Monday reflections...Seeing patterns in the Scripture

Good Monday morning after a great weekend at Machias Valley Baptist Church!

I little update is that we had 8 guys at our morning coffee this morning at Dunkin!  Sometimes I stop moderating, making sure each man is engaged, and sit back to observe what is happening when the men of a church get together.  The mixing, harmony, and love between the generations is catapulted by these gatherings.

My study of Scripture has been influenced greatly by Pastor John MacArthur of the Grace Church in California.  He is also the founder and was one of the chief professors of Master's Seminary.  What I have learned from this teacher of the Word is to see the patterns that emerge from a passage or section of scripture.

One pattern that is popular in the church I serve is pictured above.  It is called "Buffalo Plaid" and this is the definition found on Google.  

Buffalo check is often a two- or three-color striped fabric whose pattern creates large squares of equal size in all directions (as opposed to checked gingham fabric, which has small squares). While it often includes black as one of the colors, black is not required in order to qualify the pattern as buffalo check.

So a pattern I have seen lately with our study of the Gospel according to Luke is Jesus' phrase, "I tell you..." or "I assure you..."  Let me share some of them with you this morning.

Luke 17:34 - "I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed:  One will be taken and the other will be left."

Jesus wants us to know about the coming Day of the Lord.

Luke 18:8a - "I tell you that He will swiftly grant them justice."

Jesus wants us to know about God's response to our call out to Him for justice against our adversary, the devil.

Luke 18:14 - "I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Jesus wants us to know that entry into the Kingdom of God is not earned by our goodness but by acknowledging God's solution for our sin problem.

Luke 18:17 - "I assure you:  Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Jesus states again the "way" we come into His Kingdom.  We put away our pride and control so that we can trust in someone other than ourselves.

Luke 18:29, 30 - So He said to them, "I assure you:  There is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come."

Jesus wants us to know that a priority needs to be established to put Him as #1 over all others but this action will produce more than what we could do on our own.

Luke 19:26 - "I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away."

Jesus wants us to know that we are to use what He has given us for His glory.  As we use it, we will see more of what God is doing and if we don't, what is most precious to see (the things of God) will be taken from our sight.

Luke 19:40 - He answered, "I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!"

Jesus wants us to see the necessary action of worship and praise of Him as our blessed King who has come and who is coming again.  

Let me string these authority sayings of Jesus together.

• It is a fact that the Day of the Lord is coming and it includes God's wrath described as judgement and destruction.

• It is a fact that a call out to God for deliverance from the adversary (Satan) will bring an immediate response.

• It is a fact that this salvation is not of your own doing (earned by your "good list") but rather humbling yourself to recognize a call to God is necessary.

• It is a fact that those prideful and seeking control will not enter the Kingdom of God but only those who came like a child with a "catch me Daddy" faith because of belief in His loving and capable arms.

• It is a fact that this new relationship needs to be the #1 relationship in your life and when put so, it has eternal benefits.

• It is a fact that we are now fitted to do things in the name and glory of God.  We have the opportunity to serve that helps us to see others as God sees them.  Not using these God given gifts reduces our view of God.

• It is a fact that we are to spend our lives here in praise of our King.  Personal and corporate worship needs to be in practice by the saints so the "stone choir" doesn't take over!

What a list of "authority" statements given by Jesus to His present listeners and us future readers and followers.  We see the theological terms fleshed out here of justification, sanctification and glorification.  If those are unfamiliar terms to you, take some time and look them up on www.gotquestions.org.

Thanks for coming along with me as I study the Bible and to see some of the patterns given to us in its pages.  But now, I need to find a "Buffalo Plaid" shirt so I can fit in!

Adam