Tomorrow is my birthday, so I volunteered for this post because I had in mind to write a bible study on birthdays in Scripture. But what I found was discouraging: birthday celebrations are mentioned expressly only twice – and each time someone died! So my mind went from birthdays to children, to child rearing, and finally to the molding of their character and conscience. Being a Christian counselor, the latter held my attention and resulted in this post on the concept of conscience. I hope you will find it interesting and helpful.
The involvement of conscience throughout history is enormous. Many men and women suffered for what they considered to be right rather than taking the easy way out. They fought for justice and sought to help the oppressed. They stood up for what they considered to be wrong and influenced the laws of their land. Some even gave their lives.
Psychologists have sought to define conscience: Allport wrote of a generic conscience that enhances ones life, Freud paralleled it with his idea of ‘superego’ (a source of morality and moral judgment), and Fromm distinguished between two different types conscience: a fear-based, authoritarian, infantile sense of right and wrong, and a more mature, rational, sensitive, humanistic one. But despite their differences, psychologists agree that everyone is born with the capacity to develop a moral character, which in turn influences their conscience, and which progressively takes on shape as their cognitive capacities develop from infancy to adulthood and beyond. This capacity enabling human beings to make judgments based on values can be readily observed and seems to develop as a result of interactions between their desires to earn acceptance and avoid punishment, and the influence of socializing agents such as parents, peers, and wider society.
The Bible explains the true origin of conscience: at the very beginning of mankind’s history, God gave Adam the following command: “… of the tree of the knowledge of good an evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Gen.2:17). And Satan added “…God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen.3:5). Adam and Eve may have believed that God wanted to deprive them of something good, that he wanted to withhold knowledge from them, but in reality His prohibition was meant for their protection. Why? Because once they knew both good and evil, they would not be able to abstain from doing evil. Contrary to what Satan had said, they would not be like God, because He alone is capable of doing good only and not evil. Jesus confirmed this by saying that “No one is good but One, that is, God” (Matt.19:17).
When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, their conscience was activated immediately: “…the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings” (Gen.3:7). Their conscience told them that they had done wrong, and they “hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God” (Gen.3:8). And ever since then, mankind has been hiding from God. After all, who likes to have their wrongdoings exposed? It’s so much easier to blame others, just as Eve blamed the serpent (Satan), and Adam blamed Eve and ultimately God by referring to “the woman whom YOU gave to be with me” (Gen.3:12-13 - emphasis mine).
Conscience is therefore a God-given capacity. It could be defined as the inbuilt knowledge that some behavior is good and other behavior is evil. It is a God-given moral potential rooted in the image of God, which progressively unfolds as our cognitive capacities develop. We cannot escape the fact that we are moral beings, and the Bible is clear on this point: “…when Gentiles, who do not have the [Jewish] law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my [Paul’s] gospel” (Rom.2:14-15).
But consider this interesting phenomenon: although everyone has this faculty called conscience, the judgments determined by it can vary greatly. One tribal person might be honored for being a headhunter but severely punished for something we would consider a small offense, or no offense at all. Another tribal person may be honored for being utterly deceitful, but may be despised when being honest (I once saw a missionary documentary concerning such a tribe). This proves that all human beings distinguish between good and evil, but that their perception of what is good and what is evil can vary greatly. Even gangs and outlaws have a set of values and their own ‘moral’ code.
Observation tells us that the moral capacity we are born with, which develops into specific values and ideas as we grow up, and which is influenced by people and culture. The development of our conscience takes place as we socialize with persons that are important to us. We internalize their expectations (standards, ideals) and merge them with our own individual desires and innate moral consciousness until we finally end up with our own perceptions of right and wrong. But these are by no means fixed. If the impact of external factors is strong enough, and a person has the necessary internal motivation to change, their moral code can be adjusted.
Why is the shaping of conscience so dependent on surroundings? Because there are two strong motivators that make us take in parental ideals and expectations from an early age: love and fear. We love and admire our parents (or some other significant person), and we fear their punishment or rejection if we fall short. But as we grow older, we will increasingly look to other sources for our values and tend to take on board the standards of our peers and broader society. We experience a good conscience when we do what we have learnt to be right. Upbringing, education, and other external influences therefore play a big part in this process. Unfortunately, this also means that media, advertising, and associated peer pressures easily exploit children, teens, and even adults. How important it is to be selective in what we allow to enter our minds and affections, so that our conscience can be shaped according to godly values rather of the values of secular society!
Why does the Bible emphasize the upbringing of children? Because God knows that the formation of character and conscience is influenced by what we learn! The Old Testament advises parents to teach their physical children godly living in and through all of life’s circumstances (Deut.11:18-21); and the New Testament entreats God’s spiritual children not to be conformed to this world, but to be conformed to God’s standards. This requires a renewing of the mind in accordance with Scripture (Rom.12:1-2) and a focus on those things that are true, noble, just, lovely and praiseworthy (Phil.4:8). It is in following this advice, and by having their conscience directed by Him, that His children can prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Acting against our own conscience is sin. The Bible teaches that the functions of conscience are to convict us of wrongdoing (Jn.8:9) and to bear witness to our doing right (Rom.9:1), thus guiding our behavior. Nonetheless, some people may have a weaker conscience than others due to a lack of understanding. We find an example of this in 1 Cor.8:7-12, where the eating of meat offered to idols is seen as unlawful by some, but not by others. Paul understood that this is not a problem before God because idols have no power (1 Cor.8:4-6), but he insisted that love would not force this understanding on another brother or sister to make them act against their own conscience, which would be sin.
Praise God that His children can all have a clear conscience regarding their position before Him! The Bible teaches that when we put our faith in Christ, our conscience is cleansed from (our own) dead works by His blood (Heb.9:14), so that we can serve God in full assurance of faith with a CLEAR CONSCIENCE (Heb.10:22). This is our positional standing before God as His children - what an enormous blessing!
So let us teach our children well. God promises to bless our efforts! My own children are adults now, and I thank God that He has proven Himself to be faithful.
In His love, Margaret
30 January 2010
21 January 2010
Colossians 1:1-14
I want to share with you a few things from the book of Colossians, we will see how far the Lord takes me through but I hope to cover the book this year. The first section I will look at is chapter 1, verses 1 to 14, but first a little background.
This book was written by the apostle Paul when he was first imprisoned in Rome around 60-61AD, at the same time that he wrote to the Ephesians and to Philemon. Tychicus and Onesimus delivered this letter [Col 4:7-9]. Tychicus delivered Ephesians [Eph 6:21] and Onesimus delivered Philemon [Philem 10-12] so it is very possible that this was part of the same journey. The city of Colossae was decimated in an earthquake in 61AD and never rebuilt, so the letter would have been written and presumably delivered before this time. Colossae was situated in Phrygia and was under Roman rule. The gospel was first preached in this region by Paul and Silas with Timothy [Acts 15:40-16:6].
Now to look at the text:
This book was written by the apostle Paul when he was first imprisoned in Rome around 60-61AD, at the same time that he wrote to the Ephesians and to Philemon. Tychicus and Onesimus delivered this letter [Col 4:7-9]. Tychicus delivered Ephesians [Eph 6:21] and Onesimus delivered Philemon [Philem 10-12] so it is very possible that this was part of the same journey. The city of Colossae was decimated in an earthquake in 61AD and never rebuilt, so the letter would have been written and presumably delivered before this time. Colossae was situated in Phrygia and was under Roman rule. The gospel was first preached in this region by Paul and Silas with Timothy [Acts 15:40-16:6].
Now to look at the text:
Colossians 1
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; 7just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
A quick note on the greeting - both the author and receiver are referred to as being of Jesus Christ and in Christ (v. 1). Before he begins Paul establishes what he always seeks to emphasize – our standing in Christ.
Paul and Timothy thank God ever since they heard of the fruits which the Colossian believers are displaying. They direct this thanks to God, for He is the source and it is He by His Holy Spirit indwelling these believers that these fruits are being born [Gal 5:22-23]. When we see good fruit do we praise our Father who is the source?
What specifically were they thanking God for? Paul and Timothy had heard of their faith, their love and thanked God for the provision of their hope in heaven. Paul has put these three together elsewhere in his writings [e.g. 1 Cor 13:13]. We have a hope laid up… in heaven (v. 5) [for a beautiful description see 1 Pet 1:3-5], provided for us by God. These Colossian saints have faith in Christ, and exhibit love… for the all the saints (v. 4). What a beautiful thing to behold in a group of believers! And for these things God is to be praised.
The hope which they have is found in the gospel, here called the word of truth (v. 5). What a beautiful name! Paul comments on the pattern which follows the preaching of the word, and in doing so encourages the Colossian believers that what they have seen in their lives is evidence of God at work. The gospel is said to be constantly bearing fruit and increasing ever since it is heard … and understood (v. 6). This is a good passage to look to when we are considering our own walk with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 13 [NASB]
5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?
We are called here to examine ourselves, and Colossians is providing a standard - constant and increasing fruit since the day we heard and understood this word of truth. Christians sin, and are called to repent.
1 John 1
3We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; 7just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
A quick note on the greeting - both the author and receiver are referred to as being of Jesus Christ and in Christ (v. 1). Before he begins Paul establishes what he always seeks to emphasize – our standing in Christ.
Paul and Timothy thank God ever since they heard of the fruits which the Colossian believers are displaying. They direct this thanks to God, for He is the source and it is He by His Holy Spirit indwelling these believers that these fruits are being born [Gal 5:22-23]. When we see good fruit do we praise our Father who is the source?
What specifically were they thanking God for? Paul and Timothy had heard of their faith, their love and thanked God for the provision of their hope in heaven. Paul has put these three together elsewhere in his writings [e.g. 1 Cor 13:13]. We have a hope laid up… in heaven (v. 5) [for a beautiful description see 1 Pet 1:3-5], provided for us by God. These Colossian saints have faith in Christ, and exhibit love… for the all the saints (v. 4). What a beautiful thing to behold in a group of believers! And for these things God is to be praised.
The hope which they have is found in the gospel, here called the word of truth (v. 5). What a beautiful name! Paul comments on the pattern which follows the preaching of the word, and in doing so encourages the Colossian believers that what they have seen in their lives is evidence of God at work. The gospel is said to be constantly bearing fruit and increasing ever since it is heard … and understood (v. 6). This is a good passage to look to when we are considering our own walk with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 13 [NASB]
5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?
We are called here to examine ourselves, and Colossians is providing a standard - constant and increasing fruit since the day we heard and understood this word of truth. Christians sin, and are called to repent.
1 John 1
8If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
However, the Word is clear that there should be an evidence of fruit in a Christians’ life. Do we say we have faith in Christ Jesus? This should be accompanied by a love … for all the saints and a treasuring of the hope laid up for you in heaven (v. 4-5). Paul goes on to speak of this in chapter 3, that IF you have been raised you should/will seek the things above where Christ is.
Colossians 3
1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
The Colossian believers were in danger of adopting teachings in addition to those of Christ [see Col 2:16-23], and so Paul emphasizes even in these opening verses the sufficiency of the gospel. It is the word which you previously heard, which is accomplishing the same fruit in all the world also, and has been doing this since the day you heard of it (v. 5-6). The message you had at the start is not just something to be assented to and then moved on from. It is the foundation and the means of further building. It is THE word of truth (v. 5).
A quick note on Epaphras. He shared with Paul what he knew of this church and encouraged him with this news. Can we do more to encourage one another with news of God’s goodness in the lives of those around us? Some of the church at Colossae questioned the authority of Epaphras, and so Paul goes to great lengths here and in Col 4:12-13 to establish him as a faithful, godly brother. Paul points to Epaphras as part of the reason that they pray so fervently for these believers. Do we pray for those who perhaps disagree with us? Do we seek to encourage them even if there is an area of contention between us, knowing that we are all in Christ?
Then we have Paul and Timothy’s prayer. This is an absolutely incredible prayer, it is my favorite in the whole bible, and I fear that I will not be able to do it justice in this small blog. If you are able to also study it for yourself in your own time, or use it as a template for your own prayers I feel that there is great blessing here. I will examine some aspects of the prayer here, but will look at it in greater detail next time. I feel that it should be considered in light of verses 1-14, but also deserves much time and attention. As my good friend Trevor would say ‘we may not come this way again’ so lets spend the time getting into the text!
Paul was a praying man. For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that…(v. 9). This is unceasing prayer and petition, prayer being more general, and ‘asking’ being specific requests made. Other times when Paul uses this language are:
Romans 1
However, the Word is clear that there should be an evidence of fruit in a Christians’ life. Do we say we have faith in Christ Jesus? This should be accompanied by a love … for all the saints and a treasuring of the hope laid up for you in heaven (v. 4-5). Paul goes on to speak of this in chapter 3, that IF you have been raised you should/will seek the things above where Christ is.
Colossians 3
1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
The Colossian believers were in danger of adopting teachings in addition to those of Christ [see Col 2:16-23], and so Paul emphasizes even in these opening verses the sufficiency of the gospel. It is the word which you previously heard, which is accomplishing the same fruit in all the world also, and has been doing this since the day you heard of it (v. 5-6). The message you had at the start is not just something to be assented to and then moved on from. It is the foundation and the means of further building. It is THE word of truth (v. 5).
A quick note on Epaphras. He shared with Paul what he knew of this church and encouraged him with this news. Can we do more to encourage one another with news of God’s goodness in the lives of those around us? Some of the church at Colossae questioned the authority of Epaphras, and so Paul goes to great lengths here and in Col 4:12-13 to establish him as a faithful, godly brother. Paul points to Epaphras as part of the reason that they pray so fervently for these believers. Do we pray for those who perhaps disagree with us? Do we seek to encourage them even if there is an area of contention between us, knowing that we are all in Christ?
Then we have Paul and Timothy’s prayer. This is an absolutely incredible prayer, it is my favorite in the whole bible, and I fear that I will not be able to do it justice in this small blog. If you are able to also study it for yourself in your own time, or use it as a template for your own prayers I feel that there is great blessing here. I will examine some aspects of the prayer here, but will look at it in greater detail next time. I feel that it should be considered in light of verses 1-14, but also deserves much time and attention. As my good friend Trevor would say ‘we may not come this way again’ so lets spend the time getting into the text!
Paul was a praying man. For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that…(v. 9). This is unceasing prayer and petition, prayer being more general, and ‘asking’ being specific requests made. Other times when Paul uses this language are:
Romans 1
9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you.
Ephesians 1
15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
Philippians 1
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
1 Thessalonians 1
2We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
2 Thessalonians 1
Ephesians 1
15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
Philippians 1
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
1 Thessalonians 1
2We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
2 Thessalonians 1
11To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,
Philemon
4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
What an example for us to follow! What a convicting standard for us to compare ourselves with. Since the time he hears of a group of saints he prays for them, both alone and with others. He shares this with the subjects of his prayer and encourages them. He remembers them long after he first hears, and does not only pray for those who are sick or suffering. Are we guilty of only bringing certain people to the Lord? When we first studied this my husband and I looked at our prayer list and it consisted only of those who were having difficulty or were ill. But Paul here says for this reason also he prays (v. 9). What reason? He also informed us of your love in the Spirit (v. 8). Paul heard good reports, and so began to pray for them!
And what does he pray?
Colossians 1
Philemon
4I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
What an example for us to follow! What a convicting standard for us to compare ourselves with. Since the time he hears of a group of saints he prays for them, both alone and with others. He shares this with the subjects of his prayer and encourages them. He remembers them long after he first hears, and does not only pray for those who are sick or suffering. Are we guilty of only bringing certain people to the Lord? When we first studied this my husband and I looked at our prayer list and it consisted only of those who were having difficulty or were ill. But Paul here says for this reason also he prays (v. 9). What reason? He also informed us of your love in the Spirit (v. 8). Paul heard good reports, and so began to pray for them!
And what does he pray?
Colossians 1
9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
What a list! What struck me when I first looked at this passage is that Paul aims high. He knows his God can and will accomplish these things in the Colossian saints, otherwise why pray for them? Paul believes it is possible to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (v. 9), to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects (v. 10), and to attain all steadfastness and patience (v. 11). Do we pray such lofty things for our fellow believers or have we settled for less? When we pray for someone to get well physically we need to submit this request to the Lord’s will and pray ‘yet Your will be done’. When we are praying for spiritual growth however we already know the Lord’s will – that we may be found to be in the likeness of Christ! Too often I find myself praying that someone may be strengthened a little more, that they may have a little more wisdom or knowledge of God. But here Paul takes our minds higher, points us to the power and might of God which accomplishes these things. The letter to the Colossians is very similar to the letter to the Ephesians, and we read there in a similar passage:
Ephesians 1
9and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
What is our view of our Lord’s power and might? God raised Christ from the dead, saved us from our sins and has given us eternal life. He is mighty to accomplish these things in our life. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (v. 13-14).
What a God we serve! Let us aim high in our prayers for one another. Let us believe that God can accomplish these things in our lives. Let us consider ourselves to see whether we are bearing the fruit which accompanies the hearing and understanding of the word of truth. And if we find that we are in Christ let us always give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (v. 12).
A final word from Hudson Taylor – the man who believed God. “Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.”
May God bless you.Taliah.
What a list! What struck me when I first looked at this passage is that Paul aims high. He knows his God can and will accomplish these things in the Colossian saints, otherwise why pray for them? Paul believes it is possible to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (v. 9), to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects (v. 10), and to attain all steadfastness and patience (v. 11). Do we pray such lofty things for our fellow believers or have we settled for less? When we pray for someone to get well physically we need to submit this request to the Lord’s will and pray ‘yet Your will be done’. When we are praying for spiritual growth however we already know the Lord’s will – that we may be found to be in the likeness of Christ! Too often I find myself praying that someone may be strengthened a little more, that they may have a little more wisdom or knowledge of God. But here Paul takes our minds higher, points us to the power and might of God which accomplishes these things. The letter to the Colossians is very similar to the letter to the Ephesians, and we read there in a similar passage:
Ephesians 1
9and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
What is our view of our Lord’s power and might? God raised Christ from the dead, saved us from our sins and has given us eternal life. He is mighty to accomplish these things in our life. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (v. 13-14).
What a God we serve! Let us aim high in our prayers for one another. Let us believe that God can accomplish these things in our lives. Let us consider ourselves to see whether we are bearing the fruit which accompanies the hearing and understanding of the word of truth. And if we find that we are in Christ let us always give thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (v. 12).
A final word from Hudson Taylor – the man who believed God. “Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.”
May God bless you.Taliah.
16 January 2010
Accepting the Criticism of Man
I am so excited about this new Bible Study endeavor. I thoroughly enjoyed Laura and Margaret's studies and look forward to the future entries.
For my first entry, I would like to share some thoughts regarding the journey God has taken me on as I have been learning to accept criticism from others when the Lord has called me to an unusual path. While my specific situation of being an "at-home-daughter" certainly does not apply to everyone, the principle of accepting criticism from those who disagree with our choices when relating to our walks with the Lord is relevant for all of us.
"To inoculate me from the praise of man, He baptised me in the criticism of man, until I died to control of man." Francis Frangipane
When I made the decision to live at home with my family in an effort to better prepare for my future as a wife and mother instead of pursuing a college degree or full-time career, I faced a lot of criticism. It was through this experience that I first learned that criticism is often a discouraging by-product when the Lord calls us to make choices that go against the grain of what is expected in our culture.
Sadly, it often appears that those closest to us seem to feel the most at liberty to voice their criticism regarding our choices. Rather than sulking in self-pity, we can find encouragement in scripture.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12
When we are criticized for obeying what God has called us to do, we have the opportunity to experience the slightest glimpse of the persecution Christ went through while on earth. This should cause us to be all the more grateful for His sacrifice on our behalf.
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." 1 Corinthians 7:23
If we allow others' thoughts about our decisions to unduly influence us and distract us from what God has called us to, we are becoming slaves of men. When others are critical of my decisions or unhappy with me, I must ask myself, "Is God happy with me?" If so, I need not heed others' opinions.
"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." 1 Corinthians 1:27
The Lord may be using this time where I have been subject to a lot of criticism to refine me and prepare me for much greater criticism as I continue to seek His will throughout my life. I am challenged to find my satisfaction and fulfillment not in man's approval, but in the assurance that I am within God's will for my life and that He is pleased with me.
May we all strive to seek His will above all else!
Rejoicing in His Faithfulness,
Meredith
For my first entry, I would like to share some thoughts regarding the journey God has taken me on as I have been learning to accept criticism from others when the Lord has called me to an unusual path. While my specific situation of being an "at-home-daughter" certainly does not apply to everyone, the principle of accepting criticism from those who disagree with our choices when relating to our walks with the Lord is relevant for all of us.
"To inoculate me from the praise of man, He baptised me in the criticism of man, until I died to control of man." Francis Frangipane
When I made the decision to live at home with my family in an effort to better prepare for my future as a wife and mother instead of pursuing a college degree or full-time career, I faced a lot of criticism. It was through this experience that I first learned that criticism is often a discouraging by-product when the Lord calls us to make choices that go against the grain of what is expected in our culture.
Sadly, it often appears that those closest to us seem to feel the most at liberty to voice their criticism regarding our choices. Rather than sulking in self-pity, we can find encouragement in scripture.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12
When we are criticized for obeying what God has called us to do, we have the opportunity to experience the slightest glimpse of the persecution Christ went through while on earth. This should cause us to be all the more grateful for His sacrifice on our behalf.
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." 1 Corinthians 7:23
If we allow others' thoughts about our decisions to unduly influence us and distract us from what God has called us to, we are becoming slaves of men. When others are critical of my decisions or unhappy with me, I must ask myself, "Is God happy with me?" If so, I need not heed others' opinions.
"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." 1 Corinthians 1:27
The Lord may be using this time where I have been subject to a lot of criticism to refine me and prepare me for much greater criticism as I continue to seek His will throughout my life. I am challenged to find my satisfaction and fulfillment not in man's approval, but in the assurance that I am within God's will for my life and that He is pleased with me.
May we all strive to seek His will above all else!
Rejoicing in His Faithfulness,
Meredith
07 January 2010
Just a Closer Walk with Jesus
Thank you for your study, Laura! What an appropriate beginning for this blog. It made my mind travel along the lines of, “This woman sounds so wonderful – how could I ever be like her? How could I glorify God through my very being?” Pondering your three-step process, the following words sprang to mind: “I am week but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong. I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, dear Lord, close to Thee… Just a closer walk with Thee; grant it, Jesus, is my plea. Daily walking close to Thee; let it be, dear Lord, let it be!” It became the title for today’s study.
First thought: do I really mean it when I sing or say, “JUST a closer walk?” I tend to storm my Father’s throne with so many petitions. And although Jesus told us that it’s ok to do so, once in a while I need to stop and re-assess my priorities… Well, walking more closely with Jesus is definitely at the top of my list, but HOW do I actually do it? Once my mind started down that track, many verses came to mind and began to form a story line further to Laura’s three-step process. I decided to put them into a slideshow for you, but you may wish to keep reading first to get the bird’s eye view before pondering the slides at the end of this post.
What do I need for my daily walk? First, I need a solid foundation. In order to trust God, I need to know that He and His word are absolutely trustworthy. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 tells me that this is so. If I believe it, then I also know that God’s word supplies everything I need for every good work. And furthermore, that it keeps me from sinning against Him if I hide it in my heart (Ps. 119:11).
Do I need to produce ‘good works’? Yes! Not in order to be saved, but because I am. Good works are the evidence of my new nature. You see, I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for this very purpose. Just imagine, God actually prepared those works for me beforehand that I should walk in them (Eph. 2:10)!
What constitutes a ‘good work’? A ‘good work’ is not just doing a specific thing like being a Good Samaritan. In essence, it means doing absolutely EVERYTHING to the glory of God – whether I eat, or drink, or do anything at all (1 Cor. 10:31). Glorifying God in all that I do is the outward expression of my inward faith. The Bible warns believers not to forsake the assembling of themselves together because they need one another to stir up love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25).
Why are good works so important? Because God’s light shines through them, and He gets the glory generated by them (Matt. 5:16). Obviously, every Christian undergoes a growth process before their mind is renewed by Scripture. But even older Christians tend to retain some corners of their minds (and thus their bodies) that remain conformed to the world. The thing is, the more my mind is conformed to what God’s word tells me, the more closely I will walk with Him, and the more effectively I will prove in practice what is His good and acceptable and perfect will (Rom. 12:2). And thus (in some small measure, of course) I become God’s light in this dark world!
I am no longer my own - ouch! I grew up being ‘my own woman’, doing my own thing. I like planning and deciding and… But I don’t want to do that any more because I have been bought with a price – the ultimate price: Christ’s blood. My body has become the temple of the Holy Spirit (how awesome is that!) and I am to do His bidding (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Paul begs us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, purely because this is our reasonable service (Rom. 12:1). It is for this purpose that I want to walk with my Savior every day, no, every moment. I want Jesus to be magnified in my body in every situation (Phil. 1:20-21). I want Him to live through me in a very obvious way (Gal. 2:20).
How can I tell whether I am actually walking with Jesus? It’s definitely not a fuzzy feeling! When I esteem others more highly than myself and don’t do things through selfish ambition or conceit (Phil. 2:3), I am getting closer. When I cover the sins of others by exercising love (Prov. 10:12), I am doing well. But when I follow Christ’s commandment to love others as He loved me, then I am walking in His Spirit (Jn. 13:34-35). Whenever I ask, “What would You have me do, Jesus?” and walk accordingly, His Spirit will display godly fruit in me (Gal. 5:22-23), and this fruit will give all honor and glory back to Him.
My resolution: To let the things of this earth grow dim in comparison to God’s glory and grace, and to treat each fellow Christian as though I were dealing directly with the Lord Himself. I need to remember that He lives not only in me but also in them, and that He therefore takes my behavior toward them very personally. Acts 9:4-5 refers to Paul’s persecution of Christians, yet the Lord said, “Why are you persecuting ME?” (no slide for this one).
Please visit again next week to read Meredith's study on... surprise!
And finally it's time for the slideshow (you can click on the 'full' button to watch full screen :-) I hope that your hearts will be encouraged with a yearning for our wonderful Savior.
Wishing you every spiritual blessing for the coming year,
Margaret
First thought: do I really mean it when I sing or say, “JUST a closer walk?” I tend to storm my Father’s throne with so many petitions. And although Jesus told us that it’s ok to do so, once in a while I need to stop and re-assess my priorities… Well, walking more closely with Jesus is definitely at the top of my list, but HOW do I actually do it? Once my mind started down that track, many verses came to mind and began to form a story line further to Laura’s three-step process. I decided to put them into a slideshow for you, but you may wish to keep reading first to get the bird’s eye view before pondering the slides at the end of this post.
What do I need for my daily walk? First, I need a solid foundation. In order to trust God, I need to know that He and His word are absolutely trustworthy. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 tells me that this is so. If I believe it, then I also know that God’s word supplies everything I need for every good work. And furthermore, that it keeps me from sinning against Him if I hide it in my heart (Ps. 119:11).
Do I need to produce ‘good works’? Yes! Not in order to be saved, but because I am. Good works are the evidence of my new nature. You see, I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for this very purpose. Just imagine, God actually prepared those works for me beforehand that I should walk in them (Eph. 2:10)!
What constitutes a ‘good work’? A ‘good work’ is not just doing a specific thing like being a Good Samaritan. In essence, it means doing absolutely EVERYTHING to the glory of God – whether I eat, or drink, or do anything at all (1 Cor. 10:31). Glorifying God in all that I do is the outward expression of my inward faith. The Bible warns believers not to forsake the assembling of themselves together because they need one another to stir up love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25).
Why are good works so important? Because God’s light shines through them, and He gets the glory generated by them (Matt. 5:16). Obviously, every Christian undergoes a growth process before their mind is renewed by Scripture. But even older Christians tend to retain some corners of their minds (and thus their bodies) that remain conformed to the world. The thing is, the more my mind is conformed to what God’s word tells me, the more closely I will walk with Him, and the more effectively I will prove in practice what is His good and acceptable and perfect will (Rom. 12:2). And thus (in some small measure, of course) I become God’s light in this dark world!
I am no longer my own - ouch! I grew up being ‘my own woman’, doing my own thing. I like planning and deciding and… But I don’t want to do that any more because I have been bought with a price – the ultimate price: Christ’s blood. My body has become the temple of the Holy Spirit (how awesome is that!) and I am to do His bidding (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Paul begs us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, purely because this is our reasonable service (Rom. 12:1). It is for this purpose that I want to walk with my Savior every day, no, every moment. I want Jesus to be magnified in my body in every situation (Phil. 1:20-21). I want Him to live through me in a very obvious way (Gal. 2:20).
How can I tell whether I am actually walking with Jesus? It’s definitely not a fuzzy feeling! When I esteem others more highly than myself and don’t do things through selfish ambition or conceit (Phil. 2:3), I am getting closer. When I cover the sins of others by exercising love (Prov. 10:12), I am doing well. But when I follow Christ’s commandment to love others as He loved me, then I am walking in His Spirit (Jn. 13:34-35). Whenever I ask, “What would You have me do, Jesus?” and walk accordingly, His Spirit will display godly fruit in me (Gal. 5:22-23), and this fruit will give all honor and glory back to Him.
My resolution: To let the things of this earth grow dim in comparison to God’s glory and grace, and to treat each fellow Christian as though I were dealing directly with the Lord Himself. I need to remember that He lives not only in me but also in them, and that He therefore takes my behavior toward them very personally. Acts 9:4-5 refers to Paul’s persecution of Christians, yet the Lord said, “Why are you persecuting ME?” (no slide for this one).
Please visit again next week to read Meredith's study on... surprise!
And finally it's time for the slideshow (you can click on the 'full' button to watch full screen :-) I hope that your hearts will be encouraged with a yearning for our wonderful Savior.
Wishing you every spiritual blessing for the coming year,
Margaret
A Closer Walk With Jesus
View more presentations from Dr Margaret Lepke.
01 January 2010
A Capable Woman
The character of the woman of Proverbs 31 is one of exemplary moral virtue founded on spiritual and practical wisdom. It is set forth as a prayer as told to King Lemuel (who is generally believed to be King Solomon) by his mother for her son’s future wife. I read recently that the ancient Jewish rabbis called sages thought that Ruth who was Solomon’s great-great-grandmother was the inspiration for the passage.
It is my plan to look at this amazing woman and consider many of her characteristics and actions in the light of companion verses in the old and new testament such as Titus 2, for the purposes of understanding God’s plan for my life as a wife, mother and daughter of the Most High. I pray that it will be a blessing to you and that God may use it for your good.
"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies."
Proverbs 31:10, NLT
I usually read the KJV yet in this verse the words ‘virtuous’ and ‘capable’ are an admirable attempt by the NLT translators to faithfully communicate the definition of the Hebrew word ‘Chayil’ which is not an adjective, like the English words virtuous and capable are used this context, but a noun. It encapsulates strength, might, efficiency, ability. It is as if the woman of Proverbs 31 was the personification of these qualities. The word used in other verses, for both men and women, and by looking at their context you can begin to understand more clearly what a ‘virtuous woman” really looks like. Here are just a few;
In Exodus 18:21 ‘Chayil’ we find translated as “able” - similar to the above verse’s “capable”. Moses was to find "able men" (literally - men of strength) such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. In consequence I think it is logical to assert that a virtuous man is one who fears God, loves truth and hates sin. Moses was to look for and find such men, and the implication is that such men were not commonplace - just like Proverbs 31 woman, “who can find a virtuous woman? She is as rare and precious as a ruby”.
In 1 Kings 1:52 where Solomon contrast a “worthy man” or “man of strength” with one that has wickedness found in him. Thus a virtuous man is a man of great moral strength, in whom wickedness is not found. He is a godly, God-fearing man, so also, the virtuous woman is a godly, God-fearing woman. This concept is further supported by the familiar passage from Proverbs 1 which states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 12:4 we learn that a virtuous woman, a woman of strength, does not make her husband ashamed. I shall be revisiting this verse latter when I get to verse 12.
The last example is where ‘Chayil’ is used of both Ruth and Boaz in the Book of Ruth. In Ruth 2:1 Boaz is described as a ‘mighty man of wealth” or literally “an exceedingly strong man of strength”. This is quiet an accolade - no wonder Ruth wanted to be in his favour. In Ruth 3:11 everyone in the city knew that Ruth was a virtuous woman! I don’t think this is because she went around telling everyone, or even that her Mother-in-law Naomi sung her praises constantly, but that when a woman has strength of character (fears God, loves truth, hates sin) it is so evident in her person that people cannot help but see it. I can imagine that the descendants of Ruth and Boaz, before Solomon, would of told stories about their Godly heritage to their children that would of been similar to what we find in Proverbs 31.
From these verses we can add to our understanding that a virtuous woman is the embodiment of strength, might, efficiency, ability, worthy both in character and body. She is an able woman such that fears God, loves truth and hates sin. She is rare and precious and has no wickedness found in her. She does not make her husband ashamed but is know by those around her as a woman of virtue.
The application to our life of these verses in our characters is that we first commit this work to God. The Bible says that He who began a work in us at salvation shall surely continue it till the end. We are not to “try” and do anything in our own strength for this is when it shall fail. Slowly and prayerfully change things as they come to mind.
There are three steps in this process:
Thank you for visiting our blog, I pray that it has been a blessing to you. Let me take this opportunity to invite you back again next week when Margaret shall be writing a post that I am sure will be of great encouragement.
God Bless,
Laura
It is my plan to look at this amazing woman and consider many of her characteristics and actions in the light of companion verses in the old and new testament such as Titus 2, for the purposes of understanding God’s plan for my life as a wife, mother and daughter of the Most High. I pray that it will be a blessing to you and that God may use it for your good.
"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies."
Proverbs 31:10, NLT
I usually read the KJV yet in this verse the words ‘virtuous’ and ‘capable’ are an admirable attempt by the NLT translators to faithfully communicate the definition of the Hebrew word ‘Chayil’ which is not an adjective, like the English words virtuous and capable are used this context, but a noun. It encapsulates strength, might, efficiency, ability. It is as if the woman of Proverbs 31 was the personification of these qualities. The word used in other verses, for both men and women, and by looking at their context you can begin to understand more clearly what a ‘virtuous woman” really looks like. Here are just a few;
In Exodus 18:21 ‘Chayil’ we find translated as “able” - similar to the above verse’s “capable”. Moses was to find "able men" (literally - men of strength) such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness. In consequence I think it is logical to assert that a virtuous man is one who fears God, loves truth and hates sin. Moses was to look for and find such men, and the implication is that such men were not commonplace - just like Proverbs 31 woman, “who can find a virtuous woman? She is as rare and precious as a ruby”.
In 1 Kings 1:52 where Solomon contrast a “worthy man” or “man of strength” with one that has wickedness found in him. Thus a virtuous man is a man of great moral strength, in whom wickedness is not found. He is a godly, God-fearing man, so also, the virtuous woman is a godly, God-fearing woman. This concept is further supported by the familiar passage from Proverbs 1 which states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 12:4 we learn that a virtuous woman, a woman of strength, does not make her husband ashamed. I shall be revisiting this verse latter when I get to verse 12.
The last example is where ‘Chayil’ is used of both Ruth and Boaz in the Book of Ruth. In Ruth 2:1 Boaz is described as a ‘mighty man of wealth” or literally “an exceedingly strong man of strength”. This is quiet an accolade - no wonder Ruth wanted to be in his favour. In Ruth 3:11 everyone in the city knew that Ruth was a virtuous woman! I don’t think this is because she went around telling everyone, or even that her Mother-in-law Naomi sung her praises constantly, but that when a woman has strength of character (fears God, loves truth, hates sin) it is so evident in her person that people cannot help but see it. I can imagine that the descendants of Ruth and Boaz, before Solomon, would of told stories about their Godly heritage to their children that would of been similar to what we find in Proverbs 31.
From these verses we can add to our understanding that a virtuous woman is the embodiment of strength, might, efficiency, ability, worthy both in character and body. She is an able woman such that fears God, loves truth and hates sin. She is rare and precious and has no wickedness found in her. She does not make her husband ashamed but is know by those around her as a woman of virtue.
The application to our life of these verses in our characters is that we first commit this work to God. The Bible says that He who began a work in us at salvation shall surely continue it till the end. We are not to “try” and do anything in our own strength for this is when it shall fail. Slowly and prayerfully change things as they come to mind.
There are three steps in this process:
- Recognise that what you have been doing or thinking is a sin again God
- Rejoice that Jesus has already paid the price for your sin and that your relationship with God is thus secure.
- Reform your thoughts by reading the Bible, understanding and conforming to God’s understanding rather than our own or the worlds - Commit yourself to Him. Pray asking God to change your thoughts. From this understanding will flow into a change of actions. Asking for the support, through prayer and accountability, of a Godly Christian woman is also of great benefit, especially when you have been through this process before.
Thank you for visiting our blog, I pray that it has been a blessing to you. Let me take this opportunity to invite you back again next week when Margaret shall be writing a post that I am sure will be of great encouragement.
God Bless,
Laura
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