Learning to Know God

Read Matthew 13:44-52

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45,46).

What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?

Have you ever really thought about these short, very familiar parables Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven, and what they mean for us? I'll be you're like I and many others have been when just reading and rereading them over the years: We probably got the message just backwards!

Our pastor, Pastor Dan, read this Scripture on a recent Sunday morning and asked the congregation, "In this story about the merchant and the pearls -- who is the merchant? What do the pearls represent?"

Like me, most people there immediately said the merchant represented us -- and the pearls were the priceless value of God's Kingdom, his presence that is beyond any value we could put on it.

Then he simply said: "Hmm. So God wants us to sacrifice everything we own for his kingdom -- then what? How do we live? For that matter, assuming the ministry of our church is part of the Kingdom -- how do we pay for it??"

That was a mind opener. The "merchant," for this parable to make any sense at all, is NOT us. The merchant is GOD. The pearls of great value ("great price" in the familiar King James Version) represent us. We are of such value to God that he sent his only son, Jesus, to die for us. HE is the one who has given all to purchase US.

How awesome is that as you go about your day? Great to learn something like that about God, isn't it?

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aka The BibleIn single copies AFFORDABLE, ACCURATE, AND ATTENTION GRABBING Every verse of these TNIV Bibles has been carefully translated with uncompromising accuracy to bring out its meaning to a 21st-century audience. You won... [Read more] How We Got the Bible - DVD - Spanish SPANISH DVD [Read more] KJV Hardcover Study Bible BIBLE REFERENCE LIBRARY IN ONE VOLUME With over 20, 000 notes and an abundance of study tools reflecting the forefront of conservative scholarship, this Bible is a veritable resource library design... [Read more] NIrV Hardcover Bible In single copies EASIER-TO-READ TEXT IN A HARDCOVER EDITION This simplified version of the NIV Bible, written at a 3.5-grade reading level, is the perfect gift for anyone who wants a more-contemporary translation o... [Read more] NIV Heart of the Outdoors Leather Bible In single copies In single copies THE BIBLE FOR SPORTSMEN IDEAL FOR YOUR NON-CHRISTIAN HUNTING AND FISHING BUDDIES The Heart of the Outdoors, with its rugged camouflage paperback cover or leather cover, is designed especially for h... [Read more] Christmas Leaflets #5164 - Jesus The Real Meaning of Christmas THE GREATEST JOY OF CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATING CHRIST! Christmas is such a wonderful time to share your faith with friends, family, neighbors, and your community. That is why we are making these beau... [Read more]

Posted on August 4th, 2008 by Gary
Filed under: General | No Comments »

Read 1 Peter 2:1-12

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (1 Peter 2:12).

What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?

There's hardly a day that goes by without someone feeling compelled to fight the battle of faith in the pages of our daily newspaper. You've probably seen and read the drill yourself in your local "letters to the editor," or "readers' letters," or whatever it's called in your local newspaper. I'm talking about those good, sincere folks who feel they absolutely MUST defend their faith against godless agnostics/atheists who attack Christianity in their letters and/or guest editorials/opinion pieces.

Problem is, most of these good folks aren't defending the faith. They're merely exercising their right to argue or express their anger at those whom they believe are attacking God or their Christian faith.

You've probably heard and used the expression yourself -- "Practice what you preach."

The essence of our Christianity is in the LIVING, not just the teaching/talking/believing. I've always
found it interesting that God chose to reveal himself to us through the Scriptures, not through
carefully crafted, logical theology textbooks.

And what are the Scriptures? They are accounts of living people -- living out their lives. That's what we are to do: Live our faith, not argue or debate about it.

Show Jesus to the people in your life today by what you do, by the way you live what you believe!

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aka The BibleIn single copies AFFORDABLE, ACCURATE, AND ATTENTION GRABBING Every verse of these TNIV Bibles has been carefully translated with uncompromising accuracy to bring out its meaning to a 21st-century audience. You won... [Read more] How We Got the Bible - DVD - Spanish SPANISH DVD [Read more] KJV Hardcover Study Bible BIBLE REFERENCE LIBRARY IN ONE VOLUME With over 20, 000 notes and an abundance of study tools reflecting the forefront of conservative scholarship, this Bible is a veritable resource library design... [Read more] NIrV Hardcover Bible In single copies EASIER-TO-READ TEXT IN A HARDCOVER EDITION This simplified version of the NIV Bible, written at a 3.5-grade reading level, is the perfect gift for anyone who wants a more-contemporary translation o... [Read more] NIV Heart of the Outdoors Leather Bible In single copies In single copies THE BIBLE FOR SPORTSMEN IDEAL FOR YOUR NON-CHRISTIAN HUNTING AND FISHING BUDDIES The Heart of the Outdoors, with its rugged camouflage paperback cover or leather cover, is designed especially for h... [Read more] Christmas Leaflets #5164 - Jesus The Real Meaning of Christmas THE GREATEST JOY OF CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATING CHRIST! Christmas is such a wonderful time to share your faith with friends, family, neighbors, and your community. That is why we are making these beau... [Read more]

Posted on July 5th, 2008 by Gary
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Read 1 Peter 1:13-25

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to
be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13)."

What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?

Preachers -- even us burned out old ex-preachers! -- love 3-point sermon outlines. I don't know why,
exactly, but think about it: When was the last time you heard a 2-point or 4-point sermon??

Anyway, I got distracted there. Here are some thoughts for today about how to live a holy life, pleasing to God, based on today's reading in 1 Peter:

1. Take control of your mind; bring your thoughts under control and offer them up to God.

2. Live a disciplined, "self-controlled" life, i.e., get serious about offering every part of your life
up to God every day of your life.

3. Rely on God's grace in Christ to make all this happen, as you look forward to seeing him!

So there's your "3-pointer" for today. Now get busy and fill in the "sermon" by living each day for Jesus.

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aka The BibleIn single copies AFFORDABLE, ACCURATE, AND ATTENTION GRABBING Every verse of these TNIV Bibles has been carefully translated with uncompromising accuracy to bring out its meaning to a 21st-century audience. You won... [Read more] How We Got the Bible - DVD - Spanish SPANISH DVD [Read more] KJV Hardcover Study Bible BIBLE REFERENCE LIBRARY IN ONE VOLUME With over 20, 000 notes and an abundance of study tools reflecting the forefront of conservative scholarship, this Bible is a veritable resource library design... [Read more] NIrV Hardcover Bible In single copies EASIER-TO-READ TEXT IN A HARDCOVER EDITION This simplified version of the NIV Bible, written at a 3.5-grade reading level, is the perfect gift for anyone who wants a more-contemporary translation o... [Read more] NIV Heart of the Outdoors Leather Bible In single copies In single copies THE BIBLE FOR SPORTSMEN IDEAL FOR YOUR NON-CHRISTIAN HUNTING AND FISHING BUDDIES The Heart of the Outdoors, with its rugged camouflage paperback cover or leather cover, is designed especially for h... [Read more] Christmas Leaflets #5164 - Jesus The Real Meaning of Christmas THE GREATEST JOY OF CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATING CHRIST! Christmas is such a wonderful time to share your faith with friends, family, neighbors, and your community. That is why we are making these beau... [Read more]

Posted on May 20th, 2008 by Gary
Filed under: What Does This Scripture Mean for Us? | No Comments »