1 Peter 1

17 You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.

I like this thought, he would do anything for you but he won't let you get by doing anything.  As a Father I can't relate to this verse and helps me understand how God feels towards me.

He more than has my back, he wants to do anything he can to help me be happy.  But he knows not everything I might think I want to do will result in happiness so he will guide me or maybe even discipline when out of line.

knut

James 5

16.......The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

This one really doesn't need much commentary.  Prayer is a powerful tool.  I should use it more.  This is an area that I'm still struggling with, to form a habit of quiet time to listen and pray.

tp

James 4

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Boy, I feel this one lately.  We've been going to multiple graduation parties on the weekends, which are fun...but they are an easy reminder of how fast the time goes by.  I was putting together the picture collage for Max's party, and the photos seem like they were taken yesterday.  Its amazing.  The older I get, the more I realize that time moves so fast, we need to be more conscious of what we are doing. 
To relate it back to the chapter....we don't know when our time will be up.  We need to be further-ing his kingdom with the time we have.  Many times, I'm too busy working on my own kingdom.

tp

James 3

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

I don't think I do near enough good deeds.  But reading together and this verse and others have influenced me over the years.  When I do try to do something right in terms of helping others or giving money, I like to try to do it with as much anonymity  as possible.  I think I'd like some recognition sometimes, thats my trap.  But its versus like this one that have taught me to try to avoid that to make sure my real reasons are pure and that I'm trying to live into the values the bible has taught me.  Not driven by selfish ambition or desires to be thought of in a good light by peers or friends I want to impress.

knut

James 2

22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

So as Christians we believe we are saved by our faith and not anything we can do.  So this chapter and a few of its verses can cause confusion for me if I let it or take a verse in isolation.  But I think in short its not saying you get to heaven by your works, but saying that if you have faith your actions will reflect that fact.  Practice what you preach so to speak.

So with that said, i know my faith.  Is it obvious to others by my actions where my faith lies?  Am I making my faith complete by how I live and behave everyday?  Maybe some days better than others, I'm not sure recently how I invest my energy and my outward actions are helping make my faith complete.  This chapter is a bit convicting for me right now.

knut

James 1

my favorite verse in this chapter and maybe in the bible is quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  I use to think of it it often but have drifted away from it. I thought of it very recently so its good to come across it again.  definitely good words for me to live by

but today--
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

maybe speaking to what I just said, my favorite vs.is here in this chapter and yet I have been forgetting it recently.  I need to get back to doing it.

especially now in my job and in the world of political division.

knut

Hebrews 13

2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers...4 Marriage should be honored by all...5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have...7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you... 

I just pulled out a few simple instructions from this chapter that struck me and I think are great foundations for how to live life daily.  The place I might fall down the most is showing hospitality to strangers.  I think I live my life pretty focused on my family and friends, I probably don't even look for opportunities to show hospitality to strangers.

nothing to deep today catching my minds attention, but still good reflection and instruction.

knut

Hebrews 12

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

No big take this morning, but I like the practical teaching here.  There may be times being disciplined in our faith if not painful at least feels limiting.  But there is a big payoff not just for ourselves but increasing God's harvest.  This seems like where no pain no gain may have come from.

knut

Hebrews 11

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

Wow I like that chapter.  Its such a quick walk through so many examples of faith spread throughout the bible.  I like it even more that we've been through each of those examples in our time reading together.  I did have to look a couple up from the list of names at the end to recall the stories.

We have so many examples to help us in our own journey's and strengthen our own faith.  I like the simple statement at the beginning defining what faith is followed by all the examples of what it looks like to live with complete faith.  I don't hope to have to demonstrate my faith by such extraordinary actions of some of those who came before us.  But I do hope that their actions inspire me to live in a way that others would know I have faith in God.

knut

Hebrews 10

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.

I think I'm more mature in my faith today than I was as a teenager.  I sure hope so after all of these years.  But this versus reminded me of the new and exciting feeling as a young Christian not that I endured any great conflict but just the enthusiasm I had about my faith.  It makes me think I need to get more of that enthusiasm and energy back into my faith and avoid the tramp of going through the motions.

knut

Hebrews 9

9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

Again, I'm probably off in the weeds.  But, this reminded me that even the law didn't fully sanctify us.  In other words...we can be the best people, making all the right moves, and we'll still make mistakes out of ignorance (v 7)....we can't possibly be good enough.  Even God's own first covenant wasn't enough to make us completely worthy of being in his presence. We can't do it.  We can never do enough in the right category. 

Only the death of Christ makes it whole.  And its a gift.  It doesn't cost us anything.  Not earned....cause we can't possibly earn it.  "Its so hard to do, that I'm gonna give it to you for free!"  What other thing in life is this way?  

Answer:  nothing!

Mind-blower for me

tp

Hebrews 8

5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a] 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

this bring up MANY questions in my mind.  Does this mean that the tabernacle in heaven, which exists outside of time, looked like an old wandering people, temporary type structure?  
It does help explain why the ask from God to Moses was SO specific on everything having to do with the tabernacle.  My mind just can't quite get itself wrapped around that one.

tp

Hebrews 7

19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

this line made me think a little bit.  The original covenant of animal sacrifice to atone for sins only covered the problem.  Something was still dying each time.  Only in Jesus did the sacrifice make things perfect.  The law didn't

tough chapter to grab much out of

tp