Tip’eret

Scripture can be very rich in imagery and replete with meaning, but we have two things working against our understanding of this: We aren't reading it in it's original language with the cultural understanding of the time, and we, as modern Christian's, tend to read through the Bible fast, often not bothering to find the connections and beauty. 

I'm very guilty of both. Not only am I clueless when it comes to Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, but too often also read through my Bible in record speed with a "checklist marked" mentality. The latter is more easily fixed, yet I want to do what I can about both.

A few years ago I was blessed to be able to purchase The Complete Word Study Dictionary OT/NT. I can now look up in-depth descriptions of Greek and Hebrew words and am even given derivations and etymologies of each word along with other linguistic goodies for geeks such as I. I have my moments. 

All this to say, I really took a piece of Scripture apart the other day. Now, I admit that I didn't go so far as to dissect each word and phrase. I did, however, read into the richer meanings of particular words in order to try and understand the beauty of this passage. I will let you read it first as translated in the HCSB - a version I have found to be surprisingly accurate. Then I will re-write it adding some of the imagery and nuance I discovered. I'm also going to try and steer away from "church-y" words since they have almost lost their meaning in the fact that we often can only define them with themselves. (Example: Praise and glory) I pray you enjoy this and are encouraged to start diving into Scripture a little more on your own.  Digest slowly- there are a lot of words!

(Click here to discover the meaning of today's title as well as a site to use on your own.)

For God is my witness, how I deeply miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:8-11

For the one, true God is my witness and record, how I intensely crave and greatly long after all of you with the essence of inward affection and tender mercies of Christ Jesus. 

And I ask God specifically for this: that your affection - your love feast of charity - will continue, in greater degree, to grow in excess with more than enough to spare, of a powerful and influential understanding which you strive for and for an ability to build upon the experiences and knowledge you acquired to figure out their complete sum.

This is so you can distinguish and prove whether all things are worthy or not, and also so you can be free from spot or blemish to such a degree as to be able to bear examination in the full splendor of the sun - not taking or giving offense and not stumbling or falling, figuratively speaking, in the day of Messiah.

And may you be crammed full with the end product of an ability conform to the state of all God commands or appoints when standing the test of His just judgement: This is only able to come to you by means of Jesus Christ, in order that the honor due to God's perfect opinion will be applauded.

Philippians 1:8-11

THE Super Glue

Super Glue and I have a love/hate relationship. It works great for broken toys and knick-knacks. It's also good for paper cuts. Instead of a band-aid, just apply a small amount of super glue to hold the skin together. It works great!

On the other side, there have been countless paper towel pieces and bits of random fuzz which are permanently glued to many of our household items. And just in case you might need to know for future reference- if you glue three of your fingers together and/or to the broken object in question, soaking in professional grade fingernail polish remover works. In about an hour....

Did you know though, that Jesus Christ is the ultimate Super Glue? He brings us together, as brothers and sisters, through the blood He shed for us. We are now attached to Him so well that even acetone can't do the trick. But Christ not only brings Christians together...

 ⁶ When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ Finding that He was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days. ⁸ Herod was very glad to see Jesus; for a long time he had wanted to see Him, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see some miracle performed by Him. ⁹ So he kept asking Him questions, but Jesus did not answer him. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Him. ¹¹ Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, dressed Him in a brilliant robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. ¹² That very day Herod and Pilate became friends. Previously, they had been hostile toward each other.
Luke 23:6-12

We need to remember that there are those who will gather together just to oppose Christ: This is spiritual warfare. When everyone seems to be against you, yet you know that what you are standing for is the Gospel, do not grow weary or be afraid. Their acetone is coming, yet you will be one in Christ:


Just one thing: live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith of the gospel... (Emphasis mine)
Philippians 1:27

Suffering

I hate to say this because I know it's going to come back to bite me - it always does - but, I don't think we tend to recognize the value of suffering. Most of us believe that if we are suffering it needs to be fixed and over with as quickly as possible, and if it isn't, then something is really wrong. What do I mean by that? Really wrong as in believing we are horrible people who have done a heinous and unforgivable sin, that God doesn't care/ listen to us, or that He doesn't really exist at all.

I was reading a Davidic Psalm the other day about the intense suffering of this man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22) David does not have a quick hissy-fit one night nor does he question God's righteousness and love. He is in turmoil night after night, but trusts in God to take care of him.

I am weary from my groaning; 

with my tears I dampen my pillow and drench my bed every night.

My eyes are swollen from grief; 

they grow old because of all my enemies.

Depart from me, all evildoers, 

for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.

The Lord has heard my plea for help; 

the Lord accepts my prayer.

All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; 

they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.

Psalm 6:6-10

Good can be had from suffering.

Look at Job. He went through intense pain and suffering without ever knowing why. What was the point of it? To prove to those around him, including Satan, that Job was "...a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil." (Job 2:3)

Paul was shown to suffer with a presumably life-long physical pain. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 "...Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me."

So why did God allow a messenger of Satan to follow around and torment His outspoken evangelist? Continue on in verses 9-10 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Jesus Christ also suffered greatly for us! Acts 17:2-3 tells us concerning the Jewish synagogue that, "As usual, Paul went with them, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying: 'This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you.'"

If our Savior considers suffering worthy, then how can we not? In fact, we are expected to suffer. "For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him" Philippians 1:29

To be honest, none of this really makes sense to us. Yet, that's the point of faith: If it did make sense, we would be following our logic, but it doesn't- so we must follow God.

"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out 'Abba, Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, and if children, also heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ - seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For we consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revelaed to us."  Romans 8:15-18

Amen and Amen!!

Blessed Are: The Pure In Heart

Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.
Matthew 5:8

Something that struck me while searching for the word pure in the Bible was how many times it was used to describe the construction of the Tabernacle. Everything was to be pure; from the gold and spices of incense, to the candlesticks and the priests. We were being shown from early on that the things which were to be in the presence of God were to be pure.

When Jesus says that those who are pure in heart are the ones to see God, He is opening salvation up to anyone who is willing to go through the refining process of salvation. Before Christ came, only specific priests of the Hebrew race were allowed to enter near to God's presence at the Tabernacle. Now, we who accept redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ are those serving priests with Christ as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). We are the only ones chosen out of the human race to come before Him.

Unfortunately, the only way to become pure when there are impurities present is through a refining process - and that involves heat. We must allow God to take the impurities out of our lives so that we may better glorify Him through a pure life. This doesn't happen all at once, or we wouldn't survive the process! There are many different aspect of our lives which need to be cleaned up for God, and as we allow Him to burn one thing off at a time, we turn into beautiful and loved creations of His, who are worthy through His work in us to be in His presence.

Something we also need to remember is that just because you are becoming a pure gold candlestick to shine before the Lord doesn't mean that everyone else is a candle as well. I may be incense or oil with a different set of impurities to be taken in a different manner. The point is that we are being purified.

Praise the Lord of our purification that all you need to do in the process is turn yourself over completely to Him! Then "...He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)  "...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:14 NIV)