Friday, October 31, 2014
1 Thessalonians 2 ~ the Word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe
The Talmud explains the Word of God is Not punctuated. Men use paragraphs pauses and capitalization. The Word of God is the Holy Spirit breathing out truth and transcribed by men. One complete thought of God - the entire Scripture is One Thought of God.
Papyrus 46 does not have punctuation.
One of the debates in dating the 104 pages of this collection of Scripture is the debate over Nomina Sacra - special abbreviations which appear in New Testament texts. There is Nomina Sacra in these documents. And yet. Nomina Sacra occurs in the coveted 1st century papyrus. At the present time, most scholars think this is the second or third generation after Christ died and places these Scriptures in the second century. There is a debate, some of the scholars think this is first century.
104 pages of early Scripture!!!
1 Thessalonians 2
You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.
19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?
Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
All Hallows’ Eve is now Halloween and was an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. 2,000 years ago in Ireland, UK and France- they celebrated New Year's on November 1. This day was the end of summer harvest and the beginning of winter, a time associated with death. Celts believed the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds living and dead became blurred. On October 31st, they believed the dead returned to earth causing trouble and damaging crops.
Personally, Halloween has never ever been my thing, not my forte. I was a thin child who didn't want candy - chocolate or the things I picked out - often just sat around. In Dallas, we usually had rain. I thought this was all a drippy mess. Who needs Halloween when Christmas was better?
I'm not fond of back door preaching - going through evil to present a Spiritual fact.
We can, of course, look to the manifestations of exorcisms and see the name of Jesus heals many things. I've been writing this blog since 2007 and this is the second post on frightening things.
Philemon says Rejoice, when we have strength in the Lord - this is our strong starting and ending point.
What's your most memorable frightening movie?
My father was a little concerned when I wept copiously over the 1975 "Stepford Wives" with Katherine Ross. Daddy sent my friend Janice in the next day to have me explain to her - and then to him - why I had wept and wept and wept the day before over "Stepford Wives".
Is there a worse movie?
The movie starts out with happy VW bug noises and women who are bouncing and smiling.
Photography is a new passion as dinners get neglected and dust bunnies roll past.
The husbands pitch in and remark the women in Stepford loooooook gooooood. They are teased by their husbands the women in Stepford seem taller, cleaner, more pleasant, more put together, better cooks, larger breasted, more friendly, less complaining. They even have better hair. And Vavooom sooo beautiful.
Not to mention- Stepford wives never chew their husbands out and generally can't wait to say enough about their husband as an icon of perfection.
Soon the conversations seem to be vapid. The Stepford women only speak of pleasing their husband. All the former interests are gone. Who can get the best golf putter polish??? Where the husband's coveted Scotch can be found. Why Herman prefers his wife to wear ruffled blouses, like his mom.
And the two friends at first giggle and realize that they seem to be the only ones who have INTERESTS. Eventually, the two friends feel afraid of the women and their blank looks.
One of the husbands, of the interesting women, remarks he'd actually bought the house, in Stepford, to improve his wife. He says he expected their company would be educational.
One husband down the street is heard sobbing to the next about the death of his wife.
And the next day,
the woman
is so composed.
So unruffled.
So blank.
No more art, no more color, just a grim black and white perfection. The comfort, the light, the help - is now - missing.
And we find out the woman is indeed dead, her arm is a computer arm.
But not to worry - the computer friend is going to kill Katherine and replace her with a not-aging, taller, bigger breasted, cleaner, sex oriented, cheerful, cleaning machine - a robot. One that will chant her husband is a greek god.
Doesn't that sound nice. A robot who just praises you and does the work.
Would God want this ?
Because we could all have been created as Sims.
One little similarity. We worry God wants this of us. In attitude, in worship, in modesty, in opinions, in gifts, in conversation. Instead, Jesus asked for ... salt and light. Like Potato Chips. What will this person say and feel? What do we know about them?
We think God requires us to be so clean and so Unit A, Unit B.
Come back tomorrow. When you are holier. Instead, Jesus took flawed people and from time to time - the Gospels say, "He healed them all."
God is going to listen when you are taller...thinner...more happy...with fewer doubts. Except God is really interested in our soul and the love Today and Always.
We do need to be imitators of goodness. Look for goodness, create goodness, make goodness unique. Jesus said we should pluck off our eye or arm if it offends us. We look upon another with lust - then that's adultery.
One little similarity. We worry God wants this of us. In attitude, in worship, in modesty, in opinions, in gifts, in conversation. Instead, Jesus asked for ... salt and light. Like Potato Chips. What will this person say and feel? What do we know about them?
We think God requires us to be so clean and so Unit A, Unit B.
Come back tomorrow. When you are holier. Instead, Jesus took flawed people and from time to time - the Gospels say, "He healed them all."
God is going to listen when you are taller...thinner...more happy...with fewer doubts. Except God is really interested in our soul and the love Today and Always.
We do need to be imitators of goodness. Look for goodness, create goodness, make goodness unique. Jesus said we should pluck off our eye or arm if it offends us. We look upon another with lust - then that's adultery.
Why don't we see more one eyed people and one armed people? Jesus saves us.
Jesus told us - Only One is Good. God as the Father - deals with His own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. Paul writes - we cannot obtain His Glory. Only the gift - God took our sins from us. Erases our sin. Covers our sin with His righteousness. God is holy, righteous and blameless. True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from You.
God tests our hearts. Not looking for praise from mere people. Delighted to share the free gift of salvation, should we accept.
What does God see in people, the flawed people of Scripture - He sees hope, our joy, or the crown HE would give His beloved in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus. We are God's joy - He loves us.
Romans 8:31-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Psalm 97:11
Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
1 Thessalonians 2:4
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Father God, we need no mask of righteousness before You.
We come to You as we are. Unless we truly put ourselves before You as we are - sincerely - we create niches to fester in and these circles cause us to doubt the goodness You placed in us. In Your Truth, Light creates a place of healing and good welfare.
Unless we know we are fully accepted by Your Love, we create rules to run to hide behind. Unless we have standards to achieve, we will sink to decay and only rot. Without a higher path, we achieve nothing and have nothing to defend or maintain - no need for blessings.
When we are overburdened from conscious - You ease the burden and tell us You will carry us.
You are a Father blessing us each day and we are cavalier about accepting this as our right of existence. And when we seek You as we are - truly - You reach to us in Love.
I invite You again, Father God. Dwell within me and help my soul be a good place for You in Love, Joy, Optimism, Honesty, and Effort.
Help me to be the extra Love life requires. Help me to be loving and aware of those you've given me.
Forgive me in Your vast mercies when I fail.
I ask Your blessings for me and my loved ones to do Your Good Will and to encourage others with the strength You've given me and the Hope. Privileged to ask in Hero Jesus' name. Amen.
Jesus told us - Only One is Good. God as the Father - deals with His own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. Paul writes - we cannot obtain His Glory. Only the gift - God took our sins from us. Erases our sin. Covers our sin with His righteousness. God is holy, righteous and blameless. True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from You.
God tests our hearts. Not looking for praise from mere people. Delighted to share the free gift of salvation, should we accept.
What does God see in people, the flawed people of Scripture - He sees hope, our joy, or the crown HE would give His beloved in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus. We are God's joy - He loves us.
Romans 8:31-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Psalm 97:11
Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
1 Thessalonians 2:4
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Father God, we need no mask of righteousness before You.
We come to You as we are. Unless we truly put ourselves before You as we are - sincerely - we create niches to fester in and these circles cause us to doubt the goodness You placed in us. In Your Truth, Light creates a place of healing and good welfare.
Unless we know we are fully accepted by Your Love, we create rules to run to hide behind. Unless we have standards to achieve, we will sink to decay and only rot. Without a higher path, we achieve nothing and have nothing to defend or maintain - no need for blessings.
When we are overburdened from conscious - You ease the burden and tell us You will carry us.
You are a Father blessing us each day and we are cavalier about accepting this as our right of existence. And when we seek You as we are - truly - You reach to us in Love.
I invite You again, Father God. Dwell within me and help my soul be a good place for You in Love, Joy, Optimism, Honesty, and Effort.
Help me to be the extra Love life requires. Help me to be loving and aware of those you've given me.
Forgive me in Your vast mercies when I fail.
I ask Your blessings for me and my loved ones to do Your Good Will and to encourage others with the strength You've given me and the Hope. Privileged to ask in Hero Jesus' name. Amen.
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