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I read the NASB (New American Standard Bible). Why? Because a very important youth pastor gave me a copy of it when I first came to understand the reality of Jesus and what he did for me. It was actually this pastor's own Bible. He’d probably be happy to know that it has gone to good use. I ought to look him up!
The pages are written on and falling out so much so that I decided it was time to get a new Bible to take with me to church. I feared every week some loose pages would go flying down to the floor, slide under the pews out of my reach, never to be seen again. So recently I purchased a new Key Word Study Bible. What version? The NASB of course!
But that is not the only Bible I own, nor read. Actually, these past few years of Bible teaching have led me to realize the importance of studying the Bible from several translations, as its meaning is expanded significantly. There are many free websites that allow you to look at several versions of scripture at once. http://www.studylight.org and http://www.blueletterbible.org are two that I use.
Yesterday I ran across the verse 2 Corinthians 7:1 written in the New International Version. Since the NIV is not the version I read on a daily basis, the wording brought the message into a whole new light for me. Here it is:
“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
“Contaminates” got my attention. Did it you? What contaminates me? Contaminate by definition means to make impure, dirty, or unfit for use. Contamination is pollution.
Our neighbors on both sides have a pool. They do a great job of keeping their pools free from pollution and contaminates. They are able to enjoy them because they stay clean, fresh and fit for use.
My life is like those pools. I have to keep it free from unwanted things and ready for use. This verse reminded me to take a moment to examine the pool of my life. What’s in there, and what do I need to clean out so my life is fresher, more useful and more enjoyable?
Just like caring for a pool, caring for my body and spirit takes time and effort. But the refreshment that comes from enjoying a contaminate-free life is worth the effort!
Showing posts with label abundant life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abundant life. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
A Heaping Portion
When I read or hear the word portion, I naturally think of food. I’m embarrassed to admit, but all too often at mealtime I’m longing for fairly large portions of whatever is on the menu, while simultaneously battling this desire in my mind, knowing that God would probably prefer my portions to be smaller than larger for the sake of His temple!
So when I hear the verse, “The Lord is my portion,” (Lam 3:24) my mind naturally thinks in terms of sustenance and amounts of it. This is not incorrect in theme, but somehow I knew there was more to this truth that my mind had yet to wrap around. Today, God led me to a more complete understanding.
Portion is an English word representing a Hebrew expression with deeper meaning than simply an amount. The Hebrew word for portion is used most often in the Old Testament in conjunction with the acquisition of land or property, and means more than simply a share or a part. It encompasses the ideas of possession, inheritance and award. Try substituting one of these three words for portion the next time you think about what God is to you.
Selah.
The Lord is my possession. He gave Himself for me long ago. But He gave Himself to me in a love relationship when I surrendered my life to Him. As with my earthly husband, I do not own him, but I know that “I am his, and he is mine.” (Sol 2:16) We belong to each other. Like all blood relationships, the Lord is mine in an everlasting kinship.
He is my forever Father. His love overwhelms me.
The Lord is my inheritance. He is my heritage and my legacy. I receive life with Him eternally because He adopted me into His royal family. My birthright is oneness with Him. “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1Co 6:17) He no longer calls me servant, but friend. (John 15:15) His companionship is eternally mine.
He is my forever Friend. His fellowship completes me.
The Lord is my award. Not that I am rewarded for anything I have done, but by His grace I am awarded such a prize as the Lord Himself! By His Spirit, He lives in me. “For we are the temple of the living God.” (2Co 6:16) "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) By His grace, I am reborn with His powerful presence given to live in me.
He is my forever Force. His power enlivens me.
God is much more to me than some measurable amount of momentary sustenance. He is an immeasurable spring of continual satisfaction. The Lord is not merely my daily ration; He is my constant source of abundance. He is a bottomless banquet of everything I need, a never-ending portion for this hungry soul.
Food for Thought: As a believer and receiver of Christ, I am never unloved, alone or powerless. I am always loved, accompanied and powerful.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps. 34:8)
So when I hear the verse, “The Lord is my portion,” (Lam 3:24) my mind naturally thinks in terms of sustenance and amounts of it. This is not incorrect in theme, but somehow I knew there was more to this truth that my mind had yet to wrap around. Today, God led me to a more complete understanding.
Portion is an English word representing a Hebrew expression with deeper meaning than simply an amount. The Hebrew word for portion is used most often in the Old Testament in conjunction with the acquisition of land or property, and means more than simply a share or a part. It encompasses the ideas of possession, inheritance and award. Try substituting one of these three words for portion the next time you think about what God is to you.
Selah.
The Lord is my possession. He gave Himself for me long ago. But He gave Himself to me in a love relationship when I surrendered my life to Him. As with my earthly husband, I do not own him, but I know that “I am his, and he is mine.” (Sol 2:16) We belong to each other. Like all blood relationships, the Lord is mine in an everlasting kinship.
He is my forever Father. His love overwhelms me.
The Lord is my inheritance. He is my heritage and my legacy. I receive life with Him eternally because He adopted me into His royal family. My birthright is oneness with Him. “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” (1Co 6:17) He no longer calls me servant, but friend. (John 15:15) His companionship is eternally mine.
He is my forever Friend. His fellowship completes me.
The Lord is my award. Not that I am rewarded for anything I have done, but by His grace I am awarded such a prize as the Lord Himself! By His Spirit, He lives in me. “For we are the temple of the living God.” (2Co 6:16) "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) By His grace, I am reborn with His powerful presence given to live in me.
He is my forever Force. His power enlivens me.
God is much more to me than some measurable amount of momentary sustenance. He is an immeasurable spring of continual satisfaction. The Lord is not merely my daily ration; He is my constant source of abundance. He is a bottomless banquet of everything I need, a never-ending portion for this hungry soul.
Food for Thought: As a believer and receiver of Christ, I am never unloved, alone or powerless. I am always loved, accompanied and powerful.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps. 34:8)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Sitting Ducks
There’s something about feathered friends that attracts me. I remember as a young girl making a bird-watching book, and keeping an illustrated journal of birds that I saw in our backyard. Ok. Now you know what a truly nerdy girl I was! But God can use anything to get a message across to us. Today, He used a duck.
I hope you’re laughing while still reading, as I’m laughing as I’m writing. You see, I passed some ducks on the way out of my neighborhood today. I happened to notice that one duck was alone, seemingly trapped behind an iron fence, while his three buddies were waddling about on the other side having a grand time while he watched. It occurred to me that very often that’s how we live our lives. Not the waddling part, but the fenced-in part. I began to ask myself and God, what fences me in? What do I get trapped behind that keeps me from enjoying fellowship with others? What keeps me from experiencing the joy of the freedom I’ve been given in Christ? In what areas of life am I just watching, rather than participating, and why?
I drove on, and returned quite a while later to find the exclamation point on God’s lesson to me. The lone duck was still there, looking forlorn through the fence. But the other ducks were long gone. Now he wasn’t trapped mind you, he could get out, he just wasn’t trying! Meanwhile, opportunity had flown. Life had moved on without him. Wow. How I don’t want to be like that lone duck in 2009!
I pray for you and for me that 2009 is a year of getting up and around whatever fences us in, so that we might experience all the joys of life that God allows to come our way. Let’s resolve not to miss anything this year because we sit idle behind our fences. First, let’s pray that God would reveal what fences us in and keeps us from life as it should be. Then, let’s pray for the courage and strength to get up and get over it! Jesus did not come to set us free so that we could jail ourselves in, but so we could have life and have it abundantly! (John 10:10) Let’s embrace and enjoy fully abundant lives in Christ this coming year!
I hope you’re laughing while still reading, as I’m laughing as I’m writing. You see, I passed some ducks on the way out of my neighborhood today. I happened to notice that one duck was alone, seemingly trapped behind an iron fence, while his three buddies were waddling about on the other side having a grand time while he watched. It occurred to me that very often that’s how we live our lives. Not the waddling part, but the fenced-in part. I began to ask myself and God, what fences me in? What do I get trapped behind that keeps me from enjoying fellowship with others? What keeps me from experiencing the joy of the freedom I’ve been given in Christ? In what areas of life am I just watching, rather than participating, and why?
I drove on, and returned quite a while later to find the exclamation point on God’s lesson to me. The lone duck was still there, looking forlorn through the fence. But the other ducks were long gone. Now he wasn’t trapped mind you, he could get out, he just wasn’t trying! Meanwhile, opportunity had flown. Life had moved on without him. Wow. How I don’t want to be like that lone duck in 2009!
I pray for you and for me that 2009 is a year of getting up and around whatever fences us in, so that we might experience all the joys of life that God allows to come our way. Let’s resolve not to miss anything this year because we sit idle behind our fences. First, let’s pray that God would reveal what fences us in and keeps us from life as it should be. Then, let’s pray for the courage and strength to get up and get over it! Jesus did not come to set us free so that we could jail ourselves in, but so we could have life and have it abundantly! (John 10:10) Let’s embrace and enjoy fully abundant lives in Christ this coming year!
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