FOR THE LOVE OF GOD...Divine Love #2

In the last Post I alluded to the different ways, "LOVE," is used in the Word of God. In order to preface their importance, you have to go back to the first and greatest of all Commandments from our Lord. "THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD, WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THEY MIND." The word, "love," appears a little more than 300 times in Bible, and its derivations like, loves, loved, etc., appear another 300 times. It also can very depending on what version of the Word of God you are using; however, the point is that this word was important. Jesus and his Disciples used it repeatedly so that the early church, and its saints would clearly understand love in all of its forms and remains a key feature that separates the true children of God from all else.

Searching through Christian writer's interpretations of the original Greek, and comparing it to prominent secular authors, like Erich Fromm, we get a gap about as wide as the Grand Canyon. His spineless treatise, "The Art of Loving," misses not only the bullseye, but the entire target. This secular discourse, among others, make it clear that this world's version of love has little or no resemblance to what God shows us in Scripture. Here are the different ways that love is used in the Bible:

1. AGAPEO is the Greek verb used for the highest form of love. It means an "active devotion to the welfare and happiness of the one loved." This loves gives without ever calculating the cost and without ever expecting a reward. The recognition for this godly love happens when your soul is counted among the faithful. Jesus refers to this love in Matt 12:24, when he says that "the LOVE of many shall wax cold." He is talking to believers then and about believers in the future. Has your love begun to wax cold?
2. STORGIA is the Greek word natural family affection. For example, everyone loves their mother. 
3. PHILEO is the Greek word the affections of friendship.
4. EROS is the Greek word for sensual or erotic love. 

It is important, some say "crucial" to know the differences when you are reading your Bible. John 13:35 says, "By this shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have AGAPEO one to another." I fear many of us have either begun to, "wax cold," or know someone who already has done so...It is a direct sign of the end of days when even believers begin to follow this path. Satan has a believer right where he wants them when true AGAPE love steadily disintegrates into spiritual winter. Even if you never freeze, practicing, "sloppy agape," is not only dangerous to your soul, but it also dims the light of your Christianity, because you are now no different than most.

Hypocrisy abounds and often it is impossible to see the saints from the hypocrites. Old Testament Pharisee's prove that hypocrisy has been around a long time. Jesus knew this all to well when he said, "My Little Children, let us not AGAPEO in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth." You can write about it all you want, you can talk the talk, but unless it shows up in your life, accompanied by truth, you are seriously wasting your time and God's...

More to follow on this tiny, but critical word.

The Digital Disciple 

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD...Divine Love #1

My apology to my readers...Some of you know that I have had some serious health and other related issues recently. That's the bad news. The good news is that I am almost back in the saddle with the proper temperament to begin writing again.


It's hard for me to imagine a term in any language that is more abused in  our daily lives than the simple word, "Love." This universally misunderstood, but critical element of the human experience has had many of us, including me, searching for a meaningful and useful explanation. If you have read any of my previous postings, you know that my source for genuine knowledge and understanding is singular. The Holy Bible is a remarkable book for many reasons, but consider this one in particular today. These Books were written between two to three thousand years ago, and they remain as applicable to our daily lives now, as the day they were penned...That is the macro look at Scripture, now for the micro look.


The average person will live 75 years these days, and many who read and study the Word of God have yet to appreciate the fact that what you read as a teenager, has nothing to do with what you read as a young adult, a middle age success or an old age vintage wine like myself. I find that there are two processes going on simultaneously, that frankly are far more than amazing. As you gain tiny bits of wisdom from God over your short lifespan, the Bible changes with you. It is almost as if the words and their meaning have a life of their own that somehow keeps up with your personal growth with God.

I find that the same is true with love. When you were a youth, you thought like a youth and felt like a youth, especially when all the hormones kicked in...Remember thinking that you were in love and couldn't bear the thought of living another day without that special person in your life? Those feelings were natural and God given, but had little to do with love. Later on in life, you looked for other things, because after all you needed someone that you felt comfortable having children with for the next five to 10 years. So in addition to good looks, your prospective spouse had to stable, successful, and self-confident. Still later in life, you hoped that no matter what decision you made about the person you thought you loved, that they would always be respectful, considerate, wise and fun to be with for years to come.


With God there is no maturation process over time. He exists without time and its contraints physically or emotionally. His example of love never looks at the exterior of a person, including their looks or size of their wallet. If you are blind or missing a leg or arm, he does not care. If you are tall, short or just plain ugly, he does not care. If you are short and fat with a bald head, he does not care. If you are black, white, brown or red, he does not care. What God loves is your pure soul. His example of loving every soul that He has blessed with the breath of life, is called "agapeo." This Greek word and other expressions regarding love be in the next post.

Media today has us fixated on all things external. Men need washboard abs and hair transplants. Women need special hairdo's, bigger breasts and complete makeup lines to go to bed pretty and wake up prettier. If all else fails there are face-lifts, chin-tightening, lipo-suction and pills. Pills to make you happy, to make you sad, to lift you up, to take you down, to keep you awake, to put you to sleep, and on an on...


The first lesson in divine love is that exists on the inside, not the outside. 




The Digital Disciple

SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION

                                                                                     PURE WHITE TULIPS
Fascinating hardly describes or does justice to the clear, unmistakable path laid out by God the Father for each of our lives. This path is divine and is the primary requisite for all those who believe...This divine dictum may be the singularly most important part of true spiritual growth. 


Nestled in the early chapters of Proverbs we find a 4,000 year old the divine formula that can spiritually evolve any believer to new levels of righteousness before God. When you are born-again, you are quite literally transformed from a sinner to a saint. Please don't confuse "saint" with any other batch of saints from another religious order. I am talking about those who have become saints in the NT use of that word; a saint is a believer. So now that you have become a saint with your name indelibly recorded in the "Lamb's Book of Life," you need to evolve toward the spiritual goal of perfect righteousness, and Proverbs blazes a divine path for all saints, who care to ascend on His divine path.


You see we have all sorts of saints. Some stand in place or tread water for years. Some actually retreat into prior sinfulness. Some go back and forth with one foot in and one foot out for years, even life sometimes. These are the "froward" chameleons we are warned about all through the Bible. In the world, they look, smell and act "worldly." In church, they look, smell and act like saints. So what are they really? I call them chameleons, but only God really knows their destiny or has the right to judge.


For the saint that genuinely wants to pursue godliness and righteousness, there is only one path. Believe it or not there is a real, this world, this time, divine promise that happens, NOW, to those who follow His path towards a perfect spirit. Even though I have definitely have put the "cart before the horse," all saints need to know this truth. God promises to lengthen your life here on earth, if you listen, learn and heed his direction. Here is the proof:

1. Proverbs 3:2 "For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."
2. Proverbs 3:16 "Length of days is in her right hand; an in her left hand riches and honour."
3. Proverbs 4:4 "He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words; keep my commandments, and LIVE.

The early chapters of Proverbs are my personal favorite teachings for several reasons, not the least of which is that they were written by King Solomon himself many years ago, sometime after he became the second King of the combined Jewish nation. If you recall from an earlier post, Solomon was given a wish by God Almighty, and he chose neither riches or power, but WISDOM. God was so impressed with His new King that he gave it to him, along with riches and power at a later date. Somehow Solomon knew that there was only one place to obtain wisdom, and that was from God directly. Proverbs is all about wisdom and confirms its value to be beyond any riches or power in this world. Solomon refers to it often as "her," so when you read it do not get confused. He also refers to "her" metaphorically as a "Tree of Life."

                                           How High Can You Grow?

This metaphor is simpler, and hopefully easier for the average saint to grasp and hold dear. Early in the life of a white tulip, while still completely submerged in soil, it begins to grow some roots. Life will only continue if it can find water and the rich nutrients contained in the same dirt that was used to create us. A similar search by a saint is for knowledge and understanding. Without those nutrients the tulip will never make it through the soil to find sunlight. Knowledge and understanding of the words of God, including his commandments, will create the spiritual strength needed to breakout and grow toward the light of God. 

Now that it has broken through all resistance, the stem can begin its climb. The accumulation of knowledge and understanding was done by the saint on his or her own. The stem and its growth come from God in the form of DIVINE WISDOM. He takes your knowledge and understanding, forging a new gift to us all. Once imparted the stem can grow straight and unfettered by the world around it. Soon after the stem of wisdom is complete, begins the magnificent blossom of HEAVENLY DISCRETION.  

In Proverbs 2:10, Solomon says that when wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant to thy soul; DISCRETION shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. We will study discretion at a later date, but you need to take stock of your own, personal spiritual evolution. Are you still underground groping around or have you fed on the Word of God and broken out into the light of God's clear plan for you?

                                               Buried to Blossom

God bless all who read this and the Book of Proverbs, with the strength of knowledge and understanding, so that they may live long and prosper.

The Digital Disciple

ABOUT THE WRITER...

Sometimes I get my ideas for writing in the most unlikely places...In the past I have gotten them from complete strangers, as well as many from my family. Usually they have no idea that a word or a comment sticks with me for days and sometimes weeks. Seems to me that good ideas or observations have a ripening process in my brain. Couple that with time spent with the words of God, and "voila," you have a new posting. 

Recently I have been told that my postings are too long and often difficult to comprehend. All I can say is that I write until I stop. The sentences turn into paragraphs, and you know the rest of the story. I feel that if I limit myself to fewer words, you will not get a clear picture. Believe it or not I try to be concise and right to the point. If you are looking for a nifty paragraph for a daily challenge or something to provide instant inspiration, you are reading the wrong blog. 

My mission is simple. God's words hide in plain sight. We all have Bibles, most have computers, tablets and cell phones as well. They are all capable of providing you with His words to live by. We can read it over and over again, with little or no genuine comprehension of what the writer said or what God intended for you to learn. Our complex lives cause us to make so many other things more important than God or His Word...I know because I lived that way for my own 40 years in the wilderness. 

Think about how packed your life is today with all your many responsibilities. We all have schedules to meet and work to get done. We have children to manage, schools to attend, radio's to listen to and TV's that fill your mind with foolishness and fantasy. By the time we crawl into bed at night, who has time to study the Word of God and pray with a contrite heart? Some of us go through the motions and fall asleep in the process. Others just shrug their shoulders and plan to save it for another night. 

This blog intends to fill an important gap for those in a hurry by stimulating your ability to think about God, your soul and your lives, both in this life and the next. There are no jokes or clever lines here, just solid spiritual meat and potatoes for you to cut up and chew all you want as you strive for knowledge of God and understanding of his words. According to Proverbs 2, if you accomplish this part, He will then impart "wisdom" to you, and from there the Bible says, you will learn, "discretion" that will preserve you.

This blog cannot be skimmed anymore than whatever version of God's Word you have in your possession. My perspective is as unbiased as possible, but will never be perfect. My attitude affects my writing. The pain in my right hip affects my writing, as do all of the family relationships in my life...Remember only God's Word is perfect! I am a redeemed sinner with a gift that I believe came from my Lord; and so I will continue to write...


The Digital Disciple

THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD WORD IN THE BIBLE...

If you are like me you have been reading, "FROWARD," in the Word of God for years and just thinking it was an Old English derivation of the modern word, "FORWARD." Well, we both made a big mistake...Quite by accident a few days ago, as I was studying and looking up the etymology of some words in the OT, I decided to investigate this word...

Much to my surprise I having been living in ignorance about this word, and I guess God decided I should know better. How many times in life have we taken things for granted and learned the hard way that knowledge was incomplete or that true meaning was buried behind ignorance, feelings, laziness or just plain carelessness. I am guilty on all counts, so its time to shed some light on a very important word in the Bible.

In 1779 John Newton penned an amazing hymn that frankly makes a better poem than a hymn. Here is just the first verse:

Quiet, Lord, my froward heart,
Make me teachable and mild,
Upright, simple, free from art,
Make me as a weanèd child:
From distrust and envy free,
Pleased with all that pleases Thee.

In the Bible, froward is used several different ways, as follows:

1. Froward-21 times in 20 verses.
2. Frowardly-just once.
3. Frowardness-3 times in 3 verses.

After some research I came up with some definitions of this word that I believe reflect the true meaning. Let's start with where the derivation of the word itself:

1. In Hebrew the word is, "SHOWBAB," meaning apostate, turning away the truth, or backsliding.
2. In Isaiah 57:17 the King James Version actually translates the word, "FROWARDLY" as backsliding.
3. Found in the Old English as the word, "fra'ward." It meant to go the opposite direction.

My take on all of this is that being froward means to do an about face in your relationship with God. It certainly does not have to happen immediately, but frowardness has some obvious signs that you need to be aware of in you walk with Him. If you are beginning to turn back to your old ways, you are being froward. If you are always negative, seeing the darkside of everything, you are being froward. If you complain and whine constantly to the detriment of others, you are being froward. If the full moon is never bright enough and the stars never pure enough for you, then you are being froward.

Psalm 18:26 gives an additional slant that will hit many of us right between the eyes: "With the pure, you will show yourself pure and with the froward, you will show yourself froward." I call this a Christian Chameleon. The Book of Psalms was written at least in part by the second King of Israel, David. Under this King both pieces of the Hebrew nation became one for the first time. Somewhere approximately 3,000 years ago, he defined modern day hypocrisy in one easy sentence. Do you change color, clothes, hair, and anything else to fit in with your friends or family? Most of us like to blend into the surroundings, because it's safe and easy. God may have called us to be the exact opposite of froward in our daily lives, but He requires all believers to be loyal and righteous. You can't be either one and not stand out in a world where loyalty is traded to the highest bidder every day, while the light of righteousness gets blocked by the need to be accepted in this world. 

Dare to stand up for your God and accept the consequences. He promises to protect you in every way imaginable. Be proud of the fact that you might not fit in with all your friends and family, because you are making a difference. Without your light, they will remain in darkness...You may be the turning point in someone's life, but not if you are afraid to be loyal to God and allow your bright light to shine in a world of darkness.


The Digital Disciple

LEGALISM IN 2012...TWO THOUSAND YEARS LATER!!!

In the prior posting we discussed early legalism and its roots some 50 years after the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ in approximately 32 AD. Back then circumcision in particular and OT law were the driving forces for division and gospel fraud, causing Paul to write that famous rebuke to the church at Galatia. Make no mistake, that Epistle was a firm, no-nonsense REBUKE from our most famous Hebrew disciple himself. Early in his life he epitomized legalism as a Pharisee, while passing judgement on all those who broke the "laws" of God. Then he believed that the path to heaven was restricted to only those righteous Jews who followed the OT formulas for sin and sacrifice. Gentiles were not part of the "chosen," so we had two chances at an eternity with God: slim and none. It took blinding him for 3 days on the road to Damascus by a visitation from an archangel, and the healing power of our Holy Spirit through Ananais to crush his arrogance and pride. Our Lord is amazing, and if you notice, He accomplished two important things with this amazing conversion.

1. An arrogant persecutor of early believers was humbled and made whole through the blood of Christ.
2. An early disciple, who would have sooner run from Paul was ordered by the same angel to heal Paul's blindness. Ananais got to witness first hand how God can take any sinner, with any background and bring him into the fold.

Modern day legalism has morphed over the last two thousand years, as scholarly men and new religions have gotten involved. Simplicity was replaced complex, complicated man-made methods of salvation and hollow piety. This surreptitious undermining of an individual's personal responsibility to God Almighty is not only alarming, but deadly...Legalism causes our focus to shift from that all-important, singular, daily relationship with God to a mountain of do's and don't's having little or nothing to do with gaining knowledge and wisdom from on high. I was taught years ago that listening to God, directly or through his Word was of prime importance in the life of a believer, not the edicts of the Pope or the rules set up in any church. The early church was set up by the disciples to assist one another, not take control of one another. 

Having been in many churches, synagogue's, and cathedrals over the years, I became more than a little dismayed with what I observed. People of all faiths entrusting their relationship with God to someone else. Some say they can forgive sin, some say that your salvation was predestinated by God long before you were even born, some say that salvation has to be re-earned every day of your life, and most say that you have to follow certain rules, certain doctrines and certain new age applications of Word of God. The true Church of God is made up of all of us who believe on our Lord Jesus Christ. Our souls have been inexorably bound together forever and, in truth, there are very few rules to live by, and they do not and will never decide your fate at the judgement seat of God. Here is what matters:

1. Commune with God all day, every day...Talk to Him like he is right beside you, because He is! Prayer does not have to be formal and on your knees, it just has to be often and kept real at all times. There is no need for platitudes and lengthy, well thought out mini-epistles, just what's in your heart. As the Bible says, the Holy Ghost will take it from there, and convert your words into a divine language that God will hear. This is the key to Christian living, and without it, you are just treading water.
2. Read God's Word every day...Every word is there for a reason. Every sentence has meaning and every verse will communicate with your eternal soul, if you let it...Cherish your Bible, not because someone told you to read or memorize it, but because it is God's words, not only to mankind, but to you personally. It's like your earthly father talking directly to you times infinity. Here you will find divine hope, here you will find divine solace, here you will find divine knowledge, and here you will find divine wisdom that will inspire true spiritual growth and development. 

As you can see my formula is quite simple, not scholarly or erudite, not approved by the papacy or any other religion. It is however, the gospel of the Apostle Paul, as written in each of this letters to the early Christian churches. He got to listen to God, before, during and after the crucifixion and resurrection. He even denied Jesus once to avoid confrontation, even though he knew Him personally!

So, do I have issues with organized religion globally? You bet I do! Any organization, group, theology, or doctrine that gets between you personally and God is a problem. The simple formula above is the foundation of a believer's life, not only in this world, but the next as well. It's all about you and God, because He is the Alpha and the Omega of our lives in Christ. 

With this foundation working on all cylinders, you will now be capable of discerning the "wheat from the chaff," whenever and wherever you are physically, emotionally or spiritually. Attend your church of choice with these simple truths in place, and you will be a better follower, a better father, a better mother, a better son, a better daughter, and most of all, a better example of a changed life that shines brightly to all those who meet you.

Remember that God ignores the outside...Some say he doesn't even see our flesh and bone! He sees your heart and soul every minute of every day, so stop obsessing and worrying about what is going on around you. God has promised to take care of everything external in your life, if you take care of what's on the inside. Fill your mind with the Words of God and talk to Him as the Divine Father that He always has been, and your "religion" will be pure, and our Heavenly Father will smile on you.

Read Proverbs 2 over and over again this week, at least once per day. Commit this to memory and you will be armed with a key piece of God's armor...

The Digital Disciple

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

LEGALISM IN 50 AD...THE BOOK OF GALATIONS

Ancient Galatia is in Turkey today. In fact its capital was "Ancrya" and located right where modern day Ankara, the capitol of Turkey is today. Flanked by mountains to the south, east and west, it is no wonder that in 300 BC that Celts migrated and stayed their for many years. During most of that time they were until Roman rule, but the Celtic people proved to be all that the Romans could handle. It was a long journey for the Apostle Paul, and he must have gone through the southern mountains to get there.  The Book of Acts records the time Paul spent there ministering to the blended population about his first hand experiences with Jesus Christ. Hearing his words and actual stories about how he was brought to God in the first place, had to be profoundly moving. Many turned to the one and only Holy God during his trip to Galatia. Imagine and audience filled with locals, Celts, and Jews all having the privilege of hearing his words, hand picked by the Holy Spirit that filled his soul.

I can't pinpoint the exact year that he visited Galatia, but scholars believe this Epistle (letter) was written between 50 and 60 AD, so it's now approximately 20 years after the death and resurrection of Christ. This means that Paul had to be between 50 and 60 years old. He cannot make it back to see Galatia, so he sits down and with the help of the Holy Spirit, he creates Galatians. When Paul left Galatia, the Christian Church that he helped establish was firmly founded on the basic truths of Christianity.

Imagine Paul's surprise when he heard that his converts from Galatia had been had been led away a "false gospel." It seems that many of the Jewish and Gentile converts were deciding that a new belief system based on "works" and Mosaic Law was the way to obtain Salvation. The young church was becoming a hybrid of Judeo-Christian legalistic values that basically renounced not only the teachings of Paul, but also, Jesus himself. Hard to imaging that being in the same generation as our Lord and Savior, that OT law could sneak back in as a means of securing a place in the "new Jerusalem." If you recall the Hebrew nation, and how many times they turned their back on God, one could almost believe that with the advent of Christ, that this time the handcuffs of the ancient "law," would have been gladly forgotten. But not so, you see, the evil one has the power to confuse new Christians and old Christians alike. We live and they lived in a world where you received only that which you had worked for...So logically, with the assistance and persistence of the evil one, himself, you get people liking the idea of having to work for their Salvation.

Additionally, circumcision, believe it or not divided people, religious groups and geography. It reminds me of my straight laced Christian education. Bible Community Church and then Bob Jones University remain about as legalistic as you can get! We did not separate over circumcision, but we sure did over things like the following:

1. Length of Hair
2. Length of Skirt
3. Facial Hair
4. Sideburns
5. Evangelism
6. Predestination

Some of this still causes rifts in Christianity, just like it did back in 50 AD. Rather than take God at His Word, man has to put something into the mix to desecrate the simplicity of the New Covenant by creating rules and regulations. It was called Mosaic Law, prior to Jesus Christ, and within a short 20 years the true gospel message has Man's fingerprints all over it. How do we have the audacity to try and improve on God's plan? Mankind, and Christianity in particular, has proven throughout history

that it cannot stand still, listen and accept, "the still small voice" in each of us. We have to take the horse and make it a camel every time. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ canceled the need for Mosaic Law completely. He abolished keeping track of every sin, and its requisite sacrifice, to become the FINAL SACRIFICE for all that will believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ. As Paul says all through Galatians, there is only one gospel, only one God, and only one one simple belief system that must not be tampered with, changed or added to by anyone here on earth. Any adulteration of salvation by faith alone is fake. Doesn't mean that there can't be good, but misguided people in various religious sects and/or groups, but if they have missed the simplicity of salvation, they missed the point. If they preach that the way to Heaven is paved with man made rules and regulation, they have missed the simple beauty and divine lovingkindness of God's plan. I say, stick with His plan and no other. Tell that to your family and friends. Tell that to your children. Tell that to the non-believers and the Holy Spirit will step in and take it from there. The purity of this precious gift does not need to be helped by us. All we do is make its brilliance lose some of the luster, as we try to morph the ultimate sacrifice into something different.

Take God at His word, and you will never regret it. There is deception and deviation everywhere. It started in 50 AD, so we have 20 centuries of changes and scholarly opinion. All you need is to read The Word of God on your own and ask the Holy Spirit for divine wisdom and understanding. This simple approach will open your eyes wide and give you new-found strength and determination to live for Him now and for eternity.

May God add his blessing to all who find the time to read...

The Digital Disciple