In Love with the Bible

Learning to love God's Word

Past Posts

Marion

Cheerful and Not Cheerful Hearts

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I am not a naturally cheerful person and at one point in time I began to meditate on two verses that I thought would help me remember the value of a cheerful heart. Both verses underscore a positive attitude as being a blessing in life, but I have found that the greatest lesson for me comes from the contrasting negative attitudes.

One verse is Proverbs 15:15, which says, “All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.” I am convinced that whether my days are spent in affliction or in feasting is a result of the way I choose to respond to life events. I have seen people respond to things that would irritate me as if they were no big deal—and in truth, they probably are not. I’ve read biographies of people who have gone through harrowing times, and chose to look to God for hope, to seek his wisdom for how they should respond. Realistically, they were afflicted, but they did not think like it or live like it. Their response kept them from living as afflicted in circumstances that were afflicting.

The other is Proverbs 17:20, “A joyful heart causes good healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” After reflecting on what causes a broken spirit, I believe it is a symptom of a loss of hope. I think a loss of hope in everyday life is likely to be the fruit of repeated disappointment—unfulfilled expectations. One way I experience such disappointment is when I fail to be realistic. I am a sinner living among sinners; why should I expect life without irritations, broken promises, conflicts, or unfulfilled expectations, some of which are my own fault? The only things I can truly count on are God’s promises—and even there I need to be careful to not build expectations in my mind about when or how God will fulfill those promises. He is the only one who knows the end from the beginning and it is wise to trust his love and his knowledge when I am faced with disappointment. I do not want negative life circumstances to leave me with a broken spirit. I want to see God’s love, mercy, and grace instead.

I have come to the conclusion that my response to life’s pressures is directly related to the level of trust I have in God. The assurance of God’s love helps me to believe God is using for good that which I find hard or unpleasant. As he has increased my understanding of his personal care for me, I find I have a greater willingness to accept life as it is, instead of complaining about it, and to seek God’s wisdom for how I should respond to that reality.

Reflection on the book of Job:

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I recently finished reading the book of Job. The predominant world view of Job’s three friends is that God rewards those who do well and punishes those who do evil. Thus, Job’s friends tell him if he would just repent, things would be well for him again. I think it was also Job’s world view, which is why he struggled to make sense of his suffering—he repeatedly insists he’s was not aware of any sin he needed to repent of. (This attitude irks his friends so much they end up accusing him of evil!) When Elihu joins the conversation, he focuses on the fact that God is greater than man and does not have to give an account to anyone for what he does, but he also makes it clear that he, too, believes Job has sinned. God, however, does not accuse Job of sin.

When God has finished speaking, Job is satisfied. It is not because he now understands why he has experienced such suffering; God never addresses that question. But Job does have an experience of hearing God and I think that’s what he needed most. This is true for me, too. When life is hard, I don’t so much need to know why it’s hard as to know that God is near and still cares, to hear his voice and know he has not forgotten me.

Jesus and Suffering–Hebrews

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In Hebrews 2:10 we read that Jesus was perfected through suffering. This can raise an eyebrow. How can one who is perfect be perfected? My lexicon defines the Greek word translated “perfect” in this passage as, “bringing to an end by completing or perfecting.” This, then, explains how Jesus was perfected through suffering. His task, his purpose, what completed him, was the redemption of people, and suffering was clearly involved. The cross was painful; the separation from the Father was painful; and taking on sin (which he had never personally experienced carrying before) was painful. From other places in Hebrews where this word is used we learn a few more things. Hebrews 5:9 says that having perfected/completed his task, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him . Both Hebrews 7:19 and 10:1 tell us that the law is not able to do this, and Hebrews 9:9 affirms that gifts and sacrifices cannot do it either. But by the single offering Jesus has made, those who are being sanctified are perfected—they reach the end God desires for them (Hebrews 10:14). When we arrive in heaven we will come to the city of God where we will be with God (the judge), Jesus (the mediator of the new covenant), and the spirits of the righteous who have also been perfected/completed (Hebrews 12:22-24).

Jesus was able to bring us salvation because he was willing to suffer. He is the only way God brings sinners to himself; the only way that task can be completed. I am deeply grateful he was willing to pay such a high price for my salvation. He was motivated by love, not by my worth. I pray that his love in me would allow me to make him known to others—even if it means suffering.

Lessons from Shenandoah Hiking (with a little help from Psalm 16:11)

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My husband and I recently did a little hiking in the Shenandoah National Forest. Our hiking followed a combination of fire roads and hiking trails that were labeled “moderately strenuous.” Here’s what I noticed in comparing the roads and trails. Fire roads have been “tamed” so they can accommodate vehicles. No one would call them “good” roads, but they have been graded, there’s some width to them, and there wasn’t much along them that could trip a hiker. The fire roads moved through forest, and thus were not at all unattractive, but there was a certain monotony to them as there was little variety. The trails, however, were twisty, with many ups and downs, and strewn with rocks and tree roots that could easily cause an incautious person to trip. Sometimes you had to look around to see where the trail continued, or to figure out how to get across a muddy spot. Most of the time, we had to walk single file on the trails and we were close enough to creeks, for most of the distance, that the cheerful sound they made as they bounced down the mountain was a constant companion. When the creeks were visible, they offered a variety of scenes; waterfalls of various heights, rapids, and occasionally places with few rocks that allowed the creek to move without much visible movement or audible sound. Without a doubt, the fire roads were easier to walk, but the trails were much more fun.

The fire roads required nothing but that we continually put one foot in front of the other, while the “moderately strenuous” trails challenged us without overwhelming us. It was those very challenges that made the trails so much more interesting and fun to walk. As I was thinking about how this pertains to life, Psalm 16:11 came to mind, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” I do not believe the “path of life” will be the “path of least resistance.” A life that is too easy does not help us grow and mature, nor does it make life interesting or rewarding. I recognize that real life does not always give me a choice for how strenuous the path is, but I want to avoid making choices on the basis of how easy the path is and instead consider the path’s destination—trusting God’s grace if the path ends up being “extremely strenuous.”

Thoughts on Habakkuk

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This book reminds me of the state of the western church today. Habakkuk sees that God’s people are not really living as if they were God’s people, and he wants God to do something about it. So, God tells him the plan for dealing with the situation. Habakkuk is horrified! Maybe he thought a mild rebuke would suffice. Maybe he wanted people to change their ways without any discipline from God. He certainly did not want what God was planning! Although it is not explicitly stated, God’s defense of his plan can be summed up in three words: I am holy. God will execute justice, first for Israel and then for the nation that God uses to punish Israel. I love Habakkuk’s response when God is finished speaking: “Though the fig trees should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”

In thinking on these verses, I realized how much I want that to be my attitude to life, “I will exult in God regardless of what life brings.” But I also found myself wondering: when it actually happened, did Habakkuk follow through? I thought about how sure Peter was that he would not deny Jesus and realized there can be a big difference between what we think we will do and what we actually do. Habakkuk, unlike Peter, was confident God’s prediction was true. Consequently, he was not blindsided when God’s word was fulfilled. I’m sure that was a help, but I wonder if knowing what was coming was enough to equip Habakkuk. Would it be enough for me? Or are there things I can do today that will help me face a tough tomorrow? Am I learning to use God’s grace to exalt God in the irritations of life? To see God’s holiness when I experience injustice? Am I relying on God’s wisdom and strength for daily decisions and burdens? If not, how likely am I to be able to live this way when faced with true hardship?

Matthew 11:28-30

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“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” In thinking about this verse recently, I was struck by the fact that sometimes I am “weary and heavy laden” not because of life’s pressures, but because I have followed the natural inclination of my heart down the path of least resistance. Boredom, lethargy, and restlessness are often the fruit of that. Jesus’ rest is not idleness—it comes with a yoke! He has a work for me that gives life purpose, direction, and meaning. Often that work is done with others and I end up with valued friendships. There is a satisfaction that comes from tackling new projects, being a part of building something, or discovering I have been able to bless someone else. The part of me that desires the soft, easy life does not really serve my best interests.

Other usages for the Greek word translated as “easy” are: useful, profitable, kindly, and to furnish what is needed. When I substitute any of these for the word “easy” in the passage, it gives me something to think about.

Further Note: Jesus tells us, “Take my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” How odd that the one whose standard is perfection is found to be gentle when we shoulder his yoke. Unlike a perfectionistic boss who always wants more than we can give, Jesus knows we cannot be perfect—and so provides the perfection in himself.