Thoughts from the Bible | The Clarion Newspaper

Thoughts from The Bible: – 04/29/20

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 28 April 2020 13:43

A man’s growth toward God
by Terry Broome

One of the great needs of the day is a vision of the possibilities of the soul and how to attain those possibilities. Too many of us are satisfied without growth, blind to what we may become and ignorant of the means of growth. We often fail to visualize the marvelous power God has given us: “The Power To Become The Sons of God!”

This power to grow, to develop, to become, is one of the great characteristics of man as created by God. It elevates him above a brute creation. A monkey will never be anything but a bigger monkey. A tree becomes a larger tree, but mankind has been given by God the power to become more than he or she is. A young bungling surgeon can become the greatest in his field. A young musician can become an artist. Sinners can become sons of God. A babe in Christ has the power to become a spiritual giant in the service of God. John was guided by the Holy Spirit to tell us in John 1:11 – 12 (KJV) 11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

A world of discovery awaits those who begin and continue this journey with the Lord!! Growth – becoming more than we were yesterday – is designed and intended by God for His children. We’re not speaking of just growth out of sin into salvation. That’s just the beginning. There’s a whole world of possibilities awaiting us in Christ Jesus. Our growth should be toward spirituality maturity.

Ephesians 4:15 (KJV) 15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
Colossians 2:6 – 7 (KJV) 6 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) 18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The frustration of not growing, not improving, has its toll secularly and spiritually. This does not have to be the life of the Christian however: 2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV) 16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

It begins when we hear and answer the Gospel Call, “Come unto me…” (Matthew 11:28-30). That’s where it always begins. It’s the discovery that life is more than working in a store, keeping house, or making money (Eccl. 2:1-13). It’s to see that life is a divine vocation. Ephesians 4:1 (KJV) 1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” It’s to see that a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things he possesses: Luke 12:15 (KJV) 15 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” This may be the reason many have made no progress. They have not learned, nor taken this first step. Many haven’t even gotten into the game yet so they’re not running the race.

The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489

Thoughts from The Bible: – 04/22/20

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 21 April 2020 13:11

God’s Rainbow Of Love
by Terry Broome

The story is told of a man out west who had a fine spring that furnished him with sparkling cold water for all his daily needs. One morning, however, an earthquake shook the earth and ruined the spring. The man was stunned and saddened by his apparent loss, but the next day a big gushing oil well appeared to take its place. The loss of something that he treasured actually opened the door for something better. In all likelihood this is more parable than fact, but it illustrates a very important truth for our lives. Many times God allows some apparent loss to come to us so that He might give us something better in its place.

It’s been said that for every cloud there is a rainbow, but we have to be in the proper position to see it. For instance, Noah and his family saw the rainbow of hope and promise set by God in the sky (Genesis 9:11-17); however, only after they had endured the flood and in complete submission to God’s Will could they experience this rainbow of hope. They had to get into the proper position by turning their backs to their home and the old world of sin that surrounded them in order to see God’s rainbow and learn of His promise to not destroy the earth again by flood waters. There had to be a cloud before they could see the rainbow of God’s love and promises.

Similarly, when the shadows of life fall on us, if we get in the proper position, facing Him in Christ, we can see God’s love shining through. Even as God’s Rainbow was set in the sky as a promise that He would never destroy the world again by flood, we have the hope of His promise that God will never leave us or forsake us as long as we stay in the right relationship with Him (Hebrews 13:5-6). We can see in the rainbow a kind of metaphor of God’s care for all those who are His.

Literal clouds come into every life. Hardly a day passes in which we cannot see a cloud and are reminded of God’s promise to Noah. Also, hardly a day passes but that there is a “cloud” of some kind in our lives. God knows that all sun and no clouds only creates a desert. If we never saw the “clouds” of life with all it’s heartaches, we would never see the rainbow.

He builds our lives by adversity as well as by prosperity. More character is built in the face of sorrow than in success. Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV) 3 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Heb 12:5-11 “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord…”

When we see all things in their true light, we see that life is made more beautiful and more useful because of the few hardships that God allows to come our way (1 Pet. 1:3-7). The same God who allows the clouds to come also sends the rainbow of hope and promises – deliverance through the trials we face, and ultimate salvation to those who are obedient to His Word and who walk in the light!!

The clouds do often cover our pathway, but just look up into the Father’s face, and you’ll soon know that He has a rainbow of hope and promises for you: Romans 8:1-2 (KJV) 1“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489

Thoughts from The Bible: – 04/15/20

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 21 April 2020 09:40

Our God Is Able
by Terry Broome

If we know anything about God whom we worship and serve, we know that He is able to know all (Omniscience); See all (Omnipresence); and do all (Omnipotence). He has proven to people in all ages that false gods are powerless – but that He alone is ABLE to do all things consistent with His nature and His Will. In Our Trying Circumstances Today, We Need to Cling to this Truth, Our God Is Able!

Consider the Three Hebrew young men of Daniel Chapter Three. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, made an image of gold that was 60 cubits (90 ft.) tall. At his dedication, he called for his princes, captains, governors, treasurers, and counselors, to worship the image. The three Hebrew young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to yield to the king or to an earthen image in worship: Daniel 3:16-18 (KJV) 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17If it be so, OUR GOD WHOM WE SERVE IS ABLE TO DELIVER US from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” God was there for them and they lived through the fiery furnace heated seven times its normal heat.

God has promised us He will be with us today just as certainly as He was with these young men. “Yes,” some say, “but this was in the days of miracles. He works differently today.” We know that God doesn’t work miracles through men as He once did, but let us note from Scripture what He is able to do for us now:
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Matthew 7:9-11 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

According to 2 Timothy 1:12 He Is Able to Be Trusted: 12 “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

The question is not whether he is able, but whether we believe it. I wish we all had the faith of Abraham. Suppose you were commanded to offer your child. Notice, Hebrews 11:17 17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.”

hy did Abraham do this? Hebrews 11:19 19 “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” God didn’t want Isaac as a sacrifice. He wanted Abraham’s heart. When he saw that he had that through this act of submission, God accounted him as a righteous man, and provided a different offering for Abraham to sacrifice. God doesn’t want us to offer another person as a sacrifice. He wants us to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) who walk by faith and submit to His Will!

John 14:23 (KJV) 23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489.