Year: 2013

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Bible

Sealed Scrolls in the Bible

In Isaiah’s prophecy, there’s a reference to words in a scroll. But no one can read them because the scroll is sealed.

Later, God tells Daniel to take the words of his prophecy and seal it in a scroll until the end of time.

In Revelation, God gives John a scroll and tells him to open it. But John can’t because it’s sealed. He cries profusely because he sees no one worthy to open the seal. But there is one who can: Jesus. Jesus is worthy to break the seal and access the prophecy.

Later, as a final word, God tells John not to seal up his prophecy. The time is right; it must remain accessible.

In the Old Testament, scrolls are sealed. In the New Testament, Jesus breaks the seal. This is one more incredible connection between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment.

[Isaiah 29:11, Daniel 12:4, Revelation 5:1-10, and Revelation 22:10]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Why Love Matters the Most

Last week in my post, How Important is Knowledge?, I noted that many in our society – and the Western Church – esteem knowledge above all else, while Paul says that love is more important.

In another place Paul elevates love over several other things as well, such as supernaturally using other languages, giving prophetic words, having spiritual discernment, exercising deep faith, possessing a giving heart, and enduring physical hardship.

Although these things have value, they aren’t as important as simply loving one another. In fact, without love, these other things don’t even matter, not really.

I’ve often seen well-intended followers of Jesus seek an impartation of supernatural gifts, especially speaking in tongues, but I’ve never seen anyone ask for more love. Yet if we really believe what Paul says, love should be the first thing we ask for.

After all, Paul does say that love is the greatest thing of all.

[1 Corinthians 13:1-3 and 1 Corinthians 13:13]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Love Versus Knowledge

In our society we value information and knowledge. We pursue it at great cost (just consider the price of a college education). In many situations, knowing the right answer is what matters most, and knowing more than someone else is the way to win.

Many people who study religious stuff also pursue knowledge, often making the most minuscule of distinctions over trivialities that normal people care nothing about. This is the epitome of the age of modernity, elevating knowledge above all else.

I know people with great knowledge. They dispense it freely, often with little regard for others. They use knowledge as a weapon, hurting people with it as they smugly attempt to elevate themselves. In the process they end up being cocky and condemning.

This is how some preachers preach and how some of their followers act. In the wake of their unfiltered rhetoric, they leave a trail of bodies. Though they love knowledge, they don’t love people.

Yes, I study the Bible, too. But I don’t lose sight of why. More knowledge isn’t my end game.

Paul understood this. In one of his letters, he writes that love trumps knowledge. In another dispatch, he says that without love, we’re hosed.

I don’t study the Bible to obtain more knowledge but to know more of God, the God of love. That’s all I really need to know.

[Ephesians 3:19, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, and 1 John 4:8, 16]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Three Goals for All Christians

Paul tells the church in Thessalonica to do three things. I think we should all follow his instructions. Paul teaches them, and us, that:

  1. We should strive to lead a quiet life.
  2. We should mind our own business.
  3. We should work to meet our own needs.

Then Paul shares two reasons for doing these things, the two expected results. When we do as he instructed:

  1. We earn the respect of others.
  2. We won’t need to depend on other people for our needs.

This seems so straightforward, elegant in its simplicity. Yet, this is sometimes difficult to remember and hard to do. But through God, we can accomplish exactly what Paul said. And when we do, our actions may become our strongest witness.

[1 Thessalonians 4:11-12]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Don’t Be Overrighteous

The book of Ecclesiastes is an example of wisdom literature, and it makes for an interesting read. At one point the author says, “Do not be overrighteous.”

Overrighteous is a curious word. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard it before, and I certainly don’t remember seeing it in the Bible. In fact, it only appears in this one verse in the Bible.

What does it mean to be overrighteous?

Since righteous means to be morally upright or virtuous, it seems overrighteous is just more of the same, that we can’t be too righteous.

Apparently, we can.

The dictionary says overrighteous means to be “Excessively righteous; usually implying hypocrisy.” Ouch! No one wants that.

Continuing on, the verse asks, “Why destroy yourself?”

So, overrighteous implies hypocrisy and causes personal destruction.

Being righteous is worth pursuing; being overrighteous should be avoided.

[Ecclesiastes 7:16]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Amen in the Bible

I recently blogged about the use and meaning of amen. Although its use in modern circles is a bit perplexing – especially from preachers – amen does occur in the Bible. The NIV uses amen fifty-two times.

In forty-nine instances, over 90% of the time, the Bible uses “Amen” to conclude a prayer.

Once, in Revelation, Amen appears as a proper noun, an intriguing reference to God.

Another time, in Nehemiah, Ezra praises God and the people respond with “Amen, Amen,” as if saying, “We agree, we agree.” They repeat it for added emphasis.

Paul, in his second letter to the people in Corinth, uses amen in a perplexing way but which seems to simply mean “yes!”

In none of these examples do I see any biblical reason for preachers to use “amen” as an interjection (“Amen!”) or a question (“Amen?”) seeking a response.

Aside from the single use in Nehemiah, there’s no other biblical example of “Amen” being offered as a response by the congregation. Plus, in this case, it was offered as praise to God, not feedback for a preacher.

So, let’s follow the Bible and keep our “amens” at the ends of prayers and out of preaching.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Don’t Help Me, God; Make Me Instead

As I read the Psalms in the Amplified Bible this week, a curious phrase jumped out. The writer says to God, “Make me understand the way of your precepts.”

Notice, he didn’t ask for assistance by saying, “Help me.” He was direct; he implored God to “Make me.”

The NIV reads, “Cause me to understand the way of your precepts.” That’s not as strong as “make me,” but it’s still much different than “help me.”

I’m dismayed to admit that while I often ask God to “help me,” I’ve never once implored the Almighty to “make me” do anything.

Saying, “help me” suggests I’m in charge and merely want God’s assistance. Saying, “make me” acknowledges his power and relinquishes control to him, letting him be in charge instead of me.

I think I’ll reform my prayers. Instead of asking God to help me, I’ll allow him to make me. What a profound difference.

[Psalm 119:27]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Who Says, “The End Is Near?”

Jesus says nobody knows when the world will end. Later on Paul confirms no one knows when Jesus will return (therefore signaling the start of the end). It will happen unexpectedly, like a “thief in the night.”

So if the Bible says no one knows, why do some preachers make their audacious predictions anyway? Adding to their error, they often tap the Bible for clues as to when, even though the Bible says no one knows.

Yet they try anyway. I’m not sure if this is out of arrogance of who they are or ignorance over what the Bible says.

Yes, we need to be ready, but we don’t know when the end will occur. So let’s forget about trying to figure out what we can’t know and instead focus on doing what we already do know, the things Jesus told us to do.

After all, be it far away or near, the end will happen when it happens.

[1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Matthew 24:35-36, and Mark 13:31-32]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

Jesus Turning Water into Wine

Last weekend, my wife and I attended a wedding. The minister reminded us of Jesus at a wedding, too.

In his first recorded miracle, Jesus doesn’t address a big need, such as healing someone of a life-threatening illness or debilitating condition; he just turns some water into wine.

Although this kept the host from suffering an embarrassing social blunder, it falls far short of Jesus’ purpose to heal and to save.

Today we trust Jesus to save us and may look to him for healing, but what about more wine?

Sometimes we try to handle the small things ourselves, turning to God only for those big items or when we’re in a jam we can’t fix ourselves. But Jesus is interested in the lessor things too.

If he can provide some extra wine at a wedding, what else can he do for us? If we don’t ask, we’ll never know.

His answers may just surprise and delight.

[John 2:1-10]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible

May We Receive the Right Hand of Fellowship

Last week we talked about the four times Paul said to “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” In another curious reference, mentioned only once, he mentions receiving “the right hand of fellowship.”

In modern day context, this phrase seems like a euphemism for a handshake, but I doubt they did that two thousand years ago. With a little imagination I could assume it is a sideways hug of affection using the right hand and arm, but then I have an active imagination.

Several years ago a church we attended used this phrase whenever members joined our assembly. Another use, though my wife disagrees, ties this line to the ritual passing of the fellowship pads during the church service.

Each person, member and visitor alike, was expected to enter his or her name, contact info, and any special needs. Presumably, someone reviewed and compiled all the data each week.

Yet in the Bible context given, “the right hand of fellowship” emerges as more than a greeting, recognition, or formality, but as an honor or affirmation, a spiritual one at that.

While we may not have a good understanding of what it is to extend the right hand of fellowship, I’m quite sure it wasn’t a trivial or rote experience but one of significance.

The Bible only notes two people who received it: Paul and Barnabas.

May we follow their example and then perhaps one day we might also receive the right hand of fellowship.

[Galatians 2:9]

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.