If you read the Bible believing that God is mad at you, then you can find that.
If you read the Bible believing that God is love, then you can find that.
Americans tend to read the Bible and look for God's promises to keep blessing us. [as if American needs more blessings]
People that live in third world countries read the Bible and focus on how the humble are lifted.
This is why discussion around various verses is so helpful. This is why commentaries can be helpful. There are other understandings of what you are reading. Are you reading it in ways that only please you or are you allowing the other, possibly more challenging messages to reach you?
A good example of how we misinterpret scripture is what we do with Phil 4:13 which says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We pull this verse out of context and insist that God can make us victorious and we can do anything or get anything in this life. Unfortunately, this is not at all what Paul was meaning. Let's look at the context of that verse......
Phillipians 4:12-13 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
What Paul is saying is that he has been in some really hard spots and some great spots, but he can manage them all because Christ gives him strength. It is not a verse about getting more, it is a verse about being content no matter how much you have.
How are you reading the Bible? What glasses are you wearing? Take care that your glasses don't focus on your own comfort when they should be sending you out into God's world.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
1 comment:
Wow like that! Completes the understanding of that verse
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