II Timothy 6:20 - O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge -
21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.
The word for knowledge in this scripture (KJV says science) is the Greek word gnosis. From gnosis we get the English word Gnosticism. Gnosticism is the belief that man can educate himself into a higher moral plain. The more he learns about the mysteries of the universe, the better off he will be. While this may sound appealing to the intellectual among us, it is a dangerous thought process. Simply put, it equates man to the status of God.
If man is God, then he has no one to which he must answer for his deeds. If this is so, then there would be no moral absolutes. Without moral absolutes, then what is right and wrong are left up to the individual. There is nothing to say that Hitler was wrong; if he believed he was right, then he was.
The logical end to Gnosticism is chaos, a world without order. The world system of our day has convinced many that Christianity is outdated. Some would say it binds us to the dark ages. Others would say that the teachings of the Bible contradict modern science (gnosis). The Bible never contradicts true science or true knowledge. It only contradicts that which is falsely called knowledge. I would rather stick to that which has been proven true again and again. I would rather believe the word of God. It is true knowledge!
Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89
God Bless,
Sullivan Jones
4/17/13
4/16/13
The Whipping Boy
Isaiah 53: 5 -But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
The Whipping Boy is a children's story by Sid Fleischman about a young spoiled Prince. He is always into something worthy of a whipping. But because he is the crown Prince no one can lay a hand on him. Instead another young boy is taken from the streets and beaten in his place. It almost sounds too ludicrous to be believable but history is full of such idiosyncrasies. Such things are known to have happened in times past.
The Bible tells us about another Prince. This Prince, though not guilty of any wrong doing, took the punishment for the pauper. It is the exact opposite of Fleischman's story. You and I were worthy of death because of sin. But God in his mercy provided a sacrificial substitute. Jesus Christ, the Crown Prince of heaven, suffered and died in our place so that we could be spared the pain, suffering, and mental anguish associated with our guilt.
Not only does Jesus blood wash away our sins, but it makes provision for the healing of our bodies, minds and spirits as well. If you need something from God, the blood of Jesus makes it possible. You need never fear being rejected because of past failure or feelings of unworthiness. If there is sin in your life, you can confess it and God will wash it away. If you need healing, you can claim the promises of Isaiah 53.
At the end of Fleischman's story the "whipping boy" is elevated to the status of a Prince and lives in equality with the king's own son. In the same way, we have been adopted into the family of God and make sons and daughters of the king. We are paupers no more. Jesus bought our freedom - enjoy the benefits.
The Whipping Boy is a children's story by Sid Fleischman about a young spoiled Prince. He is always into something worthy of a whipping. But because he is the crown Prince no one can lay a hand on him. Instead another young boy is taken from the streets and beaten in his place. It almost sounds too ludicrous to be believable but history is full of such idiosyncrasies. Such things are known to have happened in times past.
The Bible tells us about another Prince. This Prince, though not guilty of any wrong doing, took the punishment for the pauper. It is the exact opposite of Fleischman's story. You and I were worthy of death because of sin. But God in his mercy provided a sacrificial substitute. Jesus Christ, the Crown Prince of heaven, suffered and died in our place so that we could be spared the pain, suffering, and mental anguish associated with our guilt.
Not only does Jesus blood wash away our sins, but it makes provision for the healing of our bodies, minds and spirits as well. If you need something from God, the blood of Jesus makes it possible. You need never fear being rejected because of past failure or feelings of unworthiness. If there is sin in your life, you can confess it and God will wash it away. If you need healing, you can claim the promises of Isaiah 53.
At the end of Fleischman's story the "whipping boy" is elevated to the status of a Prince and lives in equality with the king's own son. In the same way, we have been adopted into the family of God and make sons and daughters of the king. We are paupers no more. Jesus bought our freedom - enjoy the benefits.
4/12/13
Contentment
I Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Most of us remember the Wizard of Oz. We remember hearing Dorothy belt out the words to "somewhere over the rainbow." I would hear those words as a child and just dream about a place where all of my problems would be left behind. Dorothy finally realizes that her problems will follow wherever she goes. In the end she understands that there is no place like home.
It is easy to imagine that someone else has an easier lot in life than we do. When I was pushing a broom as a janitor I could hardly wait to have a professional career with a title and an office. Now that I have it, along with its responsibilities, there are days when I wouldn't mind going back to pushing a broom. It seems like, in some ways, there was far less stress.
The tenth commandment tells us not to covet: not to want what out neighbor has. Why? Because the quickest way to become unhappy with what we have is to look at what someone else has. We might covet their car, but they also have a car note. What about the new house? Can I pay that house note every month on what I make? You get the idea?
It is in the nature of fallen humanity to be dissatisfied; the quickest way to be happy is to learn contentment. But how do we learn to be content? We must learn to see what we have and where we are as blessings and not curses. If we are unhappy in our present circumstances, we can rest assured that it will not last forever. Nothing in this life is forever. If we are content where we are, let us remember when we weren't as blessed and do something to help someone else if we can.
Contentment is the key that opens the treasure room of life. Thank God for where you are now. Ask him to show you how you can make the most of it. You might be surprised when you realize just how much you have to be thankful for.
God Bless,
Sullivan Jones
Most of us remember the Wizard of Oz. We remember hearing Dorothy belt out the words to "somewhere over the rainbow." I would hear those words as a child and just dream about a place where all of my problems would be left behind. Dorothy finally realizes that her problems will follow wherever she goes. In the end she understands that there is no place like home.
It is easy to imagine that someone else has an easier lot in life than we do. When I was pushing a broom as a janitor I could hardly wait to have a professional career with a title and an office. Now that I have it, along with its responsibilities, there are days when I wouldn't mind going back to pushing a broom. It seems like, in some ways, there was far less stress.
The tenth commandment tells us not to covet: not to want what out neighbor has. Why? Because the quickest way to become unhappy with what we have is to look at what someone else has. We might covet their car, but they also have a car note. What about the new house? Can I pay that house note every month on what I make? You get the idea?
It is in the nature of fallen humanity to be dissatisfied; the quickest way to be happy is to learn contentment. But how do we learn to be content? We must learn to see what we have and where we are as blessings and not curses. If we are unhappy in our present circumstances, we can rest assured that it will not last forever. Nothing in this life is forever. If we are content where we are, let us remember when we weren't as blessed and do something to help someone else if we can.
Contentment is the key that opens the treasure room of life. Thank God for where you are now. Ask him to show you how you can make the most of it. You might be surprised when you realize just how much you have to be thankful for.
God Bless,
Sullivan Jones
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