[You can read more about the background behind this post here.]

The Bible can be intimidating to read. It’s a big book full of smaller books, some of which are narrative, others are poetry, some are prophecies that seem confusing and strange.

The Bible was penned by many different authors and is full of stories, but all the stories and poetry and prophecy are really telling one Big story. It’s what the Bible is all about – from beginning to end, God’s message has been the same.

This is God’s Big Story.

God’s Big Story

Ready to dive into reading the Bible for yourself?  Courtney has written a helpful great general overview of the books of the Bible with suggestions about where to start. Find yourself an easy-to-read translation like the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, and open up God’s Word!!

If you’d like to learn to study the Bible for yourself, this is my free gift to you!

Feel free to download this as a PDF and use/ distribute as you wish. Fellow bloggers, grab the “God’s Big Story” button for your blog to link your readers back to this post!

There’s been a lot of uproar lately about President Barak Obama. My own political opinions aside, I am deeply concerned about the way believers are handling their political differences. My friends, we must Fear God and honor the King. This is where belief in God’s sovereignty gets real – consider carefully how we speak and act. “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” [This was originally published on January 20, 2009.]

Last week we started our study of 1st and 2nd Samuel with a look at Hannah and then at Hannah’s prayer, which provides the framework for the rest of the books.

Today, in light of the inauguration, it seemed appropriate to pause on that and discuss the “if, then…” applications of all of this.

True understanding of the sovereignty of God over rulers, as discussed in our look at Hannah’s prayer, raises the topic of the “S” word – Submission. (In God’s timing, we discussed the discipline of submission in our ABF on Sunday!) Submission seems to be an uncomfortable word across the board – I remember vividly teaching a section on submission when I was a high school Bible teacher, watching the older students squirm in their seats as I asked them about submission to things like speed limits or school rules that they disagreed with. I daily watch my young daughter wrestle with the inherent rebellion in her soul – at almost three years old she hates to submit. Throw out the word submission in any women’s Bible study and you get eyes cast down at their shoes, looks of angst, internal tension. Add to our innate hatred of submission as human beings the ingrained understanding of the right of independence as Americans, that “conquer the world” mentality, and the pop culture ideal that all authority is meant to be mocked, and what we’ve got is a big mess.

It seems appropriate to spend some time looking at Romans 13:1-2.

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

Submission, no doubt, is much harder when you disagree with your authorities. Any child, wife, employee, etc. clearly understands that. I do not agree with Barack Obama. I did not vote for him, I do not like his political views. Nevertheless, I have been clearly commanded in Scripture to submit to his authority and give him the respect he is due as the president of our country. On what grounds? He has been put in that position by God Himself. If God is truly sovereign, if God is my ultimate King, and He has placed this human being in power over me… rebellion against this human leader is rebellion against God. Period. [Obviously there's always the caveat of "unless you're commanded to do something directly against the Word of God... I'm assuming we all understand that.]

1 Peter 2:12-17 further elaborates on this issue:

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

It’s interesting to me that Peter’s argument for submission to authorities revolves around the public testimony of the believers and the glory of God. Although I agree that as citizens of the United States of America Christians have the privilege and responsibility to engage in the political arena, I fear that in many ways our well-intentioned efforts to fight for the good have turned into fights against people. Whether real or simply perceived, Christians are seen as arrogant, ignorant, prejudiced, partisan, hateful… the list could go on. How does Peter instruct these believers to “silence the ignorant talk of foolish men”? By doing good. By submission to authorities. By showing proper respect for everyone.

So, let’s get practical. What does it mean to fear God and honor the king? I’m sure you could add volumes to this, but this is just a teaser to get our thoughts going. Showing honor is more than obedience. Showing honor to Barack Obama is more than me paying my taxes and living as a law-abiding citizen. (although, it certainly does mean that.) Honor for someone comes out in my attitudes and in my words. Am I honoring the president of our country if I slander him, repeat fallacious statements, or seek to incite others against him personally? Clearly, no. This is not unfounded reverence for him or blind acceptance of what he does. I can disagree strongly and still honor him in the way I discuss the way my views vary with his. However, a true fear of God and understanding of His sovereignty necessitates that I respect the leaders placed over me in my life.

Truthfully, this is much more convicting on a local level for me. There are leaders in my daily life that I strongly, hotly disagree with. I may feel at times that I am being treated unjustly. As I interact in these situations and even seek to address these deep issues, it must, MUST be done in a respectful way. For if God is sovereign, it is no accident that they are over me.

So, whatever your feelings were as you watched or listened to the inauguration today, remember this: We serve a sovereign God who sets kings up and takes them down, and nothing is out of His control. Barack Obama is officially our president, and it’s time to live out our faith in authenticity before those with whom we disagree.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4

*Picture from wikipedia.org

My friend Shannon sent this to me today – It is convicting and so true!

My name is pride, I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny,
because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment,
because you deserve better than this.
I cheat you of knowledge,
because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing,
because you are too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness,
because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vision,
because you would rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship,
because nobody is going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love,
because real romance demands a sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven,
because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
I cheat you the glory of God,
because I convince you to seek your own.
You like me because you think I am always looking out for you.
Untrue. I am looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but do not worry…
If you stick with me, you will never know.

-author unknown

This was a reading I prepared for our ladies’ Christmas tea at church this year, based on Matthew 2:1-12. As with everything on my blog, feel free to use/ share this – I just ask that you include the url to this site. I pray that we are all preparing our hearts for Christmas along with our homes!

Dusty and physically spent from their journey, their hearts beating in anticipation, the Magi arrived in Jerusalem. They had seen His star, and felt compelled to find Him, to worship Him: the long-awaited King of the Jews! They had traveled for months, years, and had finally arrived at their destination, anxious honor Him, this child-King announced to them from the heavens themselves.

These sincere worshippers from a foreign land went to the most logical place they could think of to find Him: Jerusalem, the city of David. “Where is He? Where is the King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him!” Their enthusiasm was not mirrored in the faces of those they talked to in the city. In fact, rather than the spark of recognition and excitement they had expected, they saw fear, confusion, and distrust.

The news of their visit and inquiry about a new king reached the ears of King Herod. The King was more than curious and unsettled. He was enraged. He heard their words as a threat to his kingship and power. He knew what to do, for the words of the Magi had been too familiar. The promised Christ. The King of the Jews. Oh yes, he knew the King to which they referred, and a bunch of dusty prophecies could not be allowed to infringe upon his power.

Herod gathered together the chief priests and scribes, and soon he had received his answer: prophecy stated that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. He quietly summoned the magi and sent them on to Bethlehem with instructions to inform him of the child’s whereabouts. He would destroy this so-called king before it was too late.

The magi set out from the palace on their way to Bethlehem. As they neared the town, and the last gleams of daylight disappeared from the western horizon, they glanced at the night sky which was so familiar to them and were suddenly overcome with wonder. The star! THE star! The one they had seen, discussed, studied two years earlier was winking back at them from the velvety, diamond-studded heavens. It appeared to be moving, shining, gliding its way through the streets of Bethlehem until it gloriously shone on one tiny house jumbled among many on the crowded street.

Their knock at the door was answered by an obviously poor but dignified young woman. When they noticed the small boy clinging to her cloak, they knew. This child did not look extraordinary – his appearance and surroundings would not distinguish him from the scores of common children in Bethlehem. But still, they knew this was the one. He was not marked by elegant trappings, but the bright star which shone down on this house made it unmistakable: this was the Christ, the King of the Jews.

One by one these regal and learned men knelt before the boy in worship, recognizing that this child was more than a future human king – He was divine. Each produced a treasure – gifts worthy of a king. Gifts which foretold more than they realized.

The first gift revealed was gold – a shining treasure seemingly out of place in the simple house. This gold was more than an expensive gift. Gold signified kingly glory, for they were paying tribute to the True King.

As the second gift was opened, the strong aroma of Frankincense filled the air. Frankincense was part of the unique recipe given by God for the incense to be used to in the tabernacle and temple. The scent of Frankincense was to come before God in a pleasing aroma of worship, and these magi were honoring Him as God in flesh.

The third gift, although still costly and beautiful, was unsettling. Myrrh is a bitter herb used in the embalming of the dead. This third gift foretold the suffering and death which awaited the child of the promise who stood before them.

As we consider the events of this day long ago, we must consider our own approach to this one True King. Some will hear the news of the Christ and will react as the people in Jerusalem did – they will not respond with excitement and joy. They will be afraid, confused, and suspicious. This King they have heard of could disrupt the calm of their lives and demand a different kind of allegiance than they are willing to offer. Rather than searching for the King themselves in order to enter into the joy of serving Him, they will stand back and miss the gift of Immanuel – God with us.

Others will hear and respond with anger, as King Herod did. Who is this One who claims the right to rule? Who will seek to usurp the power and authority we feel we have over our own destinies and daily lives? They will not stand back, they will wage war. The Wonderful Counselor will be seen as a threat, and they will seek to destroy this King and erase all memory of His name. But one day, they must bow the knee. For He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

A few will hear of His coming and rejoice, search for Him, and seek to present themselves to Him in worship. They will recognize Him not as just another child, but as the promised Christ. They will give all they have to Him, the one True King, the one True God, the Redeemer and Savior of their souls.

Where would you have been that day? Would you have ignored Him, hated Him – or would you have worshipped Him? What will you do with the problem of Jesus? Who do you say that He is?

O come let us adore Him, for He is Christ the Lord.