Steven’s Scribbles 
The Most Powerful Words Jesus Said


    I am always baffled when I hear someone claim that Jesus never said He was God. I will concede slightly that we do not have Jesus recorded as saying the exact sentence, “I am God.” But you do not have to peel back the layers very far to see that Jesus repeatedly claimed divinity. In fact, one of His most powerful claims is found in two simple words: “I am.” Throughout John, Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48), “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12), “I am the door” (John 10:7, 9), “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14), “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), and “I am the true vine” (John 15:1, 5). He also repeatedly uses the absolute expression “I am” without a predicate (John 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; cf. 18:5–6). Those words take us all the way back to Moses at the burning bush. When Moses asked God His name, God answered, “I AM WHO I AM,” and then said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14).
    The Jews who heard Jesus understood the weight of what He was saying. When they challenged Him because He spoke of Abraham, Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). Notice that He did not say, “Before Abraham was born, I was.” He said, “I am.” Their response was immediate: “Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him” (John 8:59). Why? John records the issue even more explicitly later: “You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God” (John 10:33). They understood what Jesus was claiming.
    We see it again at His trial. The high priest asked, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus answered, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN” (Mark 14:61–62). The high priest tore his clothes and accused Him of blasphemy (Mark 14:63–64). Jesus was not merely claiming to be a good teacher, prophet, or moral example. He identified Himself with the divine “I AM,” and coupled that answer with the exalted Son of Man imagery of Daniel 7:13–14. The most powerful words Jesus ever uttered were words of divinity: “I am.” He is the eternal Christ, the Son of God, the One before whom every knee will bow (Philippians 2:9–11). May we humble ourselves every day before the great I AM.
I love you all!
Steven

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Steven’s Scribbles 
The Importance of Meekness for Covetousness
    One of the concepts I have been thinking through a great deal lately is meekness. It is one of those ideas that has just been sitting in the back of my mind while I read Scripture. As Brother Chris pointed out a couple of Wednesday nights ago, meekness is not weakness. Perhaps the best simple definition is “strength under control.” In order to truly practice meekness, one must first possess strength. The inability to do something is not necessarily virtuous. The ability to do wrong, yet choose what is right, is. When I look at many examples of evil in the Old Testament, especially among kings, the problem is often that a powerful person failed the test of meekness. He had strength, authority, wealth, or influence, but he did not control it according to the will of God.
    We were recently talking in the youth class about Solomon and the almost incomprehensible wealth he accumulated, including 666 talents of gold in a single year (1 Kings 10:14). The danger of great blessing is that we can begin to forget the One from whom every good thing comes. James reminds us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). The more a person possesses, the easier it can become to depend upon himself rather than God. Then I came to 1 Kings 21 and read again about Ahab coveting Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab was a king. He already possessed more than Naboth could ever dream of having, yet what he had was not enough. He wanted the one thing that belonged to someone else, and Jezebel was willing to use their power to take it. That is what happens when strength is no longer under control.
    We are exceedingly blessed, but that means we have an even greater responsibility to practice meekness. Are we using our financial strength to benefit the kingdom of God, help others, and serve faithfully, or does every increase simply create a new reason to spend more on ourselves? Are we controlling what we possess, or are our possessions controlling us? Jesus warned, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed” (Luke 12:15). Meekness applies to every area of life, including our money. The question is not merely, “How much do I have?” but, “What am I doing with the strength God has placed in my hands?” I love you all!
Steven
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Steven’s Scribbles
Praying Against Evil
One of the things I have been thinking about lately are the “imprecatory” Psalms. These are Psalms in which the writer uses strong language asking God to bring justice upon the evildoer. Psalm 35:1 begins, “Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me.” Psalms 59 and 69 contain similarly strong prayers. David was dealing with physical enemies, but it has made me wonder: Is it wrong for a Christian to pray that God’s wrath and justice come upon those who do evil? We certainly do not hear prayers like this very often. The New Testament is clear that vengeance belongs to God (Rom. 12:19), and our responsibility is to overcome evil with good, even loving and doing good to our enemies (Rom. 12:20-21). But that does not mean we should be indifferent toward evil. We should pray that God’s will be accomplished, that evil be defeated, that justice prevail, and most importantly, that those doing evil repent and turn to the living God.
Perhaps this is especially appropriate when we remember that our battle is not ultimately against people, but against spiritual forces. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 that although we walk in the flesh, our warfare is not according to the flesh. We are “destroying speculations,” taking “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” and being ready to punish disobedience. That does not sound passive to me! We are wielding the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, against the lies of Satan. Our prayer should be that God’s truth will expose falsehood, that evil will be defeated, and that those who are presently accomplishing Satan’s work will repent and become servants of Christ. We should pray for God’s justice, but we should also pray for God’s mercy. We should pray that His will be done because His will is that people be saved. The Christian does not need to personally repay evil with evil; he can place judgment in God’s hands while actively fighting evil with truth, righteousness, and the Gospel. 
I love you all!
Steven

Steven’s Scribbles
How Ruth Lived Out Faith and Works
The book of Ruth gives us a beautiful picture of what James later describes in James 2:14–18. Ruth had faith, but her faith was not merely something she talked about. She demonstrated it by getting up and working to provide for herself and Naomi. She went into the fields to glean, trusting that God would provide through the opportunities He gave her. Boaz noticed her work and recognized the faith behind it. In Ruth 2:12–13, he speaks of Ruth taking refuge under the wings of the God of Israel, and he desired for God to bless her.
God had commanded Israel to leave the edges of their fields for the poor and the foreigner (Lev. 19:9–10; Deut. 24:19–22), but that provision did not mean Ruth was supposed to sit at home and wait for someone to bring food to her. She still had to get up, go into the field, and glean. Boaz, likewise, saw someone in need and used the blessings God had given him to meet that need. Ruth worked because she trusted God, and Boaz worked because he recognized that what he had ultimately came from God. This is faith and works working together. James asks what good it is if someone sees a brother or sister in need and simply says, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," without giving them what they need. Faith is demonstrated by what we do. Ruth trusted God enough to work, and Boaz loved God enough to use his blessings to help her. May we have the faith of Ruth and the generosity of Boaz; trusting God, working diligently, and using whatever blessings He has given us to bless others. I love you all!
Steven

Steven’s Scribbles
Learn from the Mistakes of Others
    I have been reading through 1 & 2 Kings in my personal Bible study because our Sunday morning youth class has been working through 1 Kings. After Solomon's death, the united kingdom divided into two nations. The northern kingdom, known simply as Israel, was composed of the ten northern tribes and was taken into Assyrian captivity in 722 B.C. The southern kingdom, Judah, consisting primarily of Judah and Benjamin, was carried away by Babylon in stages beginning in 605/606 B.C., culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. One of the reasons Judah's judgment was delayed was because of the remarkable reforms of King Josiah. After discovering the Book of the Law, he humbled himself before God and led the nation in repentance. Because of his faithfulness, God told him, "Your eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring on this place" (2 Kings 22:18-20; cf. 2 Kings 23:25). Yet as I read through these accounts, I keep coming back to the same question: Why didn't Judah learn from Israel's mistakes? Israel was their own kinsmen. They watched idolatry, compromise, and rebellion destroy the northern kingdom. Why repeat the very same sins instead of making a dramatic course correction?
    The same principle applies to us today. When we see brethren begin drifting from the faith, we should pay attention. What happened before they fell away? What compromises were accepted? What changes were slowly introduced into their worship and practice? No faithful congregation wakes up one Sunday morning and suddenly decides to abandon biblical authority. Whether it is introducing women preachers, abandoning New Testament worship, or accepting any other unscriptural practice, those decisions almost always begin with a series of seemingly small compromises. If we are wise, we will recognize those warning signs long before the destination is reached.
    Some dismiss this way of thinking as the "slippery slope fallacy." Yet Scripture repeatedly teaches us to learn from the examples of others. Paul wrote, "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction" (1 Corinthians 10:11). Wisdom does not wait until it reaches the cliff's edge to change direction. It recognizes where the road leads and turns around while there is still time. May we have the humility to learn from both the successes and the failures of those who have gone before us, so that we remain faithful to the Lord.
I love you all!
Steven

Steven’s Scribbles
The Importance of the Word
    The book of John naturally divides into two major sections: chapters 1–12 and chapters 13–21. The transition at chapter 13 marks John's account of Jesus' final evening with His apostles, where He begins preparing them for His death, resurrection, and the work that lay ahead. Knowing that this intimate instruction is about to begin, I was struck by Jesus' closing words in John 12:44–50.
    In this passage, Jesus reminds the people that He is the Light of the world and that belief in Him is essential. He also emphasizes the authority and importance of His words. Jesus plainly states that the one who rejects Him is not without a judge, “the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (John 12:48). Why? Because His words did not originate with Himself, but with the Father who sent Him. Jesus' message carried the full authority of the Father.
    Jesus also reminds us that His first coming was not to judge the world, but to save it (John 3:16–17). Yet Scripture also teaches that He will return a second time, “without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him, for salvation” (Heb. 9:28). On that day, the standard by which every person will be judged is the very Word He has spoken. Those words are not burdensome, they are the words of eternal life (John 12:50). That is why we must know them, love them, and obey them.
I love you all!
Steven

Steven’s Scribbles
Looking Into the Mirror
One of the myriad lessons having children has taught me is that they are little mirrors. I especially see Grey doing many of the things I once did. More than once I've found myself calling my parents and asking, "How did you deal with this when I did it?"
That thought recently took me to Ephesians 5:1-2: "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (NASB 1995).
Just as children often reflect their parents, Christians should reflect their Heavenly Father. When people look at us, they ought to see something of God's character. They should see His love, His patience, His holiness, and His grace displayed in our lives.
Of course, that doesn't always come naturally. We are God's children by adoption (Ephesians 1:5). Because of that, there are times we must deny our own desires in order to resemble our adopted family. As Paul reminds us, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
That leads to an important question for each of us: When people look at me, do they see Christ? Even more personally, when I look into the mirror of God's Word, does my life resemble my Father? James encourages us not merely to hear the Word, but to examine ourselves by it and put it into practice (James 1:19-25).
Children naturally remind us of their parents. May our words, attitudes, and actions remind the world of our Heavenly Father.
I love you all!
Steven

Steven’s Scribbles
Biblical Restoration
    A few weeks ago I wrote about the differing philosophies among those who claim Christianity: apostolic succession, reformation, denominational, and restoration theology. Churches of Christ are widely recognized for the restoration plea. Unfortunately, some misunderstand restoration and assume we believe the church died out completely. That is not true. God's kingdom is eternal (Dan. 2:44), and Christ continues to reign over it. What we do believe is that the Word of God is the seed of the kingdom (Matt. 13:18-23). When that seed is planted in honest and good hearts, it produces the same Christianity found in the first century (Luke 8:11-15). Therefore, we believe people can restore New Testament Christianity simply by reading, teaching, obeying, and practicing what the apostles taught.
    The Bible provides a wonderful example of restoration in the days of King Josiah. When the Book of the Law was discovered in the temple, its reading revealed just how far Judah had drifted from God's will (2 Kings 22:8-13). Josiah responded by removing idols and false worship (2 Kings 23:4-20), restoring the Passover according to the written Law (2 Kings 23:21-23), and leading the nation back to God's commands. Because of his faithfulness, God delayed His judgment upon Judah (2 Kings 22:18-20). When Josiah accomplished these reforms, no one called the religion “Josiahism" or “Judaism-Josiahism.” He simply restored God's people to God's Word. In the same way, whenever we abandon error and return to biblical teaching, we are not creating a new religion or a new "ism." We are simply following the faith, once for all handed down to the saints (Jude 3), revealed in the living and active Word of God (Heb. 4:12).
I love you all!
— Steven

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Steven’s Scribbles
Free From Sin?
It can feel strange to think of sin as slavery, yet that is exactly how Scripture describes it. Sin binds, controls, and ultimately destroys. But the gospel offers something radically different. When we obey the gospel, we receive forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ, and more than that, we are set free. As Paul proclaimed, “through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses” (Acts 13:38–39). Jesus Himself said, “everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin… so if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34–36). That is not just poetic language. It is reality (Rom. 6:15-18). Apart from Christ, we are not as independent as we like to think.
The world often mocks Christianity as blind submission, but here is a truth both believer and unbeliever must face: everyone serves something. Some are enslaved to money and define their worth by what they earn (Matthew 6:24). Others are mastered by sin: lust, homosexuality, dishonesty, substance abuse, or any number of destructive habits (Romans 6:16). Many wrap their identity in their sin, politics, culture, or the controversy of the moment. But Scripture calls us to something higher. Our identity is not in fleeting things but in Christ alone: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). We deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). True freedom is not found in doing whatever we want, but in being released from what once controlled us. If something is holding you back, Christ offers freedom; but it is found only in Him (Romans 6:17–18).
I love you all!
— Steven

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