Verses for These Days

We read the following scripture verses at the end of our congregation meeting on Wednesday. Let us meditate on them and let them grow deeply into our souls, praying that in Jesus' name we would live in a way that gives honor to God.  Pray that I might live in this way too.  If in any way you believe I have not lived up to these things, please speak with me personally and help me to hear the Lord calling me to repent.  I will fail and fall, but part of "growing in grace" means talking with one another and then allowing for an opportunity to repent and ask forgiveness.  There is one thing, however, that I cannot do.  I cannot step outside the Word of God.  I pray that my life and my conscience would continue to be bound only by God's Word--God's Word that we know most clearly in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:15 - 5:2

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.  Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.  Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.  Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.  Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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God's Revelation Above Our Experience

I'm not sure how to write this in a way that will grab your attention.  I don't have any stories in mind and it's very late at night.  One thing, however, has become clear as I've been talking with people over the past few days, whether it's about church issues or their own lives -- It's always better to trust God's Revelation than our own experience.  Trusting our own experience, our own feelings or our own "conscience" will always get us into trouble.  That's why we need to bring our experience, our feelings, and our conscience into line with God's Word, centered in Jesus Christ, instead of the other way around.  Interpreting and applying God's Word is not "easy," but with the help of the Holy Spirit of God, which is given to those who trust Jesus and humbly ask for revelation, the Word of God can be brought to bear on every circumstance of our lives.  Don't fall into the trap of relying on your experience.  That's always a dead end road.  More later.

Added Sunday morning, June 20:  Interesting conversation going on over on facebook on this note http://www.facebook.com/stevekarl?v=app_2347471856#!/note.php?note_id=406213194823.  Joining facebook is free.

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