On the Mountain Top
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Bible Studies
Do you have questions about the Bible? If you are searching for answers, I highly recommend trying Bible studies from It is Written. They are all completely free which is always nice in this day where people charge for just about anything. In particular, I recommend trying out the Search For Certainty studies.
Monday, November 5, 2012
This We Know
The story of the Samaritan woman in John 4 is one that requires our special attention. In fact, it is not even the main story that I want to focus on, but the ending. What appears as a random footnote is actually a beautiful summary of the whole story and each believer should take the lesson to heart.
The story begins with Jesus resting near a well by Samaria while His disciples are off to find something to eat. A random Samaritan woman comes down to draw water, attempting to avoid the judgmental glances and comments that would occur if she came to draw water with all the other women of the city. Her life is one of sin and she has responded by avoiding mingling when at all possible. The gossip and snickers of other women is too much to bear.
Jesus sees her coming and grasps upon an opportunity to minister. He asks for a drink of water which initiates a conversation in which He shares with her the deepest secrets of her life. While He is sharing the truths about the Kingdom of God, she perceives that Jesus is the longed for Messiah. Jesus replies in the affirmative and in her excitement, she races off to town to tell everyone what she has found! What if we were as excited about Jesus as she was? What would that mean to the world around us? As Christians, we need to rediscover our deep abiding love of Jesus to the point that we actively seek opportunities to share Him with the world.
An even more important lesson awaits however. As we continue on with the story, John 4:39 explains that many people of Samaria believed because of the woman's testimony. In our lives, we have numerous opportunities to recognize God working around us. Even nature is telling us about God and His love for us. Do we stop to listen when God tries to use people around us to share about His goodness and grace? Do we stop to be still and listen to Him speak to us through nature? How about church? Do we go because it is "what good Christians do" or do we go with a deep earnestness to learn about the Kingdom of God?
While all of these things are definitely well and good, we should not just rely on friends to tell us about God. We should not just rely on the minister. We should not only watch for God's revelation in nature. No, we MUST experience Him for ourselves as the most important part of our life. The people of Samaria followed up this whole episode by saying to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world" (John 4:42).
This is the most important part of our walk. The Samaritan woman did not share Christ with others until she had experienced Christ in her own life. She knew the prophecies as demonstrated in her interaction with Jesus. However, just like so many of us today, she was still going about the mundane details of her life without bothering to tell others of the truth she had been taught.
We can go to church, and learn a lot about God. We can have others tell us their own personal testimony and be encouraged in our walk with God, but we cannot substitute the experience of others in place of our own walk. We must meet Jesus face to face for ourselves. Through the pages of scripture and through time in prayer, we must prepare ourselves to share Jesus with the World. We should all be able to say, with the people of Samaria, "Now we believe...for we ourselves have heard Him, and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world!" Then we need to go out and spread the Good News to the whole world!!! If we truly know that Jesus is the Savior of the world, then we need to live our lives in such a way as to reflect that faith.
The story begins with Jesus resting near a well by Samaria while His disciples are off to find something to eat. A random Samaritan woman comes down to draw water, attempting to avoid the judgmental glances and comments that would occur if she came to draw water with all the other women of the city. Her life is one of sin and she has responded by avoiding mingling when at all possible. The gossip and snickers of other women is too much to bear.
Jesus sees her coming and grasps upon an opportunity to minister. He asks for a drink of water which initiates a conversation in which He shares with her the deepest secrets of her life. While He is sharing the truths about the Kingdom of God, she perceives that Jesus is the longed for Messiah. Jesus replies in the affirmative and in her excitement, she races off to town to tell everyone what she has found! What if we were as excited about Jesus as she was? What would that mean to the world around us? As Christians, we need to rediscover our deep abiding love of Jesus to the point that we actively seek opportunities to share Him with the world.
An even more important lesson awaits however. As we continue on with the story, John 4:39 explains that many people of Samaria believed because of the woman's testimony. In our lives, we have numerous opportunities to recognize God working around us. Even nature is telling us about God and His love for us. Do we stop to listen when God tries to use people around us to share about His goodness and grace? Do we stop to be still and listen to Him speak to us through nature? How about church? Do we go because it is "what good Christians do" or do we go with a deep earnestness to learn about the Kingdom of God?
While all of these things are definitely well and good, we should not just rely on friends to tell us about God. We should not just rely on the minister. We should not only watch for God's revelation in nature. No, we MUST experience Him for ourselves as the most important part of our life. The people of Samaria followed up this whole episode by saying to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world" (John 4:42).
This is the most important part of our walk. The Samaritan woman did not share Christ with others until she had experienced Christ in her own life. She knew the prophecies as demonstrated in her interaction with Jesus. However, just like so many of us today, she was still going about the mundane details of her life without bothering to tell others of the truth she had been taught.
We can go to church, and learn a lot about God. We can have others tell us their own personal testimony and be encouraged in our walk with God, but we cannot substitute the experience of others in place of our own walk. We must meet Jesus face to face for ourselves. Through the pages of scripture and through time in prayer, we must prepare ourselves to share Jesus with the World. We should all be able to say, with the people of Samaria, "Now we believe...for we ourselves have heard Him, and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world!" Then we need to go out and spread the Good News to the whole world!!! If we truly know that Jesus is the Savior of the world, then we need to live our lives in such a way as to reflect that faith.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
"When I Consider Your Heavens..."
"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands. You put everything under his feet...O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!!!" -- Psalm 8: 3-6, 9
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." -- Psalm 19: 1, 2
Time spent in nature is often one of the best ways to be reminded of the glory and majesty of the Creator of the Universe. This past weekend, while camping on the banks of a stream flowing through a beautiful mountain valley, I had occasion to remember these two verses.
As the sun was setting, the moon was shining bright in contrast to the slowly darkening skies. High clouds were streaming overhead and provided just the right canvass for the late day colors to play across. I could only pause in wonder and thank God for allowing me to see such a glorious display. He reminds us constantly of His power and majesty, but most of the time we are too busy with the cares of this life to even notice.
Next time you are outside, pause and look around you. Take in the sky, the wind whispering through the trees, the birds singing nearby. Stop long enough to forget your cares and remember that God is in charge.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." -- Psalm 19: 1, 2
Time spent in nature is often one of the best ways to be reminded of the glory and majesty of the Creator of the Universe. This past weekend, while camping on the banks of a stream flowing through a beautiful mountain valley, I had occasion to remember these two verses.
As the sun was setting, the moon was shining bright in contrast to the slowly darkening skies. High clouds were streaming overhead and provided just the right canvass for the late day colors to play across. I could only pause in wonder and thank God for allowing me to see such a glorious display. He reminds us constantly of His power and majesty, but most of the time we are too busy with the cares of this life to even notice.
Next time you are outside, pause and look around you. Take in the sky, the wind whispering through the trees, the birds singing nearby. Stop long enough to forget your cares and remember that God is in charge.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Why We Fight
"Every
single soldier must know, before he goes into battle, how the little battle he
is to fight fits into the larger picture, and how the success of his fighting
will influence the battle as a whole" (Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery). As a general in World War II, Bernard Montgomery probably knew a thing or two about fighting. He recognized that battles are won by the combined effort of each and every soldier.
One of the key battles of World War II was the invasion of Normandy, called Operation Overlord. Precision timing was required from multiple elements of the armed forces, including amphibious landings, paratroopers and glider borne troops, as well as full naval and air support. One of the crucial tasks of the battle was given to the airborne troops. In addition to repelling German counterattacks, the paratroopers were directed to capture the causeways leading inland from the beaches as well as capturing strategic villages and towns inland at important crossroads. This would prevent the Germans from bringing reinforcements in to attach the beachheads that would hopefully be established during D-Day.
On the flight over the English Channel, the planes hit a bank of clouds about 5 miles from the Normandy coastline. Veering apart to avoid in-air collisions, the giant formations were hopelessly scattered when they emerged from the clouds a short time later. The pilots hit the green light telling the paratroopers to jump much earlier than they should have or in the wrong location. Troopers came down all over the place, except generally nowhere near their objectives.
However, in the planning stages, each soldier had learned not only his own mission, but all the other missions and objectives for the other airborne troops. Thus, what could have been a disaster actually turned into a benefit for the Allied invaders. Soldiers would locate themselves, and then go about fulfilling whatever mission was nearby and thus the overall battle plan was still mostly in place. If each soldier had been lazy and decided to not bother with learning the details of the plan, Operation Overlord would have become a huge failure, but instead the paratroopers were committed to the mission and improvised to insure one of the greatest victories of all time.
As Christians, we need to remember that we are in a war. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12, NIV). God desires that we follow Him with all our hearts. "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12, NIV). God calls us to be His witnesses to the "ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NIV). Our part in this great war is to demonstrate that God is just and that created beings can and will choose to follow Him fully.
God has given each of us specific gifts with which to spread the Good News of Salvation. Use those gifts to tell others of His love and grace. Live your life so that you can say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day -- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (II Timothy 4:7, 8, NIV).
One of the key battles of World War II was the invasion of Normandy, called Operation Overlord. Precision timing was required from multiple elements of the armed forces, including amphibious landings, paratroopers and glider borne troops, as well as full naval and air support. One of the crucial tasks of the battle was given to the airborne troops. In addition to repelling German counterattacks, the paratroopers were directed to capture the causeways leading inland from the beaches as well as capturing strategic villages and towns inland at important crossroads. This would prevent the Germans from bringing reinforcements in to attach the beachheads that would hopefully be established during D-Day.
On the flight over the English Channel, the planes hit a bank of clouds about 5 miles from the Normandy coastline. Veering apart to avoid in-air collisions, the giant formations were hopelessly scattered when they emerged from the clouds a short time later. The pilots hit the green light telling the paratroopers to jump much earlier than they should have or in the wrong location. Troopers came down all over the place, except generally nowhere near their objectives.
However, in the planning stages, each soldier had learned not only his own mission, but all the other missions and objectives for the other airborne troops. Thus, what could have been a disaster actually turned into a benefit for the Allied invaders. Soldiers would locate themselves, and then go about fulfilling whatever mission was nearby and thus the overall battle plan was still mostly in place. If each soldier had been lazy and decided to not bother with learning the details of the plan, Operation Overlord would have become a huge failure, but instead the paratroopers were committed to the mission and improvised to insure one of the greatest victories of all time.
As Christians, we need to remember that we are in a war. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12, NIV). God desires that we follow Him with all our hearts. "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12, NIV). God calls us to be His witnesses to the "ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, NIV). Our part in this great war is to demonstrate that God is just and that created beings can and will choose to follow Him fully.
God has given each of us specific gifts with which to spread the Good News of Salvation. Use those gifts to tell others of His love and grace. Live your life so that you can say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day -- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (II Timothy 4:7, 8, NIV).
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Live Your Life...
...In a way that represents your beliefs. If you believe in God, then show that to the world around you. James 1 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (verse 22, NIV). According to Psalm 19:7, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul" (KJV). If your life is not what you desire, if the world is crumbling around you, then consider giving God's way a try.
God's law is one of love. "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3, NIV). God has given His commands to guide how we live our lives to bring the most benefit. Furthermore, God's law gives us freedom from the slavery of sin. In James 1, we see that "the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does" (verse 25, NIV).
If you desire this in your life, there is only one way. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). How do we get to know Jesus? Through His Word, the Holy Bible. Spending time with God everyday in the Bible and through prayer is the only way to gain the blessings He desires for us. And how will we live our lives in response to our growing connection with Him?
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27, NIV). Doing good unto others is direct result from having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we will strive to maintain our purity from the world. This last part can be extremely difficult and requires diligence on the part of the follower of Christ. Ultimately, Jesus says "all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35, NIV).
Reach out to those around you and share God's love for mankind. God is simply waiting to work through His people. Choose today to allow Him to work through you to reach a world lost in sin.
God's law is one of love. "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3, NIV). God has given His commands to guide how we live our lives to bring the most benefit. Furthermore, God's law gives us freedom from the slavery of sin. In James 1, we see that "the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does" (verse 25, NIV).
If you desire this in your life, there is only one way. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). How do we get to know Jesus? Through His Word, the Holy Bible. Spending time with God everyday in the Bible and through prayer is the only way to gain the blessings He desires for us. And how will we live our lives in response to our growing connection with Him?
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27, NIV). Doing good unto others is direct result from having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we will strive to maintain our purity from the world. This last part can be extremely difficult and requires diligence on the part of the follower of Christ. Ultimately, Jesus says "all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35, NIV).
Reach out to those around you and share God's love for mankind. God is simply waiting to work through His people. Choose today to allow Him to work through you to reach a world lost in sin.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Be Informed
God has revealed Himself to us through the written Word. In II Timothy 3:16-17, Paul explains to Timothy that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (NIV).
There is more to these two verses than first meets the eye. As a Christian, I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, so the first part of the first verse is easy to digest. The rest is a short list of ways to apply the Scripture that you learn, and what man of God wouldn't want to be "thoroughly equipped for every good work?" The something more is hidden in the middle of these two verses.
When Paul suggests that Scripture is useful for "training in righteousness," there is a subtle warning that is easy to miss. We have to ask ourselves, "So what if I'm not using Scripture?" Paul is well aware that there are only two alternatives in this world, either righteousness or unrighteousness. Either you choose to follow God or you choose to follow Satan. There is no gray area, no fence-sitting, and in fact, the lack of a decision can actually in itself be a decision. Paul is encouraging each person who claims to be a follower of God to experience Scripture in their own life.
If you claim to follow God, then experience Scripture. Choose to be thoroughly equipped for "every good work" because God has given us the Scriptures to improve our lives. He provides Laws (The Ten Commandments) but also lots of useful suggestions for a happier life such as Matthew 10:42 which says, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (NIV). God knows that we will find fulfillment in our lives through serving others and showing them His love.
Study and internalize God's Word, apply it to your life, and experience the blessings that He has planned for you. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God" (II Timothy 2:15, KJV). Psalm 119:105 adds, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (NIV). Illuminate your path today and discover God's plan for your life!!!!
There is more to these two verses than first meets the eye. As a Christian, I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, so the first part of the first verse is easy to digest. The rest is a short list of ways to apply the Scripture that you learn, and what man of God wouldn't want to be "thoroughly equipped for every good work?" The something more is hidden in the middle of these two verses.
When Paul suggests that Scripture is useful for "training in righteousness," there is a subtle warning that is easy to miss. We have to ask ourselves, "So what if I'm not using Scripture?" Paul is well aware that there are only two alternatives in this world, either righteousness or unrighteousness. Either you choose to follow God or you choose to follow Satan. There is no gray area, no fence-sitting, and in fact, the lack of a decision can actually in itself be a decision. Paul is encouraging each person who claims to be a follower of God to experience Scripture in their own life.
If you claim to follow God, then experience Scripture. Choose to be thoroughly equipped for "every good work" because God has given us the Scriptures to improve our lives. He provides Laws (The Ten Commandments) but also lots of useful suggestions for a happier life such as Matthew 10:42 which says, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (NIV). God knows that we will find fulfillment in our lives through serving others and showing them His love.
Study and internalize God's Word, apply it to your life, and experience the blessings that He has planned for you. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God" (II Timothy 2:15, KJV). Psalm 119:105 adds, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (NIV). Illuminate your path today and discover God's plan for your life!!!!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Worshiping God
What is worship? According to Merriam-Webster, worship is defined as "to honor or reverence as a a divine being or supernatural power"and follows up by adding that worship is "to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion."
People have been worshiping God ever since Creation. As history progressed, the act of worship became so removed from its original intent that we are told that "Jesus had come to teach the meaning of the worship of God" (DA 84.2). The very nation that had been given the prophecies concerning His coming were completely unprepared and oblivious to the birth of their Creator and Redeemer.
So how do we worship God now? Paul says, in Romans 12 : 1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship" (NIV). At the same time, the psalmist says, "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings" (Psalm 51 : 16, NIV). Clearly Paul is not talking about literally sacrificing ourselves as burnt offerings.
If we continue reading in Romans 12, the picture becomes clearer. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Verse 2, NIV). Our living sacrifice is living our lives in such a way as to honor God in everything that we do. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden...In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5 : 14, 16, NIV).
In 1 Corinthians 10 : 31-33, Paul reminds us that "...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God -- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved" (NIV). No matter what we do, we should do it to God's honor and glory. We should constantly be considering how our actions may affect someone else's salvation. As Christians, our ultimate act of worship is honoring God so that others will be drawn to Him.
Reflect God's love to others. Get to know Jesus intimately, but don't stop there. Share Him with those around you. "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4 : 24, NIV). Follow God, both internally and on the outside. Become on fire for Christ and spread the Good News of the Gospel to the whole world!
People have been worshiping God ever since Creation. As history progressed, the act of worship became so removed from its original intent that we are told that "Jesus had come to teach the meaning of the worship of God" (DA 84.2). The very nation that had been given the prophecies concerning His coming were completely unprepared and oblivious to the birth of their Creator and Redeemer.
So how do we worship God now? Paul says, in Romans 12 : 1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship" (NIV). At the same time, the psalmist says, "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings" (Psalm 51 : 16, NIV). Clearly Paul is not talking about literally sacrificing ourselves as burnt offerings.
If we continue reading in Romans 12, the picture becomes clearer. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Verse 2, NIV). Our living sacrifice is living our lives in such a way as to honor God in everything that we do. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden...In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5 : 14, 16, NIV).
In 1 Corinthians 10 : 31-33, Paul reminds us that "...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God -- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved" (NIV). No matter what we do, we should do it to God's honor and glory. We should constantly be considering how our actions may affect someone else's salvation. As Christians, our ultimate act of worship is honoring God so that others will be drawn to Him.
Reflect God's love to others. Get to know Jesus intimately, but don't stop there. Share Him with those around you. "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4 : 24, NIV). Follow God, both internally and on the outside. Become on fire for Christ and spread the Good News of the Gospel to the whole world!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
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