One of the questions that have always agitated my mind about the authority of the Bible is: Did the various writers know they were writing the Scriptures when they were writing?
This is because if you look at the New Testament especially the epistles, they are just letters—letters written by a pastor to his former congregation. Or even the gospels; take Luke for example. It was a letter written by an historian to somebody whose identity is not even known. How come we have exalted such letters to such a glorified state we have placed them today? What makes Paul letter to Philemon for example different from a letter I write to my congregation in the Seychelles?
But then I discovered one thing: They didn’t know, but God knew! And thank God they didn’t know. Otherwise we would have seen them on the pages of those letters. Do you know that most of the books of the Bible did not even come with the names of their authors? That is to tell you something straightaway: It is not about them; it is all about HIM!
Had they known they were writing the Scripture they would have put lot of flesh in it—their own carnality. Had they known they were writing books that would go round the whole world; they would have at least left their imprints on them. They would have dressed it very well. They would have dated it. They would have embellished it. Thank God they didn’t know!
One of the amazing ways by which God works is that He hid His intention at the onset. The Psalmist understand this very well: Ps 10:1
Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Why does God hide Himself as it were? So that we can trust Him through the process; so that we can rely on Him and not depend on the arm of flesh.
At the beginning of the travail of Joseph, he thought it was his brothers that were behind his ordeal. He thought he was suffering from injustice. He thought he was suffering for nothing. Gen 40:15
15 For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon."
But at the end of the story, he knew better. Gen 45:4-5, 7
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
They didn’t know they were writing for God. They didn’t know they were being used by God. They didn’t know they were commissioned by God to do what they did. Like Esther, they didn’t know they were in the kingdom for such a time as theirs. They didn’t know there was a higher calling!
And I think that is how God deal with us most of the time. That is why the apostle Paul said in Rom 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. NASU
Maybe right now you are on assignment for God! Maybe what you are passing through right now has a higher purpose! Maybe it is for something bigger than you! Maybe history is in the making! Maybe it is not really about you! Maybe you are just a pawn in the hand of the Master! I think it is most likely so!
Friday, 28 August 2009
Friday, 31 July 2009
Apologeti-cing for our Faith
Ever heard of pre-evangelism? I'm sure not. Even me too! Not until three weeks ago did I even come across such a term. It is one new way to do evangelism. It is helping your unbelieving friends every day and in every way takes a step close to Jesus. It is removing obstacles that may be preventing them from coming to Jesus, be it spiritual, emotional or otherwise.
Yeah, we may not be able to get all our friends to Jesus in one single moment, but sure we can help clear their paths. We can help remove the stones from their ways. We can help smoothen their way to Jesus. By answering their questions, providing them with reasons but more importantly, by targeting their hearts, we can help move them to Jesus. That is what Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
In fact, that is where the word—apologetics come from—answer. The Greek word is apologia—a reasoned defence of the faith. It is not apologising for our faith, but rather giving a defence for it; clearing the doubts, uncertainties and confusion of our pre-believing friends.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Don’t Write Off
Philemon 1:17 So then, if you still regard me as your beloved brother in Christ, welcome him (Onesimus) with open arms the way you normally welcome me (My translation).
Paul is one man that understands the power of the Gospel of Christ to change lives. He himself has experienced that same power in his life—the worst of all sinners, now an apostle of Christ (1 Timothy 1:15).
In the context of the above Scripture, Paul was writing concerning a once useless slave who has now met with Christ, and has been transformed by Him. He knew the history of Onesimus, a useless slave, but then he also knows what the gospel can do. He knew beyond all doubts that in Christ nobody is hopeless. There is no life lost. Anyone can be redeemed.
Onesimus has shared in the life of Christ. He is now a beloved brother. The old has passed away. The new has come. Paul’s premise is this: upon conversion, even a slave becomes an equally important part of the body of Christ; as important as anyone, including Paul. And so should be regarded as such.
Do you know of anyone that appears hopeless or useless? Don’t write off until meet with Christ.
Saturday, 31 January 2009
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