Context

This weeks blog is inspired from my reading a good friend Jason Lapps post on seeking your own agenda in the scriptures. If you don't read his stuff then you should start today.

We serve a God who has revealed Himself through scripture to us. There is only mystery in the areas where God has chosen not to reveal. This is not to be mistaken for the times where disputes on interpretation come in to play. Most often when we see out right non biblical statements made it is most often from those seeking an agenda (whether they realize it or not). I used to find it very easy to word search the most relevant word in my topic of interest so that I would have a passage to back up my statements. Thats like searching for your spouse by holding up a picture of a magazine photo just hoping that you find the person that matches the image you want. It makes you completely miss whats actually out there for something that is not.

If you take scripture and use it to see who God has revealed Himself to be, in a continuous life long pursuit. Then out of context verses are as offensive to you as it would be to my wife if I told her she has beautiful brown eyes (my wife actually has gorgeous green eyes).
I'm not perfect by any means at this. Trust me. But our goal is to fix our eyes on the words of the bible and let it tell us who He is and not us trying to find what we want to see.

Psalm 119 97-112
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!
Accept my free will offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever,to the end.