I am reading the John MacArthur daily Bible and in it are 52 verses to memorize over the course of a year. I just thought that I would post this verse and will post more as I come to them.
Psalm 103:1-4
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life fom destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies."
I am not much of a commentator but I do love looking into these verses and seeing how to apply them to my life. King David is fairly well known for his total dependency on God for; provision, strength, and protection through His mercy. I think this verse gives us a command, "Bless the Lord", and also provides us with how to do it, "forget not all His benefits". How do we bless the Lord? By the understanding of who He is and who we are and how much He has mercifully done for us. I think it is a constant acknowledgement of what God has done for us, who are unworthy, and a continual praise and thanks for His "lovingkindness and tender mercies" that He pours out to us.
Like I said, I am not much of a commentator but I love studying scripture and writting it helps me to memorize it as well. I will be posting more as I get the chance.
I will be leaving Ghazni Afghanistn in three days, so I will not be able to get on and write as much for a while. I am thankfull that God has protected me over this year and I will see most of you in about four weeks. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Agapao
Agapao. This is a greek word for love that is used many times in the new testament. This is only one of a few kinds of love mentioned in the Bible, but this is the kind of love that God calls us to love; Him, Christ, each other, and our enemies with. To put a simple defenition to the word Agapao would be; to love unconditionally, or to love with the love of God. God demonstated this kind of love in sending His Son to live and die for sinners. We did nothing worthy to recieve it or deserve it, yet He still demonstrated it. We are called to use this kind of love towards, God, Christ, our neighbors, and even our enemies. Here are some scriptures to show these points.
Love Your God
Matthew 22:37-Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Mark 12:30-And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
Luke 10:27- So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
Now these three writers all agree that Jesus said to love, (AGAPAO), God. They all three used the same word agapao to describe this one thing that Jesus said to do. Now John here is talking of differant time where Jesus, God incarnat, says that He agapao His Father, God.
John 14:31-But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Love your neighbors
Matthew 19:19-‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:39-And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Mark confirms this word, agapao, was used when Jesus said this in Matthew.
Mark 12:31-And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Love one another
John 15:17-These things I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:12-This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 13:35-By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love your enemies
Matthew 5:43-44-“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Luke 6:27-“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 6:35-But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
So all of these verses uses the word AGAPAO (where love is mentioned), meaning to love unconditionally. In all of these verses Jesus was the one speaking. This word is used through out the new testament. This is what God wanted all along. When sinning man turned his back on God loving himself more than God. The actions of sinning are wrong, but actions are a direct display of the heart. When sinning the heart is not in complete love, agapao, with God, rather the mans heart, is in fact, in love with himself putting himself in Gods place. God should always be first and yourself last. This is why we love our enemies as well. We are no better than our enemies, we have just fallen under Gods mercy. It is hard in our culture today to put ourselves last. Everything is centered around the individual. People work hard to make their lives easy while the world around them falls apart. People watch the news and see the tragedies that happen to the people around them in this world, and then they might even mention it to their spouse. This may seem unfair, and like a stupid argument for love, but it isnt. I see love for others quickly fading along with any moral standard that the average christian once had. I think that we should be quick to jump to our feet to demonstrate Gods love in any situation. There is always ways to show this love and we are all commanded to do so.
Love Your God
Matthew 22:37-Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Mark 12:30-And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
Luke 10:27- So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
Now these three writers all agree that Jesus said to love, (AGAPAO), God. They all three used the same word agapao to describe this one thing that Jesus said to do. Now John here is talking of differant time where Jesus, God incarnat, says that He agapao His Father, God.
John 14:31-But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
Love your neighbors
Matthew 19:19-‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:39-And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Mark confirms this word, agapao, was used when Jesus said this in Matthew.
Mark 12:31-And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Love one another
John 15:17-These things I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:12-This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 13:35-By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love your enemies
Matthew 5:43-44-“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Luke 6:27-“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 6:35-But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
So all of these verses uses the word AGAPAO (where love is mentioned), meaning to love unconditionally. In all of these verses Jesus was the one speaking. This word is used through out the new testament. This is what God wanted all along. When sinning man turned his back on God loving himself more than God. The actions of sinning are wrong, but actions are a direct display of the heart. When sinning the heart is not in complete love, agapao, with God, rather the mans heart, is in fact, in love with himself putting himself in Gods place. God should always be first and yourself last. This is why we love our enemies as well. We are no better than our enemies, we have just fallen under Gods mercy. It is hard in our culture today to put ourselves last. Everything is centered around the individual. People work hard to make their lives easy while the world around them falls apart. People watch the news and see the tragedies that happen to the people around them in this world, and then they might even mention it to their spouse. This may seem unfair, and like a stupid argument for love, but it isnt. I see love for others quickly fading along with any moral standard that the average christian once had. I think that we should be quick to jump to our feet to demonstrate Gods love in any situation. There is always ways to show this love and we are all commanded to do so.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Prompte et Sincere
"Promptly and sincerely, oh Lord, I offer my heart to you. Yet because I know that I am not my own master, I offer my heart as a true sacrifice to the Lord." - John Calvin
This is a quote that my friend, Patch, shared with me when I was in Colorado. I know that this quote means everything to him because his life revolves around it being in full time ministry. I love this quote because not only does it remind us that we are not our own masters, but are creatures created to do one thing, glorify God. It is also a challenge. I once saw a movie about bank robbers that was based on a true story. The name of the movie is called “Heat”. There is one quote in it that sticks out. One bank robber said to the other, “Never get involved in something that you can’t walk out on in 30 seconds flat." I think that if my heart is a true sacrifice, there shouldn’t be one thing in my life that will hold me back for a second from doing whatever it is that God asks of me. A sacrifice costs the sacrificer, and if it’s your heart being sacrificed, that means your all. It may cost money, comfort, friends, reputation, and maybe even life. I think of all the little stupid things that I worry about too much on a daily basis like reputation, money, and friends. If I fail to , not only be willing to drop these in a split second, but actually do it when needed, how will I ever be willing to drop bigger things like a house, car, or even my life. I think that this little quote has a huge challenge. It’s amazing how fast our hearts actually become our own again, or maybe it’s ours through the week, and then His on the weekend. Maybe I am just rambling on about my own struggles. Who knows, let me know what you think.
This is a quote that my friend, Patch, shared with me when I was in Colorado. I know that this quote means everything to him because his life revolves around it being in full time ministry. I love this quote because not only does it remind us that we are not our own masters, but are creatures created to do one thing, glorify God. It is also a challenge. I once saw a movie about bank robbers that was based on a true story. The name of the movie is called “Heat”. There is one quote in it that sticks out. One bank robber said to the other, “Never get involved in something that you can’t walk out on in 30 seconds flat." I think that if my heart is a true sacrifice, there shouldn’t be one thing in my life that will hold me back for a second from doing whatever it is that God asks of me. A sacrifice costs the sacrificer, and if it’s your heart being sacrificed, that means your all. It may cost money, comfort, friends, reputation, and maybe even life. I think of all the little stupid things that I worry about too much on a daily basis like reputation, money, and friends. If I fail to , not only be willing to drop these in a split second, but actually do it when needed, how will I ever be willing to drop bigger things like a house, car, or even my life. I think that this little quote has a huge challenge. It’s amazing how fast our hearts actually become our own again, or maybe it’s ours through the week, and then His on the weekend. Maybe I am just rambling on about my own struggles. Who knows, let me know what you think.
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