The Inspiring Uninspired Parts of My Bible

Heb 13:25 Grace be with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.

Have you ever thought much about the parts of the Bible which are not God-breathed but are a big help?

1. The headings of the Psalms written as instructions for the mood or background of the Psalm
2. The addendums such as the one above to give historical, biographical or geographical context
3. The italicized words added by the King James translators to add clarity to the thought.
4. Chapter and verse divisions which facilitate the reading and study of the Word. By the way, those of the New Testament were developed by a preacher on horseback as he traveled his circuit. I am glad he didn’t have a cell phone!
5. The Apocryphal books, which, while not the Word of God and not included in most of our Bibles, are of historical value.
6. Concordances and study helps such as word translations, cross references, etc., which greatly aid in our understanding of the Bible.

I could add one more of my favorite parts, not really related or even on par with these. That is the notes we write on the fly-leafs and margins of our Bibles. Personal blessings that we pen or pencil in as God spoke to us through the preaching or our personal study. These are the things that we wanted to preserve, so we reverently penned them into the eternal record.

I have preached from the flyleaf of my Bible a few times and was greatly blessed by doing so. It included quotes, quips and quiet time thoughts from the back of the old black Book that keep on blessing even though they fade and wear gracefully.

Without all of these mentioned above, the Bible would still be complete, but I thank God for them and for the aid they bring us rightly dividing the Word.

And so endeth my blogs from the book of Hebrews. Written to whosoever readeth from a kitchen table, by Gary

Postscript: I didn't even mention the autograph page where signatures of the great pulpiteers are etched for the ages. Nor did I mention the introductory pages where license was given by King James for the translating and publishing of our English Bible.

Something to be Said for Consistency

Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

The recent presidential elections brought the present regime in on the promise of change. Boy, did we get plenty of that! About the only change we aren't experiencing is change in our pockets.

Sometimes some change can be good; socks, underwear, inept leadership. But when it comes to the bedrock of society change is nothing more than erosion. Which of the Ten Commandments could use a makeover? I, for one, vote that lying, cursing, adultery, coveting, theft and murder remain blacklisted. Though, I am sure, those in power would say, "Yes we can" to altering God's law.

Listed here in verses 7 through 9 are six things that must be constant.

1. The Word of the Lord. "...who have spoken unto you the word of God:"

God's Word must be spoken, that is, taught and preached, in truth. We must speak it as it is to people as they are. Speaking of change, the only way to change the darkened heart of man is by pounding it with the hammer of the Word. faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

2. Faith in the Lord. "...whose faith follow," This is the faith that was once delivered unto the saints for which we must earnestly contend. Jude 3. This is the faith that must be unfeigned, that is, real. I Tim 1:5, II Tim 1:5. The only change needed with true faith is growth!

3. A Good Testimony. "...considering the end of their conversation." The world needs to see Christianity that lives what it preaches. This phrase literally means, "attentively beholding the behavior of a believer upon their exit." Now, that's a mouthful, but it simply means that when a consistent Christian exits this life, you can only extol the virtue of their lifestyle. Something must be said about clean living in line with God's Word.

4. Jesus. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." The theologians use the word "immutability." This means unchangeability. In Malachi we are told, "For I am the Lord, I change not." When it seems that everything around us is settling into shifting sand, we can always hold to God's unchanging hand. Each of us can point to an individual in our lives who has always been there for us, usually that is a mother or a spouse. But even they are limited in their ability to always be dependable. But Jesus is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

5. Doctrine. "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines." The Scripture likens people who are biblically double-minded individuals to objects floating to and fro on the sea, anchorless, moving about with the winds and the waves, undependable, without character. Eph 4:14. Doctrine simply means teaching. We need to be consistent in our teaching of the Word.

6. Grace in the Heart. "For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;" Our hearts, the very core of our beings are established, anchored, made sure, by God's grace. It is His work in our hearts and lives that makes us steady, solid citizens of heaven.

Keep your change, I'll hang on to the Word of God, a sincere faith, living a good testimony, my Savior, solid Baptist Bible doctrine, and God's unmerited favor.

Follow the Leader

Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Hēgeomai is the Greek word used here concerning those who "rule over" us. The word means to consider and command. In democratic circles we appoint over ourselves those who have the capacity to think and act on behalf of others.

In some venues, such as the church, it is God Who appoints, yet, in a sense, we get to ratify His man. (Pity the church which fails to do so).

Under that leadership, we are called upon to remember our thinker/actors.

By remembering, we do three things; 1) We are to make mention of them, especially to God. 2) We are to be mindful of them, that is we consider their motives, their calling, their responsibilities, their "case load," Their schedules, ad infinitum. 3) We remember that they are also made out of the same stuff we are. Though they are held to a higher accountability, we understand they are subject to emotion, mistakes and limitations like we are. 4) We should also remember to be a blessing to them in our support, our subjection to them, our showing of appreciation and our teachability.

Ask yourself today if you are properly remembering those under whom God has placed you.

I Want, I Want, I Want!

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Kids these days! Never content with what they have and always wanting more. Kids nothing! Most of the adults I know, even Christians are constantly wanting more of this world's goods, hoping that things will bring fulfillment.

The writer of this passage gives these immortal words of wisdom, “be content with such things as you have - Jesus will never leave nor forsake you.”

If you have Jesus, you always have everything you will ever need, for He has promised to meet our every need according to His riches in glory.

The word conversation, as used here, is not talking just about the things we say, rather it infers the way we live. When others watch our lives, they ought to see that we are not covetous, but satisfied and grateful for what we have.

So, instead of an attitude of "I want, I want, I want", portray a spirit of "I thank, I thank, I thank."

70AD or 2009 - Same Principle Applies

Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Marriage, the union of one man and one woman for a lifetime, is God's plan for the propagation of the race, for sexual and relational fulfillment and to model the nuclear family.

The world's lie, however is that we are not to be bound by such antique notions of marital fidelity and sexual purity.

Let society argue what it may, the promise of the verse is that God will judge whoremongers, adulterers and those who defile the marriage bed.

Perversion, in its several forms, is so rampant that it has become the norm and chastity so rare that it is called freakish. The 2000 plus years that have transpired since this verse was penned changes nothing. Sin, in any context, is harmful to individuals, communities and societies.

God did not merely suggest, but commanded moral purity for our own good, not to withhold pleasure and suppress natural desires. Indeed, the greatest fulfillment comes only within God's plan of marriage, monogamy and fidelity. Anything else is harmful psychologically, emotionally, physically and societal. As always, God's way is the best way.

Pray for the Martyrs

Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Don't you just cringe when you see the Feed the Children commercials and others which depict the plight of starving children in Africa and elsewhere? I feel guilty for immediately turning the channel, but I must, I cannot bear their suffering.

It is also tough to bear in mind the sufferings of Christians worldwide whose testimony has caused them great persecution. How easy we have it to live for Christ in a country where Christianity is in vogue. To be a believer in most parts of the world means sure and certain retribution from the enemies of the cross of Christ. I receive daily reports via email lists and updates concerning the oppressed of the faith. It is heart-wrenching to know how bad my brothers and sisters have it in the Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist countries.

The Word constrains us to keep them in our thoughts and prayers as if we were in the prison cells with them. After all, if the heavy oppression were here in our nation and we were the ones being tortured for Christ, how much would we appreciate our fellow believers living in the lap of luxury, preaching health and wealth, partying as if Christianity was all fun and games? This very day, more than two to three hundred of Christ's followers will purchase the martyr's crown because they chose to bear the cross. The least we can do is to remember them in our prayers.

How to entertain an angel

Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Have you ever entertained an angel? Don't know? Me neither. But I suppose some of us have on occasion, because that's what this verse says. After all, there were only so many verses available in the Word and God wouldn't waste space on something that would never happen. So, we have this admonition, don't forget to be hospitable to those you meet whom you don't know.

Okay, so how do we practically do this? I mean, what's the down side if I fail to take care of an angel? Would my guardian angel cause me to stub my toe when I head to the head at 2 in the morning?

Should I always have the fixins on hand to whip up an angel food cake? Perhaps I should conjure up a batch of divinity fudge or heavenly hash. Would I offend my heavenly visitor if I offered him a deviled egg topped with a couple of drops of Devil's Spit Tabasco sauce?

How do we entertain them?

*One, take it for granted that anybody you meet could possibly be your mystery angel.

*Two, be kind to all strangers. Even if they are not an angel, you have shared the milk of human kindness and that never goes without reward.

*Three, if a stranger has a need and you have the resource, follow the leadership of the Lord in the matter. Whatsoever you sow, you will reap. By casting your bread upon the waters, you insure that it will come back to you.

*And four, talk to the strangers about the Lord, start witnessing. If their eyes begin to twinkle, you have probably met either a fellow believer or maybe, just maybe a powerful being that has been worshiping the King for the past 6,000 years.