My friend recently challenged me to read 10 chapters of the NT a day for a month. At this rate, you go through the whole NT 3 times by the end of the month. I am already behind, but decided today would be night 2. Am very excited to see what God will teach me during this time as well as eagerly anticipating a comprehensive overview of the NT.
For the next several posts, am looking to write down what God has been showing me through this reading. But first, want to share a poem that I wrote on October 30th.
14 March 2012
23 January 2012
Timing and Speech - John 1
When the priests and Levites question John about who he was, he does not give them an answer which they expected. I find it interesting the humility with which John answers them. Instead of becoming puffed up and pretending to be someone of immense significance, such as the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet,(which they asked him if he was) John says, "I am the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
The group can't seem to deal well with this answer so they say, "'Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?' John answered them, 'I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.'"
An honest and humble answer, pointing significance to Christ. Verse 29 says that "The next day he saw Jesus coming." Imagine if John had not given glory to Christ. What if he had claimed credit for himself and not been honest with the priests and Levites, who were sent by the Pharisees? How awful and foolish would he have felt on seeing Christ the very next day?
He was a worker who was not ashamed when Christ appeared. I want to be that way as well: steadfast, not slipping in testimony, not faltering, giving an honorable and pleasing representation of who God is.
We must be pure and steadfast, holy and set apart. Pursuing a closer walk with Who we potray and conscious of How we potray Him who takes preeminence over any personal desire for gain, acceptance, or worth.
The group can't seem to deal well with this answer so they say, "'Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?' John answered them, 'I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.'"
An honest and humble answer, pointing significance to Christ. Verse 29 says that "The next day he saw Jesus coming." Imagine if John had not given glory to Christ. What if he had claimed credit for himself and not been honest with the priests and Levites, who were sent by the Pharisees? How awful and foolish would he have felt on seeing Christ the very next day?
He was a worker who was not ashamed when Christ appeared. I want to be that way as well: steadfast, not slipping in testimony, not faltering, giving an honorable and pleasing representation of who God is.
We must be pure and steadfast, holy and set apart. Pursuing a closer walk with Who we potray and conscious of How we potray Him who takes preeminence over any personal desire for gain, acceptance, or worth.
Bible Study and David Platt
Began watching a session by David Platt,author of Radical and pastor of Brook Hills, recorded during his secret church service meeting. The portion I viewed discussed how to study the Bible. He made an interesting point of not just studying it to get an application. He said that should be the final step, not the initial step. I believe this is an easy pattern to fall into for most believers. Hope soon to list some of his suggestions for Bible study.
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