The Book Jesus Read

Acts 17:10-11 The brethren immediately sent Paul  and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble minded  than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.


There is a book called "The Bible Jesus Read." It talks about the Old Testament, which is what Jesus quoted (Paul came after Jesus, not before Jesus). "The Scriptures" then was the Old Testament. Paul quoted Scriptures too, as did all the other New Testament writers. The church would not have been created without the past. God says, "Remember the Lord your God...Remember the Sabbath Day...Remember the good things I have done."

He quoted much of Isaiah and the Psalms, and told stories from Genesis. Jesus knew the Scriptures. Jesus knew that the Scriptures and Prophets were not ancient and forgettable.

God is not forgetful. "He remembers his promises even unto the end of the age." He wants you to remember Him and what He has done in your life, because only then can we continue to fight the good fight. Our job is not to dwell in the past and remain in bondage and fear, but to remember the past and move into a healthy future. That's why He says to remember the good things He has done for you. Not the bad. God doesn't do bad things - He lets them happen, but He does not do them. His enemy does it.  His enemy asks for Christians to prove whether they are faithful (several accounts: Job, Peter in the Gospels, Jesus). God allows it. The enemy is the accuser of the brothers and sisters standing before God accusing Christians day and night (Revelation 12).

"Standing before God day and night" - so he does not rest. He is relentless. Luckily, God cast him down (Rev 12:10) -- when Christ was lifted up on the cross Satan was cast down. When Christ rose from the dead, Satan and death had no more power except what we give them to control our lives and by resisting Christ's calling to our lives.

"He stands." An unwelcome guest stands. I know that if I have a visitor I like, they will get a seat. If I don't, I let them stand so they will leave faster. (Sometimes I do forget.) An important difference: Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. The accuser stands before him. Jesus enjoys the place of power. The accuser is a beggar.

The accuser. When we accuse others, especially our brothers and sisters, we are not being Christ-like. Christ does not accuse our brothers and sisters. Christ does not accuse. He mediates. He asks God for us, to meet our needs. He helps us. He loves us. Christ died for us when He did not have to.


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel