A Peculiar People

It doesn’t seem to politically correct (PC) to say that people are peculiar. If we were to refer to [insert a religion here] as a peculiar people we’d be in PC hot water. Depending upon the religion we inserted, we might have our picture on a wanted-dead poster. On the other hand, perhaps it’s just me that interprets the word peculiar as meaning odd, strange. I picture in my mind the word peculiar as being said with a grimace. I infer something wrong, maybe something heinous. “That’s peculiar.” Something isn’t right.

King James Version of the Bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But that’s my problem with the KJV, and my argument with A.W.Tozer. I deeply respect Mr. Tozer, and yet he advised that no version of the Bible except the King James is acceptable for usage. My objection has been the same for many years–it’s like reading a foreign language most of the time. I’ve recently come to read the King James, translating in my head as I read the obvious thee and thou to more modern words. Then I come to peculiar, which sets me off on a task to translate.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people. . .

1Peter 2:9 KJV (emphasis added)

Defining the word peculiar, I find it has a lot of meanings.

pe·cu·liar [pi-kyool-yer] [from Dictionary.com]
adjective
1. strange; queer; odd: peculiar happenings.
2. uncommon; unusual: the peculiar hobby of stuffing and mounting bats.
3. distinctive in nature or character from others.
4. belonging characteristically (usually followed by to ): an expression peculiar to Canadians.
5. belonging exclusively to some person, group, or thing: the peculiar properties of a drug.
6. [in astronomy] designating a star or galaxy with special properties that deviates from others of its spectral type or galaxy class.

noun
7. a property or privilege belonging exclusively or characteristically to a person.
8. [British usage] a particular parish or church that is exempted from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop in whose diocese it lies and is governed by another.

And in another Bible version, I find the translation as follows: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. . .” (1Peter2:9 World English Bible: Messianic Edition)

When I look at the comment on KingJamesBibleOnline.org, I find the following about the word peculiar, “As used in the phrase “peculiar people” in 1 Pet. 2:9, is” “derived from the Lat. peculium, and denotes, as rendered in the” “Revised Version (“a people for God’s own possession”), a special” “possession or property. The church is the “property” of God, his” “purchased possession (Eph. 1:14; R.V., “God’s own” “possession”).”

Strongs concordance shows two words of interest and translated peculiar. First Kaleō, which is to “call” (properly aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise): – bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-) name (was [called]). Second is peripoiēsis, acquisition (the act or the thing); by extension preservation: – obtain (-ing), peculiar, purchased, possession, saving.

Matthew Henry comments that Peter wants to assure Jews who would believe in Y’shuaJesus as Messiah will not become like gentiles, thus losing their place as G-d’s people: “they should lose no real advantage, but continue still what they desired to be, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, etc. Learn, [1.] All true Christians are a chosen generation; they all make one family, a sort and species of people distinct from the common world, of another spirit, principle, and practice, which they could never be if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit. [2.] All the true servants of Christ are a royal priesthood. They are royal in their relation to God and Christ, in their power with God, and over themselves and all their spiritual enemies; they are princely in the improvements and the excellency of their own spirits, and in their hopes and expectations; they are a royal priesthood, separated from sin and sinners, consecrated to God, and offering to God spiritual services and oblations, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [3.] All Christians, wheresoever they be, compose one holy nation. They are one nation, collected under one head, agreeing in the same manners and customs, and governed by the same laws; and they are a holy nation, because consecrated and devoted to God, renewed and sanctified by his Holy Spirit. [4.] It is the honour of the servants of Christ that they are God’s peculiar people. They are the people of his acquisition, choice, care, and delight. These four dignities of all genuine Christians are not natural to them; for their first state is a state of horrid darkness, but they are effectually called out of darkness into a state of marvellous light, joy, pleasure, and prosperity, with this intent and view, that they should show forth, by words and actions, the virtues and praises of him who hath called them.

Clarke comments that “They were a holy nation, Exo_19:6; for they were separated from all the people of the earth, that they might worship the one only true God, and abstain from the abominations that were in the heathen world.” (Adam Clarke (1760 or 1762–1832) was a British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar.)

Okay. So we’re a peculiar people in that we are G-d’s possession, for G-d has purchased us through the action of His Son, Y’shuaJesus. Being G-d’s possession means that Jewish Believers or Messianic Jews, continue in their rightful place as G-d’s special people atoned for through the blood of Y’shuaJesus, rather than the yearly sacrifice of an animal. For a Gentile who comes to accept Y’shuaJesus as Lord and Redeemer, it means he or she is grafted into the holy tree as a twig.

While that covers the spiritual and eternal aspect, being G-d’s possession means some other things as well. I am still thinking on this part. I’ll save it for another time.

A thought I have in conclusion, is that by not fully understanding a word from the King James, I delve into the language and come out ahead. Study always takes some work, but is rewarded in a sweetness at the end. . . and more to challenge my thinking.

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Thessalonians (2 Thes 3:5)
Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

The Waiting Game

“Hurry up and wait!” I heard that often enough during my years of military service. Waiting was as difficult as busy work, which was meaningless toil, drudgery, to prevent just sitting around waiting. There are other sorts of waiting, too. School kids “wait” for the bell to ring during last period so they can zip out the door to freedom. A parent waits late into the night for his or her teenager to return home from a date. And there’s the waiting of a Believer, a Follower of Y’shuaJesus, waiting for the Trumpet to call us to be with the Lord.

Waiting’s hard work. While driving truck, after delivering a load I often had to wait for another assignment. It could come at any time, too. Depending where I was, I might be able grab a quick shower at a truck stop that was close to where I delivered. Or perhaps grab a meal, if convenient. More often, I simply parked in the parking lot outside the plant to which I’d delivered and waited. I tried to read, but would find myself looking often and anxious at the Qualcom, the communications system on which I’d get a load assignment. It was hard to relax between loads unless I knew I had a set amount of time. Once, after delivering a load south of Dallas, Texas, I pulled into a dirt lot next to a restaurant, and went in for a meal. Every fifteen minutes I’d go out and check to see if a message arrived on the Qualcom. I was there about a couple of hours when I received a telephone call from the dispatcher asking why I hadn’t responded to the dispatch message. I went immediately out to the truck, but there was nothing there. He had to verbally dispatched me to a steel plant for a load going into Georgia. Not a bad run, but one I almost missed if I hadn’t had a cell phone with me. I took another twenty minutes or so after pulling out of the parking lot to receive the written dispatch on the Qualcom. Perhaps the metal building walls reflected the satellite signals, preventing me from receiving the dispatch. I don’t know.

Waiting is hard work. It is also a dangerous time; it is a time when we can be distracted and wander off in some other direction. There’s a story that Y’shuaJesus told about the maidens that fell asleep, letting their lamps go out. And in Luke chapter 12, after Y’shuaJesus talks about laying up treasure in Heaven, He talks about what to do while playing the waiting game.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Luke 12:35-40

Matthew Henry commented on this scripture that Y’shuaJesus, “charges them to get ready, and to keep in a readiness for Christ’s coming, when all those who have laid up their treasure in heaven shall enter upon the enjoyment of it.” So there are two elements, according to Mr. Henry, in this waiting game. First, get ready; second, stay ready. That means waiting is active. It isn’t just standing around. Sometimes we are likened to servants whose master has gone away. Picture a servant standing by the door awaiting his master, doing nothing, just waiting. Probably not the best way to wait, I’m thinking.

So it seems there is good waiting and poor waiting. I’m on the poor side of waiting a lot of the time, especially when it comes to cooking. Even with a timer set, I’ll often just stand watching, waiting for the timer. In some of my best moments in the kitchen, I’ve put a pot of water on the heat, and while waiting for it to boil, done other things in the kitchen, or in the laundry room next to it. I’ve gotten distracted, too. I’ve left a pot to boil until nearly dry, and once totally ruined a batch of steamed vegetables.

Additionally, playing this waiting game takes balance and awareness. I’m thinking of when Y’shuaJesus went into the house of Martha and Mary. Martha was too busy to sit with Y’shua while Mary did only sit with Him. Y’shua said Mary picked the best of the two extremes. Y’shua hasn’t come into our house physically yet, so perhaps we need to be active while at the same time foster the spiritual communion with our Lord that He desires. But is our activity just busy work. What we do, is it necessary? Or is just something to fill the space between other things? Back to the kitchen. Perhaps when there is two minutes to wait for some vegetables to steam, it’s okay not to always have to be doing something. Perhaps standing in front of the stove is okay, and using that very moment to consider the One for Whom we wait to return. We can offer words of Praise, offering hearts of Worship, and we can offer prayers.

Occupying my waiting time then is a balance of activity that is purposeful, balanced with the spiritually uplifting elements of Praise, Worship, Prayer. And in all this activity, in all that I do, all must be done as to the Lord.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. . .

Colossians 3:23

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

A Stone Retaining Wall

Some years ago, while living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I needed to do something about a rather steep hill alongside the driveway leading to the house. During rain storms, for about twenty feet or so along the drive, water flowed down the bank eroding the soil, which washed into the drive. My solution was to build a small retaining wall out of some small, flat stones that I removed from the back of the house. The irregularly shaped stones, carefully placed adjacent to one another in a row, made the first row. The second row I placed so that it was set back several inches as well as each stone overlapping the gap formed between the stones in the first row. The third row I set likewise. Finally, after ten or so rows, the wall was done.

The most important part of the job, I discovered, was in selecting the precise stone to fit particular place in the wall. In some cases, I would pick up a stone, try it, then set it aside. Occasionally, I did this several times before the “right” stone was found to fit. I tried, once, to break a stone and force fit it. It broke in the wrong place, and both pieces were set aside until their right place became apparent.

The Apostle Peter, in his first letter, wrote about Y’shuaJesus being a living stone.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. . .

1 Peter 2:4

Peter compares Y’shuaJesus to a stone that is “disallowed” by men. While I built my wall, I set aside stones, but eventually found a place for them. In Peter’s letter, we see that Y’shuaJesus is not just shown as set aside, but disallowed. As far as humankind is concerned, Y’shuaJesus has no place in society; people have no need for Him. Yet, as Peter tells us, G-d selected Y’shuaJesus to be the perfect stone for our world.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

1 Peter 2:6

The picture Peter wants us to see is a building in which G-d sets Y’shuaJesus as the chief corner stone. According to the Heritage Dictionary, a cornerstone is a stone at the corner of a building uniting two intersecting walls. Such a stone, often inscribed, laid at a ceremony marking the origin of a building. It is also an indispensable and fundamental basis: the cornerstone of an argument.

Some years ago, I recall a sermon in which the pastor said it wasn’t cornerstone at all, but cap stone. He went on to describe the building of a stone arch, and how the masons picked up and tried many stones to get them to fit into place as they built the wall, discarding ones that didn’t fit. In the end, a discarded stone is used to form the cap, the last stone placed, that holds the arch together. While that illustration is interesting, and for some time thought it accurately described the scripture’s intent, it is wrong. As I’m thinking about it now, it really misses the mark, so to speak. It has the masons selecting and discarding, and finally picking up a discarded stone and finding that it fits. That’s a bit arrogant. But then isn’t that what so much preaching is about these days: making Y’shuaJesus fit into our lives?

In the scripture, G-d selects the stone the builders’ discarded. That means if the builders continued, they’d build something false, without a true foundation. Those builders are “confounded.” They are mistaken. The building must begin with the cornerstone and the cornerstone is selected by G-d.

When we come to know Y’shuaJesus as Lord, it is often described as being born again. If we take Peter’s illustration of Y’shuaJesus being the cornerstone selected by G-d, then our lives before Messiah need to be rebuilt with the Lord as our cornerstone. We must build our lives based upon Y’shuaJesus. We must build our lives based upon His Truth.

And from time to time it’s not a bad idea to re-examine the building of our lives to see if it’s coming along according to G-d’s architectural drawings, and not ours.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Micah and Bad Times

Since the beginning of our current “global recession,” many have compared it with the American Depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s. I’m not sure it really matters which hard time, which bad time, was the worst. During the life of Micah’s preaching, he lived through three kings’ reigns. In all of them, there were some really bad times. Bible scholars have wondered about which king’s reign Micah described when he wrote:

Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit. The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

Micah 7:1-3

According to Matthew Henry, Micah described a time in the reign of King Ahaz and the earlier reign of King Hezekiah. There were reformations and a rekindling of desire toward G-d during the reign of King Hezekiah, though. Unfortunately, it didn’t last; after King Hezekiah died, under the reign of King Manasseh, the country fell once again into idolatry and pagan worship. I read that this was because the hearts of the people were not changed. Laws may change the outward behavior, but it takes a change of heart to make a lasting change.

Micah, like many of the prophets, looked ahead to the coming of The Messiah who would redeem us and change us. Like Micah, we live in bad times. But we do not have to look to a future time for our salvation. Salvation came to us, is now ours, in Y’shuaJesus. We only must choose to accept. If we accept that salvation comes from no one, from no where, other than through Y’shuaJesus’s life, death, and resurrection, we may look forward to His coming to collect us to Himself. In this knowledge alone we may rejoice. In Y’shuaJesus we rejoice. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. As He has told us, no one comes to the Father unless he or she comes to Him.

There is no other way!

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Thinking about Ways in Which to Read the Bible

I’ve finished my current readings in the Book of Revelation, from start to end, with stops in between to think about a particular phrase or term or section. When I stop, sometimes I read the various commentaries and notes that have been made by those who’ve gone before us. I’m fond of Matthew Henry. I’m not fond of “modern” commentaries, though. I often make notes as I work. Occasionally I take in a chapter then let it digest; it is Spiritual food.

Yesterday I read the final few chapters through without actually stopping at any particular place. I’ve done this before, on occasion. It’s actually a nice approach, and cam be applied nicely to the shorter books one sitting. It seems to me that the letters, or epistles, are meant to be read–or heard read from the pulpit–in this manner. There’s some things that one can absorb when it is done in this way. One makes an impression of the work as a whole without dissecting it into bite-sized pieces.

A good day to do this is on a Shabbat, or Sabbath, day. One might be tempted to make the usual notes in the margin, but one would not be holding to the study method, which is Point One: Read it all.

I’ve mentioned it before: I read Paul’s letter the the Roman Christians in a three-day period. Just read it. What I gleaned from it is that Paul cared and loved so much more than I’d realized before. I’d thought of him as gruff. It seemed to come of that way, especially from the sound bites received from the pulpit.

I wonder, do you have any reading or study methods you’d be willing to share?

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Letters to Angels

Section Headings. These tell us the topic of the section. Sections may also have sub-sections with heading of their own. Both types of heading give some detail about the section. Heading can be useful. Headings can be misleading, too. Additionally, they can be distracting.

For instance, in my The Apologetics Study Bible (Holman Christian Standard Bible version (HCSB), the bold, large font, heading to Revelation Chapter Two states: The

Letters to the Seven Churches. Within this section, sub-headings separate the seven letters, e.g., The Letter to Ephesus.

Chapter Two begins:

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

Our Lord is telling the author of Revelation, who most believe is the Apostle John, to write some letters.

I’ve never really thought about it until this reading, but the letters are addressed to the angels of the churches. Is it an important distinction? Maybe not. But if you do a search on the internet regarding the angels of the seven churches, a fair number of people think it is important enough to take sides of the question: To whom is each letter actually written.

There seem to be three camps rallying around three central opinions. First, the letters are to the angels, which are spirit beings assigned to each of the churches. Second, angels means messenger, and pastors hearing from G-d, are these messengers. So the letters are written to the pastors of the churches. Third, the letters are written to the messengers, whether spirit beings or apostles, pastors, prophets, evangelists, teachers, but directly apply to the seven churches. Each of these positions is carefully thought out, and documented from Biblical sources.

I sorta had to laugh, really, when one source said that his particular interpretation was the only way to view the matter, and any other view was heresy, and opposition was demonic. Wow! He’s right; everyone else is wrong and going straight to hell. Okaaaaaay! Moving right along here.

Does it make a difference to whom the letters are written? I said maybe. You have to read the seven letters. Each letter could be addressed to me. Six of the seven letter tells me some things I’ve done okay. Two of those letters find no fault at all. Of the five letters that include some good things, also ares some things I’m not doing well in. One letter without any atta-boys attached, tells me I’m in real trouble.

The way I see it is that the letter is written to an angel. That angel passes it on to the leaders within the church, that they may work to bring correction. Ultimately, I am responsible for coming to G-d, through Y’shuaJesus as my savior, mediator, and getting things right.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Passover Tonight

Today, mis-named “Good Friday,” was always called “Black Friday” by my mother. No, not the black friday shopping days that seem to follow so many of the Christian Holy Days. Black Friday because it is the day in which we mourn our sins and that a Holy Innocent took them upon Himself, for us.

The Ten Plagues in a Nutshell
from Chabad.org
Moses and Aaron repeatedly come before Pharaoh to demand in the name of G-d, “Let My people go, so that they may serve Me in the wilderness.” Pharaoh repeatedly refuses. Aaron’s staff turns into a snake and swallows the magic sticks of the Egyptian sorcerers.

Pharaoh still refuses to let the Jews go. Moses warns him that G-d will smite Egypt. Pharaoh remains impervious. G-d begins to send a series of plagues upon the Egyptians. In the throes of each plague, Pharaoh promises to let the Children of Israel go; but he reneges the moment the affliction is removed.

1) Aaron strikes the Nile, the waters turn to blood;
2) Swarms of frogs overrun the land;
3) Lice infest all men and beasts. Still, Pharaoh remains stubborn;
4) Hordes of wild animals invade the cities,
5) a pestilence kills the domestic animals,
6) painful boils afflict the Egyptians.
7) Fire and ice combine to descend from the skies as a devastating hail. Still, “the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he would not let the children of Israel go; as G-d had said to Moses.”

The people of Egypt have suffered too much. They beg Pharaoh to let the Jews go. When Moses comes to warn Pharaoh of the eighth plague, Pharaoh says: You say that you want to go serve your G-d? I’ll let the men go, as long as the women and children stay behind. No, says Moses, we must all go, men women and children, cattle and herds. Pharaoh once again refuses.

The next plagues descends upon Egypt.
8) a swarm of locusts devours all the crops and greenery;
9) a thick, palpable darkness envelops the land.

The Israelites are instructed to bring a “Passover offering” to G-d: a lamb or kid is to be slaughtered and its blood sprinkled on the doorposts and lintel of every Israelite home, so that G-d should pass over these homes when He comes to kill the Egyptian firstborn. The roasted meat of the offering is to be eaten that night together with matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs.

Then G-d brings the tenth plague upon Egypt, all the firstborn of Egypt are killed at the stroke of midnight of the 15th of the month of Nissan.

Let us remember Y’shuaJesus and look forward to Sunday, the Day of Resurrection! Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Live the Gospel

“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions . ..”2 Timothy 3:10, 11

Yesterday I heard a young person say it is a shame about a particular politician that had been preaching in the political arena the fidelity in marriage, and lambasting others for their infidelity, especially that politicians rivals. All the while this politician, himself, was involved in an extramarital affair. We was not walking his talk.

Here in Paul’s letter to Timothy, we hear Paul say that he was indeed living the Gospel life. The example he set is in concert with his message. Matthew Henry comments:

The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it; the reason why many sit loose to it is because they do not fully know it. His manner of life was of a piece with his doctrine and did not contradict it He did not pull down by his living what he build up by his preaching. Timothy fully knew Paul’s good character, which he might gather from his doctrine, manner of life and purpose; for he gave proofs of his faith (that is, of his integrity and fidelity or his faith in Christ, his faith concerning another world by which Paul lived), his long-suffering toward the churches to which he reached and presided over, his charity towards all men, and his patience. These were the graces that Paul was eminent for, and Timothy knew it. He knew that he had suffered ill for doing well.

G-d’s grace is always sufficient. Paul hand many persecutions (Acts 13:49, 14:1-6, 19), but the Lord delivered him out of them all. . . He tells Timothy, “Let it be no surprise to you if suffer hard things, it is no more than I have endured before.”

Point One: “The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it.” There are actually churches today advocating the Buddhist and New Age practice of meditation. No, not meditating of the Word of G-d, but clearing our minds so that we can become enlightened. Nowhere does the Bible say that’s an approved method of prayer. In fact, there are many, myself included, that believe meditation is demonic, and brings demonic influences into the meditator’s life. So we are not going to go out into a field and absorb the good vibrations of nature, thus being transformed into a holy vessel. No! What we are going to do is to study the written Word of G-d often enough that it is infused into our being. It is through study of the Word that the Spirit will find easiest access to speak with us, and that the Lord will find to change us.

Point Two: Pauls manner of life were “ proofs of his faith.” We become more like Y’shua the more we spend time with Him. We spend time with Him in prayer, in study, in our fascination of Him—adoring Him. The proof of the faith we express, is the manner of our lives. It is the manner of our lives that bring us to. . .

Point Three: “Let it be no surprise to you if suffer hard things, it is no more than I have endured before.” Y’shuaJesus, our Lord, our Saviour, suffered during his Earthly tour of humanity. Paul suffered as he lived Gospel life. And so shall we suffer. Paul mentions it to Timothy that it come as no surprise. And it would already be know by Timothy anyway. So perhaps it is written to Timothy so that we shall hear this message, that suffering for living the Good Life come as no surprise, either.

Lord, enable us in this knowing of Your Gospel that we might “cleave to it.” Grant us grace in our living and in our suffering. Be glorified in our lives. Amen.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine.

Purge from these

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

Paul wrote these words while a prisoner in Rome, to Timothy. He seems to say that there are in the church vessels of gold and silver, as well as vessels wood and of earth. Vessels of gold and silver. The good guys and gals. The true-born believers. The honourable vessels. Then there are the vessels of wood and earth. Worldly men and women within the church. Dishonourable vessels or people. So what is Paul saying here? Is he telling Timothy to purge dishonourable men and women from the church?

There are many occasions when I’m concerned about how easily the Word of G-d might be misunderstood, even misused, by others. Mostly, though, I’m very concerned how I may misunderstand and misuse a particular passage. It goes back to “rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” It’s not just about immediate context and initial readings; it’s about stepping away for the passage to view the the entire chapter and perhaps even a view of the entire book (or letter). Consideration must be made even to the entire breadth of G-d’s Word. Because G-d doesn’t contradict Himself, He provides guidance and support for each individual passage in other places. Make sense?

Okay. Back to purging. I quoted one scripture. I began to write about this scripture. If you were not prayed up and fasted up, not discerning, couldn’t I perhaps have led you to believe Paul was telling Timothy to purge people that aren’t rigtheous, like us, from among the true people of G-d? May G-d forbid me to do such a thing. May G-d give you the discernment that keeps you following in the footsteps of Messiah, even if it means to Golgotha, to the hill, to the cross.

So look here. Early in the chapter, in verse 19, Paul states: “Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.” And in verse 16, “But shun profane and vain babblings. . .” And back in the beginning of the Chapter, Paul wrote: “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

So now, from what or from whom are we purging ourselves? What are “these” of verse 21? Are they not the things that entangle, vain discourse anb babblings, iniquity? I’m pretty sure that’s what “these” are.

And if we purge ourselves of entanglements, vain babblings, iniquity, we shall be vessels of gold and silver, of honour.*

Lord, grant us Your peace, and enable us to be unstained by this world in which we live, for we are of You. Amen.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

* I like the English spelling of Saviour, too. It contains “our” not “or.” The Lord Y’shuaJesus is our Saviour.

Show Yourself Approved

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15

Show yourself approved. We show ourselves this in our work. We study that we might rightly divide the word of truth, that our work is appropriate, correct. Approved unto G-d. Workmen that are unskillful or unfaithful or lazy have need to be ashamed. An what is their work? To divide the word of truth. Not to invent a new gospel, but rightly to divide the gospel that is committed to their trust. The author of it is the G-d of truth. It requires great wisdom, study, and care to divide this work of truth rightly. Timothy must study in order to do this well.
–Matthew Henry

This is how we show ourselves approved or acceptable in our work of rightly dividing the word. This study doesn’t make us saints; it doesn’t provide salvation. Y’shuaJesus died on the cross that we may have life, abundant life, and eternal life with G-d. And while we wait for Y’shuaJesus to bring us to Him, or to return to Earth, our work is our study of the truth. We show ourselves approved by doing this work right.

Once, long ago, three men sat on a train bound for Darjeeling. One, a pastor, began to explain some things to a German fellow named Jurgen. He went on an on and on. The third man, an American pastor, teacher, part-time evangelist, sat quietly trying not to get involved, not wanting to be rude. After all, it isn’t nice to contradict a pastor in public. Finally, something that the pastor that was speaking said struck this American. “No,” he cried out. And then he spoke the truth to these men.

We study the work and in becomes part of us. When the time comes, the word comes out through our words, our actions, who we are. The Spirit at work within us, transforming us into the saints that we became when we placed our faith in Y’shuaJesus, when we turned from our former lives to the truth.

Now let us be clear. We are being transformed. We have not yet arrived. One day we will. What a glorious day that will be. For on that day we will see Y’shuaJesus face to face. This is our hope. This is what gives our lives meaning. Come, Lord, Come! Maranatha! Praise the Name of the Lord.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .