If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. – Jesus – John 15:7 ESV

Joe

A co-worker (I’ll call him Joe) and I were talking on the phone at the end of a long day. We were exchanging notes about a project. The project is taking a lot of effort, both mentally and physically. I told Joe that just when I think I am ready to quit, I find that, if I dig deep enough, I have 10% more in me than I thought I did, and in finding it, I press on and do my best.

From that statement, my co-worker asked me what part of his mind or brain does he need to reach into to find that 10% so he can do the miracles that Jesus did.

In my heart, I prayed to God for insight and wisdom so I can help Joe understand the weight of what he is asking. We talked at length about what the Bible says about this, starting with the quote that heads this blog entry. I carefully guided him through several scriptures that deal with the things we would request of God. There is a lot of scripture involved in this topic, and God was amazing in that He helped me recall them as we talked.

Eventually, Joe told me that he was not familiar with the scriptures and that he doesn’t read the Bible. I tried ever so gently to tell him that before we can be responsible for greater things, we need to be responsible for what God has already given us. His word, our Bible, is the bedrock of understanding God and why He sent Jesus to die for us.

Joe told me that he thought it was great that I knew the Scriptures, but he is more of a “spiritual intuitive” and relies on that intuitiveness to understand the mind of God.

Joe is not the only one I have met that believes this way. Many people, over the last 3 years have stopped to talk with me about their spiritual life. Most of them are regular attendees at church. Some are church leaders. Some are even the best friends of their pastors. The majority of them, I have discovered, have no clue about what the Bible says about anything.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. – Apostle Paul – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV (CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT THIS)

The Modern American Church

We pack our Church’s pews by making the “Church” less uncomfortable to people who would normally not attend. We want to make non-believers believe that we are no different than they are, except we attend church and Jesus is our best pal. We avoid certain scriptural truths because we know it will scare people off.

We would rather offend God than offend people with the truths of the Bible. In our effort to make church “cool” we have made the scriptures irrelevant unless we can find a way to twist them into a message that will not offend anyone. We have compromised to the point that, apart from the fact we attend church, no one can tell us apart from anyone else.

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. – King David of Israel- Psa 119:11 ESV

By the Grace of God, through Jesus Christ, I am saved.

By studying His word, I can see a benchmark that guides me to be closer to Him.

The Bible is God’s love letter to us.

We really should read it.

Let’s be about it

David G. Perkins

sammy.snardfarkle@gmail.com