JOB RECOVERS HIS FAITH IN GOD

The book of Job is at least as old as the writings of Moses. Job was blessed by God with everything a man could desire. But Job had a secret fear. He worried about his seven sons and three daughters. (Job 1:5 KJV) "And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."

Like any loving father Job couldn't bear the thought of something happening to his children. It's very difficult to understand, much less explain, what happen next in Job's life. Satan showed up before the throne of God to make an accusation against Job. There isn't much information about it, but obviously Satan...who at one time was an archangel, rebelled against God and tried to overthrow and replace him.

Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, is mentioned in a number of places in the Old Testament. It is clear that from the very moment of the creation of this world that Satan and fallen angels were on the scene, rebels against God.

(Rev 12:7-9 NIV) "And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. {8} But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. {9} The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." (Luke 10:17-18 NIV) "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." {18} He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."

Question: Why didn't God destroy Satan in the beginning? Why did God allow Satan to deceive Adam and Eve? Simply because no one will ever enter heaven without being tested. Paradise, heaven, our father’s house, whatever we call it would be corrupted and spoiled by a single person arriving there with the deadly plague of sin and disobedience in their heart.

God decided to use the wicked hatred of Satan to test the faithfulness of those like Job. That explains why God allows us to be both the victims of evil and its perpetrator. We learn the meaning of both sides of good and evil by living with all its problems. How could it be God’s will for such a thing to exist?

Satan, the chief of the fallen angels, is mentioned in a number of places in the Old Testament. It is clear that from the very moment of the creation of this world that Satan and fallen angels were on the scene, and were rebels against God. When Satan does appear in the Old Testament he is always the adversary of God's people. Satan and the fallen angels had failed the test and are doomed forever so they diligently try to corrupt everyone else.

(Job 1:6-10 NIV) “One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. {7} The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”

{8} Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

{9} "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. {10} "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. {11} But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face". God could see the integrity of Job, his absolute refusal to bow to evil and that Job in the end would regain double what he lost.

(Job 1:12 NIV) "The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD." God knew he could trust Job to endure the foolish arguments of his friends that he was a secret sinner. The unloving advise of his wife to "just curse God and die."

Remember, it wasn’t God who killed Job’s children. It was a storm. It wasn’t God who stripped Job of his wealth; it was other men who were persuaded by Satan to do evil. It wasn’t God who afflicted Job with sore boils. It was Satan, the source of all evil in this world. The hedge God had placed around Job was an anomaly—something no one else has ever experienced in all of recorded human history. Removing it, and allowing Satan to test Job was something everyone else has been force to endure. All of us are going to experience suffering in this life.

WHY? Why didn’t God create a world in which nature would always be kind and men would be peaceful and good? If there was no freedom [to do evil] there could be no good. If there were no opportunity to be selfish, dishonest and hateful, there would be no opportunity to be unselfish, brave, truthful, and loving. God wanted sons and not wooden puppets like Pinocchio. The puppet maker wanted a real live boy. And the puppet wanted to be something more than wood and strings.

Satan’s attack on Job took the form of pointing out to God the fact that Job has never been given a hard choice. He had never been tested or proven. He had been given unreserved blessings and protection, the very thing false teachers today promise in their teaching and preaching.

If anyone could pray the prayer of faith it certainly would have been Jesus. Yet, he never used a miracle for his own personal benefit. He suffered and died when he could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free.

If you are going through a painful trial just remember...(1 Cor 10:13 NIV) "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." You will have walked through the fire and come out of it without even the smell of smoke on your clothes.

(Dan 3:26-27 NIV) "Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, {27} and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them."
It's incredibly painful to suffer when you are innocent. If it happens it's because God know something wonderful and good is going to come out of it. Heaven will be full of saints who have endured unimaginable pain and suffering and received like Job double what they lost. Job had 7 sons and 3 daughters in heaven.

(Job 42:12-13 NIV) "The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. {13} And he also had seven sons and three daughters."

(Job 42:15-17 NIV) "Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. {16} After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. {17} And so he died, old and full of years."

Send Questions and comments to Kencrocker@aol.com

A SNAKE IN THE GARDEN

In Genesis chapter one, we read that God created a beautiful earth and called everything in it good. In fact he said it was very good. God was clearly pleased and satisfied with his creation. This beautiful pristine earth had nothing in it that was dangerous, ugly or painful.

There was no such thing as a thousand thunderstorms every minute somewhere on earth creating destruction and havoc with lightening and winds. A gentle mist rose from the earth and watered the garden. (Gen 2:6 KJV) “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.”

(Gen 2:16-17 NIV) "And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; {17} but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Now notice carefully what Satan, the master deceiver tells Eve. He inserts a single extra word into God's statement knowing that he can deceive Eve with it. The word is "Touch." The devil, by mixing a small lie with the truth deceived Eve and Adam. God had told them to dress the garden, and that included the tree of good and evil. They had touched it many times.

The devil cleverly added to the words of God this single word: Touch! According to the devil God said “you may not eat of it or touch it.”Eve must have thought: “That right, in dressing and keeping the garden we have touched it many times and nothing happened.” So she ate the fruit and gave some of it to Adam. The rest, as they say, is history.

Satan told the truth when he said: "if they ate the forbidden fruit that they would become as God knowing good and evil". Satan made it appear that was something greatly to be desired. It wasn’t. They were driven out of the garden totally unprepared to deal with good and evil and they suffered until they died.

Babies don’t know good or evil. They can only discover the meaning of cause and effect, disobedience and suffering after they leave the innocence of their infant years. Babies, knowing nothing, are loved and comforted, taken care of and watched over by good parents. It’s a joyous time to watch them make tiny advancements as they grow.

However every mother is aware of the terrible two’s when their sweet innocent baby begins to misbehave, test all limits, and try to bend the whole household to their liking. Why do parents put up with this? Because they know that beyond the terrible two’s is a period of growth, maturity and hopefully for their child, the possibility of becoming a delightful responsible adult.

If we transfer this concept to the story of creation we can see a close parallel. God didn’t want to walk in the garden forever and ever with babies. Parents would be alarmed and horrified if their children never developed mentally. However, hidden in this mental development and free will is the possibility that their child may become a cruel, selfish, even murderous criminal who dies a needless violent death. There’s no greater sorrow than to watch a family try to rescue a child that refuses to be good.

That explains why God allows us to be both the victims of evil and its perpetrator. We learn the meaning of both sides of good and evil by living with all its problems. How could it be God’s will for such a thing to exist?

In the same way parents send their child off to school on a cold morning where they are faced with all kinds of unpleasant things. The child learns by both good and evil from the things that they encounter. No, the parent doesn’t enjoy the process, and often can only provide encouragement and comfort because the process must continue.

Under some circumstances the parents may act to move their child out of trying situations, but they only face them again somewhere else. If we can see loving parents behind these trials and stressful difficulties of their children; parents who refuse to intervene each time their child is hurt; then why can’t we see the same thing in God? Why do we charge God with being unloving when he doesn’t step in and prevent all suffering?

This is a very big subject and I've just scratched the surface. Have a comment or question? Send it to kencrocker@aol.com I'll send you a reply.

NEXT: THE SUFFERING OF JOB

GOOD AND EVIL

(Job 1:19-22 KJV) "And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. {20} Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, {21} And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. {22} In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

Difficult questions: If God is “infinite” meaning that he is not bound by time; knows the past and future at the same time; is never surprised by anything; then he knew Adam and Eve would disobey him and sin. They were warned, then sinned with full knowledge of what they were doing, and suffered the consequences.

The children that Adam and Eve had after they were driven out of paradise were given the same opportunity to choose good or evil. Cain, choosing evil killed Abel who chooses the good. The question plagues us. Why has God allowed trillions of Adam and Eve’s descendents to struggle with the same question over and over?

It was God who planted the tree of “good and evil” in the garden. Satan was right when he told Eve that by eating of its fruit they would be as God—knowing good and evil. When they were driven out of the garden the same problem and punishment were passed on to their children and this doesn’t seem fair. Why should innocent children suffer a lifetime of misery because of the sins of their parents?

Cain and Abel were given the same choice of good and evil. Abel chose the good and was killed by his brother Cain who chose evil. This murderous, wicked problem has plagued trillions of people who have followed them. Could there be any purpose in God deliberately allowing it to happen?

Babies don’t know good or evil. They only discover the meaning of cause and effect, disobedience and suffering after they leave the innocence of their infant years. Babies, knowing nothing, are loved and comforted, taken care of and watched over by good parents. It’s a joyous time to watch them make tiny advancements as they grow.

Every mother is aware of the terrible two’s when their sweet innocent baby begins to misbehave, test all limits, and try to bend the whole household to their liking. Why do parents put up with this? Because they know that beyond the terrible two’s is a period of growth, maturity and hopefully for their child, the possibility of becoming a delightful responsible adult.

If we transfer this concept to the story of creation we can see a close parallel. God didn’t want to walk in the garden forever and ever with babies. Parents would be alarmed and horrified if their children never developed mentally. However, hidden in this mental development is the possibility that their child may become a cruel, selfish, even murderous criminal who dies a needless violent death. There’s no greater sorrow than to watch a family try to rescue a child that refuses to be good.

A father stood in the doorway of his son’s bedroom and watched his wife stroke the hair of their no good drunk son. The son had passed out. His wife’s tears splashed down on the cheeks of a wasted, selfish son.

“He can’t hear you or care about anything you are doing,” he said softly.
“I know,” she said, “but this is the only time he will let me love him.”

Sin is a terrible disease. The end of sin and the refusal to change is to be discarded forever by God. All along the way there are possibilities for the sinner to change, to come to their senses, to be redeemed. Sadly, some never make this change.
Paradise, heaven, our father’s house, whatever we call it would be corrupted and spoiled by a single person arriving there with the deadly plague of sin in their heart.

That explains why God allows us to be both the victims of evil and its perpetrator. We learn the meaning of both sides of good and evil by living with all its problems. How could it be God’s will for such a thing to exist?

In the same way parents send their child off to school on a cold morning where they are faced with all kinds of unpleasant things. The child learns by both good and evil from the things that they encounter. No, the parent doesn’t enjoy the process, and often can only provide encouragement and comfort because the process must continue. Under some circumstances the parents may act to move their child out of trying situations, but they only face them again somewhere else.

If we can see loving parents behind these trials and stressful difficulties of their children; parents who refuse to intervene each time their child is hurt; then why can’t we see the same thing in God? Why do we charge God with being unloving when he doesn’t step in and prevent all suffering?

In Genesis chapter one, we read that God created a beautiful earth and called everything in it good. In fact he said it was very good. God was clearly pleased and satisfied with his creation. This beautiful pristine earth had nothing in it that was dangerous, ugly or painful.

There was no such thing as a thousand thunderstorms every minute somewhere on earth creating destruction and havoc with lightening and winds. A gentle mist rose from the earth and watered the garden. (Gen 2:6 KJV) “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” That was the creation that God planned from the beginning.

Have a comment or question? Send to: kencrocker@aol.com and I'll send you a reply.

NEXT: JOB RECOVERS HIS FAITH IN GOD

THE AMAZING CHRISTIAN BIBLE

The Christian Bible has two very different parts. The Old Testament gives us a lot of information about God and his chosen people - the Jews. The New Testament shows us a sharp contrast between Jesus and the Jewish leaders of his day. In the New Testament the Christian Faith is clearly one of fulfilment and no longer needed many of the rules and complex laws of the Old Testament.

This became a real problem when God opened the door to gentiles and all those who would accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a long discussion and resolution to this problem in the 15th chapter of Acts. The heart and soul of this problem was whether they should keep all the Laws of Moses, or obey the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Jesus had said: "I will build my church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it". Moses and Elijah obviously accepted the teaching of Jesus when they talked with him about his coming crucifixion. (Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2) The New Testament church had to make a decision about the large number of Gentiles who were becoming a part of the church. They made a decision that Gentiles did not have to live as Old Testament Jews.

(Acts 15:19-20 NIV) "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. {20} Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood."

Every Christian should carefully study the 15th chapter of Acts. Understanding this can spare us from many foolish and destructive debates. (2 Tim 2:23-24 NIV) "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. {24} And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful."

(Titus 1:9-11 NIV) "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. {10} For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. {11} They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain."

(Titus 3:9 NIV) "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless." There are many great concepts and much to learn from the Old Testament and we should read it. Just know that there is no way to live both under the Law of Moses and the clear teachings of Jesus Christ.

Want to lighten up a bit? Why are cats never mentioned in the Bible although they were abundant in Egypt? They were closely associated with the sun God RA and regarded by the Egyptians as sacred. Thousands of them were mummified and buried with their owners.

Dogs are often mentioned in the Bible - can you tell where? There are too many to mention. (Hint the Rich man and Lazarus with his faithful dog Morover) (Luke 16:20-21 KJV) "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, {21} And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores."

If you are old enough you know that President Linden Johnson had a habit of picking up his beagle by the ears. That's in the Bible. " (Prov 26:17 NIV) "Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own."

It's amazing, amusing and funny but Animal trials were common during the Middle ages. At Lavegny France in 1457 a sow and 6 pigs were tried for killing a child. Brilliant work by the Defense council got the pigs released on probation but the sow was hung by the neck until dead. The swine was brought to justice.

A horse was executed in Dijon in 1639. Also a bull gored and killed his master near Moissy France. The Bovine prisoner was locked in the local jail - later convicted of premeditated murder and hanged on the village gallows. I wonder what Bible verses they used for this idiot behavior.

I tell you there are some really strange things in the Old Testament. You could eat winged insects if they could jump...but no catfish. A flat nose disqualified a man from being a Priest. I've spent years studying the Bible and I'm amazed at what I've learned. The Jews were an amazing people.

What conceivable explaination is there for the history of the Jews, with their inextinguishable vitality, fulfillment again and again of their hopes, except the truth that God had chosen them, and God was with them? They were a stiff-necked people with no splendid territory, but a narrow, poorly watered land. They were not powerful enough even to conquer their own small land. They were not united. They were not free but became the prey of nation after nation.

Yet no power has ever been able to crush them, no persecution to destroy them. Their sacred book is the sacred book of humanity. What explains it all? Nothing but the truth that God showed his word to Jacob, His statues and ordinances to Israel.

Philosopher Will Durant ( who was not a Christian) wrote about the New Testament Christians: "Mere inventors of the New Testament would have left out the squabbles of the Apostles for first place - their flight at the arrest of Jesus, Peters denial - the despairing cry of Jesus on the Cross. That a few simple men could have invented so powerful and appealing personality - so lofty an ethic, and such an inspiring vision of Brotherhood - that would be a far greater miracle than any recorded in the Bible.

There a lot more to come....if you have a question or comment please e-mail it to me. I've spent over 60 years carefully studying the Bible. kencrocker@aol.com

Two examples of False Doctrines

Here are two interesting examples of false doctrine supported by a single verse of scripture. One is a Roman Catholic doctrine, and the other is a key doctrine of the Mormon Church.

I did a Medical project in Iquitos Peru in the heart of the Amazon Jungle with a Cardiologist who is a compassionate and wonderful friend. He is a devout Roman Catholic. I have great respect for him and we are close friends. One of my best friends is a Morman Elder. I also admire his kindness, compassion and integrity. I may as well tell you that I don't hate anyone.

The Catholic church bases it's entire teaching of Pergatory on an inference in one small verse. Read it carefully. (Mat 12:32 KJV) "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

Catholic theologians say..."Neither in the world to come...must mean that some sins can be forgiven in the world to come". (So pergatory was invented). Well it doesn't say that ---and we can't find a single place in the Bible that does. So the massive doctrine of pergatory, paying the priest to interceed for our dead relative suffering there is simply a false and untrue concept.

Our Mormon friends also have a closely guarded and "costly practice" of praying for the dead in their temples. Devout Mormons must be recommended by their Bishop, tithe faithfully, and obey all mormon teaching to do this. Their prayers and good works can supposedly be transferred to a dead relative who died without knowing the Lord. Their redemption comes from a single "piece" of a verse in the Bible. Here is the verse.

(1 Cor 15:29 KJV) "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"
Notice Paul didn't say he prayed for the dead. He had just given a long message proving the resurrection of Jesus. As an after thought he said to them: "If you don't believe in the resurrection of the dead then why are you being baptised for them."

It's easier to see this in the NIV translation. (1 Cor 15:29 NIV) "Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?"

No, there is nothing in the Bible about Christians being baptised for the dead. It was a heathern practice. Paul was just using their own foolish practice to make a point about the resurrection of Jesus.

Want another one? Many Pentecostal and Charismatic preachers use this one to raise money. Seed Faith, I think it's called. I'll let you put this one together. (3 John 1:2 KJV) "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." If your soul is going to prosper then you need to learn to give....so send me some money.

Again the NIV gives us some help. (3 John 1:2-3 NIV) "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. {3} It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth."

You guessed it! It was simply a greeting for a dear friend. Hope you are doing well and in good health. The Bible can be a source of strength, wisdom and guidance. It can give us a joyful and healthy life if we understand it and use it right.

Sadly it can be a source of great sinful wickedness if it's used in a twisted, illogical way. It can ruin true faith and make us sick, neurotic, spiritual cripples.

Study it with me and that won't happen. Next we might need to talk about why cats were not mentioned in the Bible but dogs were. Also we might need to know whether Adam and Eve had a naval. (Especially if you are going to paint a picture of them). Witches, crusaders, the inquisitions, hanging hogs and horses might come next. You never know.

READ THE GOOD BOOK !!!! Have a question or comment? Send it to kencrocker@aol.com and I'll send you a reply.

Why is the subject of Bible Translations Important?

Why is the subject of Bible Translations Important?

It's important because all kinds of false doctrine can be built by repeatedly emphasising a false interpretation of just one single word of part of a verse. If every word in the Bible is literally true (including the flawed translations) then one - single - solitary word can be used to support any kind of false doctrine of belief.

For example: Many verses in the Bible refer to healing as some kind of restoration and have nothing to do with physical sickness.

II Chron. 7:14 talks about God healing the land...
Psalms 41:4 talks about God healing the soul.
Psalms 60:2 talks about healing the breach...
Jer. 3:22 and Hosea 14:4 talks about God healing their backsliding...
John 12:39 quotes the prophesy of Isaiah, which talks about spiritual blindness, dead hearts, and talks about the stubborn unbelief of the people and says they won't turn to God so he could heal them. Heal them of what? The same spiritual blindness the church of Laodicia was afflicted with.
Acts 28:27 gives us the same idea.

This doesn't mean that I don't believe in physical healing. Jesus healed many physical sicknesses, and I've personally been healed by God while on the Mission field. I've seen many wonderful healings that came by simple prayer. No, I don't believe we can "make merchandise of healing" by gimmics to raise money. (II Peter 2:1-3)

IMPORTANT RULE TO FOLLOW ABOUT THE BIBLE. Every doctrine and teaching should be based on more than a single word or piece of a verse. If it's important for us and Jesus is really speaking to his church - any doctrine will be supported by many verses of scripture and plainly taught by Jesus and the Apostles.

By requiring that a Quotation of the Bible is documented in several places, we will have a better chance of not being fooled by false teachings. Even in different translations the contradictions will be noticeable.

Tomorrow I'll explain why the Mormons pray and do good works for the dead.



God bless you and keep you strong in the Faith,

Pastor Ken

The Bible can be trusted.

The Bible contains the word of God. It's been translated into hundreds of languages and dialects. It doesn't lose it's divine inspiration because there may be a minor error in one particular translation. For years the King James version had an obvious error in it. In the song of Solomon it talked about the voice of the turtle. (Song 2:12 KJV) "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;"

The turtle has no voice. You've never heard a turtle sing grand opera or preach a sermon. When the NIV was first produced they corrected this obvious error in translation. They simply wrote "the voice of the turtle dove". (Song 2:12 NIV) "Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land."

This correction cleared up the obvious "very minor" error in translation. Our faith is restored. The Bible is divinely inspired. Another interesting problem is found in (Gal 6:2 KJV) "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Yet just a few verse later we read: (Gal 6:5 KJV) "For every man shall bear his own burden."

What's going on here? Does this mean the Bible contradicts itself? NO! It is simply a matter of understanding that nothing happens in a vacuum. There are always circumstances going on that can alter our perception of what is being said.

Let's consider two different circumstances. Suppose the individual in Verse 2 is an elderly widow in the church. She is not able to take care of herself. What should Christians do about this? Of course we have a duty to assist her and take care of her burdens. In Matthew 25 Jesus clearly taught that "compassion for those in need is absolutely mandatory if we want to be saved and go to heaven." And the sure and certain way to be lost is to ignore those in need.

Now, let's consider a person in the church who is lazy, won't work, always trying to get someone to do his share of the work. He is healthy and able to take care of his own needs. Now, Galatians 6:5 makes sense. "(Gal 6:5 KJV) "For every man shall bear his own burden."

The circumstances makes both statements perfectly clear and easy to understand. We have again obeyed the scriptures. (2 Tim 2:15 KJV) "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

I have taught the Bible for over 60 years. I've read the Bible from cover to cover a great many times. I've researched the Bible with different commentaries and extended documents. I have looked at thousands of Hebrew and Greek words. They often have several dozen different meanings depending on the context or how the word is used in a passage.

The translators go back and find every available secular document from approximately the same time period to see how the word was used in that setting. Translating anything into another language is difficult to say the least.

Come with me and let's explore the wonderful gift God has given us. Meet me here for a daily bible study. I will help resolve some of the problems you may have when you talk about the Bible with Atheist or non-believers. I will help you build a rock solid confidence in the Bible. The Bible is the best link we have to understand not only the attributes of God but his will for this earthly life.

Do you have questions? Let me know what they are and I will consider doing a study on them.

God bless you and keep you strong in the faith,

Pastor Ken