Before and Behind/Taking God at His Word
Posted by: ba <ba@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
Not one but two new items today on our book list,
on discourse analysis in 1 Corinthians, and a
brief commentary on Mark. See the links here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/627818/
COLUMN: Thankful
Before and Behind
by A. A. Neale
Though it's not politically correct to use
military language in religious talk, I'm going to
do it today. If a Muslim is reading, here's my
disclaimer: I don't want to kill any single human
being; I want to overcome Satan's influence in my
life and show everyone how to do the same.
Israel was God's physical people in the Old
Testament, and as such were blessed physically by
the Lord and were given instructions to overcome
the other peoples nearby. We don't do that today,
for our arms are not carnal, but spiritual and
rational (2 Cor. 10:4-5). But the physical battle
suggests lessons for the spiritual.
In a physical battle, one man knew how to proceed:
"When Joab saw that the battle line was against
him before and behind, he chose some of Israel's
best and put them in battle array against the
people of Ammon" (1 Chron. 19:10, NKJV).
Joab's battlefield actions are suggestive for
Christians today.
1. Know the field. Joab "saw" where the battle
line was and could take appropriate action. We
need to know where, as a church, the main problems
are and deal with them. The battle line can and
does move. New issues and challenges arise,
overshadowing what were issues 30 years ago. As an
individual, my problems and difficulties today may
not be the same ones as last year or last decade.
2. The battle is all around us, before and behind.
The devil circles us constantly looking for a weak
point at which to enter (1 Pet. 5:8).
Attentiveness is the watchword.
3. Put the best in the most critical points. This
can apply in the body of Christ, where we should
put our most qualified people in the mission
fields, in the pulpits, in the schools, and in the
streets. Personally, it means I should shore up my
efforts where I am most vulnerable. The "best" may
be hard to measure in a spiritual sense, but we
may apply it in the sense of our best efforts and
our most effective workers.
Joab was an excellent strategist as commander of
David's armies. Jesus wants astute disciples
following him as well. It was when he sent out the
Twelve to preach that he said, "Behold, I send you
out in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as
serpents and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16).
I'm thankful for those lessons.
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see who's commenting, click here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/642725/
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COLUMN: Scriptures Speak
Taking God at His Word
by Jimmy Jividen
I cannot prove with empirical evidence that God
created the heavens and earth. I can however, by
logic, show that such is a reasonable explanation
for its existence. I believe that He did because
the Bible tells me so. I stake my earthly life and
my eternal soul upon this faith. I accept by faith
that the Bible is the Word of God and is true —
100% true. I take God at His word.
There are a lot of things I do not understand in
the Bible. I do not know why water is wet or birds
fly. It is just the way God created things. I
might suggest some possible explanations, but I
cannot know for sure.
"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways My ways' declares the Lord" (Isa.
55:8).
There are some things which God wants me to do and
I do not know the reason why. I can suggest some
possible reasons, but I cannot know for sure. My
reason for doing them is not a rational
understanding, but a committed faith. I take God
at His word.
That’s what faith is all about.
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Read this article online, tell us what you think,
see who's commenting, click here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/642836
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