Monthly Archives: December 2023

Daily Bible Study

December 22, 2023 Bible Study — Living Good Lives

Today, I am reading and commenting on  1 Peter 1-5.

Twice in this letter Peter tells us to be alert and sober.  I think by this he means “straightforward and serious; not exaggerated, emotional, or silly.”  I do not believe that Peter means by that that we can never exaggerate, or be emotional, or even never be silly.  I believe he means that when we exaggerate, we make sure that people understand that we are exaggerating, when we are emotional it is controlled and appropriate, and when we are silly, we do so consciously and with boundaries.  We should remain alert in order that we may observe the things for which we should pray.   Additionally, Peter tells us that we should remain alert and sober since we were redeemed from an empty way of life by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.

Therefore, we should allow ourselves to be purified by obeying the Truth which God has given us.  The result of doing so will be love for one another.  In order to be purified we must rid ourselves of all malice and deceit.  Of course that makes sense because we cannot love others if our interactions with them involve malice and/or deceit.  Peter goes on to warn us that evil desires wage war against our souls, we damage ourselves when we give in to evil desires and commit sins.  For this reason, Peter tells us to abstain from evil desires.  We should live such good lives that, even though they will accuse us of wrongdoing for not supporting and behaving according to their depraved ideals, the nonbelievers around us will glorify God.

 

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

Daily Bible Study

December 21, 2023 Bible Study — We Must Accept Responsibility for the Temptations Which We Experience

Today, I am reading and commenting on  James 1-5.

James tells us that God does not tempt us.  In fact, he says that the Devil does not tempt us either.  Rather, temptation is a result of our evil desires.  Our own evil desires entice us to do wrong.  All too often, instead of thrusting these desires away from us, we entertain these desires until we take action on them, which is sin.  James makes the point that we should not attempt to lay blame for being tempted and the subsequent sin outside of ourselves.  We need to take responsibility for our own actions and recognize that our sins result from the choices we make.

James then gives some practical advice on how to live holy lives.  He tells us that we should put extra effort into listening and understanding, while keeping a tight rein on what we say.  Additionally, and just as importantly, we should resist getting angry, because human anger does not produce righteousness.  James tells us to get rid of the moral filth within us, which generates the temptations we face, and the evil that goes along with it.  Instead, we should accept and act upon the word which God has given us.  He repeats the need to control our tongues and take action to care for those in need.

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

Daily Bible Study

December 20, 2023 Bible Study — Hardship and Suffering Discipline Us as Children of God

Today, I am reading and commenting on Hebrews 12-13.

The writer tells us that hardship and suffering come into our lives as discipline from God.  The way I read this passage the writer is using discipline with both of its two possible understandings.  Under the first understanding, discipline means negative consequences in order to change bad behavior to good behavior.  In the second understanding, discipline means working hard in order to achieve greater things.  So, God disciplines us so as to help us learn to not do things which bring us bad results.  But He also disciplines us to make us stronger and better at doing good things, just as an athlete applies discipline in their training routine in order to get better at their sport.  As we face hardship and suffering let us embrace them as the means by which God both teaches us to avoid sin, which brings us harm, and strengthens us so that we may do good works with ever greater effect.  Such discipline is evidence that we are indeed God’s children.

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

Daily Bible Study

December 19, 2023 Bible Study — Meet Together in Order to Spur One Another Towards Love and Good Deeds

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Hebrews 10-11.

After writing in yesterday’s passage that he wanted to address more mature matters, the author tells us that we should continue meeting together with our fellow believers.  He suggests that some have given up on meeting with other believers, the phrasing suggests that they found such meetings counterproductive.  Perhaps because the people who were there were argumentative.  The writer tells us that we should be seeking how we can prod each other to be more loving and to do more good deeds.  If we follow the writer’s advice, we should act as a counter to those who choose to be argumentative.  Further, he tells us to encourage one another.  Another activity which is runs counter to being argumentative.

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

Daily Bible Study

December 18, 2023 Bible Study — Those Who Reject Their Knowledge of God Will Never Turn to Him

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Hebrews 6-9.

With this passage the writer gets into some advanced theology and doctrine, something for which we should all strive to be ready to study.  The first of those advanced topics about which the writer speaks is what happens when one who accepts Christ turns away from Him.  The writer tells us that those who turn away from God after experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit will never turn back to Him.  I have thought about this quite a bit, because I know several people who had an experience with God in their teens, fell away in their 20s, then later returned and became fervent followers once more.  On the other hand, I know a few people who followed a similar path, but never turned back to God (I have also read stories about a few more).  Looking at what I know about these people I think I see the difference.  The latter all seemed to have rejected God because they did not want to be subordinate to anyone, not even God.  While the former more or less lost their faith because of poor support systems when they faced troubles or hardship, coming back to God when the Spirit brought revelation into their lives.  Every time I read this passage I try to think through this difference and figure out how to explain it.  Unfortunately, I always feel like I cannot quite make it clear.  I guess the key difference is that people who lose their faith, who drift away from God because they stop believing that He exists, can turn back to Him, but those who know God exists but reject Him anyway will not.

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

Daily Bible Study

December 17, 2023 Bible Study — Jesus Was Tempted as We Are, so We Should Fix Our Minds on Him

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Hebrews 1-5.

Because those He wished to aid were flesh and blood, Jesus also became flesh and blood human.  Since He was flesh and blood as we are Jesus was tempted as we are.  And since He suffered temptation as we do, He is able to help us when we are tempted.  Therefore we should fix out thoughts on Him, listening to Him as He builds us into the House in which He will dwell.  Having laid out the reason why we should focus our thoughts on Jesus, the writer goes on to warn us against turning away from God.  Further, he tells us that we should encourage our fellow Believers in their faith so that their hearts, and our hearts, may not be hardened against God by sin.  Which brings me to one final point I want to make about today’s passage.  The writer tells us of the importance of studying the Scripture.  Often times we will struggle with understanding what a particular passage has to tell us (and the Book of Hebrews certainly ranks high among those where we will struggle).  However, just as an athlete needs to train their body by repeated exercise, so we must train our minds and spirits by repeated study of Scripture.

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

Daily Bible Study

December 16, 2023 Bible Study — All Things Are Pure to the Pure, so Seek to Be Pure

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Titus and Philemon

Paul here gives Titus advice on the qualities to be sought in those chosen as leaders of the Church, and that advice is very similar to that which he gave to Timothy.  Paul tells us that those chosen for leadership positions must be blameless.  They must not be overbearing, nor quick-tempered, nor violent, nor given to dishonest gain.  On the other hand, they must be hospitable, self-controlled, upright, and disciplined.  I find it interesting that on both the “must not” list and the “must” list Paul lists two things which are almost synonyms for each other.  He says that they must not be either quick-tempered or violent, and that they must be both self-controlled and disciplined.  Not only are these things synonymous with the other one listed on the same list, they are also almost exactly opposite of the two on the other list.  I think this gives us a good idea about how important these characteristics are in a leader.  I think we can see why Paul thought they were so important in some of his other instructions to Titus.  He tells Titus to encourage others by sound doctrine while refuting those who oppose sound doctrine.  Further Paul tells Titus, and us, that he, and we, should act so as to embarrass those who oppose Christ because they have nothing bad to say about us.  Every time I read the qualifications which Paul lays out for a leadership position in the Church I am struck that each of us should strive to exemplify those qualities.

In the second passage I am looking at today, Paul writes to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, who was, apparently, a slave who ran away from Philemon, his master.  Paul seems to suggest to Philemon that he should give Onesimus his freedom, without using his authority as an Apostle to order it.  Paul also tells Philemon to bill him for any losses Onesimus may have caused him by running away, and perhaps before running away.  I get a hint that Onesimus may have run away from Philemon because he had done something which cost Philemon a lot of money and feared Philemon’s retribution.  Whatever the cause of expense to which Paul refers, he reminds Philemon, and us, of the importance of forgiving those who wronged us.  While Paul reminds Philemon of how Philemon owes him, I think he intends that reminder to remind each of us how much we owe God.  Our debt to God is much greater than any debt which our fellow humans may owe us.  Whatever good we have done them, and whatever harm they have done us, is but a smidgen against the great good which God has done for us.

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

Daily Bible Study

December 15, 2023 Bible Study — Do Not Argue for the Sake of Argument

Today, I am reading and commenting on  2 Timothy 1-4.

Paul warns Timothy, and us, against quarreling and being argumentative, especially over foolish and stupid things.  Instead, gently instruct those whose opinions you oppose.  We should pursue righteousness, faith, peace, and love, being kind to everyone.  Paul is not telling us not to disagree with each other, but to remain loving towards those with whom we disagree so that the Holy Spirit can move in them.  It is true that when we disagree we cannot both be right.  However, it is possible that we are both wrong.  In addition, sometimes the reason we think we disagree with someone is because we misunderstand them, or they misunderstand us.  Of course Paul also warns us about another reason we sometimes have hostile disagreements in the Church.  People become boastful, proud, and without love as a result of loving only themselves and/or money.  They may display an appearance of godliness without showing its power.  The power of godliness comes from the love with which the Spirit will fill us.

I am not happy with that last sentence, but could not find a better way to conclude what I was writing.

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

Daily Bible Study

December 14, 2023 Bible Study — If You Fill Your Time Doing Good Deeds, You Won’t Have Time to Sin, Not Even by Accident

Today, I am reading and commenting on  1 Timothy 5-6.

Paul writes that some sins precede us, while others only become obvious later.  He followed that by writing that good deeds are obvious, and even those which are not obvious cannot remain hidden.  It took me quite awhile to figure out what he was saying by writing this.  After some thought, I came to the conclusion that he meant that some sins are obviously sins, while others allow us to convince ourselves that committing them is not actually a sin.  In contrast, we all know a good deed when we see it, and even if we do good deeds in secret, eventually people will notice.  As for the sinful acts which we convince ourselves are not sins, since good deeds are obvious, we can avoid those sins by only doing those things which we know are good.  Or to put it another way, if we avoid doing anything which is not obviously a good deed, we will not sin by accident.

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

Daily Bible Study

December 13, 2023 Bible Study — Strive to Embody the Characteristics of a Good Leader

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

In his letter to Timothy Paul urges us to pray and intercede for all people, especially for kings and those in positions of authority.  In addition, we should thank God for these people, even those we think are doing a bad job and/or persecuting Christians.  Doing so pleases God, who desires that everyone come to know the Truth and be saved.  The Truth which God wants everyone to know is that He is One and that Christ is the only mediator which anyone needs between God and man.  We should all pray without acting or dressing provocatively.  We should not seek to draw attention to ourselves, but rather should act so as to bring glory to God.  We should not allow anger to control our actions, nor should we dress to inspire lust.  When we do either of these things we are trying to make ourselves the center of attention.

Paul transitions from speaking about prayer and keeping the focus on God to writing about the qualifications for leadership in the Church.  He begins that transition by saying that a woman should learn in quietness and submission.  Followed by saying that he does not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man.  However, the translators’ notes suggest that “woman” could be translated as “wife” and that the “man” she should not teach or have authority over is her husband.  Such an interpretation would put this passage into the same context as what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5 where he told wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church.  Christ loved the Church so much that He sacrificed Himself for it.  Similarly, a husband should sacrifice himself for his wife.

Starting from there, where Paul says that a wife should not be put into authority over her husband, he goes on to lay out the qualifications for leadership in the Church.  Paul tells us that a Church leader should be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, and hospitable.  He goes on to write that women leaders in the Church should be temperate and worthy of respect.  Really, all Paul says here is that those chosen for leadership positions in the Church should embody those characteristics which we should all strive to exhibit.

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