Depths

Sunday morning we began a study through the Bible book of Romans.  I have been spending a lot of time reading, studying, meditating and praying for understanding about this book.  We know Paul wrote this book to Jews and Gentiles in Rome a long time ago.  They were having harsh disagreements with one another.  It seems the Jew couldn’t help himself from accepting, and passing judgment on Gentile Christians. 

Paul really lowered the boom on the Jews in verse 1 of chapter 2: “…because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.”  How easy to pick the fault of others a part.  A commentary I really like, Wiersbe is the dude who writes it, had this to say; “We hate our own faults, especially when we see them in others.” 

Tough words to hear, huh?  I have heard that the things that bug us the most about other people are the very things we do.  Think about what bugs you the most about others, do you do that? 

My Bible reading took me to Colossians 2 and 3 this morning.  Paul, staying true to form, throws out a ton of information.  He talks about in 2:10 “being made complete in Christ.”  In the first verses of chapter 3 Paul says “set your hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things.”  Over in Ephesians 2:6 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”  Knowing I am made complete in Christ by realizing my position in him sparks this conviction: Are my earthly habits worthy of my heavenly position?

I don’t remember much about leaving elementary school. Sixth grade was the last year of elementary school for me.  I remember feeling different at the fact that I was a 7th grader in junior high. I do know one thing for certain, I didn’t want to go back to elementary school.  I have really be struggling through the topic of “leaving the elementary teachings” of Hebrews 6:1.  I am still working out in my mind what the elementary teachings are and why I remain in them.  The main thing I have at this point is the idea that elementary is all talk and not much doing.  It is, for me, carrying the responsibility of following Christ on my shoulders and not in faith.  Elementary action is trying to hold on to God and myself at the same time, not letting him do it all.  Let’s see where this goes. 

Julie and I took Jensen to see Enchanted last night.  It is a fairy tale movie with a twist.  The animated evil queen fears her throne being overtaken by the animated princess. In an effort to keep her from taking her throne, the evil queen cast the princess to a place where there are “no happy endings.”  The animated princess ends up in a human body in New York City.  To the point.  This princess lives like she is still in a fairy tale in the middle of  NYC.  The evil queen doesn’t stop there though.  She sends a peasant guy to get the princess to take a bite out of a poison apple.  He has three apples in which to get her to take just one bite from. 

The first time he tries the princess is walking with her new friend in a park and the peasant guy, posing as a sidewalk vendor, gives her a free caramel apple.  Of course she is so distracted by happiness in her surroundings that she doesn’t eat it, but accidentally tosses the apple as she throws her arms up in happiness.

Next, the peasant poses as an Italian waiter and gives her an apple drink.  As the drink in placed in front of her, the princess is in the middle of a deep conversation with her new earth friend.  This time, the drink is spilled in front of her by a chipmunk who is her friend.  Stay with me, there is a good point here.

Finally the evil queen sees that the peasant dude isn’t going to get the job done, so she goes to New York to do it herself.  She poses as an ugly old woman and catches the princess when she is down.  She claims the apple will make all her pain and sadness go away.  The princess takes the bite and of course goes into a coma. 

A good spiritual application is in this.  The apple in the movie is like sin.  The princess wasn’t overcome by the first two apples because she was filled with joy and meaning.  The last time, she was sad.  The evil queen knew when to catch her, when she was burdened and down.  That is when she failed. 

Like us, sin is always waiting.  Satan waits for us to be down, then he attacks.  The good news is, we can plan and overcome all these attacks.  Hopefully 2008 is the year for spiritual maturity for you.  1 John 5:3 “This is love for God: to obey his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome…”

Julie and I used to live in Dallas. For one of her twenty-something birthday’s we went to a seafood restaurant.  I must have gotten food poison from what I ate.  I was at work the next morning when my neck felt hot, my head was swimming and I felt a lump of something creeping up my throat.  I left work and started driving home.  I got sick, if you know what I mean (hurled), 3 times before I made it home.  At the beginning of December this year, we took our family to December to a Christmas Parade.  We drove by that seafood place and I felt that same feeling all over again and it has been at least 13 years since that event. 

The point is, I would never go back to that restaurant because it made me sick.  Too bad the same isn’t true for sin.  How many times do I return to sin in which I know will leave me feeling defeated and distant from the Lord?  I was reading 1 John 2 this morning and some how ended up in Hebrews 6:1. “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God..” (NewAmerican Standard Bible)  What are the elementary teachings of Christ?  My study bible points out these elementary teaching as ”importance of faith, the foolishness of trying to be saved by good deeds, the meaning of baptism and spiritual gifts and the facts of the resurrection and of eternal life.”  That is a lot of basics.  So where is a maturing believer supposed to go?  The maturity comes from “walking as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6).  It is knowing the elementary truths then following up on them by leading others to do the same.  The trap is not moving beyond the talk. 

How have you been over the break?  For me it seems like anytime there is a break in normal schedule I get tested in laziness or taking too much of break. Hmmm, am I all alone?

I have limitations, and I often times view God as sharing some of my limitations.  God has no limitations, not even time.  God lives in constant present.  I have always loved to think about 2 Peter 8 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”  Another verse is Psalm 90:4 “For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”  Those verses spark all kinds of thoughts.  As you and I live in time, what is God doing outside of time?  Peter tells us his delay is because he is building his kingdom.  God is not slow in keeping his promises. 

What was the best gift you opened this year?  As I watched my kids open their gifts EARLY yesterday morning, I was reminded of how excited I used to get on Christmas morning.  I was still excited this year, but a different kind of excitement. I suppose that happens when you get older.  24 hours later the house is quiet, the tree looks bare, and everyone is sleeping. What a difference a day makes.  Exactly 24 hours earlier, everyone was up.  The house was loud with sounds of excitement and crumpling paper. This morning, no one is in a hurry to get up. 

I read 2 Peter 1 this morning.  A few things really stood out to me. 2 Peter 1:3: ”His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”  Did you catch that? “Given us everything we need for life.”  We could end with that and not fully grasp what is being taught.  What does it feel like to live a life having all we need?  I have to ask myself why I don’t live in this knowledge.  We go on: 2 Peter 1:4: ^“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  Yesterday we gave and received gifts in honor of Jesus’ birthday.   The two verses mentioned here talk about us having all we need, and in verse 4, the word given is used.  Read verse 4 again.  Dig out the gift that is waiting, even the day after Christmas, to be opened. 

I love being here with the Lord this morning.  I am reminded that each day has gifts from the Lord.  Promises to be unwrapped.  What are some promises that the Lord gives?

BONUS WORD

2 Peter 1:5-9: ^{5 “}For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”

Many of us read 1 and 2 Peter last week.  If you are anything like me, you could read it again this week and get some deeper truth out of it.  God’s Word is mysterious like that.  One can read it and think he is getting the deepest meaning out of it and then turn around later and wonder if he has ever read those words before.  1 Peter was no exception for me.  I know I have read that book numerous times, but still the truth is amazing.  

I am hopeful to post some daily thoughts from my Depths time right here at depths.today.com. I encourage you to join in and put your thoughts.  The accountability will be awesome and who knows who might stumble across a timely word of encouragement from this place. 

I spent several days on 1 Peter 1.  I used a commentary by Warren Wiersbe and he said this about verse 7 in which I have not been able to stop thinking about.  “A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.”  It is true that I want my life to be comfortable and full of the things that make me happy.  Trials don’t fit into my comfort and happiness.  The fact is trials are as much a part of my life as my ever growing forehead.  God’s Word is clear that our trials serve a purpose.  “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:3-5) My goals is to excel in hope.  The path to hope looks difficult, but necessary. “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 

What are your thoughts from 1 and 2 Peter? What are you studying this week?