365 Reflections

For what purpose is the gift of teaching? Exodus 35:30–35 (ESV)   Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. I love what this passage illustrates for us. Bezalel, first mentioned in Exodus 31 is now brought up again with the materials gathered for construction of the Tabernac...

1 Corinthians 4:14–16 (ESV) I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. Paul tells these boastful Corinthians they need a spiritual dad. They have guardians. They need a father. The difference is substantial . The word for "guide" or (better translated) "guardian" in the New Testament times referred to someone who worked for the family as a slave and shuttled the children to and from school, gave them instruction, and generally watched over their conduct. Like a nanny or tutor of sorts. A guardian is someone who will tell us what we should be doing. A guardian will train us. A guardian will correct us.  A guardian is great, but we need fathers. That's what Paul is saying. A Father will love us. And most of all, a...

Titus 2:1 (ESV) But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Five times int he Pastoral epistles Paul uses the phrase, "But as for you" right after describing the evil ways of the world.  Here's another one.   The word "Sound" in greek is the word from which we get "hygiene" from.  It means to be healthy.  When it comes to teaching, the teaching needs to be "healthy."  I like that.   Health is maintained by one particular attribute above all else: Balance. You eat, but you balance your diet. You balance your time, not over doing it. You balance your relationships, knowing when to say no and yes. You balance your energy.  Taking rest, and giving your all when necessary. This is true when it comes to teaching, Paul says, keep it balanced.  Keep it balanced doctrine.  Too much of one sort of food can be bad for you.  Too much of one emphasis in the Bible can do damage to the body as well.  Paul was...

2 Timothy 2:20–21 (ESV) Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. The ball is in our court.  I think we can forget about that at times.  God does sanctify us but we have the responsibility to take part in that process as well.  The word "if" here is a big one.  If you cleanse yourself from the things of this world, then you will be useful to the master.  So many see Christianity as a free ride to heaven.  It's more than getting to heaven.  It's about life here as God intended.  And there are people in the great house of God who have yet to experience God's best because they never clean their life. Paul is talking to Timothy, a preacher.  He's sayin...

2 Timothy 2:1 (ESV) You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, Grace can bring strength.  If there were no chapter divisions (as the original Greek NT had), you would read from chapter one into two without interruption as it should be.  Paul has been talking to Timothy about those who have abandoned the faith and walked away from Paul himself as a friend.  Paul now turns to his faithful pupil Timothy commending him to the grace of God to keep him from following the landslide of abandonment.  Paul appeals to grace.  He doesn't say, be strengthened by the joy in Christ although there is joy in Christ. He doesn't say, be strengthened by the love of Christ although there is love in Christ. He says be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ.  There is no grace outside of Christ.   And grace gives us strength.  John Stott writes, "It is not only for salvation that we are dependent...

Hebrews 3:12–14 (NLT) Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. Be careful.  That's the theme common in Hebrews. The author evidently believes there are some who are hanging in the balance of faith and unbelief.   He says they are to make sure their own hearts are not evil and unbelieving.  We have a responsibility to our hearts.  We have to take our spiritual pulse, check our vital signs, and administer CPR sometimes. Christians... take care of yourself. So often I see in the church a perpetual infant mentality.  People want to be served.  We even design ...

It has been said of many exuberant Evangelical Christians: "I can't hear what you're saying because your actions are speaking much louder." Faith apart from works is a major theme for James 2. James opens chapter three with a personal plea: "Don't go trying to be teachers. Most of you shouldn't be.  Because our tongues are the hardest parts of our bodies to control." Evidently James is addressing a certain condition of the church.  This "I want to be up front and important" theme of aspiring teachers who really couldn't toe the line in daily life.  We see their attitude addressed in verse 14: James 3:14 (ESV) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. We still see this idol of importance in the church today.  People want to look significant.  They want to be in front of a crowd dispensing wisdom, they seek their value in guiding others through words of eloquenc...

And he answered them,  "To you it has been given to know  the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Matthew 13:11 When you read Jesus' teaching in Matthew 13 on the parables of the kingdom, it is astonishing.  And I thought about it this week.  If Jesus had never taught what He taught 2000 years ago, where would we be? Think about it.  There has not arisen a greater teacher since.  No one's teaching has had the far reaching impact of Jesus.  How often - being raised around this teaching, hearing sermons about it, knowing it, going over it again and again - how often have I taken for granted these wonderful words of life!  Instruction of the highest form.  The SECRETS of the KINGDOM of HEAVEN have been given to me.  I am undone. The Songs that have been written about Him, or quoted the Words from Him. The quotes used in plays, movies, and dramas across the span of human history. The number of people ...