The Sin That so Easily Entangles

What a perfect way to describe the sin that we get ourselves into. I wanted to write about this because it's been popping up in my head lately as I've been wondering what to write about next, and I really feel the Lord has put it on my heart not only to say, but to carry out in my own life. The title is a reference to Hebrews 12:1, which goes like this: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." I'll confess that I've been caught up in such a sin recently - probably a few of them, actually, that I don't even know about - but one specifically comes to mind. This verse is such a great encouragement to me to not get lazy. It reminds me of something Bobby said on Sunday that I thought was really good. He said when we realize how big God's love is compared to our sin, we can be set free, because when we look at it we think 'what a small thing for the power of an infinite God.' That has been a great help this week.

Sometimes I fall into thinking that God's power is just barely enough to help me stand up under the temptation of sin, but that just isnt true. I don't even know how it works, but compared with infinity, any amount is insignificant, no matter how very significant it may seem when I compare it with my own power. But that was my mistake, and that was why I fell into it - I was relying on my own goodness and power to overcome and reject it, but that ultimately crumbled. Only God's power is trustworthy and sturdy enough to withstand any temptations. Once we get a grasp on the extent of God's power and the fact that it literally lives in us through Jesus, we can see a sin that would otherwise ensnare us, and say "wow, why is that such a struggle; its such a ridiculous little thing keeping me from getting close to God." So that's been my mindset ever since. I also try to remember the pain that is caused when I willfully sin against God, and the chastisement that is promised in the Bible to those Christians who disobey their Father.

Basically it has to do with setting my mind on things above, and not thinking about all the struggles around me, which is what I find I'm doing when I fall into sin. Reading the Word is essential in accomplishing that, and its necessity cannot be overstated. So I started really reading John, not just telling people "well I've been thinking I'll start John." Sometimes I tick myself off, but I guess thats what it takes - gotta be sick of yourself. Biblically (Matthew 5) this constitutes realizing that you have nothing, no spirituality or goodness to offer whatsoever. Then on top of that you have to mourn, because if you realize you're evil and you don't give a rip, you haven't repented.

It's about time for me to cast off these weights and run my Christian race with endurance. God is waiting - won't you join me?

A Harmony of the Easter Accounts

I've come across challenges before concerning the validity of the Bible, especially since it seems to disagree so much concerning the accounts of the events surrounding Christ's burial, resurrection, and ascension. Well, basically here is my answer. It's three pages long single space 12pt Times font in Word, so if its not of a particularly high concern in your mind, you don't have to read it, because it will take a while; however, I think if anyone does, they will learn some things they never knew before about this glorious event.

A Harmony of the Easter Accounts
From the Evening of Preparation Day, until His Ascension
Matthew 27:57*; Mark 15:42*; Luke 23:50*; John 19:38*

--------------Open to Editing---------------

*The verses listed are the start verses of each account, and all of them stretch until the end of the respective book.

***~*** Denotes a section of a the account that only one gospel records or that one gospel records in much detail, covering in the process the information provided by the other gospels. The full reference is given at the end of each excerpt.

On evening of Preparation Day, Joseph of Arimathea, a city of the Jews, a rich, prominent council member and secret disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, who was also waiting for the kingdom of God to come, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised that Jesus was dead already, and asked a centurion if He had been dead for a while. After finding out, Pilate gave Joseph that body of Jesus. Nicodemus came with 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes, and after buying fine, clean linen, wrapped Him in it with the spices. Near the place of crucifixion there was a garden and a cemetery with a tomb that was unused that Joseph had hewn out of the rock, and Joseph had him laid in that tomb, and rolled a stone in front of it. Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Joses and James, who had come with Him from Galilee, had followed them and witnessed where Christ was laid and helped prepare the spices and fragrant oils. They then rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

***On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard. (Matthew 27:62-66)***

The day after the Sabbath very early in the morning over a progression of time from before first light until sunrise, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of Joses, Salome, and Joanna (possibly other women?) rose, gathered, traveled to and arrived at the tomb, wondered how they were going to move the stone, found the stone rolled away, and saw an angel on the stone, who spoke to them saying: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” They then enter the tomb and are alarmed by 3 angels, 2 standing next to them, and 1 sitting to the right of the place where Jesus was laid. They fell to the ground bowing their faces, subsequently spoken to by the angels, commanded to go tell the disciples. They obey and flee the tomb. They run into the 11, tell them what happened, but are mostly ignored. Peter and 1 other disciple get up and run to the tomb. They see and believe, then depart to their own homes. Mary Magdalene (possibly others) joins them to the tomb again. Two angels sitting by where Jesus lay because she is crying speak to Mary. She turns around and sees who she thinks is the gardener, realizes it is Jesus, worships Him, and then goes with excitement to tell the disciples, who again do not believe her.

***Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day (Matthew 28:11-15). ***

***Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread (Luke 24:13-25).***

Then Jesus appeared to the disciples in their room and spoke to them, rebuking them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, showing them his scars (proving His physical resurrection), and eating in front of them. He also opened their understanding to the Scriptures there. Thomas was absent however, and when he was told about Christ, he did not believe, but demanded proof. Eight days later Christ again appeared to the disciples when Thomas was there, and Thomas confessed Jesus as Lord.

***After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”
And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” (John 21:1-23). ***

Then the disciples go to the mountain in Galilee Jesus told them to go to; Jesus gives them the great commission, and is taken up to heaven. The disciples go out and preach, and were continually in the temple praising God.

Note: If anything should be found missing from these accounts, do not hesitate to let me know. This account is not inspired, and prone to error!

Ephesians 4:14-16

Into: Paul is in the second half of his letter to the Ephesians addressing practical Christian living.

Through: Paul continues mid-sentence, stating his goal for the church - maturity. He wants the church to be firm in their beliefs, not easily shaken or swayed by trickery and deceitfulness. He wants to be sure that we speak the truth in love so that we can grow up to be mature in Christ. He allows the body to grow, according to how each part does its share. We all need to build eachother up in Christ so that the whole body of believers can grow and be encouraged.

Beyond: Paul expresses a Christian's need to mature in the faith, and to become firm in his beliefs. He compares immature Christians with children, who have no discernment and are easily influenced. Generally, children will believe whatever people they respect tell them to believe, but Christians shouldn't be like that. We need to excercise discernment and be able to know the difference between truth and a lie. That only comes from continually immersing yourself in the Word and building on your knowledge of the faith. The Bereans were a great example of this, when they tested even Paul after he spoke to them, to be sure what he was telling them was the truth. The truth is, wolves in sheeps clothing will try to come and lead us astray, perhaps not even realizing themselves that they are wolves! The contrast to being tossed about is expressed in the next verse, speaking the truth in love. Instead of believing whatever we're told, we should be able to refute that with the truth, our speech being in love rather than in contempt. Speaking the truth is the easy part. Knowing right doctrine from wrong doctrine is a fairly simple task, but loving the person who has been spreading the false doctrine, now that is difficult (at least for me). The goal in mind should be to build people up, not tear them down and destroy them for being ignorant.

The fullness of the maturity is reached when we as a body of believers grow up into little Christs, who is our head. Now, the head contains the brain, which basically decides what the body is going to do, in the same way we should be in complete submission to Christ as a whole. If parts start acting up it's like people having seizures or twitching, not a pretty sight. One could say that the body of Christ would be unhealthy in this case, having lost connections between brain and body. Now, once every part is working together the way it should, it will be able to help the other parts grow. All the parts will be connected and all the joints working well, and the body can halp all the other parts of the body get nourishment and what not. It's a good time. Once again, love must be the principal purpose. We do not edify through hatred or contempt, that cannot edify. We must love one another, confronting if we must, encouraging as much as possible, teaching, etc. All the while avoiding clanging cymbals and gongs, if you get my reference (1 Cor 13). That is the hardest part for me, and something I could use everyone's help in improving.