This should get me caught up on posting "meditations" from my daily assimilation of the NT:
1 CORINTHIANS 13 MAR 10
The predominate theme of 1 Corinthians is unity - unity in the Body of Christs, unity in marriage, unity with the Lord, unity in communion and the conduct of worship, unity in the use of the gifts of the Spirit.
The key verse is 1 Cor. 12: 27 : "Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it." (NASB) The key thought is expressed in 1: 13 : "Has Christ been divided?" The obvious answer is no. Christ has not been divided, and His present Body on earth should not be divided either.
All division is based on the flesh.
HEBREWS 05 JUL 10
This morning while reading through Hebrews, I began to see a progression of subjects with a common theme. The theme is: Jesus is better.
Jesus is better than the angels.
Jesus is better than Moses.
Jesus is better than the Levitical priests.
Jesus serves in a better sanctuary than the earthly one.
Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant.
Jesus was a better sacrifice than sheep, goats, and bulls.
JAMES 13 JUL 10
The key verse of the Letter of James is Chapter 3, verse 13: "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom." (NASB) This is the key verse because everything James wrote is wisdom.
Being joyful and patient in the midst of trials is wisdom. Being single-minded in faith is wisdom. Being impartial in your treatment of people is wisdom. Showing faith through your works is wisdom. And so on.
Wisdom shows in how we behave.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Meditation on John
24 OCT 09
Many aspiring to the ministry of disregard the importance of "lower" functions in the Church. By doing so, they may be passing up opportunities to be used for the working of miracles.
In John 2:1-11, we see the well-known story or Jesus turning water into wine. But notice the details of His actions.
Did Jesus touch the water? No.
Did He touch the waterpots? No.
Did He pray over the water, or speak to it? No.
Did He pray over the waterpots? No.
All we see Jesus do in this episode is to speak to the servants (the ushers), and they obeyed. The waiters (ushers) were the ones who handled the water and the pots. Sure Jesus performed the miracle, but He did so through the obedience of the servants.
Let's look at another notable miracle recorded in John 6: 1 -14.
Jesus taught a crowd of people one day, and He spoke to them long enough for the people to become physically hungry. Jesus wound up feeding five thousand men.
But look closer at what He actually did. He took one boy's lunch of bread and fish, and multiplied it enough to feed the crowd and have leftovers for later. Before Jesus started multiplying the bread and fish, what did He do? He told His disciples (later, apostles) to have the people sit down. He turned His disciples into ushers.
Then, when He started multiplying the the food, He had His disciples serve it to the people. He turned His disciples into waiters.
Sure, Jesus performed a miracle by multiplying the fish and bread, but the people were fed only by the obedience and actions of His disciples.
Remember, the word 'ministry' means 'service.'
Many aspiring to the ministry of disregard the importance of "lower" functions in the Church. By doing so, they may be passing up opportunities to be used for the working of miracles.
In John 2:1-11, we see the well-known story or Jesus turning water into wine. But notice the details of His actions.
Did Jesus touch the water? No.
Did He touch the waterpots? No.
Did He pray over the water, or speak to it? No.
Did He pray over the waterpots? No.
All we see Jesus do in this episode is to speak to the servants (the ushers), and they obeyed. The waiters (ushers) were the ones who handled the water and the pots. Sure Jesus performed the miracle, but He did so through the obedience of the servants.
Let's look at another notable miracle recorded in John 6: 1 -14.
Jesus taught a crowd of people one day, and He spoke to them long enough for the people to become physically hungry. Jesus wound up feeding five thousand men.
But look closer at what He actually did. He took one boy's lunch of bread and fish, and multiplied it enough to feed the crowd and have leftovers for later. Before Jesus started multiplying the bread and fish, what did He do? He told His disciples (later, apostles) to have the people sit down. He turned His disciples into ushers.
Then, when He started multiplying the the food, He had His disciples serve it to the people. He turned His disciples into waiters.
Sure, Jesus performed a miracle by multiplying the fish and bread, but the people were fed only by the obedience and actions of His disciples.
Remember, the word 'ministry' means 'service.'
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