Finding the Guidance of the Scripture

“Do you sit in judgment on the Bible or does the Bible sit in judgment on you?” 
I do not remember who first asked that question or where I read it, but it is an extremely important one.

When I come across a passage of Scripture that seems to go counter to my preferences or even cultural conditioning, I am faced with two questions.

First, am I understanding what it says using the best understanding of the sacred text?
Proof-texting is an error commonly practiced by Christians. Finding one passage, without any context or real understanding, they declare they know the truth about … well, let us just say that the list is long. When we fail to understand that Scripture interprets Scripture, that different parts of the Bible are to be read with a different lens, or the context into which the text was first written, we may well go wide of the mark in our application, no matter how sincere we are.

That is why good study is important. Choosing those from whom you receive teaching is equally important. Ask this - Are they humble? Are they letting others help to guide their study?  Peter reminds us that “private interpretation” is not God’s way when he writes of the authority of the Word of God. “No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.” 

Second, I must confront the question about whose authority will prevail –
God’s or my own?

Christians may well be tempted to reject passages that seem ‘out of date,’ as if we are wiser than God. Better to be diligent in study, humble, and teachable. That is harder than it sounds, I promise you that.

I approach the sacred text with a high view of the Scripture, believing that in those pages we are given the inspired word of God.

Realize this – we can honestly admit when we find a hard passage - "I just don't get it." That is very different from outright rejection of a passage. There are truly some obscure and difficult passages but to ignore the beauty of the whole Holy Scripture-
the prayers and meditations of the Psalms,
the accounts of God's love and provision for His people,
the amazing revelations of the grace of God in Jesus Christ,
the guidelines for Christian community in the letters – is a tragedy!

On some pages I just honestly admit I do not understand the why, sometimes the what!
But I do understand, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NLT)

We are called to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, NKJV) That includes the "huh?" passages that defy our full understanding as much as those that yield easily to our minds and that feed us with Truth. We must come to the Bible with humility. We cannot assume to be its judge. It judges us!

Yet, at the same time, I am not gullible, nor do I give up my mind to simplistic or emotional interpretation of the Scripture. Instead I study diligently, remain humbly teachable, and pray for the written Word to become the Living Word through the revelation of the Spirit.

If we would please God, we will remain submitted to the God who gave the Word to us. This is the Truth: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

Are you a student of the whole Bible?
Do you read the words with reverence and love, praying for the Spirit to guide you into all Truth?
Life will be richer as we discover the heart and character of our Amazing Creator/Father.

Make this your prayer.
"How sweet are your words to my taste; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise again: I will obey your wonderful laws."
(Psalm 119:103-106, NLT)

Here is a promise, a word from the Word. –
He “whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”  (Psalm 1)

Amen

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Are you building a reserve of MERCY?

“Lock’em up! Throw away the key!”  Ever heard that or said it?
How about this – “Well, he made his bed so let him lie in it!”
Or, this – “He’s just too stupid to matter.”

In a nation that talks about opportunity and freedom there is a fact that begs us to think about our policies. The U.S. has one of the world's highest incarceration rates, holding nearly 2 million people in jails and prisons, with rates around 540-600 per 100,000. For all the rhetoric about turning criminals loose on the streets, we sure to lock up a lot of people. Might we need to think about the roots of the problem?

Then, too, our political system is completely broken – without any desire to try to understand or converse. The ‘win’ is valued above all.  Christians are some of the worst offenders in this ‘game,’ quick to judge, captive of slogans and memes.

The wisdom of the Perfect Man asks those of us who are His followers to be radically different. We are to be known for quality love and filled with compassionate mercy.  Jesus says – “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5)

What is mercy?

It shows another compassion or forgiveness when we have the upper hand, when we enjoy the power to punish!

Mercy goes beyond withholding judgment out of politeness as in thinking ‘what an idiot’ but not saying it aloud.
Mercy causes a person to consider the needs of the other, to actively pursue the best interest of one that may well justly deserve anger or rejection. 

Mercy is not to be confused with being naïve or incapable of facing reality like a grandmother who just cannot face up to the truth about her beloved grandson who constantly rebels and for whom she makes all kinds of excuses.

You might object to what I have said responding - “But, Jerry, I love justice! I want the score settled, bad guys put in their place.”  Funny thing about justice. WE all want it for other guys, but when we’re jammed up, we want mercy.

Mercy asks us to consider the possibility of redemption or change. We get angry when someone is unkind, or selfish, or hurtful and we want them to pay … except that our God calls us to be different.  The ancient preacher was inspired by the Spirit to teach us the way to please God.  Listen to his words. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.” (Micah 6)

The mercy to which God calls us is modeled after His own.
He knows us inside out, seeing our core motives, knowing even our ‘secret’ sins and He holds out hope and renewal.
"Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because You delight in showing mercy. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!" (Micah 7:18-19, NLT)

When we keep a careful record of every slight, every hurt, and press for ‘justice’ (think revenge) and refuse to be merciful – we become captives of anger, and we become sour and cynical. No wonder Jesus tells us mercy is a choice that leads to ‘blessedness.’

I am captured by the full impact of Jesus’ words that remind us that WHEN we show mercy, we are banking a reserve of mercy for that inevitable moment when we will desire it.

Listen to your words, inventory your thoughts.
Are they harsh?
Are you a critic?
Do you blame and judge frequently?

Our word from the Word calls us, in the Spirit, to a new way.
"Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.

Instead, do what the Scriptures say: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.” Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good." (Romans 12:17-21, NLT)   

Father, help us! It’s hard to let You judge, to release those who hurt us from our condemnation. Teach us to be merciful. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Video of this blog   https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55

Offer Admiration!

When someone catches you doing something right or good and expresses their appreciation or admiration, how do you feel?  Great, right?  Being valued enriches life. So, let me ask you – are you mostly a critic or an admirer?  Don’t read me wrong today. I am not suggesting that we set aside the pursuit of excellence. I am not advocating insincere flattery or mere positivity! I am encouraging genuine love for others that learns to value them for who they are, that takes note of effort and passion as well as accomplishments.

In a recent essay, Elizabeth Corey wrote – “When we admire, we are freed from thoughts of ourselves. The better we are at admiring, the less our egos intrude. And the more we know about the world, the more we find to admire. We can then look with pleasure not only on natural and human beauty, but also on more complex things, such as painting, poetry, philosophy, even moral ­conduct. The excellence of particular human beings is often the most affecting beauty of all.”

Pride is a terrible hindrance to the expression of admiration. When a person believes himself to be so much better at what he does than another, from that lofty place of selfishness, he will criticize the other. His first thought will be comparison, not appreciation.

Right alongside pride is real giftedness or great skill. Being ‘the best’ can keep us from expressing admiration for the effort of those less able. Their simple errors will be noted and their work likely overlooked at best or worse, spoken of negatively.

Christians are called to humility!  Inspired by the Spirit, Paul tells us “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”  (Philippians 2) Real humility will turn us into encouragers who learn to admire. The net effect will be to call an even better effort from others as we let them know we care for them.

Constant criticism sucks life out of us, doesn’t it?  Honest appreciation builds up.

Christians are called to love!  Nothing new there but is our love connected to the ordinary situations of life? It is loving to tell another – “I admire the way you do what you do.”  A well-known passage from Proverbs 31 includes the words of admiration from a loving husband for his faithful wife - “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

Christians are called to worship!  At the heart of a life that admires and appreciates is worship for the One who is worthy of our praise.   Worship turns our hearts toward God’s character and works.  We speak of our praise. “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (Psalm 145:3) We choose to enter His Presence “…to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

A person who stops demanding things of God, who sets aside the need for reasons and answers, who sees the Lord in His true beauty – learns to worship in Spirit and truth. From that worship of God, we gain the ability to admire the beauty around us in the world and in those with whom we live.

The Word teaches us to
“Give to the Lord the glory He deserves!
Bring your offering and come into His courts.
Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor.”  (Psalm 96)

Yes, let’s teach ourselves to admire, to take note of the little ‘beauties’ that are all around us.  Yesterday’s snow here in NJ was a great inconvenience to many, but throughout the day I could not help but notice the wonder that filled my world, the snow-covered branches that gleamed in bright sunshine. That admiration lifted my heart to joy!

The author previously quoted says – “In America we’re told that independence, self-sufficiency, and dogged hard work are among the greatest virtues. I would much prefer to throw in my lot with the admirers. Openness to the beauty of the world, and to the people around me, means that I can be receptive to the unmerited grace that may sometimes, surprisingly, appear. When it does, it is a great blessing—something not to be missed.” How true!

Here is a word from the Word. Begin with worshipping the Lord and then go find the admirable in your world.
“One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.”  (Psalm 27)

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Video of this blog

https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55