A man stumbles in the darkness. Although at that moment the sun could be blazing down on him and if not for the sake of it's warmth he would still not know it. He stumbles again. This time he's fallen to his knees. His hands touch the cold stone beneath him. He traces out the individual bricks and realizes that he has been traveling in circles. he hears voices but cannot determine any memory to them. He is cold yet determined to be warm. He gropes the ground. Hoping to find some sense of direction or sign of new territory but he knows that his search is in vain. He's been here before.
He's been told that there is a door. He's heard the stories. He is not the only one who cannot see. Others have stumbled unto him. Sometimes he has stumbled unto them. But the end result was always the same. Stories are shared, some descriptions are given, previous locations discussed - but still no door. Nothing else matters. Only the door. It does not matter that they haven't seen it. It does not matter the color, the shape, texture, height, width, breadth. For those who have found it have never come back. For they have used the door for that which it is intended. Escape.
Then a voice is heard. Faintly at first, now stronger. Not sure if the voice is from within or without. It does not matter - the voice is heard and understood. Strange that this voice is different from all the rest. It is not filled with anger, malice, regret, pain, bitterness. It's not masking false motives or intentions. Clear, weighty, powerful. Like the sound of a large waterfall in the spring runoff. Compelling and compassionate. The voice draws those who are able to hear it. It draws those with hearts prepared. And for those who come close enough, the cataracts fade away and there stands the door. And it is more beautiful and more majestic and more powerful than anything anyone has ever seen.
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." - John 10:9-10
May you all have a blessed Christmas. And if you hear his voice, draw near unto him and he will give you rest and rescue.
December 26, 2008
December 16, 2008
One Word can Make All the Difference
I am currently reading through Sinclair Ferguson's (FG) book 'In Christ Alone' for part of my devotionals. Today he was dealing with the issue surrounding the translation of John 1:1. It was interesting to see him unravel the interpretation of that text and highlight for me one word, 'the'.
SF stated that in the original Greek, John was careful to structure his sentence in such a way as to ensure that the reader would not misunderstand the implications of his description of the pre-incarnate Christ.
To summarize the chapter, SF shows how the Jehovah's Witnesses have mis-translated the original to read that Jesus was a god. One can only imagine the grammatical, contextual and theological implications of this rendering. Taken to the outer limits this would suggest that if Jesus was only a god and not 'God incarnate' then his birth, life, death and resurrection would lose it's power to save and sustain. In my opinion, if this were true then Jesus is no more than what other faiths claim him to be - a prophet, good teacher, courageous revolutionist - but not God.
SF ends the chapter with, "the Gospel of John, indeed the whole Christian faith, stands or falls with John's opening sentence. Christ as deity, God as Trinity, man's salvation - all depend on John's first words."
Maybe this is one reason why I love John's Gospel so much.
SF stated that in the original Greek, John was careful to structure his sentence in such a way as to ensure that the reader would not misunderstand the implications of his description of the pre-incarnate Christ.
To summarize the chapter, SF shows how the Jehovah's Witnesses have mis-translated the original to read that Jesus was a god. One can only imagine the grammatical, contextual and theological implications of this rendering. Taken to the outer limits this would suggest that if Jesus was only a god and not 'God incarnate' then his birth, life, death and resurrection would lose it's power to save and sustain. In my opinion, if this were true then Jesus is no more than what other faiths claim him to be - a prophet, good teacher, courageous revolutionist - but not God.
SF ends the chapter with, "the Gospel of John, indeed the whole Christian faith, stands or falls with John's opening sentence. Christ as deity, God as Trinity, man's salvation - all depend on John's first words."
Maybe this is one reason why I love John's Gospel so much.
December 07, 2008
ABF Homework
We have just finished week six! Can't believe that it's gone this fast. We have had excellent sessions together and I have one request; Tell me what your favorite parable is. Tell me which parable you would want to know more about. Here's a list of the parable we have studied thus far;
The Wheat and the Tares
The Hidden Treasure / The Pearl of Great Price
The Workers in the Vineyard
The Wicked Tenants
The Ten Virgins
Next Week ; The Two Debtors - Luke 7:36-50
Memory Verse - Colossians 3:12-14
See you then,
The Wheat and the Tares
The Hidden Treasure / The Pearl of Great Price
The Workers in the Vineyard
The Wicked Tenants
The Ten Virgins
Next Week ; The Two Debtors - Luke 7:36-50
Memory Verse - Colossians 3:12-14
See you then,
December 02, 2008
ABF Homework
OK everyone...here it is.
Read through Matthew 25:1-13. What is Jesus communicating to his listeners?
Memory Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
I'm almost finished the book, "Is Christianity Good for the World?". Not that it is a large book - just haven't had the time. But, as promised, I will give you a short review.
Read through Matthew 25:1-13. What is Jesus communicating to his listeners?
Memory Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
I'm almost finished the book, "Is Christianity Good for the World?". Not that it is a large book - just haven't had the time. But, as promised, I will give you a short review.
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