Blameless

I was reading last week and this scripture truly jumped out at me.

Genesis 17:1 (New International Version)
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.

In doing the 6 part Bible study on "How to Discover God's Will for Our Lives" located on the sidebar, it became glaringly obvious that doing the will of God is just as much as about who we are as what we do.

This became even more evident that God truly desires our character to be in line with His when he asks Abram to walk before him and be blameless.

One of the important things I learned from Wendy Blight's book Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner was that it is really important to know the proper definition of a word. Knowing the proper definition of a word can set a scripture on fire in my heart I have discovered. So I looked up blameless.

Adj.
blameless - free of guilt; not subject to blame; "has lived a blameless life"; "of irreproachable character"; "an unimpeachable reputation"

This is a different definition that my I would have placed on blameless. I never would have attached "of irreproachable character" to it. Truly knowing the meaning of the words we are reading can really bring the scriptures alive.

God is telling us how he wants us to walk with him. Blameless. This Sunday our pastor taught on how if we will just truly seek the Lord and seek to be like Him then God will move in all the areas of our life and all things will fall into place. Just seek Him & seek to be like Him. This is a theme that just seems to be popping up all over for me. Nothing like a confirmation huh?

While we are on the topic of definitions I'd like to bring up a few that had way different meanings that I thought they did and they really brought life to the scriptures for me.

Rich- possessing great material wealth OR having an abundant supply.
Many times we see the word rich or riches and immediately insert the first meaning. However, if we use the second meaning a great deal of the time then it makes a lot more sense.

Romans 2:4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Revelation 2:9I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Let's change scripture number 2 shall we? I know your afflictions and your poverty- yet you are abundantly supplied! They are abundantly supplied but yet they are in poverty. Being rich does not always include money. We can be abundantly supplied in mercy, grace, thankfulness, love, etc. When we truly learn all the meanings of a word it can make understanding the scriptures a whole lot easier.

One more..... ignoble & noble.

Noble- possessing outstanding qualities 2 : of high birth or exalted rank. I never realized the definition also included the outstanding qualities! Wait, this gets important.

Ignoble- Not noble in quality, character, or purpose; base or mean.
2. Not of the nobility; common. Okay, now watch this new revelation to the definition bring this scripture to life.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Once I looked up the definitions I finally understood these scriptures. Paul is telling Timothy that some of us possess outstanding qualities and some of us possess low quality character. If we will cleanse ourselves of the "lowly character traits" we will be instruments for high quality purposes, made holy and useful to God so we can do the great works He has prepared for us.

It is amazing what a trip to the dictionary can do!

Have a great day,

Jenn