I have several beanstalks in the garden...
but one in particular grew to a tall stature
this cowpea stalk climbed...
all the way to the sky of nearly ten feet tall
after a few months of giving me plenty of cowpeas...
I brought the pole the beanstalk clung to...
down to ground level; harvested the dry pods...
and was ready to replant a new set of seeds
thinking that was the end of this set cowpeas until the next crop grew
until I noticed...
there were plenty new shoots coming from the trunk
this beanstalk isn't quitting yet
I've let it go and do it's thing after pruning all the dead stuff
and the new shoots are flowering and putting out new bean pods
indeed, a blessing from the Lord, who causes all things to grow
the little lizard is a bug-eating garden helper bonus
in this post I gave an excerpt from the book, "Knowing Scripture"...
by pastor and Bible teacher, R.C. Sproul ...
concerning Scripture context
this is a continuation of the excerpt in which Dr. Sproul explains how words...
in the Bible can have multiple meanings and how the right meaning is understood...
according to the context of the verse
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"My favorite example of words with multiple meanings is the word justify. In Romans 3:28 Paul says, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." In James 2:24 we read, "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone." If the word justify means the same thing in both cases, we have an irreconcilable contradiction between two biblical writers on an issue that concerns our eternal destinies. Luther called "justification by faith" the article upon which the church stands or falls. The meaning of justification and the question of how it takes place is no mere trifle. Yet Paul says it is by faith apart from works, and James says it is by works and not by faith alone. To make matters more difficult, Paul insists in Romans 4 that Abraham is justified when he believes the promise of God before he is even circumcised. He has Abraham justified in Genesis 15. James says, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?" (Jas. 2:21). James does not have Abraham justified until Genesis 22.
This question of justification is easily resolved if we examine the possible meanings of the term justify and apply them within the contexts of the respective passages. The term justify may mean (1) to restore to a state of reconciliation with God those who stand under the judgment of his law or (2) to demonstrate or to vindicate.
Jesus says, for example, "Wisdom is justified of all her children" (Lk. 7:35KJV). What does he mean? Does he mean that wisdom is restored to fellowship with God and saved from his wrath? Obviously not. The plain meaning of his words is that a wise act produces good fruit. The claim to wisdom is vindicated by the result. A wise decision is shown to be wise by its results. Jesus is speaking in practical terms, not theological terms, when he uses the word justified in this way.
How does Paul use the word in Romans 3?
from "Knowing Scripture" ch.4 by R.C. Sproul
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we shall see in part 3 in the next post of March 14 (Thursday)
May your day or night be found in God's grace.
