They Blaspheme God’s Name Because of You
Thank You, Father, for Your active participation in our lives. When we are struggling with which way to go, we turn, and You are there! A prayer answered that had yet to be spoken! All praise to our loving, Heavenly Father!
Romans 2:17-29 (<<click here to read the passage)
OK, this is a very hard question to ask and an even more difficult question to answer… Does the world around us blaspheme God’s name because of us? Or maybe because of Christians in general?
In this particular passage, Paul exclaims in verse 24,
“The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
For some perspective, Paul here is quoting the prophet, Isaiah. (Isaiah 52:5 – from the Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures. Most New Testament quotes of Old Testament passages are shared from the Greek translations of those passages.) So, this wasn’t a new problem. Keep in mind that when both Isaiah and Paul said it, they were speaking to the Jews. Anyone who wasn’t a Jew was a Gentile. But when we read it, we can definitely apply it to ourselves – believers in Christ, with the Gentiles being understood to be unbelievers.
My Life Application Study Bible makes it pretty clear.
Despite our knowledge of God’s will, we are guilty because we, too, refuse to live by it. Those of us who have grown up in Christian families may know what God’s Word says. But Paul says that if we do not live up to what we know, we are no better off than unbelievers.
In essence, it goes on to say, that we need to teach ourselves, not others, by God’s word. Many believers know the law so well that we’ve also learned how to excuse our own actions while criticizing others.
Where we get into trouble is thinking that the “law” is just a set of rules. God’s word is far more than that…it is a guide on maintaining a relationship with Him. Without that relationship, we cannot please God.
Think about some of Jesus’ teachings. We know that we are not to steal, but in Mark 7:9-13 He clearly points out that even when we withhold something that rightfully belongs to someone else, that is stealing.
We know that adultery is wrong but in Matthew 5:27-28 Jesus exclaims that anyone who even looks at another person with lust in their eyes has already committed adultery with them in their heart.
Here is the line that needs to be drawn. Before we accuse others, we must look at ourselves and see if sin, in any form, exists within us.
But before you ready yourself to move on while thinking to yourself, “So and so should sure see this!”, hold on just a moment.
It seems that in our current culture Christians are working overtime to see how much “Christianity” they can literally, forcibly ram down people’s throats. The mentality is that they don’t care at all who you are or what you believe but you will abide by what I believe and that’s that! And the result?
“The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
Read the Gospels, all four of them, and you will not find a single example of Jesus living that way. He never once forced Himself on them. He loved them. He died for them as much as He died for us. Live as Jesus lived. Love as Jesus loved. Amen.
Oct 11th, 2022, Tues, 1:18 pm
The Velveteen Rabbit and My Bible
Father, as usual, this Sunday has been full and my body and mind are feeling it! You’ve already been at work in my heart and mind and I am ready for what You have for me this evening. Amen.
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Are you familiar with The Velveteen Rabbit? It’s a book by Margery Williams, and interestingly enough, it was originally published 100 years ago this year! It chronicles the story of a stuffed rabbit’s desire to become real through the love of his owner, a young boy. Initially, he pays the rabbit no mind, but after losing his favorite toy, his nanny puts the velveteen rabbit with him in bed.
From that point on the two are inseparable and over time the rabbit begins to show the wear of the boy’s love. He becomes shabbier and shabbier. Though that is the case, the boy’s love does not fade.
The story continues, but for my intent and purposes, I’m stopping there.
Wow, if you can see the study Bible that I use for writing my blog. It is hardbound, but it is extremely worn. My dust cover is in pieces. Part of the hardbound spine is not attached. The binding is holding up, but the front board cover is just holding on by the glue cementing it to the inside paper cover.
I could replace it. I suppose I could cover it with tape. Like we used to do in school, I could take a brown paper bag and make a cover for it once I had taped it. But at least at this point, I’m keeping it just the way it is.
It is worn. It is shabby and getting shabbier every day.
Here’s what is important, the way it looks does not affect what is inside – what is inside of it… and what is inside of me. God’s Word is not limited to the physicalness of that book. Regardless of how worn it gets, it will always be alive, impacting, and life-changing.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17,
All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God (i.e. all believers whether man, woman, or child) may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. AMP
So, my challenge for you is to strive to make sure at least one of your Bibles is a shabby one. Oh, and by the way, this is a DIY project – Do It Yourself! No cheating!
This is not a short-term project. I do my best to take care of my Bible but it gets used a lot! It’s been my go-to Bible since the beginning of my MoreThanUseless blog – so for 7 years, it has had regular use! And, I tell you what, I wouldn’t change a thing! Wear your Bible out and you won’t…at least not spiritually!
Oct 9th, 2022, Sun, 7:23 pm
Dependent
Father, enable me to be usable where I am. Sometimes I feel unusable due to my thickness of head. I’m not trying to be uncooperative, but I would ask that You remove anything that would inhibit my ability to act in ways pleasing to You. Amen.
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From experience, I know that the devotional – The Valley of Vision – has so much to offer. I interject portions here and there but this time I’d like to put forth part of a prayer entitled Love to Jesus. These are all taken from the writings of the Puritans hundreds of years ago, but so often their thoughts are my thoughts. The Lord continues to speak through them.
I’m going to try something a little different. What they wrote is in indented, italicized blue and my thoughts are in black. Feel free to comment!
It is fitting thou shouldest not regard me,
….for I am vile and selfish;
I am a sinner, as we all are sinners. We are predisposed to sin – our thoughts, our words, our actions. Is there any part of us that is not vile or selfish?
You, Lord Jesus, are pure and holy to the uttermost, the way things are sin cannot exist in Your presence but You, as only You could have done, made a way for me.
….yet… despite my vileness
……………I seek thee,
….and when I find thee there is no wrath to devour me,
….but only sweet love.
Sweet love! Nothing else could do the work that it accomplishes!
Thou dost stand as a rock between the scorching sun and my soul,
….and I live under the cool lee-side as one elect.
I deserve the “scorching”. I have earned it in my rebellion. It does not impact You, but You stand as my shield, my wall, my protector! Your grace enables me to live and serve You as a chosen one!
When my mind acts without thee
….it spins nothing but deceit and delusion;
When my affections act without thee
….nothing is seen but dead works.
O how I need thee to abide in me,
….for I have no natural eyes to see thee,
….but I live by faith in one whose face to me
……..is brighter than a thousand suns!
One of the many things that I have come to understand in my journey by Your side (and oft times I must be reminded of them, for I am prone to wander) is that the only way to truly, victoriously make this journey is proclaimed in the line that says, “O how I need thee to abide in me”.
I am incapable in my own strength – I fall without You. I cannot last a single day without temptation luring me to yield to the simplest of lures. I need Your strength to stand strong.
I am inept in loving with my limited love – I lash out. I far too often reflect the world in its anger and selfish ambition. Compassion is in short supply. Patience is quickly diminished. You loving through me is the only hope I have. In some cases, it may be the only hope others have of seeing Your love for them.
Lord Jesus, I am totally dependent upon You. May I never forget. I plead that You will never cease to remind me, moment by moment, that You alone are my Savior. And that is not just because of Your sacrifice 2000 years ago, but You are my Savior incalculable times throughout every day! All praise to You!
Oct 6th, 2022, Thurs, 6:58 pm
Secret Lives
An excerpt from The Love of Jesus from The Valley of Vision:
If traces of Christ’s love-artistry be upon me,
….may he work on with his divine brush
….until the complete image be obtained
….and I be made a perfect copy of him, my Master.
Romans 2:1-16 (<<click here to read the passage)
Maybe you’ve heard this one before, but it teaches us a few lessons.
Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed monitor of the church’s morals, kept sticking her nose into other people’s business. Several members disapproved of her extra-curricular activities but feared her enough to maintain their silence.
She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being a “drinker” after she saw his old truck parked in front of the town’s only bar one afternoon.
She emphatically told George in the presence of several others, that whoever saw it there would know what he was doing.
George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn’t explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing.
Later that evening, George quietly parked his truck in front of Mildred’s house…walked home…and left it there all night.
Even an “implied” secret life can get us into trouble. But in reality, it is only genuine secret lives for which we will be held accountable.
Paul states in verse 16,
And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. NLT
I’d be surprised that anyone would not have some sort of secret life. We all have thoughts and desires that we would be reluctant to share with the world.
Now it’s easy to automatically jump to bad secret lives, but I can guarantee that many people live good secret lives, as well. People who do unsung acts of kindness, helping others in need. And they do it all behind the scenes, always avoiding detection of the recipients or the world around them.
Jesus talked about this in Matthew 6:1-4,
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” NLT
That’s the good…but we must be wary of leading secret lives that we would want no one to know about because of their leaning towards – or wallowing in – sin. I’m not going to list those for as I said, I’d be surprised that anyone would not have some sort of secret life. So, I think we could fill in those blanks pretty readily.
I am not shirking off responsibility on our part for without doubt those things need to be addressed. Our relationships with Christ will never move forward if we keep those things lingering beneath the surface of our lives
The author of Hebrews 12 encourages us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” vs1b-2 NIV
May that be our prayer, knowing that the day is coming…
Oct 5th, 2022, Wed, 7:06 pm
Getting Ready
Father, I am a little under the weather this afternoon. May it pass through quickly and may I still function well for all the tasks before me. Amen.
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Well, it’s that time of year once more…
If I left it at that, how would you complete the thought?
As we have just entered October, does it bring thoughts of pumpkin-spiced fare?
Does it make you think of falling leaves, cool nights, and shorter days?
I’m sure some of my kids have already been thinking about what they’re going to dress up as for Halloween. I’ve seen many homes decorated for the holiday.
Now you may grimace at this, but what if I told you I was thinking of…Christmas! Some of you are probably groaning at seeing holiday décor on store shelves. I’ve seen all kinds of things myself.
Yes, I’m thinking of Christmas but not the whole materialistic version.
I watched a video that popped up on social media and it was not an obvious lead into Christmas but that is where it ended up…just not exactly where you might think it would.
In actuality, it was an ad for a European pharmaceutical company that aired a couple of years ago. It was not so much an ad about Christmas but an ad about getting ready for Christmas. And that’s what I would challenge you to do.
The day this Journal Entry posts, there will be only 81 days until Christmas – a while yet, but really not that awful far away, we are under three months. The thing is, how are you going to get ready for it? Will it be all about what you buy for whom? Does even thinking about Christmas bring you anxiety – the money commitment, the time commitment, all of it ganging up on you as it seems to every year?
Instead, this year – and you’ve got plenty of time – get ready by deciding to place Jesus at the center of it all. Maybe it would be best to scale down what you do. Maybe you could do a little research and do something small and simple that would be meaningful for you and your family. Take care of what really matters in life – you, your family (and friends, too), and most importantly your relationship with the One who came to give you His all, so you could have His all.
Now…watch the video. 😊
Oct 4th, 2022, Tues, 12:53 pm