Have you ever been told that a close friend had said something and it was something you could never imagine your friend saying? Later on you find out that it was misquoted or taken out of context and all that you knew of your friend still held true.

The same holds true with God. Many times people take the Word of God and give it implications or meanings completely out of context. Worse yet, is when the Word isn’t even consulted and a “Biblical” opinion is given. Sometimes this is done with the best of intentions but in immaturity. I can understand that. We are all hopefully growing in our understanding and mistakes are pretty much inevitable. I can’t even keep count of how many times I’ve been off if not in one way then in another. The bigger problem is our lack of understanding of God’s character. It isn’t necessary to know every single detail about Him in order to know when something doesn’t line up with His Word. It does however, require intimacy with Him and time in His Word.

You may have a friend that you only speak with once or twice a year; may be only once every few years. Even though all that time has gone by, it is like you pick up right where you left off. Just thinking about it makes you smile knowing you have a forever friend. There is a bittersweetness to it too though. If only you could talk more often, how wonderful that would be. You wouldn’t feel the need to rush and catch up, you would be interwoven more intricately into each others lives. It is very similar with our relationship with God. He will pick up right where you left off, but wouldn’t it be so much sweeter if you connected daily?  Over the years I have developed (and am continuing to develop) more faithfulness to spending time in the Bible. Even if only for a few minutes, it is so important to set aside quality time devoted to Scripture and prayer.

I’m not talking brain surgery here. I also suggest beginning by praying a (quick) prayer for understanding as you read. Just read a chapter from one of the Gospels, Psalms or Proverbs. Read through the book of Acts or Romans in a month. There are even audio Bibles available for free online and it can be read to you! Take notes and write down things that stand out to you or questions you have. Then have a heart to heart with God. Just talk to Him. No “Thy, Thee, Thou or -isth” words needed.  :o)  Remember that He loves you and you can tell Him anything. It isn’t as if He didn’t know it already anyway, but in sharing your heart and thoughts you are expressing your trust. I think that makes Him smile.

Over time, you will start to see character traits come together and while not the whole picture, you will have enough of a picture to start recognizing His truth from the lies. A friend once shared with me how when the FBI is trained to spot counterfeit money, they never look at the fake stuff. They spend their time examining and learning all about the real thing. Then when the fake is in their possession, they know it. It doesn’t have the smell, feel or perhaps even the flavor of the real thing. Even if only one small part is not in line with the real thing, something so small and just very slightly off, they will know something isn’t right.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

What is the very first thing God wanted us to know about Him?

In the beginning. I love that in the beginning, God already was. It doesn’t say that He was created or otherwise formed but that He already was. In the very first scripture, He tells us He is Elohim. It is a plural name defined singularly expressing that the Father, Son and Spirit are One.

Elohim (Strong’s # H430) This name tells us that He is supreme, mighty and strong.

In John1:1, Theos (Strongs #G2316) also means supreme God.

Right from the start He lets us know that he is above all things. He is more then capable of not just forming the universe but of sustaining it and so much more. It tells us that there is nothing He, the One Who made us, can not do.  Knowing this gives me a reverential awe, respect and sense of wonder. It also gives me confidence that His ways are best and that He is safe to trust. I mean, if He made all things, He knows how it all works too.  It tells me that He is able to protect me and when things seem to be going wrong He is able to make it work for my good. His words to me are good and true. Knowing His strength gives me the confidence in His character to trust Him. Since trust is foundational in a relationship, it is no wonder why He chose to first be known this way.

If we have been born again by accepting Christ as our Savior and in our heart, consider ourselves sinners, how can we be salt and light to this world?

When we received Christ we received the forgiveness of our sins. ALL of them. We are no longer sinners but saints. Yes, we sometimes still commit sins, but we have been forgiven.
The problem is that we do not accept what Christ has done for and given to us. We promote a type of Christianity that says we are still of and in the world and we just slap a “Christian” label on it.
Why would anyone want to be a part of that when we offer nothing different except a building to attend on Sunday morning?

Salt is a funny thing. It is used to cure things like meat and to purify. Light dispels darkness. As a sinner I am not purified, and not able to “cure” nor am I able to bring the fullness of His light in order to pierce the darkness. If I keep acting like a sinner, I have not received, have not understood, and/or, have rejected the atonement that Christ has given freely to me.

The new man created when I accepted Christ no longer lives to sin. My flesh still battles but self is no longer the primary motive of my heart. Loving the God who has given me freedom is. In the process of loving Him, sin is something that dishonors all He has done and I just don’t want it in my life. He died, rose again, and is seated on the right hand of the Father so that I am free. Completely free. He has made me a saint and a citizen of Heaven.

But if I don’t understand that, then I think I am still a sinner. I would still be fighting to make God happy and failing at it. When I live believing I am a sinner what it really shows is that in my heart I have not accepted the sacrifice made for me. For if I had, my grateful heart filled with the understanding of the depth of His love, would not reject the fullness of what He gave.

If we are to be a sign for this generation we will need to fully realize Who God is and who He says we are. We won’t need to have programs in order to bring Heaven to Earth because Heaven will come with us wherever we go. In order to bring Christ to this generation we must first awaken to Truth and Grace. Outreach – true world changing outreach – will not succeed without letting Him reach into the deepest places of our hearts and transform us.

I do not want to call others into a life of half-truths. A half truth is still a lie. Until we begin walking in the knowledge of our sainthood we will only call people onto a path of bondage instead of the true path of freedom.

I pray that if you are struggling you would find the truth of who our Savior has made you to be. His love is stronger then any sin and His love WILL set you free.

How important can a name be? It is just something we use to label things, right?
In our culture, we have become very comfortable with names and rarely do we look past the word to it’s meaning. I believe that sadly, the church has done this in regards to God as well. His Name is vibrant and full of meaning. As we read through scriptures we get an idea of Who God is but when we dig deeper a richer picture begins to form in our minds.

Through studying the Word we come to find that a name is so much more than a label. It is a peak into the heart, purpose and character of the named. According to the Bible, a name calls on the reputation, authority, character and power of the named. So it is with God. His Name should bring to mind all that He is and all that He does.

When you think of God what comes to mind? Do you think of a loving God Who rescues, of a God Who comforts you? Do you think of an all powerful God that is too big to care for you? Maybe you don’t really think too much about His name at all.

By studying the names used to address and recall Him in scriptures we will get a clearer picture of His character. Aspects you may never have thought of belonging to God will be revealed to you as well as false ideas being cast away. You will find Him to be a loving and just God Who cares for even the smallest details of your life. You are His child after all, and even more than a good parent His takes joy in seeing your receive all that He has for you.

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. “I have manifested (G5319 – to render apparent) Your Name (G3686 – authority, character, majesty, power) to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.”
John 17:1 – 6 ESV

Biblical Definitions (condensed)
Strong’s #’s
H8034 Shem
The name, reputation, memory and renown.
and
G3686 Onoma
Title, dignity, authority, character, rank, majesty, power.

Why do we look at God through “storm colored glasses”? If that is how we see Him, the enemy is winning. The trials of life should not taint the way we look at Him. Our knowledge of Him should change the way we look at everything else. Worship and praise take us through to the eye of the storm. As we enter that resting place we look up with the now clear vision of Who God really is, we enter into prayer and we are lifted above the storm. The storm may still be raging, but it can not touch you. We won’t even notice the storm anymore because we are so taken with His beauty.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1Thess5.16 -18. ESV

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13 (English Standard Version)

Are you satisfied? I found myself asking this question of my situation. I was not. What is it about ourselves that makes us discontent with where we are at? Is it because we know that God has more for us? Is it because we don’t know that God has more for us? I beleive it all comes down to trust.

God has really laid on my heart the importance of knowing His character. If we continue to fall back on our human experiences and classify God’s character by the character of those who have hurt us then we will find it nearly impossible to move forward and trust. We also can not trust someone to the point of contentment as long as we do not know him. Would you put your child in the care of a person you had never met? Of course not.  By reading Scriptures daily we gain insight on His character and His heart for us.

Some of the Biblical meanings for contentment are: accept an invitation, rejoice, yield to, obey, be joyful, to produce, to bear, to shoot forth, to defend or ward off, sufficient in ability.  Another way I looked at this was to look at it’s opposition, contention. It means to dispute, brawl, quarrel, to provoke, to desire to push oneself forward, contest (race/struggle/battle). I beleive these definitions show us the path to contentment. We accept God’s invitation to yield to Him and we defend our hearts and minds against the attacks of the enemy. We rejoice because we know that God is good, He is sufficent in ability to provide and this causes the fruit He has for us to shoot forth. We enter warefare against the things that bring out quarreling and self promotion and disputes. And as we do we will most likely find an area that we lack trusting God.

Trusting God is critical in contentment. And the only remedy for lack of trust is to learn His character. I highly recommend studying the names of God and their meanings. Claim Who He is as Lord over your situations. Once we see that we can trust Him, we can trust that all He says, does, and allows is for His glory and for our good. No matter the circumstance, we can have faith to know that as we walk in obedience to Him, we are also walking in His best for us.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)

I want peace. More importantly, I want the God of Peace to be with me at all times. I have to admit that I struggle with peace.  A great revelation comes along and I walk in it and then something happens to mess with my peace. I don’t like that I can be shaken, especially when I thought I had surrendered something to God.

Peace can be Biblically defined as whole, safe, full, rest securely, be undisturbed, and restore.  The Lord wants to make us whole, to restore us and give us undisturbed rest. He is the God of Peace.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 (ESV) Through Christ we have peace with the Father. The way we live in peace is by keeping our minds focused on Holy Spirit (Romans 8:6) which includes thinking on the things which are pure, true and holy (Phillipians 4:8-9).

The result will be the fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23). You will have hope (omans 15:13) and we will live as one body with all believers (Colossians 3:15).

Peace is a natural consequence. It is a gift, a fruit, that is manifested through right living and having a right focus. We can not earn gifts but we can facilitate the things that allow gifts to flow and function. He has given us peace. Now it is up to us to choose what we will look at. Will we look at the world or will we focus on God? Will we focus on our circumstances or will we prepare the soil of our hearts to accept what He has for us?

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:26-27 (ESV)

 What areas of your life is in need of refocusing so that you see God instead of the circumstances? Can you find the silver lining in the clouds around you? What does God’s Word have to say about your situation? Find a scripture to cling to in your weak moments.