As the events of last year continue to occur in the New Year, in the coming darkness of a world where the future is becoming more unpredictable and uncertain, Christians need to be steadfast in prayer and faith in our Lord Jesus and in His and our Heavenly Father.
Let the light of God shine out from you as life becomes more difficult for all.
Bruce
March 2017
Lately I have been hearing of strange interpretations (misinterpretations actually) of various verses or passages in the Bible. The modern world is awash with weird and strange conspiracy theories in all walks of life and culture. Christians need to be alert to the possibility of misunderstanding when reading the Bible.
Remember the Bible version you are reading today is a translation from texts in ancient Hebrew, Aramaic (OT), and from Koine ( a form of Greek, different from classical Greek) in the New Testament. Since they were originally written and later translated, words have changed their meaning, culture has changed, and new words have been invented.
Learn as much as you can about the language and culture of the times when the Scriptures were first written and also the meanings of words that were used in earlier translations. Try to avoid understanding words in their present cultural and linguistic context.
I will go into more specific examples in later English Corners.
Be blessed,
Bruce
April 2017
Meek is a word often in used in the King James Authorised Version (KJV) to describe Jesus. However this word has taken on new meanings over the years since then. Originally it was used to describe someone who was slow to anger, willing to listen and did not react with violence or threats to insults. (In the 1600’s most men carried swords at their sides and were quick to use them.)
Today the word “meek” has become synonymous with weak, or even cowardly in some circles. Jesus was most definitely not weak. He was strong in character and did not feel the need to defend himself from wrongful accusations. He used intelligent questions and the Scriptures to make His accusers think. (If they were willing to.) He used His power to rebuke the waves, to heal the sick and to rebuke the spiritual enemies.
He went to His death on the Cross willingly despite knowing that it would be an extremely painful ordeal. It takes real strength of character and purpose, but mostly love for His people to suffer in such a way.
Read Matthew chapters 26 – 28. Think how strong Jesus was and still is.
Be blessed,
Bruce
May 2017
Another word which seems to have changed its meaning, is “bless” or “blessed”. Today the impression I get that when people say “bless you” it is meant in a spiritual way and not in a concrete way. Whereas, the original Hebrew meaning of the word was very concrete and the blessing was meant to be worked out in ways which were clearly visible in the reality of the world in which we live.
Psalm 23 is an example of how God blesses people by leading them physically to good sustenance, Water and food. God uses his “rod” and “staff” to guide and correct. The rod and staff were symbols of God’s sovereignty and power.
In the second part of Psalm 23, God is pictured as serving a fine meal of good food and wine. Here God is pictured as a host preparing a feast, not just any feast, but a sumptuous feast for his guest, the guest is one who works for God. And God the employer provides his workers with all they need to live and to do the work He has given them to do. Not in amassing personal riches, but in sharing the blessings of God with others.
So:
Be blessed in this way every day by God.
Bruce
June 2017
While visiting Japan my hosts took me one evening to a traditional Japanese restaurant. The waitress entered the small private room, where we were seated on the floor, on her knees to place the food on the very low table. When the Israelites left Egypt they would have been pitching their tents each night and would also have eaten their food sitting on the ground or on low cushions. In many cultures respect is shown by kneeling. This is one aspect of the original concrete meaning of the Hebrew word which is usually translated as bless. In providing for our every day needs picture God as showing us respect and love by bending his knees to deliver His concrete gift of all we need in our daily lives.
God loves us, His creation, that He provides every need we have every day of our lives. He serves us, that we may serve Him and glorify Him each and every day.
Be blessed by what God provides for us.
Bruce
July 2017
The next word we need to look at in the English translation of Hebrew Biblical texts also comes from the Aaronic or Priestly blessing. “The Lord bless you and keep you.” Today we use the word keep in many different ways. We need to understand it in the way it was used and understood by the ancient Hebrew speaking people as they wandered in the desert for 40 years. To be blessed by God meant that God provided for all their needs,physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. When God keeps us, He protects us from danger, ministers to our health needs. Shepherds would build a hedge of thorn bushes at night to protect their flocks. Even today farmers “keep” their livestock by protecting them from illness and danger. This meaning of the word can still be found as protection, in the name of the stronghold of a castle which is called “The Keep”.
Allow God to protect you all the time as well as providing for you.
Be blessed,
Bruce
August 2017
When someone is happy we can say that their faces light up. When we see something or someone that we love our eyes and faces can light up with joy. The love a parent has towards his/her baby or child can bring smiles and light up their faces and the baby will respond to this in the same way. God’s love for His creation is so great that the light from His face is so very bright and will shine upon us. Especially when we are obedient and follow in the steps of Jesus and behave according to the teachings of Jesus. Then God will shine his light on us and fill us with that light.
God is light and His light is His love.
Let all who call Him Lord, walk in His light every day.
Be blessed
Bruce
September 2017
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you,
How can the Lord, who is nearly always thought of as being above us and looking down on us, lift up His face and show us His face. Are we higher than God? Not at all!
Imagine a father lifting up his precious child high above his head. Looking into the child’s eyes. Both his and the child’s eyes filled with the joy of their love. The love of a father, which calls forth the love within the child for it’s father. Such is the joy and happiness reflected in their smiles.
The child should feel and know that he/she is safe in the hands of its father.
God wants to lift each of us up above His head to show us His great and everlasting love for us.
Do you know and feel safe in the hands of God the Father?
We should all feel completely safe and secure and allow Him to lift us up so He can look into our eyes and share His love and joy in us, with us.
Be blessed,
Bruce
October 2017
and give you peace.
As we look around the world today and hear or read of the unrest, violence, poverty and injustice it is difficult to imagine that there could ever be perfect peace on this earth.
Yet this is God’s desire for us all. Not just His desire, but His plan that was set in motion before His work of creation. He knew exactly what His creation would be like and how it would become tainted by sin.
At the same time, He made an astounding provision for the salvation of His creation, His people. That means you and me, everybody. He sent His only Son to be born as a human being. To live among us and to teach through the word of God and by the example of how He lived among us.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus was and is the Word. According to this verse, it was God Himself who dwelt among us as a man.
This is reinforced in John 1: 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Let Jesus bless you with His peace in your heart, mind and spirit this and every day.
Amen
Be blessed,
Bruce
November 2017
The Aaronic or Priestly blessing in full as it appears in the Old Testament:
The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26 RSV)
Each time you say this, think deeply about the meaning of each word, with all your mind, with all your heart and deep in your spirit. He will be kind, gentle and gracious to you as He hears the cry of your heart and He will comfort you and bring you joy.
Then you can experience the blessing becoming more real and concrete in your daily life.
Be blessed.
Bruce
December 2017
As Christmas approaches once more, the rise of overt consumerism takes a new turn. Christ is being taken out of Christmas. He is being replaced, by manufactured objects. In some adverts the true meaning of Christmas is being mocked and people are being seduced into thinking that Christmas is about spending money, self indulgence and excess. This has been observed by many others.
It is time to put Christ and His love and sacrifice for His people, those who believe and worship Him as the Son of God and Saviour, in His rightful place in our hearts, minds and spirits. At this celebration of Jesus’ birth, let us also look forward to His triumphal and glorious return in the (hopefully) near future.
This Christmas, as well as the nativity passages in the Bible, why not read the book of Revelation.
Be blessed
Bruce