I’m sitting here tonight processing the past 12 or so days. It has been a challenging time for our family. No doubt many of those reading this blog have walked through similar times. The loss of my mother in law Donna was not expected and one of the things we dread in life. When I started our church about three and a half years ago she was there and pretty much every Sunday since. She was so thankful to gain an understanding of how clearly the Bible can be understood by simply following the words in the Bible and not preconceived agendas created by man. She loved her Bible and studied every day. She was truly a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. She loved encouraging others and spent many hours praying for those around her. Paul tells us that every part of the body of Christ is important and needful. Every part fulfills a purpose and is vital to the edification of the body. Parts of the body of Christ can’t be voted in nor can they be voted out. These are contrivances of man. You become a member of the body of Christ by salvation and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. With each member of the body that goes home to be with the Lord those of us left behind must fill in the space left vacant and fitly compact the body again so we can continue to fulfill our purpose to share the mystery and to reconcile the world to Christ. How awesome it is to be able to be thankful in days like these. We sorrow yes, but not as others who have no hope. We mourn the loss but are fully assured of the day we will see our loved ones again. The Bible is clear when we set aside man’s ideas and opinions. If you struggle to understand the Bible, there’s nothing my mother in law would love more than to see you understand the scriptures as God intended. You only have man’s tradition to lose but you have a lifetime of understanding to gain. Interested?     

Have you noticed the Jehovah’s Witnesses are now talking about Jesus when they come to your door? The last 2 groups I have talked to bring up Jesus and talk about him. This new tactic of theirs is quite interesting since they don’t believe who he is. I figure they sat down in a meeting and tried to figure out how to get people to listen a little longer and mentioning Jesus was the plan. Church growth plans abound in the world today. I always take time to talk to them because they need saved just like anyone else you might come across in life. I tried to explain to the last two JW ladies that came to my door that they were stealing things that belong to Israel. This is exactly what I try to show my Christian friends. All the lady kept saying was “But Israel rejected Jesus” So, her excuse for stealing what God promised to ONLY Israel was that Israel rejected Jesus. This basically is the exact same reason Christians use to steal Israel’s promises and write themselves into Israel’s prophecy. I didn’t get very far with the JWs at my door. Do you understand that God IS NOT going to finish what he started with Israel because they deserve it?  By the way we don’t deserve it either. Ezekiel 36 gives us the reason God IS going to finish what he started with Israel. Please take the time to read this whole chapter. Let look at a few of the verses.

Eze 36:21  But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. 22  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 
 
Eze 36:32  Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. 
 
Eze 36:36  Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.    
 
I ask you why do the JWs think they get what belongs to Israel? For the SAME REASON Christianity has assumed whatever they want from Israel’s promises and prophecy, SOMEONE taught them they can! Why do I say this? Because the Bible does not teach it. Christ’s SUFFERING was foretold in prophecy just as his GLORY. God knew Israel would fail to accept their Messiah. God DID NOT write off Israel, so WHY ARE YOU?

Eze 37:13  And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14  And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. 
 
I can’t say it any better that Ezekiel. God IS NOT finished with Israel. I ask again, why must you take the things Jesus said to his people during his earthly ministry to Israel alone and force them into the age of grace and the body of Christ? If you truly want clarity and understanding when you read and study your Bible, separate what God has separated and you can have it. Yes, you must let go of hundreds of years of man-made tradition to have it. Are you willing to give up your tradition? I did. The rewards of understanding your Bible are more that I can put to words. God will finish what he started with Israel because HE SAID HE WILL.  No, you don’t get to take their stuff. It is this simple. This is the essence of rightly dividing your Bible.