What You Thought You Knew – Pinch of Positivity

What You Thought You Knew About God’s Love

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:00:22 +0000

Key Verse: John 3:16

One of the first Bible verses that most people learn is John 3:16. I mean it makes sense to talk about God’s love first, given that the Bible in its entirety is one big love letter. However, it is important when thinking about this verse to understand that Jesus was speaking to a head-teacher of the Jews, Nicodemus, and explaining to him the importance of new life. Nicodemus was under the impression, like most Christians, that his status or affiliation would guarantee him a place in heaven. Isn’t it funny how as Christians we say we trust God, but, even when He speaks to us directly, we still manage to ignore His message or question its legitimacy? Nicodemus was so focused on Earthly products and gains that he was about to miss out on his spiritual blessings.

This is how we end up at John 3:16. Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus that this isn’t just some lecture about new life. He wants Nicodemus to know that God is intentional in everything that He does. God didn’t just use love as an adjective to describe how he felt, but He realized that it was a verb that would require sacrifice. Love served as a guide for God’s actions. A man who never sinned bore the sins of the world. He didn’t just take on the sins of those who spoke highly of Him, but He took the sins of those who spat on Him, beat Him, and cursed His name. This shows us two major things about Jesus: 1) Jesus acts under God’s authority and 2) Jesus wants us to be willing to make sacrifices too. God doesn’t expect us to know everything about new life to receive it. Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ’s persecution happened while we were still sinners. So, we must let our belief in Christ and our love for Christ serve as our guide.

Verse 17 picks up to say that Jesus didn’t come to cast judgment, but to save us all. Jesus is the only one to come down from heaven. He was sent here to serve as an example, to be the true light (v.19). By connecting ourselves to the light we can be transparent about our flaws like Nicodemus who asked questions and admitted his ignorance, but God can use that to get the ultimate glory (v.21). It’s interesting to think that this same ignorant man is the same person who helped bury Jesus, which showcases that we can all grow in our faith and God can use us for his glory.

So, as you can see John 3:16 is more than a verse about God’s love. It is a verse that showcases that one is never too old to learn, love is rooted in sacrifice, and love is not about judgment but about the light that gives life. The next time you quote this popular verse, I want to challenge you to think more about the application than the memorization. If you are reading this today, consider this as God’s way of saying He loves you. It doesn’t matter what mistakes you have made prior to this point, He can still use you. All you have to do is take this time to accept God’s truth and love and apply it to your life.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me in a way that only you can. Thank you for sending your son and using Him as the ultimate example of love and sacrifice. Thank you for giving me a new life, so that I can spend eternity with you. Lord, please use my flaws for your glory, so that I can be a light that makes others want to draw closer to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What You Thought You Knew About God’s Strength

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 07:00:16 +0000

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-20

Key Verse: Philippians 4:13

I’m sure most of us could quote this verse off the top of our heads. This verse is one that we often turn to when we are doubting our skills, or we are about to take on a difficult task. It is a really comforting verse even for someone like myself as I prepare to go into my final exams. The interesting thing about this verse, however, is that it is a recipe for being content regardless of the issue not just about triumphing over the issue.

Paul opens this section by expressing his gratitude to the people of Philippi for supporting him as he spread Gods message, which is a great example of expressing your gratefulness when someone does something for you that they are not obligated to do. God allowed the people of Philippi to support Paul despite being in their own financial bind, and there was never a moment where Paul was a burden on them. God will never make the person you are supporting feel like a burden as long as the support has been ordained by Him to happen. After saying thanks, Paul acknowledges what he went through and says that he “learned the secret of being content,” which shows how contentment isn’t a natural human instinct (v.12 HCSB). One might assume that after thanking the people of Philippi the secret would be to have a good support system, but it isn’t which is how we end up at verse 13. Paul recognizes that the only reason he is still standing after everything he went through is because of God. God will send you aid through human vessels, but we must remember He is still the source. The word strength used in this verse is from the Greek word ἐνδυναμόω (endunamoó) where the “en” means “in” which intensifies the “dunamoó” that means “sharing power ability.” Simply put, strength means to empower or to properly make able. So, God isn’t just giving us the strength to get through various situations, but we are tapping into his ability so we can deal with our situations the correct way. It is seen, time after time, in the Bible where God trusts us enough to send the Holy Spirit in to help calm us so we can think clearly. We must be content with being humbled or we won’t be able to handle future success or strength.

Paul continues by saying that the people God sent in the flesh to help will be rewarded for their obedience. Verse 15 shows that God knows when we are in need even in the early stages of doing His work. So, He will send people and their payment will be fruit (of the Spirit). Sometimes we don’t even realize when God has accepted our sacrifice until He shows up (v.18). Sounds confusing right, but let’s look at it. Paul knew the benefits the people of Philippi would reap, and he also knew God would and could supply all of his needs with or without their help. But, in using them to bless Paul, God shows us that we should pray for people’s restoration when they bless you, so they can tap into God’s strength and He can bless them as well. God will give back everything you sacrifice and more because of His power (v.19). His generosity exceeds anything man can do, which is why Paul must seal his requests by acknowledging God one more time in verse 20.

So, Philippians 4:13 is not just about triumphing over situations because of God’s strength but being content in situations with God’s strength. We must remember to pray for the people that God uses to help us along the way and thank them personally for their help. So, the next time you say that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength understand that it doesn’t mean the situation will end, but you will have called on the One who will be in it with you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing me to have access to your strength. Thank you for using human vessels to comfort and assist me in my times of need. Lord bless and replenish those who have helped me and give me the courage to go back and thank them for their generosity. May you continue to get the glory forever and ever. Amen.

What You Thought You Knew About Trusting God

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 07:00:27 +0000

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-12

Key Verse: Proverbs 3:5

Proverbs 3:5 is a verse I learned a rap to during Sunday school when I was in middle school. My first lady would beatbox, and we would laugh at her. But, if I’m being completely transparent, it is almost impossible for me to quote this verse “offbeat” now because of her. In studying Proverbs chapter 3, God revealed several things to me about myself and believe me when I say the conviction was real.

Trusting God must be conscious. We must always make God’s law personal and internalize it. One of the first things Solomon says in this chapter is “do not forget my teaching.” He wasn’t talking about the rules he gave his son, but the rules God had already given him. By making God’s law personal and internalizing it we can claim it as our own, and the application will become more natural (v.1). Once it becomes natural, it is easier to understand that the heart is a living letter to Christ written by the Holy Spirit (v.3). Love and faithfulness are things the Holy Spirit shows to us once we accept Christ, but it must extend further. We must be willing to reciprocate those actions. By writing them in our hearts we allow ourselves to willingly submit to God and be used as servants to all people on Earth (v.4). We must quit being comfortable Christians that just hear from God and truly listen to his voice. Hearing is just the perception of sound, but listening is a conscious choice done through true concentration.

Moreover, trusting God must be complete. It is in our human nature to trust someone or something, so why not let it be the person who is in control of everything. We must recognize that God is leading and protecting us daily and give thanks to Him for all He does for us daily. If we only allow Him to guide half of our life, then the other half is going to be lacking in some way shape or form (v.5). There must be a childlike reliance. Babies rely on their parents to feed, change, bathe, and give attention to them. If the parent doesn’t meet these needs or the baby makes it difficult for the parent to meet their need, the baby ultimately suffers or is lacking in some area. The difference between this scenario and our relationship with God is that there is never a time where He doesn’t want to meet our needs (v.6). We must stop being difficult because our independence will lead to our failure (v.7). We must be willing to ask God for help, and the help is natural if we trust God.

Trusting God must be consistent. Prior to starting this series, I was not reading and studying my Bible every day, and I was not giving God my best in certain areas of my life. I thought it was best to hide those imperfections instead of working to honor God with them. God has no limits; He has inexhaustible resources. Since we know this, we must work to make sacrifices for Him. This doesn’t mean give Him our tired, sloppy leftovers. We must give him our best in anticipation for more (v.9-10). Then when God corrects us for our lack of consistency, we must remember that discipline is a reminder of the inheritance because it brings our minds into submission to the will of God. We just must be willing to reflect on the deeper message and think about how we can trust God more moving forward (v.11). Think of it this way correction is a sign of God’s love and preparation for things to come. If he let us do what we wanted and didn’t protect us from harm, we would feel like illegitimate children (v.12).

So, if you don’t remember anything else, remember that trusting God must be complete, conscious, and consistent. We can’t assume that we know it all because God is the only all-knowing being. It isn’t just a saying. He wants to take care of us, but we must follow His rules and not be caught up in ourselves. As you go about the rest of your week think about how you can work to trust God more completely, consciously, and consistently.

Prayer: Lord thank you for being all-knowing, faithful, and loving. Thank you for giving me someone to trust in when all else around me changes. Thank you for directing my paths and nourishing my body. Lord as I go throughout the rest of my week allow me to work harder to trust you more completely, consciously, and consistently. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What You Thought You Knew About Walking with God

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 09 May 2019 07:00:14 +0000

Scripture: Psalm 23

Key Verse: Psalm 23:4

Well, Positive People, this is the last entry for this series. I hope that you have enjoyed having some alternative ways of looking at some commonly quoted verses. However, God wouldn’t allow me to end this series without referencing Psalm 23. These verses had me shook, for lack of better words, so I think it’s a good idea if we go through them one by one.

Verse one is reassurance that God is the one who leads us and provides for us. It’s a cut and dry yet personal statement. It puts God in one of the lowest positions as a shepherd, which shows his humbleness. Shepherds watch over and care for their flock without ever questioning it. They are willing to put themselves in harm’s way if it means that their flock is protected. However, this verse isn’t just about who God is. It showcases how we should respond because if the Lord is our shepherd that means that we are supposed to be sheep. Sheep follow their leader because, if they are left alone, they will ultimately harm themselves. (Sounds familiar right?)

Verse two allows us to see that God will give us rest during our journey, and it will be peaceful. He won’t just take us anywhere to rest. Green pastures are a sign that the land is thriving. So, God will take us to land that is doing well, so that we can also do well. As sheep we don’t always know when it is time to rest or where the best places are to get nutrients, so we must allow God to show us.

Verse three is comforting because the word restore equates returning something to its original purity. God isn’t just walking with us just for the sake of walking with us, but He wants us to be pure and more like Him. He will give us a new start if we go astray, but only if we let Him do His work. He wants to get the glory for our success and wellbeing, after all, He guided us to the original field to thrive in and showed us the paths to walk down. I think it should be alright to give Him just a little credit.

Verse four is where it gets personal. There is a switch from the impersonal “he” to “you” in the text showing that by this point in our journey we are dealing with something more intense that only the shepherd can handle. Isn’t it amazing that we get closer to God when the issues of life seem closer? It’s not even that death is actually present it’s just a shadow, and, if there is a shadow, that means that light is being cast onto darkness. We are surrounded by evil and sin on earth, so it is only possible for us to walk among the problems and disasters. But we can’t be afraid of the world because God dwells in it also. He is prepared to both discipline and lead the flock. So, if God has to come to us prepared, what makes us think that we don’t have to go into the world prepared to deal with whatever is coming our way. We can’t expect to lead people to Christ if we don’t have the tools we need to do so. We also have to remember that the valley isn’t a destination because we are only passing through, but, while we are down there, we have to serve as a light for those who have decided to call it home.

Verse five allows us to see that God can change our situation Himself. Notice that this verse says that He prepares the table for us. It doesn’t say we sit at that table or boast at that table because that is the way it is often used. God allows our enemies to see how He is blessing us, but then he wants us to keep moving. He shows us this in verse six by saying that this goodness and mercy will follow us for the rest of our lives. These blessings aren’t just for show they are there as long as we allow God to put them there, but we can’t lose sight of the end goal, which is to be with Him in heaven.

Prayer: Lord thank you for walking with me and showing me the way. Thank you for covering me and allowing no hurt, harm, or danger to be in my midst. Lord, I pray that as I go on this journey that I recognize you as the great shepherd that is everything to me. Lord, I love you. I thank you. I praise you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What You Thought You Knew About God’s Identity

CJ Montgomery — Thu, 02 May 2019 07:00:30 +0000

Scripture: Isaiah 40:12-31

Key Verse: Isaiah 40:31

When I first read the key verse for this passage, I must admit that I went in with a very self-centered mindset. I just knew that when I got to verse 31 it would be all about how God provides His people with so much strength. However, while He does give us His strength, these verses collectively are probably one of the most comprehensive ways I’ve ever heard God’s identity outlined in a way that I could understand. It made me realize that God’s strength isn’t something that should make me want to place Him in this box of being only my Savior, but it should make me want to acknowledge Him for all that He can do just for me.

Verses 12-14 showcase the awesomeness of God. God is the creator of all things on Earth and in heaven. He intentionally measured things out and placed them where they belong, and if we remember back in Genesis “it was good” (v.12). It was his omniscient (all-knowing) power that allowed Him to complete it all without help (v.13-14). Since only God existed in the beginning, we can’t attribute anyone, especially not any man, to helping Him obtain the knowledge that He possesses. He didn’t need blueprints to construct the mountains or divide land from the sea because this was all a part of His plan.

Verses 15-17 showcase the size of God. The verses compare nations to drops and fine dust (v.15). If the nations are this small, then we can only imagine how small the individual human is compared to Him. It makes so much sense when you think about what happens when we try to do things to change the world on our own without God’s help. We always fail. Nothing we do on our own is ever good enough compared to what God in all His glory can accomplish on His own (v.16). He doesn’t need us to complete His plan, but He wants us to be part of His plan. There is no offering or repayment that could ever compare to what He can do for us, and our pride is what will put us below inanimate objects (v.17). So, we must trust in Him.

More importantly, we can’t continue to worship these idols. God is a jealous man. I know you’re thinking that you probably don’t have any idols but money, your job, school, and/or your family can serve as idols in place of God. So, you must be careful because those cannot stand on their own (v.20). You will always end up needing God to supply your needs. He has been supplying needs since the beginning of time, and He continues to do it today (v.21). No political figures or other people in leadership can even begin to provide or care for you the way God does (v.23). If the truth be told, God can strip away their position, and they will be left with nothing (v.24).

God just wants us to recognize Him for all that He can do and trust that He can always do more (v. 26, 28). His power, unlike that of man, has no limits. If we truly understand Him and study His word, then we will learn that nothing we truly seek is hidden from us (v.27). God is going to bless us, but we must be willing to wait to receive what it is that He has in store. Waiting doesn’t mean being still. It means actively seeking God during the passing time. We don’t have a microwave God that just turns things around in seconds. We have a crockpot God. He wants to ensure that everything is cooked right and ensure that all things are working together for our good. So, when we tap into His deliverance, we will see His true power because if you pay close attention to the key verse you can see that God is a man who can give us the power to soar before we can even walk.

Prayer: Lord thank you for being all that you are for me and more. Thank you for your creation and your greatness. Please remove any idols that I have tried to replace You with from my life. Allow me to continue to chase after You and study Your word so that I can grow in You. Lord help me to soar and be at peace with where I am. In Jesus name, Amen.