Jan 8
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nateswart added a text contribution Too much junkGenesis 13:1 makes me think of the other passage in which Jesus tells the man to sell everything he has and follow him. Abram isn't told here to sell everything he has, but he does have a small enough amount that he can take it with him. If Jesus were to visit you today, would you have too much junk in your life he'd ask you to get rid of it, or would you be more like Abram? Either way, there is a challenge for everyone in these scriptures. Read more »
Jan 7
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nateswart added a text contribution What about the tower was bad?Knowing what modern society knows, we have far surpassed the building ability that these people would have been able to accomplish. We've also become rather sophisticated in many other realms also as well as starting to break down this language barrier a little. What about the building the city and tower was it that made God do this? I can't believe it was just the physical tower, considering the architecture we've been able to accomplish since then. Read more »
Jan 6
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nateswart added a text contribution Not paying attentionIt struck me while reading these verses, that this passage speaks to more than just how easy or attractive the 'road to destruction' is. It also speaks to how you must pay close attention to staying on the narrow road. You could have every intention of staying on the narrow road, but if you aren't diligent it is far too easy to stray off. Just finding the narrow road is not enough, you need to continuously pay attention to ensure you don't wander. Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Honesty & faithfulnessHere is a wonderful example of honesty and faithfulness. David begins Psalm 13 by questioning how long God will leave him alone. To me, it seemed important to notice that David never once felt God completely abandoned him. David is talking to God, as if he knows even in the apparent absence God is still listening. This is then recognized by two forms of faithfulness at the end of the Psalm - one by David, that no matter how he feels God is treating him, he will remain faithful to God. The othe… Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Buried under the treasureThis verse is not harsh, not dramatic, not wordy or poetic. It simply states "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". It's a simple fact - a truth - that lets the consequences of it's truthfulness do the condemning. It almost seems to be a guilt-free motivator. If I value God enough for this verse to trouble me, then all is not lost. I have a small bit of worthwhile treasure. I just need to let go of the other treasure to make room for God's treasure. Read more »
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Why are we instructed in Matthew 6:17 to put oil on our head and wash our face? Is this a sort of self-anointing, or does it carry some other significance? Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Praying like pagansI've never thought of it this way, but after reading Matthew 6:7 I can definitely see how one may pray by "babbling like pagans". Public prayer sometimes makes me uncomfortable as I've thought it sounds like it could borderline on incantations, or trying too hard to invoke the power of God. As this verse intros in to the Lord's Prayer, I am reminded of not just the words to pray, but the attitude to pray with. God's word is a blessing indeed! Read more »
Jan 5
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nateswart added a text contribution It's about attitudeAt first I wondered how to always keep good deeds anonymous, but I'm not sure the scripture here says that men can't see your 'acts of righteousness' but rather that you shouldn't do it for them to see. Whether people see your good works or not should be the furthest thing from your mind when you are doing something. If God wants it to be seen, He will make it so. Verse 2 clarifies a little bit, by saying that you shouldn't announce your giving. Common sense says t… Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Not just pairsAny time I've heard the story of Noah told, Noah is always taking 2 of every kind of animal. In Genesis 7:2-3, God says that is only for unclean animals. For clean animals and birds Noah was to take seven! If I'm reading this right, it's actually 14 - the impression I get is that a pair was considered as one. Amazing how much of a story can be lost unless you go read it yourself! Read more »
Jan 4
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nateswart added a text contribution Simplicity is keyIt is all too easy to justify something we've done, or prove that we aren't at risk for doing something else. God tells us in Matthew 5:37 to make your response simple ... yes or no, nothing else. We don't need to explain ourselves or justify ourselves. That takes off so much pressure! Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Age explainationI always wondered how some people in the Bible lived so long, but now they don't live long at all (in comparison). Genesis 6:3 indicates that God pretty much sets a limit on lifespan (120 years). Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution The uncomfortable truthIt is difficult to envision Jesus as being truly tempted. It is much easier to think Satan presented him some options and Jesus easily said "no thanks" ... but that is not temptation. Jesus knows exactly how we feel since he felt it all too. He knew temptation, he was tempted. He wrestled with difficult decisions. The difference between us and Jesus, though, is that when it came to decisions about temptations, we fail and Christ was perfect. Jesus knows what you are experiencing, and… Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Fire not windMany times, the chaff from a threshing floor is thought to be light and worthless and simply blown away by the wind - a natural way to separating the chaff from the wheat. Here, John conveys an imagery of the "chaff" not being blown away, but being burned. If you think that the consequences of being chaff will be non-existent, or just be getting bounced around by the breeze, John clears it up that God has no time for this and will completely destroy the chaff. Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Theatric imageryWhat incredibly imagery - "Their throat is an open grave" Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Who else is there?Is there any place in scripture that mentions who else is in the world that would/could kill Cain? Does the "anyone" refer to animals possibly? Read more »
Jan 3
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When you ask something of God in prayer, are you willing to wait or do you want an immediate solution? Joseph probably would have much rather had the threat of Herod eliminated quickly, but God did it in His own time, waiting for Herod's death. He also required action and faith on Joseph's part - the angel told Joseph he needed to feel to Egypt. Next time you ask God for assistance, be open to listening to His instructions ... and be patient. Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution OrienteeringNavigating a general direction via the North Star and hitting a continent (Columbus) is amazing to me in it's own right. However, to be able to navigate via a new star to a house? That's akin to our modern day GPS devices! I know the Magi were following a star, but I have to believe it was God who was leading them. Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution God's willingnessGod is always telling us to simply ask Him - here is yet another example. Do we deserve it? No. Are there any strings attached? No. Simply put, this is God's grace. Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution Delight is the result, not the commandOften times I feel God commands us to delight in various aspects of our faith, but this verse makes it clear to me that delight is the result of a different action - meditation. Also, what do you think "delight" is referring to. Often times we have an expectation of how God should "reward" us - but perhaps it is simply an internal harmony with God's law that provides the delight, not a material reward like society has us expect. Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution More profound in original texts?Knowing that English was not the original language of the Bible, I have to think that this verse makes some sense merely out of coincidence (similar naming of man and woman). I wonder, then, what impact the original text has? It feels as if something linguistic may be assumed here as the reason for naming woman "woman" doesn't seem apparent to me. Read more »
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nateswart added a text contribution According to their kindsThis verse is specific to vegetation, but can speak to humans as well. God has designed everything with a purpose and intends for that purpose to be the one fulfilled. It seems wrote until you consider how many people try to fulfill purposes (and expectations) that have nothing to do with how God has designed them. Read more »
User Info
Name: Nate Swart
User Since: October 2008
Location: Russell, PA
Website: www.nathanswart.com
Contributions: 21
Tags: 32