lord!” Simon Peter heard this, put on his cloak and rushed out to Jesus. The bible tells us “he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.”

Meanwhile, the other disciples brought in the boat and net. They were only about a hundred yards out. When they got to shore, Jesus already had a fire going with fish on it, but he asked them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

Simon Peter hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

They had breakfast on the beach with him there. They knew who he was. In fact they didn’t dare ask him, “Who are you?” Jesus himself gave them bread and fish to eat. This was the third time he had revealed himself to them.

Questions

I wonder why John had to write in that the disciples didn’t dare ask “Who he was”. Was it so glaringly obvious it would have been stupid? They why put that in? Just seems odd to me.

Simon Peter, even in his eagerness to see the Lord, took the time to dress properly for him. Makes me think it was ingrained behaviour. Strip down to work, dress to talk to people. Part of me is still surprised though.

Points that hit home

Simon was SO eager to be with the Lord. He didn’t wait a second (beyond dressing) to rush out to be with him. When Jesus asked for more fish, he immediately set out to bring them in. Such eagerness to not only be with his Lord but to meet his every request. I need to ponder on that a spell.

Part of my thinking is this: Peter had lost his Lord to crucifixion. He knew it, saw it, experienced it. And here now was his Lord again. His Lord who just netted them 153 large fish. Peter LOVED the Lord and he was back so of course he was going to spend as much time with him as possible. Of course he was going to do anything Jesus asked.. he was back!!!!!

It would be no different for me if I thought someone I loved was gone forever and then they were back. I want to do dinner, and go for a walk and fetch them a drink. It’s how my love for them would be expressed.

So often I fail to express my love for the Lord in such a manner. I lack that immediate eagerness to be with him, or to do whatever he asks. I’ve allowed myself to become too settled, and too comfortable. I’m supposing this needs to change. I need that eagerness back.

Written to Encourage Belief

March 12, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

A lesson from Thomas was our last devotional. Today John 20:30-31

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Looking at Scripture

Oh, aren’t these interesting lines?

We know that Jesus is among the disciples. Witnessed by a now believing Thomas and the rest.

Jesus did other signs but we aren’t told about them.

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

But the ones were told about are for the express purpose of helping us believe in Jesus as the Christ, the son of God.

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

AND so that believing in him we may have life in his name.

and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Life Lesson

I don’t know about you but knowing that Jesus did other signs just makes me very curious about what they were. I know, it’s silly of me, but it just makes me go “Oh, I wonder what he did”. Wouldn’t it be cool to know what he might have said while doing them.

At the same time, I am comforted. The signs that were written down are sufficient for my belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of my life. I don’t NEED anything more. If I did, it would have been written.

John is clear though… Enough was written down for faith to be realized. What was written was done so in order that we might believe, in fact, that was the whole purpose. Isn’t that great to know?

The bible isn’t just random words you know? It has a purpose. Jesus appearing among the disciples, us knowing that matters! Jesus talking to Thomas.. that matters. It’s part of what helps to form our faith in Jesus as Christ. Not just stories, not just random miraculous events, but events with the purpose of faith formation.

New Testament

Doers not just Hearers

Doers not just Hearers

Come Back to Your Senses