Carefully seeking the context of scripture

James 4:17
"Therefore, anyone who knows what is right but fails to do it is guilty of sin."

I am so getting my butt kicked on the idea of not just plucking a verse out of the contextual garden of scripture. We bumper sticker so many scriptures and make our own context, but then we set ourselves up for being blow out of the water when Gods will and our idea of a verse don't line up.

This scripture was being talked about on a forum recently and the ideas were running wild on what exactly this meant. With out context of what James is saying before this statement, it becomes a blanket statement about sin and knowing what is right because of Jesus shining a light into our life, but we miss the grand picture for a simple religious idea.
When we do what we know is wrong and against Gods word, we do know it is a sin. But why the "therefore"? I've heard it said many times, "if there is a therefore, find out why it's there for!" :-)
The rest of this thought of James is:

James 4:13-16
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money." You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you should say, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live-and do this or that." But you boast about your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.

All the sudden, we see a picture not of James simply rebuking known sin, but tell these people and us that we are made for Gods purposes and His mission. We make decisions in our life so flippantly without seeking to know Gods will or why He has placed us in a place, time, or situation. We declare our intentions with well built scriptural defenses, but he his declaring, "Find Gods intentions!"

Therefore, this statement in verse 17 is saying, "If you know Gods will for a situation, and you choose to do something else......that is sin!" After all, the core defining issues of sin is REBELLION TO GODS WILL. When God says, "Talk to this person", or "Stay at your job", he has a reason and to do otherwise is rebellion to His plan.

Where have you in the past, known or felt God was leading you into a situation that you choose to go your own way?

He has the perfect plan.......It just doesn't always look like it from our earthly perspective. Choose His will and you will find the blessing, honor, and glory of God over your life. Never miss the greater context and miss His plan for you.

Be blessed :-)


- Posted in the moment

Location:Wealthy St SE,Grand Rapids,United States

Don't command away what God seeks to develop character

Romans 8:31-39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,

“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have always read this with a presupposition or pre set idea of what Paul was saying. WE ARE CONQUERORS IN JESUS!!! No situation will stand against His might! Sickness be gone! Finances get in order! In Jesus name........

But is that what he is saying? That our life's will be made easier or right in our context? He seems to be asking more questions than solutions!

He says, "If God is for us, who is against us?", but then follows it up with, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" he answers with another question and it involves Him give His own son over to death!

Then he says, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?", but again follows it up with, "Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,

“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

Another question with a stark reality of suffering! Not a fixing of the situation, not a answer that would make this life easier, just a reality that in this world there will be suffering. Jesus said that we would be persecuted because he was first persecuted! But that doesn't fit our quick fix, genie in a bottle theology does it?

He then says, "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Maybe the most important thing Paul is exposing here isn't that God will change our situations every time we ask, but that the love of God many times will change us through circumstances.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a doom and gloomier and I am very Pentecostal......but I am waking up to the reality that God is more concerned with developing the character of Christ in me......and not the superhero cartoon character we have made HIM to be.

- Posted in the moment

Life and all it's fun

I haven't blogged in awhile.......

Life has been busy with writing messages, worship stuff, running my delivery biz, and a family of six that is always on the move :-)

Life can get by you so quickly if you let it.

My marriage has seemed to stabilized into a pretty great situation. We still have moments of struggle, but we get through with out the explosions and fireworks we use to see. Being a dad still has it's challenges. Four kids - four stages of life - four perspectives on the world, and our job to help center those unique views on Jesus and love. Discipling your children is so much more challenging than a friend, co-worker, or stranger. I know God will take these kids the distance. Hopefully they will experience life to a greater level than the struggles and wrong choices me and my wife have made.

I have amazing friends that I don't see often, but when I do, it's always fun. One couple blessed me and my wife in a difficult time recently. Sometimes you get to see who your real friends are simply when your on the ground and look up and they're there with a open hand to pick you up.

I recently got the opportunity the preach at our church for a couple weeks. I really enjoy doing what I'm made for. My business pays the bills and I find ways to enjoy it, but when I get to study the Word and share with others...... I know I am making a difference. I don't really care if people were entertained, but when someone says they were able share what you taught with someone else and it made a difference.....that's so good! Changing the world one person, one idea, and one conversation at a time!

Things should start slowing down here soon...... I'll be able to take a couple classes and go on a vacation with the family.

Life can get by you so quickly if you let it.......but I'm going to soak it all in :-)

Psalms 39:5-6

Look, you have made my life span fit in your hand;
It is nothing compared to yours.
Surely every person at their best is a puff of wind.
In fact, people walk around as shadows.
Surely, they busy themselves for nothing,
heaping up possessions but not knowing who will get them.

- Posted in the moment

Location:Wealthy St SE,Grand Rapids,United States