SWHW Bible Reading Plan: July 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Sarah Martin:

I want to let you in on something I’m seeing these days. It’s a sneaky phenomenon happening in the church, especially within the past decade: the fear of God is lost in this world of extremes we live in. 

Through the decades, many have only spoken and waved fingers stirring fire and brimstone about the righteous, judging, powerful God of the Bible. In all fairness, we see holiness and righteousness spelled out in the Old Testament. But with legalistic mindsets, that fire and judgment in many circles is the only facet of God preached. 

On the flip side, and just as egregious, we see a swing toward preaching and teaching that only covers the love and mercy of God. We hear progressives negate the holiness and due reverence of God to only focus on the mercy Christ chose by dying on the cross. With redefinitions of sin and the negating of the Old Testament narrative, we find a savior—the Lamb of God—without the talk of God’s holiness, righteousness, and purity. In these teachings, the good news of the cross and resurrection is centered on Christ’s choice to die while leaving out God’s righteousness and wrath toward sin.

The problem is, neither of these extremes covers the vastness and grandeur of the depths of God’s character and nature. Neither takes into account Jesus is both the Lamb slain and the Lion of Judah coming again in vengeance over death, sin, and evil…Satan. And in our errant mindset of extremes, we have drawn a tragic box around our understanding of God. We have become an either/or church of believers not a both/and.

Hear me say, there are very clear lines to draw in the sand regarding Scripture and there are absolute truths that are non-negotiable regarding what the Word of God says about His nature and character. But, might our human-limited understanding of God have trapped us into forgetting that God is BOTH righteous, holy, full of wrath, AND He is merciful, kind, forgiving, and full of love. 

Both sides of the coin are valid. The extreme mindsets are to hang tight and draw lines around the concept of either God is righteous, holy, full of wrath OR He is simply/only merciful, kind, and abundant in love. And in that limited way of looking at the character of God, we limit our own understanding of His fullness. He is BOTH! Let’s allow Scripture to break open the box of our understanding as we pair both/and verses together.

Go ahead today and read the book of Zephaniah with the both/and lens of God’s righteousness and wrath and His merciful kindness and love. 

Are you ok with both sides of the coin?

Does something stir in you to see Him rightly? 

Go ahead; the Spirit of the Living God stirs these affections and understanding of Who God is. And while you are at it, praise Jesus for the cross that made the way to fullness in our Good, Holy Father.

Lord, show us every bit of Who You are. We want to see you rightly. You are holy, righteous, merciful, full of love, and Your kindness brings me to repentance. Amen!