What's Missing From the Bible?

I saw an interesting post on Google + the other day about missing scripture in Acts, and I was curious as to if what the post said was true. So I went into Biblegateway.com to investigate. What the person had posted was accurate, but it was not entirly true. As it were, the verse that was "missing" was actaully a verse that was added into the King James Bible when it was scribed, but was not in the orgianal text; therefore it was removed when newer versions were later printed.

But this really got me to thinking. How well do we really know the Bible? More importantly, how well do we know the history of the Bible?

I beleive that it is important to understand the history of our Bibles as they are written in our language, but I do know that every language is vastly different and not all languages can be translated easily. If you have ever taken a foreign language class or speak a second language fluently, you know how true that this statment is. We have words in English that they do not have in Russian, French, German, Greek or even Hebrew. So if a phrase is translated from one language to another, there is a real chance that it will not be as accurate as it was in its original language.  So how can we be sure of what we are reading is to be true and accurate. I suppose one way is to learn the language of the original sacrad scripts, or we who are not that veresed, must trust that the interpretation is correct.

So why make such a fuss over a phrase or one verse? Simple, we all want to be told the truth.

2 Timothy 16-17; "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Over all there seems to be some who want to use God's Word against others, to prove they are right, correct and above reproof. Jesus does warn us of this. To teach...yes, to correct...yes, but to do these things in love. Not to make another feel belittled, or wrong. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. As we are open ourselves to God, He begins that process of correction, and rebuking through LOVE.

Matthew 22: 37-38;  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.

So I ask you this, what is more important, be "spot on" word by word of what is written in the Bible that you have chosen to read and study, or to love people the way that Jesus has taught each of us to do?

What is missing from the Bible? The action behind God's Word by God's people. Let us learn to love, forgive, have grace and mercy to each person that is present in our lives.


~Peace & Blessings~

Jen

Power Play

The great debate is now in full swing. I have witnessed heated debates in regards to the change that is to come in the near future. My greatest fear is that people will go with the flow instead of going with what they know is right.

I often wonder what it must have been like in the days of Jesus. Politics were just as heated then as they are now. It was because of politics that God's plan was set in motion. God's plan prevailed despite the efforts of feeble men who were striving for some sort of power. I would encourage you to read any of the Gospels encounters about the betrayal, mock trail, and crucifixion of Jesus, but I want to share with you from the Gospel of Mark.

15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.“You have said so,” Jesus replied.3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Even with the power plays of man, God's plan prevailed, as it will today. We need to be mindful that no matter what happens, it's been set forth because God has called it to be. He has spoken and it is so. There is great comfort in that knowledge.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28

~Peace & Blessings~
Jen

Ezekiel 3

It has taken me 2 days to read through Ezekiel 3. I'm still not sure if I really understand everything that I read. I love how Ezekiel sits in glory for 7 days. What a glimpse of eternity!

I'm not so sure about the scroll...why did God have Ezekiel eat the scroll, as in devour? Is this a metaphor? Does that mean that Ezekiel was to read it until it was memorized, or does this mean that he literally ate the scroll, the Words of God?

Now, as God is giving instruction to Ezekiel on what he is to do and what God is going to allow and what He is going to need to be done, I wonder what Ezekiel was thinking. To know that I am thickheaded and stubborn has always seemed to be a bad thing until I read this passage. Ezekiel is "hard headed" and God uses this as an attribute, not as a hindrance. But again, God tells Ezekiel that His people's hard head is part of the problem. I take this to mean that it's not how God created you, but how you use it.

So here we are...with marching orders. Eat my words, use what you got (what I gave you), and now go sit and wait. As I look at the meat of chapter 3, I see God's character being revealed. Isn't this God's M.O.? I have seen this instruction time and again; with Abram and Sarah, with Moses, with Israel and Joseph. Again we see His character revealed this way with David, and with Joseph, Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth.

God is God. His word says that He is the God of yesterday, today and forever (Revelation 1:8 & Hebrews 13:7-9). Knowing this to be true, then do we really expect God to be any different today?


~Peace & Blessings~
Jen

In the Presence of God

I have made a decision to read one of the books of the prophets. I am starting with Ezekiel. Now I must be truly honest here and tell you that I have never read any of the books of the prophets. I have read a verse or a part of a chapter, but never before with intention of understanding have I intentionally tried to read a prophetic book from the Bible.

As I have begun with Ezekiel 1 I was taken back by the detail description of the Four Figures. I would be in as much awe as Ezekiel was if not more if I were to see such a vision! I am still trying to wrap my mind around all the details. Four figures, multiple wings, lightning, fire, many faces...as I was reading this my mind went to a scene in Harry Potter.

Ezekiel 2 was surprisingly short. This is where the Figures speak to Ezekiel. This is where Ezekiel receives his marching orders. This makes me wonder...if God were to come to me in such a way, first of all...would I recognize Him as who He is and second of all would I be able to follow through on the instructions that were given me?

And that gives me my thought to ponder for the day. We have already been given our marching orders...The Great Commission. Jesus tells his disciples (that includes you and me)in Matthew 28: 16-20...

But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Am I being obedient? Was Ezekiel? Please don't tell me the end of the story...I'm looking forward to seeing how Ezekiel responds to God. How will you respond to God?

~Peace & Blessings~
Jen