Hebrews 5:11-14 (Click on reference to read text)
My kids are really into bike riding these days. My oldest puts the pedal to the medal and pumps her little legs as fast as she can. Not her brother. The pedals are a little too hard for my baby to figure out, so he pushes himself with his little legs. He doesn't want to put in the time to learn to work the pedals, but if he would, he would get the benefit and exhilaration of really going fast!
In many ways, we act the same way in Bible study that my little buddy does when riding a bike. Studying the Word can be hard, it takes time, it takes effort and prayer. So instead of seeking out the Lord ourselves, we will often run to a devotional book, a sermon, or a Bible study leader. I am not saying it is bad to listen to sermons and read devotionals. Both routes we take (personal Bible Study vs. Devotionals) we are growing spiritually, but exclusively taking the second route will only take us so far.
Paul describes this scenario in Hebrews 5 through the comparison of milk and solid food. Milk or baby food is already broken down to a simple and easily digestible form. When we choose to always go to a devotional book or sermon, we are choosing to eat off the work of the writer. They have already done the chewing on the Word, breaking down the scriptures, and putting it into an easily digestible nugget for us to devour.
God wants you to feel His presence. To understand the exhilaration of learning about Him through His Word. He desires us to chew on His word, meditate on it and understand more about Him.
My little buddy is technically riding a bike, even though he is only really pushing himself along. I hope before too long he will be willing to put in the work to learn to pedal so he can really understand the joy of riding a bike. May that be our prayer spiritually as well. May we not always go to a devotional or depend upon a Sermon to get a Word from the Lord. May we get on the bike, put our feet on the pedals and go. We may plod along at first, but I promise, before long we will be flying along in our knowledge of Him!
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Armed for Battle...
Relational conflict is a guarantee. Whether you find yourself in the role of husband, wife, father, mother, child, or sibling, you will experience conflict with those you love at one time or another. Before we start battling those we love the most, let's remember a few things.
First, it is important during these battles to remember who you are fighting. The Scriptures tell us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, powers and authorities of this dark world (Eph 6:12). Satan desires to destroy the family because he knows, "if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand (Mark 3:25)." Jesus himself warned us, "be on alert. Your adversary the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). It is so easy to see the enemy as the family member that appears to be choosing to make your life miserable at the time. Instead we must stop, realize that you and that person are on the same team, recognize the real enemy, and join forces.
Now that you are back on the same team, it is time to remember, you have a mighty ally! The Lord our God has told us numerous times that He will fight our battles for us (2 Chron 32:8, Ex 14:14, Ps 17:6-8, Is 41:9-14). He is our defender, our protector, and our deliverer. We know if the Lord is for us, who can stand against us (Ro 8:31)? Praise the Lord that He is fighting on our side!
Lastly, we need to use the right weapons. Our relationship with Jesus Christ alone enables us to be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Ro 8:37). His blood and testimony in our life allows us to overcome the strongest powers of Satan (Rev 12:11). We have weapons of warfare with the power to demolish strongholds (2 Cor 10:4)!! When we put on the full armor of God we CAN stand against the devils schemes (Eph 6:11): the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the Gospel of peace, pick up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which are the very words of God (Eph 6). When we are seeking out truth, when our hearts are protected with the righteousness of who we are in Christ, when we are grounded in the grace of the gospel, when our faith and trust in our God is our shield, when His salvation protects our minds, and when we have the Words of God, we cannot fail.
1 John 4:4 states, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. " Your family can overcome. Your marriage can overcome. You can have a solid relationship with your children. Remember you are on the same team. Arm up together and fight the one who simply cannot win!
First, it is important during these battles to remember who you are fighting. The Scriptures tell us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, powers and authorities of this dark world (Eph 6:12). Satan desires to destroy the family because he knows, "if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand (Mark 3:25)." Jesus himself warned us, "be on alert. Your adversary the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). It is so easy to see the enemy as the family member that appears to be choosing to make your life miserable at the time. Instead we must stop, realize that you and that person are on the same team, recognize the real enemy, and join forces.
Now that you are back on the same team, it is time to remember, you have a mighty ally! The Lord our God has told us numerous times that He will fight our battles for us (2 Chron 32:8, Ex 14:14, Ps 17:6-8, Is 41:9-14). He is our defender, our protector, and our deliverer. We know if the Lord is for us, who can stand against us (Ro 8:31)? Praise the Lord that He is fighting on our side!
Lastly, we need to use the right weapons. Our relationship with Jesus Christ alone enables us to be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Ro 8:37). His blood and testimony in our life allows us to overcome the strongest powers of Satan (Rev 12:11). We have weapons of warfare with the power to demolish strongholds (2 Cor 10:4)!! When we put on the full armor of God we CAN stand against the devils schemes (Eph 6:11): the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the Gospel of peace, pick up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which are the very words of God (Eph 6). When we are seeking out truth, when our hearts are protected with the righteousness of who we are in Christ, when we are grounded in the grace of the gospel, when our faith and trust in our God is our shield, when His salvation protects our minds, and when we have the Words of God, we cannot fail.
1 John 4:4 states, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. " Your family can overcome. Your marriage can overcome. You can have a solid relationship with your children. Remember you are on the same team. Arm up together and fight the one who simply cannot win!
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