ListenDaily - 05 May 2009; WWJT?
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching..."
I cannot possibly begin to cover everything Jesus taught in one short lesson, and will not try to. But what would happen if we took even a few of His teachings and began to 'hold on' to them -- to 'abide in' them -- today? Consider the following statements, teachings of Jesus, from Matthew (chapters 5, 6, 22, and 28):
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
You are the salt of the earth.
You are the light of the world.
If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
Do not worry about tomorrow...
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Of course, He taught much more than this -- but meditate over this list, or any other of His teachings, see if there are one or two things that resonate with you. Then take those items, those teachings and write them down in your calendar, in a note on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror, make them the 'signature' in your email, something, anything, to keep them in the forefront of your mind. See what it takes to 'hold onto' and 'abide in' these one or two things -- today.
Let's see what happens.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Which of these Jesus' teachings resonate with you? 2. What will you do with them? 3. How do you hold onto them both?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
""We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher.
He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him.
He produced mainly three results---Hatred---Terror---Adoration.
There was no trace of people expressing mild admiration."
C.S. Lewis
I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master
than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields
I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.
George Whitefield
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"To teach in order to lead others to faith
is the task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"Nature teaches us to love our friends,
but religion our enemies."
Thomas Fuller Fuller
"Everything science has taught me---
and continues to teach me---
strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death.
Nothing disappears without a trace."
Wernher Von Braun
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
ListenDaily - 04 May 2009; Hold on! Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the tru
ListenDaily - 04 May 2009; Hold on!
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching..."
The New International Version uses the word "hold" here. Many others use the phrase "abide in" or something similar. I want to thank my friend and sister in Christ, Melissa, for commenting on this. I was poised to jump into the 'teaching' here, but it is important that we look at what Jesus was saying about His teaching. Whether we "hold to' or 'abide in', there is an emphasis here.
And it is worthy to note that Jesus was speaking to believers.
This is not a program, and it is not a process. It cannot be achieved solely by a Sunday morning service, a mid-week Bible study, or a daily devotional. If we want to move into discipleship, truth, and freedom, then His teaching must permeate who we are -- it must be who we are, or at least who we are becoming. "WWJD" -- "what would Jesus do" -- may have become a trite, overused phrase, but it is the way of life for a believer; imitatio Dei --the imitation of God..
Consider Jesus teaching. Think about the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, the good Samaritan, the widow and her mite, the woman at the well; how does this teaching affect how you live? Are they sermons and Sunday School lessons? Or are they the model by which you live?
Take a moment to think about, read about, and pray about some of Jesus' teaching. Can you commit to living in them? Holding onto them?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Which of Jesus' teachings are your favorites? 2. Which are the hardest? 3. How do you hold onto them both?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON FREEDOM:
"There are two freedoms:
the false where a man is free to do what he likes;
and the true where a man is free to do as he ought."
Charles Kingsley
"On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens;
on this side, orphans, on that, children;
on this side, captives, on that, freemen."
Henry Ward Beecher
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The lost enjoy forever the horrible
freedom they have demanded..."
C.S. Lewis
"God, having placed good and evil in our power,
has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling,
but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature
which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love
or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV)
Jesus said... “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
John 8:31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
"If you hold to my teaching..."
The New International Version uses the word "hold" here. Many others use the phrase "abide in" or something similar. I want to thank my friend and sister in Christ, Melissa, for commenting on this. I was poised to jump into the 'teaching' here, but it is important that we look at what Jesus was saying about His teaching. Whether we "hold to' or 'abide in', there is an emphasis here.
And it is worthy to note that Jesus was speaking to believers.
This is not a program, and it is not a process. It cannot be achieved solely by a Sunday morning service, a mid-week Bible study, or a daily devotional. If we want to move into discipleship, truth, and freedom, then His teaching must permeate who we are -- it must be who we are, or at least who we are becoming. "WWJD" -- "what would Jesus do" -- may have become a trite, overused phrase, but it is the way of life for a believer; imitatio Dei --the imitation of God..
Consider Jesus teaching. Think about the Great Commandment, the Great Commission, the good Samaritan, the widow and her mite, the woman at the well; how does this teaching affect how you live? Are they sermons and Sunday School lessons? Or are they the model by which you live?
Take a moment to think about, read about, and pray about some of Jesus' teaching. Can you commit to living in them? Holding onto them?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Which of Jesus' teachings are your favorites? 2. Which are the hardest? 3. How do you hold onto them both?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON FREEDOM:
"There are two freedoms:
the false where a man is free to do what he likes;
and the true where a man is free to do as he ought."
Charles Kingsley
"On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens;
on this side, orphans, on that, children;
on this side, captives, on that, freemen."
Henry Ward Beecher
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The lost enjoy forever the horrible
freedom they have demanded..."
C.S. Lewis
"God, having placed good and evil in our power,
has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling,
but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature
which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love
or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
Friday, May 1, 2009
ListenDaily - 01 May2009; The big "IF"
ListenDaily - 01 May2009; The big "IF"
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8;31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
The recipe for freedom begins with a little bitty word...but a powerful one: "IF". These two letters hold within them the key to much of our theology and doctrine of 'free will'. "If" can open the door to salvation, peace, removal of anxiety, and freedom in Christ.
If.
Do you want to be free?
You can be! If...
If...
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Follow...know...freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What other 'ifs' are keys to Christianity? 2. Are there 'ifs' to salvation? Discipleship? Obedience? Anything else? 3. How do you choose?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON FREEDOM:
"There are two freedoms:
the false where a man is free to do what he likes;
and the true where a man is free to do as he ought."
Charles Kingsley
"On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens;
on this side, orphans, on that, children;
on this side, captives, on that, freemen."
Henry Ward Beecher
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The lost enjoy forever the horrible
freedom they have demanded..."
C.S. Lewis
"God, having placed good and evil in our power,
has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling,
but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature
which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love
or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8;31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
The recipe for freedom begins with a little bitty word...but a powerful one: "IF". These two letters hold within them the key to much of our theology and doctrine of 'free will'. "If" can open the door to salvation, peace, removal of anxiety, and freedom in Christ.
If.
Do you want to be free?
You can be! If...
If...
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Follow...know...freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What other 'ifs' are keys to Christianity? 2. Are there 'ifs' to salvation? Discipleship? Obedience? Anything else? 3. How do you choose?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON FREEDOM:
"There are two freedoms:
the false where a man is free to do what he likes;
and the true where a man is free to do as he ought."
Charles Kingsley
"On this side of the grave we are exiles, on that, citizens;
on this side, orphans, on that, children;
on this side, captives, on that, freemen."
Henry Ward Beecher
"The Jews looked upon a serpent to be freed from serpents;
and we look upon the death of Christ to be delivered from death."
Augustine
"The lost enjoy forever the horrible
freedom they have demanded..."
C.S. Lewis
"God, having placed good and evil in our power,
has given us full freedom of choice;
He does not keep back the unwilling,
but embraces the willing."
John Chrysostom
"A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject of all, subject to all."
Martin Luther
"God created things which had free will.
That means creatures which can go either wrong or right.
Some people think they can imagine a creature
which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot.
If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad.
And free will is what has made evil possible.
Why, then, did God give them free will?
Because free will, though it makes evil possible,
is also the only thing that makes possible any love
or goodness or joy worth having."
C.S. Lewis
Thursday, April 30, 2009
ListenDaily - 30 April 2009; How to be free
ListenDaily - 30 April 2009; How to be free
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8;31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is the recipe for freedom.
If you want to be free, live freely, speak freely, think freely, witness freely...free from anxiety...free from doubt...free from worry...then follow the steps that Jesus left for us:
You will be set free, if you know the truth.
You will know the truth if you are a disciple of Christ.
You will be a disciple if you follow His teachings.
Follow...know...freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Does this sound too simple? 2. Is it? 3. Have you tried these steps? Will you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8;31-32 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is the recipe for freedom.
If you want to be free, live freely, speak freely, think freely, witness freely...free from anxiety...free from doubt...free from worry...then follow the steps that Jesus left for us:
You will be set free, if you know the truth.
You will know the truth if you are a disciple of Christ.
You will be a disciple if you follow His teachings.
Follow...know...freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Does this sound too simple? 2. Is it? 3. Have you tried these steps? Will you?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Monday, April 27, 2009
ListenDaily - 27 April 2009; What difference does it make?
ListenDaily - 27 April 2009; What difference does it make?
Does it matter if I believe that Satan is real?
Certainly.
I have four children, three of whom are drivers. I taught them to drive as best as I could, yet even if I taught them to be perfect drivers, there is still danger when they go out on the road. There are other drivers, some texting on their cell phones, some inattentive in other ways, some under the influence of alcohol. There are deer, mechanical failures, and a host of other things that make driving hazardous for the best of drivers. And to be the best driver you can be, you must be aware of yourself, as well as the external forces that endanger you. How dangerous it would be to think your driving experience would be completely safe, even if you could perfect yourself, as if everything is under your control.
"...each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:14-15 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
As natural beings born into a fallen world, we certainly have fleshly desires, but even if we could cleanse ourselves, perfect ourselves, (which of course we cannot), there are external forces waiting to 'drag us away'. When our frailties are exploited by those external forces, by Satan and his followers, it leads to death.
I think the great danger of ignoring the external forces of evil, is that it causes us to ignore the need for the Holy Spirit. If people ignore the spiritual forces of evil, then we begin to doubt the need for Heavenly spiritual intervention.
Certainly, we need the work of the Cross to save us from our own inward evil intent. Just as certainly, we need to power of the Holy Spirit to defend us from external spiritual evil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. do you believe in Satan as a real being? 2. What does your pastor/church believe? 3. is there a difference between the two?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Does it matter if I believe that Satan is real?
Certainly.
I have four children, three of whom are drivers. I taught them to drive as best as I could, yet even if I taught them to be perfect drivers, there is still danger when they go out on the road. There are other drivers, some texting on their cell phones, some inattentive in other ways, some under the influence of alcohol. There are deer, mechanical failures, and a host of other things that make driving hazardous for the best of drivers. And to be the best driver you can be, you must be aware of yourself, as well as the external forces that endanger you. How dangerous it would be to think your driving experience would be completely safe, even if you could perfect yourself, as if everything is under your control.
"...each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:14-15 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
As natural beings born into a fallen world, we certainly have fleshly desires, but even if we could cleanse ourselves, perfect ourselves, (which of course we cannot), there are external forces waiting to 'drag us away'. When our frailties are exploited by those external forces, by Satan and his followers, it leads to death.
I think the great danger of ignoring the external forces of evil, is that it causes us to ignore the need for the Holy Spirit. If people ignore the spiritual forces of evil, then we begin to doubt the need for Heavenly spiritual intervention.
Certainly, we need the work of the Cross to save us from our own inward evil intent. Just as certainly, we need to power of the Holy Spirit to defend us from external spiritual evil.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. do you believe in Satan as a real being? 2. What does your pastor/church believe? 3. is there a difference between the two?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Thursday, April 23, 2009
ListenDaily - 23 April 2009; So, how can we know?
ListenDaily - 23 April 2009; So, how can we know?
So then, is Satan real or a metaphor? Are the Scriptures true, as written, or just a series of stories to kind of point us in the right direction?
Can we know.
Yes...we can know.
We know, not by becoming convinced of the inerrancy of the Bible first, or by believing that Satan exists first. First, we have to know God.
When we come to know and trust Him...when we experience Him, then creation, parting of seas, resurrections, and eternity are no longer unthinkable. They become plausible, they become possible, they become expected. When we come to know God, we can come to trust His Word, even if we don't understand it. And is that so unimaginable? How many different things of this world, do you not understand, yet trust?
So, how do we get there?
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you struggle with any of these 'truth' issues, start here, with just these verses. Let every other thing go. Just seek God. God will reveal Himself to you. He desires nothing more than to be in a relationship with you; to show His love for you.
If you do not struggle with this, but are in the conversation with someone who does, consider sharing this with them. I think it is rare that someone gets argued, debated, or beaten into the kingdom. "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15
The love of God is the mightiest power, the greatest magnet in the universe. Surely we should seek truth, love truth, teach and preach truth. But always, always, in and with love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How do you know God? 2. What is the state of your relationship with Him? 3. How do you share Him with others?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
So then, is Satan real or a metaphor? Are the Scriptures true, as written, or just a series of stories to kind of point us in the right direction?
Can we know.
Yes...we can know.
We know, not by becoming convinced of the inerrancy of the Bible first, or by believing that Satan exists first. First, we have to know God.
When we come to know and trust Him...when we experience Him, then creation, parting of seas, resurrections, and eternity are no longer unthinkable. They become plausible, they become possible, they become expected. When we come to know God, we can come to trust His Word, even if we don't understand it. And is that so unimaginable? How many different things of this world, do you not understand, yet trust?
So, how do we get there?
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
If you struggle with any of these 'truth' issues, start here, with just these verses. Let every other thing go. Just seek God. God will reveal Himself to you. He desires nothing more than to be in a relationship with you; to show His love for you.
If you do not struggle with this, but are in the conversation with someone who does, consider sharing this with them. I think it is rare that someone gets argued, debated, or beaten into the kingdom. "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15
The love of God is the mightiest power, the greatest magnet in the universe. Surely we should seek truth, love truth, teach and preach truth. But always, always, in and with love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How do you know God? 2. What is the state of your relationship with Him? 3. How do you share Him with others?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
ListenDaily - 22 April 2009; Itchy ears
ListenDaily - 22 April 2009; Itchy ears
Wow! What a response this has generated! Some folks grew up in churches, while others currently attend ones, that act as if Satan and Hell do not exist. As one friend put it, they taught (or teach) a "watered down" form of the Scriptures.
Friends, don't get me wrong, I don't think a church has to preach Hell and damnation every week; as a matter of fact, I think emphasizing the love of God does more to bring people into the Kingdom than fear ever does. After all, the love of God is the greatest power in the universe, much greater than fear. Still, we must understand the enemy against which we battle, it is commanded in the Scriptures that we do so:
"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." (Romans 17:17-190) (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
The book of James indicts us for our own sinful behavior, citing our "sinful desires", so, indeed, we have a natural born bent for evil within us. However, if Satan and his unfortunate followers are mere 'metaphors' for that evil, then Paul went way overboard, don't you think? "...rulers...authorities...powers of this dark world...spiritual forces of evil..."
I don't think this was just a little hyperbole on the Apostle's part; Paul was telling it as God inspired him.
The real question is this; do we elect to believe what the Scriptures say? Or do we pick and choose what makes us comfortable, and leave out the rest? If we do, we can find plenty of company, for as Paul also wrote to Timothy: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1.What is your view of the truth of Scripture? 2.Do you regularly hear 'sound doctrine'? Or teaching meant to 'suit their own desires'? 3. What is your response?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Wow! What a response this has generated! Some folks grew up in churches, while others currently attend ones, that act as if Satan and Hell do not exist. As one friend put it, they taught (or teach) a "watered down" form of the Scriptures.
Friends, don't get me wrong, I don't think a church has to preach Hell and damnation every week; as a matter of fact, I think emphasizing the love of God does more to bring people into the Kingdom than fear ever does. After all, the love of God is the greatest power in the universe, much greater than fear. Still, we must understand the enemy against which we battle, it is commanded in the Scriptures that we do so:
"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." (Romans 17:17-190) (find any passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
The book of James indicts us for our own sinful behavior, citing our "sinful desires", so, indeed, we have a natural born bent for evil within us. However, if Satan and his unfortunate followers are mere 'metaphors' for that evil, then Paul went way overboard, don't you think? "...rulers...authorities...powers of this dark world...spiritual forces of evil..."
I don't think this was just a little hyperbole on the Apostle's part; Paul was telling it as God inspired him.
The real question is this; do we elect to believe what the Scriptures say? Or do we pick and choose what makes us comfortable, and leave out the rest? If we do, we can find plenty of company, for as Paul also wrote to Timothy: "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1.What is your view of the truth of Scripture? 2.Do you regularly hear 'sound doctrine'? Or teaching meant to 'suit their own desires'? 3. What is your response?
INTERESTING THOUGHT ON TRUTH:
"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
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