Shoveling Snow with Oven Mitts

Shoveling Snow with Oven Mitts

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

The scriptures are full of promises and there is no shortage of mugs, plaques, pens, and now, masks, that have been inscribed with these very precious promises. I have many in my home study, given on those special occasions like Father's day and my birthday (March 31st in case you might need to know). Great reminders. Sparks of encouragement.

Behind every scripture, every promise of God, there is purpose and meaning. The scriptures were inspired by the Spirit and graciously given by God to both admonish and to encourage. Therefore it is important to us to understand the context of the scriptures we hold on to and rightly handle this Sword of Truth as we battle through life. 

I can put on a pair of oven mitts, grab a shovel, and start shoveling snow. Will my hands be protected from the wintry cold? Somewhat. Will I look silly. I'll let you answer that. You can shovel snow with oven mitts, but that's not what they were intended for. A pair of North Face Denali eTip gloves will work (and look) much better. We must be cautious of using the wrong scripture to support a truth. That practice can easily lead to using scripture to support a lie. Satan did it when tempting Jesus.

Here are a couple of examples where I personally have misapplied the the Word of God:

I'd often heard it said and had believed that no one knows what heaven will be like because Paul wrote that "no eye has seen, no ear has heard ..." But if I would read on, I would see that God has revealed eternal things to us by His Spirit and that Paul is quoting from Isaiah 64 which talks about waiting on God for rescue.

"Greater is He that is in you ..." has often been used to battle fear or difficult circumstances; to assure us that God living in us will defeat Satan who is in the world. And He will, as seen in many other appropriately applied scriptures. But did you know that John wrote this specific scripture to assure the first century Christians that they had overcome the false teachers of the day and the demonic voices behind those teachers? He wanted them to know that since they were children of God, they need not fear the deceptive voices of their time. And neither do we.

There are many scriptures that apply to everything we go through. God has not left us short-changed. Let us dig deeply in our study and reading of His Word, guided in prayer by the Holy Spirit, taught by the humble and gentle One who's yoke teaches us the truth that truly sets us free.


Scripture References

knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from  God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (1 Peter 1:20-21)

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him-- these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Study References

Andrew David Naselli, "How To Understand And Apply The New Testament", New Jersey, P&R Publishing Company, 2017

ESV Keyword Study Bible, AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN, 1984

BibleHub.com Bible Study Website

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