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Humble Yourself
“I…lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me.” Da 4:34 NKJV God always responds in love to a humble heart, and He always rejects a proud one. One moment King Nebuchadnezzar was boasting about having built the world’s most advanced civilization. The next moment he’d lost his mind and was crawling on all fours, eating grass like an animal. But when he repented, God restored him to his throne. He said: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me…Now I…praise…the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (vv. 34, 37 NKJV). To fall is bad enough; but to fall and not cry out for help, or refuse to repent of your sin, is worse than the fall itself. Maybe you’re ashamed to let anyone know you’ve fallen. Is your public image so important that you’re willing to continue on in your pitiful state? Are you so deceived that you refuse to acknowledge you need God? Stop being so proud! Isn’t that what caused you to fall in the first place? Pride is dangerous because it forces you to languish needlessly in a helpless state for days—sometimes years. The truth is, if you’d asked for help sooner you could have gotten up and gone on with your life. But the good news is—it’s not too late to repent and acknowledge your need of God. When Nebuchadnezzar did that, his reason and understanding returned, and he was restored to his kingdom. And the same can happen for you.
Comfortable In Uncomfortable Places
“He comforts us in all our troubles.” 2Co 1:4 NLT God can make you comfortable in some of life’s most uncomfortable places. He can bring you through situations you think you won’t survive, or feel like you’ll be stuck in forever. He can give you peace when you’re under pressure. Before your life is over, you’ll experience loss. Indeed, losing some things will actually help you to appreciate the things you have. It’s the taste of failure that makes success so sweet. You’ll live not knowing what tomorrow holds, but knowing that God has all your tomorrows planned out. Your future isn’t in the hands of your boss, your banker, your spouse, or anybody else. Nor is it in your own hands to control. All your tomorrows are in God’s hands. And just because you don’t understand the path you’re on, doesn’t mean He isn’t leading you. He promises: “I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them” (Isa 42:16 NKJV). So get to know God—because you’ll need Him. He will be there when everybody else has failed you, and He will be there for you in the dark places. The Psalmist writes, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Ps 30:5 NKJV). However long the night, morning will come—and with it His joy. Looking back, you’ll realize that His grace has protected you, provided for you, calmed you, comforted you, and brought you through. Times and seasons change, but not the Lord. He’s “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8 NKJV).
You Owe It To Your Child (2)
“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.” Pr 22:15 NKJV The second thing you owe your child is: Direction. The Bible says, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.” Now, it’s not talking about your child having fun, or even making mistakes; that’s a normal part of childhood learning. The Bible is talking about “foolishness.” This word has several meanings, such as a lack of maturity, a lack of wisdom, or a tendency to rebel against rules. If you love your child, you’ll teach him or her that life is built on rules—if you obey them you succeed, and if you don’t you suffer. For example, when your child is caught speeding, the police won’t let them get away with it. And when they fail to pay their mortgage, the bank won’t let them keep living in the house. The Bible says these are the misconceptions you must “drive” out of the heart of your child. Just as a car that’s out of alignment tends to drift and needs correction, your child is born “out of line” and needs to be corrected by you. Solomon says, “A child left to himself brings shame to his mother” (Pr 29:15 NKJV). Why’s that? Because a child left to himself is left in the condition in which they were born. And he or she was born in a condition called “foolishness.” Therefore, children must be taught to respect authority and to obey rules; they must learn that for every action there’s always an equal and opposite reaction. You owe it to your child to explain that to them.
Do Your Best To Resolve The Issue
“Go and be reconciled…Settle matters quickly.” Mt 5:24-25 NIV Are your talents not being recognized and received? Do you have a particular talent, yet God doesn’t seem to be blessing you with success? This may be the key: “If you are offering your gift at the altar and…remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift…go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly” (vv. 23-25 NIV). Don’t be led by your wounded ego; be led by God’s Word. You say, “The person I had the issue with is no longer around, yet I’m still troubled about it.” Read these two Scriptures: (1) “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (Jas 5:16 NLT). (2) “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (Jn 20:23 NKJV). Share your feelings with someone worthy of your trust. Pray with them, openly confessing your wrongs and the guilt you feel. Prayer and the presence of an affirming friend can provide you with the peace of mind you seek. After David murdered Uriah, his lover’s husband, his guilt was overwhelming and he sought God’s forgiveness. But Uriah wasn’t around to hear his confession; he’d been dead almost a year. So David turned to Nathan the prophet and poured out his heart saying, “I have sinned.” Nathan listened patiently and told him, “The Lord has taken away your sin” (2Sa 12:13 NIV). Follow David’s example—then put the issue behind you and move on.
God Can Restore You
“As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand.” Jer 18:6 NKJV The prophet Jeremiah writes: “I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:…‘Can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand’” (vv. 3-6 NKJV). There are three important lessons in this story for you: (1) As long as you stay pliable and responsive to God, He will never throw you away. Instead, He will mold you into something He can use. (2) When others put you down, God will lift you up. A potter doesn’t press down on the clay, he continuously lifts it up and shapes it as it spins on the wheel. And God will do that for you too. David said, “He…brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps” (Ps 40:2 NKJV). (3) Notice whose foot is on the wheel. If he could, Satan would have thrown you off the wheel a long time ago, but he can’t. Look under the table and see whose foot is on the wheel: the Potter’s! Nothing can separate you from God’s love (See Ro 8:39). The word for you today is—“‘As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand.’”
Trust Requires Truth
“Don’t lie to each other.” Col 3:9 NLT Deception in a relationship destroys trust and respect. One lie or one act of betrayal can cause a wound that takes years to heal, and in some cases is never healed at all. The person who hides something is basically selfish, protecting their own interests. They care little about the feelings of the other person. There’s nothing shallower than empty words and lying clichés that have no real meaning. There are some people who coerce others into a sexual relationship by claiming they love them. Deception at this level is emotional rape! It’s a terrible feeling to be used by someone. The deceiver may continually promise that they will leave their spouse, and the victim holds on to hope. But it never seems to come true. The deceiver makes every kind of excuse possible for taking advantage. Because of the victim’s vulnerability, they follow blindly along until the relationship has gone so far that the victim is trapped. As a sinner, you may have been excused for acting this way, but not as a redeemed child of God. “Don’t lie to each other.” When someone has given you their trust, they’ve given you a priceless gift; don’t abuse it. And if your trust has been betrayed, confront it head-on. Though you may love the person, back off until they show clear signs of repentance and a willingness to make amends. And don’t give up hope. Sometimes good people make bad choices. If you work at it, and seek God’s help, it’s possible to restore the trust you’ve lost and maybe even end up with a better relationship.
Speak Well Of Them
“Do good to those who hate you.” Lk 6:27 NKJV When General Robert E. Lee was asked by Confederate President Jefferson Davis to give his opinion about a certain officer, he gave a glowing report. One of the officers in attendance was amazed at his words and said to Lee, “General, do you know that the man of whom you speak so highly to the president is one of your bitterest enemies, and never misses an opportunity to criticize you?” Lee said, “Yes, but the president asked my opinion of him. He didn’t ask for his opinion of me.” It takes character, compassion and courage to speak well of a critic. But when you do, three good things happen: (1) You increase your own value. You show you’re able to rise above criticism by bestowing praise on another. (2) You defuse your enemy’s criticism of you. When people hear your praise of a critic and their disdain for you, their respect for you rises and they see you in a different light. (3) People see you as fair-minded and generous. It takes very little effort to respond in kind to a critic, but it takes Christlike character to turn the other cheek and bless them. Jesus said: “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also…And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (vv. 27-31 NKJV). You say, “That’s a high standard.” It’s the one Jesus set, practiced throughout His life, and is calling you to live by today.
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Probe the Bible with These Questions
“Help me to understand your laws, and I will meditate on your wonderful teachings” (Psalm 119:27 TEV).
Christian meditation means thinking about Scripture. You meditate on Scripture in the same way a cow chews her cud: by chewing on it and chewing on it and chewing on it.
The “probe-it” method of Bible study is a great way to do that. When you use this method, you probe the text with questions, almost like a jackhammer. To help you do that, I’ll share with you one of the strangest acrostics I’ve ever used: SPACEPETS. Each letter in the phrase is the first letter of a key word in a question you ask of God’s Word.
Is there a SIN to confess? Does God’s Word make you aware of something you need to make right with God?
Is there a PROMISE to claim? There are more than 7,000 promises in God’s Word. Ask yourself if the passage you’ve read contains a universal promise. Ask whether you’ve met all the conditions of the promise. Every promise has a premise!
Is there an ATTITUDE to change? Is there something about which you need to think differently? Do you need to work on a negative attitude, worry, guilt, fear, loneliness, bitterness, pride, apathy, or ego?
Is there a COMMAND to obey? Is there a command you need to obey, no matter how you feel?
Is there an EXAMPLE to follow? Are there positive examples to follow or negative examples to avoid?
Is there a PRAYER to pray? Paul, David, Solomon, Elijah, and Isaiah, among others, pray in the Bible. You can use their prayers and know that they’ll be answered because they’re in the Bible and in God’s will.
Is there an ERROR to avoid? It’s wise to learn from experience, and it’s even wiser to learn from the experience of others! We don’t have time to make all the mistakes ourselves. So what can you learn from the mistakes of those in Scripture?
Is there a TRUTH to believe? Often, we’ll read something in Scripture that we can’t do anything about. We simply have to believe what it says about God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the past, the future, Heaven, Hell, or other topics in the Bible.
Is there SOMETHING for which to praise God? You can always find something in a passage you can be grateful to God for, like something God has protected you from or something God has done.
Every question in this list has a verb in it; there is something you can do associated with them. Write them in your Bible or put them on a note card you keep with your Bible. They’ll help you be a “doer of the Word” every time you meditate on the Bible
Steps to Effective Bible Study (Part 2)
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4 NIV).
God wants us to apply his Word and let it change our lives, but it starts with studying God’s Word. How do you do it? Yesterday I gave you two general principles for Bible study that apply to any Bible study method.
Ask the right questions.
Write down your observations.
Today, I’ll share three more.
Apply God’s Word. You move from the “what” to the “so what” and do what the Bible says. The ultimate goal of all Bible study is application. In other words, how will this Scripture change my life? We never settle for understanding alone. We want to apply the biblical principles to our daily living. All of our Bible study efforts really don’t have any value if, in the final analysis, we don’t become more like Christ. In fact, you only believe the part of the Bible you apply. Do you believe in sharing Christ with others? Do you believe in tithing? Do you do those activities? If you don’t do them, then you don’t really believe what the Bible teaches about them. The problem that most of us have with the Bible isn’t what we don’t understand; it’s applying what we do understand!
Study the Bible systematically. Don’t just study the Bible haphazardly. You can study it systematically by studying it verse-by-verse, book-by-book, topic-by-topic, or theme-by-theme. The opposite of that is the old dip-and-skip method, where you just open up the Bible and put a finger down where you want to study. That won’t produce the kind of results God wants in your life.
Read the Bible over and over again. This simple tool will change your life. It’s amazing how much you can get out of a passage if you study the same passage over and over again and then come back to the same passage a few months later. The more you read a passage, the more you’ll get out of it.
There’s no better time than today to start studying the Bible for yourself. No matter how you choose to study, apply these five principles, and you’ll get more out of whatever you study.
Unmoved By Any Circumstance
“Those who trust in the Lord are…unmoved by any circumstance.” Ps 125:1 TLB By age twenty-nine, author Carson McCullers had suffered three strokes. Then while she was still crippled and partially paralyzed, her husband committed suicide. Despite her problems she forced herself to write every day, and as a result became a distinguished novelist. The English poet John Milton was blind. World-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman had polio. Former Miss America Heather Whitestone is deaf. Stephen Hawking, physicist and lecturer at Cambridge University, has Lou Gehrig’s disease. No wonder Thomas Edison said if we did all the things we were capable of doing, we’d astound ourselves! So, what’s the secret to enduring and enjoying life? It’s this: “Those who trust in the Lord are…unmoved by any [did you get that—any] circumstance.” Despite how you feel today, your problems aren’t insurmountable. The Bible says, “God can do what men can’t” (Lk 18:27 TLB). And what’s more, He listens to “the prayers of the destitute…he is never too busy” (Ps 102:17 TLB). Einstein said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” The same God who guided Abraham when he didn’t have a clue where he was going, gave Sarah a child in her old age, rolled back the Red Sea, and raised Jesus from the dead, is alive and working in your life. So “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Eph 6:10). Remember, His chariots of deliverance “are…thousands and thousands of thousands” (Ps 68:17 NIV). Today take heart! “The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you” (Dt 33:27 NLT).
Be An Encourager
“Anxiety in the heart…causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” Pr 12:25 NKJV When Enrico took his first voice lesson at ten, the teacher said, “You haven’t any voice at all.” But Enrico’s mother heard greatness in her son’s voice. She believed in his talent. And even though they were very poor she put her arms around him and said, “My boy, I’m going to make every sacrifice to pay for your voice lessons.” Her confidence in him and her constant encouragement paid off, because he became one of the most beloved and widely acclaimed singers of all time. His name? Enrico Caruso. When the world tries to tear us down, we need people who build us up, people who recognize our talent and help us make the most of it. Consider these “commands for parents,” written from a child’s point of view: (1) My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. (2) My legs are short; slow down so that I can keep up with you. (3) My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; let me explore it safely, and don’t restrict me unnecessarily. (4) Housework will always be there; I’m only little for a short time. Take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly. (5) My feelings are tender; don’t nag me all day long. Treat me as you would like to be treated. (6) I am a special gift from God; treasure me as God intended you to—holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and disciplining me in a loving manner. Today, be an encourager!
Be Proactive
“How long will you neglect to go and possess the land?” Jos 18:3 NKJV When it comes to building good relationships, you must be proactive. This calls for knowing who you are as a person, and what you want from the relationship. While it seems counterintuitive to focus on who you are individually versus who the two of you are as a couple, the whole is only as strong as the parts. Great relationships are based on each party being truthful and up-front about their real needs, desires, feelings, and values. While as a couple you must make decisions together, decisions about who you are as a person and what you want your life to be are yours alone to make. Allowing someone else to make those decisions for you is a mistake. When you let someone else decide who you are and what you want, you give away the power that God gave you. Understand this: (1) Doing nothing is not making a decision. (2) Sitting back and pretending not to see a situation for what it is, is not a decision. (3) Procrastinating until something happens where you’ve no choice but to go one way or the other is not a decision—it’s passivity—and in the end it won’t serve you well. Sometimes you have to accept unchangeable circumstances, but you can always choose how you want to act within them. This principle is taught clearly by what God told His people on the threshold of the Promised Land: “How long will you neglect to go in and possess the land which the Lord…has given you?” So, be proactive.
The Problem With Envy
“God has given…you…special abilities…use them to help each other.” 1Pe 4:10 TLB One counselor notes: “When we climb on board the seesaw of envy, we sink straight down while the focus of our discontent rises far above us. In this out-of-balance comparison we always find ourselves wanting. Envy leads to self-pity and ingratitude… we’re so preoccupied with our dissatisfaction that it’s impossible to enjoy what we have and what we’re doing. Envy leads to bitterness, resentment and hostility. It’s not surprising the word envy comes from the Latin word invidere, which means to look at with malice…You are a unique creation with your own special capabilities, timetable, and destiny…it makes no sense to compare yourself. An honest, grateful look at your God-given assets will help you become satisfied with what you have and who you are.” Don’t let envy steal another second of your happiness. When it motivates you to compare yourself with others, you always come up short. It makes you cynical. Nothing you do is satisfying. Envy makes you suspicious of other people’s motives, even when they genuinely care about you. You have trouble accepting that their friendship is real so you distance yourself from them, and you end up with very few friends. What’s the answer? Acceptance and gratitude is the antidote to the poison of envy. It’s about accepting that God’s in control, and learning to be thankful for the “many kinds of blessings” that surround you. Remember, “God has given…you…special abilities…use them to help each other.”
Shalom
“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Ex 33:14 NIV The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. And apart from God it will always remain a pipe dream, a philosophical fantasy, or a tantalizing fish that is just beyond your bait and hook. Marriages go awry and fall apart because we look to an imperfect mate to give us the perfect peace we’re searching for, and we discover they can’t. The story’s told of a woman at a cocktail party who was trying her best to look happy. Noticing the gargantuan sparkling rock on her finger, a guest exclaimed, “Wow! What a beautiful stone!” She replied, “Thank you. It’s the Callahan diamond.” The onlooker said, “I wish I had one!” The woman replied, “No, you don’t.” “Why not?” he asked. “Because it comes with the Callahan curse,” she replied. “The Callahan curse—what’s that?” asked the questioner. She sighed and said, “Mr. Callahan!” Perfect peace can only come from a perfect peace-giver, and the only one who meets that qualification is God. Peace isn’t the absence of problems; it’s the presence of God in the midst of your problems. What’s more, nobody ever finds peace by looking for it. Peace isn’t something you find; it finds you when you surrender your life to the One who said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Note the words “My Presence.” Only God’s presence can bring peace. The assurance of God’s love, God’s help, and God’s presence is what takes the stress out of living. Are you longing for peace today? When you surrender your life to Christ, you’ll “experience…peace…far more wonderful than the human mind can understand” (Php 4:7 TLB).
Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Ro 12:2 NKJV Sometimes we try to excuse our negativity by saying, “It was just a thought, it didn’t mean anything.” But it does! A wrong thought left to roam around in your mind can take root and grow into what the Bible calls a “stronghold” (See 2Co 10:4). And when a thought becomes that strong it begins to control your outlook, your attitude, and your actions. That’s why the Bible says, “Be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude]” (Ro 12:2 AMP). Remember, where the mind goes, the man follows! We all face challenges and difficulties in life. You might allow yourself to think thoughts such as “I just can’t take any more,” or “If one more thing happens I’m going to go over the edge!” or “If things don’t change soon—I’m giving up!” That kind of thinking prepares you to be defeated before you even encounter a problem. There is nothing strong, powerful, enabling, or victorious in thinking you will “go over the edge” or in deciding to quit. Those are losing attitudes, not winning attitudes. Instead you should think, “If the attack is this great, then the blessing that lies beyond it is greater.” Or, “If Satan is attacking me this hard, God must have something good in store for me!” Become a person who is spiritually, emotionally, and mentally prepared for any challenge that crosses your path, and don’t allow yourself to be easily discouraged or defeated. And you do that by “the renewing of your mind” with God’s Word.
You Owe It To Your Child (3)
“Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.” Pr 29:17 NKJV The third thing you owe your child is: Correction. Many parents make the mistake of always telling a child when he or she is wrong, rather than taking the time to tell them how to get right, and stay right. Biblical correction involves both. The number one extra-biblical Beatitude for all parents is: “Blessed are the balanced.” When you police a child but never play with them, you’re out of balance. Note carefully what Solomon wrote: “Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.” The word correct means to chastise, to reprove, or to force back to the right way. Always remember that discipline is like a two-edged sword; it’s not only to correct children when they’re wrong, but to direct them to a way that’s right. And you’ll get better results from positive reinforcement than you will from negative reinforcement. Understand this: It’s not your job to make your child happy; it’s your job to nurture them into maturity. When you do that, their happiness is guaranteed! So you may as well quit trying to win a popularity contest with your child. They may always love you, but there are times when they definitely won’t like you! Don’t be discouraged. “This too shall pass.” Just keep administering the right mixture of nurture and discipline, and eventually they’ll grow to like you again. More importantly, when they grow up, get married, and have children of their own, they’ll have a role model and a plan for success.
You Owe It To Your Child (1)
“If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don’t love them.” Pr 13:24 NLT (1996) As a parent, there are three things you owe your child. The first is: Affection. The Bible says if you love your child you’ll discipline them. And you’ll do it in love, and not anger. Don’t buy into the idea that good parents don’t discipline their children because they “love them too much.” The truth is, if you don’t discipline your child it’s not because you love them too much, it’s because you love yourself too much. A Gallup poll revealed that more than 90 percent of graduating high school seniors wished their parents and teachers had loved them enough to discipline them more and require more of them. Like water, we follow the path of least resistance. It’s much easier to let things slide, avoid confrontation, stick your head in the sand, and hope things will get better, than it is to suffer the pain of disciplining a child you love. Keep in mind, however, that the only person who ever got anywhere by letting something slide, was a trombone player. Seriously, the Bible says, “Whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Pr 3:12 NKJV). Let that sink in! The greatest and wisest father of all is God. He not only loves, He is love. Yet we read here that our loving God is one who disciplines. Any parent who refuses to discipline their child is really saying they are a better parent than God. Love always does what is best for the other person. And there are times when love demands discipline and training.
Living In A Peaceful State Of Mind
“You will keep in perfect peace…all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isa 26:3 NLT Who are you trusting to solve your problems, God or yourself? Before you answer, read this: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you…whose thoughts are fixed on you!…for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them” (vv. 3, 7 NLT). What a great promise! If you want to maintain a peaceful state of mind, live by this principle: “Do your best, and trust God with the rest.” Some of us grew up with the notion that it’s wrong to enjoy ourselves when we have problems. We’ve been conditioned to think that if we can’t do anything else—at least we can worry and be miserable. Paul addresses this: “Do not [for a moment] be frightened…for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign…from God” (Php 1:28 AMP). Satan doesn’t know what to do when he can’t get you upset; you’ve taken a powerful weapon out of his hands. By trusting God completely, you’re no longer at the mercy of circumstances, other people, or your own emotions and limitations. Broadcaster Paul Harvey once quipped, “In times like these, it’s helpful to remember there have always been times like these!” The question isn’t “Will trouble come?” It’s “How will you handle it?” The Bible says, “We which have believed do enter into rest” (Heb 4:3). When things go wrong—don’t go wrong along with them. Follow God’s leading, stand on His Word, then rest in Him and trust Him to work on your behalf.
You Can Change
“Put off…your former conduct…and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Eph 4:22-23 NKJV Mind-sets are patterns whereby your mind automatically operates a certain way. That means you can set yourself up for misery by reacting to the same people and circumstances in the same way, and expecting different results. Maybe you are saying: “After all these years I thought he’d change…No matter how hard I try, my family doesn’t appreciate me…How come I’m the only one who makes an effort to stay in touch?” It’s easy to blame your problems on others—“Look what he’s doing. Look how long I’ve waited. Why doesn’t she call?” We think the answer lies in getting the other person to do what we want, but that kind of thinking is self-defeating; it gives control to others. Your happiness isn’t determined by other people, even though you’ve convinced yourself it is. An experienced counselor writes: “If you don’t like the same results…try pushing a different button. Look at your relationships. Is there a situation that’s going downhill despite your best efforts? Are you waiting for something to change, instead of doing something different? Stop pushing the same button, and ask God for clarity to see the situation honestly and to act with wisdom and responsibility.” You’re not a victim of circumstances; you don’t have to stay stuck or keep going round in circles. Paul says, “Put off…your former conduct …and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” The word for you today is: You can change!
Biblical Interpretation: God Doesn’t Leave You in the Dark
“No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11b NIV).
Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, that’s just your interpretation of the Bible”? It’s as if that little phrase disproves everything that’s been said. But it really doesn’t disprove anything.
There are right ways and wrong ways to interpret Scripture. Here are six principles of interpretation that are accepted just about everywhere.
You need faith and the Holy Spirit to interpret Scripture. The Bible doesn’t make sense to non-believers. It is God’s love letter to believers. When an unbeliever reads the Word, he is reading someone else’s mail. The Bible is a spiritual book that must be understood by spiritual people. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:11, “No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (NIV).The Bible is its own best commentary. Scripture interprets Scripture. Practice this principle by getting a Bible with cross-references in the margin. By looking up cross-references, you’ll get a much bigger and clearer picture of what God has said in all of his Word, not just that one context.Read the Old Testament with the New Testament in mind, and read the New Testament with the Old Testament in mind. The New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament.Always interpret unclear passages in the light of clear passages. Look at the full counsel of God in Scripture to get a clear understanding when you find a passage that seems contradictory or confusing. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:29 has a very obscure reference to baptism for the dead. It’s the only time the idea is mentioned in Scripture. Paul isn’t condoning this. Nothing in Scripture condones it. Let clear passages about salvation and baptism interpret this unclear one, not vice versa.Don’t form a doctrine based solely on a historical event. Take historical passages of the Bible for what they’re meant to be: good lessons. Don’t build your doctrine upon them. For example, in Mark 1:35, the Bible says Jesus got up very early, went to a place of solitude, and prayed. Does that mean you must get up every morning at 4 a.m., leave your house, and go somewhere and pray? Of course not! God may convince you that it’s a good idea, but it’s not a command. Use doctrinal passages to base doctrine on. Use narratives to teach lessons.Never interpret Scripture based on your own experiences. The point of Bible study is not to shape Scripture to agree with your subjective opinions or your experiences. Feelings lie. Emotions lie. Instead, discover God’s timeless truth, and let it shape your life. Study the Bible with an open heart, and invite God to conform you to his will.
God doesn’t want to leave you in the dark when you study Scripture. Following these basic rules of Bible study can help to ensure you read the Word from God’s perspective.
Go By The Book
“Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” Heb 10:35 NKJV How long should you keep praying and believing God for the answer? Until He tells you differently. In other words, go by the book! “Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (vv. 35-36 NKJV). Many of God’s promises have timelines, and you need long-distance faith to receive them. The word endurance pictures a runner determined to reach the finish line. You say, “But I’m not sure what God’s will is.” His will is revealed in His Word, and that’s what you must believe and speak over your situation. To say otherwise is to contradict God. Abraham stood on God’s promise that he’d be the father of many nations when there wasn’t a shred of evidence to prove it. For twenty years he looked up into the night sky believing, “Lord, You said my children would be as numerous as the stars. I don’t know how You’re going to do it for I’m a hundred years old and my wife, Sarah, is ninety. But I’m going to believe You anyway.” When you pray that way, you risk looking foolish in the eyes of others. But receiving the miraculous often involves looking ridiculous, like Jesus telling the disciples to fill wine pots with water or rubbing clay in a blind man’s eyes. But the guests at the wedding in Cana drank the finest wine, and the blind man went home seeing. Why? Because they obeyed the word Jesus gave them. So the word for you today is: Go by the book.
God Will Make It Up To You
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.” Joel 2:25 NIV Kristine Steakley writes: “Loss can make us feel forsaken and utterly destroyed…For many divorce meant leaving the house we grew up in, our neighborhood, our friends, our school…even our church because we were ashamed and heard condemnation from those who should have been concerned for our souls. To use Joel’s metaphor, locusts ate our family; more locusts ate our friendships…and still more ate our church…But God promised, ‘Never again will my people be shamed’ (v. 26). I can’t tell you what restoration will look like…or when it’ll happen. Some of us will see relationships with parents and siblings mended…others will build great marriages and loving families…and some may have to wait for heaven where all wrongs will be righted, all wounds healed, all tears wiped away.” One Bible teacher says: “Resist the temptation to despair or delve into disappointment. You may feel like you’ve forfeited years, opportunities, finances, and a significant return on investment of self. But hear the fantastic promise of redemption: ‘I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.’ No one on earth can make anything up to you. No one can pay. No one can set things right or make things fair. Pressure and manipulation won’t bring justice. So let it go and let God fill your life with new blessings. If you’re full of resentment and wrath He can’t find space for His gifts. God will make it up to you if you keep an expectant attitude of faith, and thank Him that His promises are yours.”
Flattery Will Get You Nowhere
“Nor will I flatter any man.” Job 32:21 NIV When Stephen Spielberg was a skinny teenager, he became the target of a bully. Fed up with the constant harassment which he later described as “hell on earth,” he decided to flatter the bully by telling him he looked like John Wayne and should consider playing the hero in an eight-millimeter movie about World War ll he was thinking of making. Once Spielberg outfitted him and cast him as a heroic squad leader, the bully became putty in his hands. However, unlike Spielberg’s bully, emotionally healthy people only appreciate sincere praise they have earned. And they can detect a compliment given with an ulterior motive or to gain their favor. The paradox is that most people tend to look with disfavor on someone who compliments them, for no apparent reason. Elihu—the patriarch Job’s friend—said, “I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man; for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away” (vv. 21-22 NIV). And the Psalmist tells us, “The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips” (Ps 12:3). So here’s the question: Is flattery worth being cut off from the blessing of God? When you engage in or become susceptible to flattery, it’s clear evidence of your lack of faith in God’s ability to give you favor with other people. Favor is a fringe benefit of being in right standing with Him. “Surely…Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (Ps 5:12 NIV).
The Wonder Of Grace
“For by grace you have been saved through faith.” Eph 2:8 NRS Some of us live as if God has a big performance chart with our name on it, and at the end of each day He grades us to determine if He will love us more, or less, or at all. You say, “If I were God, some days I wouldn’t love me.” Then be glad you’re not God, and we’ll all be twice as glad—or we’d all be sunk! God does not save us by grace and then base how He feels about us on our spiritual performance. The Bible says, “God…out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (vv. 4-5 NRS). The wonder of grace is that you are chosen, you are wanted, and God desires you for His family. By grace you have been made alive to God. You have strength to endure, power to serve, a reason to hope, and death has no hold over you. God took your indebtedness and guilt and nailed it to the cross. He erased the bill; He destroyed the I.O.U. and set you free. Unburdened. Cleansed. Today you can live with a heart as light as a feather—no matter what you did yesterday. The truth is that no one in heaven will ever boast, “Look what Jesus and I did.” No, when Jesus cried from the cross, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30), God wrote “Paid in full” over every sin you would commit—all the way from the cradle to the grave. This is the wonder of grace.
Steps to Effective Bible Study (Part 1)
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18 ESV).
Studying God’s Word will change your life if you put what you learn in practice — but it all starts with your willingness to study his Word.
The Bible says, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18 ESV).
God has so much he wants to show us, but we must be willing to look into his Word with open eyes.
So how should we study God’s Word? Effective Bible study, no matter what Bible study method we use, has five parts. I’ll look at two today and three tomorrow.
Ask the right questions. Learning to study the Bible means learning to ask good questions from the text. There’s no limit to how many questions you can ask of the Bible, because there’s no limit to its wisdom and insight. The deeper you dig, the more gold you’ll find. Asking questions of the text you’re reading will help you look at the text through a whole new set of eyes. Suddenly, every time you pick up God’s Word to study it, new truths will jump out at you.
Write down your observations. Never study the Bible without pen and paper in hand (or a keyboard if you prefer). When you ask your questions and find your answers, write down what you learn. You can read the Bible without writing something down, but you can’t study it.
Dawson Trotman, who was the founder of the Navigators ministry, used to say, “Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and the fingertips.” In other words, if you can’t say it and you can’t write it, then you haven’t really thought about it. Even if you don’t see anything in the verse, write down that you don’t see anything. Just the act of writing that down will open up new thoughts.
You Must Go Through The Fire
“I have refined you…for My own sake.” Isa 48:10,11 NKJV Undercover Boss is a popular TV show where company owners disguise themselves as regular staff members and work with everybody else. Some of the discoveries they make are real eye-openers—leading to changes that make the company more efficient, profitable, and enjoyable for everybody to work in. To “understand” people, you have to “stand” in their shoes. Ezekiel said, “Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib…and I sat where they sat, and…the word of the Lord came to me” (Eze 3:15-16 NKJV). In order to heal the pain, you must be able to feel the pain. The Bible says Jesus can be “touched with the feelings of our infirmities,” because He walked in our shoes (See Heb 4:15). He experienced family conflict, rejection, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger. He walked the path you’re on and He knows how you feel; that’s why you can turn to Him when you’re in trouble and get the help you need. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Heb 2:18 NKJV). When you offer advice, people want to know if you're speaking out of experience or just head knowledge. So God will permit you to go through experiences you don’t enjoy or understand, to equip you and make you effective in ministering to others. Job said, “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). If you’re in the refiner’s fire today, it’s because God has something He plans to do through you and for you.
Anger
“They do not know what they are doing.” Lk 23:34 NIV Max Lucado writes: “It begins as a drop of water…Someone gets your parking place, pulls in front of you on the freeway, a waitress is slow and you’re in a hurry, the toast burns…Get enough of these seemingly innocent drops of anger and you’ve got a bucket full of rage…We trust no one…bare our teeth at anyone who gets near…become walking time bombs that, given the right amount of tension and fear, could explode…We can’t deny…anger exists. How do we harness it? Jesus said about the mob that killed him, ‘Father, forgive them…they do not know what they are doing’ (Lk 23:34)…He saw this bloodthirsty, death-hungry crowd not as murderers, but as victims…He saw in their faces not hatred, but confusion…He regarded them not as a militant mob but ‘like sheep without a shepherd’ (Mk 6:34 NIV). ‘They don’t know what they are doing’…Think about it…they hadn’t the faintest idea…They were a stir-crazy mob, mad at something they couldn’t see so they took it out on, of all people, God. They didn’t know what they were doing, and for the most part neither do we. Much as we hate to admit it, we’re shepherdless sheep…born out of one eternity and frighteningly close to another…We can’t answer our own questions about love and hurt…can’t solve the riddle of aging…don’t know how to heal our own bodies or get along with our mates…My point is: Uncontrolled anger won’t better our world…sympathetic understanding will. Once we begin to operate not from a posture of anger but of compassion…we realize the lights are out…a lot of people are stumbling in the darkness…So we light candles.”
Develop An Overcoming Attitude
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1Jn 4:4 NKJV The disappointments of life can cause you to see nothing but negativity in your future. You express hopelessness, belittle your own abilities, refuse to take any risk, say no to personal growth opportunities, complain about the unfairness of life, and say that nothing you do will make a difference in a particular circumstance. Do you recognize any of these attitudes in yourself? If so, there’s good news. Dr. Paul Meier, a Christian psychiatrist, said, “Attitudes are nothing more than habits of thought, and habits can be acquired. An action repeated becomes an attitude realized.” That means with practice, you can develop an overcoming attitude. Here’s how: (1) Be honest about your quest to conquer pessimism. Give someone you respect the permission to point out when you are being negative. (2) Limit your exposure to negative input. Since you become like the company you keep, look for people who fortify your faith and not feed your fears. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise” (Pr 13:20). (3) Volunteer to serve others who are less fortunate. Serving creates positive feelings and gives you a sense of value; it’s also the right thing to do. (4) Look for the good in every situation and always express faith that it’s there! President Harry Truman said, “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities, and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” When you face a difficulty today, see it as an opportunity because “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
Trust In God’s Goodness
“The Lord is good.” Na 1:7 NIV The Bible says, “When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come…down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. ‘Come on,’ they said, ‘make us…gods who can lead us” (Ex 32:1 NLT). Why did Israel make a golden calf? Because they wanted a god you can see. It’s harder to relate to an invisible God, and Moses, His representative, stayed on Mount Sinai so long they felt helpless and abandoned. So they did what we do when we’re scared—resort to the comfort of the familiar. Mark D. Roberts writes: “How often do we find ourselves in a situation like the Israelites? We hear God’s call to something new, and boldly step out in faith. But when we don’t sense His presence and our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, we feel abandoned, scared, and helpless. We grasp for the familiar.” The Bible says, “The Lord is good…He cares for those who trust in him.” Nancy Ortberg says: “The difficult parts of change are most often where God lives…All the things I glibly say, in change I have to live out…Most of us go kicking and screaming instead of moving into it with an assuredness that not only is God on the other side, but new facets of Him that we haven’t heretofore understood are also there. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, a job loss, a move across the country, becoming an empty nester—if we allow ourselves to push through the difficult parts we’ll discover God is there…and He’s entirely, wonderfully, amazingly, good.” When God closes one door, He opens another—but you must be willing to walk through it.