Don Beireis continues his series on biblical characters, discussing what we can learn from Saul.

Have you ever found yourself in trying circumstances that left you wondering if God really understood? That, even though every scripture ever written points to Him ‘being there’ for you, somehow there still remains a disconnect?

During these past few months, even when God has faithfully sent me a verse here and there that fits my challenge of the day, there are still times when I’ve asked myself, can He truly understand what I feel?

More specifically, does He really understand how uncertain I feel not knowing what the future holds for my family? Let me add here that I have NO DOUBT that He cares for me and that He has a ‘plan to prosper us and give us a future.’ I can look up Jeremiah 29:11 as easily as the next Bible reader. In fact, I know there are myriad of scriptures that serve as quick reminders of that, just a few of which follow:

• I will never leave you nor forsake you Hebrews 13:5
• He sees each sparrow fall; even the hairs of our head are numbered Matt 10:29-30
• I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him Psalms 91:15
• And Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world Matt 28:20
• Cast your burdens on him for he cares for you 1 Peter 5:7
• He knows the way that I take, and when I am tried, I shall come forth as gold Job 23:10
• And my God will supply all your needs Philipp 4:19
• My grace is sufficient for you 2 Cor. 12:9
• For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son John 3:16
• Come to me and I will give you rest Matt 11:28
• With God all things are possible Luke 18:27
• For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you Jerem 29:11

These verses provide wonderful assurances that He cares, that He’ll provide, and that He has a plan for us. Further, His love was so incredible that He gave His life for each of us, we who would live 2000 years after Him, in a country not yet conceived by man, on soil upon which He’d never walk. But does a Savior who now basks in all of the comforts and joys of heaven, really connect with my feelings, my stresses, my worries?

Then I remember Saul.

On that long road to Damascus, traveled an extreme fundamentalist, a.k.a. Paul, whose hatred and rage for those who followed Jesus was rivaled only by the severity of punishment he dealt those early Christians. Seething with threats and murder against the followers of Jesus, he sought and was granted authority to arrest any that he met.

Before he reached Damascus, he was blinded by an intense light and fell to the ground. Then a voice spoke, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul asked, “Who are you, Master?”  The voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you persecute.”

For me, Christ’s first words leap off the page here, “Why are you persecuting ME?” He didn’t ask “why are you persecuting my children?” He didn’t ask why Saul blazed such a path of persecution and destruction.

Rather, Christ was saying He PERSONALLY felt the grief of every orphan Saul’s cruelty created, the loss of every family he drove from their home, the fear in which every Christian lived their life and their trepidation as they met in secret to worship the One who died for them. Jesus himself felt every unspeakable, heartless act that Saul had committed or authorized.

By those powerful words, “Why are you persecuting ME,” His message to all of us is clear: I do understand your struggles and I take them personally.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is in heaven surrounded by all glory, honor, power, love, peace and the undying adoration of all celestial beings. Incredibly, while He did ascend into Heaven, He did not rise above our joys and sorrows. The scars in His hands and feet remind each of us that He does share in our feelings, in each step we take.

Previous Articles:

• Power of a Testimony
• Finding Relevance through Biblical Characters: Job
• Finding Relevance through Biblical Characters: Introduction
  

Don Beireis continues his series on biblical characters, descussing what we can learn from the story of David and Goliath.

It may be a question of rhetoric to ask you if watching some disturbing news report or an update on a disaster has ever made you wonder if you really could make a difference. I think we have all asked that question from time to time. And, then we usually dismiss that grand moment of nobility because “well, hey we can’t save the world by ourselves, ya know.” We’ve all been there.

But what I missed, until recently, was the difference we can make in our own scope of influence. There’s the obvious ways: the smiles, the quick compliments, and the readiness to point out the good in others. But there’s more—far more.

There is incredible power in sharing our story.  I was led some time ago to share my story – my testimony – on how I accepted Christ. As I felt intimidated by the person God was asking me to speak to, I quickly found many convincing excuses not to. For some reason, those excuses didn’t change God’s mind. It was when I re-read the David and Goliath story, however, that I truly discovered just how powerful our testimony can be. Perhaps this is why it is easier for me to share my journey of blessings and struggles with you on this site.

In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath, the Philistine champion, has challenged the Israeli army: A one on one, life or death battle, where the winner takes all, including the opposing nation as their servants. When David, a young shepherd boy, brings supplies to his brothers in the army, he is appalled that the bold challenge from Goliath goes unchecked.

The entire nation is so tense, that when the words of David, the youngest brother of a little known soldier, reaches King Saul, he is summoned to the palace immediately. David boldly declares to the king, “Let no man's heart fail because of him (Goliath);” I will fight him. Saul immediately objects, proclaiming that David is just a boy and Goliath a warrior since adolescence.

Saul was simply expressing the facts. David was young and untrained. Goliath, a veteran of many battles, stood over 9 feet tall. The terms of his challenge were incredible: if Goliath killed David, all of Israel would immediately become Philistine slaves, losing their freedom, their land, and their identity as a nation. So when Saul said, you can’t fight him, he wasn’t just sizing up David. He was also considering what he stood to lose­— his power and wealth, his status, and the likely reality that he would lose his own life if Goliath prevailed.

Key 1: Saul was not convinced of David’s courage, or of his victory. So what changes Saul’s mind? David gives his life experiences a voice, sharing what God had done for him personally. His faith was rooted in his challenges, specifically in confronting a lion and a bear, each of whom possessed a clear physical advantage over him. In both instances, God honored his faith and delivered him in incredible fashion.

David responded to Saul, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he WILL deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and God be with you. David’s confidence in sharing God’s faithfulness in his own experience was the key testimony that ultimately swayed the mind of the King. Rather than focus on what he could not do, or the dangers he would surely face, David focused on what God had already done for him.

Key 2: David’s testimony witnessed to Saul in such a powerful way that the king was now willing to risk all that he had, including his own life. Our testimony has that same powerful witness to others! The devil will try to convince us that our testimony is meaningless or not as important as others’. It’s because he has so much to lose!

Satan is defeated when Christ is lifted up. He is also defeated when we get to hear how someone else has overcome a giant in their life, especially as we gain the courage to challenge our own giants! Revelations 12:11 KJV, “And they overcame him (accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

Go ahead, share yours today and watch what God can do through you.

Previous Articles:

• Finding Relevance through Biblical Characters: Job
• Finding Relevance through Biblical Characters: Introduction
  

Keeping faith is hard during difficult times. Don Beireis shares some of his thoughts on the book of Job and its impact on his personal life.

I have often though about Job and his incredible response to the dark turn of events in his life. I’ve read many times of how patient a man he was—a man who praised God during these struggles. And I’ve never grasped it. I mean, I believe the bible is the infallible Word of God. I just have never accepted that someone living in real skin could ever face those great losses, then fall on their face and praise the God that ‘gives and takes away.’

I still don’t fully understand it even now. We’ve had our very own ‘series of unfortunate events’ and God has taken us to the story of Job. We have discovered that it is not the ending, but the journey that has so much meaning for us. What follows is my awakening to the role of God in this story.

God asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Then God testified on Job’s behalf, “there is no one like him, he is blameless and upright…”, and Job’s character is corroborated by the Expert of witnesses. Satan then questions whether Job is faithful to God out of self-interests or true devotion. “Strike all he has and he will surely curse you to your face.”
Satan is tempting God! Satan also tempted Jesus in the wilderness in the beginning of His ministry, and Jesus rebuked Satan on the spot for tempting Him. So why didn’t God rebuke Satan now?

Key 1: God trusted Job. God so believed in Job (evidenced in his testimony of Job) that He was willing to accept the wager offered by Satan. If He didn’t trust Job, He would have rebuked Satan. We often discuss trusting in God – and we should – but do we consider that God trusts us?

Key 2: God drew limits on Job’s trial. God permitted Satan to touch all Job possessed, but not to touch him personally. God knew what Job could handle and He wouldn’t allow the trial to exceed those limits.

So, Job has ‘one of those days’ on the grandest of scales. One servant rushes in, Master, the donkeys and oxen have been stolen by the Sabeans, all the servants killed, and only I escaped to tell you. While he was still speaking, another servant rushed in, Master, Fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and servants, and only I escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, another servant came rushing in, Master, the Chaldeans stole all your camels, killed all your servants, and only I escaped to tell you. While he was still speaking, the fourth servant rushed in.

Imagine that amidst the chaos of three distressed servants speaking at the same time, Job’s heart broke inside of him as he knew where this fourth servant had been. Master, a mighty wind collapsed the house in which your daughters and sons were eating, killing them all, and only I escaped to tell you.

In moments, Job lost his great wealth, but more tragically, lost his precious children. Then he does something I can’t comprehend. He falls on his face and worships God saying, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, the Lord be praised!

Incredibly, what is missing between the end of chapter 1 and beginning of chapter 2 is perhaps the biggest part of the story: Job had proved God right! God won Satan’s wager – Job had proved His confidence was well placed!
The second story (chapter 2) only occurs because Satan had ‘egg on his face’ and wagers again, ‘double or nothing.’ Again God accepts the wager, because He trusts Job, and again He draws limits.

During our time of trial, will we accept that God hasn’t rebuked Satan because HE TRUSTS US? That He is willing to call out “Let it ride,” because He believes in us?

This past November, we attacked our savings to replace a roof, and complete some auto repairs and other things around our house. Just two weeks later, we were laid off when our bank downsized. Shortly thereafter, the entire banking industry fell on its face, and still to this day the shrinking job market is matched in speed only by the growing pool of unemployed (and very qualified ) candidates. As the primary provider for a family of six, my stress level escalated, especially since my kids seem to have a daily contest on who eats the most or who grows out of their clothes the fastest. Didn’t God know this would happen? Why didn’t He stop us from draining our reserves? I know that God won’t shut one door without opening another, but that’s so much easier said than lived.

Many applications, interviews and closed doors later, I am still waiting for God to move on our situation. Although He supplies every one of our needs as they arise (Thank you God!) I still await “that phone call or email” where God opens up His Door of Providence and reveals His plan.

But, in the mean time, I have heard His message loud and clear. When I see another door close, get another “you’re late” phone call, or let doubts creep in that perhaps this situation will not turn for the better, He reminds me again of Job. I now know that God has declared to Satan that I am His child, He has already drawn limits on my trial, and He has taken Satan’s wager because He believes in me. Now it’s my turn to prove Him right.

Previous Articles:

• Finding Relevance through Biblical Characters: Introduction 

Another new blogger, Derek Joseph , introduces his new series on Hearing God in the Bible.

If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance that you’re interested in God.  You want to know Him and experience Him.  And you might even know something about the Bible being His book.  But if the Bible remains mysterious, even cryptic—maybe you know a bunch of stories from it but don’t understand how they relate to you—then the Bible won’t bring you much comfort, much less pleasure. 

This is the first article in a series of articles about interpreting the Scriptures. My goal with this series is to show you how to experience God through the Bible.  And right at the outset here, I want to dispel any notion that there’s a sort of ‘magic bullet’ through which you can understand the Scriptures.  Knowing Greek and Hebrew is not a key to understanding God’s word.  Seminary isn’t.  More education isn’t.  Being able to completely reconstruct historical situations isn’t. 

So I’m not going to give you a magic bullet.  Studying the Bible is not easy.  But let me assure you – it’s not impossible.  There are a set of skills and tools you can apply as you study, and you will be rewarded with God himself as you do the work.  We’ll get to those tools in the articles that follow, but it’s best to start with a look at what the Bible actually is. 

THREE VITAL TRUTHS ABOUT THE BIBLE:

        1. Every word is there because God intended it to be there.  (2 Peter 1:20, 21; John 10:35; Matthew 22:28-32). 

If you look at those verses, you’ll note that they say that every verse of Scripture has a specific, intended meaning.  It’s not open for interpretation.  Jesus holds people responsible to what God intended.  God spoke and he holds us responsible for what he said.

2. Scripture will only affect you to the extent that the Holy Spirit causes it to. 

So we’re to understand the Bible a certain way.  But it will only be effective as God the Holy Spirit makes it so.  In 1 Corinthians 2:7-16, Paul tells a church that God has appointed apostles to interpret God’s truth to God’s people.  But the Holy Spirit must be at work in those people so they’ll understand and accept it.  So the Holy Spirit needs to work for us to really get God’s word.

3. The Bible is about Jesus. 

Last, the Bible is a book about who Jesus is and what he did (Luke 24:27; Hebrews 1:1-3; John 5:39).  In other words, it’s about the gospel (John 6:39; John 10).  I have my students memorize the gospel in a sentence like this: it’s the good news that Jesus’ obedience to God, suffering the punishment for rebellion in dying, and resurrection reconcile everyone who believes in him to God.  That’s a little complicated, and it is all necessary – but let’s boil it down for the time being to something simpler.  The Bible is about Jesus bringing his people into his kingdom.  It’s not about rules.  It’s not about how to live.  It’s a story with a hero – Jesus – who is bringing you to God, provided you cling to him for life.

So where do you start? 

Well, first, since God’s word isn’t going to do anything in you unless he does it, ask him to act.  Pray.  Ask him to give you an understanding of what he said, to open your eyes to see his glory, to show you your sin, and to prove his love in Jesus’ cross to you. 

Second, grab a Bible.  Almost every English translation is decent – but they have different purposes.  Some versions are translated to sound as if they were written in English, so they paraphrase a bit; some were translated to retain the original Greek and Hebrew sentence structures as much as possible.  The former (including the NIV and NLT) are more useful if you’re going to read the whole book through.  The latter (including the ESV and NASB) are more useful if you’re going to study a passage in depth. 

Third – read.  I’d recommend simply reading through Ephesians, Galatians, John and Mark.  Don’t pick a place in the middle, read it, and close the book.  The Bible’s a collection of individual books.  You wouldn’t pick up a Harry Potter book, read a few pages in the middle, and claim to get the story, would you?  Same applies here.  Read through the books as if they’re, well, books. 

Fourth – look for two particular things.  First, look for how God’s word says you disobey.  Let God do his work in uncovering how you rebel against him.  Second, let God’s word show you how Jesus is a perfect savior.  Look at what he’s done to forgive you, what he’s working in you to make you more like him, and how he will bring you to be with him forever. 

Hopefully by now you’re feeling like the task of studying Scripture is a bit less daunting.  You can do this.  You may, however, notice that as you read, you’ll come up with a lot of questions.  You should.  You need to admit when you don’t understand things.  If you think you understand everything, you’re probably forcing meaning on Scripture rather than simply accepting what it says.  So it’s good to have questions, to not know everything. 

In the next few articles, we’ll be examining three different ways of viewing passages and their contexts to seek to answer some of the above questions.  In the meantime, as you read and have questions, one good place to go is commentaries. John Calvin’s commentaries, which take up a shelf and a half on my bookshelf, are all free online.  And if you simply must have a paper commentary on the whole Bible, check out the 21^st Century Version of the New Bible Commentary.

Until next time, jump in that Bible prayerfully, use your head, and look at how great Jesus is in saving you.