VOTD
(Philippians 4:13)
This verse has kind of become a meme. It’s so “commonplace” that we almost don’t pay attention to it anymore. We see it tattooed on numerous athlete’s arms and chests. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It’s become a tool of empowerment, but what does it really mean. I want to take a step back as I think about this. It’s bigger than just this verse. I mean, certainly the basics of this verse are true, but I think we (I) often times try to do outlandish things because we have Christ. And then we get confused because we fail. What if when it says that you can do all thing through Chris, it means that you have to do it through Christ? And I’m not talking about in some New-Agey channeling kind of way, either. But, are you living like Christ? Are your actions lining up with what His would be? The word used for “through” is meant to denote “instrumentality”. You don’t play songs on a guitar simply by owning a guitar. You actually have to pick it up, hold it close, and let the guitar be a part of the process, and not simply sitting over in the corner.
1 Year Bible Plan
(Psalms 22:12-21, Mark 1:29-2:17, Exodus 19-20)
Psalms – More prophetic imagery. “They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” We’re nearing the time of year that Yeshua died for us. I think it’s good to take a minute each day and think about this.
Mark – One of the things we have to be sure of when we’re asking for healing, is that we really want that healing. Sometimes, over time, we’ve come to take on our malady as a piece of our identity. And if we’re not ready to drop that from our identity, we won’t be allowed to. There were times that I was depressed in life, and I would say that I didn’t want to be depressed, but if I told you the truth you would’ve heard that depression was a bit of a security blanket. I embraced it because I knew it, and if I didn’t have it there, I wouldn’t know how to react to things. Now, I’m not saying that all who are depressed are like this, just that identifying with our maladies can be a real thing. So, search yourself when you ask for healing, and make sure that you’re totally ready for that healing. Once you know you are, go at it wholeheartedly! (So this thought that came out of my head was based on a misreading of these verses, but it still holds true…) J
Exodus – Here we have a famous verse:
'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." (Exo 19:5-6 NASB)
Yahweh is obviously talking to the nation of Israel. I mean, it even says that. But then what do we make of this:
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Pe 2:9 NASB)
Should we assume that Peter was only talking to the Jews, or is this an identity that we, as gentiles grafted into Israel (Romans 11) can identify with? And, if so, are we not to identify with the same people who God was speaking to through Moses in Exodus 19, since Peter is quoting that verse?
We also here get into the 10 Commandments. I’m going to be looking more into the 10 Commandments in the coming weeks.
Wednesday
VOTD
(Matthew 18:20)
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Mat 18:20 NKJV)
This is another often referenced Bible verse. And, indeed, it is a very powerful verse. One thing that should be thought of when using this verse is that in Deuteronomy 19:15 Yahweh established that, legally, a matter could not be established without the testimony of at least 2 or 3 witnesses (also see 2 Corinthians 13:1). Sometimes we forget that God describes His throne room as a legal court, where Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), we also see in the book of Job that ha Satan (literally, the accuser) goes before the throne of Yahweh to legally gain the right to heap troubles upon Job. This is the divine council and all legality must be followed. The Deut 19:15 reference is speaking an earthly hearing. Is it possible that when Jesus says that when 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst of them, that He’s saying that this is also happening in heaven, before the throne of God, legally acting as a witness to the heavenly court. When we gather together in prayer, it I quite possible that we are not just praying in our physical location, but we are actually in the throne room of the Almighty, making a legal petition before Yahweh. This is powerful.
1 Year Bible Plan
(Proverbs 5:1-14, Mark 2:18-3:10, Exodus 21-22)
Proverbs – We are to be set apart. How can we do this when we consistently try to be like the world?
Mark – Maybe this didn’t happen but it seems logical to me that Jesus would have actually had to teach His disciples to not fast. If the rest of the religious communities were fasting, Yeshua would’ve actually told his followers not to, in order for them not to fast. There is no big revelation here, this is just the first time I thought of this.
Exodus – This is where we get the “eye for an eye” verse that Jesus references. It is lawful that we should expect to be paid back for injury to ourselves, but Yeshua teaches us to give grace to our persecutors, just has He should grace to us.
(Philippians 4:13)
This verse has kind of become a meme. It’s so “commonplace” that we almost don’t pay attention to it anymore. We see it tattooed on numerous athlete’s arms and chests. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It’s become a tool of empowerment, but what does it really mean. I want to take a step back as I think about this. It’s bigger than just this verse. I mean, certainly the basics of this verse are true, but I think we (I) often times try to do outlandish things because we have Christ. And then we get confused because we fail. What if when it says that you can do all thing through Chris, it means that you have to do it through Christ? And I’m not talking about in some New-Agey channeling kind of way, either. But, are you living like Christ? Are your actions lining up with what His would be? The word used for “through” is meant to denote “instrumentality”. You don’t play songs on a guitar simply by owning a guitar. You actually have to pick it up, hold it close, and let the guitar be a part of the process, and not simply sitting over in the corner.
1 Year Bible Plan
(Psalms 22:12-21, Mark 1:29-2:17, Exodus 19-20)
Psalms – More prophetic imagery. “They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” We’re nearing the time of year that Yeshua died for us. I think it’s good to take a minute each day and think about this.
Mark – One of the things we have to be sure of when we’re asking for healing, is that we really want that healing. Sometimes, over time, we’ve come to take on our malady as a piece of our identity. And if we’re not ready to drop that from our identity, we won’t be allowed to. There were times that I was depressed in life, and I would say that I didn’t want to be depressed, but if I told you the truth you would’ve heard that depression was a bit of a security blanket. I embraced it because I knew it, and if I didn’t have it there, I wouldn’t know how to react to things. Now, I’m not saying that all who are depressed are like this, just that identifying with our maladies can be a real thing. So, search yourself when you ask for healing, and make sure that you’re totally ready for that healing. Once you know you are, go at it wholeheartedly! (So this thought that came out of my head was based on a misreading of these verses, but it still holds true…) J
Exodus – Here we have a famous verse:
'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." (Exo 19:5-6 NASB)
Yahweh is obviously talking to the nation of Israel. I mean, it even says that. But then what do we make of this:
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Pe 2:9 NASB)
Should we assume that Peter was only talking to the Jews, or is this an identity that we, as gentiles grafted into Israel (Romans 11) can identify with? And, if so, are we not to identify with the same people who God was speaking to through Moses in Exodus 19, since Peter is quoting that verse?
We also here get into the 10 Commandments. I’m going to be looking more into the 10 Commandments in the coming weeks.
Wednesday
VOTD
(Matthew 18:20)
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Mat 18:20 NKJV)
This is another often referenced Bible verse. And, indeed, it is a very powerful verse. One thing that should be thought of when using this verse is that in Deuteronomy 19:15 Yahweh established that, legally, a matter could not be established without the testimony of at least 2 or 3 witnesses (also see 2 Corinthians 13:1). Sometimes we forget that God describes His throne room as a legal court, where Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), we also see in the book of Job that ha Satan (literally, the accuser) goes before the throne of Yahweh to legally gain the right to heap troubles upon Job. This is the divine council and all legality must be followed. The Deut 19:15 reference is speaking an earthly hearing. Is it possible that when Jesus says that when 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst of them, that He’s saying that this is also happening in heaven, before the throne of God, legally acting as a witness to the heavenly court. When we gather together in prayer, it I quite possible that we are not just praying in our physical location, but we are actually in the throne room of the Almighty, making a legal petition before Yahweh. This is powerful.
1 Year Bible Plan
(Proverbs 5:1-14, Mark 2:18-3:10, Exodus 21-22)
Proverbs – We are to be set apart. How can we do this when we consistently try to be like the world?
Mark – Maybe this didn’t happen but it seems logical to me that Jesus would have actually had to teach His disciples to not fast. If the rest of the religious communities were fasting, Yeshua would’ve actually told his followers not to, in order for them not to fast. There is no big revelation here, this is just the first time I thought of this.
Exodus – This is where we get the “eye for an eye” verse that Jesus references. It is lawful that we should expect to be paid back for injury to ourselves, but Yeshua teaches us to give grace to our persecutors, just has He should grace to us.
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