We may know the ingredients needed for a particular dish but if we mix or cook them in the wrong order, the dish will not turn up well. It is the same in our living. The post gives the keys and the order for a victorious living.The Peter that boldly declared "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." (Matt 26:35) denied the Lord three times later. (Luke 22:54-62). But the John that proclaimed "the disciple who Jesus loved"(John 21:24) followed Jesus and could be found at the cross of Christ and be given charge of His mother. What is the difference? Both have 'love'. But the order and the source are different. Peter's version is "I love Jesus". John's version is "Jesus loves me." Peter focused on his love for Jesus. John focused on Jesus' love for him. The outcomes were completely opposite; one ran away and the other stayed. Where you focus your heart and mind is the key --- always focus on God first and then we can do the right thing.
With this concept in mind, we can find that many translations of the Bible could be more effective if only they get the God and Me in the right order. The errors made are usually either all on God and neglect man's responsibility or overemphasize man's ability to neglect God's grace. Let's look at a short verse Jude 1:2.
(KJV) Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
(YLT) kindness to you, and peace, and love, be multiplied!
The original order of words is preserved in the KJV and YLT. But the newer translations just mix them all up and give the following, destroying the order and messing up the responsibilities.
(MKJV) Mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
(ESV) May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
(ISV) May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance!
(NLT) May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.
The newer translations put all the responsibilities on God to give you mercy, peace, and love. However, when you go back to the original version, there is Mercy to You comes first, and then come peace and then come love, and then multiplication.
MercyG1656 unto youG5213 andG2532 peaceG1515 andG2532 loveG26 be multipliedG4129
To a Chinese who is able to read and understand ancient Chinese text form 文言文, the position of words makes a vast difference. The Chinese version of the Strong's words is:
矜恤你 并平康 和仁愛增加
The translated meaning for me is:
God gives you his mercy, so that I have peace, and so that I can love more and more.
Why don't I love others?
Because I am not secure myself. I have no peace within. How can I give out what I don't have?
How can I have peace?
Focus on the mercy of God. Know that God loves you and will care for you. He has given and sealed us with His Holy Spirit. Jesus said that no one can snatch you out of His hand. Paul reminded us that if God is for us then who can go against us. Peter tells us to cast all our cares unto Him for He cares about you etc etc. Read and recall those verses and soon the peace within you will rise up. You will be calm and confident and yourself secure, and you can start to think of others.
How can I be sure that my interpretation is right?
Jude 1v21 gives us additional support. We must always interpret the Bible by the Bible and within the context.
(KJV) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
The first part asks us, about men's responsibility, in the love of God.
The second part gives a specific thing to do, looking for the His Mercy that can give us eternal life. Jude v1 assured us that we are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.
Looking for G4327 is a weak translation of the original Greek, prosdechomai,
Thayer Definition: 1) to receive to one’s self, to admit, to give access to one’s self
It has a much stronger meaning of having already received it and just going and using it. It is about focusing with confidence on what is already there and yours to use it. It is not expecting as if wishing only.
Conclusion - The Keys and Order for Victorious Living
Focus on God's mercy for you so that you have the peace to enable you to love more and more.
As you do that, your godly influence will spread out to more and more people. You are fulfilling what Paul says about the Thessalonians, 1Th 1:3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ... 1Th 1:7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
May your light shines forth through your love built on the peace that comes from the mercy of God for you. ◄ Matthew 5:16 ► let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Lim Liat (c) 24 Sep 2016
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