Name it, claim it.

How does that work?  Scripture tells us that we have to believe it first (Mark 11:24).  hmm.  I don't know about you, but I can't seem to control the degree of my faith just because that's what I want to be able to do.  I know I want to be all that God would have me to be, though.  At least I think I do.  Therein,  a theory is born.  It's a natural progression.  First you follow God's commandments (because you love them and you love Him)...or at the very least...try your very best (and I mean very best) to follow God's commandments.  Not short term, mind you.  Long term....committed.  Incrementally your faith is increased.  At that point, though, what do you think you would be claiming?  A new car?  Prosperity?  Somehow, I don't think so.  Surely, you'd be claiming things a lot more righteous than that.

Miracles

Matthew 17:24-27 ¶  After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?"  "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?"  "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him.  "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

I love that scripture.  I giggle when I imagine the collectors going with Peter to the lake, Peter catching a fish (the first one, mind you), opening it's mouth and pulling out the coin!  Can't you just picture the look on the collectors faces? 

Jesus did some amazing things (miracles).  Things that cannot be explained via the natural no matter how creative you attempt to get.  Miracles like walking on water (John 6:19), controlling the weather (Matthew 8:26), turning water into wine (John 2:7), raising the dead (John 11:43, Mark 5:35), giving sight to the blind (John 9:6), casting out demons (Matthew 17:18), feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:15), etc, etc, etc. 

Jesus is Lord.

Hell

Can you imagine what the world would be like if God had not set eternity into the hearts of men (Ecclesiastes 3:11)?  If the human race believed that there were no rewards and no punishments and no having to give an answer to anyone?  If the human race believed that they only had this one life to live, and no matter how they lived this life, the only thing they could anticipate was the finality of death?  What kind of race would we be?  What kind of a world would this be?  Do you think the suicide rate would increase or decrease?  Do you think the murder rate would increase or decrease?  Do you think violent crimes would increase or decrease?  My Christian Interpretation would be that life on planet earth would take a nose dive.

Thank God that heaven and hell do exist!  Thank God that He has put that knowledge in our hearts, and given us His Word to help us in our understanding.  Thank God for the gift of His Son and the forgiveness of sins.

Favoritism

A few posts back I spoke a bit about the wisdom of God. God tells us not to show favoritism, that He doesn't show favoritism, and that showing favoritism is, in actuality, a sin. If you have ever been discriminated against, you probably understand why favoritism is a sin. It's a potential breeding ground for all kinds of negativity. It can cause division, hurt, anger, insecurity, depression, vindictiveness, bitterness, hatred, etc. Does God want you to suffer that? Does God want you to create an atmosphere conducive to generating those kinds of feelings and emotions? My Christian interpretation would be....nope...He sure doesn't.

I guess one question we have to ask ourselves is....are WE showing any favoritism? Do we treat one of our children a little better than another? Do we show one of our employees more respect? Do we treat a race or gender better than another? We may be making one person feel special, and without realizing it, causing someone else to feel insignificant and unloved.

The other question we might need to ask ourselves is....what is our responsibility if we are the subject of favoritism?  If showing favoritism is a sin, what about willingly, knowingly, accepting favoritism?

What is the purpose of life?

The writer of Ecclesiastes says:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ¶ Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

If the whole duty of man is to fear God and follow His commandments, then I suppose, my Christian interpretation of the purpose of life would be to learn that. The purpose of life, therefore, could be summed up by saying we are here to learn about God and have a relationship with Him (could it be that simple?).

God, therefore, designed us, life on planet earth, and for that matter, the universe, to be conducive to learning about Him.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Psalm 19:1 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. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

So right off the bat, you are confronted with a mind boggling universe and an innate understanding that this was no accident. The stage is set, God exists.

As you observe life, as you live life, you begin to understand that those living are not in complete control of their destiny. In the world around you, you see mortality. At the same time, man does not see death as finality because God has set eternity into the hearts of men (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This understanding lends itself to the beginning of wisdom, the fear of God (Proverbs 9:10). After all, we are going to have to give an answer for the things we’ve done while in the body (2 Corinthians 5:10). This fear of God can motivate us to learn what we can about God, and potentially, come to the knowledge of Christ and a real relationship with God. And so it goes.

Valued

Everyone needs to feel that they are valued. They thirst for it like a dry parched land thirsts for rain. In our world, too many live in a drought that lasts a lifetime. They reach out their hand, they hope, only to be rebuffed and disappointed. Though I’ve heard it said that hope springs eternal, and that the human spirit is resilient, I worry that some will quit reaching out and quit hoping. If that happens, it’s a tragedy.

We are so quick to give counsel, but so slow to give encouragement by way of warm acceptance and positive responses. How often do you feel really loved and appreciated? How often do you make others feel that way?

When the rains return and the dry parched land is once again watered, the apparent desert wasteland is transformed and springs back to life. Know anyone that is showing signs of drought?

Jesus speaks of a time when the love of many will grow cold. My Christian interpretation is that we may be entering just such a time. I only hope that I am not one of the many.

Not so long ago...

It's amazing how quickly things change.  Not so long ago, the verse below was far more puzzling...at least to me it was.

Revelation 13:16-17...  He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no-one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Now, I can see the virtual inevitability of a paperless currency.  My Christian interpretation would be that currency will be digital at some point.  Your ID will likely be some sort of technology implanted under your skin, probably microscopic.  You won't need to carry credit cards, bank cards, drivers licenses, etc.  All that information will be under your skin.  Life in the real world will be a bit like surfing the internet is now.  Everything you buy, everything you sell, and probably every place you go, will be able to be tracked.  You will be a walking gps receiver.

Another interesting thing about this topic is that in some ways, the idea doesn't seem entirely bad.  How convenient it would be to not have to carry a wallet, purse, etc around with you all the time.  Everywhere you went, you would have access to your finances.  Countries could eliminate the cost of running mints and printing money.  Ecologically, it might be less of an impact.  Being able to be tracked could have positives as well...such as if you got lost in the wilderness. Most likely, these implants could also have the ability to monitor physical vital signs etc.  Undoubtedly, many would deem the benefits of such a system a blessing instead of a curse.  Can you see it happening this way?

Was Jesus GOD?

  Here is what scripture says:   1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord...