I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Jeremiah continues prophesying against those who profited from the fall of Jerusalem. He writes that, yes, God brought judgment against His people. God raised up Babylon in order to destroy Jerusalem and punish His people for their sins. However, the Babylonians became arrogant and sinned as well.
Reading this made me realize that while the sinful actions we take may serve God’s purpose, we will still pay the price for our sins. As I read this, it struck me that this works well with my understanding of the Christian’s relationship to government. God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish the people of Judah for their sins, but this did not make Nebuchadnezzar’s actions righteous. In the same way, God will use government officials to accomplish his purposes, but that does not mean that the actions those officials take are righteous actions.
Once again Paul writes a list of requirements for someone to be appointed as an elder/authority in the Church. Once more I am struck that we so often overlook that all Christians are called to live according to most of these criteria. I will strive to live up to these criteria. As I look at the list, some of them are easy for me. Others are more of a challenge. I am not quick-tempered or violent, but I struggle with arrogance. I enjoy entertaining guests, but I struggle with leading a disciplined life. I will pray for the Spirit to change me to be more like this model for all Christians, to make me someone who others may imitate in an attempt to follow Christ.
Paul warns Titus that there are, and will always be, people who engage in useless talk and deception in order to seem godly without actually being godly. Their error must be shown because some will be deceived into turning away from true godliness to follow their false teachings. Then Paul tells us a key to recognizing those who are teaching these false teachings.
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.
Years ago I was told that people who are untrustworthy do not trust anybody. I have learned through experience that this is true. In my experience, people who are constantly afraid that they are being cheated are constantly looking for ways to cheat others. That is the sort of thing which Paul is talking about here. I have tried to flesh out the meaning of what Paul meant with the passage I quoted above, but the more I think about it the more it seems that that passage says all that needs to be said. Those who are pure do not need to be told what is impure, while those who are busy making lists of impure things and acts are spending too much time thinking about impurity and not enough time seeking to do God’s will.
The Lord rules, and this is a cause to rejoice. Those who worship other things will be put to shame. God is supreme over all of the earth. He is greater than anything else we could worship. I will call on all the earth to shout for joy and praise the Lord. As I read this psalm, I am filled with joy thinking of the great things which God has done.
Those who are lazy will imagine danger to avoid work. The lazy person always has an excuse as to why they cannot work. They will suffer rather than put forth the effort to care for themselves. Yet despite all of this, they are convinced that they are wiser and smarter than those who offer wise counsel.
