Proverbs Daily Devotional Day 3

We live in a time in which we have any and all types of information at our finger tips. With the technological advances of the past ten years we are able to do research, acquire knowledge and learn many things. This false sense of wisdom can lead us to rely more on our understanding than that given by God. Verses five to seven address this concern, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”

Trusting is hard to do, especially if you have been previously disappointed. Truthfully, who has not been dissapointed? Trusting with your heart is even harder to do and we reserve that privilege for the few people who have a special place in our lives. This is understandable, since our feelings are tied in to our hearts. Nevertheless, if we trust in The Lord, if we do not rely on what we know or on what we learn from Google, wikipedia or Youtube then He will help us to make the right decisions. Understanding this danger, of not trusting God but trusting on our own knowledge, enables us to make the right choices and gain the right perspective on our knowledge in comparison to the knowledge that God gives.

There are benefits to not relying on our own understanding and to trusting in God with all our hearts. Verse eight reads, “This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” In choosing to trust in God we are believing that He will protect us and keep us safe. We are saying that He knows exactly what we need, better that we do, and He is willing to give it to us if we trust Him. Pride can sneak up on us especially if we have accomplished much, but it leads to our destruction. God is saying that He will bring health to us and we will live a life pleasing to Him.

Are you lonely?

This is sooooo true. After viewing this video, take a walk and interact with someone, find someone in your family and tell them you love them, call a friend and set a time to meet. Let’s be socially savvy not socially lonely.

You CAN’T Do All Things Through Christ

I had been meaning to write a post on this subject, but to my surprise, as I was looking through my email this morning I found this article written by Yancey Arrington for Churchleaders.com

Share your thoughts and enjoy!

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What does this passage mean to you?

It’s arguably the most asked question by well-meaning leaders of Sunday schools, small group Bible studies and other places where folk gather to learn God’s Word. It’s also one of the worst questions you can ask.

Why? Because it makes our opinions the context of the passage.

The problem is that the passage under study already has a context. You don’t give it one. It has one. The task of the Bible student is to know the context of the passage in order to interpret the passage. This is critical to understand because it’s the difference believing what God says and believing what you want it to say.

Take the oft-quoted passage Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

This verse has become the default Bible verse for Christian (and non-Christian) athletes around the nation. You see the Scripture reference written on wristbands, eyeblack and even tattooed on various body parts. To hear testimonies about what Phil. 4:13 means is to come away with the prevalent idea that the player, through Jesus, can overcome any odds keeping him or her from victory on the field.

Through Jesus, you can throw more touchdown passes, hit more home runs and sink more baskets, leading you to triumph over your opponents. (This can be rather complicated when opposing teams are claiming the same verse but I digress.)

However, we can’t blame athletes who’ve taken this verse and given it a “you can do anything you want to do” Jesus-steroid context; I see it quoted by regular joe’s trying to score the big business deal, make an A on the final exam or for just about anything they want to have divine success in.

The trouble, however, is, based on the “Supersize Me” meaning many give to the text, Philippians 4:13 isn’t true. In other words, you can’t do all things in Jesus. For example,

You can’t win the 100-meter dash in the Olympics with a broken leg, no matter how much faith you have in Jesus.
You can’t get perfect scores on your college finals and not study, no matter how much faith you have in Jesus.
You can’t leap over tall buildings in a single bound, no matter how much faith you have in Jesus.
Why not, Yancey? Doesn’t Phil. 4:13 say that Jesus strengthens me to do anything I want?

Nope. Not at all.

Here’s a clue: Look at the context of the passage … not the one we give it; the one it already has. It’s pretty easy. Just read the two verses before v. 13:

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Do you see what “all things” Paul is talking about?

He tells us in verses 11-12. The “all things” is, through Jesus’ empowerment, learning to be content in whatever situation Paul finds himself.

This isn’t some verse we can claim for divine approval of our personal goals, be it on the ball field or in the boardroom. On the contrary, this verse is better applied in context when we lose the big game, miss out on the big account, or endure some other hardship which tempts us to find our ultimate contentment in something or someone outside of Jesus.

In that biblical context, Phil. 4:13 is absolutely true! I can [be content in any circumstance] through Christ who strengthens me. Context matters!

That’s why if your “all things” is having success in anything you fancy, then I hate to break it to you, but you can’t do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

But if it’s finding contentment in any and every situation, then you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Context matters!

So next time someone asks you what you think this or that verse means, tell him it really doesn’t matter what you think. You don’t give Scripture its context; it already has one. To miss this important point is to risk reading and applying the Bible incorrectly.

Someone once said that a text without a context is a pretext. Good students of the Bible seek to discover a passage’s context so they can know what God says instead of falsely mirroring what we would like for him to say.

A tough question

Would you prefer to be the worst player on the best team or the best player on the worst team? Why?

Disconnecting

My last post posed What If questions that had to do with questioning whether technology has taken over every aspect our lives. Have we come to rely on technology more than God?

I write this as I sit waiting from my flight to Guatemala and a two week disconnect from technology and reconnect with God without the use of technology. I pray that this time will be a time to connect with family and have a wonderful time.

I pray that after the two weeks I can reconnect with a better perspective. I promise to come back and write my findings, thoughts, reflections and lessons learned.