The English language is quite colorful. Often meaning of words take on different definitions depending upon where one was raised. Let’s face it, two people can read a sentence and get two very different meanings out of it. Can both meanings be right? If not, which meaning is correct? Who is right and who’s wrong? Is there a right and a wrong meaning to what one just read? There is an answer to these questions. The answers is only found with the author. The author knows exactly what he was trying to communicate. This why the reader has a responsibility to figure out the correct meaning, otherwise correct communicating cannot take place. Of course, the author has the responsibility to use correct language and grammar. If the author uses the wrong sentence structure, the reader be will be mislead. If the reader does not read and define carefully, again the reader will be mislead. There is always a responsibility on the part of the author and the reader if correct communication is going to take place.

This is one of the many reasons I love reading the Holy Scriptures. God, the author, is always correct in sentence structure, and word definitions. He is never ambiguous. As reader I do not have to fear or question whether God wrote what He meant or not. I know He wrote what He meant. As a reader I don’t have to fear the grammar being misplaced. God has perfect grammar and sentence structures. The only fear I have is whether or not I am interpreting the Scripture I am reading correctly or not. Now that I only have one difficulty to concern myself with, I simply need to compare God's words with God's Word, and let God tell me what He is saying. Then I have God's meaning and not my opinion. Besides God’s opinion is the only opinion which really matters. He has given His truth of life very clearly in Scripture, and it is up to me to search them out (See Prov. 2:1-5).

The reason we have so many different interpretations of the Holy Scripture is too many people interpretation it the way they feel, rather than the way God intended it to be understood. God, Himself makes it very clear to us in 2 Peter 1:20, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." That is very clear. God has told us no one cannot place their own personal opinion upon the interpretation of the Holy Bible and come out with the truth. By all means read the Bible for it is the life manual to living full and content. Just be sure to let God define and interpret the meaning, and the blessings of joy will unfold before you.

The Game OF Life

I find that nobody is responsible today. The news media blames the person they don’t want elected. American people blame the people they elect and put in office, and yet they reelect them and it is still the politician's fault. The Politicians blame the news media for twisting stories and not telling the whole truth of their sinful deeds. Children blame the parents for not giving them a good education or setting of too strict boundaries. Teachers blame students for not learning and for cheating. Students blame teachers for boring them to death and not teaching well. Husbands blame their wife for the marriage and bad kids, while the wife blames the husband for the failing marriage and never being around. Need I go on? We live in the blame game world.

The truth is we are all sinners. Sin is falling short of correctness and righteousness. We face much of our problems because of sin. Some sin we face was created by someone else, yet I still am responsible for my reaction and attitude to the situation. Some sin we face is because we live in sinful environment, and I am still responsible for my actions and attitudes. It is also true some sin we face was created by myself, and I am responsible. Yet, some sin I face is a combination of all three, in which case I am still responsible for my actions and attitudes.

Those who honestly cannot admit and confess their faults are failures in life. Yet, “If we confess our sins, he (Jesus Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). They will know the deep joys of life and are successful in managing life. The truth is those who cannot “confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another…” (James 5:16) are deeply wounded in heart and soul and cannot enjoy the beauty God has set before them. Forsake the hiding of sin and blaming others and you will be the one enjoying the garden of Eden within your heart, rather than being kicked out as Adam and Eve, who began the blame game.

Why Me?

Don’t you just love getting in trouble for something someone else did. It is probably one of the most distasteful things in life. I can deal with many hardships, but being blamed for something I did not do brings out the anger in me. Therefore, it is ok for me to be angry! Right? No, it is not! I may not be responsible for the first event, but I am responsible for my reaction to the event.

Jesus Christ was not responsible for my sin, but He paid the price for my sin with His life. He did not get angry at those who put Him on the cross. He simply said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” He forgave them even though the people watching Him die in their place did nothing to stop his dying, but they simply thought of themselves and cast lots for the gaining of His garment. Christ willingly and joyfully died for my sin (Heb. 12:2). Why should I get angry when trouble comes because of someone else’s sin and foolishness? My anger only causes me more problems down the road. I am responsible for causing those problems, if not in full at least in part. Let us who are a child of the King not allow the sin of others to cause us to stoop to their level. Rise to the occasion as a godly person, “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” May God richly you bless you as you struggle to walk close to Christ.

Confidence Misplaced or Secure

Confidence is only as sturdy and strong as what the confidence is placed upon. Confidence misplaced erodes one’s confidence and brings disappointment (of course some people don’t learn and just continue along in their destructive ways), while confidence placed rightly strengthens one’s confidence and brings great benefits (not just, now but for future generations and on into eternity). Well placed confidence is confidence placed in Jesus Christ. One’s footing never slips, for Christ is the firm foundation for living. Philippians 1:6 reveals this well placed firmness of confidence in Christ: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Please notice a few words here. The word “he” is Jesus Christ. The word “begun” (enarchesthai) reveals God is doing the work in His child. The word “perform” means to fully complete. These two words “begun” and “perform” were used in a Greek ceremonial ritual. The word “begin” explained the lighting of the torch at the beginning of the ceremony, while the word “perform” describes the full and complete, finished work of the ceremony. The word “good” describes the benefit of God’s work. All of you who have placed your confidence in Jesus Christ for eternal life and salvation will not be disappointed, for God has begun the construction of good in your lives. The born-again believer’s life is in the refining hands of God and He will “perform” (fully complete) it, bringing you forth in purity. Yes, you are in “good hands” (not Allstates but God’s). Unbelievers do not have this privilege. They have no guarantees; all they have is false confidence placed in whatever illusion (crumbling objects) they choose. These illusions will one day be destroyed along with their dreams and themselves. Why would one place confidence in anyone other than Jesus Christ? “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Amen.