Feb

2

1 Peter 2:11-25 — Submitting Like the Servant

February 2, 2012 | Leave a Comment

In this fourth lesson of Sue Edwards’ study on 1 Peter, we come to what I consider to be some of the most difficult verses in the Bible. I am, by nature and heritage, a fighter. I feel justice deeply within my soul and spirit. Even as a child, I would get in trouble for standing up for those treated unjustly as well as being quick to point out misbehavior (read: tattle). I believed that the world should be fair and just. I still do.

So of course, I’m frustrated almost every day as I see injustice at every level. I do indeed feel like an alien in a strange country. I do a lot of prayer ministry with women, and my spirit rails at the pain they have suffered. I often wonder how some of these women even get up in the morning, so horrendous was the abuse they have endured. And yet, Peter tells us to submit. (Don’t you hate that word?) He says to submit to ungodly governmental officials (a timely word for today). He says to submit to ungodly laws (another timely word). He hints that if we are ever in a situation like Christ was, we are to submit.

It just doesn’t make sense. Or does it? A seriously misunderstood spiritual principal is that of coming in the opposite spirit. When we fight back according to our flesh, there is almost always anger, hatred, bitterness, strife and a whole host of other ungodly attitudes flying around in the atmosphere. It makes sense to our wounded flesh, but it’s really a snare. We simply add fuel to the devil’s schemes. He’s coming at us (directly or through people under his influence) with these attitudes. When we respond in like manner, we’re simply adding fuel to the fire. No hope of putting out that fire. James 3:5 talks about how even our words (not to mention our actions) can figuratively set a forest ablaze. I’ve been there and chances are, so have you.

But when we come in the opposite spirit, when we repay evil with love and kindness, it’s like throwing water on that fire. Our actions dilute the impact, cause the fire to sputter, and perhaps to die. It works, and Jesus is our example. Problem is, it’s so counter-intuitive that it’s very hard to remember and harder to do. But friends, it works.

I don’t think it’s coincidental that 1 Peter 2:24 is at the end of this chapter. Jesus was our model. He went to the cross without fighting back. He forgave. He made a public spectacle of Satan (Col. 2:15), turning Satan’s biggest coup into his biggest defeat. And in the process, he bought not only our forgiveness, but also our healing. When we respond like Him, we are in a position to actually receive and experience that healing. I’m going to make a greater effort to submit to what God allows in my life. How about you? Share with us how you interacted with this passage.

 –In what circumstances do you find it most difficult to submit and behave as Jesus did?

–Where are you being stretched and challenged to behave rightly now?

–Do you believe Godly submission will result in the healing of your spirit, soul, and body?

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Jan

26

1 Peter 2:4-10–Called, Chosen, & Commissioned

January 26, 2012 | 1 Comment

In this third week of Sue Edwards’ study on 1 Peter, we come to this wonderful passage on our identity. I remember loving this passage a young Christian. Like Sue (as she notes in the book), I had been an unplanned, unwanted and wrong sex child who experienced a lot of shame and abuse as a child. That carried over into adulthood in more than a few coping mechanisms. When I became a Christian at age 28, I was shocked – yes, shocked – when I read 1 Peter 2:9-10. I knew I had been called out of darkness into his marvelous light. The transformation in my life demonstrated that. But those titles: chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people for his own possession…. What in the world? How did those relate to me, a throw-away? My life was saturated to the core with shame, and unfortunately, that didn’t go away immediately even though verse 6 reminded me that was no longer my identity.

It took many years of growing and healing before those verses really sank in. And healing didn’t come easily. It took a blessed combination of marriage and a child, therapy, prayer ministry, deliverance, and a lot of applying Scripture literally before I could break out of the identity I had been born and raised in. Could it have happened more quickly? Maybe. But one of the verses I learned to love and hate is Deuteronomy 7:22. I’ve found in my own life and in the lives of the many people I’ve ministered to, that healing is best when it’s progressive. Yes, we all want to experience a miracle healing, just like we all want to win the lottery. But we know what happens to those who win the lottery. Most are broke within a year. And I’ve seen the same thing happen when a very wounded person experiences a huge deliverance. They’re free for a while, but since they don’t know how to change their thinking, it isn’t long before they are right back where they started. Deep healing takes a little longer, but is ever so much more lasting.

But I digress. I was struck by verse 6 (will not be put to shame) in relation to verse 9 (an amazing identity—chosen, royal, priest, His possession). How do we enter into that identity? One lesson that has helped me tremendously is understanding the difference between true moral guilt and shame. True moral guilt is related to what I do. I sin, make a mistake, behave badly. True moral guilt is easily resolved by repentance and the forgiveness of the cross. Once forgiven, it’s gone. But shame is related to who I am. It’s often a by-product of guilt, introduced by the enemy to an unsuspecting, unprepared person. Getting rid of shame is often harder because it requires a new mindset. Remember last week’s lesson? I have to gird up the loins of my mind and deliberately bring every though into agreement with the Truth of Jesus. I have to deliberately take on the new identity. I have to agree with the Truth God gives me and reject the lies that Satan gives me. In dealing with shame, it seems that more of the responsibility falls on me.

So as you read the passage for this week, consider these questions and share your thoughts with us .

What does Peter mean when he says we will never be put to shame? Is that true for you, or do you need to do some work on guilt vs. shame?

In verse 9, Peter is making reference to the special position the nation of Israel has enjoyed. From your knowledge of the Old Testament, discuss how this identity has been extended from the chosen nation of Israel to the chosen person of you.

How will this understanding change the way you live this week?

 

 

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Jan

19

Let’s Study 1 Peter 1:13-2:3

January 19, 2012 | Leave a Comment

I hope you’ve enjoyed studying 1Peter this past week. This week we’re in the second lesson of Sue Edwards’ study, covering 1 Peter 1:13-2:3. It’s a wonderful section, especially verses 13-14.

Remember that this letter is addressed to people under duress. To exiles in the government-instigated Diaspora. People who were being tested and tried in various areas of their lives. Peter says that, contrary to what we tend to think, the testing can result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed. Have you seen this in your life?

In my ministry, I find that most personal challenges or problems start in our minds. And I’ve learned that in order to survive and even thrive in an environment of testing, the battle begins in the mind. Peter tells his readers to literally “gird up the loin of their minds.” This image is a reference to the way men dressed in the first century. They wore long, flowing robes that hindered their movements. They could walk, but if they needed to run, they would gather up the robes and tuck them into their belt, creating a sort of pantaloons. They took a deliberate steps to prepare them for action.

We need to do the same with our minds. We need to take a deliberate action to constrain, restrain, and retrain our minds to prepare ourselves for action, to prepare ourselves for the testing that inevitably comes to each of us. Peter tells us to be “sober-minded”—to not become drunk and silly because of our stink’ thinkin’. Then he tells us to hope (imperative) on the grace of Jesus. This is another deliberate action, an intentional choice. A decision.

Peter tells us to not become conformed to the passions of our ignorance. In other words, we often make decisions and take actions based on incomplete facts. We don’t know what God is doing in our lives, so we can’t make decisions based on feelings, on ignorance. Rather, we need to decide, to make a deliberate decision, an intentional choice To gird up the loins of our minds, to rein in those wayward thoughts and emotions, and to set our faces like flint toward Jesus. So this week, share with us how you are going to do this and how this community can help you.

 Where are you being tested this week?

In what areas of your life are you most vulnerable to stinking’ thinkin’?

What can you do (practical steps) to gird up the loins of your mind?

What resources has God given us to assist in the effort? Read and consider 1Cor. 2:12, 2 Cor. 10:4-5, and Phil 4:8.

Photo Courtesy of flick.com/katclay

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Jan

13

Reading Revelation – An Amazing Resource!

January 13, 2012 | 1 Comment





I just received a wonderful new resource. It’s Reading Revelation:  A Comparison of Four Interpretive Traditions of the Apocalypse from Kregel Academic. I wish I had had this book when our small group studied Revelation a few years ago! The author, eschatology expert C. Marvin Pate, has translated the entire book of Revelation from four different theological perspectives, offering lay people like me an amazing reference resource.

The book is laid out in landscape mode with five columns. The first column contains the Greek and a word-for-word translation, like an interlinear. The next four columns offer a paraphrase of the same verse with parenthetical comments reflecting four different views of Revelation—the Preterist, Historical, Futurist, and Idealist. Don’t know what those are? Read the excellent introduction.

Let me give you an example. The word-for-word translation of Revelation 1:3 is, “Blessed [is] the one who reads and the ones who hear the words of the prophecy and who keep the things in it having been written, for the time is near.”

The Preterist paraphrase, from the perspective that the events of Revelation were fulfilled in the first century, is, “Blessed is the one who reads and who hears the words of this prophecy (of the replacement of Israel by the church) and who keeps the things having been written in it, for the time has begun.”

In the next column is the Historicist paraphrase, interpreting Revelation as unfolding church history, is, “Blessed is the one who reads and who hears the words of this prophecy (of the triumph of the Protestant Reformation over Roman Catholicism and the papacy) and who keeps the things having been written in it, for the time of fulfillment is beginning now and will continue throughout the church age.”

The Futurist paraphrase, arguing that the events of Revelation remain largely unfulfilled, is “Blessed is the one who reads and who hears the words of this prophecy (of the end times) and who keeps the things having been written in it, for the time is near, because the rapture of the church can happen at any moment.”

And the Idealist paraphrase, suggesting an ongoing battle between good and evil, is, “Blessed is the one who reads and who hears the words of this prophecy (of the spiritual war between the true church and the ungodly, anti-Christian world that unfolds throughout history) and who keeps the things having been written in it, for the time is always near.”

Imagine having this type of detail for every verse in the book! It’s a leader’s dream! No, you probably won’t read it word-for-word, but it’s a great resource for a difficult book of the Bible.

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Jan

12

1 Peter 1:1-12

January 12, 2012 | 3 Comments

 

Welcome to our online Bible study in 1 Peter. This is an experiment for me, so let’s figure out what works. We’re using Sue Edwards’ study, 1 Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times as a conversation starter, but feel free to weigh in from you own study. What I’d like to do is have a conversation. Share your thoughts about the passage or the comments of others. Just be kind in your comments—they will be moderated.

One thing I like about Sue’s study is that she divides the passage into several “core” sections. Within the section, she asks a nice selection of objective, interpretive, and application questions. She then has “digging deeper” questions that require the use of references (atlas, commentary, etc.) and “summit” questions that grapple with deeper theological issues. You can choose to do just the “core” questions or dig deeper, depending on your interests.

The question that most intrigued me in this passage is in the first verse, the greeting. Peter addresses this letter to the parepidimois, which is translated strangers, exiles, pilgrims, or refugees. She has a note that explains,

Peter wrote this letter to Gentiles, and probably some Jews, living in five Roman provinces (in the region now known as northern Turkey)… The Emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54) displaced people from their homelands in order to strengthen his empire through colonization. … The immigrants moved around by Emperor Claudius were naturally viewed as foreigners by the native populations. Complex social relationships accompanied by tension and misunderstanding were likely between Roman citizens and noncitizens, free and slave, rich and poor, and people of different ethnic backgrounds. These colonized regions were ripe for local persecution and Christians were a prime target.

As things in our nation change more rapidly than I’m comfortable with, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to being a citizen of another “country.” Paul tells us in Phil. 3:20 that “our citizenship is in heaven,” The subjects of the faith chapter in Hebrews 11 were “strangers and foreigners on the earth.” And Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 5:20 that we are “ambassadors” for Christ.” So I’ve been thinking a lot about what that means. It’s so easy to get caught up in the things of this world. What is it like to be an exile from one country and need to make a way in another place? What would it be like to be forcibly removed from my home and sent to a place where I don’t know the language or culture? Where I couldn’t earn a living? What resources would I have from my home country? Where would I need the resources of the host country?

I often wonder if I represent my home country (heaven) effectively now. If I don’t, how would I expect to do so under persecution? That’s who Peter is addressing his letter to. Exiles. Refugees.

What do I need to learn to represent my home country (heaven) now? And what more will I need if/when persecution comes?

I welcome you to weigh in on this question or anything else in 1 Peter 1:1-12.

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Jan

10

What’s in it for God?

January 10, 2012 | 2 Comments

As I always try to do the first week or so of January, I’ve been praying a lot about my year. I’ve evaluated last year, rejoicing in the things that worked and critiquing the things that didn’t. What do I want to repeat in 2012? What do I want to avoid like the plague in 2012? I’m always hardest on myself. My planning partners are much kinder. So let me share two things I’ve come away with as I’ve planned this year. Both of these are thanks to my friend, Sandy Brannon of Establish Intention  who keeps me honest with myself.

The first is celebration. I don’t do it enough. Sandy’s Challenge of Jan. 4, 2012  is to celebrate God and what He’s doing in our lives. I confess that I tend to be thankful, but then move right on to the next thing. I don’t really CELEBRATE the good things in my life or the God who gives them. I don’t stop. I just offer thanks and move on. This year, I want to be more intentional about celebrating. I want to share more glory stories and God sightings. I want to feel the delight of a child when a plan comes together. I want to giggle more and dance more and squeal more.

The second is to ask of any opportunity, “What’s in it for God?” The answer to that may be very different from my usual “What’s in it for me?” or “How will this further my goals?” Since my work is essentially all ministry, it’s easy to assume that everything I do will and must glorify Him. But does it? And what of the “interruptions” that have become a very large part of my life? Coordinating the medical care for my 90-year-old mom and disabled sister? Assisting my husband who has Parkinson’s Disease? Having lunch with a friend? Serving as a patient advocate for the Parkinson’s Institute? None of those further the goals of Mighty Oak Ministries, but do they further the goals of God? I’m stopping to ask myself that question these days. And committing myself to look at everything I do through His eyes.

How about you?
Are you celebrating God today?
Are you asking, “What’s in it for God?”

 

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Jan

5

Let’s Study 1 Peter!

January 5, 2012 | 1 Comment


Does it seem to you that life is getting tougher? I don’t know what you’re experiencing, but here it seems that everyone I know is in boot camp. We’re in difficult training. Unpleasant training. Painful training. Sometimes seemingly unfair training. I guess the good news is that we know it’s training and we know that since God doesn’t waste anything, He must have a reason to be preparing His people. If that’s true, I want to be ready. I want to cooperate with whatever God is doing. How about you?

Seems to me that 1 Peter is a good book to study these days. And since I’ve been invited to participate in the Kregel Publications blog tour for Sue Edwards’ inductive Bible study, 1 Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times, I thought we could study it together. Her book is designed for women, but I’m not picky. You guys can join us!

Here’s the plan. Once a week—every Thursday—I’ll post some thoughts on the chapter or section for the day. You can jump in with comments on the same topic, or on a different aspect of the passage. We can dialogue and encourage one another to grow in godliness. I would encourage you to buy the book and follow along, although that isn’t required to participate. I like her format. She breaks the passage into several sections, allowing for a short daily study. She begins with objective questions, and then offers some optional interpretive and deeper study questions. My one criticism is that she’s a bit short on application questions, but we can come up with those.

Who’s in? For next week, study 1 Peter 1:1-12.

 

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Jan

2

Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament

January 2, 2012 | Comments Off





The New Testament corrupt? What’s that about? I was given the opportunity to review Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament edited by Daniel B. Wallace of Dallas Theological Seminary and published by Kregal Publishers. When I signed up for the blog tour, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but I recognized Wallace from my Greek classes at Fuller. He’s one of today’s foremost Greek scholars. In this book, he has written the first chapter and then invited several of his interns to write a chapter.

Turns out they are primarily challenging the premises in the book Misquoting Jesus by Bart Ehrman, who in turn is challenging the accuracy of the New Testament based on textual variances. As you probably know, for the first 1,000 or so years—until the introduction of the printing press–the New Testament was hand copied by scribes. Often one monk would read the Scriptures to a roomful of scribes, who copied it word for word. Other times one monk would copy from one manuscript to a new one. But “corruption” entered in a variety of ways. Sometimes a monk would simply misunderstand and copy the wrong word or tense ending. Sometimes they would make a clarifying marginal comment, which would then be added into the canonic text in a subsequent copy. Scholars have found between 300,000 and 400,00 variances, almost all of which are deemed insignificant. However, critics like Ehrman suggest that because of these variances we can’t trust the New Testament. Many of these criticisms have made their way into the marketplace of ideas, giving ammo to skeptics and critics. Wallace and his team argue that most of the variances have no impact on key doctrines.

This is a scholarly book–deep, complex, and a slow read. But if you’re leading a seeker group or tough questions group, it will provide you with valuable information. It will also strengthen your faith to learn more about the incredible way the New Testament has come to us in such an amazingly incorrupt way. It’s worth the effort.

 

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Dec

23

Merry Christmas!

December 23, 2011 | 1 Comment

 

It’s that time of year again. I want to wish each of you a very happy and holy Christmas.  It’s been a privilege to serve through this site and my books. I appreciate your support, your comments, and of course, your purchases, during the past year. I’ve just posted the December newsletter with some thoughts for you to ponder as we move into the New Year. I hope you’ll take a few minutes out of your busy week, put your feet up, and consider what maturity means to you.

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Nov

23

Happy Thanksgiving! An Attitude of Gratitude

November 23, 2011 | 10 Comments

I know. Everyone’s writing on Thanksgiving and giving thanks, but I had to add my two cents to this most wonderful holiday. For the past year or so, I’ve been committed to making every day Thanksgiving. And I’ve seen my entire demeanor change. Now I make it a part of any ministry I do and I’m seeing a huge difference in the people I minister to.

It started when I found myself feeling sorry for myself and reacting a little sourly. After all, there were a number of things in my life that weren’t great, or in fact even good…. But I started being deliberately grateful for little things. The sunny day. They rainy day. The ability to bend down and pick up something from the floor – and get back up again (increasingly important).  The fact that we have an abundance of good food. Computers and all they add to my life.

As I began developing this habit, it became more natural. Soon I could rattle off a dozen things I was thankful without pausing. It became a lifestyle. And when I would begin thanking God for everything – big and little, tangible and intangible – my heart attitude would change. And that changed my demeanor, my outlook, and my attitude. Now, if I’m beginning to feel a bit down, I just find a dozen things to be thankful for. I’ve developed an attitude of gratitude as a lifestyle.

I’ve found over many years of ministry that challenging people are often cynical and ungrateful people. They’ve grown so used to things going wrong that they expect it, and sure enough, they’re absolutely right. They become “glass half empty” folks (and as Paul would say, “and such were some of you”). It’s easy to get on that slippery slope and stay there.

So one of my latest techniques is to challenge ministry recipients to make a daily list of things they’re thankful for. Usually 10 per day. No repeats. They look at me like I’m crazy. I rattle off 10 things in a row. They look at me like I’m crazy. But the ones who take on the challenge and stick with it gradually – often very gradually – begin to take on a new attitude, a new demeanor. And they begin to see how very much God does for them on a daily basis. And eventually they develop an attitude of gratitude, which is one more step in their healing.

So let me challenge you this Thanksgiving. Deliberately cultivate an attitude of gratitude. You’ll be glad you did.

Photo compliments of Flickr/Ani Carrington

 

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