I really liked the way the Message interpreted this chapter. I won’t type out the whole thing but I’d like to share a few of my favorite parts.

“Keep your eyes on Jesus… Study how He lived. He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you. Have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as His children? “My dear child, don’t shurg off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.” Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At this time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feel like it’s going against the grain. Later it pays off handsomely. It is the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.”

I really like this part:

“Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. Work at getting along with each other and with God. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s life-long gift in order to satisfy a shrot-term appetite.”

This reminds me how important it is to not just go to church but to be involved with the family there. I heard one good illustration earlier this week–if you pull a coal away from the fire, it will slowly cool down until it doesn’t even burn any more. I used to think I could have a much stronger relationship with God by staying home on Saturdays and having my own worship time, but I think that attitude is just asking for trouble. I think it’s really important to try and step out and be a part of the family at church so that you can have that assurance that someone else might stop you from “stepping in that hole and spraining an ankle.”

]]> http://www.intelligentpants.com/archives/66/feed 0 http://www.intelligentpants.com/archives/57 http://www.intelligentpants.com/archives/57#comments Sun, 29 Oct 2006 00:21:47 +0000 kevinjackson http://www.intelligentpants.com/archives/57

“For I am confident…He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” -NASB

It’s nice to know that as long as your willing to open up and let Christ do His work, He’ll continue until the day He comes again. He’ll never give up on us. No matter how much we mess up he’s always there to take us back with open arms (1 John 2:1). He will finish what He started.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. ” James 1:5-8 (NASB)

Sometimes I have a hard time letting go of doubt but whenever I do God always comes through just like he promised.

Here are some other verses that comfort me in times of stress:

John 15:5
Philippians 4:13
Philippians 1:6
Philippians 2:13

Happy Sabbath

“If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don’t use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God’s holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing business as usual, making money, running here and there–Then you’ll be free to enjoy God! And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

-The Message

NIV – KJV – NKJV – NASB

The more I reflect on this verse the more I try to look at the motive of my actions on the Sabbath. Am I doing this for selfish reasons or am I trying to know God’s character? Feel free to post your thoughts.