Live the Word Bible Studies

Welcome to Live the Word

I am happy you have visited this site, where my goal since 2001 has been to help people all over the world understand and then apply the word of God in their lives. If you look on the right hand side of this blog site, you will see the name of each book in the New Testament, where you will find what I call a devotional commentary for every verse in those books. My goal was not to do a technical study, but rather a practical one that presented not only insights, but also questions and recommendations to help you apply or live the word. I have now published those studies in book form, but it's time to expand my work with something new (pictured here are two of my commentary covers, and they are all available in paper or Kindle format from Amazon).

For several years, I have had the idea to develop a Purpose Study Bible, similar to others on the market like The Spirit-Filled Bible, The Leadership Bible, The African Bible, and The Student Bible. Each one of those incorporates insights about a particular topic right in the Bible itself, like an easy-to-use commentary. I have been teaching on the topics of purpose, creativity, goal setting, time management, and faith since 1991, and have gained insight and often taught about or written about those topics from a biblical perspective. For the remainder of my days, I want to share what I have learned with my readers on these five topics I have labeled the five Gold Mine Principles, and this format seems like an economical way to do so (since I am not ready to undertake publishing a Bible). This particular study will begin in Genesis and move on in an orderly fashion through the rest of the Old Testament. Should God prolong my days, I will then move into the New Testament.

I also want to learn from my readers, so I invite you to post comments to supplement, adjust, or augment what I have written. My goal, however, is not to make us all experts on what the Bible has to say about purpose or creativity, but rather to help us become people of purpose, for as Jesus said, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:17). That is why my commentaries are called Live the Word, for that is what we are expected to do.

I hope you enjoy reading these studies as much as I enjoy writing them, and I hope you will be an active participant by sharing your own insight and testimonies. Thank you, and may the Lord bless the study and reading of His word!

Purpose Study Bible 107: Excellence

It's time to move on to another Old Testament book in this week's Purpose Study Bible lesson. Let's look at Leviticus in the next few months to see what we can learn regarding the five gold mine principles of purpose, creativity, goal setting, time management, and faith. We notice something right away in the early chapters of the book:

"If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect" (Leviticus 1:3).

We will look more closely at the burnt offering in a later study but for now, notice that this offering as well as all the others mentioned in the first few chapters were to be "without defect" or of the highest quality. Of course, all the offerings are a shadow of the One who was yet to come who was without defect--the sinless, morally perfect Son of Man. Yet, there could be another application to this truth. It indicates that whatever we do, we should produce a level of excellence in it because it is for the Lord and in His service.

I have differentiated over the years between perfection and excellence. The former is an elusive pursuit but excellence is within everyone's reach if this definition holds true: "excellence is doing all you do with a right heart and in a manner worthy of God." The right heart aspect means you are not doing what you do with any ulterior motives and the manner worthy of God speaks to the fact that God is deserving of your best efforts. That means your work, play, creativity, and any other role or activity require the best of who you are and what you can do. William Temple, one-time Bishop of Canterbury, had this to say about excellence: "At the root of all your being, your intellectual studies, the games you play, whatever it is, the impulse to do them well is and ought to be understood as being an impulse towards God, the source of all that is excellent."

Do you pursue excellence in all you do, especially where your purpose and creativity are concerned? Do you attempt to give God your best? Do you see excellence as a spiritual matter and not just an academic or personal matter?

Purpose Study Bible 106: Guidance

We have followed the people in our study of Exodus as they were enslaved in Egypt when Moses showed up as their deliverer, and then their departure and sojourn in the Wilderness. After that, much of the book was the account of the origin and construction of the Tabernacle, the completion of which ushered in the visible presence of the Lord by day and night. While the purpose of the Tabernacle was worship and sacrifice, Exodus ends explaining the main purpose for God's presence:

In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels (Exodus 40:36-38).

The cloud and the fire were there "in all their travels" which means the cloud and fire were there to clearly lead and guide the people in a way that was not open to interpretation or confusion. In fact, guidance should never be a difficult challenge for God's people since He wants all to know His will both individually and as a body. That means He wants you to know your purpose and gifts and then know how and where He wants them to be expressed. Jesus gave us a strategy we can always use to discover God's will: "Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own" (John 7:17). In other words, if you choose to know God's will and commit to do it before you know what it is, then God is sure to show you.

Is there a cloud or fire present in your life to lead and guide you? If not, then what obstacle is present in your mind that is blocking His direction? Is fear blocking your channels of communication with Him? What do you need to do to prove to God that you are serious about doing His will?

Purpose Study Bible 105: Faith Rewarded

Exodus spent many chapters discussing the preparations for and assembly of the Wilderness Tabernacle. What was the result of their efforts?

Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:33-34).

Moses led, the people gave, the workmen crafted and built, the people assembled, and finally Moses inspected and they all did what they did in faith. They believed they had received the word of the Lord, acted on it, and then trusted that when they were finished the Lord would reward them with His presence. Their response is summarized by the well-known verse in Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

It will be no different for you as you seek to fulfill your purpose and be creative. You will have to exercise faith during the entire process from when you accept your gifts and call, through their development, to expressing them, and finally expecting to see the results the Lord promised and your work merits. Are you flowing in faith as you develop and set goals? Do you trust the Lord for time to do all that is in your heart to do? Are you willing to work in faith over the long haul to obtain significant results? If so, then you, like Israel, will enjoy the presence of the Lord as He shows Himself strong on your behalf.

Purpose Study Bible 104: Some Assembly Required

Have you ever bought something that needed assembled and the instructions assured you it was a simple process only to find you were stumped? Do you know someone you can turn to who seems to be able to put things like that together without even looking at the instructions? Moses had to the tabernacle together after all the work was done on the things the Lord had commanded the artisans to make:

So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him. He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it. Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded him (Exodus 40:17-21).

Putting something together, whether it's a tabernacle or a bicycle, requires some creativity to do and is not just a matter of common sense. In fact, there are many things in life that are creative which you may tend to overlook or not place into that descriptive category. What creative expressions do you have that you take for granted? If you accept your ability to assemble (with or without the instructions) as a talent or a gift, what more can you do with it at church, home, or in your work? Do you see that this may be how to "assemble" an event, special occasion, party, or other activity that involves people and not things? In other words, take a closer look at who you are and what you do, and you will see that you are a creative person.

Purpose Study Bible 103: Pomegranates and Bells

We have spent considerable time examining the tabernacle furnishings but let's look at the priests' clothing in this week's study. We read

They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth—the work of a weaver—with an opening i n the center of the robe like the opening of a collar, and a band around this opening, so that it would not tear. They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe. And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates. The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the Lord commanded Moses (Exodus 39:22-26).

If you are familiar with a pomegranate, you know it has many edibles seeds surrounded by juicy pulp. It is said to have 613 seeds which correspond to the 613 commands of the Torah. Yet that is not the main purpose of that fruit being chosen for the priests garments. It is a reminder that anyone who is clothed in righteous garments is to bear fruit. How should that fruit be defined? It is any action you perform in the power of the Spirit according to your gifts in the service of others.

What about the bells? The traditional interpretation is that if the bells were to stop tinkling while the priest was in the Holy of Holies, then those outside would know the priest was struck down due to some violation of protocol in his service. That may be true, but could it also be that those dressed in holy garments are to be in motion serving the Lord and are to let others know they are doing so to encourage them in their own purposeful activities, stimulating them to good deeds as the writer of Hebrews described it. In essence, the priests were to attract attention to themselves as they went about their purpose duties. Are you afraid to "make noise" while you serve Him? Are you bearing fruit? Are you busy making a gentle sound as you move about serving the Lord and others?

Purpose Study Bible 102: A Heavy Load

Did you ever think about how much the tabernacle and all its furnishings weighed? What's more, did you consider that the leaders had to carry it all through the Wilderness for decades? Here is the amount of the metal used according to the offering that was given:

The total amount of the gold from the wave offering used for all the work on the sanctuary was 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the census was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. . . . The bronze from the wave offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. (Exodus 38:24-25, 29).

In addition to the metal, there was a lot of wood and curtains that were also part of the tabernacle experience. Here is an estimate of the weight of it all:

The total weight of the wood employed in the manufacturing of the Tabernacle has been evaluated in no more than 1,500 kgs (3,300 pounds), while that total weight of the metals was at the most of 700 kgs (1,540 pounds). These weights are comprehensive of the objects that had to be carried on by shoulders by the family of Keat, more or less 200 kgs (440 pounds).

Part of being purposeful and creative is being a leader for God's presence in what you do will always contribute to you being given more responsibility. That means you must be in shape, both physically, mentally, and spiritually to carry some heavy burdens and loads the Lord will designate for you. Are you in shape? Are you strong and fit in body and mind so the Lord and others can count on you? Are you willing to take on more responsibility as you grow in your ability to handle it?

Study Bible 101: Organize the Work

There are some people who believe that creativity is inconsistent with organization and attention to administrative detail. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the more organized you are, the more organized you need to be—or at least the more organized you need to be to get through your creative work. Consider this passage in support of this fact:

They built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze. They made all its utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar. They cast bronze rings to hold the poles for the four corners of the bronze grating. They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar for carrying it. They made it hollow, out of boards (Exodus 38:1-7).

The workers could not simply jump into their work but had to have a plan, not only for what this altar was going to look like but also a plan for how they were going to construct it. There were no shortcuts and each part of the work depended on the previous part for it to be successfully completed.

Do you use the excuse for your disorganization that you just aren't good with structure and discipline? Have you ever considered that your disorganization could actually be a defense you use to excuse yourself from failure? ("How can I be expected to create? I have so many ideas? The days just go by so quickly and I get lost in my own thoughts.") If you do, that is not cute, it is a debilitating weakness that will keep you from being as productive as God wants you to be. If you struggle with organization, find help but stop using it as an excuse and find ways to organize your work so your disorganization will no longer cover your fear of inadequacy.

Purpose Study Bible 100: Only the Skilled

A few weeks ago, we looked at the fact that only those who were able and willing were to work on constructing the tabernacle and only those who were willing were to contribute toward its completion as described in Exodus 35. Yet that was not the end of the story for that theme continued in the next chapter: only the skilled were to do the work:

• So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded (Exodus 36:1).
  
• Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work (Exodus 36:2).
  
• So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing  . . . (Exodus 36:4).
  
• All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands (Exodus 36:8).
  
• They made the curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker (Exodus 36:35).
  

Webster's defines skill as "the ability to use one's knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance."In this context, there seems to be one way to become a skilled worker. First, the Lord must deposit the ability to understand and do the work.  Then the recipient must work to perfect their skill. Finally, the person with the skill must express it every chance they get in God-honoring ways. In what areas do you have skill that you and others recognize? Does it bring you joy? Are you working to develop and perfect it? Are you then expressing it under God's direction or as you have opportunity to express it for the good and enjoyment of others?

Study Bible 99: An Extravagant Spirit

Once the Lord had given instructions for how to build the tabernacle and directed the people to give toward its construction, the people went to work:

 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.” Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work (Exodus 36:1-7).

The skilled workers went about their work with enthusiasm and precision. And the people went about the task of giving what they had so the workers had what they needed to get the job done. What a great picture this creates. Everyone had an extravagant spirit, offering all they had in the way of creative gifts and wealth to ensure that the work of the Lord was completed.

This is the same way God's people today should approach their lives and work. We should all give of our gifts freely and without reservation. Some who have financial or other resources of value should offer them with no trace of greed or selfishness. If we all flowed in extravagance, then perhaps it would be said of us what was said of the early church:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all  that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need (Acts 4:32-35).

Do you have an extravagant spirit where your gifts and possessions are concerned? Do you give freely, so much so that others have to say "Enough!"? Do you deploy your skills at least some of the time to do the work of the Lord for no pay, just for the joy of singing your song and being who you are? Keep in mind you don't have to serve the Lord, you get to do so and therefore should give as extravagantly as He has given to you.

Purpose Study Bible 98: Teaching Others

The Lord anticipated every need for the tabernacle's construction including those who would have to put it together:

Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers (Exodus 35:30-35).

What can we learn from these verses?

1. God chose the chief architects, Bezalel and Oholiab. It was a calling, not a job.
2. Those two men had wisdom and knowledge of their work as well as skill which was all from the Spirit of God.
3. They were both designers and artisans.
4. They both had the ability to teach others what they did.

It is almost as if the Lord gives you a gift but then expects you to pass His gift along to others. If you can teach someone how to do what you do, it is not simply because you have mastered your craft. It is because God has empowered and equipped you to teach as well as to be creative. Therefore, if you have the ability to teach, you should consider it a calling and find opportunities to do so. Do you see the insight you have into your craft as much of a gift from God as the ability to create? Are you a good steward not only of your gift but also your chances to equip and encourage other artists? Do you see other artists as competition or partners in the creative process?