Romans 10. 6,8-10, 13.
Lately I have been really wrestling with this word, "Context". Taking things in consideration, in context. We have all been there where we look at a situation and are quick to judge, quick to speak, quick to _____. But when we take a step back from the situation and look at the broad scheme of things (i.e. context of the situation), we have better clarity, and we are able to make better judgements to the situation.
Quick example: "While driving, Tommy ran into another car". If we look solely at this phrase, we can deduce that Tommy was in a vehicle and hit another car. We could also be quick to judge (unless you're gonna be that guy that says, "no, I'd never say that"), that it must have been Tommy's fault. But if we were to look at the "Context" of the situation, we could see that, a child on a bike quickly swerved from the sidewalk into the road, thus making Tommy quickly swerve into the car next to him.
Context is so so so important, right? This is SO true when looking at God's Word. I think it is a scary place to be, in which we pick and choose verses to construct arguments or sermons, without ever looking at the context of verses. Looking back at the verse above, we get really pumped about that last verse. Ya, EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord... It's a common anthem that we use when going to the nations, evangelizing, ministering, whatever you want to call it. But if we were to take a step back and look at the context of this verse we would see this in Joel 2.32.
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls" (Joel 2.32).
Context: The Lord has called His people (Israel) to repent. Return back to Him. And then Joel sets up this picture of the "Day of the Lord" in which He paints a picture of His judgement on His people. And then we look land on verse 32, in which He says that those who call on the Lord, (i.e. return to Him) will be saved. BUT the key point is that: "and among the survivors (of the remnant of Israel), the Lord shall call those whom He chooses". (Read Joel completely, it's real short, get the context of what I'm saying).
It is Him who calls on us to call on Him. It is God who calls on you to call on Him. It is not of us! It is completely Him that turns our hearts back to Him. Which is a great setup for Paul's letter to the Romans in which he continues to say, "How then will they CALL on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" (Romans 10.14).
If you remember anything from this blog, get this:
Context. It is so important. We cannot be a people that pick and choose scripture to support our arguments and cases. We must, we must, we must look at scripture WHOLLY to understand the context of what is being said to understand His intentions of it.
Practically this looks like this: Be diving into His Word (for your Joy/satisfaction) continually. When going through hard times in your life or questions, do not immediately go to the back of your bible index and look for self-help back there. (e.g. struggling with pride). Be reading the Word continually, he will illuminate His Word and speak to you. The problem with immediately going to the back of your bible for help, you lose context. You lose the context of what is being said. And if you are honest, you are looking for just some anxiety relief in your life, rather than resting COMPLETELY (not lacking anything) on the Word of God to sustain you.
Don't know where all this lands with you, but know that the Word of God is not an encyclopedia or a self-help book. It (the Bible) is the very WORDS OF GOD! Not to make your life prettier or happier, but to make you conform to the image of Christ.
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