DIFFICULTY WITH GOD'S WORD

DIFFICULTY WITH GOD'S WORD

Many of us have a hard time understanding God’s Word, the Bible. This is true. But let me share the observation  that the words that flow out of the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ are not complex, abstruse or pedantic. They speak to the heart and mind of the lettered and the unlettered equally well.

The first time I tried to read Scripture out of disdainful curiosity, and sadly with an unbelieving spirit, I did not comprehend anything. Eventually after coming to faith, the first time I undertook to have  a serious reading of Scripture,  I fell asleep. I think we’re not alone in this predicament.

The two un-named disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luk24:27) did not understand what was happening, until the Lord explained to them the truth concerning Himself.

The Ethiopian Eunuch, a high official, was reading the Scripture while riding in his carriage, and admitted to the evangelist Philip  his lack of understanding. (Acts 8:30-31)

The great Apostle Peter, gave an honest opinion about the teaching of his equally distinguished peer the great Apostle Paul, and came to the conclusion that some of Paul’s Letters were difficult to understand. (2 Peter 3:15-16)

So we are in the same company with these giants of faith.

I may hasten to add that some preachers are not effective communicators of the Gospel, which add to the problem of understanding.

The first step if we are to understand God’s word is to approach the Holy Bible reverently because it is God’s Message to us. No other source. Sola Scriptura. Reading God’s word with a rebellious, skeptical, or condescending attitude will shut the door of your mind to see the light of God’s truth. The Bible is no ordinary book. Scripture is mysterious, it is God breathed and only the mind illumined by the Spirit of God is able to know and understand and love the Word. And we are able to do this if we are BORN AGAIN. 

Second, we must be diligent in the reading and study of the Scriptures which requires the full utilization of interpretive tools. Our due diligence in the study of the Bible is strongly complemented by the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. This is hard to explain but many people of God share the wonderful  experiences of  suddenly receiving a flashing  idea, word  or message  which clarifies and explains Scripture. Remember God’s Word will never contradict itself.

Third, we need to approach God’s Word by prayer. Prayer opens the door because it shows our human inadequacy to know God.

 

 

 

CONTRAST EFFECT

 

CONTRAST EFFECT

A customer wearing  his old but favorite  brand of shirt  enters a shop and sees a shirt of the same brand  with a price tag of P 500.00 but discounted at a price of P300,00. He does not hesitate to buy the item and pays for it quickly thinking it was a very good bargain. He does not know that its price is actually P300.00. This is what psychologists call the contrast effect. The discount or mark down marketing strategy would be untenable without the contrast effect.

A pretty woman marries an average looking guy and her friends out of curiosity asks her why, no offense meant, she settled for such an ordinary looking man. She says her husband is kind, loving, considerate  and rich. Her friends did not know that in contrast, her parents are  ill mannered, inconsiderate, and often struggle to make ends meet. The contrast effect again at work.

The contrast effect is an unconscious bias that happens when two  things are judged in comparison to one  another instead of being assessed individually. Our perception is altered once we start to compare things to one another. We tend to judge them relative to each other rather than on their own merit.

INVITATION TO GIVE THANKS

 

INVITATION TO GIVE THANKS

 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—

3 who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases,

4 who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (21^st Century New King James Versio)

 

In Psalm 103, David praises the Lord for His abundant mercies. In this Psalm David speaks to himself saying “bless the Lord O my soul.” He repeats this soliloquy of praise six times (verses 1, 2, 20, 21, 22). “Bless the Lord O, my soul and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

Then he lists the good things that God bestows upon His people. The benefits they received and will continue to receive which they should not forget.

David stirs up his heart, soul, which he describes as “all that is within” him (Psalm 103:1) to “forget not the (Lord’s) benefits.” The original Hebrew verb translated “forget” means “to lose memory or remembrance of,” but it can also mean “ignore” or “cease to care about.”

The Lord’s “benefits” represent all the good things the Lord provides.

If we get in the regular habit of giving thanks to the Lord for His blessings, we won’t forget them. If we do not give thanks, if we fail to praise the Lord, if we fail to be thankful for His benefits or, worse, cease to care about them, we are sure to forget them.

What are these benefits? David enumerates them: “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly” (Psalm 103:3–6, NLT). David goes on to praise the Lord’s compassion, mercy, and patience (Psalm 103:8). He recalls how God revealed His character to Moses and His mighty deeds to the children of Israel (Psalm 103:7).

In His mercy, the Lord holds back the punishment we deserve and pours out His unfailing love (Psalm 103:10–11). “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Psalm 103:13–14, NLT).

We have so much to be thankful for as God’s children. May we never forget His forgiveness: “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins” (Colossians 1:13–14, NLT). May we always remember that He heals us from the sin that infects us: “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NLT).

May we forget not His benefits, including redemption from death: “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying” (Hebrews 2:14–15, NLT).

May we never ignore or cease to care about His lovingkindness and tender mercy: “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live” (Psalm 63:3–4, ESV).

A genuinely grateful heart remembers always to praise the Lord for His goodness. In Deuteronomy, Moses warned the people: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. . . . Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you” (Deuteronomy 4:9, 23).

Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me, Bless his Holy Name Amen.