by Amy | Mar 14, 2015 | Bible Reading, Blog, The Art of Faith
Thanks to everyone who gave positive feedback about our latest adventure: Memorizing the entire book of Colossians. I’ve had several inquiries about how we actually did it…what it looked like day-to-day. So instead of emailing each of you individually I thought I’d tell you about my experience and pull together a few resources for you as well. {Call me lazy if you must…}
If you look around online, you’ll find that most “big chunk” memorization techniques are pretty much the same. Memorize one verse on the first day. The next day review the first verse and add one more. This is basically what we did, but realistically there were a few changes. As much as I wanted to stick with a rigid plan, this is actually a more accurate picture of how we memorized the whole book.
Day One–Memorize Colossians 1:1. Read the verse aloud 10 times. Say it 10 times from memory. {Easy peasy. Took about 5 minutes.}
Day Two–Memorize Colossians 1:2, review 1:1. Review 1:1 by reciting it several times {this changed from time to time but usually about 5-10 times.} Read 1:2 aloud 10 times. Recite 1:2 from memory 10 times. Say both verses once.
Day Three–Memorize Colossians 1:3, review previous verses. Review 1:2 by saying it several times, read 1:3 ten times aloud, recite it 10 times from memory, say the whole thing once.
Okay. You get the picture. Keep doing this day after day–adding only one verse at a time.
Now–When that passage of Scripture started to get lengthy the plan changed a bit. A lot of times, we only reviewed the previous verse by reciting it once or twice, just to save time since reciting the whole thing started to take up more and more time. Once we crossed over the half way mark, there were some days we didn’t even review everything we knew up to that point every day. By the time you are to Chapter 3, verse 1, 1:1 will be almost second nature to you. In fact, the whole first chapter will seem so easy to recite you could do it in your sleep. So…sometimes we would only recite the chapter we were working on, or a chunk of verses surrounding our new verse.
We saw memorizing as a team sport. I highly recommend working with your spouse–if you have one. It’s fun. For real. We did a lot of memorizing while we road tripped. In this case, it wasn’t safe for Derek to take his eyes off the road to read the verse 10 times, so I did it for us. I’d read the verse 10 times aloud. He’d repeat it back. Then I’d recite it from memory. When we recited all that we knew we would alternate verses. When we weren’t together–we just did our memorization individually and checked in with each other…making sure neither of us fell behind.
Verse numbers? Most resources you find online will tell you to memorize the verse numbers. Lots of resources suggest that when you recite a verse you say it like this:
Colossians 1:1 I, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God and our brother Timothy. Colossians 1:2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God the father. Colossians 1:3 We always thank God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you, Colossians 1:4…..
Maybe that will work for you, but it didn’t work for me. Breaking up the text with the verse numbers ever time I recited it just broke up the meaning and caused me to lose my train of thought. Instead, I found that I could keep track of each verse in my head. About every five verses I made a point to remember which verse number I was on so I couldn’t get too far off track. And since we did recitation together {alternating verses} usually Derek would catch my mistakes and I’d catch his.
With the method outlined above it’s plausible to memorize Colossians in 95 days, as there are 95 verse in the book. It took me much longer than that. I started in July. I finished at the beginning of February. That’s about six months–nearly twice as long as the estimate. But that’s okay. Life happens. We get sick and unmotivated and family comes to town and Christmas festivities take over our brains. That’s fine. At first when my deadline came and went I was a little disappointed, but in the end I realized that it’s not how fast we were doing it, but that we were doing it at all. That we’d stayed committed and were willing to see it through to the very last verse.
So that’s my story. Here are some resources for you as you set out on your very own Scripture memorizing journey. Find a technique that works for you and go for it!
Here’s a post from someone who grew up participating in Bible Quiz. He explains how he memorized more than 500 verses in a single year.
This is an amazing PDF that explains the technique I described above as well as information about retaining memorized Scripture, how to choose the book you want to work on, and why it’s such an enriching experience.
And this is a blog post with 10 good reasons to memorize a big chunk. You can totally do this!
by Amy | Mar 11, 2015 | Bible Reading, Blog, The Art of Faith
To me, there really isn’t anything sweeter than an accomplished goal. Dreaming big is fun. But imaginings are much sweeter when they come to fruition. I’ve got some far out goals that are a loooong way from being reached, so in the mean time, I’ll savor every mini-goal that comes up along the way.
Last month Derek and I officially reached a goal. We finished memorizing Colossians. A whole book of the Bible now lives in my head. I know it’s a short book, but now I know the whole thing by heart. Yes, there were hard days. There were days when I didn’t memorize anything at all. There were days when the spiritual warfare that comes along with an undertaking like this was hard–so hard I wanted to throw in the towel. But by the grace of God, we did it.
I’ve done a lot of really cool stuff in my life. Like, really cool. But I’ll admit this is one of the coolest, and best ways I’ve ever spent my time. So tonight I thought I’d lay out some of the things I’ve learned any why I enjoyed this process so much.
Dwelling on the right stuff. Philippians 4:8 tells us to let our minds dwell on the right stuff. I’m constantly surrounded by people, TV, books, and talk radio. I try my hardest to be intentional about what I let my mind consume. I’m incredibly prone to dwell on worries and woes–but while we memorized Colossians I spent a lot of time dwelling on the right stuff. In an attempt to keep it all in my brain, I’d go over the verses–sometimes multiple times a day. This calmed me, refocused my thoughts and allowed me to meditate on His word all day long.
Filling up dead space. In my day there are chunks of time where I’m alone with my thoughts. Whether that’s while I’m out on a walk, going on my weekly ice skating excursion, or while I’m driving–there are times when it’s just me and whatever is in my head. Instead of using this time to stress or worry, I go over all four chapters of Colossians. It takes about 30 minutes and I always feel refreshed.
A better understanding. Because we were going over the same verses day after day, only adding one new verse every day {sometimes every few days toward the end}, it gave me a chance to really think about every word in every verse. The big picture context came into focus as more verses were added–but this process allowed me to zero in on the importance of every verse.
Quotable quotations. Since I was dwelling on the words and thinking deeply about their meaning, verses were on the tip of my brain–just begging to be quoted in everyday conversation. I can’t even begin to count the number of times a Colossians verse has come in handy in the past few months. The verses come to mind easily and I’ve found that the context {as well and individual verses} have been very useful as I’ve prayed for people, prayed aloud, encouraged, and fielded questions about my faith.
In the past, sometimes when addressing a tough question or situation my mind would go blank for Scripture–even though I knew it was in there somewhere. With four chapters fresh in my mind, I am finding these moments less intimidating and my mind drawing fewer blanks.
BFF. This process stretched Derek and me both mentally and spiritually in a new way that moved us closer to God and closer to each other. It was a great time of holding each other accountable and encouraging each other on days when we didn’t “feel” like memorizing. {It’s really cool that there was never a day when we both felt that way. When one was slacking off, the other was quick to insist that we at least go over everything we had learned so far.} It’s really cool to have shared this process and victory with someone.
Being vulnerable. Memorizing Colossians wasn’t all rainbows and ponies and fun times. It was hard. Not just mentally hard. It was also spiritually taxing. God loves it when we study His word, spend time with Him and hide His wisdom in our hearts…but Satan hates it. The spiritual attack I encountered while memorizing Colossians was one of the biggest I’ve ever faced. BUT–I wouldn’t change it for the world. As cruel as the attack felt–God’s grace is greater, He is mightier. We made it through and God has blessed us for persevering. Better Praying. Paul is an expert on prayer. Within the book of Colossians {and the other books he wrote too} there are great examples of how to pray, what to pray for, how to word your prayers, and how to pray with expectation. Ever since I started memorizing, my prayers have changed. Paul leads by example and he is a great example to follow.It’s left me wanting more. Until we set this goal, I didn’t see myself as much of a Scripture memorizer. I have verses committed to memory. I like memorizing, but it wasn’t my favorite Bible-related activity…and I didn’t prioritize it like I should have. Now, I see that I can memorize big chunks of Scripture as long as I attack it with a plan. We haven’t started in on another book and I’m not sure we’ll do another one in the near future…but I’m wanting more. I’m anxious to select another passage or chapter to begin memorizing.I know I can do it. As we move forward I’m confident in my ability to memorize Scripture, but I’m also confident in your ability. Really, if we can do it–so can you. I started memorizing when a friend told me her 12 year old cousin memorized a whole book of the Bible. I thought, “If a 12 year old can do it, so can I.” I want you to have that same mentality. Memorizing a big chunk of Scripture {or even a small bit} is so worth your time! Most days it didn’t even take more than 15 minutes {the longest it ever took was 30}. It’s doable and I challenge you to give it a try.Amy
by Amy | Feb 2, 2015 | Blog, Devotional, Prayer, The Art of Faith
Last night I attended a weekly prayer meeting at church. To say that I’m glad I went would be an understatement. There are a million reasons why I loved it so much. And I’ve written and rewritten this post, trying to include them all. But, I can’t seem to make it work in a readable, well-written way.
Instead, I’ll isolate one thing. I’ll boil it down even further. I’ll isolate one prayer. Perhaps the boldest, more earnest prayer I’ve ever heard. Its brilliant in it’s simplicity and powerful in its meaning. It went something like this:
Lord, I pray that if trials will bring us closer to you, that you’d place them in our paths.
Bam!
Often we pray that trials would be taken away from us, avoided. But this woman–who I deeply admire, who is wise in the ways of the Lord, who is facing trials in her own life–has the understanding to pray the opposite. That if the most effective way for us to be closer to God includes a trial…that that is what we shall have.
The ways of God are often counter intuitive to the norms of the world. Maybe our prayers should be a little more counter intuitive as well. Our deepest desires should be to love and honor God, to know Him, and to share His salvation with others. If hard times will help us realize those desires, we should welcome them.
That’s hard to say. It’s hard to accept. It’s hard to grasp. It’s even hard to type.
James puts it this way.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. –James 1:2-3
I’m not saying that we should all start crying out to God, requesting catastrophe and heart ache. I’m not suggesting we stop calling on the Lord to lighten our trials and burdens. What I am hoping, for my own life as well as yours, is that 2015 would be a year of great growth. That this would be a season in which our eyes would lock with Christ’s. That we would pursue the Lord so hard and so willingly that we embrace trials–trusting that they will yield a harvest of testimony and closeness to God.AmyPS–You should go to a prayer meeting sometime. It just might rock your world.
by Amy | Jan 29, 2015 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith
If you know me in real life you probably know that of all my activities and goings ons, youth group is one of my favorite. I just love encouraging high schoolers in their walk with Christ. After being away for so long, finally going back to youth group last night was a breath of fresh air. Cold, North Dakotan air…the kind that wakes you up and makes you feel alive inside.
They’ve been studying the fruit of the Spirit. In preparation for our time together last night I read Galatians and dove into some commentary on the book. Galatians is fascinating to me for lots of reasons. I’ll get in to those on another day.
Tonight I really want to share something that I discovered while reading Galatians 5, praying and reading the commentary on it. I’ll share with you, but first take just a moment to read the passage I’m talking about. {Emphasis mine.}
The works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I can wear myself thin with trying. Trying to be nice, to chill out and be peaceful, to harness self control. It’s exhausting. You know what I mean?
Between studying this passage and the amazing message delivered last night from our youth pastor–who I’m honored to consider a friend–God laid a few truths on my heart.
My attention was called to the wording used in these verses. It’s pretty obvious to anyone with 5th grade English under their belt that this passage is a contrast. But examine the words Paul uses to contrast these two lists. {I’ve got them in purple for you.} I could explain the importance of these two words: works and fruit. But my commentary says it so well.
It is significant that the apostle distinguishes between the acts of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Works are produced by human energy. Fruit is grown as a branch abides in the vine {John 15:5}**. They differ as a factory and a garden differ.
Another thing to take notice of, is the plurality of “acts” and “fruit.” Here’s a note on that:
Note that “fruit” is singular, not plural. The Holy Spirit produces one kind of fruit, that is, Christlikeness.
The fruit of the Spirit–all those nice, Christ-like, qualities–they are fruit of the Spirit. Not fruit of my trying. When we accept Christ honestly and truly as our Savior, He–through His Holy Spirit–lives in us. The fruit of the Spirit doesn’t grow as a result of our own efforts, but by the presence of God dwelling inside our very core.
When I asked my small group of teenage girls how these truths made them feel, there was an awkward silence. Then, someone spoke up and said it was kind of a relief. I agree.
It’s not up to me to produce the fruit. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit. He’s living in my and I know He’s up for the task. God just asks that we set our focus on Him, that we love Him with everything we’ve got. When we do that, fruit will start growing naturally.
If you are feeling tired of trying, take a break. Jesus tells that he is a kind master. He is a refreshing drink of living water–not an exhausting run through the dessert. If you’ve ever looked at the fruit of the Spirit passage as a measuring stick of perfection and are frustrated with falling short…stop it. You will fall short. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control stand opposed to the fallen world we live in. Sure, we can do those things, but we can also wear ourselves out on trying. Instead, lock eyes with Jesus and let His amazing Spirit transform you into a garden.
Amy
*Here is a link to the commentary I have. I really like it. {Commentary is a supplement, not a replacement for reading the actual word of God, via the Bible.}
**The full impact of what this quote says lies in understanding the branch/vine analogy Jesus gives in John. See it here.
by Amy | Jan 15, 2015 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith
…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8
I love this verse in 2 Peter. {Read the whole chapter here.} Not only what it says in it’s entirety, but every tiny word and the very structure of the sentences. Look closely. Look at the word “add.” It’s a verb. It’s active, and requires effort. Scripture challenges us and encourages us to add to our faith. Like a plant left without water and sunlight, our faith will not flourish unless we add to it. Without some effort to grow and move forward, our faith will become stagnant. From there, it will be in danger of withering.
Take Peter’s advice and make ever effort to add to your faith this year. One effective way of doing that is to set some spiritual goals. A lot of the tips found in the first two posts {here and here} of this series apply to accomplishing and setting spiritual goals. However, here are five tips specifically geared toward setting goals for spiritual growth.
Center around Scripture.
Sometimes when it comes to spiritual goal setting it can be hard to know where to start. The obvious answers are to read the Bible more often and commit more time to prayer. Those are great–and we’ll talk about them some more in a bit–but our spiritual goals can encompass so much more than that. A thriving spiritual life will include more than that. When it comes to thinking outside the box the Bible can be a great tool for pointing us in the right direction for finding some spiritual goals to set. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the “fruit of the Spirit.” This, and any other passage that lists concrete characteristics, can be a starting point for a goal. Take one of the fruits listed and think critically about how you can manifest it in your life–then make it into a specific goal.
I came across an awesome article from Jelli Bean Journals while researching for this post. She does a wonderful job of explaining this principle of using Scripture to set a spiritual goal. I highly encourage you to stop over and read it. {It’s a quick, easy read!}
Word Goals.
Being in the Word of God is vital to growing spiritually. I tell the teens in our youth group all the time: It’s easier to believe and trust someone you actually know. One of the best ways to get to know the Lord is by reading His Word. I love reading the Bible, and I’m very good at sticking to my reading plan. But when it comes to setting reading goals, I’ve found–at least for me–it’s better to set a daily goal, rather than a deadline for my reading.
Pick a book you’d like to study, then set a daily goal. Maybe that means one chapter, or reading for 15 minutes. Reading the Bible isn’t a race. It is much more important to read, understand and apply the Word, rather than simply read all the words. I wrote a whole post on better Bible reading. You can read it here for more help on how you can reach your reading goals.
Prayer Goals.
Along with reading the word, prayer is our other tool for really getting to know the Lord. Make a goal to pray regularly. In addition, you should also expand yourself to pray in new ways. Prayer is not only about submitting requests to God, it can also be a form of worship, intercession, thanksgiving, and confession.
To help you stay on track find a method that works best for you. Create a daily prayer time or create prayer prompts that you’ll see throughout the day. I use prayer prompts…because often if I pray for too long my mind wanders. Here are some prompts I’ve used…photos of my cousins/niece and nephew taped to my mirror to remind me to pray for them as I get dressed in the morning; an alarm on my phone that reminds me to pray for a certain individual at a certain time each day; prayer when for my doctors when I pull into the parking lots. You might also find these kid’s techniques useful for diversifying and conquering your prayer goals. One is the ACTS method, the other is a hand method.
Mind Goals.
The Bible says …Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. {Romans 12:2a} Transforming ourselves by renewing our mind means we should also set and work toward some mental goals. Here are some synonyms for the word “renew”: Exhilarate, freshen, reawaken, revitalize. {See more synonyms here.} I don’t know about you, but my mind could sure use a dose of revitalization.
Remember that what goes into our minds roots itself in our hearts. What we meditate and dwell will over take us. For better or worse. Set a goal that will renew your mind. This might mean changing your media habits–TV, books, movies, music. Maybe it will mean starting to read books with a strong spiritual backbone, that will push your faith. Maybe your goal will be to sharpen your apologetics skills or memorize some Scripture. Whatever it is, make sure it stretches your mind and feeds your senses messages that Christ would approve of.
Stewardship Goals.
Our faith should be active. As you think about your goals, don’t stop with self-improvement. Think externally as well. Set a goal for being a steward of the Word and the Kingdom. Find a way to get involved and serve. Serve at your church. Volunteer with a faith based organization. Sponsor a Compassion child and start pouring into the heart of a kid across the world. Mentor a younger Christian. Find a way to be a steward.
As you approach your spirituals goals here are a few more things to keep in mind:
- Don’t over do it. Set a few goals–maybe one in each area–then as you accomplish or grow in those areas, set another goal.
- Keep at it. Don’t be tempted to throw in the towel if you miss a day.
- Find a partner–join an accountability group or Bible study
- Make it a family thing. Set goals with your family and your spouse, too. Set goals for your family and marriage.
- If you didn’t read this article when I linked it up on Monday, you should totally check it out. It’s got Biblical advice and 25 verses to meditate on in regard to goal setting.
by Amy | Dec 17, 2014 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith
It’s December 17th. Christmas is still more than a week {okay, eight days} away. But every year shortly after December hits the calender the holiday starts closing in. Slow at first. A party here, cookies there. Then things become faster and more frequent as last minute gifts demand to be purchased, gifts need to be wrapped, travel plans made, events organized and attended. And then, around December 17th I start feeling a knot in my stomach because the pressure is simply becoming too much.
Maybe I’m alone in feeling this way. Or maybe you feel this way at some point during the month of December too.
I think there’s a reason we feel so much pressure during these days. It’s because Christmas is a big deal. Now, I’m not talking about the commercial big deal of Christmas. I mean, Christmas is a big deal. It celebrates what is tied for the event marked as the biggest deal of all time–Christ’s birth. God coming to Earth in human form. {The event tied with this is Christ’s resurrection. And, for the record…this is referencing Amy’s Personal Book of Big Deals.}
With this really big deal in mind, it’s no wonder these become days filled with activity. This is a season of giving because God first gave to us. This is a season of celebration because God gave us a reason to celebrate. This is a season of outreach because the joy and excitement of Christmas is contagious, which makes it a great time to win hearts and share the Good News.
A lot of effort goes into Christmas. Because it’s a big deal.
But before you go off and tell everyone you know that I said Christmas is all about giving loads of gifts, getting new toys and eating until even your stretchy pants feel tight, let me add a few more thoughts.
We have to remember to focus our business, our celebrations, and even our shopping on the reason Christmas is so monumental–Christ. Through all that we do during this season {and the others as well} we must remember that, “…whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“ {Colossians 3:17}
So all those parties–attend them, but only if you can do it in the name of the Lord. Go and have fun. Show uncontainable joy that looks out of place at an office Christmas party…because you are celebrating more than a Christmas bonus and a few days off–you are celebrating the moment everything changed. The moment God came to Earth. The moment the prophecy was fulfilled. The moment God made it possible to have a personal relationship with Him–no animal sacrifice required.
Buy the gifts, shop your heart out. But do it joyfully, knowing your gifts are a small symbol of the best gift ever given. Wrap them up and even add bows if you like…use those gifts as a tool to open conversation about the heart and attitude behind the gifts.
As I’ve spent time thinking about Christmas this year, my heart has been drawn to John 3:17. I think it sums the whole thing up pretty well:
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
That’s the Christmas story in a nutshell. Sure, there were angels and songs and kings and a journey and a barn–those are details, this is the main point.
This verse is significant because it dispels any notion of ulterior motive. Until Christ’s birth, God coming to our planet was often a terrifying and wrathful thing. The Israelites didn’t even want to hear God’s voice, because they were sure that encounter would cause them death. {Exodus 20} People knew He is great and they were sinful. Since sin entered the world, the human race feared not only God on Earth, but also His messengers. Think of all the stories that tell of angels being met with awe and terror. {Matthew 28, Luke 1:30}. Deep down, the human race knows it should fear, because it should be condemned and judged.
John 3:17 spells out God’s intentions. Jesus didn’t come to wipe out the mess, to tell us that we will never be good enough for God. Just the opposite. He came to save us. To tell us that He loves us, He knows us, and He wants to be with us. It’s a huge gift, totally free. He didn’t come to ask us to be perfect, but simply to love Him. And when we love Him, really and truly, it becomes easier to do everything, even Christmas, even shopping, even travel, even overbooked schedules in His name and for His glory.
Maybe take a minute tonight to refocus on the big deal that is Christmas. Remember why it’s such a big deal. Let that reality sink in. I’m going to take some time tonight to let that knot that’s started to form unwind…to wipe away the pressure of man–to make things sparkly and over the top for the sake of appearance–and cover my attitude with the joy of Christ’s arrival. Let your knot unwind too, and let the next 8 days pass by with insurmountable, unspeakable joy.
by Amy | Sep 30, 2014 | Blog, God's Character, The Art of Faith
{Image Via}
The Bible shows us the very nature of God. You can look at it pretty much verse by verse and critically think about what just that one tiny piece of Scripture says about the nature of God. When we do this, we find all kinds of answers; because God is not simple. He is complicated and righteous. He is everything and the Creator of everything.
I think, though, at the root of the nature of God lies His desire to be relational with His creation. From the very beginning when He walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve, to Jesus’ life on earth to clear the connection between man and Creator, to the well written ending of mortal existence…a second coming of Christ that will forever allow God and man to live together again. Even the complicated sacrifice system of the Old Testament was a way for people to maintain a relationship with God.
He desires us and pursues us. Even when we don’t desire Him and don’t pursue Him. He speaks to us before we have committed to listening. He tries to get our attention. God wants to be relational.
God does this in all kinds of ways. I’ve seen it happen to others. It’s happened to me. I’ve sat down to coffee and listened to others relay a story of how it has happened to them. He uses people, or circumstances, or disaster, and all kinds of other things. God is not silent. He longs for you. He is jealous for you. He is jealous of all the other things in your life that come first, and He will continue to pursue you until the end. He wants to be relational with you. Really.
And, like a lot of things in life, it comes down to a choice. Will you listen? Will I listen? Are we willing to pay attention?
The youth group is studying the book of Amos right now. As I’ve read it and reread it–trying to get a handle on the text in order to field questions as they crop up–one thing really stood out to me. And that is the communication God laid out before the Israelites.
In Amos, God speaks to His people, and He doesn’t have nice things to say. They are being judged for their ugly, evil ways. For oppressing the poor, greed, worshiping idols, and the like. Sometimes, it’s easy to think that we can continue living however we like, conforming to the ways of a fallen world. But that’s a dangerous way to live. Amos proves it. The Israelites were God’s chosen people, but even they could not escape judgement that held them accountable for their deeds.
But judgement didn’t come out of nowhere. Through the prophet Amos, God lists the ways He tried to get their attention, to stop things before they got out of hand. Famine, drought, drought on one town and rain on another, diseased harvests, bugs, plagues, war, and prophets speaking His words were all ways He tried to get their attention. Opportunities to turn to Him for help, to recognize their need for His grace. Yet, they didn’t listen. It’s so easy for me to be in awe of their deaf ears…but in my own life this happens too!
Now, He says, judgement will come. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. He beckons them to “Seek me and live.” {Reference} He urges them to turn away from pagan gods and return to Him. He calls them to life, back to a relationship with the Living God. He lists their transgressions, they can easily see what needs to be done to remove His wrath. In Revelation, He tells us that He rebukes and disciplines those whom He loves. {Reference} Much like a parent disciplines a child, not from hatred, but lovingly. Discipline is not a bad thing.
For me, this kind of slap-in-the-face insolence would be enough to send me packing. To break ties and forget about giving any more second chances. Not so with God. He will never stop pursuing us. Ever. That’s pretty incredible. No one is too far gone, no one is beyond the offer of hope. At the end of the book, after listing their awful deeds and sinful heart issues, God tells His people that He will restore them. He will continue to offer them life, love and a relationship with the Most High. Again, from Revelation He says: {image via}
God wants a relationship.
So my questions for you tonight are this: Has He been trying to get your attention lately? And, what will you do about it? Will you listen, or will His call fall on deaf ears?
by Amy | Sep 25, 2014 | Blog, Devotional, The Art of Faith
Yesterday we talked about bearing good spiritual fruit. Today I’m talking about bad apples. Originally this had all been one long post about the good and the bad, but I decided it was best to split it up. If you are hating the discussion of fruit, don’t worry, it’ll be over after this post.
{Image via…click over for another awesome devo on bearing good fruit.}
Just as the Bible tells us how to produce good fruit, and encourages us to do so…it also warns of bad fruit and those who produce it.
Think back to the orchard we visited yesterday. A good tree will produce good fruit. Big, juicy, ripe apples will hang from the branches of a good tree. So many, you’ll have to pick and share with your neighbors just to keep them from going to waste. Walk a little further down the orchard path and chances are, you’ll pass a bad tree eventually.
You’ll know it when you see it. A sick tree, infested with worms and eaten by moths and diseased with some kind of bark fungus will not bear apples worth eating. In that case it’s easy to see that the fruit is bad. You’ll walk right on by, never even thinking of picking one of it’s pieces to eat.
Here is the warning Jesus issues in Matthew 7:15-20.
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.
Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Jesus tells us that spiritually unsound individuals may look innocent and good, but we can always tell who they really are by the fruit they bear. He goes far enough to say that a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. No more than a thorn bush can produce grapes. Jesus has assured us that the truth of a person’s character is in the fruit, that proof will never lie.
Let’s think about one more situation. {This is from my mind…not directly from Scripture.} Down the orchard a bit, there may be a seemingly healthy tree with no fruit on it at all. While it looks healthy–if it bears nothing, there is cause to think something is wrong. I wouldn’t consider a fruitless tree to be “good.” “Okay,” maybe…but not “good.”
We are called to bear good fruit. To do so, we need to be good trees, not just “okay.”
I think the hardest part isn’t avoiding being a bearer of bad fruit. That’s pretty basic for lots of church-goers. The hardest part is making sure we are bearing fruit at all. That we aren’t the healthy-looking tree, growing and doing just fine in the orchard…but turning out empty branches every time harvest rolls around.
To make an obvious statement, good people aren’t going to go around with baskets of luscious Granny Smiths, and bad people aren’t going to go around with a basket labeled “Poison Berries.” Until folks start doing that–we’ll have to look closer at the produce of their lives through deeds, actions and words.
Take a moment and assess this evening. What’s your fruit? Is it good? Is it bad? It is nonexistent? Ask a friend, find an accountability partner to help you. Think about what you can change to bear more good fruit. Maybe you need to weed out some negativity in your heart, or make an effort to speak positively. Think about your gifts, the things you excel at, and how you can use them to make more fruit. Think about the people you are surrounded by. Are they bearing fruit? Is it wormy or juicy?
I firmly believe that we have all been created with the capacity to do great things. To ripple in incredible ways. To have an awesome impact of the world around us. Now go. Self examine and start bearing.
