Monthly Archives: June 2025

by

Hard to Understand

II Peter 3:14-16 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation: even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you.  As also in all of his epistles, speaking in them of things in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction.

I came across this reference of the above verse in the book I am now studying, Bible History Old Testament written by Alfred Edersheim.  He makes the following statement the Bible “That in a work composed of so many books, written under such very different circumstances, by penmen so different, and at periods so widely apart, there should be “some things hard to understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,” can surely not surprise us, more particularly when we remember that it was God’s purpose only to send the brighter light as men were able to bear it.”  He goes on in his introduction and states “Yet the ultimate object of our reading is not knowledge, but experience of grace… And so indeed every event points to Christ.”  That is why when studying the Bible, we need the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths that are found in the words we read.

The key to understanding scripture is Christ.  The Bible is the special revelation God has given mankind to point them to Christ.  In Christ we find the way, the truth, and the life by which we can know God.  To believe in God we must first believe in Christ.  To try to understand the Bible without using Christ as the key will only cause those that are unlearned and unstable to wrest unto their own destruction.  But for those who know Christ not only have the key to understand the scriptures, but can be find the peace that passes all understanding as they strive to live a life that is without spot, and blameless. 

by

Creation and Faith

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

As I take my daily walks I look around and marvel at all the wonders around me.  I am amazed at how the plants spring forth from the bare ground into beautiful flowering plants, or how the bare tree limbs shoot forth their buds and then into leaves with the changing of the seasons. Like David stated Psalms 8:3,4a “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou are mindful of him?” I also have the same question when I realized that the God of this entire universe cares for even a small part of His creation such as me. 

Here in Hebrews 11:3 I realized that knowing Jesus as my Savior I have a better understanding of the world around me.  Instead of trying to explain how this world was created I just enjoy the peace that I have deep in my heart by knowing the one personally who framed the world around me.  Christ gave us the example of the lilies in Luke chapter twelve of how great his power is in this world.  As they grow, they toil not, they spin not and yet that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of them.  So, as I look around at this creation the answer of how it can into being is simple; God spoke, and it happened.

by

The Conclusion of the Whole Matter

Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 And further by these, my son, be admonished:  of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

Solomon started his writing of the book of Ecclesiastes with the purpose of giving his whole heart to seek out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven.  I have a note in my Bible as a starting point to study the book of Ecclesiastes that reads: “As you study Ecclesiastes remember David was a man after God’s own heart, he wanted to know God.  Solomon focus on himself to try to understand the workings of all things done under heaven.”   Solomon saw God as the judge of the world, but to David God was his shepherd, his redeemer, the one that looked after him an guide his paths.  So, as you study the scriptures are you looking to gain an understanding of all things that are done under heaven, or like David who’s desire was to be a man after God’s own heart.  Paul’s words in Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” reflects was the same desire as David had of knowing God personally.