I was amazed at Matthew 20:21 where the mother of Zebedee asked Jesus to give orders that one of her sons sit at his right hand in the kingdom of Heaven and the other son to sit at the left. How silly---- But we Christians pray amiss and ask for silly stuff also not knowing the scriptures.
In Matthew 21:21 Jesus says that if we have faith and do not doubt, that we can say to a mtn, Be cast into the sea and it will be done. And whatever we ask for in prayer, believing, we will receive. Jesus doesn't say some things we ask for or a few things we ask for we'll recieve. Jesus says WHATEVER we ask for in prayer believing-----we'll receive.
I also agree with you Chris in Matthew 21:31. Jesus is talking to church people here. He's talking to priests and elders of the church and telling them that prostitutes and tax collectors will get into the kingdom of Heaven before they do. There's going to be a lot of surprised church people one day who are going straight to Hell but don't realize it.
Okay---I'm on week 9--Yayyyy. I daily claim grace, favor and spiritual blessings upon my life because of I Cor 1:3-4.
Whenever someone says something negative against me about something I said or did, I turn to I Cor 1:8 where it says He'll be my warrant against all accusation or indictment so that I'll be guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In I Cor 2:13 it says we are combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language. For myself, I know that there would be a lot of things that I wouldn't understand if I didn't have and daily use the gift of tongues (spiritual language) spoken of here.
And then verse 14 says the natural man does not welcome the gifts and teachings of the Holy Spirit for they are nonsense to him. And I've got to tell you that many Christians who do not understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit (such as tongues) have told me that it's nonsense.
ha ha Sherrie, I won't be critical that you posted in wk 9 instead of 8 for Matthew. That would make my post of none effect! LOL. I agree with you. There's gonna be alot who think they're already IN & find themselves on the OUT! Really sad. I just don't want to be one of those, so I will keep my eyes on Jesus, the Beginning & the End of my faith. I love the reminder in 1Cor 1:4-6 in The Message that says, there's no end to what God is doing in (me). His work is verified in my life because I'm a changed person. THANK YOU JESUS!! And the reminder that it's not only Jesus but "God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that." I needed that reminder this a.m. after a bad night & wondering why. I also love the simplicity of the cross. How that "simple" act just blows intellectual's minds. It is foolishness to those who shut their hearts to something so simple a child can understand it. The gospel is beautiful to those who's minds/hearts are open, but to those that want to complicate it...it's a shut door & they can't spiritually discern it or other awesome spiritual truths because "surrender" is foreign to them. To be dependent upon God is definitely a spiritual discernment & to those who want to be independent...they don't get it. How we're so strong because we surrender & depend on Someone. Good stuff!
Definitely don't like how women were treated in Bible times. Men, not defending them, but throwing them under the bus to save their own skin. Some Levite! These aren't men to me, but....I'll calm down & not start a diatribe. I'm glad Israel did something about it. But then what about the women who were just carried off for wives & baby machines!? I definitely don't get it. So, the only thing beneficial I got out of this was how God allowed the Israelites to fail twice in their battle with the Benjaminites. He had told them to go but then they lost & people died. It made them search their hearts & their relationship with God. To come back closer to Him. Just made me think of how much closer I come to God when I know He's leading, but I don't have the victories I'm promised or it's harder than I thought. I just want nothing between Him & I so it's all about Him & not me in the end. All the glory for the victories in my life is totally God's.
OK! I'm back in the land of the internet! I've been keeping up with all of your posts -- and loving the new ideas and thoughts that spring up from something you all say!
3 times in this Judges section it says "In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes" Well -- I guess so! as Chris pointed out -- it was save your own skin at all costs. How evil!
Maybe it took this big expanse of evility to cause Israel to rise up and say -- enough! Maybe that's kindof the picture of our Universe?? Maybe as the other worlds see how evil the Devil's ways are - - killing God's Son, they unite together and say "enough" "God's ways are just right and love-filled. Not sure if this can be a parrellel or not; but something to think about!
Yuck - I HATE how disrespectful men were to women back then; and it frosted me when the Levite said (20:5) That night some of the leading citizens of Gibeah surrounded the house, planning to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she was dead" - - interesting that he failed to mention that he was the one that kicked her out the door. (fume)
Evil is so evil. Thanks Chris for finding some redeeming thoughts in all of this:)
well Sherrie I don't disagree with you about how women are treated today, but since we were blogging about the reading.... And I knew if I got started I'd keep on going so that's why I said in effect "don't get me started". :D
For Psalms I went back & forth between different translations because I always like to compare when I'm reading a paraphrase which is what The Message is. 25:4,5 "Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth." I just enjoy the picture of trust & a teachable heart here & pray this for myself. 25:15 "If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet." This is the opposite of logical thinking because we always say "you need to look where you're going" but if I want to be more like Jesus, then that is truly where I am going! 26:2,3 "Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I'm fit inside and out. So I never lose sight of your love, But keep in step with you, never missing a beat." I always want to be aware of God's presence & the little things He does for me & be delighted by them. I don't want to take Him for granted, which is way too easy to do. :( I guess that's why He allows the trials in our lives, because we're very forgetful, at least I am.
I immediately reread my previous post after I wrote it and thought wow---I'm really wound up on the violence against women thing.
And it looked like I was picking on Chris---but that wasn't my intent--- (we're good enough friends that we feel safe speaking our minds to one another.) I know that if I'm out of line---Chris will set me straight.
I tried to remove the post, but since I'm technologically challenged---I couldn't figure out how to do so. Please Please direct me to the "remove post" button. I really appreciate the help.
So glad we're moving from Bible section to Bible section -- as Psalms was quite a balm after the Judges section.
Sherrie - I agree that there is nothing as evil as the disrespect and ugliness of the sins against women - - Bible times through today; it's been one of the devil's ultimate tools of hate.
Today - - after the Greg Mortenson talk last night -- 24:1 came alive: The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. The world and ALL its people belong to Him! I ususally feel disconnected from the bigger world - - absorbed in my own problems or path - - not God though - - and He wants me to be connected - - a personal challenge for me!
I relate with David on 25:4 - - show me the right path, O Lord - - point out the road for me to follow (not only my spiritual path - - but my physical, what's happening today and in the future path)
Also - 25:5 - - (I know Chris - - you already got this one, but for me too) ALL DAY LONG I put my hope in You. So many times I find myself not living in the presence of God - - and that's where I'm safe - - living in the reality of Him.
I was thinking about Job when I read chapter 26 - - did Job have Psalms to read before he went through his experience? Wish I knew more about time periods the OT was written. Anyway, 26 sounded like Jobian experience to me
Sherrie - I don't know how to remove it -- but I think it is ok to speak out on the evils of how women are treated -- that SHOULD be a holy discontent and a holy passion for all of us. God wants everyone to be treated with respect (that's why he wrote commandments 5-10 with His finger in stone!) He wants us to remember to treat each other with love.
I know that Chris feels as strong about this as you do!
Hey Sherrie, when you're signed in, after you post & want to remove it, there's a little garbage can icon to the right of the date/time line at the end of your post. Just click that & it's removed. I think you can delete any of your own posts at anytime when signed in as I see little garbage cans next to all of mine. Unless of course somebody's trying to tell me something! LOL But no worries Sherrie, you know I didn't take offense or feel like I was being picked on.
yeah Linda, I really liked the ALL DAY LONG I put my hope in You. If I didn't have this hope, there's no point in sticking around that's for sure! So for Job today, it looks like Job's really fed up with his "friends" calling them mockers & saying they are useless. Loved it! But then he's talking straight to God & not trying to persuade people because he realizes that God's the one who's gonna make a difference, who can change things, the One who's really in charge. "O God, pledge your support for me...You're the only one who can do it! These people are so useless! You know firsthand how stupid they can be. You wouldn't let them have the last word, would you?" 17:3-5 Just reminded me of Ps 121 "where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord..." People can be so fickle. God is constant. These alleged friends should know Job. It's surprising that they keep accusing him & adding to his grief & misery. I just had a visit from a friend & it was soooo nice to talk with someone who knows me. It was reviving & encouraging AND it was mutual. Job's "friends" are accusatory, draining & only wanting to convince him of their view. They're not really listening to him, to his heart. Real friendship takes time to develop, maybe they're new friends because Job had $$ or maybe it's just a man thing. Maybe they're afraid their reputations will be tarnished because they have a "friend" who is going thru this & they need to convince Job of his errors so they can save face. Can't believe we have 20+ chapters left of their blowing smoke!
Did you notice how many times God reminded us that He created everything? No wonder Satan attacks this so hard with evolution - - God's creative power is His claim for Godship - - idols have to be created.
46:3 & 4 is an interesting comparison. God comparing himself to a mom - - both in pregnancy and once the child is born & throughout that child's life - - God is there. It also comes out in 49:15 -- and in verse 16, I wonder if the nail prints of His crucifixion is how he's written our names in His palms?
47:8-11 reminded me of the arrogance of the United States - - we think nothing can happen to us; but one catastrophe can send us to our knees in a heartbeat.
50:6-7 could also be referring to the crucifixion. If so, as Jesus read this, I can see Him memorizing verse 7 "Therefore, I've set my face like a stone, determined to do His will."
I love the sovereignty of God that comes out today -- He created us, He carries us, He warns us what will happen, He comforts us, if we listen - - He will lead.
Ha ha, you're so funny Linda! I don't think any of them qualify! Isaiah shows me God in relationship. He's pleading with us, not giving up. Reminding us of where we were, what has happened, what He did, what we did & it's not in anger, it's in love & it's all right. There's no bias, it's not like we can say, "no, I didn't do that, because I DID! And I know He's right. So why do I fight Him so much? Why is my heart so hard & stubborn. I realize He's talking to Israel here but I just put myself in there & look back over my life & I'm the same as them. But like He says, He's not divorcing us, not giving up. Over & over again He tells me that He's the only One who can save me, heal me, help me, restore me. Where else am I gonna go? There is no one else. I also needed the reminder of Christ, submitting to His killers because He trusted His Father & knew it would be worth it all. I need that trust in what I can't see right now because of what's in front of me. To set my face like flint. Trust firmly, because I love Him deeply & believe that He loves me even deeper.
Some pretty serious woes to those Pharisees -- and something each one of us needs to sit up and take notice of -- seems to boil down to "Everything they do is for show" so really, why do we do some of the thing we do? and by "we" I mean "me"
I can relate to the carefully washed cup - - if you guys could see the inside, you'd see the filth - - God already knows what's there, so I'm not fooling Him -- whey would it be so important for me to try to fool people? bother! Thanks Jesus for your words and spelling it out so clearly - - please wash me on the inside. I'm the cup and I can't do it myself.
Something I never noticed about Jesus narrative on the last days of Jerusalem and the last days of the world. 24:22 "For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began (I'm thinking He's referring here to the destruction of Jerusalem?) And it will never be so great again. I guess I thought the end of the world was the pinnacle of anguish - - maybe not so - - - hmmmm, more thought required.
I've never personally believed in secret rapture; (it just doesn't line up with 1 Thesselonians 4 and other scripture); but I know that many people use 24:40-41 to support sr teaching. I never noticed before how the sentence before verse 40, "That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes" introduces the concept of one taken, one left (kindof the sheep/goats concept of His second coming). What do the rest of you think? Second coming or Secret Rapture (just thought I'd throw a little discussion seed in here!!!)
Verse 25 -- a wake up call to use His gifts wisely - and gifts include the good news of the Bible; a gift that's available to each one of us. It's sooooo easy to live for just me - - Lord, clean the inside of this cup - - please!
Good thoughts Linda, there's a lot there & I'm with you on cleaning the inside of me (the cup). I was thinking about the Rapture texts that people use & reading it in context with v37-39 it's easy to see that I'd rather be left behind like Noah was. Everyone else was taken away/killed & they were the only ones left. So I'm fine with being left behind! I like how The Message puts 24:26,27 "...The Arrival of the Son of Man isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you!" He comes for me, like we've been reading in Captivating. In the investment story of 25:14 & on it's a warning about not trusting God to me. The last guy was so afraid to disappoint his master that he risked nothing, he hid his abilities & talents. God can only double our efforts when we are willing to risk being vulnerable & failing. It's a trust thing for me. Reminds of Twila Paris' song "Do I Trust You". Always am blessed by that one!
I was amazed at Matthew 20:21 where the mother of Zebedee asked Jesus to give orders that one of her sons sit at his right hand in the kingdom of Heaven and the other son to sit at the left. How silly----
ReplyDeleteBut we Christians pray amiss and ask for silly stuff also not knowing the scriptures.
In Matthew 21:21 Jesus says that if we have faith and do not doubt, that we can say to a mtn, Be cast into the sea and it will be done. And whatever we ask for in prayer, believing, we will receive. Jesus doesn't say some things we ask for or a few things we ask for we'll recieve. Jesus says WHATEVER we ask for in prayer believing-----we'll receive.
I also agree with you Chris in Matthew 21:31. Jesus is talking to church people here. He's talking to priests and elders of the church and telling them that prostitutes and tax collectors will get into the kingdom of Heaven before they do. There's going to be a lot of surprised church people one day who are going straight to Hell but don't realize it.
OOOPs! I just realized that this was for week 8
Okay---I'm on week 9--Yayyyy. I daily claim grace, favor and spiritual blessings upon my life because of I Cor 1:3-4.
ReplyDeleteWhenever someone says something negative against me about something I said or did, I turn to I Cor 1:8 where it says He'll be my warrant against all accusation or indictment so that I'll be guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In I Cor 2:13 it says we are combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language. For myself, I know that there would be a lot of things that I wouldn't understand if I didn't have and daily use the gift of tongues (spiritual language) spoken of here.
And then verse 14 says the natural man does not welcome the gifts and teachings of the Holy Spirit for they are nonsense to him. And I've got to tell you that many Christians who do not understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit (such as tongues) have told me that it's nonsense.
ha ha Sherrie, I won't be critical that you posted in wk 9 instead of 8 for Matthew. That would make my post of none effect! LOL. I agree with you. There's gonna be alot who think they're already IN & find themselves on the OUT! Really sad. I just don't want to be one of those, so I will keep my eyes on Jesus, the Beginning & the End of my faith.
ReplyDeleteI love the reminder in 1Cor 1:4-6 in The Message that says, there's no end to what God is doing in (me). His work is verified in my life because I'm a changed person. THANK YOU JESUS!!
And the reminder that it's not only Jesus but "God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that." I needed that reminder this a.m. after a bad night & wondering why.
I also love the simplicity of the cross. How that "simple" act just blows intellectual's minds. It is foolishness to those who shut their hearts to something so simple a child can understand it. The gospel is beautiful to those who's minds/hearts are open, but to those that want to complicate it...it's a shut door & they can't spiritually discern it or other awesome spiritual truths because "surrender" is foreign to them. To be dependent upon God is definitely a spiritual discernment & to those who want to be independent...they don't get it. How we're so strong because we surrender & depend on Someone. Good stuff!
Definitely don't like how women were treated in Bible times. Men, not defending them, but throwing them under the bus to save their own skin. Some Levite! These aren't men to me, but....I'll calm down & not start a diatribe. I'm glad Israel did something about it. But then what about the women who were just carried off for wives & baby machines!? I definitely don't get it.
ReplyDeleteSo, the only thing beneficial I got out of this was how God allowed the Israelites to fail twice in their battle with the Benjaminites. He had told them to go but then they lost & people died. It made them search their hearts & their relationship with God. To come back closer to Him. Just made me think of how much closer I come to God when I know He's leading, but I don't have the victories I'm promised or it's harder than I thought. I just want nothing between Him & I so it's all about Him & not me in the end. All the glory for the victories in my life is totally God's.
OK! I'm back in the land of the internet! I've been keeping up with all of your posts -- and loving the new ideas and thoughts that spring up from something you all say!
ReplyDelete3 times in this Judges section it says "In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes" Well -- I guess so! as Chris pointed out -- it was save your own skin at all costs. How evil!
Maybe it took this big expanse of evility to cause Israel to rise up and say -- enough! Maybe that's kindof the picture of our Universe?? Maybe as the other worlds see how evil the Devil's ways are - - killing God's Son, they unite together and say "enough" "God's ways are just right and love-filled. Not sure if this can be a parrellel or not; but something to think about!
Yuck - I HATE how disrespectful men were to women back then; and it frosted me when the Levite said (20:5) That night some of the leading citizens of Gibeah surrounded the house, planning to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she was dead" - - interesting that he failed to mention that he was the one that kicked her out the door. (fume)
Evil is so evil. Thanks Chris for finding some redeeming thoughts in all of this:)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletewell Sherrie I don't disagree with you about how women are treated today, but since we were blogging about the reading.... And I knew if I got started I'd keep on going so that's why I said in effect "don't get me started". :D
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFor Psalms I went back & forth between different translations because I always like to compare when I'm reading a paraphrase which is what The Message is.
ReplyDelete25:4,5 "Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth."
I just enjoy the picture of trust & a teachable heart here & pray this for myself.
25:15 "If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet." This is the opposite of logical thinking because we always say "you need to look where you're going" but if I want to be more like Jesus, then that is truly where I am going!
26:2,3 "Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I'm fit inside and out. So I never lose sight of your love, But keep in step with you, never missing a beat."
I always want to be aware of God's presence & the little things He does for me & be delighted by them. I don't want to take Him for granted, which is way too easy to do. :( I guess that's why He allows the trials in our lives, because we're very forgetful, at least I am.
I immediately reread my previous post after I wrote it and thought wow---I'm really wound up on the violence against women thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd it looked like I was picking on Chris---but that wasn't my intent--- (we're good enough friends that we feel safe speaking our minds to one another.) I know that if I'm out of line---Chris will set me straight.
I tried to remove the post, but since I'm technologically challenged---I couldn't figure out how to do so.
Please Please direct me to the "remove post" button.
I really appreciate the help.
So glad we're moving from Bible section to Bible section -- as Psalms was quite a balm after the Judges section.
ReplyDeleteSherrie - I agree that there is nothing as evil as the disrespect and ugliness of the sins against women - - Bible times through today; it's been one of the devil's ultimate tools of hate.
Today - - after the Greg Mortenson talk last night -- 24:1 came alive: The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. The world and ALL its people belong to Him! I ususally feel disconnected from the bigger world - - absorbed in my own problems or path - - not God though - - and He wants me to be connected - - a personal challenge for me!
I relate with David on 25:4 - - show me the right path, O Lord - - point out the road for me to follow (not only my spiritual path - - but my physical, what's happening today and in the future path)
Also - 25:5 - - (I know Chris - - you already got this one, but for me too) ALL DAY LONG I put my hope in You. So many times I find myself not living in the presence of God - - and that's where I'm safe - - living in the reality of Him.
I was thinking about Job when I read chapter 26 - - did Job have Psalms to read before he went through his experience? Wish I knew more about time periods the OT was written. Anyway, 26 sounded like Jobian experience to me
Sherrie - I don't know how to remove it -- but I think it is ok to speak out on the evils of how women are treated -- that SHOULD be a holy discontent and a holy passion for all of us. God wants everyone to be treated with respect (that's why he wrote commandments 5-10 with His finger in stone!) He wants us to remember to treat each other with love.
ReplyDeleteI know that Chris feels as strong about this as you do!
Hey Sherrie, when you're signed in, after you post & want to remove it, there's a little garbage can icon to the right of the date/time line at the end of your post. Just click that & it's removed. I think you can delete any of your own posts at anytime when signed in as I see little garbage cans next to all of mine. Unless of course somebody's trying to tell me something! LOL
ReplyDeleteBut no worries Sherrie, you know I didn't take offense or feel like I was being picked on.
The only reason I deleted my first one this a.m. was because I had misspelled something. So I just copied/pasted it back in & corrected myself.
ReplyDeleteyeah Linda, I really liked the ALL DAY LONG I put my hope in You. If I didn't have this hope, there's no point in sticking around that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteSo for Job today, it looks like Job's really fed up with his "friends" calling them mockers & saying they are useless. Loved it!
But then he's talking straight to God & not trying to persuade people because he realizes that God's the one who's gonna make a difference, who can change things, the One who's really in charge.
"O God, pledge your support for me...You're the only one who can do it! These people are so useless! You know firsthand how stupid they can be. You wouldn't let them have the last word, would you?" 17:3-5
Just reminded me of Ps 121 "where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord..." People can be so fickle. God is constant.
These alleged friends should know Job. It's surprising that they keep accusing him & adding to his grief & misery. I just had a visit from a friend & it was soooo nice to talk with someone who knows me. It was reviving & encouraging AND it was mutual. Job's "friends" are accusatory, draining & only wanting to convince him of their view. They're not really listening to him, to his heart. Real friendship takes time to develop, maybe they're new friends because Job had $$ or maybe it's just a man thing. Maybe they're afraid their reputations will be tarnished because they have a "friend" who is going thru this & they need to convince Job of his errors so they can save face. Can't believe we have 20+ chapters left of their blowing smoke!
Bildad should NOT be a hospice nurse
ReplyDeleteDid you notice how many times God reminded us that He created everything? No wonder Satan attacks this so hard with evolution - - God's creative power is His claim for Godship - - idols have to be created.
ReplyDelete46:3 & 4 is an interesting comparison. God comparing himself to a mom - - both in pregnancy and once the child is born & throughout that child's life - - God is there. It also comes out in 49:15 -- and in verse 16, I wonder if the nail prints of His crucifixion is how he's written our names in His palms?
47:8-11 reminded me of the arrogance of the United States - - we think nothing can happen to us; but one catastrophe can send us to our knees in a heartbeat.
50:6-7 could also be referring to the crucifixion. If so, as Jesus read this, I can see Him memorizing verse 7 "Therefore, I've set my face like a stone, determined to do His will."
I love the sovereignty of God that comes out today -- He created us, He carries us, He warns us what will happen, He comforts us, if we listen - - He will lead.
Ha ha, you're so funny Linda! I don't think any of them qualify!
ReplyDeleteIsaiah shows me God in relationship. He's pleading with us, not giving up. Reminding us of where we were, what has happened, what He did, what we did & it's not in anger, it's in love & it's all right. There's no bias, it's not like we can say, "no, I didn't do that, because I DID! And I know He's right. So why do I fight Him so much? Why is my heart so hard & stubborn.
I realize He's talking to Israel here but I just put myself in there & look back over my life & I'm the same as them.
But like He says, He's not divorcing us, not giving up. Over & over again He tells me that He's the only One who can save me, heal me, help me, restore me. Where else am I gonna go? There is no one else.
I also needed the reminder of Christ, submitting to His killers because He trusted His Father & knew it would be worth it all. I need that trust in what I can't see right now because of what's in front of me. To set my face like flint. Trust firmly, because I love Him deeply & believe that He loves me even deeper.
Chris & Linda---
ReplyDeleteLove reading your thoughts even when I don't have time to blog----
Keep up the good work---
Hugs---
Some pretty serious woes to those Pharisees -- and something each one of us needs to sit up and take notice of -- seems to boil down to "Everything they do is for show" so really, why do we do some of the thing we do? and by "we" I mean "me"
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the carefully washed cup - - if you guys could see the inside, you'd see the filth - - God already knows what's there, so I'm not fooling Him -- whey would it be so important for me to try to fool people? bother! Thanks Jesus for your words and spelling it out so clearly - - please wash me on the inside. I'm the cup and I can't do it myself.
Something I never noticed about Jesus narrative on the last days of Jerusalem and the last days of the world. 24:22 "For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began (I'm thinking He's referring here to the destruction of Jerusalem?) And it will never be so great again. I guess I thought the end of the world was the pinnacle of anguish - - maybe not so - - - hmmmm, more thought required.
I've never personally believed in secret rapture; (it just doesn't line up with 1 Thesselonians 4 and other scripture); but I know that many people use 24:40-41 to support sr teaching. I never noticed before how the sentence before verse 40, "That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes" introduces the concept of one taken, one left (kindof the sheep/goats concept of His second coming). What do the rest of you think? Second coming or Secret Rapture (just thought I'd throw a little discussion seed in here!!!)
Verse 25 -- a wake up call to use His gifts wisely - and gifts include the good news of the Bible; a gift that's available to each one of us. It's sooooo easy to live for just me - - Lord, clean the inside of this cup - - please!
Good thoughts Linda, there's a lot there & I'm with you on cleaning the inside of me (the cup). I was thinking about the Rapture texts that people use & reading it in context with v37-39 it's easy to see that I'd rather be left behind like Noah was. Everyone else was taken away/killed & they were the only ones left. So I'm fine with being left behind!
ReplyDeleteI like how The Message puts 24:26,27 "...The Arrival of the Son of Man isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you!" He comes for me, like we've been reading in Captivating.
In the investment story of 25:14 & on it's a warning about not trusting God to me. The last guy was so afraid to disappoint his master that he risked nothing, he hid his abilities & talents. God can only double our efforts when we are willing to risk being vulnerable & failing. It's a trust thing for me. Reminds of Twila Paris' song "Do I Trust You". Always am blessed by that one!
Great song -- just pulled it up on youtube:)
ReplyDelete