Tomorrow’s Reading: Job 38-40/Matt 15:21-29
Elihu continues on – Elihu seems a little full of himself concerning his knowledge and/or his relationship with God. Elihu maintains that Job’s actions were the cause of his afflictions. He then speaks to ‘how great is God – beyond our understanding’. Then Elihu start to preach of God’s mighty creations and ‘to persuade him [Job] into cheerful submission to his providence’ or fate (pretty good read, actually)
Jesus/disciples land at Gennesaret, just below Capernaum on the North West side of Sea of Galilee (click to enlarge map). Jesus accuses the Pharisees of being hypocrites for ‘nullifying the word of God for the sake of tradition’. Does vv8-9 speak to today’s churches as well? Jesus outlines that it’s not what goes in your mouth that makes you ‘unclean’, but what comes out. Do you think Jesus getting a little upset in v16 'Are you so dull'. (snicker)
Elihu continues on – Elihu seems a little full of himself concerning his knowledge and/or his relationship with God. Elihu maintains that Job’s actions were the cause of his afflictions. He then speaks to ‘how great is God – beyond our understanding’. Then Elihu start to preach of God’s mighty creations and ‘to persuade him [Job] into cheerful submission to his providence’ or fate (pretty good read, actually)
Jesus/disciples land at Gennesaret, just below Capernaum on the North West side of Sea of Galilee (click to enlarge map). Jesus accuses the Pharisees of being hypocrites for ‘nullifying the word of God for the sake of tradition’. Does vv8-9 speak to today’s churches as well? Jesus outlines that it’s not what goes in your mouth that makes you ‘unclean’, but what comes out. Do you think Jesus getting a little upset in v16 'Are you so dull'. (snicker)
5 comments:
Job
I'm looking forward to God's response to these guys starting in 38. He really puts them (and me) in their place.
Matt.
It's like the old saying goes...Many people miss heaven by 12 inches...the distance between their heads and their hearts. Those Pharisees knew and outwardly lived their religion but when they were alone or behind closed doors it was a different story. Their religion was in their head not in their hearts.
Wow.. good stuff Kevin; oddly so, this verse 'jumped off the page' at me yesterday. I was waiting to do 'hospital stuff' and grabbed a bible; I turned to James:
James 1:22 -
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Thanks for the share/note/post!
So.. where do you start on 'doing what it says'? What does 'doers of the word' really mean? What does it mean to believe but not do? Are there consequences? Are the ‘rewards in heaven the same’?
Hmmm.. just trying to make a point/stir some conversation..
Seems to me if a person is a doer of the word simply to be checking off a list to be a good person or religious that would be like the Pharisees that Jesus busted on so much. This person is working on a check list to show at the pearly gates to show how "good" their life was. It would be like trying to work your way in to heaven (Legalism). If a person is a doer of the word out of love for our Lord or because deep down he/she believes it is right/good because it lines up with the word then this person is motivated by the heart. In the second case this person will be consistent in their actions whether people are watching or not. Their actions are dictated by their love for God and the guidelines He gives us in His word.
Working your way in to Heaven (legalism) is all about self and completely dismisses the sacrifice and substitution Christ made for us. We CAN NOT become rightous by anything we do. The ONLY way we can become rightous in the eyes of God is to accept His plan in Christ Jesus and accept the penalty Christ paid for us. Realizing the cost Christ paid should make us want to live for him. If I continued to sin it would be like I added more suffering to Christ as He hung on the cross.
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