Jean Coleman's Blog - Posts Tagged "bible"
THE DIVINE PUZZLE
Your Bible is very much like a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. When you pick up the Bible, it is like you are holding the puzzle box containing the many pieces that must be put together to form the total picture. Between the covers of this most remarkable book you will discover a picture of Almighty God, but you must painstakingly assemble the pieces that are supplied, line upon line, precept upon precept until the entire puzzle is complete.
As in any puzzle, the most important place to start is with the border and you will quickly learn that the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John comprise the border of the Bible. Every doctrine and teaching in the scriptures is based upon the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. Without the gospels the rest of the Bible wouldn't hold together because the framework for the entire Old and New Testaments depends upon the solid message of the four gospels. Without the gospels you can only see scattered pieces containing historical facts, narratives, parables and allegories. But within the confines of the gospels everything falls into place and is held firmly by the tremendous revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Once the border is in place, it is time to start working on filling in the center of the puzzle. The Book of Acts and the epistles connect easily with the gospels and will make the picture much clearer. The many great doctrines brought forth by Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude through their letters reveal more and more of the mind of God. The picture of who God is and His plan for mankind becomes more obvious as each piece is sought, found and put into place. At times the magnitude of this undertaking can be almost overwhelming. Who can hope to comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom of God? But the Holy Spirit continues to encourage with these words, "Seek and you shall find." Every piece that is firmly positioned into place shows more of God's likeness.
The Acts of the Apostles and the various epistles are really like the pieces that form the background of a jigsaw puzzle. In the Bible you begin to see the church come into view as people are tightly joined together side by side. These vital pieces combine to bring forth the revelation that the Holy Spirit is making us one in Christ Jesus and gathering us together in His name.
The Book of Revelation might be compared to pieces that when connected show mountain ranges far off in the distance, with the colors difficult to discern but nevertheless bridging heaven and earth. The puzzle becomes more difficult to put together now and involves more trial and error. The piece you thought was the correct one yesterday, viewed in today's light obviously does not fit. It can be tempting to give up at this point. The "easy" part of the puzzle is completed and the going becomes very slow. One can become discouraged and stop working before the entire puzzle is assembled. So many pieces still remain outside the frame.
And what about the Old Testament? How does that fit into the picture puzzle? It can possibly be compared to the hundreds of pieces of sky that must be put into place before the puzzle is finished. You don't need these pieces to see Jesus, but without them the puzzle remains incomplete.
It will take a lifetime to put together the entire puzzle joining piece to piece, but don't get discouraged. The Lord has sent a Helper to assist you in finding the right piece at the right time for the right place. The Holy Spirit will be there at your side pointing out the pieces and showing you how it all comes together.
As in any puzzle, the most important place to start is with the border and you will quickly learn that the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John comprise the border of the Bible. Every doctrine and teaching in the scriptures is based upon the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. Without the gospels the rest of the Bible wouldn't hold together because the framework for the entire Old and New Testaments depends upon the solid message of the four gospels. Without the gospels you can only see scattered pieces containing historical facts, narratives, parables and allegories. But within the confines of the gospels everything falls into place and is held firmly by the tremendous revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Once the border is in place, it is time to start working on filling in the center of the puzzle. The Book of Acts and the epistles connect easily with the gospels and will make the picture much clearer. The many great doctrines brought forth by Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude through their letters reveal more and more of the mind of God. The picture of who God is and His plan for mankind becomes more obvious as each piece is sought, found and put into place. At times the magnitude of this undertaking can be almost overwhelming. Who can hope to comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom of God? But the Holy Spirit continues to encourage with these words, "Seek and you shall find." Every piece that is firmly positioned into place shows more of God's likeness.
The Acts of the Apostles and the various epistles are really like the pieces that form the background of a jigsaw puzzle. In the Bible you begin to see the church come into view as people are tightly joined together side by side. These vital pieces combine to bring forth the revelation that the Holy Spirit is making us one in Christ Jesus and gathering us together in His name.
The Book of Revelation might be compared to pieces that when connected show mountain ranges far off in the distance, with the colors difficult to discern but nevertheless bridging heaven and earth. The puzzle becomes more difficult to put together now and involves more trial and error. The piece you thought was the correct one yesterday, viewed in today's light obviously does not fit. It can be tempting to give up at this point. The "easy" part of the puzzle is completed and the going becomes very slow. One can become discouraged and stop working before the entire puzzle is assembled. So many pieces still remain outside the frame.
And what about the Old Testament? How does that fit into the picture puzzle? It can possibly be compared to the hundreds of pieces of sky that must be put into place before the puzzle is finished. You don't need these pieces to see Jesus, but without them the puzzle remains incomplete.
It will take a lifetime to put together the entire puzzle joining piece to piece, but don't get discouraged. The Lord has sent a Helper to assist you in finding the right piece at the right time for the right place. The Holy Spirit will be there at your side pointing out the pieces and showing you how it all comes together.
Help! The Ship is Sinking!
God had a plan for Jonah. He wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh and He spelled it out for him in no uncertain terms. "Arise, go to Nineveh that great city and cry against it because their wickedness has come up before Me."
Jonah was without excuse. He knew exactly what God wanted him to do. The only problem was that Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh because he didn't believe that the city deserved God's mercy. So he made the decision to resist God and to flee from the presence of the Lord. Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah went down to Joppa and found a ship that was sailing to Tarshish.
After all, "Jonah reasoned, "I have free will and I can do whatever I want."
Of course God recognized that Jonah had free will and He will never override the freedom of choice. However, the Lord will do everything within His power to cause our will to be changed when it comes into conflict with His will.
So to get Jonah's attention, the Lord sent out a great wind and the little ship was tossed to and fro. All those on board were terrified, except for Jonah that is. He was down in the hold fast asleep, apparently oblivious to everything that was going on around him—the wind, the waves and the violent storm.
The sailors feared for their lives as the boat thrashed about in the sea. They asked themselves what they had done to deserve the terrible storm that had come upon them. They sought to find a reason for their dire circumstances, even tossing overboard those things that were weighing them down. It actually appeared to them that God was inflicting chastening upon them when they were innocent of any wrongdoing.
Interestingly enough, God was not dealing with the sailors at all. They were seasick, half-drowned, fearful, weary from trying to keep the ship afloat—yet God was not dealing with them God was only after Jonah and all those other people affected by the storm just happened to be in the same boat!
We can be in the same situation today when the Lord is dealing with someone in our family who is running from His presence. If someone in your household is resisting God, you can be sure that storms will beat upon your house. There will be problems and circumstances that are completely beyond your comprehension. Often the entire family structure will be shaken as God seeks to attract the attention of the prodigal.
Do you think having your son arrested for drug abuse isn't going to rock the boat? Or learning that your fifteen year old daughter is pregnant is going to be smooth sailing? Is the water calm when you have an alcoholic husband or your wife is having an affair with someone from her office?
You will probably feel like you are drowning in problems while your Jonah doesn't even seem to even notice the havoc their rebellion is causing. You are seasick, hanging over the side of the ship, wondering if you're going to survive the storm. Meanwhile your wayward one is calmly texting a friend as though no problem exists at all. Or perhaps even calling you to say he's working late at the office when you can hear laughter in the background.
And meanwhile, you are on your knees in prayer, waves of panic flowing over you, saying, "What have I done to deserve this?"
You have done nothing wrong. God is not dealing with you at all. Relax. Sooner or later the Jonah in your household will change his ways. And in the meantime, God isn't going to let your ship go down. You're going to make it safely to your destination if you don't panic and jump overboard.
Remember, if you're in the same boat with someone running from God, you're sure to experience some stormy times. Don't despair. Hang on tight, ride out the storm and let God have His perfect way. Remember how the story ends. Jonah eventually got to Nineveh, the sailors got to the other side and the boat didn't sink.
Jonah was without excuse. He knew exactly what God wanted him to do. The only problem was that Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh because he didn't believe that the city deserved God's mercy. So he made the decision to resist God and to flee from the presence of the Lord. Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah went down to Joppa and found a ship that was sailing to Tarshish.
After all, "Jonah reasoned, "I have free will and I can do whatever I want."
Of course God recognized that Jonah had free will and He will never override the freedom of choice. However, the Lord will do everything within His power to cause our will to be changed when it comes into conflict with His will.
So to get Jonah's attention, the Lord sent out a great wind and the little ship was tossed to and fro. All those on board were terrified, except for Jonah that is. He was down in the hold fast asleep, apparently oblivious to everything that was going on around him—the wind, the waves and the violent storm.
The sailors feared for their lives as the boat thrashed about in the sea. They asked themselves what they had done to deserve the terrible storm that had come upon them. They sought to find a reason for their dire circumstances, even tossing overboard those things that were weighing them down. It actually appeared to them that God was inflicting chastening upon them when they were innocent of any wrongdoing.
Interestingly enough, God was not dealing with the sailors at all. They were seasick, half-drowned, fearful, weary from trying to keep the ship afloat—yet God was not dealing with them God was only after Jonah and all those other people affected by the storm just happened to be in the same boat!
We can be in the same situation today when the Lord is dealing with someone in our family who is running from His presence. If someone in your household is resisting God, you can be sure that storms will beat upon your house. There will be problems and circumstances that are completely beyond your comprehension. Often the entire family structure will be shaken as God seeks to attract the attention of the prodigal.
Do you think having your son arrested for drug abuse isn't going to rock the boat? Or learning that your fifteen year old daughter is pregnant is going to be smooth sailing? Is the water calm when you have an alcoholic husband or your wife is having an affair with someone from her office?
You will probably feel like you are drowning in problems while your Jonah doesn't even seem to even notice the havoc their rebellion is causing. You are seasick, hanging over the side of the ship, wondering if you're going to survive the storm. Meanwhile your wayward one is calmly texting a friend as though no problem exists at all. Or perhaps even calling you to say he's working late at the office when you can hear laughter in the background.
And meanwhile, you are on your knees in prayer, waves of panic flowing over you, saying, "What have I done to deserve this?"
You have done nothing wrong. God is not dealing with you at all. Relax. Sooner or later the Jonah in your household will change his ways. And in the meantime, God isn't going to let your ship go down. You're going to make it safely to your destination if you don't panic and jump overboard.
Remember, if you're in the same boat with someone running from God, you're sure to experience some stormy times. Don't despair. Hang on tight, ride out the storm and let God have His perfect way. Remember how the story ends. Jonah eventually got to Nineveh, the sailors got to the other side and the boat didn't sink.
WHY JESUS WEPT
Lazarus was dead and our Lord Jesus wept,
But He told His disciples that Lazarus just slept.
The death of the body to Jesus was sleep
For the soul lives forever in His precious sheep.
The mourners were weeping,
They were all filled with gloom
And Christ too was troubled that day by the tomb.
For Lazarus had gone to a far better life,
A life free from sickness and pain, hate and strife.
Yet to show all God's glory, Jesus needed him here.
Lazarus had to come back so the truth would be clear.
And so Jesus wept as He called Lazarus out,
Back to sin, hate and evil and to pain and to doubt.
For Lazarus had seen just what joy lies in store
For those who by faith enter through heaven's door.
But the Master had called him, so Lazarus returned,
And the truth Christ was Savior, the people discerned.
The life-giving Savior before them did stand
And the might of His power they spread through the land.
And Lazarus who saw heaven's glory unfurled
Once more walked the paths of our sinful old world.
And that's why our blessed Lord Jesus did cry--
He had brought Lazarus back from the glory on high.
From the Gospel of John 11:1-45
But He told His disciples that Lazarus just slept.
The death of the body to Jesus was sleep
For the soul lives forever in His precious sheep.
The mourners were weeping,
They were all filled with gloom
And Christ too was troubled that day by the tomb.
For Lazarus had gone to a far better life,
A life free from sickness and pain, hate and strife.
Yet to show all God's glory, Jesus needed him here.
Lazarus had to come back so the truth would be clear.
And so Jesus wept as He called Lazarus out,
Back to sin, hate and evil and to pain and to doubt.
For Lazarus had seen just what joy lies in store
For those who by faith enter through heaven's door.
But the Master had called him, so Lazarus returned,
And the truth Christ was Savior, the people discerned.
The life-giving Savior before them did stand
And the might of His power they spread through the land.
And Lazarus who saw heaven's glory unfurled
Once more walked the paths of our sinful old world.
And that's why our blessed Lord Jesus did cry--
He had brought Lazarus back from the glory on high.
From the Gospel of John 11:1-45
WHAT IS LOVE?
Love is everything that's lovely, love is patient, love is kind,
Love's not jealous, love's not boastful, no arrogance you find.
Love's not rude and not resentful, love rejoices not in wrong,
Love is not a clanging cymbal, love is not a noisy gong.
Love is gentle, love is tender, love is giving, love is good,
Love is righteous, love is holy, love is living as one should.
Love is thinking first of others and seeing to their need,
Love is mercy and forgiveness, does not covet, knows no greed.
Love is not puffed up or haughty, shows humility to all,
Love is hating what is evil once you've heard the Master's call.
Love is giving to your neighbor, even when you go without,
Love is walking close to Jesus, overcoming fear and doubt.
Love is hoping, love's believing, love's enduring to the end,
Love is bearing all things gladly because Jesus is your friend.
Love remains with you forever, love will never pass away,
Love's a living constant presence as you walk with Christ each day.
Love is everything that's perfect, love is everything that's right,
Love is following after Jesus and keeping Him in sight.
Love's the answer to all problems, love's the greatest gift that's known,
Love reflects our Maker's image for through love God's grace is shown.
Love's not jealous, love's not boastful, no arrogance you find.
Love's not rude and not resentful, love rejoices not in wrong,
Love is not a clanging cymbal, love is not a noisy gong.
Love is gentle, love is tender, love is giving, love is good,
Love is righteous, love is holy, love is living as one should.
Love is thinking first of others and seeing to their need,
Love is mercy and forgiveness, does not covet, knows no greed.
Love is not puffed up or haughty, shows humility to all,
Love is hating what is evil once you've heard the Master's call.
Love is giving to your neighbor, even when you go without,
Love is walking close to Jesus, overcoming fear and doubt.
Love is hoping, love's believing, love's enduring to the end,
Love is bearing all things gladly because Jesus is your friend.
Love remains with you forever, love will never pass away,
Love's a living constant presence as you walk with Christ each day.
Love is everything that's perfect, love is everything that's right,
Love is following after Jesus and keeping Him in sight.
Love's the answer to all problems, love's the greatest gift that's known,
Love reflects our Maker's image for through love God's grace is shown.
PUZZLE PIECE
Your Bible is very much like a thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. When you pick up the Bible, it is like you are holding the puzzle box containing the many pieces that must be put together to form the total picture. Between the covers of this most remarkable book you will discover a picture of Almighty God, but you must painstakingly assemble the pieces that are supplied, line upon line, precept upon precept until the entire puzzle is complete.
As in any puzzle, the most important place to start is with the border and you will quickly learn that the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John comprise the border of the Bible. Every doctrine and teaching in the scriptures is based upon the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. Without the gospels the rest of the Bible wouldn't hold together because the framework for the entire Old and New Testaments depends upon the solid message of the four gospels. Without the gospels you can only see scattered pieces containing historical facts, narratives, parables and allegories. But within the confines of the gospels everything falls into place and is held firmly by the tremendous revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Once the border is in place, it is time to start working on filling in the center of the puzzle. The Book of Acts and the epistles connect easily with the gospels and will make the picture much clearer. The many great doctrines brought forth by Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude through their letters reveal more and more of the mind of God.
The picture of who God is and His plan for mankind becomes more obvious as each piece is sought, found and put into place. At times the magnitude of this undertaking can be almost overwhelming. Who can hope to comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom of God? But the Holy Spirit continues to encourage with these words, "Seek and you shall find." Every piece that is firmly positioned into place shows more of God's likeness.
The Acts of the Apostles and the various epistles are really like the pieces that form the background of a jigsaw puzzle. In the Bible you begin to see the church come into view as people are tightly joined together side by side. These vital pieces combine to bring forth the revelation that the Holy Spirit is making us one in Christ Jesus and gathering us together in His name.
The Book of Revelation might be compared to pieces that when connected show mountain ranges far off in the distance, with the colors difficult to discern but nevertheless bridging heaven and earth. The puzzle becomes more difficult to put together now and involves more trial and error. The piece you thought was the correct one yesterday, viewed in today's light obviously does not fit. It can be tempting to give up at this point. The "easy" part of the puzzle is completed and the going becomes very slow. One can become discouraged and stop working before the entire puzzle is assembled. So many pieces still remain outside the frame.
And what about the Old Testament? How does that fit into the picture puzzle? It can possibly be compared to the hundreds of pieces of sky that must be put into place before the puzzle is finished. You don't need these pieces to see Jesus, but without them the puzzle still remains incomplete.
It will take a lifetime to put together the entire puzzle joining piece to piece, but don't get discouraged. The Lord has sent a Helper to assist you in finding the right piece at the right time for the right place. The Holy Spirit will be there at your side pointing out the pieces and showing you how it all comes together. Who knows? Perhaps it will be in heaven when your last piece is finally placed and the puzzle completed.
Following In His Footsteps: Walking Day by Day with Jesus
As in any puzzle, the most important place to start is with the border and you will quickly learn that the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John comprise the border of the Bible. Every doctrine and teaching in the scriptures is based upon the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as recorded in the gospels. Without the gospels the rest of the Bible wouldn't hold together because the framework for the entire Old and New Testaments depends upon the solid message of the four gospels. Without the gospels you can only see scattered pieces containing historical facts, narratives, parables and allegories. But within the confines of the gospels everything falls into place and is held firmly by the tremendous revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Once the border is in place, it is time to start working on filling in the center of the puzzle. The Book of Acts and the epistles connect easily with the gospels and will make the picture much clearer. The many great doctrines brought forth by Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude through their letters reveal more and more of the mind of God.
The picture of who God is and His plan for mankind becomes more obvious as each piece is sought, found and put into place. At times the magnitude of this undertaking can be almost overwhelming. Who can hope to comprehend the mysteries of the kingdom of God? But the Holy Spirit continues to encourage with these words, "Seek and you shall find." Every piece that is firmly positioned into place shows more of God's likeness.
The Acts of the Apostles and the various epistles are really like the pieces that form the background of a jigsaw puzzle. In the Bible you begin to see the church come into view as people are tightly joined together side by side. These vital pieces combine to bring forth the revelation that the Holy Spirit is making us one in Christ Jesus and gathering us together in His name.
The Book of Revelation might be compared to pieces that when connected show mountain ranges far off in the distance, with the colors difficult to discern but nevertheless bridging heaven and earth. The puzzle becomes more difficult to put together now and involves more trial and error. The piece you thought was the correct one yesterday, viewed in today's light obviously does not fit. It can be tempting to give up at this point. The "easy" part of the puzzle is completed and the going becomes very slow. One can become discouraged and stop working before the entire puzzle is assembled. So many pieces still remain outside the frame.
And what about the Old Testament? How does that fit into the picture puzzle? It can possibly be compared to the hundreds of pieces of sky that must be put into place before the puzzle is finished. You don't need these pieces to see Jesus, but without them the puzzle still remains incomplete.
It will take a lifetime to put together the entire puzzle joining piece to piece, but don't get discouraged. The Lord has sent a Helper to assist you in finding the right piece at the right time for the right place. The Holy Spirit will be there at your side pointing out the pieces and showing you how it all comes together. Who knows? Perhaps it will be in heaven when your last piece is finally placed and the puzzle completed.
Following In His Footsteps: Walking Day by Day with Jesus
WHY ARE THERE FOUR GOSPELS?
NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT PERHAPS FOR YOU
As a Bible teacher, I felt led on New Year's Day to write a short Bible study that I think will help you to understand the four gospels and how each was written to show a different aspect of of the nature and role of Jesus. This teaching has gone viral and now has been seen by over 14,000 people.
The Gospel of Matthew is written to the Jews and shows Jesus as the King of the Jews. Consequently there are many scriptures quoted throughout Matthew because the Jews all knew the scriptures and could see how they were fulfilled through Jesus. The genealogy of Jesus begins with Abraham (the father of the Jews) and the lineage goes through Solomon, the son of David. It is the lineage through Joseph who was recognized legally as the father of Jesus.
The Gospel of Mark is written to show Jesus as Servant/Prophet. You will notice there is no lineage given in this book because if you are looking for a servant, his ancestry is not of vital importance. You are seeking to discover if a servant is strong and has the ability to accomplish the work he is required to perform. In the Gospel of Mark you see Jesus doing the Father's will and completing His work.
The Gospel of Luke reveals Jesus as the Son of Man. The book was written to the Greeks who were Gentiles so there are few scriptures used. Luke was a physician so he writes of many healing miracles. The genealogy is traced all the way back to Adam, the first man. You will notice that the lineage goes through Nathan (one of the sons of David) and shows the ancestry of Jesus through Mary's side. In the Gospel of Luke much of the human nature of Jesus is shown.
The Gospel of John reveals Jesus as the Son of God and starts out, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." No genealogy is necessary because we see that Jesus always was. In John 14:9, Jesus says, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." Throughout the Gospel of John we see God revealed through Jesus. We hear Jesus referring to Himself as the I AM. As Luke revealed the human nature of Jesus, the Gospel of John reveals the spiritual nature of Jesus.
These four witnesses wrote of Jesus so that we can know without a doubt that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus did not only come to the Jews, but also as a light to the Gentiles. He came to reveal the Father to those who have the eyes to see.
Blessings and Happy New Year.
Jean Coleman
Author of "Chapter 29 Revisited"
www.facebook.com/chapter29
As a Bible teacher, I felt led on New Year's Day to write a short Bible study that I think will help you to understand the four gospels and how each was written to show a different aspect of of the nature and role of Jesus. This teaching has gone viral and now has been seen by over 14,000 people.
The Gospel of Matthew is written to the Jews and shows Jesus as the King of the Jews. Consequently there are many scriptures quoted throughout Matthew because the Jews all knew the scriptures and could see how they were fulfilled through Jesus. The genealogy of Jesus begins with Abraham (the father of the Jews) and the lineage goes through Solomon, the son of David. It is the lineage through Joseph who was recognized legally as the father of Jesus.
The Gospel of Mark is written to show Jesus as Servant/Prophet. You will notice there is no lineage given in this book because if you are looking for a servant, his ancestry is not of vital importance. You are seeking to discover if a servant is strong and has the ability to accomplish the work he is required to perform. In the Gospel of Mark you see Jesus doing the Father's will and completing His work.
The Gospel of Luke reveals Jesus as the Son of Man. The book was written to the Greeks who were Gentiles so there are few scriptures used. Luke was a physician so he writes of many healing miracles. The genealogy is traced all the way back to Adam, the first man. You will notice that the lineage goes through Nathan (one of the sons of David) and shows the ancestry of Jesus through Mary's side. In the Gospel of Luke much of the human nature of Jesus is shown.
The Gospel of John reveals Jesus as the Son of God and starts out, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." No genealogy is necessary because we see that Jesus always was. In John 14:9, Jesus says, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." Throughout the Gospel of John we see God revealed through Jesus. We hear Jesus referring to Himself as the I AM. As Luke revealed the human nature of Jesus, the Gospel of John reveals the spiritual nature of Jesus.
These four witnesses wrote of Jesus so that we can know without a doubt that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus did not only come to the Jews, but also as a light to the Gentiles. He came to reveal the Father to those who have the eyes to see.
Blessings and Happy New Year.
Jean Coleman
Author of "Chapter 29 Revisited"
www.facebook.com/chapter29
