Author: merittmusings

I've been in ministry in the Christian Churches/ Churches of Christ for 20+ years. Finished my doctorate in Biblical Studies in 2015. Serve today as a Hospital Chaplain.

The Division of the Soul

www.bible.com/1713/heb.4.12.csb

Who knew that the soul could be divided? The Hebrews’ author gets very existential in this text, perhaps saying more than he knew. We know that joints and marrow are distinctive tissues. We can actually see this in anatomy. Marrow exists within the bone, while joints connect bone to bone. They connected by extremely tough tissue called tendons. So the ability to separate these tissues must be with equipment that’s extremely sharp. So we might surmise that the connection between soul and spirit must be equally difficult to separate. This stands to reason, as we often see the two as synonyms, rather than distinctive elements. Is there support for this?

We are all born with souls. It is the very stuff of who we are. Without souls we are considered dead. It is the soul that gives life. In Greek it is the word used is psuche, which we often transliterate as psyche.

The spirit is a word we employ to describe the ethereal and intangible essence of bodiless entities. We employ this to describe ghosts, the Holy Spirit, and even high-alcohol content beverages. (I might put forward here that I believe the association between consuming “spirits” as alcoholic beverages gives the same warm feeling in the body as the presence of the Holy Spirit, hence, do not become drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.) the Greek term for spirit is pneuma. It is the same word used for “wind”.

With some basic information, we might see that the two words do describe two different things. A psyche is something we never see, but see the effects of, like behavior, presence of life and so forth. A pneuma is something we might have a concept of apart from the body, like a mist or vapor. But we always see the spirit as the more powerful of the two, since psyche is always associated with a human being while the spirit is not. That the two have such a strong connection in this verse might be new information for us. But let me show you why this connection exists.

When we are baptized into Christ, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and that presence of God introduced into our lives is intended to grow us spiritually into disciples. It is supposed to be a strong connection, as we work to discipline our lives, thoughts and intentions to be more Christ-like. But here comes the intent if this verse.

The Word of God (the Scripture given by the Holy Spirit) is living and active. Important to remember this. Since the word given by the Spirit separates soul from spirit, what is the nature of this separation? Simply? It is the separation of the will of the soul from the will of the spirit. The word of God makes that separation very stark. When we read the word of God, we find what He wants, and how that is often different from what we want. The word of God isn’t old and dead, like many religions of long ago. It is living and active, even to reach into your soul right now and make it plain to you what God wants. God isn’t an old god from an old faith. He is present. He is near, and He is speaking into you through His word. It is a powerful thing to be considered worthy of hearing the will and word of our Creator.

Help me Lord to listen to you today. I know that my will js not Your will, but help me each day to make it more so. I love you Lord, more than anything. Let my soul cleave into Thy Spirit that we may not be separated again. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

No Contest

www.bible.com/1713/1ki.18.37.csb

What proof would be unmistakable for you that the “Lord, He is God!”? In 1 Kings 18 it is the contest between Baal and God. Elijah’s elaborate setup and the indisputable payoff gave the Israelites the proof many needed to return to their traditional faith (for a time). Baal failed to respond to the pleading of hundreds of priests over hours. God responded with fire to one prophet within minutes.

Last night we were studying Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar’s need for proof was both to tell him his dream and interpret it for him. If a god could do this, that would get his attention. Only God could do this. Nebuchadnezzar praises Daniel’s God, though it would take a few more episodes to convince him that Daniel’s God could be his too.

What proof are you holding out for? Are you waiting for signs in the heavens? Gideon’s fleece? Visions of angels? Or something more mundane, like having your gas bill paid? And when you receive this, will you then believe?

God has given us a sign. It is the sign of the raising of His Son from the dead. Whether you believe it or not, it is an historical fact, and the very cornerstone of the Christian faith. If you are waiting for a sign of proof, we’ve had it for nearly 2000 years.

May You Lord receive all the glory due Your Name. Signs and wonders are fantastic and leave a lasting impression, but Your love and grace last even longer. While I wait for a miracle, let me feel your love for me today. While I don’t need to see a sign to know you are real, I do need Your grace today. Help me to know that today I am loved. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Not Easily Broken

www.bible.com/1713/ecc.4.12.csb

Who is your other cord? With whom are you not easily broken? Do you have backup? Or do you try to go on your own?

I find that nothing binds people together faster than shared adversity. Total strangers stuck in an elevator can become close friends. But once the adversity is over, well, there’s no guarantees. We are social creatures and we naturally congregate. But if we isolate ourselves, we cut off that natural instinct.

The Scripture reinforces the truth of our nature, but explains why God made us like this. He knows in this world we will have trouble. That trouble may break us if we attempt life solo. I’ve talked with people who have tried life alone. But inevitably they come into situations when someone else is needed. If you’ve never married and have no children, all your family is gone and you are alone, to whom do you turn?

Even in this, God has created a social community where you can have family without marriage and children without procreation. Parents without adoption. It’s called Church. You can find this amazing extended family in the relationships you develop within the community of faith. The strength of your family will depend on how much time and energy you invest. Don’t have anyone you can call in adversity? Join a church. At least the pastor will help. Relationships will grow over time. God will help you form connections with strangers, because we are all facing this world together. We are all strangers here.

Father God. I am alone in this world. I don’t know who to turn to or to whom to run. Please show me those strangers who can become friends. show me and bind to those cords that I will need when adversity comes. And Lord God, be that strongest cord of all. In Jesus Name, Amen!

He Cares

www.bible.com/1713/1pe.5.7.csb

Living with anxiety is a tough thing. When you are worried all the time about how life will work out unless you actively worry about it. Many that I talk to who experience anxiety constantly just can’t give it up to God. They rely on anxiety meds when they can get them. They worry that life today will not work out. The stress is real. The anxiety is real. Is there any hope?

Yes.

Because God is greater than our anxiety. But I don’t think realizing that truth is the problem. Sometimes anxiety takes on a life of its own; that if I don’t worry about something, I will need to invent something to worry about, because it is not ok to have peace. Somewhere in the growing up years you learned that you are responsible for everything, or that you are the reason things don’t go right. Maybe if you didn’t worry about it, it wouldn’t happen. But somewhere you learned that you are the center of all things, and that all things depend on you. What a great load of responsibility. Who can bear it?

No one can.

I know in my head that this is take God’s own responsibility for all things. It is to put myself in the place of God. But if there was an easy way to fix it, I don’t know it. Drugs help, but they don’t solve the problem. Scripture promises aside, anxiety is a real thing. And sometimes we have to look at what powers in us or around us are influencing us to stay anxious. We suffer stomach aches and head aches and gut issues abound. Our soul aches for relief from the overwhelming anxiety. We long to be liberated, but we can’t.

Take a serious look at your life. When did you start having these feelings and how did they manifest? Has the Enemy latched in to that and magnified it? Do you need to pray for liberation from the Enemy while you deal with they false narratives playing in your soul? It is not God’s will for you to suffer from anxiety. Hold that truth up to the mirror of your life. You don’t have to worry about everything. Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you. He wants to liberate you from your anxieties, but you must be willing to let Him. You must choose to surrender your anxiety to Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I can’t bear these anxieties any more. They are suffocating me. I can’t breathe. I feel pain all the time. I don’t know why I feel this way. Open my eyes to my own life and show me where and when I began to feel like this. Help me find a counselor who can help talk me through these things. Bind those powers that seek my harm. If there be any demons that are binding me to anxiety, help me break those bonds of oppression and show me the path to peace. I need you Lord now more than ever. I pray these things in your Son’s Name, Amen!

Proof of Hope

www.bible.com/1713/rom.5.3-5.csb

Endurance produces perseverance. Perseverance produces character. Character produces hope. Hope does not disappoint. Through this process of maturity, affliction produces satisfying hope. Thus we rejoice in our afflictions, because they begin a process in us that is full of hope, which gets us through the day.

Don’t despair when afflictions are placed upon you, but know that these are the seeds of hope.

Lord God, help me today to see the problems and issues that afflict me today as seeds for the hope that will spring up in me in the process of growth and maturity. Father, I need Your help, because I just don’t have the vision for it. I need your guidance to show me the path through endurance and perseverance and character. Help Lord God this day. Amen.

In the End

www.bible.com/1713/job.19.25.csb

There’s a lot of things that happen over the course of our lives. We can’t imagine the end from the beginning. I would have never thought I would have ever moved to Kentucky. I would not have imagined working as a Chaplain. I don’t even know if this is what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. Even though I have this month’s work schedule, I don’t know what will happen this month. That’s the way the future works.

It there is one thing I do know about the future. I know that Jesus will be there. Jesus will never leave me. He will never forsake me and leave me behind. He will always persist in leading me, guiding my steps, showing me what He needs me to do next. I will still have choices, and I will probably make bad choices. But I hope I will also make good choices and that will keep me in God’s will.

When Job entrusted his future to his Redeemer, there were few things in his life going well. He had lost everything. His wealth, children, his wife’s respect, his friends’ trust. They were sure he had committed some grievous sin and tried to get him to cop to it. He did not know that the end of the story would make his life ten times better than it had been. He didn’t know the future. But he knew the Lord. He had trust enough to know the Lord’s character.

I don’t know what you are going through today, but the Lord doesn’t expect you to know the future, only to trust Him in the present.

Heavenly Father, help me to do exactly that. I fear for the future, but I know You are there, already preparing circumstances for our arrival. Please strengthen my trust in You in the present. I know that you are with me. Your rod and your staff comfort me. I pray these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Guide Me

www.bible.com/1713/psa.16.8.csb

As I wrote yesterday, we are or ought to be looking for God direction. Yesterday’s directive was to be thankful. That hasn’t changed. If you want God to direct your paths, be thankful. Be grateful. Remember that despite your own contribution, God is owed all the respect and gratitude for your life and blessing.

To be shaken here is to be rattled, moved off of this foundation of trust. I will not be forced to distrust God, no matter what happens to me. Just be careful when you say that. A lot can happen to you.

Job in scripture is a textbook example of what can happen to shake your trust in God. Job lost his wealth. He lost his security. He lost his children. And it took his wife’s respect of him. It took his health and comfort. After the first three chapters, Job is a nobody sitting in the city dump. It is a riches to rags story to this point. And then his three friends try to get him to admit that he is a sinner and that God is punishing him. But Job was not shaken. Though he had nothing, he still had God. And He would not give up on Him. He was still thankful.

I don’t know what you are going through today, but can I encourage you? God has not forgotten you. He still cares. Though you may have nothing, He still has you. As Job proves, you can do nothing wrong and still end up in the dump. But Job didn’t stay there, because when Job proved that he still loved and trusted God despite his circumstances, God raised Him up. We can find hope in that too. When God proves that you will trust Him and be content in all circumstances, then you are ready for more.

God, as you are preparing us even today to grow in faith, may our contentment rise to the surface like cream. May you see the serenity of our soul and take joy that are not in this for us and our benefit, but for you. May we learn that lesson early. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What’s God’s Will?

www.bible.com/1713/1th.5.18.csb

Answer: Give thanks in everything. This is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ. Wow! Mystery solved. What does God want me to do with my life? Give thanks! What direction does God want me to go? Give thanks! You’d be surprised just how far a thankful attitude can take you.

But seriously, is this enough? It seems hardly enough to answer the big questions, doesn’t it? This surely doesn’t cover every question seeking the Lord’s Will. But what does it do? It directs us heavenward to be content. We usually ask after God’s will because we are unhappy with the present situation. This verse tells us to be thankful. Surely God wants more from us than this. Yes. He wants your gratitude. He wants you to pause and consider Him, praise Him, thank Him. He wants to be your waking thought and your nightly meditation. The King of the Universe demands your attention. We ought to give it.

So the next time you are tempted to ask what the Lord wants from you, consider giving thanks. It’s His will.

Dear God please remind me again of just how much you love me. Through blessing upon blessing I am reminded of your love. Through ordinary things I remember how much You care for me. Thank you Lord for everything. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

It’s Demons!

www.bible.com/1713/jas.4.7.csb

Once in a while you come upon one of those cases where nothing works. Meds don’t work. Sound reasoning from the Scriptures does no good. What’s left? Behavioral modification, psychoanalysis, extended rehab, nothing is effective to change the heart. If you know Jesus, you know that Jesus is the only one who can change the heart, but a person must also choose Jesus. Jesus wants to change everyone, but only those who let Him can receive that change.

But you know who doesn’t want that change? Do you know who wants you to stay just the way you are in depression and anxiety, in anger or self-destruction? It’s Demons! The devil has every interest in seeing you destroy yourself. He wants to take you away from God and will do all in his power, as God allows him, to destroy your sense of self-worth, your feeling of forgiveness and grace, especially your peace. He will sense his henchmen to take you down, through whispers, through oppression, through others who will hurt you.

And yet here is this promise in the Scripture. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. You must choose God. And in that choice you have the power to resist the devil. You have the power to choose not to listen to him or his minions. You have the power to resist him and his spiritual poverty. It is in your power to choose, and in that choice, many find healing. Because sometimes it isn’t a biological problem or a thought problem, but it’s demons. Demons will steal your joy and impoverish your spirit. They constantly tell you that life isn’t worth living and that you are alone. They will isolate you and corral you to believe that you are the only one with your problem.

You must choose to believe the truth. Jesus loves you and had died for you. Jesus has given everyone because He loves you. Even now He longs for you. He calls to you. Amidst all of the voice of sorrow and despair, Jesus’ is the only one speaking hope into you. Resist the devil. He will flee. Resist the darkness, and light will flood in. Resist the voices. They don’t love you. Submit yourself to God and enjoy His love and grace.

Dear Father, I know I’m not much. But with you, I am something. All my life the enemy has tried to tear me down and make me feel like I am worthless. I know that’s not true. I am valuable because your Som died for me. I have been bought with a price, far more valuable than gold or silver. Help me see that today, to resist the darts and wiles of the devil, and embrace your grace in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.