Spiritual Ponderings

The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife. (1 Corinthians 7:4) It might be a bit surprising to imagine wanting to contemplate such a verse as this, but after awakening very early in the morning and not being able to sleep, a new thought came to my mind about the deeper significance of what this verse may actually be trying to convey. To the degree that reading such a verse produces a feeling of angst may indicate the degree to which we fail to grasp the truth about the fundamental nature of how God's kingdom operates. I know most of my life this verse has had potential to stir up feelings of resistance deep inside mingled with feelings of guilt for feeling of resistant. These confusing reactions are rooted in years of being told I was rebellious when in fact much of what I was experiencing was only natural resistance to abuses by authorities...

The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgment , while the sins of others follow them there . (1 Timothy 5:24 NRSV) I have found this Scripture to be a very compelling one for many years. As I pondered its implications I realized that it is really notice of a choice each one of us is given, to choose the timing of our judgment, something we should take very seriously. But first it is very important to understand the true meaning and nature of judgment the way the Bible explains it. Jesus made very clear what true judgment is when speaking with Nicodemus. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment , that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the ...

The following is a compilation of passages containing the word 'receive' with some summary thoughts in the last half. I found this study quite insightful with much more to think about concerning implications in how I relate to God. Receive the Kingdom If you are willing to receive it , this is Elijah, who is to come. (Matthew 11:13-14) " Worthy are you , our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power , for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!" (Revelation 4:11) saying with a loud voice, " Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing !" (Revelation 5:12) He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom , and to return. (Luke 19:12) If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself ; that where I am...

Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there , since only in Christ is it set aside . Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds ; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:12-18) This veil that hardens the heart and blinds the mind is a mindset of forcing everything through a legal interpretation of salvation. In additi...