tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post7488558202653620095..comments2023-04-22T12:31:37.714-07:00Comments on Blogging the Bible: January 10Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15063678082377147197noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-78530147300274797402010-01-10T22:03:12.442-08:002010-01-10T22:03:12.442-08:00I think the difference in testing God for good or ...I think the difference in testing God for good or ill is your motivation. If you jump off a cliff saying "watch, God will save me," that's not so much a statement of faith as wanting to feel cool because God does what we want. We may acknowledge that God is doing the saving, but we still get a sense that we are in control, which is wrong. However, if we say, "Lord, I feel really nervous about taking this job, but if it is Your will for me, let my interviewer be a Christian" (or whatever), that is being submissive to God. We wish for HIS will, we just want Him to tell us what it is. Other times we "test" God in a good way, it is still to give Him glory by giving Him a chance to show what He can do. That's my opinion, anyway.beksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15724637942561747185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-31915657340455497222010-01-10T17:30:20.175-08:002010-01-10T17:30:20.175-08:00Close, Becky. Jesus is amazed at the lack of fait...Close, Becky. Jesus is amazed at the lack of faith of the people in Nazareth (Mark 6:6). And I also thought the nose ring was an interesting touch:). Thanks for the encouraging words.<br /><br />I think the ambiguity about testing God comes in because Jesus says, "It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (Matt. 4:7). And when I looked that up on biblegateway.com, I saw that Psalm 78 also has a lot of negative references about "wilfully" putting God to the test. Again, apparently it's a heart thing?Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063678082377147197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-7639562076628819892010-01-10T14:05:00.099-08:002010-01-10T14:05:00.099-08:00To Bekster: I loved all your thoughts (and Kim...To Bekster: I loved all your thoughts (and Kim's too) on these verses. One thing made me stop and wonder...your comments regarding testing God. In Malachi 3:10 God actually says "Test me in this" when he is telling his people to be generous givers! It's one of my favorite passages on giving and II Cor. 9:6-11 sort of confirms it in the N.T. Anyways, I believe that we are often called to "test" God in our faith and have many other examples of God's beloved ones testing him. (Gen) These are some of my favorite Bible stories! After this refresher course, I immediately prayed for Luke and Anna (my precious grandchildren) that God will provide for them "perfect" spouses and that they will be "perfect" spouses as well...can't start too soon. (Matthew) Thanks, Kim, for clearing up vs. 11, our highlighted verse of all things, for me. I really didn't get it...but loved your explanation for it!!!! (Psalm & Proverbs) Always a lift.Gagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09747145949566817043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9112439593032667008.post-84522878902628162242010-01-10T13:46:00.905-08:002010-01-10T13:46:00.905-08:00Jesus being amazed: Hmmm, was he amazed at the la...Jesus being amazed: Hmmm, was he amazed at the lack of faith of the Pharisees? (I could very well be wrong here.)<br /><br />I thought the business transaction stuff was interesting too, as well as the oath of Abraham's servant. (In the footnote--and, I think, in the NIV--it says that Abraham told his servant to put his hand under his thigh to do the oath.) Weird, but... okay...<br /><br />The story about Rebekah is one of my favorites. (Not just because that's my name too, though spelled differently. Of course, I don't care for her pushing Jacob into lying later in the book.) Also, hello!, NOSE RING?!? Here's another cultural difference. It just goes to show that external stuff like that is only that--external. It's what's inside that counts, and Rebekah had already proven that her heart was good. (I mean, my goodness, what a punk for wearing a nose ring! What a terrible person she must have been. J/K)<br /><br />I love how the idea of faith kept popping up in several of the passages. More and more as I read the Bible over, I see where the miracles God does are in direct relation to the amount of faith the people have. As I was thinking about this concept a month or so ago, I prayed for something for someone, but I only prayed that they wouldn't be disappointed, not that they would get what they REALLY wanted. Well, sure enough, they only got just enough not to be disappointed and someone else got what they wanted. So, God answered my prayer, but I kept kicking myself for not having had enough faith to pray for the really big (seemingly unattainable) thing. (As a side note, the more I get into praying, the more I see results, but then I also see, er, LACK of results when I DON'T pray. So, uh, prayer is great, but I almost feel trapped in this prayer system, like I can't stop or my friends and family will be bereft of blessings. Of course, I know it is GOD, not me, who gives blessings, but still... Anyone else ever feel that way?)<br /><br />Anyway, I was also thinking in our anti-gambling, anti-testing-God church culture (and, of course, we AREN'T supposed to test God, etc.), we tend to frown upon people making "deals" with God (like Abraham's servant at the well). But, it seems to me that the way he did it (and, you know, Gideon with the fleece, etc.) is perfectly legitimate for finding out if something is really from God. It's just that once you get the message, you had better follow through with it!<br /><br />Okay, I guess I'm just rambling now. :) Well, Kim, I hope that you do continue to be faithful with reading and posting. It has already been a real encouragement for me, and it does wonders for accountability. I will pray for your faithfulness, and I will pester you if you don't post. :) (Of course, if you fall off the wagon and I DON'T push you back on, you should pray for ME that I get back to praying for you.) :) Something like that...beksterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15724637942561747185noreply@blogger.com