The Most Infamous Lie Ever Told

My daughter, Grace, and I were at her doctor’s appointment signing onto the office wifi while waiting for the doctor. As is typical to expect, a page pops up prompting us to affirm by clicking “Yes” to the question: “Have you read and agreed [to everything, blah, blah, blah]…” …which, also typical of most people, we did click “Yes” without actually reading the “blah, blah, blah-dee-dah.” Grace then told me that she had read somewhere that this was one of the most notorious lies ever told. We both chuckled in agreement (with a bit of conviction, also). –But I am convinced, and CONVICTED! that the *most* infamous lie is, in fact, “I do." 

Consider the *express meaning* of each promise within the marriage vows:
Standard Traditional Vows
[Groom’s name], do you take [Bride’s name] to be your wedded wife, to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and cherish her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, till death do you part? So help you God? {I do.}

[Bride’s name], do you take [Groom’s name] to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and cherish him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him, till death do you part? So help you God? {I do.}

So let’s look at these vows/promises individually, shall we?

…to live together in marriage--> In summation of 1Corinthians ch.7, marriage is a holy union of equality and oneness between man and woman wherein each *selflessly* submits themselves to the other for both the physical and spiritual benefit of the other. We must honestly assess ourselves here… …are we consistently “living together IN MARRIAGE” with our spouses? Are our every action towards our spouse premeditated and intentional for their spiritual and/or physical benefit?

…Do you promise:
 --> to love your spouse
What is love? 1Corinthians ch.13 defines love as: “…patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”[1 Corinthians 13:4-7]
^^^Have any of us consistently shown that kind of love for our spouses^^^

 [promise…]--> to comfort one another
What does it mean to “comfort” another person? Comfort is defined as: “the easing or alleviation of a person's feelings of grief or distress.” Surely, we must admit, there have been occasions when we were angry towards our spouse and acted uncompassionately towards our spouses’ feelings and therefore failed to comfort our spouses?

[promise…]--> to honor
What does “honor” mean? Honor means “to regard with great respect.” Have we never spoken in a disrespectful way to our spouses or said something demoralizing? Do we always honor our spouses?

[promise…]--> to cherish
To “cherish” someone is to regard that person as an extremely rare object deserving of the utmost care and protection. When you “cherish” someone you regard that person as priceless in value. Yet, are any of us guilty of taking our spouses for granted? –that’s not cherishing.

…for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, forsaking all others
In other words, in respect to all the previous vows, those promises to your spouse take priority over all other people [or things] no matter how good or bad you view your marriage and/or circumstances to be. Are we not all guilty of sometimes choosing to do other things in an effort to avoid our spouses when we know that a conflict is imminent to ensue? Doing so not only breaks this particular vow, but also EVERY promise which precedes it!

…being faithful only to your spouse
Most every one of us may comfortably be able to say that we have kept this promise. However, Jesus taught that it is unfaithful to our spouses to look lustfully at another{Matt5:27-30}. Jesus says that looking at another person as “eye-candy” [that is, “lust of the eyes;” compare 1John2:16] is equal to committing adultery in your heart. For me, personally, I can honestly affirm that there is no room in my eyes for any other woman; as Job had also said: “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”{Job31:1 (KJV)}.

…till death do you part
This is self-explanatory. The marriage covenant is a lifelong commitment. Just as Jesus, Himself, also taught **His followers** to observe. Jesus taught that Moses, through the law, allowed divorce because of the hardness of people’s hearts{Matt19:8a} [ponder it then: Is a hard heart a good thing?]. –BUT, Jesus then affirmed that, from the beginning, divorce was never God’s will{Matt19:8b}. Jesus gives this commandment **to those who will follow Him**--> “…what God has joined together let no one dissolve”{Matt19:6}. -Because it is written, “For the Lord, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce”{Malachi2:16}.

…so help you God
This is an express affirmation that the marriage covenant is witnessed in the presence of God and serves as a prayer, also, seeking His intervention in upholding every vow and promise.
“I DO.”

Marriage vows/promises are a covenant –and a covenant which not only is made before earthly witnesses, but is also made in the presence of God and all His angels. We are all guilty of breaking our marriage covenant to a certain degree and extent. We are, therefore, all of us, guilty of the most infamous lie ever told and consequently covenant-breakers. God warns us in the Bible that “covenant-breakers” will not inherit the kingdom of God{Rom1:31 (KJV)}.
So, knowing that we are guilty of lying and are therefore covenant-breakers before God, we should with humility come before God expressing godly remorse{2Cor7:10} and repentance; confess this sin to God and get cleansed of it{1John1:9}; and from now on, “sin no more”{John8:11} -recommitting and purposing in our hearts to keep all our promises in our marriage vows… …so help us God!

PRESCRIPTION

God's word teaches that the specific circumstances you find yourself in have been designed by Him--
--> 14 So he will do to me whatever he has >planned.<
He controls my destiny.
Job 23:14 [NLT]
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That Hebrew word translated "planned" above is: חק / chôq (H2706). This Hebrew word is synonymous to our English word: "prescribed” -like when a doctor prescribes medication/treatment.

A "prescription" is written *exclusively* to whom it was prescribed for an *explicit* purpose. A prescription is intended either for healing or comfort. Likewise, by telling us that each and every circumstance in which we find ourselves in is prescribed for us by God, we can trust that EVERY circumstance has an explicit purpose meant to heal or comfort us; prescribed by an all-loving and all-wise "Physician."

Question: How many know that sometimes the cure can seem worse than the ailment? When the circumstances you find yourself in consist of suffering, remember that not only is the suffering explicitly prescribed to deal with specific spiritual ailments or deficiencies [which you need to discuss with the prescribing "Doctor"], but that God has designed suffering to have LONG-lasting *benefits* even once the suffering has passed.

Firstly, suffering equips us with experience to share with others. 2Cor1:4 teaches us that when we go through suffering we are enabled to comfort others with the comfort we received from God through our own suffering.

Secondly, suffering reminds us to remain dependent upon God. 2Cor1:8-10 teaches us that suffering will bring us to the realization that we need to maintain trust in God. -And that even when it seems death is eminent, we serve a God who can raise the dead. [Addendum: In the case of medical conditions, this doesn't mean that we reject medical treatment like certain denominations do. It means that we trust God to use those involved in our medical treatment and trust in God for the ultimate outcome.]

Lastly, suffering results in much thanksgiving. 2Cor1:11 demonstrates that implicit to suffering is sharing prayer requests among our brothers and sisters; and that when these prayers are answered many will give thanks to God.

In sum, whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in, we can have "peace that passes all understanding"{Philippians4:7} because we know that nothing in our lives happens by accident. Each and every predicament has been "prescribed" by an all-loving and omniscient God who has intimate knowledge of everything about us; including what we need in our lives to keep us spiritually healthy  -so we should be able to confidently say along with Job: "Though He slay me, I will never cease to trust Him"{Job13:15}.

PERHAPS THE MOST ABUSED VERSE

--> 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13 [CSB] The reason for its abuse is a misconstruing of the Greek word [ἐν / en(G1722)] which is translated as “through” in Philippians4:13. The common misconception of Philippians4:13 is that this is a promise that one can do *all things* “>through< him{Christ}…” …construed to be suggesting that ALL THINGS we set our hearts to doing can be accomplished so long as we have faith in Jesus who will give us the strength to accomplish our goals. However, such a connotation of “through” in Philippians4:13 is incorrect. First, take into consideration Paul’s context leading up to vs13. In vss11-12 Paul is recounting circumstances ranging from having an excess to facing severe destitution all of which he had experienced **as a result of serving Christ.** –And what he had learned, Paul tells us, is that whatever situation that he may find himself in, because he is serving >CHRIST’S WILL,< Paul knows that Jesus will provide both strength and material needs necessary to accomplish >CHRIST’S WILL.< Paul is making the point that only “through Christ” –meaning, only by abiding within Christ’s will- could Paul do “all things” because Christ would strengthen him; thereby enabling Paul to accomplish “all things” >for Christ sake< [i.e. not our own sake]. Hence, Philippians4:13 isn’t a promise that we will be given strength for pursuing self-inclined goals. The second point of significance is regarding the lexical semantics surrounding the Greek word ἐν / en(G1722) which is translated “through” in Philippians4:13. This Greek word is a primary preposition denoting a *fixed* position. With this in mind, the connotation of “through,” as it should be construed in Philippians4:13, when it says, “I can do all things *through* Christ...” …is that so long as we are *fixed* in Jesus Christ [i.e. set upon pursuing His will as His ambassadors {ref. also 2Cor5:20}], we are promised to be provided whatever strength will be necessary for us to do “all things” to bring Him glory{compare also 1Cor10:31}. Picture it this way… …picture a pipe as being symbolically representative of Christ. Now picture us as being water flowing “through” the pipe. Water gets from point A to point B “THOUGH” the pipe; so long as the water is “fixed”{ἐν / en(G1722)} within the pipe then it is “through the pipe{Christ}” that the water{us} can make it from point A to point B. So then, when Paul says that “through him{Christ}” we can accomplish all things; the analogy of water >through< the pipe best represents what the Greek word ἐν / en(G1722) means and grants us the true understanding of Philippian4:13--> When we are submissive to Christ; as water passing >through< a pipe follows the direction of the pipe; we can do all things >through< Christ who will also strengthen us to accomplish His will.

Joy, Hope, and a Messenger of Satan

"...there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me,.." [2Cor12:7] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...so I was having another bad "pain-day" the other day. Over 18years ago, as I trained a co-worker on a forklift, he accidentally bumped the rack and [50 boxes] 1,250 pounds of frozen poultry dropped on top of me from about 11ft over my head. The impact carried me 10ft across the aisle and down to the floor crushing me against another fully loaded pallet. My entire upper body was shoved and pinned against a pallet on the first-level rack by a remnant of over 600lbs of boxed frozen poultry; which remained intact because of the plastic wrap which is used to wrap the boxes together several times before transporting. Several co-workers rushed to my aid cutting the thickly-layered plastic frantically from all sides to free me from the crushing weight which lay across my lap and crushing my body...

Long story made short [most all worker's comp stories are long -am I right? :/ ]... ...most of the the joints [called facets] in my low back were fractured, my hip had been dislocated at the spine [popped back into place on-scene, “OUCH!!!”], at least one vertebrae in my thoracic region had a visible vertical crack on the MRI, my neck and low back sustained torn ligaments and a spinal cord stretch injury from hyper-flexion when the boxes fell on my head and from my dislocated hip,.. ...and 18+ years later, my PCP thinks that as a result of spinal cord contusions etc. from the crush injury, I have developed Fibromyalgia. 

I was remembering the pain sensations I was experiencing a few days ago [and typically regularly, I might add]... ...sometimes it feels like electrical shocks in various limbs and/or in my spine, sometimes, in different places, it feels like vibrations [like a tuning fork deep beneath the skin], and sometimes I feel sensations like electrically charged water running through my spine [-- an *extremely* tingly and painful sensation], or sometimes it feels like lightning bolts shooting down either of my legs,... ...but the sensations that really got me thinking were the ones that felt like deep penetrating bites, and/or like branding irons, or like pinches, pokes, punches and/or kicks.... ...these sensations brought to my mind the words of Paul who said that his "thorn in the flesh" was a "messenger of Satan **sent to buffet** him..."{KJV} ...some have proposed that Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was possibly failing eyesight or some suggest even a routine heckler(s) whom regularly “harassed” Paul. -But neither of those suggestions sound like being "buffeted" to me... ...some days, for me, it does feel like getting a "beat down" [-such is the normal day to day plight for those of us whom suffer from chronic pain]. Personally, I am entirely convinced that Paul was describing a chronic pain condition which he sustained from all the physical abuses he encountered{stonings etc.}...

Albeit, Paul spoke of his frailty in a positive sense, stating that God is glorified in his own personal weaknesses/limitations... ...Paul essentially says that God’s strength is powerfully manifested through personal limitations.
 
Anyway, I am convinced that Paul was metaphorically describing his own chronic pain condition which also caused a degree of limitations for him...

...so then, here's the moral and reason for my post: Regardless, of any limitations and/or suffering that is *allowed to pervade our daily living{*see Job 23:14/1Cor 10:13}; we should purpose within ourselves, as Paul did, to turn it into glory for God{see also 1Cor10:31}. When others see God's strength within us; our joy and hope despite our suffering; as we rely upon His grace to sustain us, they will want to know how it is that we have so much hope and joy despite our sufferings{compare 2Cor 1:3-4}... ...it is then that we can share with them the “reason for the hope which is within us"{1Peter 3:15} -which reason is: The good news of-- 1) God’s coming kingdom upon Earth where there is no pain, no suffering, nor death{Rev21:1-5}; and 2) how, through faith in Jesus -God's Messiah- one can be permitted to enter this kingdom when it comes.

Blue Lights Flashing On Your Six [A Bible Devotional]

[Read Matt 5 and Rom 7 and Eph5:8-10]

Yesterday I was pondering two different perspectives of the "Law." Specifically, the Speed Limit. It dawned on me that the "Speed Limit" was never intended to be construed: "...this is how fast you should be going." As though the Law was meant to be interpreted in the sense of what is "*allowable.*" The Law's purpose is not to designate what is allowable but to establish what is *CONDEMNED.* As Paul conveyed it Romans7, stating that the Law has no power to justify because the Law's purpose serves ONLY to condemn -and so no one can be saved by obeying the Law [because all are guilty of breaking the Law and need to be forgiven; the Law is NOT capable of forgiving -only God can forgive... ...which is why Paul explains that salvation is by the grace of God and not our works- Eph2:8,9 ... ...albeit, vs10 reveals that we are not altogether exempted from good works because we were, indeed, created to do good works.(sorry got sidetracked :) ].

As I pondered upon it longer, I realized that this same "tunnel-vision" view of the Law [i.e. "That's what it says; that's what I'll do."] is the view for which Jesus was "correcting" the teaching of the religious leaders... ...for instance, we read in Matthew5 how the religious teachers taught "do not
murder... ... ...do not commit adultery..." -Jesus corrected this "tunnel-vision" interpretation of the Law by explaining, [in retrospect to idea of the Speed Limit sign], that "do not kill" was the "Limit." However, Jesus revolutionized the "tunnel-vision" view of the Law by expanding the interpretation beyond the mere "limit"so that His followers would realize that it's not about the "Limit" but about the heart... ...for instance, Jesus said that if you were furious with your brother then you were virtually guilty of the very reason the Law "Do not murder" was established.

The Law [including a Speed Limit sign :p ] is there to CONDEMN you if you go beyond the limit prescribed -so wouldn't it be wise to keep a safe distance under the "limit" to avoid inadvertently transgressing the Law? Are you furious with anyone..? ...are you guilty of looking at "eye-candy"{lust of the eyes}..? If so, it's time to ease back on the pedal!

I can guarantee you this one thing: If, every time you see a Speed Limit sign, you bear in mind Jesus' "revolutionary" [though not really "revolutionary" so much as "*intended*"] way of interpreting the Law **AND ABIDE BY IT** -you will never get a speeding ticket :) 

IN HOT PURSUIT

The Scriptures dictate that those who "continue to practice (i.e. habitually commit) sin"{cf. 1John3:4-10 below} will not inherit the kingdom of God-
@ Gal5:
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, !!and things like these!! I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
@ 1John3:
1Jn 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
1Jn 3:5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
1Jn 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
1Jn 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
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...if it were impossible to live holy day by day; then the Scriptures would not teach expressly and explicitly that we are to BE HOLY{1Peter1:15-16}... ...and to "PURSUE... ...holiness without which no one will see the Lord"{Heb12:14}.
The Greek word in Heb12:14 translated "follow"{KJV} and "pursue" in other versions is: διώκω / diōkō [G1377]. This word is used in extra-biblical texts to describe the pursuit of a predator for its prey... ...if you have ever watched an Animal Kingdom documentary where a lioness is "pursuing" her prey and doesn't stop until she takes it down -then this is the idea being conveyed in Heb12:14 when we are commanded to "*pursue*... ...holiness."
If this does not describe your attitude towards obtaining holiness then according to Heb12:14, without such "pursuit-" "NO ONE will see the Lord."
In closing, call to mind: Philippians2:12-13... ...where Paul admits that he has not yet reached perfection; but that he continues to "follow after"{διώκω / diōkō [G1377]} that to which he is called -i.e. holiness/perfection... ...every day we should becoming more and more like Jesus as we διώκω / diōkō ["fervently pursue" (G1377)] holiness{Heb12:14}...

@ 1John2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

@ John15:6 If anyone does not abide in me [i.e. if anyone does not walk in the same way in which I walk{cf. 1John2:6}] he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
["Thrown away like a branch... ...to be burned" is an unequivocal allusion to condemnation in the lake of fire.{cf. Rev21:8}]

Operating System (OS): Holiness 7 -service pack (sp): "eternity"

A thought occurred to me just now; as I was studying the Scriptures; and this analogy in my mind was quite profound... ...I hope it is as profound and meaningful to anyone else who reads this...

I imagined the human soul{i.e. body, mind and will} as a computer hard drive... ...as everyone might know, the hard drive is what contains the programming for your PC; everything your PC does is dependent upon the operating system which is programmed upon the hard drive.

When we are "born-again" it's like when you upgrade your PC's operating system--> i.e. the operating system is renewed and improved while [if all goes well with the PC upgrade unsure emoticon ] all your files stay intact. The "files" of one's soul are the soul's life experiences which do not get deleted...

As a born-again believer, God has included in our new "operating system" the maintenance program and "antivirus" protection combo called "the Holy Spirit." This “programming” works along side of God’s newly installed operating system to insure that the "PC"{i.e. the soul} functions properly for its intended purpose{i.e. to imitate Jesus (cf. Rom8:29/1John2:6)} and that no access is allowed to harmful "files" which could lead to a virus resulting in corrupting the OS.

The evidence that your programming has been updated by God and that the "Holy Spirit" is installed [and active] will be manifested by: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control;{Gal5:22-23} -and a mind set and determined upon pleasing God in all things{Php2:13/1Cor10:31}.

The evidences of a virus will be manifest by: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.{Gal5:19-21}.

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**Warning:** Even the BEST antivirus cannot protect your PC from a virus if you INTENTIONALLY and HABITUALLY expose your PC to threats:

--> Heb10:

Heb 10:26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Heb 10:27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Heb 10:28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Heb 10:29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

Heb 10:30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."

Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

--> 1John3

1Jn 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

1Jn 3:5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

1Jn 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

1Jn 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

1Jn 3:9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

1Jn 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

[Pay special attention to 1John3:4; i.e. "lawlessness" -and then read the next passage]

--> Matt7

Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'

Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of LAWLESSNESS.'

^^"Lawlessness"^^ is the deliberate and habitual sin which one trivializes and/or for which one is not genuinely repentful. "Lawlessness" corrupts God's programming... ...and any ignored "virus" will eventually lead to "lawlessness." Paul warned of the consequences of ignoring “viruses”--> “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”{Gal5:19-21}.

What OS Are You Running? -and is your antivirus ACTIVE?!