We live in a time when every kind of knowledge is at our fingertips. We can order a book on kindle and have it in seconds. We can google any phrase and immediately know who said it. We can research a topic and come up with millions of “hits.” Before we know it, we can be down the rabbit hole filling our minds with useless, if not harmful, information.
Gone are the days when Biblical principles governed our education and political systems. We can no longer assume that the shows played on a kids’ channel will be appropriate. Even books published by Christian organizations can’t be blindly trusted. So how do we navigate this ocean of information? We must filter it.
But, in order to filter the information, we must first have the filter. I spent so much of my life as a Christian thinking that was all I needed. I was saved, so nothing else was too important. I knew the Bible stories, I could recite the books of the Bible (only in Spanish, though, and I still revert back to that), and I could give you all of the Sunday school answers. But when it came to the day-to-day decisions, I relied on the knowledge I had accumulated, most of which was not filtered through the lens of Scripture.
I wanted to be someone to whom people came for advice. I wanted to give godly counsel. I found myself frustrated because even I recognized the advice I was giving was worldly (and I am so thankful it was rarely heeded!). Then everything changed.
I started studying my Bible and really pursuing the application of Scripture. I don’t have it all figured out yet (it won’t happen this side of Heaven), but God’s Word has changed me. I am more confident in my decision-making. I pray with others rather than giving them advice. I am often overwhelmed by the answers the Holy Spirit gives me to my kids’ tough questions.
I am still walking this road, and I would love for you to join me! I have created a course, Captive Thoughts, that lines out practical steps to recognize God’s voice, bear His image, and renew your mind. If you would like more information about the course, you can reach out to me, or click this link.
In last week’s post, I talked about submission in 1 Peter 2 & 3. Lest you think submitting to your husband makes you inferior to him, I wanted to continue in that passage today.
Peter includes only one verse that speaks directly to husbands, but it sure packs a punch! Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:7:
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Am I right to assume reading that verse got your hackles up?? There are several things in this verse that can rub us the wrong way, but let’s unpack it a bit. I think you’ll find it becomes a comfort to you.
When Peter commands husbands to live with their wives in an understanding way, the idea is to do life together. This isn’t describing a domineering husband with a floor mat of a wife. Doing life together implies a partnership, and partnership implies equality.
The term translated “weaker” in reference to the woman is speaking of physical strength. Whatever you may believe about gender roles, you can’t deny that physical strength lies on the side of the man. This is not a slight to women, however, who are natural nurturers and care givers.
Peter specifically references the equality in God’s eyes when he tells husbands that their wives are “heirs with you of the grace of life.” We can’t be co heirs if we are not equals.
You can submit to authority and still be equal in importance. Christ is not inferior to God, yet He submits to God’s will.
Although you can’t control how your husband responds to you, submitting to your husband is a strong testament to your faith in God.
I recently went through a study of 1 Peter 2 & 3, and a portion of these chapters talks about submission. In the midst of discussing submitting to the government and employers, Peter reminds us that wives should submit to their husbands.
Can I be honest and tell you this has always been a struggle for me? In reality, I don’t just struggle with submitting to my husband; I struggle with submitting to any authority. And I don’t think I’m alone. My mom tells a story about my sister who was refusing to sit down. Once she finally obeyed, she spouted, “I may be sitting on the outside, but on the inside, I’m still standing!”
What I discovered in my study is that submission to my husband has nothing to do with my husband. It isn’t something he earns like a reward for good behavior, and it isn’t something he loses because he didn’t meet my expectations.
My submission to my husband has everything to do with my relationship with God! It is trusting that God will work in and through my husband for the benefit of our family and our community. In fact, Peter speaks of a wife’s submission as a means for her husband to walk closer with God. The other side of that coin is if I don’t submit to my husband, I could hinder his walk with the Lord!
I don’t know about you, but it might take me a minute to digest this one! Though it will continue to be a struggle for me, I pray the Holy Spirit brings this passage to mind each time I start to rebel. Can I pray for you, too?
I love how Scripture gives us the tools we need to renew our minds and become more Christ-like!
I remember when I started reading the book of Joel. I had recently attended a Living Proof Live conference with Priscilla Shirer, and she had taught us her 5 Ps of Bible Study. I wanted to put the system to the test, so I chose a short book in the Bible that I didn’t know too much about. It’s funny how God leads you to things because, if I had known that Joel is a book about locusts, I probably would have done a 180 right into another book.
I struggled through the first few days of “poring over the passage” and “paraphrasing the major points.” The major points? It’s about locusts! How on earth was I going to “pull out any spiritual principles” and apply them to my life? Because…LOCUSTS. Some of my notes are along the lines of “I don’t know what to do with this passage.” Some passages brought more questions than answers.
What I haven’t told you is I was going through a deep mourning in my life. During the time I was studying this passage, my dad was being shuffled between nursing homes and the hospital because he kept falling down: locusts. He was forgetting how to swallow and was wasting away: locusts. I had recently started homeschooling my kids, so I had lost a big part of my community: locusts. My kids were struggling with loneliness as a result of our decision: locusts. My relationship with my family was strained: locusts. I was terrified that I would inherit my dad Alzheimer’s and was frantically searching for preventative measures: locusts.
Though I wasn’t experiencing judgment from God for turning my back on Him, I began to understand what the Israelites must have felt. The truth is the bad things that happen in this life may not be directly connected to my personal sin, but they are the result of sin.
As I ended chapter 2 of the book of Joel, God makes a promise. If the Israelites will turn back to Him, He “will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” I came to this passage shortly after my dad had gone to Heaven. What a hope it gives me!
Not everything the locusts have eaten will be restored to me here on earth, but little by little, I have watched God mend broken relationships, give me and my kids an amazing community of friends, and take away my fears of illness. And when I get to Heaven EVERYTHING will be restored!
But wait… there’s more!
Not only will God restore what the locusts have eaten, but He will bring His armies to fight for you! He will be your Strength and your Defender! All who come against you will know that you have God on your side! That’s the end of the book of Joel: an amazing promise of protection and victory.
Often we avoid the books of the Bible that we can’t understand at first glance. We prefer to read the books that make us feel good or give us a step-by-step checklist or keep us entertained with a story line. But the entire Bible is a love letter from God, and when we pick and choose or skip over portions of it, we miss big chunks of the beautiful picture of love and redemption.
Think About It:
1. Is there a book of the Bible the Holy Spirit has nudged you toward, but you have avoided?
2. Can you recognize “locusts” in your life that you need to surrender to God?
I’ve had a lot of people ask how I come up with the notes I write in my Bible. I felt a video would be a better way to show this. Although, I switch my resources up, the system I use stays consistent.
Feel free to drop any questions you may have in the comments, and I would love to know if you implement this study method!
When my dad was diagnosed with dementia and we started to see the effects of Alzheimer’s take over his mind, I realized I had been operating under an incorrect theology.
My dad was a missionary kid, missionary, Bible college professor, and pastor. He was very intelligent, financially savvy, and good with words. When he was diagnosed with dementia, and we watched Alzheimer’s take him away from us, I was so angry. It just wasn’t fair! This is the thanks he gets for dedicating his entire life to serving the Lord?! That is when I realized my theology was wrong. I was operating under the assumption that checking all the right boxes guarantees a happy and blessed life.
The truth is, blessing does follow obedience, but it doesn’t always look like we expect. In fact, the blessings in our lives have nothing to do with who we are or what we have done. The blessings in our lives are based solely on who He is. I haven’t earned any of the blessings in my life. I don’t deserve any good that comes my way.
It made me realize that as much as I criticize the entitlement displayed by our society today, that is exactly how I was operating. Therefore, my word of the year in 2019 is…
UNDERSERVING
I want to be reminded that God loves me because of who He is, not because of who I am. He loves me because of what He has done, not because of what I have done.
