Comments for Reading the Bible Together

Comment on Day 36–Romans 3 by Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:25:07 +0000

I think, for me, there is a great freedom in knowing that the law has been fulfilled, that I am fully justified by Jesus’ sacrifice. Much more than a safety net, this freedom allows me to stand taller, to have more faith, and to radically seek opportunities. The freedom, for me, is not the ability to freely sin but to freely live.

Comment on Day 24: Matthew 8: 5-13 by kim

kim — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:53:07 +0000

I really relate to this idea of trying to be faithful and trusting, yet not always having faith and trust. Faith does seem like a blessing; particularly around the BIG stuff. But, I also agree we need to do our part, and exercise faith when we can. I think of the man who had to stretch his shriveled hand to be healed. Also, when the Israelites were in the desert and they were given the opportunity to build trust in God that he would provide manna every morning. They had the choice of looking to God and trusting He would provide, or grumbling about the harsh desert conditions and the fact that they weren’t in the Promised Land yet.

I can remember various situations when I knew God’s will, but I simply did not have the strength to follow. I prayed and prayed for His strength. Ultimately, He did bless me with faith and strength, and I did follow through. Usually, it didn’t happen over night. This gives me hope when currently there are things I require His strength and faith for, and that He will be faithful. It also reminds me to be patient, and to trust His timing and will.

I figure these opportunities of having to be dependent on God for blessing, is both bringing me closer to Him, and building trust. Another thing I find helpful is asking for encouragement during the process, and trusting it when it comes.

I’m curious what has been helpful for other people?

Comment on Romans 1:26-2:11 by doug

doug — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:14:43 +0000

Paul said here: “So when you, a mere human, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

It sounds like, regardless of who the recipient is, that those who actively engage in judgment and reject God’s kindness are inviting trouble into their lives. I wouldn’t bank on this changing for anyone who thinks of themselves as “saved” or not.

To restate this in the inverse, it seems like there are good things for those (perhaps anyone?) who continue to embrace humility and seek God’s kindness.

Comment on Romans 1:26-2:11 by Tim Thomas

Tim Thomas — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:36:13 +0000

In chapter 2, is Paul really talking to born-again believers? He talks of the wrath of God upon his readers, but didn’t Jesus pay the full price and take the wrath of God upon Himself at the cross? Although this entire letter is written to the believers in Rome (1:6), it seems that this passage is talking to those who were not really saved. What do you think?

Comment on John 5:1-18 by Tim Thomas

Tim Thomas — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:31:38 +0000

I thought it was interesting that the lame man did not answer Jesus’ question with “Of course I want to get well” or “Yes, Yes, Yes!” but rather spoke in unbelief. The NLT has him saying “I can’t” (v7). On other occasions Jesus reprimanded his disciples for their little faith or lack of faith. And often when he healed people he said “Your faith has made you well.” And yet here He heals the man instantly in spite of his unbelief.

I noticed that Jesus did have something still to say to him (v14) but was apparently distracted until later. I could imagine Him seeing the Pharisees coming His way. It says He had disappeared into the crowd. Later He found the man in the Temple. That implies to me that He sought him out so He could tell Him to “stop sinning.”

That reminds me of the thought that many people talk of their salvation experience as having “found God”, but that actually God had found them, since it wasn’t God who was lost.

Comment on Day 2: Genesis 11 by kim

kim — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:39:56 +0000

Great question, Brian!

My first thought is because God is REAL! He is intimate, meaty, juicy and alive! He is so strong that He can love us deeply, even at the risk of being hurt when we wander away from Him. He is invested!

I love that we have a jealous God! It makes me feel he isn’t some distant God; rather, he is deeply engaged and invested in our relationship. If I don’t turn to Him, He is upset. I’m so relieved and encouraged by this. I love that His heart is so deeply affected by how present and obedient I am. I love how emotional He is.

I remember one morning I woke up after my sister and I had an argument. Upon waking, God let me feel how His heart aches when His children don’t get along. This is a gift I’ll never forget. I got why He is so into reconciliation. I love how he aches for us and wants to be involved in every part of our life. I love how God shows us how to be authentic by revealing His heart to us. I love that God takes the risk to love us so deeply, especially when He seems to feel so much. I think this is what makes Him so awesome. I love that our God is courageous, bold, loving, tender, alive and complex. It’s so comforting knowing He is big enough to handle anything…particularly, deep love, and everything that goes along with that.

Comment on Day 8: Psalm 46 by edusastre

edusastre — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:59:13 +0000

When I read this:
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD Almighty is with us”

I think about Jesus in the well with the Samaritan woman when he said to her “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14). In this Psalm, I feel when we are desperate to spend time with the Lord but we do not see or hear him due to our afflictions that take over any of our understanding for what God wants. However, the Lord is offering everlasting life in our hearts through streams of life. I am also touch knowing that the Lord dwells in us and is with us.
For me this river represents those moments when I feel God’s presence streaming through me bringing peace and comfort. When God reminds me of his love and dreams for me in which I can stand firm knowing he is with me no matter what happen around me. However, ordinarily I am like the Samaritan woman who is not be able to see who is in my face. Therefore, when the psalmist reminds me that “The Lord almighty is with us” I can stop to thank God for his grace and reflect what he has done and is doing for me.

Comment on Day 5: 2 Chronicles 6: 14-42 by brian

brian — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:32:09 +0000

I like what you have to say, Jeff, and I don’t have that much to add. Your hesitation to attribute retrospective causation seems wise and appropriate. But I do believe that God wants to hear our prayers for the natural world, and is just as willing to act in response to them as any other prayer. I think of Jesus calming the storm as another example of Jesus supernaturally affecting the environment, and his walking on the water as an example of his authority over nature. So, praying in response to global warming seems like a great idea to me–not, as you say, as an alternative to making choices that are good for the planet, but as an accompanying action. It seems like at this point, even if we were to make our best efforts to respond to climate change, we’d need a lot of God’s help to avoid some sort of catastrophe.

Comment on Day 5: 2 Chronicles 6: 14-42 by Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:45:04 +0000

I would hesitate to attribute causation of specific droughts and floods or even global climate change to an “act of God”. It seems that the Biblical prophets usually made attribution before and not after a storm. However, the passage does seem to show that God is responsive when his people cry out for environmental restoration. Thus, prayer does seem to be an appropriate response when faced with drought and rising waters. We know that God is capable of holding back the water - he did so to give the Israelites a path of escape from Egypt - but will he act? I think that our response not only requires prayer but also repentance as well. We have to be open to being taught “the right way to live.” What do you think? Any insight?

Comment on Day 4: Exodus 19:4-6 by Ryan.Leach

Ryan.Leach — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:25:37 +0000

I just did a search on “in the world, but not of the world”, that’s the Christianism that popped into my head after reading this. Found a great sermon summary from John Piper I thought I’d share: Do Not Be Conformed to This World [http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2004/176_Do_Not_Be_Conformed_to_This_World/]. He talks about the tension between: “The Indigenous Principle and the Pilgrim Principle”, which is what I think you’re getting at here, Brian when you say: “Pray… that we would strongly identify with our nation’s secular culture, without by any means losing touch with God.” That bit tweaked my “raised as a good Christian” nose a bit, which is great. I have looong struggled with this tension, often choosing one side or the other due to the difficulty of getting my head around it.

Interesting side note… I just noticed the favicon on that sight for John piper is four arrows pointing inwards, which reminds me of the vector principal that our church subscribes to: the non-exclusionary idea that we are not “in” or “out” of the saved club, but rather all humans at different points either pointing more or less towards Christ. This had a huge effect on my ability to live out this tension. It puts the “Christian” team back on the same playing field as the rest of humanity.