Author: Seth Durham

Throughout much of the Old Testament, the Israelites are trapped in a tragic cycle that looks like this:

• They follow God’s commands.
• God blesses them.
• They start to worship idols.
• God warns them.
• They ignore the warnings.
• God punishes them.
• They cry out to God for help.
• God delivers them.
• Back to step 1.

This cycle starts almost as soon as God rescues them from Egypt, and it repeats time and time again until they finally lose the promised land to the Babylonians. We’re talking eight hundred years, generation after generation, where the Israelites just can’t break free of this pattern.

So, what the heck was wrong with these people? Why didn’t they learn from their past? Why did they keep making the same mistakes? Were they insane? Because it sure looks like they kept doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.

Don’t be too quick to judge. We’re not so different.

From good times to bad.

When times were at their best, the Israelites were often at their worst. When food was plentiful, and there was peace and safety, they would take their situation for granted. They would forget that God was providing these things.

Soon they would start to question their need for God. They didn’t need deliverance anymore. There was peace and prosperity throughout the land. Maybe they didn’t need God at all!

The Israelites would then turn away from God and fixate on idols. They would worship pagan gods like Baal and Asherah, seeking after power and pleasure. Yahweh, God of their ancestors, the one true God, was all but forgotten.

Then God would send a judge or a prophet to try to turn them from their wicked ways, but they wouldn’t listen. Finally, God would say, “Enough!” and they would get a taste of divine judgement. It seems only pain and suffering could get their attention and turn them back to God.

How about you?

Are you any different? Don’t you naturally start to back-burner God when times are good? Don’t you tend to forget where your blessings come from? I know I do. It’s part of our sinful, human nature.

Maybe you’re at a time in your life when everything is going great. The family is happy and healthy. The kids are doing well in school. You just got promoted at work. Your 401k is looking good. Life just couldn’t be better. If so, take heed!

When you are most secure in yourself, you are least dependent on God. When you’re riding high, you’re most at risk of a fall. It’s a good time to check for idols.

Modern idols.

I probably don’t need to warn you against worshiping golden calves or Asherah poles. Those kinds of idols are uncommon today. But, keep in mind that almost anything can become an idol, and often times that thing, in and of itself, isn’t bad. For example, money isn’t bad, but if it becomes more important to you than God, it becomes an idol.

Even good things can become idols when not in their proper place. Family, work, sports, entertainment. These are wonderful things, but they become idols when they take priority over God. Anything that ranks higher on your list than God is an idol.

Don’t ignore the warning.

Perhaps God is trying to get your attention right now. Maybe this post is meant to draw your attention to something in your life that has become an idol to you. If so, now is the time to repent! Tear down that idol, and turn back to God.

God is not sadistic, but He does inflict pain when it’s for our own good. As a good father disciplines his children when they do wrong, so God disciplines us.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3:11-12

It’s not too late.

Maybe you’ve pushed God aside for a long time, ignored His warnings, and now you’re suffering. You have two options. One: stubbornly double down and keep worshiping your idols. Two: humble yourself, confess your sin, and turn back to God. One option leads to further suffering, the other to salvation.

Like the ancient Israelites, we are prone to lose sight of what is most important, especially when times are good. So if things are going well for you, be vigilant! Be on the lookout for idols, and make sure that God has His proper place in your life. Don’t ignore God’s warnings when they come. In my experience, He will draw you back gently if He can, but will punish harshly when He must. Finally, if judgement falls on you, repent without delay. God is just, but He is also merciful and quick to forgive.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I John 1:9

In the beginning

I grew up in church. My family went to Sunday school, Sunday morning service, and Sunday evening service every week unless one of us was ill. As a kid, I participated in lots of Christian activities. I memorized a ton of scripture, and I knew every Bible story. As a teenager, I attended youth group regularly, and all four years of high school I spent a good chunk of my Summers as a missionary.

By the time I was in my late teens, I thought I had learned all there was to learn from the Bible. I had it figured out. I started going to church when I was in diapers, and I was sure I had heard every variation of every sermon at least twice. Sitting through a Church service was a drag.

By my early twenties, I just quit going to Church altogether. What was the point? I was a Christian. I was a good person. That seemed like enough. I wanted to go out and make my place in the world and, sure, God was welcome to come along for the ride. My mother asked me why I had stopped going to church. In my hubris I replied, “Why should I go? Did God come out with the Bible part II?”

I focused on my work and my education. In my free time I just wanted to be entertained. I drifted away from God. Sin started to creep in, wrapping its chains tighter and tighter around me. The truly frightening thing is, I didn’t even notice. It happened gradually. I became “comfortably miserable”. I was in pain, but not enough pain to get off my butt and do something about it.

A crisis of faith

I had a Bible in my house. It sat on a shelf in pristine condition. I remember being in my mid/late twenties, feeling convicted, and a thought occurred to me: Despite being a Christian from a young age and being inundated with Biblical teaching, I had never actually read through the entire Bible. I decided I would give that a try.

At this time in my life, my faith was shaky. Questions and doubts festered in my mind. I decided that as I read through the Bible I would jot down in a notebook any questions or concerns I had. I didn’t get far before I had to stop. My notebook was filling up. There were just too many contradictions and inconsistencies in this crazy book. My faith virtually dissolved, and I feared that continued reading would destroy it completely.

The turning point

Then my wife and I went on a life-changing trip to Africa, and the dying embers of my faith started to glow again. A man I met on that trip recommended I read a book called “The Skeptical Believer” by Daniel Taylor, and it encouraged me greatly. God began to work in my heart. Over the span of ten years or so, God slowly, gently, patiently brought me back to Himself, but that is a story for another time.

Today, as I read through the Bible, I find hope, encouragement, and joy! The experience is the polar opposite of what it was in my twenties. So what made the difference? How is it that reading the Bible back then put my faith in crisis, while reading the Bible now strengthens my faith?

Context, context, context!

I expected to read the Bible as if it were written in modern times. I wanted it to be clear-cut, unambiguous, and scientifically accurate. Coming into it with those expectations, it’s no wonder I was disappointed!

The Bible is a collection of ancient documents, originally written in languages I can’t read, to an audience with lifestyles and customs completely foreign to me. It should be obvious (though it certainly wasn’t to me at first), that the Bible is not a book you can just read through like a novel and be done with it.

To truly understand the Bible, you have to understand the contexts (yes, plural) in which it was written. In “The Bible Unfiltered“, Dr. Michael Heiser talks about some of the contexts that are important:

• Historical context
• Cultural context
• Literary context

But, as Dr. Heiser points out, these are not even the most important contexts. From page 13 of “The Bible Unfiltered“:

“So what is the proper context for interpreting the Bible? […] the context of the biblical writers – the context that produced the Bible. Every other context is alien or at least secondary.”

Understanding this completely changed my approach to reading scripture. The more I try to look at the text from the perspective of the writer, the better I am able to understand the message the writer was trying to convey. And that is the whole point!

Do it right

Studying scripture in proper context is hard work. Fortunately, there are more tools available than ever before to assist in the endeavor. The internet provides convenient access to a treasure trove of resources. If you really want to understand those passages of scripture that have you scratching your head, put yourself in the mindset of the writer. Research the culture, customs, and common beliefs that defined them. You’ll be amazed at the results.

So don’t do what I did in my twenties. Don’t approach the Bible as if it were a Science book or a modern-day novel, and don’t throw up your hands in despair when things aren’t clear at first reading. Be diligent and be willing to adjust your approach to studying God’s Word. You will start to learn and grow like never before.

Works Cited

Heiser, Michael S. The Bible Unfiltered: Approaching Scripture on Its Own Terms. Lexham Press, 2017.

This world is constantly telling us what’s right and what’s wrong, what to think, and how to act.

The world says things like:

• Look out for number one.
• If you’ve got it, flaunt it.
• If it feels good, do it!
• Money is the key to happiness.
• Do whatever you have to do to get ahead.
• Don’t get mad, get even!

These ideas may seem right, but as Proverbs 14: 12 warns, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Christ’s teachings are often the exact opposite of the world’s.

In the world, but not of it.

In Romans 12:2 the Apostle Paul writes, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

As Christians, we’re not supposed to just go along with what the world says. Christ is our example, and we should strive to mimic Him. The non-Christian should see a stark contrast between themselves and us.

It’s all about me!

Some people practically worship themselves. Often these people are beautiful, talented, and wealthy, and they see themselves as superior. Many professional athletes and Hollywood stars fall into this category, and they are held up as examples of what success looks like. The world celebrates them.

Most of us aren’t quite that full of ourselves, but pride is still a big factor in our lives. We like to feel important, we want others to take notice of us, and it’s all too easy for us to look down on people who aren’t as “good’ as we are.

But Jesus was different. Over and over again He demonstrated genuine humility. He didn’t come to be served, but instead He came to serve. His time on Earth was spent ministering to the sick, the poor, the forgotten, and the lost. He was God, and yet he didn’t treat anyone as if they were beneath Him!

The world defines greatness in terms of accomplishments, but Jesus said, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mathew 20:26) We are instructed to follow Christ’s example, putting others before ourselves.

Money, money, money, MO-NEY!

There’s nothing the world celebrates more than wealth. We’re told that the real winners in life are the ones with the biggest houses, the fanciest cars, and the most luxurious lifestyles. Many people spend their entire lives in pursuit of more money.

But the Bible tells us that money is not what we should desire most. King Solomon had more wealth than most people can imagine, yet in the book of Ecclesiastes, he confesses that his wealth did not bring him satisfaction. He also points out that whoever loves money never has enough (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

Jesus said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ” (Mathew 6:19). Jesus wants us to aim for something higher. He said to His disciples:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. “

Mathew 6:19-20

We are not to be obsessed with material wealth. We are to be like the Apostle Paul who said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11). If we have food, water, and shelter, we have enough.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

The desire for revenge is built into us. When someone wrongs us, we want to get even. We want to hurt them like they hurt us. Just think about how many movies and television shows have revenge as the central plot.

But Jesus said, if someone slaps you on the right cheek, give them your left. If they sue you for your shirt, give them your coat too. His words in Mathew chapter five are stunning:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Mathew 5:43-44

I can’t think of a more radical departure from the teachings of the world than that! We’re told not just to forgive our enemies, but to love them.

Why bother?

Living a Christian life means being different from the world. Putting others first, pursuing the things of Heaven instead of the things of Earth, loving our enemies. These things are foreign to our sinful nature.

But as Christians we have a new nature. The nature of Christ. When we act in accordance with our new nature, we point people to Jesus, and that is our ultimate purpose while we are here on this Earth!

So always remember that you are a child of God. Don’t act like this world because you are not of this world.

I just read a study that shocked me. According to a survey conducted in 2017, more than half of Christians (51%) said they had never heard of the great commission. A mere 17% said they had heard of it and knew what it meant! Apparently our churches have failed miserably at explaining this important command. A command given by Jesus himself. Unacceptable!

If you’re a Christian, you have a job to do.

Let’s get right to it. This is the great commission:

Then Jesus came to [His disciples] and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

~Mathew 28:18-20

The book of Mark repeats the command:

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Mark 13:10.

[Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

There are more passages, but we need not go into them because the message is clear: As followers of Christ we must share the gospel with others.

Simple, not easy.

The word gospel means, “good news”, and we have good news indeed! Let me summarize:

• We are all sinners, and we are all headed for an eternity in Hell [Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23] (Ok, that’s obviously not the good news, but we’ll get to it shortly).
• Jesus died to pay for your sins and mine. He is our only escape from Hell, and the only way to Heaven [Romans 5:8].
• Confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved [Romans 10:9 and Acts 16:31].

Jesus can save you from an eternity in Hell and gift you an eternity in Heaven! It’s yours for the asking. That’s the gospel! It’s beautiful, wonderful, and simple. Reminds me of those old, GEICO commercials: “So easy, a caveman could do it!”

Yet as simple as it is, sharing it can be incredibly difficult. Fear often holds us back. We’re afraid of how people will respond. (Will they think I’m a fool? A religious nut? What if they make fun of me? Will I lose friends? What if they have questions I can’t answer?) But the stakes are too high to let fear stop us.

There will come a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [Philippians 2:10-11]. For many, that day will be terrifying. They will realize too late their folly in rejecting God, and if their name is not found written in the book of life, they will be cast into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:15]. We should do all we can to warn people of this fate.

You don’t have to go overseas to fulfill the great commission.

The mission field is all around you, wherever you are. Your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers need God’s love and forgiveness. They will face enormous consequences when their time on Earth is up. Love them enough to share the gospel with them.

When you do share the good news, there will be times when you fumble. Your words will come out all wrong, and you might walk away feeling like a failure. Take heart! You’ve done what God has told you to do. He will handle the rest. You’ve planted a seed, and if their heart is open to God’s love, that seed will take root in God’s time.

And remember that it’s not just what you say, it’s also how you live. If you live your life with integrity, and if you follow God’s Word, you will stand out like a pink flamingo in an Eskimo village! In other words, live like you are not of this world. People will be curious, and their curiosity will provide you with opportunities to share Christ with them.

The bottom line is this: we have a duty as Christians to carry out the great commission. Let’s always be on the lookout for ways to spread the good news!

Imagine if you could pick up your phone, call the most important person in the world, day or night, and know they would answer your call and listen to whatever you had to say. Prayer is like that, only better! Prayer is a direct line to the Creator of the universe, and He is never too busy to hear you out. You can talk to God from anywhere, at any time, about anything.

Why do we pray?

Prayer is an essential part of the personal relationship a Christian has with God. We speak to Him through prayer, He speaks to us through the Bible and through our circumstances.

There are several places in scripture where we are commanded to pray. We are told in Romans 12:12 to, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” I Thessalonians 5:17 says to, “pray continually.” Jesus taught his disciples the importance of prayer, and gave them a template to follow (see Mathew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-13).

Now think about this: God, the Creator of the universe, wants to hear from you. Why? Because He cares about you. He wants to help you, and to bless you. If that doesn’t absolutely blow your mind, I don’t know what will!

I do not claim to be an expert on prayer, but I have learned some things about it over the years. I hope you find them useful.

God is not a genie.

Sometimes we pray as if our happiness should be God’s top priority. We ask Him to make a problem go away, or to bless us in such-and-such a way, and we expect Him to do it. But this is foolish pride. When we come to God with a request, we must understand that He is under no obligation to grant it. He’s not in the business of granting wishes.

Have you ever asked God for something, and when He doesn’t give it, you get upset? I have. Just as bad, I can think of times in my life where I cried out to God, He came through for me, and I acted as if He owed me what He just graciously provided. When God showers us with mercy and grace, we should never fail to be humble and grateful. Remember: We owe Him our very existence. He owes us nothing.

God’s answer is right, whether we like it or not.

When we come to God with a request, we should come in humility, ready to accept His answer. We should have faith that His is always the right answer, whether it seems that way or not.

In II Samuel 12, the prophet Nathan informs King David that his child will become ill and die as a result of David’s grievous sin. David repents, and spends days weeping and pleading with God to spare his son. He is so distraught he won’t eat. When the child dies on the seventh day, David’s advisors are afraid to tell him. They think he might do something desperate.

But when David hears that the child has died, what does he do? Amazingly, his first response is to go to the house of the Lord and worship! David trusted God in the face of tragedy. Is your faith strong enough that you would react that way? I honestly don’t know that mine is, but I am greatly inspired by David’s example. Hopefully God will continue to work in my heart so that I can follow it when the time comes.

Prayer works.

It’s one of those great mysteries how God can be omniscient, how his sovereign will is always accomplished, and yet at the same time, he hears and reacts to our prayers. You might ask, “if God’s will is always done, no matter what, then what does it matter if I pray or not?” Good question! Somehow, God seamlessly folds our prayers into His perfect plan. I don’t know how it works, I just know that it does.

The Bible is filled with examples of God answering the prayers of those who love Him. One striking example of how prayer affects things is found in II Kings. King Hezekiah is deathly ill. The prophet Isaiah comes to him and says, “Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.” (2 Kings 20:1.)

Upon hearing this news, Hezekiah pleads with God to extend his life, and God grants him another 15 years. Hezekiah’s prayer mattered! It changed things. Certainly God knew what was ultimately going to happen, but Hezekiah didn’t. Had Hezekiah not asked, he would not have received.

It ain’t rocket science.

There’s much more that could be said about prayer, but there’s no need to overcomplicate things. Prayer itself is simple. There are no magical incantations to memorize. No special equipment is required. Just talk to God like you would talk to a close friend. Make it a daily habit. Remember that He already knows you inside and out. He knows your strengths and weaknesses, your hopes and fears. Call out to Him with your requests, but also with your praise. Approach His throne with humility, and have faith that His will for your life is “good, pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

A quick note: If you are a new believer, or have never read through the Bible in its entirety, I encourage you to read this post first:

How NOT To Study The Bible.

What’s The Bible All About?

Let’s start with what the Bible is. The Bible is an extraordinary book. Actually, it’s not ‘a’ book, rather, it is a collection of books that together contain the greatest story ever told.

This story is so epic that it has endured for thousands of years, and it excites and inspires people in their very core. It is a tragedy, a comedy, a love story, an adventure story. It’s a story of heroes and villains, of sacrifice and betrayal, of wrath and justice, of sin and redemption. It is a story of unending love and unfathomable grace.

The central character is Jesus of Nazareth. He is a man unlike any other. He is literally God made flesh. Jesus came to earth because of His great love for sinful man, and sacrificed himself to redeem mankind. He conquered death, and rose from the grave. His selfless act paid the price for my sins and yours. Now He offers you the gift of eternal life, and all you have to do is receive it.

The Bible is truth. It is history, poetry, and prophesy. Food and water for the soul. A light for your path. The Word of God.

Throughout history, evil people have tried to destroy the Bible. It has been burned and banned by those who have rejected God and His message. Christians have been jailed, even killed, just for having a Bible. There is no other piece of literature like it.

Why Study The Bible?

What happens to a physical body if it eats nothing but junk food and doesn’t exercise? It becomes unhealthy and out of shape (no judgment, I’ve been there). Something similar happens to us spiritually when we don’t take the time to study the Bible. We become spiritually weak and sick.

Bible study is nourishment for the soul, and just as our bodies must regularly intake good food and water to remain healthy, so too our spirits need to consistently “consume” the Word of God to remain strong.

Another good reason to study scripture is to protect yourself from false teachings. Some pastors today cherry-pick from the Bible, and pervert the context to tickle the ears of their congregations. In times past, people have twisted the words of the Bible to justify atrocities. Diligent study allows you to spot false prophets.

Reading vs. studying

It’s not enough to just read scripture, you have to study it, and the difference is important. Through study you gain insight and understanding.

To study a passage of scripture is to…

• …understand the context so that you can interpret its meaning correctly.
• …determine if the text is prescriptive or descriptive (i.e. Is this passage telling me what I should do, or is it merely describing something that that was done?).
• …contemplate how the passage fits in with the rest of the Bible.
• …reflect on how it applies to you today.

These steps take time and effort. In addition, you may find that different “experts” have different opinions on what a passage means or how it applies, which will require additional research and prayer for discernment. But the reward is worth it. The Bible is a powerful, divinely inspired, life-changing text! It’s the primary way in which God communicates with us. Read it, study it, and watch your life transform.

In the book of Mathew, chapter 6, Jesus is teaching his disciples. Near the end of the chapter, He tells them not to concern themselves with what they will eat, drink, or wear, but instead to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and God will supply all they need.

But what does it mean!?

“How does one seek first the kingdom of God?” I’ve come to believe the answer has two parts.

First, to seek God’s kingdom means to seek His will. You must make every attempt to understand what God wants you to do: now, today, and in the future.

Second, seeking God’s will must be your top priority. This means that every action, every decision is subject to the question, “is this what God wants?”

Seems simple, but the reality is, it can be difficult figuring out what God’s will is, and it is always difficult to do God’s will when it conflicts with your own.

How can you know what God’s will is?

God’s will for my life is, of course, different than His will for yours, but there are some things that God wants all of us to do. First and foremost, He wants all of us to put our faith and trust in His Son, Jesus. If you’ve never done that, please, click here and read this post.

But if you are already a Christian, there are certain, fundamental things God wants you (and all Christians) to be doing. If you are not doing these things, then you are not doing God’s will. And keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list.

It is God’s will that you…

• …study the Bible.
• …pray.
• …share the gospel.
• …live a life that is distinguishable from the world.

If you are serious about seeking first the kingdom of God, I invite you to click on the links above and read through the posts. Judge for yourself if what I say is true and supported by scripture. I pray that God will use the words to challenge you, encourage you, and inspire you to seek Him.

Sincerely,

Seth Durham