Keep Worry Far

I've been spending time in Brian Simmon's passion translations and have really been blessed by them. Brian's heart is to bring out the real passion and fire that sometimes gets buried beneath inculcated religious tradition and concepts. He's eventually going to translate the whole Bible but has already done a good bit. You can get more information at http://passiontranslation.com/. It really is great for bringing a new, fresh perspective to the Word of God while maintaining the integrity of scripture.

I was going through Brian's translation of Psalm 37 this morning and was struck by the wording in much of it, but in particular, Psalm 37:8: "Stay away from anger and revenge. Keep worry from you, for it only leads you into lies." The usual translation of the end of this passage is evil or evildoing, but the phrase here "into lies" brings a little extra light on the subject. Worry and fear are liars that poison the soul. Worry and fear also pervert our actions and can lead us to make foolish, rash and unwise decisions. Moving into lies would be the case when we move into disagreement with the Word of God.

In John 8:32, Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will make you free." If the truth makes us free then lies will bring us into bondage, It doesn't matter how sincere we are or even how nice we are. Living in a lie is living on shaky ground and will catch up to us. That's why we need to keep worry far from us. Jesus commanded us not to worry, but it can be a difficult thing to do sometimes. It is vitally important that we pay attention to our walk with the Lord and do those things that edify. We need time with Him. We need time in the Word. We need to pray and worship and to bring our requests before God! He is the antidote, but it does require something of us. Too many times what we call fellowship with God is basically just a series of whine sessions. Take your eyes off your problems, your weakness, your failures, your frustrations and put them on Jesus. It'll take some work and some discipline, particularly when you are just starting out, but the end result will be worth it. It will end in a deeper walk, a deeper trust and a deeper faith!

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

A Good Word

"The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary." (Isaiah 50:4)

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." Ever notice how much quicker some folks seem to criticize instead of encourage? And yet, you can, by the words of your mouth be an incredible blessing and encouragement to someone else. Jesus told us that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

If you only criticize and tear down it's time to examine your heart. We can use words to hurt or to heal -- to harm or to help. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren and we sure don't want to participate in that ministry.

Some folks say they're just speaking the "truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) when in reality they are using that verse to excuse their behavior. I've seen a lot of truth spoken among Christians that was not handled in love.

Be a blessing. Be an encourager. God is simply looking for those who are available.

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." (Ephesians 4:29)

Receive the Word

"But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept [it], and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred." (Mark 4:20)

In Mark 4 Jesus told a story about a farmer who went out and sowed seed. Some of the seed was eaten by birds, some fell on hard ground and some was choked out by thorns. But some of the seed fell on good ground and produced a good crop for the farmer. When Jesus explained the story to his disciples he told them that the seed was the Word of God and that the good ground was those people who hear the word, accept it and bear good fruit. The difference in how God's work plays out in our lives often hinges on whether we receive what He has said. Too often we are interested in making the Bible say what we want it to say. We try to bend the scripture to our theology instead of submitting our theology to the scripture.

Sometimes the Word of God does test us. It may say things we don't understand or have trouble accepting. We tend to judge the Bible by our experience instead of judging our experience by the scripture. When you run across scripture that challenges you how do you handle it? Maybe it's something about belief? Or faith? Do you let the Word challenge your heart or do you try to explain it away. For example, the Bible is clear that if we will listen God will talk to us. Does that challenge you to want to learn to hear His voice or do you just fall back on your theology that says God doesn't do that anymore? Your answer to that question has very real ramifications for your life and walk with God.

Don't fight against the Word of God. Take Him at His Word and begin to submit your life to it. You will be glad you did.

"But without faith it is impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Renew Your Mind

Many years ago when I worked in a lab we had something called an eyewash station. Its purpose is pretty obvious -- if you splashed something toxic in your eyes you could run to the eyewash station and wash out your eyes.

We live in a pretty toxic world these days. We take in a lot of input that is poisonous to our minds. Television, radio, the internet, books and magazines, and the people around us will all throw ideas and opinions our way that are contrary to the Word of God. While we can be careful about what we watch, read or listen to it is impossible to be completely insulated. Nor do we need to be.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)

The Word of God is like our eyewash station. The more we feed on it the more it changes us and renews our minds as we meditate on it and do it. The Word of God washes out the poison that the world lays on us. We will frequently face attitudes and actions that are contrary to what God has said. From the local gossip who works to get you to participate with them to your favorite TV show that tells you to look out for number one we are constantly presented with ideas and attitudes that the enemy will use to poison our thinking.

The antidote is God's Word. A few years ago I leaned a pretty cool trick about latex paint spills on carpet. It then really helped me when I turned over a gallon of paint on my own carpet. First you use some cardboard to scrape up as much paint as possible and put it back in the can but then comes the key part. Don't let the paint dry out. It helps if you have a wet vac. Keep pouring water and vacuuming it up. Keep on washing it. It takes a little time but it works. You cannot tell where I spilled the paint.

That's what we should do with God's Word. We must keep on washing our minds. It's not a one time thing. It's a life long necessity.

The Word of God

God's Word is so good! In the information age there are a lot of lies and speculation floating around. How do you know what to trust? In a topsy-turvy world God's Word is the level against which we judge. God's Word is true. He is faithful and does not lie!

Following is a selection of Bible verses concerning God's Word. Enjoy! Let them speak to your heart.

Every word of God [is] pure; He [is] a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Proverbs 30:5

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 119:89

Your word [is] a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
James 1:22-24

But the word of the LORD endures forever.
1st Peter 1:25

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 17:17

For the word of the LORD [is] right, And all His work [is done] in truth.
Psalm 33:4

For they [are] life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:22

Establish Your word to Your servant, Who [is devoted] to fearing You.
Psalm 119:38

So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.
Psalm 119:42

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:14

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16

New Wineskins

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins." (Mark 9:22)

In Biblical times wineskins were made from whole tanned goat skins with the head, legs and tails removed. New wineskins were used because the skin was still flexible. Wine put in an old stiff wineskin would cause it to burst as carbon dioxide was given off in the fermentation process. Think of a balloon. If you keep blowing on a balloon eventually it will burst. New wineskins were flexible enough to expand and strong enough not to burst.

The example Jesus gives us here is a poignant one concerning our need for humility and a teachable heart. One of the worst places we can be is when we think we already know everything --when we judge the sermon we just heard or the Bible verse we just read through our own lens. If the pastor agrees with me it was a good sermon. If he doesn’t it was obviously a bad sermon. If the Bible verse doesn't line up with my theology there must be a way to explain it away.

That’s one of the things I love about the Word of God. The Word of God will keep you humble if you let it. Years ago I made up my mind that I was not going to argue against God’s Word or try to make it line up with what I believe. That was one of the best decisions of my life.

Receiving the Word with joy will help you to be a new wineskin. Some people look at passages that Jesus said about prayer, or the Holy Spirit, or the power of God and then go into tortured logic to try to explain why they’re not for today. I want to read those verses and be challenged. I want to be inspired in my personal walk with the Lord. If Jesus said we would do greater works than He did then I want to embrace that – not fight against it.

When you read Bible passages that challenge your belief system does your heart leap with joy and expectation or do you quickly run to try to find a way around it?

Maintain a humble and teachable heart. Living the Christian life with wonder and excitement makes it a precious and rewarding journey. Don't try to submit the Word of God to your beliefs and circumstances. Submit your beliefs and circumstances to the Word of God. You'll be glad you did.

Watching The Rain

We've had one of the biggest stretches of hard rain that we have had in quite some time. Working at my computer this morning, sipping a cup of coffee, and seeing the rain come down (this computer sits right under a window facing out) I'm reminded of the story Jesus told about the two house builders in Matthew chapter 7. The first man built his house upon the rock. The rains and wind came and the house stood. The second man built his house upon the sand. The rain and winds came and his house collapsed.

We often refer to Jesus as the rock and the Word compares Him to one in places like 1st Corinthians 10:4 but in this passage when Jesus talks about the two men, one who built his house on the rock and one who didn't, let's look closely at what he says.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:24, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock." and in 7:26, "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand."

The dividing line in these two lives is not what they hear but what they do. It's the response to the Word of God (Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us). James tells us that if we hear the Word and don't do it we can actually become deceived.

What does it mean to be a doer of the Word? A good place to start is in our attitudes when we read it.

What happens when the Word of God challenges some aspect of your life? Maybe you have a really nasty temper. What happens when you read that as believers we should be patient and self-controlled or that we are to cease from anger? What's your response? Are you going to set your heart to be a doer of the Word or make excuses like "I can't help myself" or "it's just the way my family is"?

Become a doer of the Word. Build your life upon the rock!