The Faith
Goal: Study the Gospel of Matthew / daily study of the Word
Recently I had a conversation about faith with an acquaintance of mine. We were discussing his background as a pastor for 12 years many, many years ago. He expressed some sentiment about his former denomination and profession and how people believe they are having a spiritual rebirth when in all actuality, he believes, they are just part of a "group think" that is enhanced by the music, the powerful speaking etc.
I added my two cents to his comments saying that I believed the same to a certain extent. I went on to say that we should not trust our emotions or hang our salvation on our perceived "decision" to ask Jesus into our heart. I told my friend that we rely on our Baptism and the Word of God. At this point, the conversation went in a completely different direction.
To my comments he said, "I don't want to hurt your faith, but that is what you have been told by another person." I almost replied, "Well, what I just heard, is it true? Because, you see, I just heard it from another person as well." However, he is much older than me and I wanted to be respectful - he is a client as well.
One of my goals is to be in the Word daily for self enrichment (not self-help) and to be able to always give an answer for the hope that I have within. Previous to my conversation, I studied the following in my daily study of the Gospel of Matthew:
There is always "yeast" flying around in the air. This was especially true that day in my office. I'm reminded that Jews have an annual purging of their homes of yeast. Like them, we too must be ready to identify and throw out the yeast the doesn't lead to Life. Hopefully my friend ate the Bread that I gave him.
Goal: Study the Gospel of Matthew / daily study of the Word
Recently I had a conversation about faith with an acquaintance of mine. We were discussing his background as a pastor for 12 years many, many years ago. He expressed some sentiment about his former denomination and profession and how people believe they are having a spiritual rebirth when in all actuality, he believes, they are just part of a "group think" that is enhanced by the music, the powerful speaking etc.
I added my two cents to his comments saying that I believed the same to a certain extent. I went on to say that we should not trust our emotions or hang our salvation on our perceived "decision" to ask Jesus into our heart. I told my friend that we rely on our Baptism and the Word of God. At this point, the conversation went in a completely different direction.
To my comments he said, "I don't want to hurt your faith, but that is what you have been told by another person." I almost replied, "Well, what I just heard, is it true? Because, you see, I just heard it from another person as well." However, he is much older than me and I wanted to be respectful - he is a client as well.
One of my goals is to be in the Word daily for self enrichment (not self-help) and to be able to always give an answer for the hope that I have within. Previous to my conversation, I studied the following in my daily study of the Gospel of Matthew:
Mark 8:14-21
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod
14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”[a] 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
No comments:
Post a Comment