Plainfield Ponderings - Scripture Meditations

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Ponder with me about how and why Christ's resurrection is called the "firstfruits" in I Corinthians 15.  This allusion to the Old Testament is quite fascinating.  There was a firstfruit holiday in the O.T. that was always celebrated on Sunday's, the day Christ was raised from the dead.  But get this!  It wasn't just any Sunday, it was the Sunday following the Passover, the day Christ was crucified.  Cool stuff here!  I hope you'll think so too.  To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me about how all great projects begin small.  All great projects have to begin somewhere.  Many endeavors worth doing, and certainly worth completing, come to a screeching halt right after they begin...because we're discouraged with how small and insignificant the start was.  Such was the case in rebuilding the temple, after the return from captivity.  Is there something you're quitting on because of its "small beginnings"?  Keep at it!  To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me about who is in control of this crazy world!  Is it Jesus?  The Scripture indicates He is.  Repeated texts are given about all things put under the feet of Jesus and even Jesus admitted He had all authority in heaven and on earth.  What we see with our physical eyes tells a different story though (if we're honest).  So, what we see physically, and the spiritual realities don't match up.  What are some principles that help us wade through this challenge?  To God be the glory!

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Ponder another passage in Genesis about the Christ.  The offspring of Abraham gets a little narrower, down to the line of Judah and it's the first time the reign of a king is mentioned (in connection with the Christ).  The scope of His reign is much broader than Israel though...the obedience of all the nations belong to this King.  Also, this Ruler from Judah is associated with a prolific grape harvest.  What connection could that possibly have to Christ?  To God be the glory!

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Let's ponder eternity, and our hope of eternal life.  We can't fall into the trap of thinking that religion is nothing more than being nice and living a decently moral life.  God has so much more planned in eternity and when we take our eyes off of that hope, bad things happen.  But what is that hope?  Is it death and then all the joys of heaven are immediately experienced?  Or should our focus be on the resurrection of the body?  Critical thinking caps required!  To God be the glory!

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Let's ponder some more themes about the Christ from the Old Testament.  This lesson is a bit of a culmination of the first 2 lessons we did in this series.  The domination of enemies was promised to Abraham's offspring as well.  Why do the details of this prophecy lead us to Jesus?  Are we involved in this at all?  To God be the glory!

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Let's ponder another hint of Christ in the O.T. - the promise to Abraham that an offspring of his would bless the whole world.  I'll try my best to emphasize the magnitude of this promise.  Someone who blesses every single human being?! Who could do that?  When the enormity of the promise sinks in, the list of options gets reduced to one option, Jesus the Christ.  But are we involved in this promise at all?  And if so, what does that mean for our mission?  To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me about the vital nature of communication in marriage!  I don't know of any marital problems that don't at least include a communication breakdown.  God was in a troubled marriage too, with Northern Israel.  What did God do in those moments?  Let's go to marriage school and learn from Him.  To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me about how serious God considers defeating Satan.  It might surprise us to note that before God mentions forgiveness or a sacrifice for sins, He FIRST brings up the defeat of Satan.  Mankind not only has a problem with sin...we also have a problem with a spiritual enemy that wants us to sin.  Our of God's love for us, He has a plan.  Let's see how Jesus uniquely fits into Genesis 3:15 as the Satan crusher.  To God be the glory!

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Ponder with me about how we can truly know we are converted.  This is part 3 of a short series on being born again.  Jesus told Nicodemus you can only see the effects of wind, but the wind itself is not something tangible.  So, while we cannot tangibly see someone being born of God's Spirit, what are the effects of it?  What can we verifiably point to as evidence of our conversion?  To God be the glory!

Please email me any comments or questions at [email protected]