Romans 12:1 // I'm back!

It has been so long since I used this blog! I just started a YouTube channel but it would be good to get more thoughts down in writing, since this blog was once a really good way for me to spend time with God in his word.

I think I'm up to Romans 12 since I discussed the idea of God having a quasi-racist preference for Jews (he doesn't) but didn't get past that in Romans. I also discussed the entire of the Book of Judges, possibly the most nauseating and depressing book in the Bible, and also one that I find profoundly enlightening in exposing the human condition. I have some more recent posts where I seem to have completed a tiny series on Titus, but some posts refer to texts seemingly at random, I think it's time to get back to Romans from where I lost momentum and left off.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:14-15)

Already I can see that compared to my earlier posts I have a lot to do to get back to the place I once was in terms of my familiarity with the Bible. After a mere two years at Bible College (most seminarians have to endure at least 4), and a year as an associate pastor; I feel the spiritual and biblical brain drain that this causes. I'm not sure I can blame my college, and I can only blame myself for the last year. Although in the case of the college you would think I would learn about the Bible... but they had to make me think about things I wouldn't if left to my own resources, so I can hardly blame them. No, I should really blame myself, but I've strayed to far to do that without assigning some passive blame (i.e. towards God for making us human) to our (fallen?) nature that can only take so much of one thing before starting to become less efficient in processing it.

I guess what I am really thinking is that it is not really possible (or healthy?) for one person to spend such a ridiculous amount of time on religious things while most believers spend almost no time on it, and the lucky few (like me from the previous years' blog posts) have enough time to be spiritual activists while never spending so much time in such things that the spiritual might become mundane.

But I believe God has in fact called me to full-time ministry, and I believe that as I recapture the habits that once fueled me; replacing habits that have been wasting my time, recreation that does not re-create, I will be able to do the varied, interesting, and immersively important calling I have been handed by my Redeemer.

Mark 2:13

13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

Jesus could draw people. How? I don't know. Was it his fame? His wise teaching? His perceptiveness in choosing His target audience?
What I do know is that Jesus draws people, and we must preach Jesus and learn from Jesus.

Titus 3:8-9

Revival: For and Against

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (Titus 3:7, 8-9)

Paul gives a resounding affirmation on preaching justification by grace and the inheritance of the hope of eternal life. The preacher is to continually affirm these things. The result of such preaching will be increased love in action in the church. Revival. This is what we need.
What we don't need is study for its own sake. Questions that do not have a practical answer, historical research that does not make a spiritual difference, debates, and trying to set rules that everyone needs to follow all work against revival.

Titus 3:2-7

Based on Titus 3:1a, 2-7

Put them in mind… To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When other people hurt us, saying things that are hateful or just deceived, we can remember that we were once this way also. The kindness of Jesus Christ has allowed us to be forgiven for our own hate and with that same kindness Jesus wants to remove the hate from our lives by His Holy Spirit.
I want Jesus to remove the hate from me, why don't we ask Him now?

Titus 3:1

Based on Titus 3:1

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work (Titus 3:1)

This doesn't sit really well with us 21st Century Australians. Well, we don't mind doing good works, though maybe not every good work. But we don't want to submit to authorities. We want our authorities to submit to us.
It is good not to be a slave to the will of others. But we need to learn to be respectful for our own sakes.

Judges 16:22

Judges 16:22

Howbeit the hair of Samson's head began to grow back again after it was shaved. This seems really obvious, but the "howbeit" suggests that the regrowth of his hair is portentous, the fact that it is will be confirmed later in the story. Samson did a lot of wrong things, and even apart from sins, Samson made a lot of mistakes. None of these resulted in Samson losing his strength, only the shaving of his hair. It seems like Samson's hair regrowing indicates that things are about to get better for him.

God works in mysterious ways. God is gracious enough to overlook a multitude of our mistakes, but sometimes something seemingly small can bring us great grief. Samson's unshaved hair was a part of his religious identity, perhaps that is why it was more significant than his lust for less than ideal women. God has given each of us an identity, we need to protect it from anything that would bring dishonour to His name.

Judges 16:6-21

Judges 16:6-21

Be careful who your friends are. Samson ended up mutilated and in slavery because he did not leave Delilah. She was never his lawful wife, but he loved her and he would not leave her. Delilah was obviously trying to do something tricky with Samson, but he just kept coming back.
Samson needed to get out and meet some new people. Samson needed to spend some time with people who honoured God. Samson had been associating with twisted people so long he thought it was normal. He needed to heed the wisdom of God and stay away form these people.
This is articulated well in Proverbs 1:10-19, though Samson would not have had access to that, since it was not yet written.
Be kind to many, but trust few.