Tag Archive - Bible

Daniel Pt.1

November 30, 2010 in Bible with 9 Comments

The Book of DanielWe recently read through the book of Daniel in our Route 66 reading at Central and I really enjoyed it. For whatever reason, there were a handful of things that stood out to me about it as I read it through this time and so I’ll dedicate a few posts to my thoughts on it.

“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” Daniel 1:17

What strikes me about this passage is that God gives them gifts in areas that would be surprising to most of us. I’d expect the typical person to be caught off guard if they heard someone praying and asking God for understanding when it came to a current fictional book of literature that is popular. Or dreams… or learning in general. We’d likely think that person crazy or at least theologically adrift.

This to me is another example of our tendency to try and limit God and expand our view of our own ability. God can speak to us however He wants and we might be able to hear more if we were looking in more places. I would love for this verse to be true in my life.

Divine Conspiracy – Ch.7

November 29, 2010 in Bible, Reading with 4 Comments

I’m going to focus my highlights from chapter 7 of Divine Conspiracy into one specific topic addressed. My favorite part of this chapter was Willard’s explanation of Matthew 7:6 which is a very confusing verse. It says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” I’ve heard various explanations of this that have never really clicked for me. But here is how he put it:

“The problem with pearls for pigs is not that the pigs are not worthy. It is not worthiness that is in question here at all, but helpfulness. Pigs cannot digest pearls, cannot nourish themselves upon them. Likewise for a dog with a Bible or a crucifix. The dog cannot eat it. The reason these animals will finally ‘turn and rend you,’ when you one day step up to them with another load of Bibles or pearls, is that you at least are edible. Anyone who has ever had serious responsibilities of caring for animals will understand immediately what Jesus is saying.”

This makes perfect sense and is an incredible way to think of this passage. How often do we give someone something in the “name of God” that they cannot use? I think of people who leave a tract or verse reference at a restaurant instead of a tip because “they need that more than money.” The reality is, that server is trying to earn a living and take care of his/her family and they are unlikely to be impressed with your God if it means you won’t provide for them the way any other “normal” person would. Here’s my suggestion if you are prone to wanting to do this: how about you leave a lavish tip to go with the Bible tract? That will shock them for sure. Willard goes on to explain:

“Frankly, our ‘pearls’ often are offered with a certain superiority of bearing that keeps us from paying attention to those we are trying to help. We have solutions. That should be enough, shouldn’t it? And very quickly some contempt, impatience, anger, and even condemnation slips into our offer.”

Restoration

November 9, 2010 in Bible, Life with 0 Comments

2004 Nissan Xterra SuperchargedI recently posted my Nissan Xterra for sale (click here to see the Craigslist ad). In preparation to sell it, I connected with my friend Tom to get it cleaned up right. We spent Sunday afternoon/evening spending many hours cleaning it inside and out. Tom apologized that we didn’t have more time to spend on it but I told him repeatedly that my car had never looked so clean since I’d owned it.

I took it to Jiffy Lube today to get an oil change and the guy asked me where I got it detailed. I paused for a second to figure out why he was asking me that when he added that when he gets his vehicles detailed they never look THAT clean. He said that they always neglect the little things but that he wanted to go where I had taken my Xterra. He looked a bit disappointed when I told him that my friend and I did it (and we weren’t interested in doing his).

As we were cleaning it on Sunday, I pointed out how much I enjoyed the instant gratification of a project like this. One minute it is dirty and looks average. The next minute it is meticulously clean and looks exceptional. Tom added the fact that he loves doing this so much for the same reason and he suggested that God probably gets the same satisfaction in watching us get “cleaned up.” When God sees all the junk that sin has added to our lives He must be absolutely thrilled to see the potential He designed us for begin to emerge from the dirt.

And that is a great picture the more I think of it. God looks at us, covered in dirt and dust, and longs to see the “restored” versions. And it just so happens that when it comes to detailing people, God happens to be a pro. He can clean even the small areas that often get neglected. The question for us is whether or not we choose to submit ourselves to the One who can make us truly clean. That is the kind of life that truly shines for others to see and it’s the option we all have available to us.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Divine Conspiracy – Ch.5

November 7, 2010 in Bible, Jesus, Reading with 0 Comments

I’m actually reading through chapter 7 of Divine Conspiracy at the moment, but I realized that I’m a few chapters behind in what I’ve posted here. Chapter 5 is the chapter that I have disagreed with the most up to this point. Let me give you two examples of things where Dallas and I part ways:

“The law of God marks the movements of God’s kingdom, of his own actions and of how that kingdom works. When we keep the law, we step into his ways and drink in his power. Jesus shows us those ways even more fully and leads us into them.” (underline mine)

“A time will come in human history when human beings will follow the Ten Commandments and so on as regularly as they now fall to the ground when they step off a roof. They will then be more astonished that someone would lie or steal or covet than they now are when someone will not.”

It seems that Dallas is arguing that the fulfillment of the Kingdom means the fulfillment of the laws on our part. I’m not sure if that is the point he is trying to make, but a few passages like the one above leave me feeling so. Christ has fulfilled the law and we are now under a new covenant as we build the Kingdom. We do not need to feel the weight of the law as Christians but instead the grace of Christ. I’m reminded of what I read recently from our Route 66 Bible Reading plan in Hebrews. “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” (Heb. 8:13).

Here are some other things in the chapter that I did like:

“The various scenes and situations that Jesus discusses in his Discourse on the Hill are actually stages in a progression toward a life of agape love.”

“The deeper question always concerns who you are, not what you did do or can do. What would you do if you could?”

“When the heart is ready, the action will occur as occasion offers. Just as the thief is the person who would steal if circumstances were right, so the adulterer is the one who would have wrongful sex if the circumstances were right.”

Divine Conspiracy – Ch.4

October 3, 2010 in Bible, Jesus, Reading with 2 Comments

The Sermon of the Beatitudes (1886-96) by James Tissot from the series The Life of Christ, Brooklyn MuseumI’m continuing in Dallas Willard’s book, The Divine Conspiracy, and chapter four is quite interesting. Willard tackles the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:17-26)  in an a way that I have never heard or thought of before. I’ve always thought of them as a kind of list of instructions on how to live in the Kingdom of God. Willard argues a completely different point.

While I haven’t had time to soak on his take yet, there is something about his thoughts that are ringing true. Whenever my understanding of a Biblical concept is challenged like this, I am always a bit unnerved, and excited. Read the passages above from Matthew and Luke as a refresher (or for the first time) and then consider Willard’s thoughts below.

“The Beatitudes simply cannot be ‘good news’ if they are understood as a set of ‘how-tos’ for achieving blessedness. They would then only amount to a new legalism.”

“They single out cases that provide proof that, in him, the rule of God from the heavens truly is available in life circumstances that are beyond all human hope.”

“They serve to clarify Jesus’ fundamental message: the free availability of God’s rule and righteousness to all of humanity through reliance upon Jesus himself, the person now loose in the world among us. They do this simply by taking those who, from the human point of view, are regarded as most hopeless, most beyond all possibility of God’s blessing or even interest, and exhibiting them as enjoying God’s touch and abundant provision from the heavens. This fact of God’s care and provision proves to all that no human condition excludes blessedness, that God may come to any person with his care and deliverance.”

“Thus by proclaiming blessed those who in the human order are thought hopeless, and by pronouncing woes over those human beings regarded as well off, Jesus opens the kingdom of the heavens to everyone.”

“But the Beatitudes is not even a list of spiritual giants. Often you will discern a peculiar nobility and glory on and among these ‘blessed’ ones. But it is not from them. It is the effulgence of the kingdom among them.”

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