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This edition of Ask the Pastor features Pastors Johnathan Hernandez and Garry Schick.
Garry Schick
Hey, so here's the question, and I think it's great. "What role does the Bible play in our daily lives and how can we become more Christlike in our everyday interactions?" So Jonathan, this is one that was brought to you. What are some thoughts you have about it?
Jonathan Hernandez
Yeah, so as we think about those questions, I think first the Bible shows us God's character. And it provides for us God's revelation of Himself to His people. I think the Bible does an amazing job as we just really step into it and just really read it. Just really seeing that heart of who God is, and as we see His heart, we can see how we can take the scriptures, read them, and just really see it for ourselves and allow it to really take root into our lives or really for us to be able to apply it into our lives. God's word is unchanging, it's faithful, it's loving. Obviously, there's some discipline within it. So we think about that in 2 Timothy 3:16. It talks about how the Bible's profitable for teaching. For reproach or reproof, correction for training, for righteousness. right? And so we look at that and the Bible is this amazing thing that we can just apply into our lives like that; to when we need correction. The Bible will show us as we read through that the Bible is kind of like that place. The Holy Spirit really reveals to us, "oh, well, guess what? I'm maybe walking outside of God's design for my life." Well, the Bible's going to show us that it's going to help us see that as we read through that the Holy Spirit continues just to convict us in those areas. And so like I said, I just love that we get this opportunity as we study the word that, yeah, there's times when the correction hurts, right? But I mean, it's beneficial in the long run if we could just really, I think we live in such a, "see it now," mentality instead of seeing the big picture. And when the Holy Spirit's correcting us, yeah it hurts now, but if we could look at the big picture. We could see what God is really doing in our lives and how that's going to play out ultimately in the end. I think, how can we be more Christ-like within our interactions? I think of the fruit of the spirit, "but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and against such things there's no law." When I feel like I'm not walking in any of those, they're not evident in my life, well, it really helps me think, "okay, well am I in the place that I need to be with God or am I walking outside of that, or walking in something that I shouldn't be?" I think when I look at that, if I have no love in my heart, well obviously then there's something wrong. Something's going on. If there's no joy, if there's no peace, there's things that are going on that's really shaking who I am. So I need to get back in alignment with God. I read a book that's actually part of a discipleship group that I am a part of. I get to teach or whatever, and the book's called Journey to the Inner Chamber. And there's a character in this book, his name's Gabe. And just really seeing Gabe's heart, and how his heart really aligns with who God is and just seeing how he walks through that. I love that book. It's a good book if you guys ever want to go and read it at some point. But in the book, Gabe has a guy that comes and tries to burn down his barn. He has a farm, and Gabe, when the guy lights the barn on fire, he tries to run away and falls and breaks his leg. And Gabe comes and stumbles upon him when he goes out to find his barn. The book says that the character in the book, he actually helps this guy. He braces his leg, takes him back home, and then on top of that, he feeds that guy's family for the next several months while the guy recovers. And our carnal thought process is, "well, he deserved what he got. He broke his leg. He shouldn't have put," but that wasn't Gabe's heart. It was, "yeah, he may have done wrong, but I'm going to give grace. I'm going to extend grace and I'm going to love on him." And I think the more we spend time with God, I think we start learning how we can do that same thing: extend grace when maybe the world's taught us we shouldn't. But God is saying, "yeah, you should."
Garry Schick
Yeah, and I think you're right. The Bible is our standard that shows us a different path. God's standard for us. And think of Jesus' words, "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that precedes from the mouth of God." But with that in mind, we still have to feed on it. We still have to take it in, digest it, and let it do its work in our lives. That question, "what role does the Bible play in our lives?" Not to be a little bit harsh here, but sadly not nearly enough of a role. Some people, you just wonder, does it play any role at all? People identify as Christians. I mean, I'll be honest, even in my own life, I mean I can know the word, but can the word be seen in my life? And one of the scriptures that kind of hits me hard on this is James 1, where in verse 21, he says, "therefore put all filthiness and rampant wickedness away and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres; being no hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts; he will be blessed in his doing." So, I think even for those of us who have what are called devotions, daily time in God's word, there is a temptation to become very familiar with the word. To kind of let it scratch our interest points, but not necessarily let it go deeper into our living of our lives. And so I just find it so helpful to say, "Lord help me, feed me today through your word. Show me what I need to feed on, and where I need to let the word change how I operate. How I connect with the world around me, how I treat my wife and kids." And sometimes it's hard. You know, I think it's not unusual for people to come to the word or hear a sermon and say, "oh boy, I know exactly who needed to hear that today." And they're not talking about themselves. Every now and then people say, "oh, that is what I needed to hear today." And that's what a preacher loves, and I'm sure it's what God loves. When we, "and it wasn't easy, but I needed to hear that." And to let God's word do its work. And it will! It will build you up, it will edify you, it will strengthen you. And it happens little by little. But again, as you were talking about how the word works in our lives, another parable of Jesus that came to my mind. It was one where he talked about, "those who are faithful in very little will be given more." I think when we are faithful to apply just a little bit in a little area, God will say, "okay, now here's more to help you with some more." But a lot of it will, I think just blow right past us until we make the connect where we don't just hear it, but see ourselves in it, meditate on it, and let the spirit work through it and be prayerful about it. And prayer, meditation on the word, letting it sink in and just really asking the Lord. "Lord, I want to reflect Jesus far better than I do. I know I don't in so many ways. Out in public, but also at home, every area of our life." And even deep inside, just the conversation we have with ourselves about whatever. I think it's so easy to fall into habitual ruts of complaining or crumbling or bitterness or whatever. And so that quenches the spirit and then it cuts off that life flow that brings life change. But if we let the word into those deep recesses of our lives, I think it disciples us. I was thinking the other day, there is such a difference between being taught and being discipled. To be taught is to learn more, to know stuff. To be discipled is to like change. It's to be like Jesus. And I think there's a great temptation for all of us to just sit back and be taught. But God wants to go farther. He wants us to be disciples. Yes.
Jonathan Hernandez
Yes. So good.
Garry Schick
And one more thing, listeners, if you're feeling maybe a little conviction, I hope so about, "am I a learner or a disciple?" It means being willing to step out and do some hard things as a disciple of Jesus. "Hey, I'm out of my comfort zone, but I want to follow Christ." And don't worry, the more faithful you are, the more your spiritual muscles will develop and he will use you in great ways.