Monthly Archives: October 2016

Bible Study

Plow Up the Hard Ground Of Your Hearts

Every week I receive the bulletin for the upcoming Sunday worship service in my email. It contains the announcements and the Scripture reading which our pastor is going to base his sermon on. In August, I decided to read the scripture passage and write a blog entry containing my thoughts on the passage as a way to prepare for Sunday morning worship. I do not know how long I will continue doing this, but I have enjoyed doing so up until now. I feel like a hypocrite as I write this because I believe that it is important to make it to church each Sunday (with there being allowances for special occasions…this applies to what I believe that I should do, not necessarily what others should do). Yet, all too often I do not make it to church on Sunday morning for reasons that just are not good enough.

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This weeks scripture passage is Jeremiah 4:1-4; 5:23-31.

    Every time I read Jeremiah 4:3 I am reminded of Jesus’ parable of the Sower. When I read this I think about plowing up the hard ground so that the seeds of God’s word can take root and produce crops. However, in the very next phrase Jeremiah tells us not to waste good seeds among thorns. Jesus, in His parable, compared the thorns to the cares of the world which choke out the plants which produce the crops of God’s will. Having said all of this, I want to point out that that is not exactly Jeremiah’s point. Jeremiah’s point in this passage is that while we need to change our hearts, it is not that easy to do. We could change our hearts, but we won’t. Our hearts will only get changed, will only get plowed up, when we allow the Holy Spirit to do so. Because as the prophet tells us, we have stubborn and rebellious hearts. We resist doing God’s will, even as we know and acknowledge that we should.

Daily Bible Study

October 2, 2016 Bible Study — It Is a Sin To Say That Sin Is Not Sin

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

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Today, I am reading and commenting on Malachi 1-4.

    The prophet condemns God’s people for failing to be faithful. He condemns those who give damaged goods as sacrifices to God. My first thought was, “How does that apply to us today?” It occurred to me that there might be a parallel in giving things to thrift stores, or other charities, that we no longer want or need (clothing, furniture, etc.). The government allows us to use the value of such things as a deduction on our taxes. There is nothing wrong with doing so. However, I am sure there are people who think they are being charitable by doing so. I will admit that I feel good when I make such donations. However, my pleasure derives from the thought that those goods will not go to waste, not because I am somehow helping someone less fortunate than myself.

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    The prophet goes on to condemn the religious leaders who have left God’s paths and instructed people to sin. There are many ways in which religious leaders today are guilty of this charge…and you should not let yourself off the hook on this charge just because you are not a pastor, or otherwise employed by the Church. Are you sure that you have not been called to provide religious leadership to someone in your life? And then comes the final condemnation which applies thoroughly to our society, being unfaithful. In particular, marital fidelity. First, I want to say that you do not have to go through a ceremony to be married in the eyes of God. Second, Jesus taught us that it does not require a physical act to be unfaithful. If you have ever fantasized about having a sexual relationship with someone other than your spouse you are guilty of the charge the prophet is bringing.

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    I am not sure now where I was going with what I wrote above. I really did have a plan as to where that would lead, but it escapes me now. However, the prophet condemns those who may not commit any of the sins he mentioned above. He also condemns those who say that such things are not sins. He condemns those who say that those who sin are doing God’s will. If we proclaim that there is no harm from doing those things which will harm the person who does them, we are as guilty as those who harm that person directly.