Category Archives: Questions

AMAZED, Answers, Bible, Insight, Knowledge, Mystery, Promises, Questions, Scripture

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

EPHESIANS 3:4

“By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,”

I really like putting jigsaw puzzles together. There is just something about finding the right piece for the right spot. And then when you put that final piece in, you can step back and admire the finished product. Some people actually frame their finished puzzles. I prefer to tear it all apart and putting it all together again.

Paul uses a Greek word in today’s verse which is translated as “insight.” It’s the Greek word, sunesis, which means putting it all together in your mind. Paul has been given the privilege to gather all the pieces of the grace of God and can now proclaim those to the Ephesians. The mystery of grace is now explained. The Gentiles are welcomed into God’s kingdom along with the Jews who have believed. Paul wants the Ephesians to understand this completely.

APPLICATION

Do you remember the story about the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple. Well, this word, sunesis, is used in Luke 2:47 to explain Jesus’ understanding of the law. “And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.” Of course, Jesus had full understanding of the Scriptures. But the people were amazed at his knowledge. As you gain more insights into God’s Word, others may be just as amazed at your understanding. Handle that humbly.

We see sunesis used also in 2 Timothy 2:7 when Paul was encouraging Timothy to be strong. “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Do you desire a deeper understanding of God’s Word? Do you want to gain more insight in what God is trying to show us? Ask Him. He will give to us as we show the desire.

Back to that jigsaw puzzle. What do you do if you come up one piece short? It’s kind of frustrating. It just isn’t complete without that last piece. God will never withhold that last piece from you. He wants you to be fully informed. He wants to complete you in Christ. No missing pieces!

Thank You, Father, for the completion of Your gift of grace

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Bible, Choices, Grace, Law, Questions, Scripture

JUST TELL ME ONE THING

GALATIANS 3:2

“This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”

Have you ever said, “Okay, just tell me one thing”? We say that when we are trying to win an argument or to clarify something to someone. Keeping the important things, the important things is important (say that five times real fast, lol). I know when I preach, I try to tell the people what I am going to say, I say it and then I tell them what I said. I want to make sure they understood the message and the facts were clear.

In today’s verse we see Paul making sure the Galatian believers kept the main things the main things. Can’t you just hear Paul exhorting them? Let me ask you one question – was it through faith or the Law that you received the Spirit? I don’t know about you, but I can hear that in the tone of this verse. Paul was tired of others coming in and muddying the water with their added restrictions and guidelines.

APPLICATION

Don’t ever let anyone put you back under the Law. Carl, no one is going to do that! Oh yea? How about those people who say you can’t miss church, or you must dress a certain way? Romans 7:6 says, “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”

There are plenty of people out there ready to put you back under the Law. They have a long list of “Thou Shall Nots.” But for us, it’s more about “Thou Shall.” For instance, look at 1 John 4:7. “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” Isn’t that better than getting your hand slapped for something you did or didn’t do? We are commanded to love each other.

So, let me ask you just one thing. Does your life exemplify Jesus to a lost world? That’s really what matters. That is a main thing. We are his witness. We represent Him. Take that to the world. Let them see Jesus in you. If you and I do that daily, we will grow in our faith. We will mature as believers. We will see fruit for our labor. Do the main thing.

Keep me focused, Lord, on what You say is important, not what others say.

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Asking, Bible, Fasting, Obedience, Prayer, Questions, Scripture

A GOOD QUESTION

ZECHARIAH 7:3

“speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the LORD of armies, and to the prophets, saying, ‘Shall I weep in the fifth month and fast, as I have done these many years?’”

Have you ever gone to a pastor or preacher to ask for advice about a spiritual matter? Maybe you have a question about praying or fasting. You could be confused about a certain passage of Scripture and need their insight. Seeking the advice of our spiritual leaders is a good thing. This is what we see in today’s verse.

Sharezer and Regemmelech had come seeking the Lord’s favor and had this question for the priests. This may sound like a strange question, but you have to know what was going on. During the fifth month, the people fasted and prayed in remembrance of the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians. But now that the temple was being rebuilt, these two men were asking if they should continue that or pray with joy. In other words, do we keep doing this or not?

APPLICATION

Malachi 2:6-7 says, “6 True instruction was in his mouth and injustice was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and justice, and he turned many back from wrongdoing. 7 For the lips of a priest should maintain knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of armies.” I just love that passage. I have put it to memory, mainly because my boss told me to, lol.

As a pastor and minister of the Gospel, it is my job to dispense knowledge and wisdom to those who seek it from me. Let me say quickly that I have no knowledge or wisdom outside of the Lord’s. That is why I always point people to His Word. It is the true source of wisdom.

If you haven’t read Psalm 119 lately, take a few minutes and do that. Notice that just about every verse has a reference to God’s Word. It may be called commands, law, precepts, statutes or something else, but all those descriptions are pointing us back to the Word. If you have a question, go to the Word or go to someone who can direct you where to look there. It has the answers.

I praise You for giving us Your Word to guide us and answer all of life’s questions.

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Answers, Asking, Bible, Faithfulness, Questions, Scripture

SAME QUESTION, DIFFERENT ANSWER

ZECHARIAH 6:4

 “So I responded and said to the angel who was speaking with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’”

Asking the same question over and over again may seem ridiculous. After all, if you have asked the question once, why should you keep asking it? If you have asked someone something and received an answer, is there a need to ask it again? But as the saying goes, inquisitive minds want to know.

Zechariah asks the same question to the angel. Of course, there is a different vision this time, so Zechariah has more questions. Why would he ask again? Because the angel has proven trustworthy to answer him. Zechariah knew the only reason he was seeing these visions was to tell the nation of Israel. They weren’t his secrets to keep. Just the opposite, he was to warn the people. How could he warn them properly if he didn’t understand what he was seeing?

APPLICATION

I cry out to God, just about every day, a couple of requests. I have been asking these requests over and over and over. So far, God has not answered those questions. At least, He has not answered them for me to understand them. So, I keep asking. I am like that man who stood at the door and knocked. Luke 11:5-8 says, “5 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.” 7 And suppose the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.’”

The word for “shameless audacity” is also translated as persistence. It is only used right here in the whole New Testament. This parable is told by Jesus right before He gives us that famous statement of seeking and finding. Persistence is the key. Zechariah was persistent in asking the same question each time he was shown a vision. We should be persistent in our questions to God.

I know the Lord hears my prayers. I don’t doubt that. I know His timing is always perfect. I don’t offend God by asking questions, even the same question over and over. The Psalmist says God remembers how we are formed. He knows that we are but dust (Psalm 103). God wants to educate us. We just have to wait on Him. Keep asking!

Lord, I cry out to You daily. I know You are listening. Hear my cry, O Lord.

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Asking, Belief, Bible, Correction, Devil, Direction, Questions, Scripture

I DON’T UNDERSTAND

 ZECHARIAH 4:4  “Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me, saying, ‘What are these, my lord?’” How many times have you been confused about something? Well, I have to admit that it has happened to me a lot. But one thing I have learned to do is ask questions. If I am not sure about something, I ask somebody to help me, to show me how to do it right or how to understand it. It’s humbling to ask for help. But it sure improves my own knowledge. Zechariah asked the angel what this golden lampstand meant (we discussed this in yesterday’s blog). He wasn’t clear on the vision. But he trusted the angel to show him what the purpose was. That kind of speaks to how God speaks to us. Sometimes He shows us something and we don’t understand. It’s okay to ask questions, just like Zechariah did. APPLICATION Do you have questions for God. Ask Him. It’s perfectly fine to tell Him you don’t understand. He wants you to understand. He is not trying to confuse you. That’s the devil’s job. He is the author of confusion. Paul tells us so in 1 Corinthians 14:33. “…for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.” God, I don’t understand. Help me understand. This reminds me of the man who asked for help in his belief. Mark 9:24 says, “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief!’” Is that you today? Then cry out to the One who has all the answers. Don’t you want to fully know Him? Don’t you want to know His purpose for your life? One day we will have the mind of Christ. Until then, keep asking questions. He will answer you. 

Hear my cry, O Lord. Send me what I need to know when I need to know it.

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Answers, Asking, Bible, God's Will, Questions, Relationships, Scripture

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

ZECHARIAH 2:2

“So I said, ‘Where are you going?’ And he said to me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.’”

What a great question! Have you ever asked that question of anyone? I remember when my kids were teenagers and they were about to head out the door, I would say, “Where are you going?” Most of the time it was to work or to a friend’s house. But I wanted to know where they were going. Why? Was I just being inquisitive? No! I had a vested interest in where they were going. I was their father and needed to know that.

Verse 2 today is the first time we see Zechariah asking the Angel of the Lord anything directly. In the other two visions in chapter 1, Zechariah converses with an angel sent to speak for the Lord. But here, Zechariah talks directly to the Angel of the Lord. He sees Him with that measuring line headed towards Jerusalem, so he wants to know His intentions. He boldly asks Him and receives an answer.

APPLICATION

When is the last time you asked the Lord anything? There are so many verses in the Word that tell us to ask. One of my favorite, memorized passages is Philippians 4:6-7. I have referred to it several times in my blog. It says, “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petitions with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

The verb used there for “let…be made known” is a strong verb. It’s Present tense, which means continuous action. It is also in the Middle voice, which means the subject (in this case – you) have to do the action. The Holy Spirit through Paul is saying to keep asking. Tell the Father what you need.

Boy, I’ve done that a lot. Haven’t you? A friend of mine just lost his wife to cancer this week. She had fought this for quite a while. They prayed for healing, believing God is capable. He chose to heal her a different way. He took her home. But my friend did not hesitate each day to ask the Lord for her healing. Dear friends, keep believing. Keep asking and see what the Lord will do.

Father, every day I come to You with my requests. I know you hear, and I know you answer.

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Answers, Asking, Bible, Promises, Questions, Scripture

ARE WE ALMOST THERE?

ZECHARIAH 1:12

“Then the angel of the LORD said, ‘LORD of armies, how long will You take no pity on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been indignant for these seventy years?’”

You dread the question every five minutes. You are on a road trip with your little kids. You know the question. “Are we almost there?” The standard answer is “Yes, just five more minutes.” Of course, those five minutes will last an hour or two, right? We are so impatient. We want everything to be at our fingertips instantly.

The angel that was talking to Zechariah asked the LORD of armies a question. “How much longer, LORD?” You see, for seventy years they had been in Babylon. We knew from Jeremiah 25:11-12 that this was going to happen. “11 ‘This entire land will be a place of ruins and an object of horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. 12 Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the LORD, ‘for their wrongdoing, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation.’”

APPLICATION

The next verse (which we will see tomorrow) begins God’s answer to the question. So, how does this verse apply to us today? One way I believe it applies is that God keeps His promises. Jeremiah prophesied seventy years in exile and then it would end. We see that happening in this verse. We are in an age where we see prophesies being fulfilled. Many, including me, believe we are near the day of Christ’s return. Now, I am not setting a date. Don’t worry. But the point is, God always is true to His Word.

Another point is that it is okay to ask God questions. The angel didn’t hesitate asking Him. Why should we? He tells us to ask Him. He wants to hear from us. He knows we don’t have all knowledge. He knows we have questions. Some questions He won’t answer yet, but He will. But don’t hesitate to ask.

I have so many questions for God. Some will wait until heaven – like “Why did you have to make mosquitos?” Other questions I ask every day. “Lord, why would you rescue me, as wicked as I am?” or “Lord, will You please draw ______ to You? They need Jesus.” I know as long as I ask with the right motives, God will answer in His perfect time.

Lord, are we almost there? How much longer?

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Answers, Asking, Bible, God's Will, Questions, Scripture, Trust

WHAT IS THIS?

ZECHARIAH 1:9

“Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, ‘I will show you what these are.’” 

So many times we are faced with questions for which we do not have answers? Why did this happen to me? Why would God allow this? Tough questions! I know I have had those questions in the past. I still have questions like that. As long as we are here on this earth, we will face these types of questions.

Zechariah was no different. Here he is having this incredible experience and he asks the angel, “What are these, my lord?” You can just imagine what he is going through. But he did not hesitate to ask for clarification. And better yet, the angel didn’t scold him. He simply said, “I will show you what these are.” I bet Zechariah couldn’t wait.

APPLICATION

The next time you have a question for God, don’t hesitate. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 33:3. “‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’” Just call on the Lord. He stands ready to give us answers. God doesn’t want to keep us guessing. He wants us to rest in Him.

He can give you the peace that passes understanding. He can give you rest for your soul. How about these verses from 1 John 5? “14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” What more could you ask?

So, ask away. God isn’t bothered by your questions. He doesn’t say, “Just cause.” Didn’t you just hate that answer from your parents, lol? There are some things that God does that defies answers. We can’t begin to explain God’s mind, but we can trust Him. I was reading in Job today. Remember what he said to his wife after she told him to curse God and die? He said, “‘Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?’” Know this – God is listening, and He will answer in His perfect time.

Help me trust You like Job did, Lord. I want to be bold to ask and then wait on You to answer.

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Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Questions, Scripture, Sin

QUESTION NUMBER TWO

HAGGAI 2:13

“Then Haggai said, If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these things, will the latter become unclean?’ And the priests answered, ‘It will become unclean.’”

I was driving down a back country road recently when I started smelling this horrible smell. I instantly looked around in my truck, wondering if I had left something in there that had spoiled. Then I saw it. There was a dead animal beside the road that had obviously been there a few days. The stench from that carcass was wafting up and down that road for miles. I felt unclean just driving past it.

So, the second question gets asked of the priests. This time about passing uncleanness onto something. Remember, yesterday’s verse asked about transferring holiness which the priests answered in the negative. But here, the same action can transfer uncleanness, according to them. The teaching moment – it is a lot easier to transfer your sins. Only God can make something holy, but we can affect others through our actions.

APPLICATION

I want to ask you a personal question. Have you ever caused someone else to sin because of your own sin? Have you influenced others negatively? It is so easy to do that. Our actions have consequences, not only on ourselves, but potentially on others. I saw that far too often when I was working with children. Their parents’ choices influenced the children to follow the same sinful patterns.

In Matthew 18:6, Jesus tells us, “‘but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.’” That is pretty harsh, isn’t it? But I believe Jesus meant that. You see, our uncleanness can affect others.

Now, you can’t transfer your sins onto someone else. Everyone is responsible for their own sins. We are all born sinners (Romans 3:23). But our lesson for today is to be careful how we walk so that we do not influence anyone towards sin. That would be sin for us.

Lord, keep me focused on living for You so that I can influence others to live holy lives.

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Bible, Child Raising, Child Rearing, Direction, Disciplemaking, Encouragement, Following, Inspirational, Mentoring, Obedience, Parenting, Questions, Teaching

ANSWER A QUESTION WITH A QUESTI0N

LUKE 12:41

“Peter said, ‘Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?’”

How many times have you answered a question with a question? Working with kids as long as I have, I have done it hundreds of times. I do it to get them thinking. I want them to figure it out for themselves. I could easily give them the answer, but they would forget it soon enough.

Peter wants to know if the parable Jesus is telling applies to them as well. You tell me. Read verses 42-48 and tell me what Jesus’ answer was to Peter. Remember, Jesus never wasted a teaching moment. He was always preparing His disciples for the days that were coming.

APPLICATION

Let me encourage you to do the same. Don’t let those teachable moments slip by, no matter how miniscule you may think they are. Our children can always learn new truths. We just have to take the time to teach them.

What can they learn from this story? List five things. I am not going to tell you my five. I want you to discover your five lessons you can teach your children. Chances are my five and your five won’t be the same. That’s okay. God speaks to us differently.

Do you read God’s Word looking for life lessons? Or do you read it out of habit to just get through it? Let the Word transform you daily. Let the truths of each passage speak to your heart and give you a message to share. The Lord gave it to us to spread to others. Do your part today.

Thank You, Lord, for your powerful Word. Thank You it speaks as powerfully today as ever. Give me an audience today to share.

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