Tonight's Bible study was a good one filled with spirited discussion. We are studying Amos, Ahab, Elijah, Elisha, and Isaiah. The main questions were what makes someone a prophet? Do we have prophets today and who do we think they are? Why don't they perform miracles anymore and if they do would we still be skeptical? Would we listen to them if they spoke to us? What does God want us to do here? What were the Isrealites doing to make God so angry to send the prophets to warn them.
Our pastor Jodi leads this study and she brings all kinds of insight, language and history to the Bible that really makes things come together to give you a better understanding of it all. It something extra you just can't get reading alone. I know it's helped me a lot. Some of my friends seem impressed by what I have learned, but along with reading the Bible on my own, studies like this help to go a little deeper. The discussion is also a great way to hear what others get and then talk it through. I love it and Jodi does too. She's not afraid of spirited discussion. That's what I love about my church.
I also like leading others to a relationship with Jesus Christ by living a Christ filled life and showing others what he has done for us and maybe they will want what we have. That to me is so much more effective than brow beating someone into believing what you say. Don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk. I don't mean living a perfect life because we all know that is not possible. Even Moses and David sinned and they were very much annointed by God. God has shown all through the Bible how he works through ordinary, even sinful people to do his will. Just look at Paul who persecuted Christians and stood by while Stephen was stoned to death. I think the most important thing is to remember we are sinners and can do nothing without the power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are called to love God above all other things and to love others.
This brings me back to our study tonight. The two things that prophets are opposed to is paganism (not putting God first in our lives) and injustice (lack of consideration for others and compassion for the weak). This sounds a lot like Jesus' summary of the 10 Commandments. The greatest commandment to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your mind". Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22 : 37 - 40 I learned this from our Pastor Jodi so I can't take credit for the insight, but I thought it was cool enough to share.
Do we have prophets today? Yes, we certainly do. Acts 2: 17 - 19 "in the last days, God says. I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughter will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy. " The last days are from the time Jesus ascended into Heaven until he returns again. I believe there are many prophets alive and active today. I also believe that our Lord is performing miracles everyday. But just like Ahab after Isaiah tested their Baal gods and proved that God was indeed the one true God, he still didn't believe. How could you not believe after that great miracle? But they didn't and I know many of us see miracles and rationalize them away. We need to open our eyes and minds to see them.
The Israelites had grown so far away from God and their convenant with him. They were worshipping Baal and so concerned with maintaining their cushy, comfortable life that they were not concerned with the needy and even worse were mistreating them terribly. When I read God's warning to them through the prophets, I thought well THEY were terrible sinful people and deserved it, but then I started thinking and realized we are just like they were to some extent. We don't worship "Idols" per say, but we do put many things before God. We may not knowingly hurt the needy, but we don't always do what we can. I'm right there with everyone else on this one. I don't do all I can. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us strength to do what is right in God's eyes. We can all do better.
So what are we supposed to do, we are called to put God first above all things and then love others as ourselves; in other words be prophets for God. Heaven's filled with great people for a reason. We are in training for Heaven. To love during this life so that we can move on to perfection and be ready to love in the next.
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