Here are a couple quotes that I’ve read in the past couple of days. I’ve briefly addressed one of them at my other blog, but was wondering if any of the faithful here would want to interact with these quotes.
Here’s another indispensable basic truth you must know and understand about healing: It’s never God’s will for us to be sick; He wants every person healed every time. That’s nearly-too-good-to-be-true news, but that’s the Gospel. Most Christians don’t know or believe that. They think the Lord makes them sick, or at the very least, He allows Satan to make them sick to either punish or correct them. That kind of thinking will get you killed; it’s not what the Bible teaches. Full article here
If a person really believed that God is the one who put sickness on them because He is trying to work something for good in their life, then they should not go to the doctor or take any medicine. That would be resisting God’s plans. They should let the sickness run its course and thereby get the full benefit of God’s correction. Of course, no one advocates that. That is absurd. It is even more absurd to believe that God is the one behind the tragedy. Full article here
For those of you interested I’ve started a new personal blog.
Even with the new blog, I still plan on blogging here (as the groans come-a-flying). Lord willing, I would like to post something on here about once a week, maybe more.
Anyways, feel free to stop by my blog and say hi!
This may be old news for most of you, but I have recently discovered a very handy and useful feature on ESV Bible Online.
Whenever I do an in-depth study of a text I like to read it without headings, chapters, and at time verse numbers. This makes it easier for me to focus on the text and connect the thought flow of the writer.
Before, I would copy the text into a word file and go off and delete all the headings, chapters, etc. This process, at times, proved cumbersome. Now, I have discovered that you can do this on-line all by the simple click of a couple buttons.
First click on the options ling at the upper right hand of the page.
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Next, it will bring you to an option menu, where you can customize the text that you’re reading or searching.
I have found these options to be very helpful for studying the Word.
Mark Driscoll has a short message on idolatry in America. I’ve found it encouraging and a place for introspection to be done in my life. In the video, an Indian woman, beside an altar to a chicken god, blasts America as the land where people build shrines to their sports teams and to their restaurants.
Idolatry in my own life- I’ve always loved football growing up. I felt God tug on my heart in college and barely watched football and specifically did not watch the Super Bowl in college. Spending time with Jesus in the Word was better and that has not been taken away. Many have much better examples and experiences, but I have found Jesus 10,000x better than the biggest sports game of the year. May we continue to find Jesus better than sports or anything else.
Idolatry to be done away- Driscoll hammers it with the restaurant and food illustrations. Paul warns in Philippians 3, “many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, their God is their belly, their end is destruction, with minds set on earthly things.” It is a severe thing to seek first after food. Where do I cross the lines in living to eat rather than eating to live? I get up and am lethargic until I start to eat. May I (and we) seek to eat to the glory of God (I Cor 10:31) with what he’s given, and not make an idol of food.
How do you deflect criticism and harsh words? What do you do with the comments you receive, some about yourself some about your beliefs, that come across very bluntly?
Each of us needs a model to process and deal with criticism. We need to be able to process that which is true on the one hand while filtering out that which is bad and does not define us. The Bible’s words to “be slow to speak and slow to anger,” are good to remember in moments of criticism. There may be a grain of truth or a heap of truth in what we are being told.
In the end, here are a few things to process comments. First, we should remember that Satan means Accuser and he continually stands by to accuse Christians, BUT his power is gone. The blood of Jesus, being washed in and refreshing your mind in what it means to be washed in the blood of Jesus means more than just we’re not condemned, but that we have a right standing with God (Rev 11:12, II Cor 5:21, Rom 8:1). So if the comment is paralyzing you, plead the power of and refresh your mind on what is the power of Christ’s blood, repent of unrepented sin, and trust in God to justify you. Study the Armor of God (Eph 6). Are you saved from Hell and for Heaven (helmet)? Are your words and actions girded with truth and integrity (belt)? Study the rest of the armor!
So that is first. But keep a few other practical notes in mind when being criticized. How important is the comment? Is dismantling something central to your beliefs, or is it rebuking a word of sarcasm, stylistic preference, or something else? One of the above may have to be reconsidered, one may have to be repented of, and one can be shrugged aside and personal preference. Next, consider the source- who is providing the criticism? A close friend will require a much more thorough answer than a stranger off the street.
With these as a few notes, may we be able to press on in heavenly journey and receive, process and throw off those criticisms which prod, pain, and paralyze and follow Christ as ones who have been set free!
