Sometimes I feel embarrassed at reposting or commenting so often on Mike’s posts. I’m usually reading these everyday as part of my morning devotions. I do find them more useful than most of the published modern devotional materials, primarily because Mike focuses on the Scripture and does a good job of reviewing the underlying text and presenting useful applications.
In the process of reading his posts I look up the Bible text in my own KJV or the Geneva Bible which he frequently quotes.
(Note: I’m also aware through my own studies and research of the underlying texts, that the NA28 Greek text Mike uses, although widely accepted in the theological community and taught in the seminaries today, is not without controversy. In the manuscript copies we have (the minority texts, often Alexandrian sourced) and the backgrounds of those who found and promoted them as our standard text over the last 150 or so years….replacing the long standing majority of manuscripts that were brought to the West after the fall of Constantinople. Those we call the Received Text or Byzantine Text, were replaced. Interesting subject for another day.)
Btw….it does amaze me that the result of all the science of Textual Criticism, that has led to the current wide acceptance of the new, modern Greek texts (and to some extent the Hebrew texts we use for Bible translations), operates much like our acceptance of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and our Modern Day Climate Change views, etc. etc….)
Anyway back to the point. Mike ends with this thought.
God has commanded all who know Him to preach the word and make disciples from all parts of the world. Therefore, we know that it is through the preaching of the Word that men hear and believe. From this we understand that the Holy Spirit works through this preaching of the Gospel to draw men unto salvation. Shouldn’t we be obeying this command?
I still prefer to leave the making of disciples to God, who draws true disciples to himself.
Jhn 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
Jhn 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jhn 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
……
Jhn 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Jhn 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Jhn 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Jhn 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Jhn 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Jhn 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Jhn 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The answer to Mike’s question is yes we should do that……
I love the way the old text says that so plainly. Perhaps repeating this will work toward that end. It’s my form of teaching at least for the present, even if nobody actually reads this.
Rainbow Trout 