Tag Archives: Daily Bible Study

Daily Bible Study

December 17, 2019 Bible Study — The Purpose of Studying Theology Is to Spread God’s Love

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

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

As I started to read this I felt that Hebrews follows the letters of Paul in much the same way that the Gospel of John follows the other three Gospels.  The writer of Hebrews is concerned with the nature of Jesus and His relationship with God in much the same way that John is in his Gospel.  In fact, at some point I want to read the Book of Hebrews immediately after reading the Gospel of John.  I really think that the writer of Hebrews is saying the same thing about Jesus as the Gospel of John, just worded differently.  Both writers tell us that Jesus is God, but also a human being.  Together these two letters form the basis for the doctrine of the Trinity.

However, the writer of this letter wrote this to be about what that means for us, not to talk theology.  If Jesus is God, then we must pay even closer attention to what He taught than was called for by the teachings of the Law of Moses, which was communicated by angels (slight over simplification of his argument).  Those who spoke to Abraham, Moses, and the other prophets were God’s celestial messengers.  Jesus was God Himself.  So, on the one hand, Jesus’ teachings must be listened to because they are teachings directly from God.  But, Jesus was also a human being, so He understands how difficult following those teachings can be. 

I was hoping this would just follow on from the other things I wanted to write about this passage, but it did not.  Perhaps the most important part about the writer’s intent is what he writes at the end of this passage.  We need to stop relying on others to teach us again and again the basics of the Gospel.  We need to act on what we have learned and start teaching it to others.  Acting on what we have already learned about the Gospel is the only way to become able to understand and learn more.  The theology of the Trinity is only useful as it leads us to act, to do God’s will and show His love to those around us.

Daily Bible Study

December 16, 2019 Bible Study –Everything Is Pure To Those Who Are Pure

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on Titus and Philemon

In his letter to Titus, Paul reiterates the instructions concerning the qualifications for Church leadership which he wrote to Timothy.  We spend a lot of time discussing what these instructions mean for who we should select as pastors and leaders.  However, I do not think we spend enough time talking about Paul writing that a candidate for Church leadership should enjoy having guests in his home.  I don’t want to spend any time talking about what that means, I think that is obvious.  I just want us to bring focus to that requirement from Paul’s list.  I especially want us to think about it in light of the fact that I have always felt that all believers should strive to meet the qualifications needed to be selected for Church leadership, not that they should strive to be Church leaders necessarily, just to qualify to be Church leaders.

I am not going to write anything explicitly about Philemon today, but I think that Paul’s letter to Philemon contains reference to the theme he mentions at the end of his letter to Titus.  Paul wrote to Titus that to the pure, everything is pure, but to the corrupt nothing is pure.  I do not remember the exact situation, but I remember an instance where my Dad made me aware that a person I trusted was dishonest and not worthy of trust.  My Dad pointed out how the person always saw the worst in others, was always sure that others were lying to them and trying to cheat them.  As best I remember, my Dad had done business with this person and I asked him why he would have done that if he did not trust him.  He told me that we should always give people the benefit of the doubt.  This passage from Titus was one of two he referenced when discussing such things.  The other was Matthew 10:16, where Jesus told his disciples to be as shrewd as snakes, but as innocent as doves.

Daily Bible Study

December 15, 2019 Bible Study — I Know That the One in Whom I Trust Is Able

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

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

There is a hymn based on what Paul says in verse 12 of the first chapter: “I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” The song, “I Know Whom I Have Believed”, is one of my favorite hymns.  There are five verse, each of which begins, “I know not…” with the verse then saying, “But I know whom I have believed…”  The point being, and Paul’s point here, that we don’t have to have all of the answers, or understand how God’s grace works to trust that doing as God directs will work out for the best.  To those who know me, it may seem strange that this statement of faith is so important to me, because I try very hard to know the answer to any question which comes up and to understand why things happen.  Yes, I try to have all of the answers, but I don’t (and I know I never will. At least, not in this life.) And I try to understand why things happen, but I often don’t.  God has gifted me with great knowledge, and I believe with above average understanding (although, others will have to say whether that last is true), but I still often find myself saying, “I don’t know, but I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able…”

Later in the letter Paul writes about the troubles of the last days.  He warns that in those days people will love only themselves and their money.  Paul commands Timothy, and us, to preach the word of God, whether the time is favorable or not, because there will be times when people refuse to listen to sound and wholesome teachings.  Instead they will seek those who will tell them what they want to hear.  Reading what Paul tells about people in the last days sounds a lot like many people today.  Of course, that makes sense since Paul considered himself to be in the last days.  I am convinced that part of the reason that Paul tells us to preach God’s word even when the time seems to be unfavorable is that we cannot know when a person will be open to the Holy Spirit changing their lives.  There will be times when we are convinced that now is not the time to speak to someone about the Gospel that will be the exact moment when God can reach through and transform them.

Daily Bible Study

December 14, 2019 Bible Study — Providing For Those In Need

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

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

Paul gives instructions here regarding the care of widowed believers by the Church which I believe can be our model for helping all who are unable to care for themselves.  Paul begins by saying that the family of the person in need should do all that they can to help them.  He continues by saying that every person should care for their own needs to whatever degree that they are able to do so.  Finally, the Church should care for those whose needs cannot be met by these first two options.  However, Paul puts some conditions on those for whom the Church should provide care.  I believe that the conditions which Paul lists are specific to the situation he was addressing and do not necessarily represent the conditions we should impose today.  That being said, they provide a model for conditioning assistance on the behavior of those receiving assistance.  

Paul recommends against giving assistance to those who are able-bodied because they will then spend their time gossiping and meddling in other people’s business.  Again we can see both that he is referring to a relatively specific situation and offering a model which can be applied more generally.  The assistance Paul is addressing here appears to be monetary and/or food supplies.  We see from that another way to address his concerns would be to provide assistance in the form of a job,  I do not want to go too far down that path.  Believers should aid those who require assistance to meet their needs, but that aid can, and should to some degree, be contingent upon actions by those receiving it.  We must always remember that sometimes material assistance is not in the best interest of those in need.

Daily Bible Study

December 13, 2019 Bible Study — Don’t Get Caught Up Arguing About Things Which Don’t Matter

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

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

Paul begins his first letter to Timothy by warning against false teachers, comes back to it in the middle, then again at the end (we will get to the end tomorrow).  At the beginning Paul writes that these false teachers spend all of their time talking about myths and spiritual pedigrees.  Then when he circles back he warns Timothy against arguing about godless ideas and old-wives tales.  I believe that the second is just Paul restating what he said at first in a different order.  From these pointless discussions they make up rules they claim we need to follow in order to be righteous.  Paul writes that rules, even the laws God gave to Moses, are for those who rebel against God.  Despite what some people argue, Paul is not saying that good is relative.  He is saying that one does not do good because one follows a set of rules.  One does good by loving one’s neighbor.

I never realized before that in many ways, Paul’s instructions for the type of people to select for leadership positions reflect a practical way to identify people who get the above.  Some of the things Paul requires of a leader just reflect someone being a good person with the skills needed to be a leader, but his instructions on judging them by their children tells us that they understand the above.  Children whose parents insist that they follow rules because the parents set those rules will be rebellious and troublemakers, looking for loopholes in the rules.  Children whose parents make clear that the rules they lay down are what they believe are in the best interest of the children will be well behaved and obedient.  (This does not mean that parents whose children misbehave and become troublemakers did not intend their rules to be in their children’s best interest, just that the children were not convinced the rules were in their best interest).

Daily Bible Study

December 12, 2019 Bible Study — Prayer vs Lawlessness

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Thessalonians 1-3

I keep writing about prayer because I am convicted that I need to improve the prayer in my life.  At the beginning of this letter, and of most of his letters, Paul writes about praying for those to whom he is writing..  Writing that gave me insight into improving my prayers.  I do not believe it has ever occurred to me before to pray for those of you reading this (although a few of you are otherwise among those for whom I pray).  So, starting today, I will strive to pray for those who read my writing.  Then at the end of this letter, Paul asks those reading it to pray for him.  So, I will ask those of you reading this to do the same for me.  Please pray that God will make me a better servant to Him.

However, central to this letter is Paul’s writing about Christ’s return.  Paul writes that that day has not yet happened and that everyone will know when it comes to pass.  Before the Day of Christ’s return will come a time of lawlessness, presided over by a man of lawlessness.  Paul’s writing here has elements which suggest that the “man of lawlessness” is a specific individual and elements which suggest that the “man of lawlessness” is a figurative being.   In either case, there will be a period of lawless rebellion against God.  This passage suggests that the period will culminate in the rise of an evil “Messiah” figure who will deceive many into a false, and evil, religion.  Speaking of prayer, I pray that God pour His Holy Spirit out on the people of this world, drawing them to Him, and delaying the arrival of the day of lawlessness.

Daily Bible Study

December 11, 2019 Bible Study — Praying and Living to Please God

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Thessalonians 1-5

As I read this passage my mind went, I will write on this, no I will write on that.  The first thing that hit me once again was the conviction that I need to pray more.  I believe in the power of prayer.  Here Paul writes again about praying continuously for the believers to whom this letter is addressed.  I have written previously about how I am trying to increase the amount, and quality, of my prayer.  I realized the other night that the Holy Spirit has aided me in this although I am no where close to where I should be.  With the Holy Spirit’s help I will strive to pray more.  The next thing both scares and encourages me.  Paul speaks of being faithful in the face of trouble and persecution.  He warns that we should constantly be prepared for suffering and persecution.  This scares me because it suggests that suffering and persecution are in my future.  It encourages me because of the joy which Paul clearly had during his suffering.

Paul goes on the the meat of his message.  He writes that we should live in a way that pleases God.  In order to live such lives we must control our bodies, which means avoiding lustful passion.  Avoiding sexual sin is just the first step in living a life which pleases God.  In fact, God desires that we love others.  Paul reminds us to avoid sexual sin because our society often confuses sex for love, but sexual sin perverts love into a form of idolatry.

Daily Bible Study

December 10, 2019 Bible Study — A New Life In Christ Rather Than a List of “Do nots”

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on Colossians 1-4

Depending on how we read Paul’s letter to the Colossians it can either be very confusing, or it can clarify his teachings regarding rules and freedom in Christ.  First, Paul tells them, and us, not to get caught up in certain rules about what to eat and what to do on certain days, nor to feel that we need to perform particular ceremonies.  He sums up the rules he tells us not to get caught up with as ones which tell us, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”  He tells us that we should not allow ourselves to be bound by restrictive rules.  There is no set of rules that you can follow which will make you right with God.

Then Paul writes that we should set our sights on heavenly things and put to death the sinful, earthly desires which we have.  He just told us that we are free in Christ.  Yet now he writes that we should avoid sexual immorality and evil desires.  I think we get an insight into Paul’s thinking by what he says about greed.  Greed is idolatry, the worship of material possessions and thus contrary to the Spirit of God.  So, if greed is worshiping material possessions, then the other sins Paul tells us to stay away from amount to worshiping ourselves.  Sexual immorality and other evil desires result from treating others as things to please ourselves.  There is a reason we refer to those we lust after as the “object of our desire”.   

Daily Bible Study

December 9, 2019 Bible Study — As Long As We Are Alive, God Has a Purpose For Us

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on Philippians 1-4

Paul writes here a passage which applies to more than just the context in which Paul writes it.  He writes about those who were inspired to preach the Gospel because of his imprisonment and those who preached the Gospel to make him jealous.  Paul did not care why they preached the Gospel, he only cared that they did so.  However, there is a more general application of this.  It does not matter why people do the right thing, God will use it to change the world.  But not only will God use it to change the world, the longer someone does the right thing for the wrong reasons the more God will change their hearts.  Understand that we will get more out of doing the right thing for the right reason than we will by doing the right thing for the wrong reason. 

I would like to write a lot on this passage, but I am working to limit how long I spend writing and keep this short.  So, I will touch on one more point.  Paul writes that he is torn between living and dying.  On the one hand, if he dies he will go to be with Christ and he deeply desired that.  On the other hand, he was convinced that as long as he lived he would be serving God, which he desired to do for as long as God chose to have him do so.  This brings to mind the last year of my Mom’s life.  She had spent her life serving others in any way she could, finding new ways to do so as she got older and unable to do things she had done when she was younger.  However, towards the end she suffered from dementia and had to move into skilled nursing care.  She was no longer able to do for others and this ate at her.  Every time I visited her, I prayed to God, asking why He did not take her home because I could not see how she could serve Him in her current state (although I knew she was in whatever ways that she could).  Then came the day she went into her final decline and it was obvious she would leave us in a few days.  I was at her bedside during shift change.  When the aid checked in at the start of the shift, I saw how heartbroken she was to witness that my Mom would die soon.  It was at that moment that I realized that my Mom had been serving God, even in her dementia when she had to be cared for, by showing God’s love to those who cared for her.

Daily Bible Study

December 8, 2019 Bible Study — Live In Unity By Being Good and Helpful

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on Ephesians 4-6

Paul writes that we should strive to live in unity with other believers.  However, that unity will result as we become mature in Christ so that we are no longer tossed about by every new teaching.  We should not live as the unbelievers around us live.  He warns us that society around us is hopelessly confused.  Our unity as believers should come from our insistence on sticking with the teachings which Jesus and Scripture present.  Every generation will face those who present lies cleverly contrived to appear as truth.  We can avoid falling for such lies by imitating God, which means living a life filled with love.  Love does not mean telling people they will be OK no matter what they do.  Love means warning people that they will hurt themselves if they partake in self-destructive behavior. 

I find it enlightening that when Paul sums up the things we must avoid his list always contains sexual immorality, impurity, and greed.  He often adds other things to his list, but these three are always there.  In fact, the other things which he adds are really just subcategories of one of these.  In this very passage he talks about not being a thief, which would come from being greedy.  He talks about not using foul and abusive language, which would be a subset of impurity.  We could follow how the actions which Paul warns against are expressions of greed, impurity, or sexual immorality, but I think you get the point.  However, Paul does not just warn us against certain types of behavior, he encourages us in appropriate behavior.  As opposed to foul and abusive language, everything we say should be good and helpful.