A Prayer for Jude

God, I thank you for the gift you have given to Vanessa and I. I pray that Jude would become a gift to the world as well.

I pray that he would, as his namesake once wrote, "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints". If there is ever a time when your church needs someone to contend for the faith, it is now. I pray that Jude would be a contender.

I also pray that he would live to display your glory. As John Calvin lived to study and preach your Word, may Jude live to make your name glorified wherever he goes, as he studies and preaches your Word.

I pray that at a young age, Jude would come to know you as his Lord and Saviour, and never look back.

Give Vanessa and I wisdom as we raise him to follow you. May Jude live for your glory!

I pray this in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

“Be filled with the Spirit” = “Let word of Christ dwell in you richly”

I believe I heard this from Piper somewhere... He was comparing Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18-19. They are structured similarly. Both mention singing psalms, hyms and spiritual songs, and being thankful to God. But in Colossians he instructs believers to "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" whereas in Ephesians the instruction is to be filled with the Spirit.

The implication is that there is a close relationship between being filled with the Spirit, and the word of Christ dwelling in you. So we can be neither people who are only about the Word, or only about the Spirit. We need both to live the Christian life.

Here is a chart of the verses:

Colossians 3:16	Ephesians 5:18-19
	And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery,
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,	but be filled with the Spirit,
teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,	addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
	singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
with thankfulness in your hearts to God	giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father
	in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

 

I hope to be someone who knows deeply both the Word and Spirit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul ends the Prosperity Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:19 - If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Paul is in the midst of explaining that there is a resurrection from the dead. Christ has been raised, and so if a person argues that there is no resurrection from the dead, then they are saying that Christ is not raised. This is where v. 19 comes in and says, describing believers in Christ, "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied."

Why would Paul argue that Christians are the most to be pitied if we have Christ only in this life? It is because assumed with being a believer in Christ is that there will be not "health and wealth", but "trials in tribulations"! For those who believe that being a Christian gets you access to God's treasure chest of Gold and silver, how can this verse line up with your theology? Paul says we are to be pitied if we only have Christ in this life! But if in this life, Christ gets us money and health, then why would we be pitied? It just doesn't add up.

 

What does it mean to be Male and Female?

I have been thinking lately about Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

One of the main things to consider when faced with these issues in the Bible is what is just cultural, and therefore no longer applicable to us today, against what is simply a command or comment on how God wants things for all time (at least here on earth).

These issues are definitely difficult to tread. I think my default position is that I will assume things are permanent commands from God unless it is clear to me that they are cultural. I would rather err, and offend other people, than err and offend God.

I purposely haven't shown my cards here, although those of you who know me know that I usually don't hold them to close to my chest. I hope to slowly talk things out here, as I read and contemplate further.

Disclaimer – None of the things I write on this blog necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the organization I work for

I am still here

It has been a while since i have been here. April!

But as with all humans, a lot has happened since then. Maybe I will attempt to restart blogging. 

What do you think? Should I? 

*jamie holds his hand to his ears like hulk hogan to see what the crowd response is*