keeping it simple

 Keeping it simple

I have often wondered why it is, that so many people want to see the New Testament as complicated or mysterious. So many claim that there are hidden things that need discovering and so on. I admit that sometimes the scriptures can be a little confusing. But for the most part the New testament is pretty straight forward. Just think how it would be if we took a more simplistic approach to reading and studying the NT.

Lets look at the layout of the NT. Its put put together quite simply. The gospels, Acts, the letters and the revelation which really is a letter as well. Although revelation is written in a far different format than all the rest of the letters. Maybe we should to look at the NT in this way... The gospels and the book of Acts are the reference and history books, the letters are the instruction manual and the revelation is the Lord's letter of encouragement to His people. If you want to learn about Jesus and what He said and did it's in the gospels. If you want to learn about where and when the church began and how it grew it's all right there in the book of Acts. If you want to know what the original church was like, read Paul's letters. If you want to know what the original teachings of the church were on what it is to be a Christian and how to live as one, it is in all of the letters. If you want to learn about how intimate Jesus is with His church and their struggles, read the revelation. It is such a love letter for believers, as well an encouragement to remain faithful to Jesus.

We have complicated the NT, because we tend to over think things. One of mans problems has always been that we don't take God's instruction at face value, we aren't content to say to ourselves, He said it so that settles it. If we had been, the problems in the garden never would have arisen. God had given Adam and Eve one simple rule to obey and they didn't do it.They fell prey to an influence outside the word of God. When they fell under that influence and began to question God's word in their minds it was all over, but the crying. Their choice to think it over and to look at God's word from a different perspective caused them great grief. One of the biggest issues in christendom today is man wants to look at God's word from societies perspective and impose that on what God has stated clearly in His word.

Many today want to say that the bible was written for different people at a different time. Society and science has shown us things that we need to apply to God's word. We need to rethink what we read and look at it from our modern and enlightened perspective. But if people would just read God's word and take it at face value they would see that many of the things they think acceptable, go directly against God's instruction.

If we keep our reading and study of God's word simple and straight forward and take God at His word and apply it to our lives we will be far better off than if we try to apply our perspective to His word. Simply put, we need to accept God's word with a child-like faith. He said it, that settles it.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

a lost coin

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Luke 15:8 NIV

(Read Luke 15:8-10)

Jesus parable of the lost coin. A short but significant parable about seeking that which is lost. A short parable about one that repents.

Its not only about repentance, but seeking out those that are in need of repentance. Jesus tells this parable in response to the Pharisees attitude toward Jesus interaction with sinners. The short parable falls in the middle between the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the prodigal son. It is one of three examples that Jesus uses to teach the pharisees the importance of seeking the lost, not turning your back on them. In all three parables Jesus uses examples of what is precious in our sight, property, wealth and children. He uses these to show the preciousness of one soul.

In the parable we're looking at Jesus describe the woman as lighting the house sweeping it completely and searching all over until she finds the coin she lost. When she does find the lost coin she calls everyone she knows to have them share in her joy of finding what she lost.

What Jesus is saying to the religious elite is, do what you see me doing. Let the light of God shine forth from you. Go and search for the lost where they are and let them know you care. When you find those that were lost and they repent, celebrate the fact that you found them.

Just like a coin that is lost, doesn't know its lost most people don't know they are lost either. They need to be enlightened by hearing the gospel. When they have heard it from someone that cares enough to bring it them, they then have the opportunity to repent of their ways.

Jesus knows the value of every soul, do you? After reading the parable do you feel the urgency to search for what is lost? Think of what Jesus says in verse 10, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Don't you want to cause rejoicing in heaven, when the one you shared the gospel with turns again to God?

Lets go out today and do a thorough search for the one that is lost.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman