But refuse profane and old wives’ fables,

and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7 KJV)

Today’s reading in 1 Timothy really made me take a look at what is going on in the world of Christianity.

“Miracles have passed away.” and ” That doesn’t mean physical healing.”  are two of the more common wives’ fables passed down through the ages.

I used to be told as a child that  Thunder was when God was dumping a wheelbarrow full of potatoes after the harvest.  Or God was tapping his foot to the music or “God just said no!” and sent lightening to get our attention.    But now I think it’s the Apostle Paul banging his head against the wall.

Can you imagine being beat, shipwrecked, bit by a snake, imprisoned, etc. to only have people preach the exact “OPPOSITE” of what you spent your entire earthly ministry preaching as long, and as far as you could?

If you believe that God is dead, miracles don’t happen, and the Bible is just a book filled with good moral stories, then you’ve been listening to “wives’ fables.

Don’t worry, at one time Paul was the same way. He believed all the lies of his teachers and was actually arranging for Christians to be killed for their false teachings.   If you remember he was knocked off his high horse and brought to the ground for persecuting Jesus.  It was a few days before what was blinding him was removed by prayer.

If you want to remove your own blinders from knowing the true nature of God then these two prayers are excellent.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

(Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV)

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

(Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV)

Don’t live a life of misery expecting God to “get you” for all you do wrong.   Pray those prayers above over yourself and your loved ones.  Expect God to reveal His true nature to you when you read the Bible.   Don’t just skim over the words and read them so fast you have no idea what you just read.   Take time to think about what you read and ask God for help.

I stumbled onto Bible.is  free in the app store.  It helps make the Bible come alive when you listen to someone else read it and follow along.  Bible.is has quite a few dramatic versions which I prefer. I like hearing different voices act out the scriptures rather than reading in monotone.

Spend time in the Word, in prayer and get to know God so you can refuse profane myths and old wives’ tales you might hear being substituted for the Word of God.

Website for Bible.is (Clicking this link opens new window/tab)

Website for Bible.is (Clicking this link does not open a new window/tab)

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Image Courtesy of Janaka Dharmasena at freedigitalphotos.net