.004

1 pet. 1.10-12

to think that the prophets of the old testament didn't even see the grace of god, yet they labored for US. the salvation that has been given to us is what "angels long to look" at. to think, grace and salvation wasn't made available to satan when he rebelled against god. satan. an angel that has fallen does not get the salvation that we have access to. to think, angels that are before the throne of God are intrigued with the gift of salvation, that they long to look at it. Do we really realize what we have been given?

we have been given something that is so foreign to all. this is truly a holy gift. there is nothing like salvation. everything that God is & does is entirely holy. there is nothing that compares to the grace that we have been given.

being receivers of such a gift, we are able to experience the divine nature of God. to be on the receiving end of such should send us off the deep end.... this is the gospel. and this is how we should be living.. giving grace to to others because we have been given grace abundant.

have you ever been given a gift on Christmas day by someone you didn't "gift"? you suddenly feel in debt to them. ... to the effect that you feel guilty and immediately want to settle the score by getting them a gift as soon as you can. you throw out comments like "i have your gift but I didnt get around to wrapping it..". and you think in your mind that by saying that it would make them feel better about not receiving a gift in return. but really. does the person really feel better? what is really going on is that you are lying to yourself... trying to make yourself feel better. also, they most likely can see right through that. they know you didnt get them a gift...

but here is the problem. we have such a huge pride that we can just accept gifts. we dont know how to just take it in joy. everything in our culture tells us that such behavior is rude and disrespectful. but is it? it would be if we didnt value the gift. it is easier to "show" our appreciation by giving back rather than truly "appreciating" the gift.

this is just too foreign to us.

think about this.

how will a non-believer be able to accept the infinitely valuable grace of god... if we cant even accept a snow globe on christmas?

we need to make this "grace" more familiar. this grace shouldnt be foreign to those around the body of christ. if they are exposed to the grace then maybe they will be able to grasp the weight of the grace of God and salvation.

to learn that maybe guilt shouldnt be the first emotion we feel when we get "gifted".
maybe our first response should be joy.

how does this relate to god?

i dont know if this is a stretch or not.

but, remember when i said that this feeling of guilt and debt is because of our pride?
yes. the pride. we need to humble ourselves before God and see that the only thing we can give to him is our lives.

NOT to settle the debt. NO. because we LOVE a God that is THAT GOOD to us.


grace and peace.

al

.003

i have just finished my third week of classes. supposedly thats a fifth of my semester already.
classes have been going great. although i had to drop my greek grammar class, i still feel pretty busy with my workload and class schedule.

final class schedule:

discipleship counseling
theology I
old testament survey
bible study methods (hermeneutics)
pastoral epistles

classes have been great. im learning so much through it. but i feel that the things that im learning are just foundational and is giving me the means to learn more on my own...... which is what it should do.. right? anyway, here is what ive been chewing on as of late.

how do i view the bible?

2 pet. 1.16-21.
for we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. for when he received honor and glory from God the Father (transfiguration), and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, which whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. and we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was every produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

this passage is huge. this is peter talking here. he is saying that WE have something more sure. MORE SURE than hearing the voice of God coming down from heaven at the transfiguration. MORE SURE than being eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ. WE HAVE SOMETHING MORE SURE! and that is the PROPHETIC WORD OF GOD. the BIBLE.

do we really know the value of what we hold in our hands?
do we see the weight of this gift?

I was reading in my hermeneutics text book about men who translated the bible in the days of old... about how they were so driven to get the word out to many.... how they were willing to die for this book. and they have died.

you hear how of those who really GET God lay down their lives for him.

but do we feel the same about the living word of God?

are you willing to die for it?

this really puts into perspective on our view of Gods word and its importance in our lives.

how dependent are we on this word?

how driven are we to learn more about God?

just thinking about this is humbling, to know that i really dont get how valuable His Word is. to look at my life and see that what i hold in my hand is worth more than anything else the world has to offer. thats it truly everything i need for life.


grace and peace

al