Category: discipleship

  • Blown by the wind? Read the Word

    Years ago, this whirlymagig used to hang outside our dining room window. Some people call them wind spinners, or whirligigs, but I’ve always known them as whirlymagigs. One of our sons built it at camp.

    It is a spiral of popsicle sticks, mounted with a swivel on a string. Whenever the wind blows, it spirals around with the wind; then the tension in the string spirals it back in the opposite direction when the wind stops. 

    It can be quite relaxing to sit and watch them spiral as the wind chimes toll their delightful melody. 

    If the wind gets to be too strong, though, the whirlymagig blows all over the place, and the wind chimes just clang with noise.

    Many people in the church are like this spinner. They don’t know what they believe or why they believe it. Never having read or studied God’s word for themselves, they blow to and fro with the teachers of their favorite pastor and clang about in a storm.

    The Bible warned that this would happen. 

    I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 NIV

    We need to be diligent in testing out the teaching we hear with what the Bible actually says. Ask God to reveal His truth when you read. 

    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 NIV

    By all means, listen to sermons, read solid teaching books, read devotionals like Gleanings, but ALWAYS compare them to the Word. If you’re not spending time in your Bible, give up Gleanings or one of the other things you read (or listen to) and invest that time in reading the Bible. Gleanings is only designed to supplement your time in the Bible, not replace it.

    Invest your time in reading and listening to the Bible. Learn what you believe and why you believe it, then when the winds of life blow (and they will), you will be anchored to a foundation that will stand.

    Our hope, our faith and our salvation is in Christ alone. Much of our understanding and our ability to apply the truths of that relationship comes from reading the Word. Studying the Scriptures teaches us more about Christ, about His power and His promises for our lives and those things help us to withstand the turbulence of life.

    Read the Word. Read THE WORD. READ THE WORD. Just in case you’re not certain as to what I’m saying, I’ll repeat it: READ THE WORD

    Invest in a good Bible, perhaps a couple of different translations, get a good concordance, and a Bible dictionary to help if you can. If you have no budget, there are a plethora of free resources available on the net.

    There are all kinds of delightful commentaries out there to help you understand, but the most important thing is time in the Bible itself. READ THE WORD!

    Don’t be like my whirlymagig, blown around by the slightest change. Study God’s truth for yourself. If the church you belong to tells you not to study the Word or won’t allow you to ask questions about it, find another church.

    Until next time, read the Word.

    Be blessed

    SUMMARY

    My whirlymagig only flies out of control when the wind gets too strong, and too many Christians do the same thing spiritually. Stop being blown around by every teacher and get anchored in the Word instead.

    TAKEAWAY

    If you’ve never studied God’s Word for yourself, you’ll blow around with whatever your favorite pastor says.

    Test every teaching you hear against Scripture.

    Don’t let a devotional like Gleanings replace your time in the Bible. Let it point you back to it.

    Some content you might enjoy

    Read the Word

    Right belief must become right living

    Your identity in Christ

    The church – Who’s in? Who’s out?

  • Grace That Transforms

    From Rough Stone to Precious Jewel

    Rough and faceted garnets. An illustration of God's transformative grace.

    Over the past few days, I have been marveling at the incredible scope of God’s patient, loving mercy and grace. It really astounds me when I think that Jesus gave up His life to redeem people who were His enemies. Redeeming them was grace beyond measure, but He goes beyond that and, by the Word and Spirit, transforms us to be more like Him every day.

    The garnets on the left are rough stones as dug out of the ground. The ones on the right have been carefully faceted to reveal the inner jewel that resided in the rough stone.

    That’s what Christ does. He digs us out of the dirt and mire of our sin-filled lives and rebellion, while we are still His enemies and loves us.

    For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 ESV

    That would be unimaginable grace if He stopped there. It’s far more than any of us deserve. But He extends it further. The Lord sends the Spirit to dwell in the new believer.

    Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

    The Lord conforms us into the image of Jesus.

    For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29 ESV

    Sometimes the Lord cuts off huge pieces of waste material. He often does that through suffering and trials.  Then He carefully considers all the facets and angles and shapes us. Lastly, He polishes each facet into a thing of beauty.

    We were made to be precious stones for the King of Kings and bring Him glory. Each one of us is unique; no two will be alike. We are all given differing genetics, personalities, circumstances, gifts and talents. Each of us is a separate piece of rough being worked in the Master’s hands.

    It’s an ongoing process that He promises to complete in us.

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV

    The process isn’t always easy, but hold fast. The finished product that will be our glorified life will be beautiful beyond anything we can imagine.

    Be blessed, my friends,

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I’ve been marveling at how far God’s grace goes: it saves us while we’re still His enemies, and then patiently transforms us facet by facet into the image of Christ. Like rough garnets cut and polished into jewels, each of us is being shaped into something beautiful for the King.

    TAKEAWAY

    Christ’s grace redeemed us while we were still His enemies, dying for the ungodly rather than the righteous (Romans 5:7-8).

    The Spirit now dwells within believers, making our bodies a temple bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

    Like rough garnets faceted into jewels, God patiently cuts, shapes, and polishes each of us into the unique image of His Son (Romans 8:29, Ephesians 2:10).

    You Might Enjoy These

    Is it right belief or right living?

    Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word.

    Why everyone knows the truth