{"id":19,"date":"2013-08-14T19:58:50","date_gmt":"2013-08-15T00:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/musings.butchevans.com\/?p=19"},"modified":"2013-08-14T19:58:50","modified_gmt":"2013-08-15T00:58:50","slug":"what-do-i-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/musings.butchevans.com\/?p=19","title":{"rendered":"What do I look like?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If I were to say to you, “What is a fruit that is yellow, about 6 or 8 \u00a0inches long, curved and grows in bunches?”, would you almost instantly picture a banana in your mind? \u00a0Would you be able to describe a banana to someone without using terms like “yellow”, “fruit”, “curved”, “bunch” and such words? \u00a0It would be tough. \u00a0In the same way, could you describe a “Christian” without using words like “Christlike”, “loving”, “forgiving”, or “patient”? \u00a0Furthermore, if someone was describing YOU, would you fit that description? \u00a0Read on for an overview of our Sunday School lesson from August 11, 2013.<\/p>\n

This week’s was a continuation of our study of Paul. \u00a0Paul, as you may recall, was a missionary. \u00a0He started a number of churches throughout what is modern-day Turkey and Greece. \u00a0Today’s text comes from a letter he wrote to a church he started in Thessalonica, which is an ancient Greek city. \u00a0Here is the text from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 (NIV):
\nNow we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God\u2019s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/span>May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

As I was preparing for this lesson, I read through the text first. \u00a0As I read this, it began to dawn on me that what Paul is doing is describing behaviors that should be common among believers. \u00a0He said we should show respect and love for our church leadership, we should be living in peace with each other, warning those who are doing wrong and some other things. \u00a0From this text, you can identify SEVERAL items that should describe every christian.<\/p>\n

In class, we talked about the idea that God provides instructions for how we SHOULD live in His word. \u00a0There are plenty of “thou shalt not” passages as well, but these are some of the “thou shalt” instructions. \u00a0We discussed a few of these in class, but our focus was on learning how to glean these living instructions from His word. \u00a0I want to discuss a little of what I learned from this text later in this post, but first, I want to give you the “cliff notes” version of what we covered in class.<\/p>\n

The bible is a book. \u00a0For those of you who are “readers”, you can often read a book very quickly. \u00a0Personally, I can read a good 3-400 page book in a couple of days or less. \u00a0We should not pick up the bible with the intent to read it all the way through in a month or two. \u00a0It isn’t a novel and shouldn’t be treated as such. \u00a0It is a personal letter written TO each one of us FROM God. \u00a0Because of this, I will often replace words in bible readings to make them more personal. \u00a0For example, \u00a0here is how I read John 3:16-17. \u00a0First, the original text (NIV):\u00a0For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. <\/span><\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Now personalized, it looks like this:\u00a0For God loved me so much he gave his one and only Son, and if I \u00a0believe in him, I will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the me, but to save me through him.<\/strong><\/em><\/span> \u00a0Now, we must be careful when changing the words in the scripture, but this is how God uses His word to speak to us. \u00a0It is much more than just a book. \u00a0It is PERSONAL. \u00a0That is the first part of Bible study: \u00a0REALIZE GOD SPEAKS TO YOU THROUGH HIS WORD.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, when we read His word, we should begin by asking God to speak to us through our reading. \u00a0A short prayer like, “Lord, as I read my bible, please speak to me and show me the message you have for me.” is a start. \u00a0Understanding that this is one way God teaches us is important, but asking for a clear understanding is also important. \u00a0There are a number of denominations within the christian church and this realization alone should give us pause to ask for understanding. \u00a0After all, many of these denominations exist because there are differences of opinion on the meaning of certain passages. \u00a0 \u00a0So the second point in hearing from God through His word is: ASK FOR UNDERSTANDING.<\/p>\n

Finally, as you read (slowly), look for God’s commands to you. \u00a0It often helps to write these down. \u00a0Maybe God’s message is one that shows you a specific area of sin in your life. \u00a0Maybe he will reveal His will for your life. \u00a0Perhaps he will burden you for someone else. \u00a0Whatever message he reveals, we should be ready to receive it and ACT ON IT. \u00a0When I tell my kids, “go clean your room”, my expectation is that the next time I look in their room it will either be clean or they will be working on it. \u00a0God is no different in this regard. \u00a0When he speaks to us, it is his desire that we act on his instruction. \u00a0Whatever that message is. \u00a0So, the third point in our class was this: BE PREPARED TO HEAR FROM GOD AND THEN ACT ON WHAT YOU HEAR.<\/p>\n

That was our focus for class. \u00a0I sent the kids home with a litle “homework” this week. \u00a0They should be practicing these things and follow the sheet from their books, as they study 1 Thess 5:12-24.<\/p>\n

Back to what God spoke to ME in this passage. \u00a0As I said, there are a number of line items that describe what God expects from his children. \u00a0Here is the list:<\/p>\n