Category Archives: 2 Peter

Ever feel helpless?

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helplessA  story in 2 Samuel really caught my attention. Abner, the commander of Saul’s armies was faithful to Saul’s family even after Saul’s death. But they insulted him and he defected to David’s side planning to bring his troops with him. This would have saved many Israeli lives, brought peace to the kingdom and immediately established David as king over all of Israel. (Judah had already recognized him as king once Saul was killed in battle against the Philistines.)

But the commander of David’s army, Joab, wanted to kill Abner to avenge his brother who Abner had killed in battle. Without David knowing it Joab deceived Abner and killed him before peace could be established. Upon hearing of this, David says this interesting thing:

And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!” (2 Samuel 3:39)

Can you hear the frustration of David? I am king but I am still powerless against evil. These sons of my sister, Zeruiah, (yes, they were family) are out of control and do whatever they want. I am powerless. Continue reading →

It is a matter of timing

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Falling apart of together?When his disciples asked about the meaning of the parable of the sower and the seed Jesus provided a strange and confusing explanation.
“And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.” (Mark 4:11, 12)

I ran across a group that, based on this passage, said parables were not meant to be understood. From there they did the traditional cult thing that has been around since the first century “BUT, we have this great insight so let us explain to you what these deep secrets are.”

Well, Jesus did say he didn’t want folks to understand, right? So, maybe these guys are on to something. At least they hope you will think so.

Continue reading →

What kind of father would allow this?

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World's worst dad?All of us have known church/ministry leaders, either personally or on the national/international scene, who have inflicted great harm on God’s people – perhaps through  their own moral failure, through spiritual manipulation, harsh legalism or a number of other ways. A video I was sent recently reminded me of how wide spread this is and as I thought about it a picture came to mind.

Among a group of young children a few of the bigger ones were wielding knives. The bigger ones were recklessly swinging their knives slashing and hurting those around them.  These were God’s kids being hurt and doing the hurting.  I thought, “Lord, you seem to be a pretty bad Father.”

I would be a horrid father if I allowed my kids to slash and hurt one another like God  permits His kids to do. I have a responsibility to restrain my children, to keep them from hurting others. But God does not do that. He allows “the big ones” to abuse, manipulate and repeatedly inflict injury leaving a path of hurt people strewn in their wake.  “Why do you do that Lord? Even our wicked society restrains those who would hurt others – and your law commands government to do so. But you don’t within your own family.” Continue reading →

God seems strange to me.

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Revelation 13:7
(The beast) was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. …
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The fact that you are reading this indicates we survived the Mayan “end of the world” December 21.  That’s nice but it doesn’t mean an apocalyptic end is not coming.  This passage warns us one is coming.  But doesn’t this passage seem strange to you?

Biblically we know any power originates in God so whatever power the beast has ultimately comes from God. The beast is given power, from God, to conquer God’s people. Lord, I see a few reasons You would do this but it still confuses me that these folks, who have your Word and all its wonderful promises of overcoming Satan, are going to be conquered. That seems strange to me.

Then I think of Mary. Gabriel appears telling her she will become pregnant by the Holy Spirit – a story folks are not likely to believe. (Luke 1) You could have had Gabriel tell the whole town or tell her parents so at least they would believe her story. Instead, you do it privately and let her bare the ridicule that certainly accompanied such a fantastic story. I can see some reasons You would do that but it still seems strange to me. Continue reading →

Don’t be a smarty pants.

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2 Peter 1:5
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
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Had we written this we probably would have said, “add to your faith knowledge” because in Western culture and the church we value amassing knowledge about God. Our services are built around an instruction time. We have Bible STUDIES, Sunday SCHOOLS and even Bible COLLEGES. We tend to believe knowledge is the answer – knowledge about goodness will lead to goodness. A person who is not good simply needs more instruction. Continue reading →