I'm sitting in the corner of the library. I've been essentially camped out here this entire past weekend, jamming to my "Thoughtful" (ha) playlist, and I've been systematically taking apart a passage in 1 Corinthians for a research paper. It's been awesome to survey the text and interpret the Word of God -- and getting a GRADE for it! This is one of the reasons I am so blessed to be in Bible college.
However, I've been realizing more and more how little time I actually have to process the Word of God, differing perspectives, and other things I've learned this semester. Life hits hard and fast; it seems to be speeding up every day, and I just don't have enough time to chew on every conversation, chapel speaker, lecture, and devotion. I think that's why I'm enjoying this time working on this passage, because I wish I could do this with everything in my life (especially things I'm hearing about the Bible in general, whether in class or through the mouth of a prof).
My tendency is to jump to application. How can I live this out? What do I need to change? How can I teach this to others? What's the relevancy? Snap, snap, snap my fingers looking for the bottom line. In my desire to quickly readjust my life in order to live a more God-honoring walk, I easily forget to appreciate the biblical text for what it is and enjoy the studying of the Word. I am called to study and "let the Word of Christ dwell in [me] richly in all wisdom" (Col. 3:16). Running to the main point prevents that deep-seated dwelling, that chewing and thinking and meditating process.
If I eliminate interpretation, I get a wad of jumbled nothing. I am obligated as a student of the Word to faithfully exegete the Scriptures and not simply brush aside the study portion.
Taking my time to soak in the Word instead of attempting the firehouse approach is a lot more worthwhile.
"Study it carefully, think of it prayerfully, deep in thy heart let its oracles dwell; slight not its history, ponder its mystery, none can e'er prize it too much or too well." ~Author Unknown.
Let's read the Word with utmost reverence and devotion. And take our time to look, to really look.
The Word never returns void. Isaiah 55:11.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Cans and Kool-Aid
From what well are you drinking?
I visited an art exhibit in Millennium Park with some friends featuring special sculptures made out of Red Bull cans. It was pretty cool to see some of the things people had done -- a dress, a set of wings, a fish, portraits -- using just the metal from energy drink cans. The stories behind some of the pieces included information about the artists. All I could think about was the number of drinks they must have consumed in order to produce so much art on a grand scale.
Everyone runs on something. You drink water, or pop, or coffee. We all refresh ourselves somewhere.
I've been thinking about the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus reveals the nature of the Living Water in this portion of Scripture and how it refreshes forever. Our souls can be at peace and we can be revitalized, never to thirst again for something that doesn't last. The eternal life that comes from God, the Living Water, refreshes us forever.
Are you drinking from that well, or are you just drinking someone else's Kool-Aid? When we don't drink water, we dehydrate ourselves even more. Sure, we may feel good for a moment, but it doesn't last.
The influence of others can be strong. We can find ourselves chugging someone else's ideology, opinions, worldview, or standards without even realizing it. The Kool-Aid can affect us so much that we even start to change ourselves into someone else.
The woman at the well was thirsty, as all of us are. However, like many of us, she didn't know it. She couldn't understand Jesus when he started talking about the Living Water until he revealed the truth to her. Sometimes, we don't even know that we're not drinking the right thing until the Spirit reveals the truth through the Word, in prayer, or by the wisdom of other Christians.
As believers, we are secure in Christ; yet, I find myself often looking for meaning, life, rest, and refreshment from others' pitchers instead of the eternal Living Water himself. I need to be refreshed by the Living Water instead of searching for satisfaction in other unhealthy places.
May we pray to see the true colors of the fountains from which we're drinking, and may God lead us like sheep back to the Living Water for our hydration and life.
I visited an art exhibit in Millennium Park with some friends featuring special sculptures made out of Red Bull cans. It was pretty cool to see some of the things people had done -- a dress, a set of wings, a fish, portraits -- using just the metal from energy drink cans. The stories behind some of the pieces included information about the artists. All I could think about was the number of drinks they must have consumed in order to produce so much art on a grand scale.
Everyone runs on something. You drink water, or pop, or coffee. We all refresh ourselves somewhere.
I've been thinking about the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus reveals the nature of the Living Water in this portion of Scripture and how it refreshes forever. Our souls can be at peace and we can be revitalized, never to thirst again for something that doesn't last. The eternal life that comes from God, the Living Water, refreshes us forever.
Are you drinking from that well, or are you just drinking someone else's Kool-Aid? When we don't drink water, we dehydrate ourselves even more. Sure, we may feel good for a moment, but it doesn't last.
The influence of others can be strong. We can find ourselves chugging someone else's ideology, opinions, worldview, or standards without even realizing it. The Kool-Aid can affect us so much that we even start to change ourselves into someone else.
The woman at the well was thirsty, as all of us are. However, like many of us, she didn't know it. She couldn't understand Jesus when he started talking about the Living Water until he revealed the truth to her. Sometimes, we don't even know that we're not drinking the right thing until the Spirit reveals the truth through the Word, in prayer, or by the wisdom of other Christians.
As believers, we are secure in Christ; yet, I find myself often looking for meaning, life, rest, and refreshment from others' pitchers instead of the eternal Living Water himself. I need to be refreshed by the Living Water instead of searching for satisfaction in other unhealthy places.
May we pray to see the true colors of the fountains from which we're drinking, and may God lead us like sheep back to the Living Water for our hydration and life.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Offerings and Open Palms
"O Lord, I bring an offering to you..."
I deeply appreciate the words of that song. I'm listening to it tonight in our floor lounge. It's quiet (I mean, hey, it's 1:00am), and my body is tired from a long day. My heart, though, is peaceful. Much has been getting done. God is at work and teaching me yet again the importance of prayer.
There's a professor here on campus whose trademark line is about holding things (especially significant others) with an open palm. We joke about it here, mostly because he has the most precious Southern accent and is a bajillion years old.
There is something so symbolic about an open hand facing upwards. It shows surrender. It shows that we're giving something up that we've been holding onto. It shows God that we're done and that we trust his plan over anything else.
It's a relinquishing of control.
My relationships with my friends are some of the most important things in my life. The people I care about and walk in Christ with are so special to me. Coming from a place earlier in life where I had no consistent Christian brothers and sisters, the men and women I've met since coming to college have blessed me more than they can ever know.
I realized this past week that a certain friend of mine has been influencing me too much, and I've been allowing it. It was like blinders fell off; I noticed that he wasn't encouraging me nor our other friends, and his hidden fears of vulnerability were preventing the rest of our group from growing in Christ together. He has been setting the tone for all of us, and I just realized that it wasn't edifying this past week.
This friend of mine needs Jesus to break down the barriers of his pride and ego. I can see the hurt and the pain, but as a sister, I can only do my best to set the example and tone in our friendship, discern opportunities for correction in love, and pray, hard, that the Lord works in his life.
Holding my friendships in an open palm allows for me to give them up to God and let him work. I certainly can't be Jesus to my friend; it's up to the Lord to humble him, heal him, and help him.
Offering up my life to the Lord includes turning over everything over which I desire to exercise control. I cast my cares upon him, because I can trust the God cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). He has me, he has my brother in Christ, and he holds the world.
To whom else could I go? For who else is all powerful and has the words of life? (John 6:68).
The Master does, and I look to his feet to lay my crowns down.
I deeply appreciate the words of that song. I'm listening to it tonight in our floor lounge. It's quiet (I mean, hey, it's 1:00am), and my body is tired from a long day. My heart, though, is peaceful. Much has been getting done. God is at work and teaching me yet again the importance of prayer.
There's a professor here on campus whose trademark line is about holding things (especially significant others) with an open palm. We joke about it here, mostly because he has the most precious Southern accent and is a bajillion years old.
There is something so symbolic about an open hand facing upwards. It shows surrender. It shows that we're giving something up that we've been holding onto. It shows God that we're done and that we trust his plan over anything else.
It's a relinquishing of control.
My relationships with my friends are some of the most important things in my life. The people I care about and walk in Christ with are so special to me. Coming from a place earlier in life where I had no consistent Christian brothers and sisters, the men and women I've met since coming to college have blessed me more than they can ever know.
I realized this past week that a certain friend of mine has been influencing me too much, and I've been allowing it. It was like blinders fell off; I noticed that he wasn't encouraging me nor our other friends, and his hidden fears of vulnerability were preventing the rest of our group from growing in Christ together. He has been setting the tone for all of us, and I just realized that it wasn't edifying this past week.
This friend of mine needs Jesus to break down the barriers of his pride and ego. I can see the hurt and the pain, but as a sister, I can only do my best to set the example and tone in our friendship, discern opportunities for correction in love, and pray, hard, that the Lord works in his life.
Holding my friendships in an open palm allows for me to give them up to God and let him work. I certainly can't be Jesus to my friend; it's up to the Lord to humble him, heal him, and help him.
Offering up my life to the Lord includes turning over everything over which I desire to exercise control. I cast my cares upon him, because I can trust the God cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). He has me, he has my brother in Christ, and he holds the world.
To whom else could I go? For who else is all powerful and has the words of life? (John 6:68).
The Master does, and I look to his feet to lay my crowns down.
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