Driven By The Bible

“The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:31‬ ‭ESV‬‬The voices of criticism are all around us. Not all of them are speaking truth. How do we differentiate between the two?Let’s talk about it!

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬It’s not uncommon or even unnatural to desire the approval and affirmation of others. But it can definitely cause us to miss the mark in our walk with Jesus. His approval should be so important to us, that the approval of others is forgotten. Let’s talk about it!

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬Our world laughs and weakness. The kingdoms of man celebrate arrogance; strength; confidence. But the Kingdom of God is built on surrender; humility; suffering. And when we embrace this element of the Kingdom of God, we enter into a realm with God, Himself, can bring victory and success.Let’s talk about it!

“Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭ESV‬‬The Hebrew language of this verse has a powerful image of anxiety forcing someone into idolatry. When we allow our worries and the cares of this world to overwhelm us, we are driven to our knees in worship of false gods. Let’s talk about it!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬For a people who has lived their entire lives around the worship and sacrifices in the Temple, their expulsion from this Temple challenged everything they believed about a YHWH and how to enter into His presence. But the writer of Hebrews encourages them to grasp the truth that their High Priest existed before the Temple, and He will remain after it is destroyed.Let’s talk about it!

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬What do Dr. Strange, Thanos, and the Avengers have to do with trusting God in the midst of our worries and anxieties? I’m glad you asked. Let’s talk about it!

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬Do you have someone in your life that only tells you how great you are? And even more importantly, do you have someone in your life who loves you enough to tell you there are things in your life you need to change? The second person is so much more important to have than the first. Let’s talk about it!

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:29‬ ‭ESV‬‬While we can and should receive promises like these on an individual basis, the hope we gain from them is based on the promise that YHWH is the One True God who will defeat His enemies and restore His people. We may be in exile now, but our exile will end. Let’s talk about it!

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”‭‭John‬ ‭7:38‬ ‭ESV‬‬When He speaks these words, Jesus is standing in the Temple promising the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, when YHWH will literally take residence within those who follow Him. This is an awesome promise. Let’s talk about it!

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬When we are honest with ourselves, we admit that the wicked seem to prosper and the righteous don’t. If you feel this way, you’re in good company. This psalm is for you. Let’s talk about it!

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬Because we’ve inherited 2,000 years of Greek thinking, we have a hard time understanding what Paul is saying we should fix our eyes on. It isn’t the “sweet bye and bye.” It’s the literal, physical Kingdom of God. Let’s talk about it!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬This verse opens a section of Scripture that is very familiar to us: the Armor of God. What is Paul really trying to say to us? What is spiritual warfare and who are we warring against?Let’s talk about it!

“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬As King David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, he expressed his praise and thanksgiving to God in a powerful psalm that speaks of the reign of YHWH on earth, and His victory over His enemies. Let’s talk about it!

“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬What a beautiful promise we have to know that our King - who conquered death and hell and sin - is present with us to being His peace to our chaos. Let’s talk about it!

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬When we get just the smallest sample of who the Father is, we are refreshed and encouraged, and we desire more of Him. How does this tie into the Jewish New Year beginning this evening? Let’s talk about it!

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬The religious of Jesus’ day missed His coming because they were looking for the wrong thing. Could we be at risk of this same devastating error today?Let’s talk about it!

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬It’s such a beautiful sentiment. But it’s set within a very discouraging idea being written by King Solomon: life is vanity. It’s a vapor; a chasing after wind. So, what does it mean when he writes that eternity is written on our hearts? Let’s talk about it!

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬We go through struggles and trials. At times, we may lost heart. Paul gives the Believers in Thessalonica a strategy for enduring through these challenges. Let’s talk about it!

“...as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬If our focus and goal is this life and physical existence in the here and now, we will fight against persecution, suffering, and death. If our focus is on the coming eternal Kingdom of God, we will willingly join our King in His persecution, suffering, and death. This is not a feel good Gospel. Let’s talk about it!

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬Our spirit affects our bodies, and our bodies reflect our spirit. Sickness has been medically linked to how we handle struggles and suffering. Let’s talk about it!