This raises a question in my mind.

I have always found this strange because it appears to be at odds with other Scripture.  Take a look.

Mark 4:10-12(NKJV)

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 

And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, 

so that      ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,     And hearing they may hear and not understand;     Lest they should turn,     And their sins be forgiven them.’” 

Now compare that to this passage.

1 Timothy 2:3-4(NKJV)

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 

who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

If God wants all to be saved and know the truth then how come God had Jesus speak the truth so that many couldn't understand. 

I have no idea what the answer is here but will keep an eye out for it in the future.

Even Jesus Had Contingency Plans Sometimes

If find this interesting.  Even though Jesus knew that God had His back, Jesus occasionally made contingency plans just in case.  I think we can learn from that.

Mark 3:7-12(NKJV)

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea 

and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. 

So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. 

For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. 

And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.” 

But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.

Things that sound "Christian"…but aren't!

One of the things that amuses me is when Christians post things that sound "Christian"…but aren't.  I wonder if they ever take the time to think through what they are posting.  Here is what I saw yesterday that made me laugh.

"War is never the answer"  Really?  Have you read your Bible.  War actually is the answer.  The final answer.  Here is what I am talking about.

Have you ever heard of the War of Armageddon and the 2nd Coming of Jesus?  Let's start with these verses from Revelation.

Revelation 19:11-21(NKJV)

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 

His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 

that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”

And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 

Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 

And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Notice that the reign of Christ is ushered in on the victory of war.  The reign of Christ does not come peacefully.  In verse 11 it specifically says that Christ "makes war".  So if war was never the answer, why would Jesus make war? 

The fact is, according to Scripture, war not only is the answer some times but it is vital for God's plan of Jesus coming to power.  So are the people who say that "war is never the answer" saying that God is wrong and they know better than God does?

I'll bet many of you never thought of it that way do you?  :)

 

This surprised me!

It's not often that I am taken by surprise by something I read in the Bible.  But today is one of them.  I'm sure I've said this before but one of the things I love about studying God's word is the way that the Holy Spirit guides us to notice different things at different times of our life.  That is so cool!

Here is what I am referring to today.

Amos 5:13(NKJV)

    Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time,     For it is an evil time.

For some reason I had it in my mind that we need to always stand up for right and oppose evil no matter the personal cost.  This Scripture seems to say otherwise.  To me it is saying "Hey dude, sometimes it is smarter to keep your mouth shut.  You know, pick your battles and all that stuff."  Hmm.

As I reflect on that I am reminded of something in the New Testament and you know my belief that any theory gains strength if I can find it supported in both the Old and New T.  Well in the New T there was more than one occasion where Jesus snuck away from a confrontation rather than face it right then.  Jesus knew that the time had not yet come.  In other words He was picking His battles as well.

So there you have it in my opinion.  And just to add one more thought I will bring up Ecclesiastes where it says there is a time for this and a time for that.  The timing is not the same for everything!

I so love studying God's word!!!

LOL, talk about setting the bar low!

Matthew 5:20(NKJV)

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

God has a great sense of humor doesn't he?  The Pharisees had a hand in getting Jesus killed so it doesn't seem to me that their righteousness is very hard to exceed.  :)

What??? :)

Every now and then I run across something that just makes no sense to me what so ever.  Here is an example.

Matthew 11:18-19(NKJV)

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

LOL, what the heck does that mean? 

Sometimes the message is in what Jesus didn't say!

I hate to sound like a broken record but let's take yet another look at the question of whether Christianity more closely resembles capitalism or socialism.

By now you know my method.  Look for confirmation of a concept in both the Old T and the New T.  I also give additional weight to the words of Jesus himself.  I find that sometimes part of the message is in what Jesus didn't say.  Here is an example.

Matthew 25:1-10(NKJV)

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 

Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 

Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 

but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 

And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

What is the main concept of socialism?  From each according to his ability to each according to his need.  Many believe that that is the message of Christianity as well.  So let's take a look at these words of Jesus from within that frame of reference. 

As you can see Jesus starts the story by telling us that half of the virgins were wise and the other half were foolish.  Now the wise being wise, they came prepared with oil for their lamps.  When the time came to light the lamps, the foolish girls didn't have any oil. 

According to socialist doctrine the wise should have shared their oil with the foolish since the wise had the ability to plan ahead and now the foolish had a need.  But is that what Jesus said?  Nope!  Here is what Jesus said in this situation. 

"But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ " 

In other words go get your own.  Not my problem that you didn't plan ahead.  Those were the words of Jesus. 

I would point out also that Jesus didn't condemn the actions of the wise either.  That is what I mean by part of the message is in what Jesus didn't say.  So it would seem to me that the actions of the wise were moral…and Christian.